THE HAPPY WANDERER - IV

CASA CIELO

Original © 2006

Revised © 2007

[To DREW in Yorkshire, England, my LOVE for his continued inspiration, encouragement, ceaseless instructions over my hardheadedness, and his determination to help me make this the best that I think it can be, even though I may not have followed all his suggestions to the letter.

CHAPTER  SEVEN 

Oh, what a beautiful mornin’

Oh, what a beautiful day.

I’ve got a beautiful feelin’

Ev’rything’s goin’ my way.

(from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma)

It was Friday morning.  The sun disk was just beginning to peak over the distant mountains to the east.  Slowly its golden brilliance washed down the steep, rocky slopes of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains to the west and south.  As its intense rays penetrated the garden-courtyard, Gerry was just finishing his laps in the pool.  The fifty laps per day had become a ritual, a habit, and he didn’t have to think about coordinating strokes with breaths and with kicks.

But during the exercise, which seemed to have been in slow motion, he reminisced about the previous few hours.

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After removing Ted’s condom, Gerry sucked and savored the delicious contents, before swallowing its bounty.  Then he bathed Ted's cock with his tongue and lips.  Ummmmm.  you taste sooooo good!

"Come on," Gerry said, taking Ted's hand and leading him toward the master bath, "join me in the shower."  Gerry's arm around Ted's shoulder, Ted's arm around the back of Gerry's waist, he ushered them into the travertined-and-mirrored vanity area, and discarded the used but now empty condom into a trash receptacle;  he didn't just flush them.

At the far end of the vanity was the opening to the shower itself. A circular room floored in polished beige travertine marble, walls tiled in blue, red, gray and green slate, and the ceiling covered in peach colored mirror.  Diffused lighting came from the FlexiBrite LED tube lighting that was attached to the corner space where the walls met the ceiling, and cast no shadows.  Four curved benches made of the same travertine were spaced evenly in a broken circle with an eleven-foot diameter.  In the center of that circle was the water drain for the entire room, and directly above it, a large solitary shower head was suspended from the mirrored ceiling.

Behind each of the benches was a curved half-wall, also covered in the same slate.  Each of them, twelve-inches thick and four feet high, with individual control knobs on the top … one for the overhead nozzle, one each for hot and cold water, and one for the three recessed shower heads which sprayed water straight out of each half-wall itself.  The entire bathing area could easily accommodate eight people who were on intimate terms with each other.  It had, upon occasion, been a focal point of orgiastic frolicking, once even, with wine, grapes and attendant male "slaves."

Ted once again was flabbergasted;  "I've never seen such a shower," he remarked.

Gerry simply touched one of the tiles just inside the entry and activated the master controls.  A gentle spray, quite warm but not uncomfortably hot, came from each of the thirteen showerheads.  They entered into the very center, embraced, and stood there, kissing as the gentle streams of water bathed them, pleasured them, from all directions.  It felt as if hundreds of tiny fingers were stimulating them everywhere at once.

When they entered, they were both near half-mast.  But with the total stimulation, they were quickly at firm attention, sliding and rubbing against each other and adding their own pre-orgasmic secretions to the drain with all the other liquid dripping from them.

Ted drew back his head, closed his eyes and let the overhead water fall onto his face for a moment before gazing into Gerry's eyes.  "Under a waterfall, in the rain, with a warm and gentle mist caressing us, and our arms around each other -- I've never in my life felt so serenely wonderful and at peace before," he said just before slowly going down onto his knees.

As Gerry moaned in pleasure, Ted's tongue had roamed back and forth across his chest and had traveled down the damp trail to Gerry's pulsing, leaking cock.  He kissed the tip of the cut, bullet-shaped head, savoring beads of Gerry's pre-cum, and ran his tongue around the edge of the greater flange;  then slid his lips up and down the full length of his hard, quaking shaft – top, bottom, left side, right side.  And suddenly, Ted's lips surrounded the entirety of that sensitive, reddish-brown head and began their erotic descent down the length of his throbbing manhood.

