STORY EXCERPT

Being out of work couldn’t have come at a worst time. With his wife and kids gone, Ben was well aware that he had too much time to sit around and think. With a little savings tucked away he wasn’t worried about money yet. Something would come along, it always did. His ability to work well with his hands came in handy since it meant being able to work at many things. Sitting back staring mindlessly at the TV, he scanned the channels looking for something interesting to watch. He settled on Three’s Company. It was the episode about the big misunderstanding. Nobody could do physical comedy like the actors on that show. God, he loved Ritter!

Sitting in just his boxer shorts and a white T-shirt, he tried not to think about the stressors that had come into his life. He desperately needed to unwind, and when the phone rang, he debated whether or not he would answer it or let the machine take it. On the third ring he reached out and picked up the receiver. “Hello.”

“Hey,” said the other voice on the end of the line. “It’s Craig Lindsay.”

His cheeks turned red when he thought about the attraction he’d had for that guy. “Hey, what’s up?” He hadn’t the sweetest clue as to why Craig would be calling him. He was listed in the book and that’s how he guessed that Craig got his number.

“The usual hard work and slugging it out,” Craig replied with an added laugh. “But I do have a specific reason to call you. There’s a guy who’s new to town. His name is Dave Heatherington.”

“No thanks,” Ben said quickly, cutting him off. “I’m not interested and in no way ready to date or make my private life known.”

“Hold off, man. I’m not trying to set you up.”

Ben sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly feeling stupid. “Sorry, I’m a little on edge.”

“I guess you are. Maybe I should call back at another time?”

“No, I’m fine. Shoot.”

“He bought an inn right here in town and it’s in dire need of renovations. He came into the bakery this morning and we got to talking about it. He needs help and I immediately thought of you. So I suggested to him that I’d give you a call with his details.”

 “Give me his number. I’ll give him a call.” He reached for a pen and piece of paper. He jotted down the name and number of the inn’s owner and thanked Craig for calling. He still felt like a douche, but figured that Craig would overlook it.

“Ben,” Craig said. “If you need to talk or anything you can come around. I’m here pretty much all of the time or up in the apartment. I know how things can be. Just sayin’.”

“The divorce came through. Rebecca’s gone off with her man and she took the kids. I knew it was going to happen, but it’s going to take me a bit to adjust.”

“I didn’t know. I’m sorry to hear that. Like I said, if you ever need to talk or just a listening ear.”

Craig sounded genuine and Ben knew he was a stand-up guy. Talking however, he wasn’t sure that he was at that point yet. “Thanks. Thanks for offering. I’ll keep that in mind.” He glanced down at the snippet of paper in his hand. It was potential work, and at this time what else did he have to keep his mind and body occupied. He picked up the phone. “Dave Heatherington,” he said to the air around him. “Definitely not from these parts.”

* * * *

“It isn’t so bad,” Dave said, standing in the middle of the rather outdated country-style kitchen with its red and white gingham curtains. He put the boxes from the bakery down on the island before sitting down himself. Binging on starchy carbs and high-quality coffee would help ease his suffering momentarily, but he had to face the fact that he’d bought a bitter lemon. Firing up the coffeemaker, he glanced at the yet-to-be-opened boxes wondering how fast he could eat two cupcakes. When his cell phone vibrated against his thigh, he nearly jumped out of his skin. “Hello, this is Dave,” he answered, doing his best to sound nice and pleasant.

“Hey,” said the male voice on the other end of the line. “Craig Lindsay gave me your name and number. He said that you were looking for someone to do renovations?”

“That was quick, but yes I am indeed. You are?”

“Ben Charmer. That was extremely rude of me. I should have introduced myself up front before saying anything else.”

If you could judge a man’s looks based on his voice alone, Dave guessed that the man speaking was gorgeous. Already his mind was taken away from his problems as he listened to Ben speak. “That’s okay. How much did Craig tell you?”

“Just that you bought an inn that needed work done with it.”

“You’re experienced?” He bit down on his bottom lip right after the words left his mouth. It had been far too long since he’d had a man in his bed. “I mean, you know what you’re doing.” He cleared his throat as he waited for Ben to respond. His mind had long gone far into the gutter making him feel desperate and pathetic in so many ways.

