“So what’s the big surprise dad,” Josh asked.

We have gathered together all our favorite guys to surprise them with our news.

“Do you want to tell them, sweetheart?” Brandon asked me but I gave that honor to him. “Marc and I are going on a totally gay cruise Saturday.”

“Are you serious, Dad … an all gay cruise?” Josh was happy with excitement for us.

“How long of a cruise is it for,” Terrell asks.

“Seven nights and eight days of sun and fun sailing among the Caribbean islands.”

“Wouldn’t it be great if we got to go and see our island as we sailed by?” Andrew asked. “Those were my happiest times,” he said, giving Josh a quick glance who’s too busy talking to Eric to notice him.

“Well maybe you can get to go another time,” I said, wishing that Brandon had thought of inviting them along.

“I’m so jealous,” Eric says, “All those handsome men just looking for a hook up with their favorite man. Although my favorite man won’t be sailing so I’m happy that I’m not as well,” he added, and I’m quick to notice how he gave Josh a slight glance.

“I’m stuck here with my dreadful Richard who spends more time with the dead than he does with me lately,” Terrell said sadly. I’m going to the mall later, Andrew; would you like to go with me,” he asked and I noticed how quickly Andrew lit up.

“Shopping … oh I’m there with you swee … ah Terrell,” he said.

“Did he almost call Terrell, sweetheart,” Brandon whispers to me and I nodded.

“Well guys, as much as I would like to sit and visit with you, I need to shower and then finish packing. Saturday will be here before I know it,” I told the guys, giving each of them a hug and a kiss goodbye.

“Before you guys go, I want you to take this envelope with you. You're not allowed to open it until you get back home,” Brandon told the guys as he handed each one their own envelope. 

Saturday morning … 

“Welcome back Marc and Brandon,” Captain Trimble said. “I’m happy that you’re aboard my ship because you choose to be and not have to be.”

“We’re both happy about that as well, sir.”

“Come now gentlemen, after everything that we have been through, please call Michael.”

“Thank you Michael,” Brandon said.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I must make ready for sailing,” he said and left.

“I’ve been so excited about this trip that I haven’t been able to do much of anything since we made our reservations,” Marc said giddily and snuggled up against Brandon.

Marc looked over at his lover and he got a suspicious feeling because Brandon’s smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

“Okay mister what’s up and don’t tell me nothing because you have that ridiculous grin that you get whenever you’re up to something?”

“I don’t know what you're talking about, sweetheart,” he said as his eyes roamed around the crowd of people who were boarding the ship. 

“What are you looking at…”

“Surprise!” Marc jumped so high that if it hadn’t been for Brandon holding me, I would have jumped right over the railing.

I turned and saw Josh and Andrew standing there all happy and excited about being on the cruise with them.

“I’m so happy that you guys are here with us. It’ll be like … no it won’t be. It’s going to be ‘fanfuckingtastic’,” Marc said, giving his boys a hug.

He just broke away from hugging them when he saw someone who had him yelling with excitement.

“Eric, Terrell, how did you manage to get away from your businesses to sail with us? Wait a minute, where’s Richard?”

“He’s coming; he got caught up with a past client, well, their family member, and told me to go on without him. He’ll be … oh, here he comes now and who’s that handsome guy who’s with him?”

“I’ve got dibs on him if he’s single and gay,” Eric said and they all laughed.

Eric studied the guy. He was tall, taller then Richard who was six-two and had one hell of a muscular body. His hair was black, but he couldn’t tell what color his eyes were because he was wearing Gucci sunglasses. But he had an aristocratic nose, high cheekbones and very kissable lips. His eyes dropped down to his crotch and he was showing a very impressive basket.

“Mmmmm. I am definitely calling dibs on him,” he murmured.

“Hey guys, this is a son of an acquaintance of mine, Dmitri Romanov,” he said, introducing him to everyone.

They all gave him their names and shook his hand.

“I’m Eric Jameson, single, gay and so hoping that you are, too,” Eric said, holding Dmitri’s hand.

“Well Eric, I’m gay and yes, I’m single. But I’m afraid that I’m not looking for someone at the moment. My current boyfriend and I recently broke up and I would not want you to be a rebound.”

“I don’t mind … really I don’t, because rebound seems to be my specialty. Every time I find someone whom I click with, they end up moving on because I was just a rebound for them to make their ex jealous. So why should you be the exception?”

“Wow, you really seem to have low standards for yourself, don’t you?”

“Hey watch it; that’s my brother you’re insulting,” Terrell said in defense of his brother.

“I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean that as an insult. I was simply making an observation is all. Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to rejoin my family,” he said and left.

“Why did you have to go scare him off, Terrell?”

“Because you’re too good for him and his condescending attitude.”

“Alright boys, we’re here to have fun and not quarrel,” Marc warned. “Now let's go and find our staterooms.”

We all left together and began searching for our rooms.  A handsome young steward stopped and asked if he could assist them. Brandon gave him everyone’s boarding passes and he then led us through hallways and up staircases until we finally reached our staterooms.  

“This room is for Mr. Barnes and Mr. Spencer,” he said, using his master keycard to open the door and moved across the hallway to the next room. "This room is for Mr. Joshua Barnes and Andrew McKinley.” He stepped back and let Josh and Andrew enter their room. “And this room is for Mr. Richard Atkinson and Mr. Terrell Jameson.” He opened the door and let the men go in before he led Eric around the corner to his room.

“I know this is my room, and sadly, I’m alone,” he said and walked into the room but didn’t notice that when the door closed, the steward was also in the room. “Oh, was I supposed to tip you?” Eric asked when he noticed that the steward just standing there.

“No sir, gratuities are included in your package, and a very nice package it is, if I may be so bold as to say so,” he said as his eyes slowly moved to Eric’s crotch and lingered.

“Oh yeah, be as bold as you want. In fact you can even take whatever liberties you want as well, Eric added, smiling.

“Tell me something, Eric, why does everyone else have someone and you’re all alone? You’re extremely handsome, muscular built as well, and as for your endowment,” His hand reached down to gently grope Eric’s crotch. “you are very well endowed.”

