String Bean, Chapter 3
The first half of the ride back to the acreage passed almost totally in companionable silence. Ethan couldn't think of anything of consequence to say that might be of comfort, and Lyman was lost in thought, pondering Marlys's words.
Marlys was special. She was wise and loving. She didn't expect him to carry the torch for her son all the way to the grave. She wanted him to find love and have a full life just as she had after her first husband died.
It struck Lyman that in all their conversations, Kevin had never mentioned Ted's not being his biological father. The bond between man and boy had been such that the subject never arose.
Wow! Maybe he could love again without feeling guilty. God, he hoped what Marlys claimed to have observed was true. Maybe Ethan could become his soulmate. If Kevin's mother was correct in her assessment, it would be up to Lyman to make the first move. Maybe he'd test the waters on the rest of the journey home.
On the road again after a pit-stop around the halfway point, Lyman reached over to hold Ethan's hand when he'd let it rest on his leg after shifting gears. Ethan turned his face toward his companion for a split second and smiled, hoping his touch was an omen of things to come. In his heart he had to admit he was developing deep feelings for Lyman. He didn't want to do it prematurely, but he hoped to be able to express them someday.
A six-hour round trip drive in addition to an emotional event can take a physical toll on men, even ones in their early 20's. They were nearly exhausted when they arrived at their destination.
They found a note from Laura taped on the door of their trailer saying that dinner would be at 6:15 and they should come over whenever they wanted, after they'd rested. It was a kind gesture which made them feel emotional all over again. What a treat not to have to cook a meal when they felt drained.
Roly wasn't there to greet them, which seemed a bit strange to Ethan. Then he figured that since Jordan and Jackson were home, the big canine was probably enjoying their company, and that was as it should be.
"We need to take a nap for sure," Ethan said. "Would you like to crawl into my bed with me? I could hold you like I did a year ago, I mean, um, if it's okay."
"Yes, thanks! That would be awesome. I want to feel the security of your arms around me."
In Ethan's bedroom they stripped to their underwear and climbed into bed. It was chilly enough (Ethan always kept the room a little on the cool side for Roly) to pull a comforter over them. The weight of the bedding added to their feeling of refuge.
Snuggled together, Lyman was out like a light. He'd not been this relaxed since before his deployment, back when Kevin had held him as they slept together. The only occasion close to it had been on that weekend about a year ago when Ethan had shared his grief.
Ethan awoke first and gently disentangled himself from his sleeping buddy. It was prudent of him to get up and move away from temptation. Had he stayed; he'd have been hard-pressed not to have kissed Lyman's angelic face. And that could have led to other things – things Lyman might not be ready for.
Lyman looked so vulnerable - almost as if he were too young to give legal consent.
The prospect of a shower and fresh clothing appealed to Ethan, so he decided to use his time to take care of that.
He was emerging from the stall just as Lyman came in to use the toilet. Ethan dried off quickly, trying to avoid a full-scale erection as Lyman pulled his underwear all the way off and headed into the shower. Fortunately, the guys were back to back when Ethan's cock sprang to full attention.
Clean and refreshed, the young men walked the few yards to the kitchen door of the main house just before 6:00. They didn't want to be late but didn't want to be too early either.
The whole family greeted them warmly. John offered them beers which both accepted. The males were all imbibing and Laura had a glass of wine on the counter near the range.
"You're looking remarkably good for having been gone for the time-span of a workday," she observed.
"That's due to a nap and a shower," Lyman said. "And Ethan did all the driving, so I didn't work too hard."
"But the emotional toll has to count as if it were a workday," John observed.
"Yes and no," Lyman nodded. "It was taxing, but it was also cleansing. I feel more at peace than I have in a long time."
"It's good to have closure," Jackson chimed in. "I can empathize."
The meal was delicious and the conversation pleasant. Afterwards, they played a few hands of cards. It was almost 9:00 when the guys returned to their accommodations. Roly tagged along.
"Um, would it be okay if I share your bed again tonight?" Lyman asked, hesitantly.
"Sure. You're always welcome."
"Can we snuggle and talk for a while?"
"Of course."
The two young men again stripped to their underwear and climbed in. Roly lay down at the foot of the bed and promptly began to snore. He seemed more laid-back than usual.
"I've been curious about something, and I hope I'm not pulling off emotional scabs by asking, but how did your family come to disown you at the very time Kevin passed?" Ethan asked.