“I do good work. I work hard. I’m very good with my hands.”

“You can drop by on Monday to see what needs to be done for yourself. That’s the best thing to do.”

“Great,” Ben replied. There was a pause. “The address?”

Dave gave it to him before ending the call. When he placed the phone back in his pocket, he shook his head. “You’d think you never talked to a man before. Get your mind out of your pants, Heatherington. You’re starting to come across as being cheap!”

ADULT EXCERPT

“Yes. You don’t know what it’s like living in a place like this. Being closeted is hell. I’ve kept all of it inside. It’s been there all along, but I buried it deep inside hoping that it would never rise to the surface. People here are not so accepting of others who are different. I had my wife and my kids to protect. Their happiness came way ahead of mine.”

“I won’t even begin to pretend that I know what you’ve gone through, Ben. I’ve been out for most of my life. I’ve never had anyone else to worry about. It’s always been just me pretty much. My family knew about me, and they’ve accepted my being gay right away.”

“From the moment we met, I wanted to kiss you. I want you to touch me. I want to touch you.” Ben turned. “I know you want me, too. Don’t deny your feelings.”

* * * *

Ben was right. He did have feelings for the man who sat next to him on the bed. It wasn’t love, Dave was sure of that. They had chemistry. They shared a heat that drew them together. “I’m not denying that I think you are totally hot. I’m a gay man, and from the little I know about you you’re a good catch.” He didn’t get a chance to say anything else when it happened, Ben kissed him. The kiss was hard with a sense of need coming from Ben. Dave returned it with just as much vigor, if not more. To hell with everything, he wanted it, too. “And you said you didn’t have any experience.” Dave pulled back a little. Their noses still touched. “You could have fooled me with that kiss… Wow!”

“There’s only one way to learn,” Ben replied. “You can’t tell me that you didn’t like it because one glance at your crotch tells me differently.”

“You’re very observant,” Dave said slowly. Ben’s stubbled cheek and jaw had felt so sexy as it rubbed against his own as they kissed. Ben possessed one hell of a talented tongue. If he was that good at kissing, Dave couldn’t help but imagine what he’d be like in bed with that tight workman’s body. “You’re making this very hard.”

“I was about to say the same thing,” Ben replied, grabbing Dave’s crotch and squeezing. “That’s the best answer you could give me right there in my hand. You want me just as much as I want you.”

“You’re not playing fair.”

“I’m not playing.”

Dave watched as Ben slid from the bed to the floor in front of him. On his knees, he looked up at Dave. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m taking control of the situation.” Ben smiled as he buried his face into Dave’s crotch.

 It was such an intimate moment between them. Dave’s heart felt like it was beating a mile a minute inside his chest and the air in the room had grown thick with desire. Here was this hunk of a man practically worshipping him and he wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Usually it was him who did his best to provide pleasure to his partners. “That feels good,” he murmured. Overhead, the rain could still be heard pouring down on the roof of the trailer. A fine sweat broke out on his brow as he raised his hips to allow Ben access to all of him. It was too hot for clothes anyway.

* * * *

With Dave exposed to him, Ben sat back on his heels. He gripped Dave’s throbbing cock and started to jack it slowly, mesmerized at how smooth it felt against the palm of his hand. This was the first time he’d ever felt a cock other than his own. Leaning back in, he looked up at Dave again before licking the shaft up and down seductively. The sexual tension between them was about to explode as Ben tasted Dave’s hot cock. He’d wanted this for so long. He’d dreamt about it and fantasized about what it would be like to have sex with a man for as far back as he could recollect. It was everything he’d ever expected and so much more. It helped that Dave turned him on to no end. Being new to this, he wasn’t quite sure if he was doing things right. “How’s that?” he asked.

“Ah…That’s pretty good. If I didn’t know better I’d say that you’ve done this before. God, you look so sexy with my dick in your hand.”

“The night is young,” Ben replied. “I plan to do a whole lot more before morning comes.”

“Promises, promises. Get up on the bed with me,” Dave said, motioning to him. “I have some pretty sweet ideas of my own.”