“I’m just not the keeping type of guy. The guys who I've dated are usually… no, they’re always on the rebound, and I only find out after they make their ex- boyfriends jealous and move on.”

“Well, Eric Jameson, welcome to my world,” he said and aggressively pulled Eric to him and just as aggressively kissed him.

Frantically they were removing each other’s clothes in the need to get naked and embrace skin to skin. 

“Top or bottom, because I’m versatile,” Eric asked as he kicked away his pants.

“Dedicated bottom,” the steward said while dropping to his knees.

“Before you do that, what’s your name?” Eric asked.

“Mathew, Mathew Lawrence, but everyone calls me Matt,” he said and engulfed Eric’s cock fully until his nose was inhaling Eric’s manly scent.

“Mmmmm,” he moans around his cock, sending erotic vibrations through Eric.

He sucked like Eric's cock was the last one that he would ever have and because it had been awhile since Eric had been with a guy, he was very close to coming.

“Ah Matt, you have me on death’s door, there. I’m about to come any second if you keep … oh fuck I’m commming,” he shouted and shot his cum deep into Matt’s throat.

Eric’s rhythm took over and he pumpped his cock hard and deep into Matt’s mouth until he was spent.

“Fuck babe, why’d you get me off so fast?”

“I’m still on duty and I was just going on my lunch break when I spotted you guys. Now I'd better hurry before I’m late,” he said, hurrying into his uniform. 

“Can I see you later and return the favor?”

“I’m done for the day at five. So I can meet you wherever you want.”

“How about I come back to my room and I can meet you here? Oh! Plan on staying for the night.”

“Are you sure, Eric? We’ve just met and we don’t know anything about each other?”

“I’m sure, and we’ll use some of that time to get to know one another,” Eric pulled Matt to him and gave him a hot and promising kiss. “Until later, handsome,” he said as he let Matt out.

Eric closed the door and leaned against it, smiling as warm thoughts filled his mind, and a knock caused him to quickly open the door.

“Did …”

“Did what? What the fuck are you talking about?” Terrell asked stepping past him and into the room, sniffing. “You just had sex with someone, didn’t you, Eric?”

“Nooooo, whatever made you think that?”

“Because it smells of sex in here and,” he pinched Eric’s nose closed so that he had to open his mouth. “Your breath smells of cum,” he added, sniffing Eric’s breath.

“So what if I did? It’s really none of your business,” he grumbled.

“I know it’s not any of my business, bro. I’m just happy for you that you found someone, at least for the cruise.”

“Have you ever seen so many dream guys all in one place?”

“That’s why it’s a gay cruise, bro, and tonight all the single guys get to fill out this questionnaire, and it’s put into a computer that will match you up with your perfect match.”

“Really, I didn’t hear about that,” Eric said.

“It’s right here in your welcoming package on the desk. If you hadn’t been so busy having sex, then you would have seen it.” Terrell opened the package and showed Eric the forms and information sheet. "Fill it out and then bring it back to the big welcoming gala this evening. Oh yeah, it’s a masquerade gala so be sure that you get down to the gift shops and buy yourself a costume and mask. I’m heading down there now with Richard. Even though we’re not single, we’re still going to fill out our forms and see if the computer matches us up.”

“What are you going to do if it doesn’t match you up with Richard?”

“Of course it’ll match us up, because we are made for each other. Bye, bro,” Terrell said and left. 

Eric sat down at the desk and looked over the questionnaire and decided, 'What do I have to lose?' and began filling it out. An hour later he finished filling out the questions and folded it up and set it aside. He wasn't sure what he was going to do because if things really worked out between him and Matt, he wouldn’t need a machine to find a guy.

“Time to buy me a costume and mask,” he said to himself, while leaving his room, armed with a map of the ship.

“But why can’t you spend the night with me,” Eric heard someone complaining a while later and paused to listen.

“I already told you that I have to work the night shift, sweetheart. Now how about less talking and more sucking?” the guy demanded. Eric wondered why the voice sounded so familiar.

Eric stood there debating whether or not to leave or take a wrong turn and pretend to accidentally stumble upon those two people having sex. He decides to leave but then heard, “Stop pushing your cock so deep down my throat, Matt,” and he (Eric) changed his mind and turned down the employees' only hallway.

“Oh shit, sorry guys,” he said, causing the two guys to jump. “Matt, I thought that you had to get back to work?” Eric asked.

“Matt, do you know this person?”

“No, sweetie, he’s all yours, and before I forget, I’m very busy tonight and won’t need your services,” Eric told him and left while his eyes were still dry.

“Oh yeah, Eric, you’re just a looser magnet,” he said to himself and wiped at his eyes with the back of his hands. 

Later that evening …

“Gentlemen, if I may have your attention please,” the master of ceremonies announced. “If you have your questionnaire filled out, please bring it up to any of the programmers sitting up front. The process will take about thirty minutes to enter the questionnaires and then another fifteen or so minutes for the computer to start generating out our couples,” he said. “That will give you plenty of time to get into your costumes and masks before we begin announcing the couples. Now remember, when you return to the room here, don’t sit where you were sitting when you first entered. You want to create an air of mystery and romance by keeping your identities secret.”

“Are you sure that we should be doing this, Richard?” Terrell asked softly.

“I’ve told you a million times that I really want to see if we’re compatible for each other,” he snapped back.

“Well, wouldn’t you know that after three years together?” Terrell asked.

“Oh stop grumbling and just do it for crying out loud.”

“Are you and Brandon doing that match thing,” Josh asked.

“I’m all set with my perfect match,” Marc said.

“Ditto for me,” I said, and kiss my perfect guy. “What I want to know is, why are you and Andrew doing it? Are you two having problems again, Son?”

“No, not really problems, it’s more like we’ve grown to where we are taking each other for granted and things have grown complacent since you and I...”

“Well, if you recognize the problem, Son, then you both work on fixing it.”

“I guess, but this seems like fun for the moment.”

“If you ask, me it sounds like the end of them,” I whispered against Marc’s ear.

“I agree.”

“What do you agree with, Marc,” Josh asked suspiciously.