Ted's willingness to please, satisfied Gerry's lustful longing.  But not wanting to cum just yet, he reached down and pulled Ted back up.  "Not yet," Gerry pleaded;  "so wonderful, but not yet."

They kissed, and they hugged … so tightly that Gerry's thighs could feel the pulse in Ted's thighs;  Gerry's cock could feel the pulse in Ted's cock;  their breathing became as one – when one exhaled, the other inhaled.  Gerry had never experienced the stimulated state of peacefulness that he was in at that moment.  He didn't want it to end, but he knew it had to.

Gerry stepped away and onto the pressure-sensitive shiny steel ring that surrounded the drain in the center of the floor. Dozens of tiny jets of dancing water rose from tiny holes in the sandstone floor, tickling their nether regions with sensations undeniably erotic.

"Turn around," he told Ted as he released his hold on him.  At Ted's brief hesitation, Gerry thought, He's thinking I'm either just going to wrap my arms around him, or fuck him.  He still doesn't trust me completely.

Slowly Ted turned, and then Gerry turned … their backs toward each other. "Now, let's move so that our butts and shoulders are touching."  They did.  "And now, let's lock arms together and interlock our fingers," Gerry continued, as he leaned his head back to rest on Ted's right shoulder.  Again, they did, and in following, Ted laid his head back on Gerry's right shoulder.  There was no urgency to couple … only the joy of sharing … togetherness.

Gerry began swaying, ever so slightly.  Ted joined and went with the flow.

Gerry felt Ted's breathing, and when Ted exhaled, Gerry heard soft little sounds of contented pleasure welling up from deep within him.  He let his own sounds join Ted's.

They nuzzled their heads more tightly together.  The inner sounds grew louder, more verbal.  The rocking, the swaying, continued.  Their fingers gripped each other more tensely.  Their butts contracting and relaxing against each other, sending scintillating, sensual nuances through each other.  Their locked arms stiffened, stretching out, away from themselves.  Their breathing, becoming more shallow, more rapid.

They were being stimulated from above, from in front of themselves, from below, and from the quivering, the quaking, the strained tautness of each other's body.  They were still swaying, but it became more pronounced.  Gerry felt his own balls, his nuts, his testicles tightening and rising, recognizing the on-coming signs of sexual release.

"Ah ah ah ah ahhh ahhhhh AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhh," both moaned in shaky unison.  Gerry's legs nearly gave way, as he felt Ted experiencing the same reaction.  They quickly turned to face each other again, embracing tightly, holding on for dear life.  Cocks were releasing the last of their offerings from their pleasure.

Slowly, they came down from their sexual high.

"Whewwwww!" Gerry exhaled aloud.

"God; that was intense," Ted remarked.  "I never knew I could cum without touching myself."

Another kiss.  Breaths returning to normal.  Gerry took Ted's hand and led the way back into the vanity area where they silently, sensually toweled each other dry, losing themselves in the depths of each other's eyes.

They returned to the cool, gray satin sheets of the queen-size bed.  It wasn’t long before they were wrapped in each other’s arms, not with wild, abandoned passion, but with tender, caring intimacies -- a touch here, a rub there;  a nuzzle to the neck, a nibble on an earlobe;  an Eskimo kiss;  a butterfly kiss;  a deep tongued kiss;  two lovers' gentle good-night kiss on the lips.

Gerry pulled the sheet over themselves as he turned away and then slid back, spooning into Ted's curved body, into and next to each other, becoming as one.  Ted's semi-erect man-tool pulsed once as it slid into place between Gerry's ass cheeks.  To Gerry, it felt as if it belonged there.

They drifted toward sleep;  Ted's left arm under Gerry's neck; his right arm wrapped across Gerry's chest, with his finger slowly, gently, lovingly tracing circles around Gerry's left nipple.

Gerry didn’t remember when Ted stopped those little, titillating circles.

He dreamed of Ted … of Ted's being his alone … of his being Ted's alone … of their belongingness … of a greater love than Gerry had ever known.

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Oh, what a beautiful mornin’

Oh, what a beautiful day.

I’ve got a beautiful feelin’

Ev’rything’s goin’ my way.

(Ibid.)

