Exposed: Chapter 32
Sunday looked like it was going to be a great day, and at breakfast, James suggested they go to Maspalomas Beach and Sand Dunes. On the island's southern side, the Maspalomas Sand Dunes were Gran Canaria's most famous attraction. The dunes looked like a mini Sahara Desert and the beach is large and sandy. After James explained what Maspalomas was, the guys were all in.
Prince Michael II allowed his sons to join the group on two conditions. First, Ivan had to go along. Second, they had to keep their swimsuits on. Playa de Maspalomas was divided into sections and in addition to the general public beaches, there were sections for nudist and gay visitors. As Prince Michael said to his sons, "Your Grandmother does not want to open her copy of Evenimentul Zilei tomorrow morning and see the two of you showing off the royal family jewels."
That caused all the guys to laugh, but Weston said, "That's probably advice we should all take. While normally most of us wouldn't have to worry about one of our dick pics making the front page of the Post if you're standing next to James you might just be collateral damage for the paparazzi."
"Yeah," Kip said looking at James, "The last thing I want is a side-by-side comparison with Cockzilla over there." James blushed and the guys laughed.
When they got to Maspalomas, the first thing they did was walk the trails in the dunes, and then they got pictures in front of the 1890 Maspalomas Lighthouse. Ivan took the pictures with Michael's phone, and Michael immediately sent copies to the entire group. The only photo that everyone didn't get was of Brock and James kissing. Only Brock and James got that photo, and then Michael deleted it from his phone.
The air temperature was 75 degrees, but the sand was getting warm, and it felt good to horse around in the ocean. Around noon, James found one of the food kiosks on the beach and ordered a lot of overpriced and underwhelming food for the group. However, when feeding teenage boys, the rule is always quantity over quality.
They spent most of the afternoon soaking up the sun, and no one was happier than Brock to escape the cold of New England. James was lying on a beach towel with a hat covering his eyes when Brock plopped down beside him and said, "I can't believe that last week I was freezing my ass off at lacrosse practice, and now I'm at the beach."
"Yeah," James said, "It' would be pretty easy to forget about college, Pierce International, the family legacy and buy a tropical island for us to spend the rest of our lives on."
Brock laughed and said, "I could do that, but not you babe. You've got to change the world. You've got too many ideas and way too much do-gooder in you to just sit back and live off of your trust fund. I bet within two months you'd be calling Axella and demanding she send a jet to rescue you from paradise. Face it, you simply weren't cut out to be an entitled asshole."
"Hey, don't pretend that you're any less a do-gooder. I've watched you with kids or serving meals at the holidays. You do a great job of keeping a smile on your face, but I know how much your heart aches when someone is hurting."
"How do you know that?" Brock asked.
"Because I know how much it hurts you to see me hurting, and let's face it, I've never missed a meal, spent a night under a bridge, or been physically or sexually abused. So, I know your heart is crushed when you see people, particularly kids, who are victims of the worst things in life."
"Okay Sally Sad Sack, what are we going to do?"
"This is what we're going to do. We're going to do our best, accept the fact that we can't fix everything, forgive ourselves when we can't solve every problem, celebrate each other's successes, share each other's failures, but most of all be there for each other."
"You forgot one thing," Brock said.
"What's that?"
"Fuck, and fuck a lot."
"Geese Brock," James said a bit irritated, "I thought we were being serious."
"We were," Brock said, "and I am being serious. There are many times when words are just words. However, when you touch me, kiss me, or make love to me, I know that you know that you get me, that we are one. I know I'm not explaining it right, but..."
"No, I get it," James said, "I feel the same way. Physical love begins when the other person knows that you want the best for them, that they can trust you with their most vulnerable self."
"Yes, that's it!" Brock said. "It's like I'm letting you hold a knife to my throat knowing that you won't, that you could never, hurt me."
"Fuck," James said, "You have no idea how much I want you right now.
"Oh, I think I have an idea," Brock said with a chuckle.