“Brandon asked if I wanted to go for a walk and I agreed with that.” He lied.

“Where’s Eric tonight?” Josh asked Terrell.

“I think he’s hooked up with someone because when I went to his room earlier it wreaked of sex.”

“I hope whoever it is treats him good, because that guy deserves to find love,” he sincerely said and Brandon quickly picked up on his son’s comment and the slight disappointment in his voice.

“I think that Josh has a thing for Eric,” I whispered to Marc.

“I got that impression also, because he’s been looking all over the room ever since he arrived this evening. Also babe, keep an eye on the way Terrell and Andrew interact. They are very touchy, feely, with each other, and I notice that Richard isn’t even paying attention to Terrell. He’s too busy watching that Romanov guy at the next table over from us.” Mark nodded to the next table.

“How much do you want to bet that by the end of the cruise things won’t be as they were when they started?”

“Oh, I totally agree with that one, too, babe,” Eric said.

“There you two go again with the whispering and agreeing. Would you like to share that with the rest of us?” Josh asked.

“I will go one better, Son, I’ll write down my predictions for this match up and at breakfast tomorrow I’ll reveal to you all what my predictions are.”

“Who are you predicting about, Dad?”

“Just random people that we know, right baby doll?”

“Right sweetheart,” Marc agreed.

I wrote my predictions on the back of my napkin and fold it in half. I grab an abandoned envelope and put it inside. I took the candle that was burning and let some of the wax drip unto the envelope thus sealing it shut.

“Give me your ring, Son,” I said and I pressed Joshua’s ring into the wax thus creating a seal.

“There, now it’s firmly sealed and tamper proofed until breakfast tomorrow.”

An hour later the host for the gala took to the stage.

“Gentlemen, we have received the last of the questionnaires. Now you need to go back to your staterooms, or somewhere private, to get dressed in your costumes and masks.

“That's our cue boys, we’ll see you tomorrow morning at breakfast,” I then grabbed Marc’s hand and led him from the room.

Forty-five minutes later everyone had returned to the ballroom and taken new seats. 

“Very good gentlemen, now open your envelope that you were given earlier and look inside. Please keep your new name a secret until the end of the night.”

The room erupted with the sound of paper ripping as everyone opened their envelopes.

“Now when you see your new name, you should also notice that there is a number underneath it. That number is your match number and when it’s called, please come up and meet your match. Awe, here comes the first group now,” he said, taking the printed sheet from a handsome guy.

“Damn, are all the guys who work on these ships hunks,” Eric said aloud.

“Fuck yes from the looks of it,” the guy next to him said in agreement.

“Number 427 and number 729, come on up; you are our first match.”

“I’m 321,” Eric said quietly.

“889,” the guy beside him whispered.

“Numbers 889 and 544 come on up.”

“Have fun, guy,” Eric said.

“Thanks, I’m planning on it,” he said, hurrying up to the front.

The numbers go on and on until there’s just a handful of guys left in the room. Eric was just about to give up hope when hope came, calling his name.

“Numbers 321 and 123 come on up and meet your match.

“He’s the reverse of my number. If that isn’t fate, then I don’t know what is,” he said as he walked to the front.

His match was tall and muscular, like a Greek god come to earth. He was thinking as the man confidently strolled to the front.

“Hi, I’m Adam,” he stated to me with a confidence that I was surely not feeling.

“I’m Steve, it’s… " He cut me off because Adam embraced me boldly into his strong, masculine arms and dipped me backwards, kissing me with such heat and passion that I was left breathless when I’m stood back upright.

“Now that’s how you kiss your match, gentlemen,” the host said, fanning himself with his papers.

“Would you like to go stroll the deck,” Adam asked.

“After a kiss like that, I can use some cooling down,” Steve answered.

“I wanted to break the ice so to speak.”

“Break it? You fucking melted it and then you evaporated the water.”

“Where are you from, Steve?”

“Miami, and you?”

“Miami, born and raised. I’m twenty-five this coming August seventh.”

”I’ll be twenty-eight this coming July twenty-eighth.”

“Interesting. Birth year and birth date, the same, but … are you really single, Steve?”

“Of course I’m single. I don’t believe in cheating, so if you’re just looking for a hook up, you might as well forget it. I totally believe in monogamy.”

“Calm down before you blow a gasket, Steve. I’m in a complicated relationship and … wait, please, just hear me out, okay?”

“That’s just my luck. I always seem to pick the losers, and now I waste an entire evening just to have a fucking machine do it for me. But what the fuck, go ahead and spin your web and you just might get lucky.”

“Wow, is your life really that bad?”

“I’ve learned to cope with it, so are you gonna tell me about your relationship or not?”

“Okay, my boyfriend and I have been together for quite a few years now, and to say that we’re in love would be a gross overstatement. We’re more friends with benefits than we are anything else. We met our first year in college as a blind date and spent the better part of this evening arguing. He’s a nice guy but he’s not what I would call long term material. We’re together because Miami is a very expensive place to live, and with him still in med school and me out, now, working for my dad’s architectural firm; money is tight. That’s why we're still together.”

“Why does this scenario sound so familiar,” he’s wondering. “Is he here tonight, you know at the gala?”

“Oh yeah, he was number 889.” I nearly chocked on my drink because that was the guy beside me.

“How did you know what his number was?”

“Come on, really, Steve? You eat, sleep and fuck with the same guy for years and a freaking costume and mask isn’t going to hide who you are, from me. I'd know him even if I were blind, because he’s addicted to that cheap aftershave, Brute.

'Where have I smelled that before? I know that I’ve smelt it, other than at my table tonight,' Eric thought to himself, but he was at a loss for where he’d smelt that scent.

“So tell me, Adam, what are you looking for in a relationship?” 

“A guy who makes me smile even when I don’t feel like smiling. A man who’s my equal in every way imaginable and I’m not just talking sexual, although I do expect my sex partner to be my equal there as well. I’m not into this master/slave shit, and if that’s what turns you on, Steve, then I think it’s best that we go our separate ways now before either of us gets hurt.”

“Whoa, back up there one moment, Kemosabe. Are you saying that you see me and you being together after tonight?”