Gerry stepped out of the pool, grabbed the white towel off the back of the nearest patio chair, and began drying himself.

"Here, let me do that for you," said Ted, walking toward him, having just woken up.

"Well, good morning, sleepy head.  As you can see, I went ahead without you.  Thoughtcha might enjoy sleeping in."

"Thanks;  I did;  but it was lonely in there withoutcha," he replied as he took the towel and wrapped it and his arms around Gerry's chest, arms and back, making it impossible for Gerry to hug him back.  They kissed, and their tongues began to do morning battle with each other.  What had shrunken to almost nothing from the coolness of the pool, began expanding, lengthening and hardening, reaching out and touching Ted's, which was playing copycat.

Ted brought the towel down to dry Gerry's abs and on down to his crotch.  That didn't help matters much as Gerry was steadily getting harder.  Ted knelt and began drying first one leg then the other, and in one svelte move, plunged all the way down on Gerry's hot staff.

"Alright kiddo, no time for this now.  I promised you breakfast, but I didn't mean that kind."

"Awwwwwww," Ted whimpered as he ceased with his affections.  He stood up, turned Gerry around and began his drying assault on his backside.

I could get used to this kind of treatment, Gerry thought, before saying aloud, "And you gotta go to work."

Ted pushed at Gerry's back so that he was bent at the waist, as he knelt behind him. Dropping the towel, he spread his ass cheeks and quickly ran his tongue up Gerry's own Valley of Secrets.  "Ummmmm," Ted resounded;  "Sweet!  Never thought I'd do that to another guy, but I kinda like it."

Quickly Gerry turned around, pulled him up, kissed the tip of his nose, and stood eyeball to eyeball.  "Well, my Sweet, we can let you practice your newfound pleasures later … at least I hope we can … but for now …" he turned Ted around, planted a swat on his butt, and sent him toward the bedroom. "… go get dressed while I make some breakfast.  What would you like?"

"You! I'd like to stay here and have you for breakfast and brunch and lunch and …," he said as he turned and started walking back to Gerry.

"My, my!" Gerry interrupted, "Aren't we getting bold and adventuresome this morning?"  He pointed to the bedroom and glared at him. "GIT!" Gerry demanded.

Ted hung his head and slowly turned and started back toward the bedroom, making whimpering sounds like a puppy-dog.  Pitifully he looked over his shoulder at Gerry, and they both broke into laughter.

"Yesss, Master.  Right away, Sir," he imitated Lurch.  More laughter from them both.

"What kind of breakfast do you usually have?" Gerry asked.

"Coffee and toast is all I ever have, if that's all right."

"English muffin, OK?"

Ted nodded.  Gerry pointed.  "Feel free to use anything in the bathroom and vanity, if you want," he hollered after him.  Ted held up his hand with fingers giving the 'OK' sign as he went into the bedroom and Gerry went into the kitchen.

Ten or fifteen minutes later, Gerry had the coffee carafe, creamer, sugar bowl, cups, saucers, place mats, napkins, silverware, plates, muffins and marmalade on the outdoor dining table by the pool.  As he sat and poured a cup of coffee for himself, Ted returned and joined him. "Ummmm, looks good enough to eat," he said, winking at Gerry.

"Oh, it was nothing, really," Gerry played along.

"I was talking about you," Ted shot back.

"I know.  Keep that up and I'll make you eat your words," Gerry countered.   Ted grinned and started removing his shirt. "STOP THAT!  SIT!  EAT!" Gerry snarled, then growled like an angry dog.

They laughed.  Gerry poured Ted's coffee.  Muffins were buttered and jellied and cut in half.  It was good to share the early morning with someone once again, particularly someone for whom Gerry felt himself falling head-over-heels, even knowing that there was Beckie, his … wife! … to consider.  He let out a sigh of resignation.

This can't be happening.  It IS happening.  How?  Love at first sight? That's an old wives' tale … a fairy tale.  I … want … him!  But Beckie has him.  They play together.  Could I do it?  Could I join them?  Could I play with them just to be near HIM?  Gerry wondered.  Would that be enough?