Around 4:30, it was time to head back to the resort and get ready for supper. That evening supper was roasted cochino negro, black pig. The Spanish colonizers brought the ancestors of the Canarian black pigs from the Iberian Peninsula. However, potatoes rarely steal the culinary show, but the boys couldn't get enough of the papas arrugadas, wrinkly potatoes. The papas arrugadas were cooked in seawater and served with mojo verde, mojo rojo, or mojo picon. Local wines were served with the meal. All of that was to say that the boys were stuffed, a bit intoxicated, and very happy.
After supper, some of the guys decided to play cards. The rest watched a rebroadcast of the pounding Villanova had given Radford in the first round of the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. After the games finished, Weston said he needed a swim, stripped naked, and jumped in the pool. He was soon joined by the rest of the gang, including the men. As they roughhoused, there was a lot of innocent... and not-so-innocent touching going on. While James didn't question Kip's heterosexuality, Kip certainly was a curious boy. An observation James would not be sharing with Brock.
When they finally called it a night, James and Brock almost ran to their room. The minute their room door closed, Brock picked up his naked lover, threw him over his shoulder, grunted a couple of times, and then carried him upstairs. It was a rare night when both James and Brock were set on being the top. They'd probably had twice as many conflicts about who got to bottom and who had to top, rather than the other way around. One would think that in any test of strength, Brock was the easy victor. However, this would not be simply a test of strength. James was unbelievably flexible, doggedly determined, deceptively strong, and he didn't fight fair. Several times Brock thought he had James subdued only to discover James squeezing his balls or swallowing his cock all to make Brock lose his focus and forget his mission.
However, in the end, muscle and superior horniness won out. James submitted, and Brock the magnanimous victor consoled James with an amazing hands-free orgasm. It was hard to believe that just seven months prior, Brock was a clueless virgin. Brock's game was due to his being a natural sex-lete, the brilliance of his coach, and the hours and hours of practice. In the end, both James and Brock came out winners.
At breakfast on Monday, James asked if anyone had something they wanted to do or see. Malik and Lance both loved history, and their suggestion was the Cueva Pintada Museum and Archaeological Park. The Cueva Pintada, Painted Cave, tells the story of the pre-Spanish occupants of the island and is also interesting in that visitors can see an actual archeological dig.
After the museum, they decided to explore the area around the Plaza de Santiago. They broke into three smaller groups to explore the area. Michael the agent and Prince Michael III went with James and Brock. The group decided to check out the Church of Santiago de los Caballeros, which dominated the west side of the plaza.
As they walked, James said to Michael the agent, "Don't get me wrong, I like having you around, but you're supposed to be on vacation not babysitting me and Brock."
"What makes you think I'm on the job?" Michael asked.
"Because you never let us out of your sight, and I haven't seen any other security since we got here."
"First, I am having fun, but we are using this trip to work out your security for this Summer. The plan is for me to hang with you guys like just a regular tourist. The idea is that I can look for potential problems and deal with nuisances, and the muscle can stay in the background."
"By muscle, you mean the guys with the guns."
Michael didn't say anything, so James continued, "Again, don't take this wrong, but it seems that if someone wants to hurt or kill me, a few private security agents aren't going to be able to stop them."
Michael replied with a serious tone, "Don't get me wrong, but hurting or killing you isn't the worst thing that can happen."
"Huh," James said a bit taken back.
"From the company perspective, the worst thing that can happen is for you to be kidnapped. If they kill you, they gain no leverage over the company, but if you are a hostage they have leverage. Just imagine what your mother or aunt would be willing to do or to give up to get you back."
James thought for a minute, then said, "And, that's why protecting Brock is part of your job. Because there isn't anything I wouldn't do or give up to get him back."
"Yes," was all Michael said.
The church of Santiago de los Caballeros is a neoclassical building. With a beautiful interior. However, that beauty sits on top of a dark past. The church was built on the sight of the Guanche capital. The Guanche were the pre-colonial inhabitants of the island and were wiped out by the Spanish colonists.
The group spent about 20 minutes in the Church and then decided it was time for lunch. They found a small restaurant on the Plaza de Santiago with outdoor seating. When the waiter came to take their order, James said, "The smells are amazing and what I see people eating looks amazing, but I have no idea what anything on this menu is." The rest of the table was equally lost.
The waiter, who they found was named Juan, said, "May I suggest that you order a variety of tapas and share them? That way you will be certain to find something you enjoy."