"I don't mind talking about it. In fact, I thought I'd mentioned it before. When Marlys published his obit, the one the pastor read today, she listed me as his special friend,' as you heard. It's kind of a code for lover' without coming right out and saying so. She had no idea my parents, two states away, would see it.
"I'm not sure how they found out about his death, but I know they checked the website of the funeral home. The obit was posted there, and they didn't miss the significance of the wording. I got an email almost immediately, telling me I was no longer their son. So, when you took pity on me and dragged me off to that hotel, it was a lifesaver."
"Did I drag you?"
"No not really; I had to get away or I'd have gone crazy. Had Kevin been my wife, or maybe even girlfriend, the military would probably have granted me a short leave. Same-sex relationships don't usually rate the same.
"Um, to change the subject slightly, do you think promises are eternal?" Lyman wondered aloud.
"I guess they must not be, considering all the divorces in the newspaper. Of course, you might wonder how sincerely some of those vows were made in the first place."
"I suppose they dissolve when one of the party dies."
"Well, yeah. I guess that's why the `till death do us part' is in the wedding vows," Ethan continued.
"But what if the promise was made to a person who's still living?"
"Maybe I'm too much into situational ethics, but I believe there are some circumstances where it could be a good thing to break a promise. What if I promised to kill you if you hogged the covers and then changed my mind?" Ethan grinned, tugging on the comforter.
"That would be a threat, not a promise."
"It amounts to the same thing sometimes. So, what do you have in mind?"
"Well, um, when I promised I wouldn't try to turn you gay, I might have been hasty. I regret making that vow. If I broke it, would that be okay?"
Lyman was aware of the sound of his own heart in the seconds of quiet which followed his statement. He wondered if he'd gone too far.
Instead of answering, Ethan rolled over and kissed Lyman gently on the lips. Lyman threw his arms around him and returned his kiss with passion.
When they came up for air, it was obvious both were turned on.
"You know where this could lead," Ethan cautioned.
"Yes! I'm not sure I can accommodate that sword of yours without working up to it. It's been a long time."
"There are other ways to express our desire for each other if you're sure it's not too soon. Are you familiar with the term, frottage?"
"I've bumped up against it a time or two," Lyman joked.
"Ooh, you're such a smart-ass!"
Their hands explored the contents of each other's briefs, which they soon shed completely. Ethan pulled Lyman on top of himself and they began to gyrate their hips while kissing deeply. It didn't take long for their passion to reach critical mass.
"Oh God, I'm gonna cum like a stallion!" Lyman nearly screamed when he broke their lip-lock.
He wasn't exaggerating. His eruption flooded the tight space between their taut abs. Ethan began to spew before Lyman was finished. The result was a huge combined load.
They quickly returned to sensual, almost savage kissing. It was as if they were trying to eat each other up in their hunger.
"Have you ever tasted this stuff?" Ethan asked, playing in the slipperiness of their seed.
"Well, duh!"
"Silly me," Ethan grinned as he ran two fingers of his right had between their bodies and brought them toward Lyman's mouth.
Both licked them off and kissed again. Lyman scooped up more of their load which they shared, tongue-wresting in the process.
"So, in answer to my question to breaking a promise, was that a `yes?'"
"That was a `fuck yes!!!' But you didn't turn me gay."
"So, you're straight and this is a one-time thing?" Lyman cringed.
"Definitely not. Please let me finish before you jump to conclusions. I never thought about my orientation one way or the other growing up. Sure, I checked out other boys' dicks from the time I sprouted pubes, but I always thought it was to see how I measured up. I didn't know anyone who was gay.
"I've had sex with girls, and I figured what I experienced was all there was, if you know what I mean. You changed all that when you returned my kiss. So, maybe you did fulfill the gay agenda and convert me."
"Are you serious?"
"Nope. Not about changing me. I began having feelings for you a year ago when we comforted each other. I'm not talking about lust but internal, heart-felt connections. Those have become stronger each day we've been together. I think I finally know the meaning of the `L' word. So, for sure this isn't a one-night stand. I wish it could be forever."
"Maybe it can."
Sometime after midnight, Lyman had a surreal dream. The colors were vivid, and forms seemed to morph from one shape to another. Some things were logical, and others were just plain weird. Ethan and he were making out on a bale of hay in the stable, their bodies writhing together. Lyman opened his eyes and saw Kevin standing near them. He was suddenly afraid that Kevin would be crushed, and he cried out. However, Kevin smiled and waved before he kind of evaporated into particles like someone being teleported in a sci-fi movie.