"When will Beckie be back?" Gerry asked, needing conversation … and information.

Staring into his cup of black coffee, no telltale expression on his face at all, Ted answered, "She should be back around one or two, this afternoon."

"What are you thinking?" Gerry asked, silently.  "Are you feeling the same things I'm feeling?" he hoped beyond all hope.  "Y'all have any plans for this evening?"

"No, I don't think so.  We'll pro'bly go out somewhere and get a bite to eat.  Then, knowing her, she'll want to work on her books, and I'll watch some TV."

"On a Friday evening?  Hell, no!  Y'all can't do that!"

As he stopped toying with his spoon, Ted looked surprised at Gerry's exuberance.

"No way!  Listen …" Gerry calmed down, planning his strategy.  "As soon as you get home from work, …" he placed his hand on top of Ted's and gently squeezed, "… and doing whatever the two of you have to do together … tell her about our meeting, about your coming up here to see the place, and my offer to you both about possibly becoming my tenants.  Then call me.  Let me know what she thinks, and if everything's OK, bring her up, and afterwards I'll take you both out to dinner.  OK?  Is that a plan?"  Gerry was excited.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Ted happily answered.

Gerry could see the wheels turning.  Ted was smiling.  He was happy.  Maybe he, too, was hopeful!

Ted finished his English muffin and drained his cup.  "O.K. Massster Gerry …" he again half-mimicked Lurch;  "… while I've still got the cool morning, I'll head off to work, and do what I can.  God!  I hate working in this summer heat with no air conditioning!"

"Well, knowing first hand how you DO work without AC, LOCK THE DOORS!  I don't want anyone else walking in on ya!"

"Ummmmm, claiming territory, huh?"

Could be; who knows?

Gerry sang the line from West Side Story as they began walking to the front gate.

Somewhere between sending Ted to get dressed, and then sitting down to eat, Gerry had donned a white terrycloth robe.

At the gate, they took a moment for a full-body hug and a passionate kiss, and as Ted walked to his van, he hollered over his shoulder, "I'll call ya right after I see Beckie."

"Great!  I'll be waiting."  Gerry waved.  Ted waved as he backed down the driveway, turned, headed down the hill and disappeared from view.

Damn, Ted!  You've really gotten under my skin!  Shit!  No chance in hell I can claim you for my own.  What IS it that's drawn me to you so intensely and so fast?  God only knows. … Oh, well, I'll just play it out;  see what happens;  go with the flow.  At least, maybe we CAN be tenant and landlord.

The rest of the morning Gerry tried to keep himself busy.  Loaded the morning's few dishes and stuff in the dishwasher along with the stuff from the previous night, and started that going.  Threw some dirty clothes in the washer, including the robe he had been wearing and did all that stuff.  Sat nude by the pool;  told Lurch to close the sun screen overhead;  lit a cigarette;  thought about Ted and the previous night;  gazed into the calm, clear reflecting pool, waiting for the Water Sprites to speak and tell him what to do – but they remained invisible and silent!

He dusted and swept the house;  lit another cig;  thought about Ted some more, about Ted and himself … if there could ever be an ‘us’ … about Ted and Beckie, about Ted and himself AND Beckie.  Damn!  He had it bad!

He made sure that one of the guest rooms was neat and clean;  made sure that there were clean, fresh bed and bath linens everywhere, and wiped down some cobwebs in a couple of the corners.  Stood there hugging one of the bed-posts and resting his head against it, envisioning Ted and Beckie in that bed together, with himself just across the courtyard, alone.  Could I handle that?  Do I really want them as full-time renters?

By then, it was lunchtime.  He went to the kitchen.  Opened a can of sardines in mustard and oil;  opened a can of Vienna sausages;  got one of those tall, skinny packages of saltine crackers, and a cold can of pre-sweetened ice tea.  Carried them out to the poolside table, sat down, propped his feet up on another chair, lit another cig and picked at the food.  Sipped some tea.  Thought some more.  About Ted.  About himself and Ted … together.  IS there an ‘US’?  Could there ever BE an ‘US’?

He must have dozed off … wondering.

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