"I like that," James said, and the guys nodded. Then James said, "Why don't you pick out some dishes that you like for us to try."
Juan seemed a bit hesitant and said, "My family owns this place, so my tastes can be a bit expensive."
James smiled and said, "I understand." He handed Juan his Pierce International AMEX Platinum Card and a card with the phone number of the resort. Then said, "If you have any questions, please call that number and ask to speak to the manager."
Juan took the two cards and walked back to the kitchen, a few minutes later he was back with an older man, who said, "Mr. Pierce please forgive us if we embarrassed you in front of your friends."
James laughed and said, "I was not embarrassed at all. There are times when I look in the mirror myself and can't believe the kid looking back at me could even buy a Big Mac combo at McDonalds."
After a few minutes of introductions and polite conversation, Pedro the owner, chef, and Juan's father excused himself to go make their lunch. The guys were casually chatting when Brock said, "Prince Mikey, at the risk of sounding like my mother, what's so interesting on your phone that you haven't stopped looking at it since we got here?"
Micheal held his phone out and said, "Peter and I are Insta Friends. He's hot." The picture Michael was looking at was one of Peter in his competition Speedo.
Brock looked at James, who shrugged and said, "I just thought that both of them being new to the City, they could explore it together."
"Yeah right, I'm sure it's `the City' they are thinking about exploring right now," Brock said, and Prince Michael blushed.
The guys were still teasing Michael when the food arrived. However, from their first bite to their last, all they could talk about was the food, the service, and how great the restaurant was. James sent a text to Axella to be sure to add it to the list of suggested `Places to Go, and Things to Do' she gave to employees using the resort.
When Juan brought the check, James added an extra generous tip, and Juan said, "Sir! This is too much!"
James smiled, "Perhaps if you were only serving our food, but you were our culinary guide. Left to our own devices we would never have had such a wonderful meal. Thank you."
The smile on Juan's face said he appreciated the compliment almost as much as the tip. James then said, "Tell your father how much we enjoyed his cooking, and we will put this on our list of places when visiting Gran Canaria."
Prince Michael had been posting pictures of the food to his Instagram and raving about the food and service. He showed James the message Peter had sent him. "I'm so jealous. That food looks amazing." James instantly knew that a trip to Hacienda al Sol was what he was giving to Peter for his graduation present, and to his parents for handling the funeral preparation and reception so sensitively and professionally.
After lunch, the guys walked around Galdar. Brock was in full tourist mode and soon had everyone holding a sack of tourist crap.
Around three in the afternoon, it was back to the resort for some pool time. The water felt good and the Sangrias tasted even better. The Canary Islands are blessed with some of the best fresh fruits in the world, and when added to the local wines they create a drink possible nowhere else. The afternoon and evening were very relaxed, and the guys turned in early for teenagers on vacation.
When Weston's father heard about the Spring Break trip to the Canary Islands, he called a client who lived there and owned a yacht. He arranged a day of cruising, dolphin watching, swimming, and snorkeling. So, the next morning the guys were meeting "Captain Dan" at a marina in Las Palmas.
Captain Dan was a pistol. He'd made his money in tech, specifically providing internet service. Dan Cleveland was at Stanford during the early days of the Internet and when he got his degree in engineering, he started an Internet company in Iowa. Outside of a few educational institutions and banks, most of his early customers were using dial-up. So, he worked out ways to increase the speed and capacity of transferring data. He got patents on his innovation and when the big boys saw what he was doing, they couldn't open their pocketbooks fast enough.
However, Dan was a maverick who didn't fit into the corporate structure. Instead, he did contract consulting so he could work when he wanted and on what he wanted. He had a lab, office, and a small staff of equally eccentric engineers and grad students. By way of eccentricity, Captain Dan was a die-hard Jimmy Buffett Parrot Head. His yacht was named `Changes In Attitudes' an homage to Buffet's 1977 hit "Changes In Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes."
Dan told the guys he'd have breakfast ready for them. The chef on Dan's yacht was amazing and the food was a blend of Caribbean and Spanish cuisine. Of course, Dan also made `breakfast' margaritas with orange marmalade and tequila. When they sat down to eat, James asked, "So Captain Dan, since you're such a Buffett fan, what are you doing in the Canary Islands rather than the Caribbean?"