“Yes I am … Eric,” he said my name and to me it sounded like a prayer to my ears as Adam took my mouth with his.

My arms instinctively surrounded Adam’s neck and I pulled him closer as he surrendered my mouth to his tongue. The kiss deepened until we each broke away, gasping for that next breath. It was during that embrace, his scent that Eric remembered … Joshua Barnes.

“Do you kiss Andrew like you’re kissing me, Joshua?” Josh smiled warmly at him.

“Not since two years ago, handsome,” he said and removed Eric’s mask, tossing it over the railing into the ocean. “I have wanted you ever since that day that I met you at Brandon’s house. Eric, I’m infatuated by you. Your resiliency is a tribute to your character. Your inner light shines so brightly that I’m attracted to you like a moth to a flame.”

“Damn but you know how to sweep a guy off of his feet,” Eric told him as I, too, removed Joshua’s mask and dropped it to the deck. Your room or mine?”

“Yours because you’re the only one who isn't sharing a room,” he said, draping his arm around Eric’s shoulder and leading him away. Eric glanced at him, seeing the perfect geometry of his face and it caught Eric unaware, as if he were seeing him for the first time. His heart skipped a beat and his breath faltered as he realized that that man, that marvelous work of art could possibly have been created just for him. He rested his head on Joshua’s shoulder and exhaled a sigh.

“Is something wrong, handsome?” Concern and caring in his voice only cemented Eric’s suspicions that he was the one for him.

“No, my beautiful man, everything is perfect,” he pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and lay his head back on his shoulder.

They paused outside the door to Eric’s stateroom, and Josh pushed Eric against the door to kiss him passionately. Eric’s expression went blank and then his eyes lit up as if he’d suddenly discovered something.

“What! Something just hit you? Because I can see it in your eyes.”

“I can’t explain it, but when I’m kissing you, Josh, I don’t feel the pressure to make it work like I usually do with my other relationships. It just works with you, with us. I don’t have to force myself to feel anything but the pleasure of your lips against mine because I feel everything with you. I’m being weird aren’t I?”

“No, sweetheart, you’re being honest and just being you. I like it. I find it very refreshing, especially because Andrew has this tendency to think that he’s got to be a certain kind of man for me instead of being himself.”

“I can relate to him in that because I was once like that until I told myself that if the guy didn’t like me for me, then I wasn’t going to be someone else just to please him. They always left me anyways.”

“Oh, Eric, I’m so sorry that you have had such a miserable life. I can’t promise you that life with me will always be exciting, but I do promise you that it will be honest and filled with love.” He tenderly placed a hand on each side of Eric’s face and after staring for long love-filled moments, he poured every ounce of his heart into a kiss. 

Eric was in tears as he clung not only to Josh, but to what he hoped would be his future happiness, and he returned the kiss as powerfully and more.

“I’m not one who usually falls into bed with a man just after meeting him, even though we’ve already known one another for over two years now. But … it’s like we’re meeting for the first time and we're being so open and yet allowing ourselves to also be vulnerable with each other. I’m willing to lay my heart and soul naked before you, Josh, and I trust you not to crush it,” he said, weeping, and when he looked at Josh, he too, was crying. “I’m sorry but I’m falling in love with you, Joshua Barnes.”

“Don’t be sorry because I’ve been in love with you for quite some time, and I have been so afraid to tell you because of my fractured relationship with Andrew.”

Once inside the room, Eric takes each article of clothing off of Josh and tosses them to the floor until Josh was standing naked in the middle of the bedroom. He admires his hard athletic body, his chiseled pecks and abs as he ran his tongue through the muscled valleys savoring his body’s essence. His body had a timeless beauty that would have been an inspiration to artists like Donatello and Michelangelo, to Eric’s thinking. His eyes sated by the beauty of the man before him, he began to remove his own clothes with the same sensual ritual until he, too, stood naked before Josh. His powerful and muscular body developed from hours in the gym was on full display for Josh.

“You’re absolutely gorgeous. I'll never be able to get enough of your beauty,” he said, running his mouth and hands over Eric’s hairless skin.

Josh took Eric’s hand and led him to the bed with Josh settling onto the bed on top of him. Eric slowly enveloped him with his arms as Josh began to softly kiss his soul mate, and Eric responded by gently grazing Joshua’s lips with his tongue. The animalistic urgency for release that once ruled Josh had been sated and replaced by the need to achieve a sensuous and spiritual bond.

For what seemed like hours, two men, uninhibited, affectionately mapped each other's body with tongues and fingers. They imprinted their smells, tastes, and sexual resonances on each other's memory. And, when bold enough, they peered into each other's eyes and into each other's souls. Finally, Eric whispered in Joshua’s ear, "I need you."

Josh began to enter him after taking the time to prepare him. As he did, Eric was overwhelmed with an emotion, a bond that he had no words for, because of all of the guys before Joshua, he was with a man whom sex goes beyond the physical to something much deeper, love. Eric wrapped his arms and legs around Josh and with each thrust the two moved closer to the brink, to that sexual paradise that was meant for just them. Joshua’s long, thick cock massaged his lover's prostate invoking intense spasms of ecstasy which he shared back with powerful contractions of his sphincter. Suddenly Joshua’s entire body stiffened and his cock released a gusher of cum deep into Eric’s ass. Eric’s cock was trapped between his and Joshua’s bodies when Joshua climaxed. Eric responded with his own flood of semen that coated their stomachs. Joshua’s mind was lost in a sexual haze as he and Eric ride out the sweet afterglow of love- making together. Eric uttered an involuntary declaration, "I love you, Joshua," as he embraced Eric and whispered softly in his ear, "I know, my precious one, and I love you more."

Joshua rolled off Mark and soon they fell into a blissful sleep. Eric cuddled into him who unconsciously pulled Eric into a tender spooning embrace.  

“Gentlemen, we have completed entering the questionnaires and soon we will begin receiving the match ups. When you handed in your questionnaire you were given a sealed envelope. In that envelope there’s a new name that you will use for this evening only. Very good gentlemen, now open your envelope and look inside. Please keep your new name a secret until the end of the night.”