Roly was on duty in an instant and laid his furry head on the bed next to Lyman who instinctively patted it. Both man and dog settled down to sleep quickly.
In the morning, Lyman woke up at the time they usually did. He stretched and yawned before turning toward his still-sleeping companion. Knowing they'd have to get up soon, he reached over to touch him, sensing the heat and weight of his morning wood. It felt wonderful in his hand.
"Careful, that thing's loaded, and it could go off and blast you," Ethan muttered, sleepily.
"I'll take my chance of being drowned in its fluids," Lyman giggled.
Ethan smiled. It was the first time he'd heard the lilting sound o Lyman's laughter. It reminded him of a child at play.
"I suppose we'd better take a quick shower, so we don't smell like decaying sperm," Lyman suggested.
"The horses wouldn't object, but the other guys might tease us if they get wind of it.
"Okay, why don't you start the shower and I'll nuke our oatmeal. If we're in there naked together, I'm not sure we wouldn't get all covered in jizz again."
And so, the pair began their day smelling fresh and having taken enough nourishment to keep body and soul together until they were better fed.
All four young men cavorted in the pasture with Roly and Starboy. The animals seemed to be happy that the university boys were home. In their own way, they must have missed them.
Snowy weather was predicted for the next day, so it was a good time to allow all the horses time in the open air. The ones that had boarded there for a while were fine together, but two of the newer mounts were apt to kick and bite until they settled in. Therefore, the guys spent quite a bit of time outdoors too.
Jackson shared his high-protein energy bars with them. He was trying not to pack on any holiday pounds that he'd have to shed before his next wrestling match.
Laura called them in for lunch around 11:45, assuring them that the main bunch of animals would be fine in their absence.
"It's so nice being fed," Lyman said to Laura.
"Does Ethan starve you?" she joked.
"No, it's just that it's kind of you to treat us to your excellent cooking."
"So, I'm lousy at it?" Ethan feigned offence.
"Don't gang up on me!" Lyman laughed. "You know what I mean. You all make me feel like one of the family."
"You are!" Laura insisted. "You might not be the youngest, but you're my newest son. I have to adopt you like I have Jackson and Ethan."
"Are adopted sons forbidden to love each other? I mean not just as brothers. Yesterday it finally dawned on me that I have, um, real feelings for this guy," he said, putting an arm around Ethan's waist.
Ethan rested his arm on Lyman's shoulder in return.
"That's good!" Laura smiled. "I know it's hard, but life does continue."
"Yup," Lyman nodded. "I'm going to live it to the fullest.
There was a snowstorm just before Christmas, but it wasn't extensive enough to make travel hazardous. The family drove in two vehicles to an early Christmas Eve service at the Methodist Church in Lisbon.
Afterwards, they drank eggnog and opened a few presents. No one seemed to want to stay up late. It was likely each couple had something else in mind.
New Year's Eve was especially meaningful for Jordan because it brought back memories of Jackson's entrance into his life the previous year. He hoped they'd be able to commemorate it without his parents overhearing the extent of their passion. Jordan's orgasms tended to be vocal.
John and Laura would be at a party hosted by his supervisor from work and he felt they should stay for a few hours at least. However, they'd likely be home shortly after midnight.
Ethan came up with an invitation that pleased Jordan and Jackson.
"How `bout you guys plan to party with us. We're not big drinkers, but we might have a couple of beers or Mike's. You're welcome to stay the night. We have a spare room since Lyman's sharing my bed from now on."
"Awesome! We'll make some snacks if you can get the alcohol. We might get IDed," Jordan said.
The young men didn't eat and drink a lot. They mostly had a good time getting to know each other better. When Ethan excused Lyman and himself for bed before midnight, the others didn't object. They were eager to celebrate in private too.
Roly chose to sleep in the stable near Starboy.
Ethan greeted the New Year with a change in the status of his virginity and a huge smile on his face...
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Author's notes: Thanks to those of you who have made this journey with me. This week, I heard from Paul F, JLF, Bill T, Walter S, Ott H, Ray M, Cary and Ken, Bill K, Tim T, Frank K, Rich H, John L, Michael McM, Tom A, Paul R, and Allen.
Thanks to David for editing.
Thanks to Nifty for providing the venue.
http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html
I'm not sure how soon I'll post again. I have one very short story I could send in the "beginnings) genre. I'm writing some other things, but I'm not certain when they'll be ready.
Hope your summer is going well.
David