Dan said, "It's quite simple, the Canary Islands are part of Spain and therefore in the EU. I can live on a tropical island and still have the protection of EU's intellectual property law. I looked at the American Virgin Islands and the Florida Keys; however, the closest university with a graduate degree in computer engineering was the University of Miami. Then add in the chances of getting hit by a major hurricane are much greater in the Caribbean than in the Canaries, and it made sense for me to locate here. I have a very good relationship with the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and even teach a couple of courses for them."
Security Michael said, "Hey James, maybe you and Brock should look into going to college here rather than in New York. It would be so much warmer."
James laughed and said, "Are you already dreading having to follow me around Columbia in January?"
"Damn right, I am!" Then Michael pretended to shiver.
After breakfast, Captain Dan was ready to set sail. While Dan liked to take the helm in open waters, he left getting out of the marina and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria harbor, to the yacht's licensed and bonded captain.
It wasn't long before they spotted their first dolphins who seemed to be attempting to race the yacht. As James leaned on the rail watching the show, Prince Michael II joined him. After a bit, he said, "James, I want to thank you for including my boys in your vacation. I know they don't often get to just be guys and hang out with young men near their age."
"We are the ones who should be thanking you for lending us your boys. They are fun and funny. I know I have learned a lot from talking to them."
"That is nice of you to say," Michael said. "Also, I know it's too early to know, but Michael seems very interested in Peter. It will be good for him to already know people before he arrives in New York."
James and Michael continued to talk until everyone's attention was grabbed by a group of pilot whales feeding on squid. There were a couple of calves in the pod and it was interesting to see how the adults and young interacted. There was also an adolescent in the group and James thought it was funny that it seemed to have the same rebellious streak as human adolescents.
Around noon, Captain Dan anchored the Changes in Attitudes in a small cove, and said, "We'll have lunch in about an hour. This cove is a great place to swim and snorkel." It didn't take long for the guys to hit the water. Because the cove could only be reached by sea or a steep and treacherous climb down a volcanic slope, they had it to themselves. The water was calm and clear, making snorkeling perfect. The sea life was varied and colorful, and the highlight was when two turtles decided to check out the new visitors.
The guys would have swum for hours if not for two things: first, Captain Dan rang the bell indicating that lunch was ready, and in March the water temperature was still a bit cool. However, once on board, dry, and sitting in the sun, they quickly warmed up. The chef had prepared a variety of seafood dishes for lunch and Brock was in heaven. He loved seafood and the Canary Islands was a seafood lover's paradise.
Brock was on his third round of oysters when Kip said, "Damn bro, you must have some kinky shit planned for tonight."
Weston jumped in, and said, "Yeah, they say Casanova ate 50 oysters a day. How many have you eaten."
Brock said, "15."
Weston and Kip looked at James, who just smiled and winked, making the guys laugh.
In the afternoon, Captain Dan took the guys to several more secluded spots to admire the natural beauty of Gran Canaria. Then, about an hour before sunset, Captain Dan headed into the open ocean from the island. There he had the autopilot maintain their position while the steward made drinks for everyone. The water was unusually calm and when the sun, like a child testing the pool temp with his toe, touched the water it was an amazing sight. A long shaft of orange sunlight seemed to lay on the blue water, just before the sun began to melt into the sea. It was magical and made James all the more determined to become a worthy captain of his grandfather's sailing yacht.
It was well into twilight when the 'Changes in Attitude' sailed back into Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Captain Dan had returned command of the ship to the real captain and was enjoying entertaining his guests, telling stories, and drinking margaritas. Jimmy Buffett would be proud.
The day had been perfect, and the beauty of the sunset brought out the romantic in Brock. It was always a bit of a surprise to James that a big goofy bro jock could be such a tender and attentive lover. Brock seemed to innately know the things to say and the places to touch to bind James to him physically and emotionally. It wasn't the least bit manipulative; instead, it was honest, self-sacrificing, and irresistible. If asked what it was like when they made love, neither Brock nor James would have the words to explain it. Having sex was physical, but making love was spiritual. It was the perfect bite from the perfect apple. It was free of bruises or blemishes and was enjoyed at the moment of perfect ripeness.