The room erupted with the sound of paper ripping as everyone opens their envelopes.

“Now when you see your new name, you should also notice that there was a number underneath it. That number is your match number and when it’s called, please come up and meet your match. Awe, here comes the first group now,” he said, taking the printed sheet from a handsome guy.

“Damn, are all the guys that work on these ships hunks,” the guy beside me said aloud.

“Fuck yes, from the looks of it,” I answered the guy in agreement.

“Number 427 and 729 come on up; you're our first match.”

“I’m 321,” the guy said quietly.

“889,” I whispered back.

“Numbers 889 and 544 come on up.”

“Have fun, guy,” he said.

“Thanks, I plan on it. Oh fuck, I can’t believe that I’m going to meet the guy that’s made for me. I’m tired of being someone who I’m not just to either please Josh or keep him. I’m ready to finally be me and no more pretending. Although, I wouldn’t mind pretending longer if it meant that I could have Terrell Jameson in my life,” I admited to myself as he hurried to the front.

“Please, please, please don’t let my match be Richard,” Terrell whispered as he weaved through the chairs and tables towards the front where his match waited for him. “Holy fuck … whoever that is, he’s fucking built and definitely not skinny ass Richard. Now do I do as I’d like to do and pull him out to the dance floor and dazzle him with my dance steps or … what the fuck, he’s beat me to it,” Terrell thought as his match pulled him on to the dance floor.

They moved together around the floor as if they had grown up dancing together for years. The music that was being played called for the ballroom quick step and that was Terrell’s best ballroom dance. Even the host had stopped calling out numbers and was spellbound as he watched the couple finish their dance as the music came to a finish. Terrell took his match into his arms and dipped him slightly backwards as he kissed him as the finale to their performance. The room erupted in applause and the couple thankfully broke apart to take a bow.

“There’s another perfectly matched couple,” the host called out as the happy couple waved and left the room.

“I’m Gerald and I can’t believe that you beat me to that dance because I was planning on doing that same thing,” Terrell said still breathing hard from the dance.

“I’m Kyle and I love the quick step, in fact it’s my favorite dance,” Andrew confessed.

“Mine, too, and you matched my steps perfectly. Did you learn to dance following your partner’s lead?”

“I did; we were entered in almost every gay ballroom dance competition that existed. Sadly I think it’s the only thing that we honestly had in common and enjoyed doing as a couple.”

“My partner and I were, also,” he said and then it hit them both that neither of them were actually single. “You’re not exactly single are you?”

“Not officially but after tonight I most certainly will be. What about you, are you just thrill-seeking or what,” Kyle asked.

“My partner and I have been growing further and further apart emotionally for the last couple of years and we decided that tonight, if the computer didn’t match us up, then we would go our separate ways and develop a relationship with whoever our match is. Now I do know that you are not my partner because you are built way too hot to be him.”

“I think that the best thing to do is take these masks off and reveal to each other who we really are,” Kyle suggested.

“I agree but let’s go somewhere more private,” Gerald suggested and took Kyle by the hand as he led him from the room.

Once outside, neither of them were in a hurry to reveal their identity. So Gerald offered Kyle his arm, and Kyle linked his arm through Gerald’s as they casually strolled around the deck.

“Why were you becoming disillusioned with your relationship, Kyle?”

“I always felt that I had to be someone or something else to my guy. We talked about it and although he told me that I was imagining it, and that he was always happy with me, I never really believed him. We stayed together more out of necessity and convenience then for love. Oh, he was never mean or demeaning to me, but that certain thing that truly happy couples have just wasn’t there. What about you? Why now and not awhile ago to separate?”

“I guess it’s for the same reasons as you, and that I recently found some things that told me he’s been cheating on me. It’s not like our sex life was over, far from it, Ric … I mean my guy can have sex now and twenty minutes later he’s demanding it again, with the key word being 'demanding'. Although he’s never hit me, he's come close lately so it was this or a very ugly separation. Besides, I think that he’s got his current love interest here on this trip.”

“What makes you think that?”

“When we were boarding, he told me to go on ahead because he saw a previous client and wanted to see how they were doing. When he finally caught up with me with this boy, and I do mean boy, because he didn’t look a day over eighteen and he was runway gorgeous, he passes him off as his friend’s son.”

“Definitely cheating and I’m sorry that you have to go through that. At least my guy has been true to me and me to him,” he said, keeping Joshua’s past affair with his father to himself. “Now, handsome, about these masks,” he said.

“On the count of three we remove them. On, two and three,” he said, and they both removed their masks and looked at each other.”

“Terrell, oh my goodness. I am so fucking lucky that I got you.” Andrew exclaimed and threw his arms around Terrell’s neck.

“Andrew? Really? It’s really you and I’m not just imagining it? But I always thought that you and Josh were solid.”

“Everyone does, and I hope that he’s as lucky as I am tonight because there’s no way that I’m giving you up,” he said and kissed Terrell hard and passionately with his hands fisted in Terrell’s hair. “I only have one question and that is, your room or mine?”

“We’ll have to go to your room because Richard told me earlier that he’s got dibs on our room tonight. I hope that you don’t mind?”

“As far as I know we can unless Josh got there first. If he did, he said that he would put the Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob.”

“I really don’t care as long as I get to have you all to myself, then this deckchair here is fine. I’m not going to be the kind of man who demands that his partner be at my beck and call, sexually, Andrew. I’m happy to just hold you and get to know you as a person. I believe that a lasting relationship is built on trust and honesty as its foundation and then you add onto that foundation.”

“I’m truly lucky, Terrell, that we're matched together because I believe in the same thing. That’s what I think kept Josh and me from growing was because we lacked honesty. We had the trust part down pat but we both held back things instead of revealing them to one another. Neither of us wanted to hurt the other so we became what we thought each other wanted.”

“I want us both to make a vow right now to first, we are never to go to bed angry. I want us to hash out our problems even if it takes us all night. Secondly, we promise to tell each other when one or the other hurts by words or deeds. And the most important one is to sincerely say 'I love you' at the start and end of each day.”

“I totally agree with all that whole heartily and I would like to add one more thing to our vows, that we apologize when we are wrong, and mean it. I’ve seen too many couples hurt each other and never admit their guilt or apologize.”

“Noted, I agree, and it’s added honey. Now let’s see where we get to spend the night.” Terrell said leading Andrew arm in arm back to his stateroom.

“Did you hear that? It sounded like someone called my name,” I said looking around but there’s only us on the deck, so we walk on.

“I didn’t hear anything but then Andrew, there’s nothing but you for me,” he said and we walked on. “It looks like Eric got lucky,” Terrell said pointing to the Do Not Disturb sign that was hanging from the doorknob.

“I wonder who he ended up with? I hope that Josh finds a match who is equal to him because he deserves someone who will give to him what he needs. He’s a very needy guy, emotionally.”

“Too bad we didn’t know these things before this gala about the four of us. Eric’s been so used throughout his dating years that he’s become drawn to guys who are emotionally needy but not emotionally stable.”

“Don’t get me wrong about Josh, he’s not emotionally dependent or unstable by a long shot. He will be the first one there to offer support emotionally and physically to his partner. My problem is that I couldn’t match him emotionally or keep up with his energy levels. I've wanted my equal for the longest time and I think that I found him tonight in you, Terrell.”

“I’m known to give more than I get, handsome. So talking about giving…”

“I’m so into receiving sweetie, “I said, giving Terrell a wicked hot kiss. 

Terrell removed his costume and he was left wearing just his boxer briefs and tee shirt. Every muscle of his body was straining against the taught fabric, like it was just hoping to tear free. His body was that of a man who knows hard sessions of working out, because his arms, legs, abs and chest show the results of his efforts at maintaining what God has blessed him with. I looked at his blonde hair and dreamy blue eyes and I could see that he wanted to melt into my eyes, because I was so lost in his beautiful eyes.

"Get over here," he said sternly.

"Why?" I nervously asked.

"Get your ass over here, now," he said once again with authority and standing tall with his hands on his hips. 

"I... I'm here… Sir." I whispered and lower my eyes in submission to him.

"Come closer ... right here," he demanded and pointed to the spot in front of him, and this role-playing was really turning me on.

I moved to stand closer to him. He stepped forward, placed his hands on my shoulders and pulled him to him. I know that he can feel the slender delicateness of my body, but I also feel the vitality of his heat mixed with his masculinity. 

“I want you to know that’s the last time that I will ever demand anything from you.”

“Oh my God, why? Does it bother you that I’m not as muscular as you are Terrell?”

“You are perfect just the way you are, my love, and I wouldn’t have you any other way. Why?” he asked.

“Although Josh never said so, I always got the impression that he prefers his men more masculine, whereas my physique leans towards the more feminine side.” I blushed horribly just having mentioned that to a man like Terrell and looked away from him.

He placed his fingers beneath my chin and pulled my head up until our eyes were locked together.

“Then not only did Joshua not appreciate what he had, but he evidently needs his mind examined. You're perfect for me and I don’t ever want you thinking that you aren’t, babe. If you want to be more muscular, then I can help you with that, but I want you to do it because you want to and not because you think I want you to.” 

“Wow, now you are going to have me crying because no one has ever looked at me like you are, Terrell. It’s like whenever you see me you are seeing…”

“Perfection,” Terrell finished and I did start crying against his chest. “Oh baby doll, please don’t cry because you break my heart when you do,” he said, pulling my head up and covering my mouth with his.

I could feel his heat through my own costume, and my cock was pulsing against his. I've always been drawn to the masculine type, a man’s man type of guy and this sudden, overwhelming attraction to Terrell and his absolute masculinity took my senses by storm, but in a very good way. His eyes locked with those of mine, he stood wide eyed, speechless, his chest pressing tightly to me and my heart was pounding and matching the very rhythm of his. 

Andrew smiled at me; it was a beautiful smile and as if time moved in slow motion, I lowered my lips to his and kissed him in a way he would know that he'd never have to change for me because he was perfect for me just as he was.

Wow, I’d been kissed before but never like that. I expected the kiss to be heated, commanding, but it was light, as if my lips had been caressed with a feather's touch and a fire brand all at the same time.” 

He sighed and the kiss deepened when my tongue brushed demandingly across his lips, demanding that they open. He parted his lips, his teeth and instantly, my tongue penetrated his mouth and took dominion over it. It is then that our hunger and need rose and my tongue pressed deeper into his mouth, filling us with a fiery passion. We were consumed with a sensual fire as my mouth continued to move over his and his lips were searing mine.  

Suddenly Terrell’s tongue had become an instrument of fire which ignited raging fires everywhere it touched. He moved from my mouth, to my ear and caressingly down the length of my neck, stopping at the collar of my costume.

I hurried to remove my costume and he gasped when he saw that I was completely naked beneath it. With new flesh to devour, he was like General Sherman on his burning march through Georgia. Terrell was setting me ablaze with his tongue everywhere it touched.

“You’re setting me on fire, Terrell,” I cautiously told him, not yet knowing where he was taking me, or us.

“That’s my intention, my precious one,” he endearingly whispered and I had never felt so wanted and loved before.

He stepped back and looked at my naked body that was on display before him. I had never felt so embarrassed and yet at the same time, deeply desired as I was then under the scrutiny of his eyes.

"You're so damn beautiful," Terrell whispered as his hands rested gently on my shoulders and his eyes taking in the beauty of the man who stood before him.

“I’m not the type of man who you’re probably used to having Terrell, and I’m sorry. My dad always told me that I was built more like a girl than a boy,” I confessed as my insecurities rose and with tears welling up in my eyes.

“Then I’m sorry to say this, but your father was an asshole and never appreciated the son that he had. From this night forward there’s to be no more talk of your body being anything less than perfect. There’s only us, Andrew and Terrell, from now on and no one will ever put you down and walk away unscathed.”

“Why couldn’t I have met you years ago, Terrell, before time and poor choices did harm to me?”