As James drifted off to sleep, held firmly but gently in Brock's arms, a single tear of joy ran down his cheek and onto the pillow.
The next morning started with a bit of sadness, The princes were headed back to Zurich and had to say goodbye. Prince Michael II told James and Brock that he expected them to spend a few days in Zurich as his and the boys' guests. Of course, Michael III was super excited about New York, and although he was too polite to say it, he was also excited to meet Peter in the flesh finally.
After the Princes left, the guys headed to the gym to lift. They hadn't been lifting as much as Weston felt they should, so he declared himself trainer, or more accurately, drill sergeant for the day. By the time lunch rolled around, everyone was sweaty, sore, and beat. So, when Weston suggested a second session after lunch, he had a mutiny on his hands and agreed that the afternoon should be spent around the pool and in the hot tub.
That evening James and Brock wanted to go dancing. They found a gay dance club in Maspalomas called Mantrix. James and Brock figured this was the kind of place the rest of the guys weren't interested in going to, so James booked an Uber. Brock decided to wear a royal blue hooded Henley he'd cut the sleeves out of, olive green joggers, and basic white runners. He'd left the two buttons of the shirt open and when he inhaled his chest pushed it open and exposed the bar pendant James had given him at New Years. The sight made James bite his lip.
Of course, James was sporting his own hot fashion statement: a light green, short sleeve, knit shirt unbuttoned to his sternum, slim fit light blue chinos, light blue Chuck Taylor All-Stars, and a straw short-brim fedora. James was also wearing his pendant.
James and Brock stood side by side and looked in the mirror. "Damn," Brock said, "Those are two fuckable studs."
Just then James' phone buzzed letting him know their Uber had arrived.
When they got to the club, it was already hopping. Flashing light, thumping music, and sweaty bodies; James and Brock found what they were looking for. Soon the two were in the middle of the dance floor losing themselves in the primal rhythm and beat of a gay tribal dance. James imagined warriors dancing the night before a battle to amplify their courage, bond with their comrades, and implore the gods for protection.
James and Brock became the center of a group of guys grinding against each other. More than once the boys were groped by curious hands. Brock was taller than most of the rest of the gyrating mass, so he became a beacon of interest. As he danced Brock became sweatier and sexier. It turned out Brock didn't just like being a star on the soccer or lacrosse field, he was basking in the attention. At one point he pulled off his shirt and threw it into the crowd, to cheers, and James was loving every minute of it. The affirmation of having the hottest boyfriend in the club and for once not being the center of attention himself... so liberating... so hot... so ego... hell James didn't know what it was. It was just so....
After two hours on the dance floor, James and Brock were dying of thirst and headed for the bar. The bartender, who had a distinct British accent asked James and Brock what they wanted.
James said, "Beer," and the bartender handed them two bottles with the word "Goat" on them. He said, "Local brew and pretty damn good." After paying, James and Brock decided to find a table. Several men stopped by to flirt, and a couple even asked if the boys wanted to go back to the darkroom for some fun. James politely said they were just there to dance and have a couple of beers.
As they were drinking their second, Brock noticed a couple of guys getting aggressive with a young man. The two guys doing the bullying were big, a bit scary, and appeared to be North American, the kid was skinny and a local. When one of the bullies said. "Look puto, we bought you a couple of beers and now it's time for you to return the favor." Puto is a derogatory slur for a male prostitute. In a flash, Brock was out of his seat and asked the kid if he'd like to join him and James. The scared young man nodded, but one of the bullies blocked his path, and said, "Fuck off, this ain't none of your business."
"Look," Brock said, "he doesn't want to go with you." Then Brock reached for the boy's hand and was sucker punched by the second guy and dropped to his knees. Instantly James was in the middle of things. He took out the knee of the guy who hit Brock, then he turned to face the other guy. It was then that James saw the guys' three other friends.
Just as James realized how much shit he was in, he heard a zap, a scream, and one of the guys dropped to the floor screaming. Then another seemed to fly across the room. Brock had recovered enough so that when the last two guys looked to see what was happening, he bull-rushed them and drove them into the bar knocking the wind out of them.