“I don’t think that you would have liked me years ago, Andrew. It took me losing someone I didn’t value until it was too late for me to see what a dickhead I was. My brother and friends all tried to tell me that I was going to lose Jacob, but I wouldn’t listen. I was this hot shot model that magazines and fashion designers the world over sought after, and I had an ego to match the high salary that I commanded. Then Jacob walked away and his leaving devastated me. I just up and quit my modeling career and shortly after was when I met my karma in Richard. So you see, Andrew, I’m not perfect, but I have learned a very hard and costly lesson. Now here’s your one opportunity to either run for your life or stay and let me prove that I can and will love you as you deserve.” 

My answer wasn’t in words but in actions as I removed his tee shirt and left him standing there in front of me in just his boxer briefs. Terrell was standing in the middle of the room wearing nothing but the smallest pair of black boxer briefs and I could see why he was not only a world class model but why he was so sought after as well. He was basically naked, every muscle defined and perfect. Then my eyes locked onto the muscles of his abdomen and they were all funneling down to a V pointing toward his crotch like a huge fucking arrow pointing directly towards his cock. The sight of that man before me, for lack of a better word, is … pornographic. My man was sex on two feet and he was all mine. His eyes locked with mine and I blushed, my nipples grew taut and tall as I stood there naked and his eyes taking in every square inch of my body. I couldn’t wait to see what was beneath those sexy black briefs so I placed my thumbs under the waistband and sensuously eased them down his manly, muscular legs.

“You’re more than handsome, Terrell, you’re like a Greek god captured by Michelangelo in a perfect marble sculpture that’s come to life just for me. Your skin is flawless and perfect, my precious man, and I know that I should be worshiping you, but instead, I hope that you will allow me to love you with all my heart and being for the rest of my life.” 

I don’t care if he’s just saying those words to get what he wants because I would sell my soul to have this man and his love for just one night. The strange thing is, I know beyond all doubt that he means every word that he’s saying to me because he’s been unloved by men like I once was, and he sees in me something that he wants and needs more than life itself, love. I lowered my lips down to his sensitive nubs, caressing them with my tongue and then I nibbled on one before sucking it into my mouth, causing him to moan in delight.

"You don't have to do this, Terrell," I heard him saying, but inside my mind I was saying, 'yes I do'.

"Yes I do, beautiful," I whispered back and my voice was husky with lust. "You are so beautiful and deserve to be adored and worshiped more than I," I added before I took control of the other nipple.

He began crying and I instantly stopped and looked up at him thinking that I may have hurt him.

“Have I caused you pain or insulted you, darling?” I asked in a panic.

“On the contrary, you’ve done everything right. It’s me who’s wrong, Terrell, not you,” he said and quickly turned his head away.

“What is it then, that you aren’t telling me Andrew?” 

“I’ve never told anyone about my family. Not even Richard knows. Everyone thinks that I’m an only child and that my parents are dead. The truth is … and I’ll understand if you want nothing to do with me once you know the truth, Terrell.”

“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. Now tell me the story of you,” I old him and I cuddled him closely to me.

“I’m not originally from Florida like I’ve told everyone, but from Memphis, Tennessee. I was raised by my single dad because he drove my mother into an early grave. I have one twin brother, Aaron. I’m not sure where he’s at because I ran away before he could. He stole six hundred dollars from our father and gave it to me along with a bus ticket to Florida.”

“Why did you run away, honey?”

“Well you see, Terrell, I was always small and, as Richard says delicate. That embarrassed my father, especially whenever he had his drinking buddies over. I remember this one friend of his, Dan Reynolds, well he kept watching me this one night as they drank and played cards and he creeped me out. To make a long story short, he offered my father one hundred dollars if he could have his sexual way with me. At first Dad thought that he was joking but when Dan gave him that sadistic smile of his; it kind of freaked my father out. Then Dan upped it to one-seventy-five and my old man nodded and took the money. “I never took you for a homo,” he told his friend. “I’m not but that kid of yours looks so much like a girl that he’s getting me horny.” Well, Dad led him to my room where I had run off to and told me to obey his friend or he would beat me. Terrell, Dan raped me so badly that if it hadn’t been for Aaron, he would have sent me to the hospital. Aaron came running in with his baseball bat and started hitting Dan until my old man came in and stopped him. He saw how badly I was bleeding and told his friend that he had to go.”

“What happened to Aaron?”

“He got a beating for interfering with stuff that wasn’t any of his concern.”

“Andrew, are you thinking that I’m no different than that man that used you,” he asked me and I was surprised by the tears in his eyes.

“Not so much in that you would be cruel and hurt me like he did, but look at you, Terrell, you’re masculine and I’m almost feminine. What would someone who’s so muscular and manly want with me? I’d be an embarrassment for you to be seen with you in public. I know, because I’ve been told that my entire life. Aaron is the only one who has never been embarrassed to be seen with me.”

******* 

I grew quiet because I could see that revealing himself to me not only took tremendous courage but it had bothered him deeply.

“I’m sorry, Terrell, to upset you. Why don’t you fuck me and leave?” he asked and I was appalled at that. I thought that had I been in his place, then I would be feeling like life was dooming me to a future of one night stands or loveless affairs.

“I’ve listened to you, Andrew, and now you are going to listen to me. Yes I find you to be beautiful and somewhat feminine but not overly so. But what you don’t know is this; I’m attracted to your softness. I’ve had a few partners and they have all been masculine and quite Neanderthal in their thinking. I’m basically versatile when it comes to sexual positions and not because I wanted to be but because I had to be. I never wanted to be a bottom, but it was forced on me by my partners who told me that they were dedicated tops and if I wanted to keep them I had best bottom or leave. So I lowered my standards and my self esteem to become a bottom. I’m very attracted to you, Andrew, both physically and emotionally. I’m not stupid enough to say that I’m in love with you right now, but I do love you, if that makes sense. But I will also tell you that I have these very strong feelings to protect you, and that I would like to see where our match up could go. I haven’t known you all that long, maybe a few months all together from hanging out with Marc and Brandon but from being with you during that time, I’ve come to trust you. I can truthfully say that, that is not something I do easily. In fact, you are the first guy whom I have given my trust to, other than Eric.”

“I’ve had strong feelings for you, Terrell, since that first day that I met you and our eyes met. I don’t know about you but something was said between our souls when our eyes connected.”

“I felt it also.”

“I could tell, but I was afraid to let my heart fall because you were so masculine and you were with Richard, and I was with Josh.”

“You are the only one who calls me by my given name, Andrew. I grew up hating my name and told people that my name was Jonas, which is really my middle name. But my name, when it comes from your mouth, is like a hymn to my ears. I cannot tell you where this relationship will take us, because you are technically still with Richard, right? But if you are ever free and willing, I’m willing and I’d like to see where it will take us.”

“I’m willing, and tomorrow I will be free because I’m setting that cheating bastard loose,” he told me and stepped back into my arms. 

Terrell’s tongue was now moving again, moving farther downward and leaving a trail of burning flesh behind it. Something inside of me erupted deliciously. Fire was coursing through me, filling and consuming me. I had felt ashamed, but after our conversation I felt cherished and have hope for the future.

Here I am about to give my body to a man whom I’d met but a few months before and know very little about him. Never in my life have I ever gone to bed with a man who I've just met. I've always insisted that we get to know one another first; not even with Richard did I sleep with him before knowing him better, and even with him, I was foolish. 

“I’m not only giving you my body, but I’m giving you my heart and soul,” I told him and I inhaled sharply, when I felt the heat of his mouth as it engulfed my cock.

I looked down at the handsome man who was kneeling before me and I watch as my cock moves smoothly in and out of his mouth. I moved my fingers over the softness of his hair and moaned, feeling my edge moving closer as this handsome man worked his magic on my throbbing cock.

"I'm close, Terrell ... so fucking close," I warned.

He dropped my cock, stood and lifted me up into his muscular arms, walking over to the bed where he gently lay me down upon it. I lay there watching as he simply smiled at me as if he were seeing something precious. He stood there momentarily naked, and I gasped at the length and girth of his manhood. I had always thought that Joshua’s cock was the biggest I’d seen, but Terrell’s cock beat it by several inches.

"I'll be gentle, sweetheart," he whispered as he moved atop me, having seen the fear in my eyes.

I could only nod, but more so, I wanted it in me because I wanted to please him. I was relishing the fire that threatened to consume me as he resumed caressing down my body with his tongue. My very insides shook, trembled and something deep within me burned uncontrollably with need, a need for this man's cock to be buried deep inside me. Suddenly I felt my legs moving up and onto his shoulders and then his tongue caressed and delved into my velvet sheath. My head was tossing to and fro as he made love to my ass with his tongue. In my mind, I knew that I wasn't this man's first, but heaven help me, I hoped to be his last. I came back from my thoughts to find his mouth taking mine prisoner as he kissed me heatedly. 

"I promise not to give more than you can take," he whispered as I felt his engorged manhood moving into my heat.

I arched my back, my head tossed backward as Terrell held himself up on his hands, and his cock moved inch by painful inch into me, stretching my sheath. My fingers dug into his shoulders and I cried out when he I felt his balls resting against my own.

"That's it baby ... I haven't anymore to give you," he said as if in shock, unable to believe that I had taken every inch of him, because it was something that no other man has ever been able to do. “Are you alright, my beautiful one," he sincerely asked and I nodded as my eyes clouded over with tears, and I willed away the pain and let it be replaced with ecstasy.

I did it; I’d taken all of his cock and I smiled up at him and nodded.

"I'm fine, my honey, now make love to me," I whispered and pulled his lips to mine for a passionate kiss.

He slowly withdrew and then thrust slow and easy into me, letting me get used to his size. I wrapped my legs around his waist and began moving to meet his thrusts, needing all of his cock inside of me. 

We were there because we wanted to be, and if all that we could or would have were only a few hours of unbridled sex with no promises of love, then so be it. I wanted, no I needed to be desired, and he desired me. Terrell was moving faster and harder into me and his thrusts were hungry and every inch that of a man. He had caused a fire in me and it was something that Richard and the few other guys in my life had never been able to do. I felt that I would soon erupt into a burning mass of flesh as Terrell’s cock thrust unmercifully into my tortured depths. It felt like just moments that we’ve been fucking, but in reality, it had been over an hour that Terrell had been ravaging my insides. I could feel each stab, each violent caress of my inner nub, and I was about to explode with such violence that I screamed.

"Aaaaagggghhhhh fuck me, honey, I’m coming," I screamed out as I dug my nails into his ass and pulled him to me so that I could kiss him as I erupted with volcanic force and coating the skin between us. 

I’d never experienced such a climax, such volume of sperm as I had then experienced with Terrell. Then I knew why. Terrell was one hundred percent male and there wasn’t a single feminine thread of flesh or sinew in him. But that’s not the only reason that the moment was so special, so unique. Terrell saw me as me and he accepted me just as I was. There was no preamble, no wam- bam-thank-you-sir and then scram with him. He took his time to make sure that not only was I safe with his size but he satisfied me first and then himself.

"Fuuuuuuuuck I’m coming, baby love," Terrell howled with dominance and thrust one more time, stayed and blasted violently into my love canal, before he began to thrust hard, fast and deep again.

I felt each blast, each violent explosion and thrust as he spewed his seed deep into my bowels. My hips thrust up as fast as his to meet each thrust that he'd given me. We were both moaning in ecstasy until exhaustion claimed us. He fell hard and heavy onto me, knocking the very breath from me and claiming as his, my mouth. My arms held a strangling grip around his sinewed neck while his hands cupped my ass and pulled me ever closer with his cock still embedded deeply in me.

"Damn, sweetheart, that was the best love-making that I ever had," Terrell huskily said as he pulled his spent cock from me.

“Thank you for that, sweetheart.”

“Why are you thanking me for making love to you?”

“Because everyone else, including Josh, calls it fucking and you were the first man in my life to call it love-making,” I told him as I willed back the tears that threatened to fall.

“How can it be anything but making love, when I’m doing it with a precious man like you, babe?”

He rolled to his back and pulled me as close as I could get to his side. My head was resting on his chest with my arm across his waist and his arms holding me as sleep claimed us.

To be continued...