The club's security came rushing over, and the bartender told them what happened. They grabbed the bullies and their friends and threw them out of the club. Then came to check on the guys. After assuring the bouncers they were okay, they were asked who the guy with the stun gun was. Neither James nor Brock had seen him.
There were plenty of offers to buy James and Brock drinks, but they decided it was best if they went back to the resort. The kid Brock had rescued was named Tomas, and he lived in the area, so when their Uber arrived, James and Brock made sure he got safely home.
Back at the resort, James had a chance to give Brock the once-over, and aside from the shiner he would have in the morning, he seemed to be fine. It was late, but Brock wanted to go sit in the hot tub, so that's where they went and were surprised to see Michael was also taking a soak.
The boys stripped off and climbed into the tub. Michael was holding a beer bottle in his right hand, and James noticed that his knuckles seemed red and a bit bruised. It was then that James realized who had come to their aid. James looked at him and said, "Thank you."
Michael smiled and said, "You're welcome. Just next time, don't forget to invite me to the party." James was getting ready to ask Michael how he knew they had snuck off, but he saw Michael's phone sitting on the edge of the hot tub and remembered he was electronically tethered to Michael. However, this time it was a lifeline rather than a leash.
The next morning the guys went on a seven-hour rainforest hike. It was an amazing hike and Esteban; their tour guide was funny and knowledgeable. They got to swim, well actually soak, in some of the forest's natural pools. One of the highlights for James was the tour of the eco-farm where they ate lunch. James took lots of pictures to send to Gill and Peter. The tour ended in a fishing village on the coast, where again the boys hit the beach before a great supper of the freshest seafood possible.
Because they were out of cell coverage for most of the day James had turned off his cell to avoid running down the battery. It wasn't until their group was getting ready to return to the resort that James turned the power back on. When he did, it blew up with texts and messages from his mother, Sydney, Raheem Jeffers, the Corporate offices, and Shane.
James knew something must have happened and his first call was to Julia.
"Where the fuck have you been all morning?" Julia yelled when she picked up the phone.
"The guys and I were on a tour of the rainforest. We didn't have cell service."
"Shit, I forgot about the time difference. I'm sorry. It's just things have been crazy and we couldn't contact you, and..."
"Mom, slow down. What's wrong?"
"Were you and Brock dancing in a club last night, and did you get into a fight?"
Now it was James' turn to say, "Shit!" James told her what happened at the club.
Julia had calmed down and said. "We will have a mother/son talk when you get home, but now you need to call Raheem to figure out the damage. Also, tell Brock to call his parents."
James finished his call with Julia just as the van for their group pulled up. As they were loading James asked, "Brock, have your parents tried to call you?"
"I don't know. My phone is dead."
"When we get back to the resort, you need to give them a call. There's no emergency, nothing has happened to anyone, they just need to talk to you."
When they were back in their suite, Brock went upstairs to call his parents, and James sat down on the couch and called Raheem.
"Mr. Pierce, I distinctly remember telling you at Thanksgiving that fighting was bad PR, and yet you decided to get into a bar fight," Raheem said sternly.
"Hey, we couldn't stand around and let some bully assholes take advantage of a kid."
"Mr. Pierce...."
"I know, I know, how much trouble are Brock and I in?"
"That's not my department," Raheem said with a chuckle. "My department is your image. So, what we know so far is that someone at the club took pictures and a video of you and Brock dancing... Oh, as an aside, you two are super hot... Anyway, they got posted on an Instagram account. Not really a big deal, that is, until the kid you saved posted how grateful he was to be rescued by, and I quote, `the two most handsome and badass superheroes on the planet.' Of course, the original post was in Spanish, but it has since been translated. It must have been a really slow news day on Gran Canaria because a local freelance reporter saw the posts and the pictures and decided to interview the boy, the guy who took the pictures, and some people at the bar. Let's just say this reporter has a talent for colorful storytelling."
"Did he identify Brock and me?"
"Not in the story. If he had known who he was writing about, and if he'd have bought the photos, he could have made bank selling them to some tabloid. The problem is that the post has gotten enough hits and reposts to get noticed by search engine algorithms. Once they start magnifying the post it's only a matter of time until someone IDs you guys. Currently, the most activity is in Europe, but we're beginning to notice it showing up in North America."
"How did you even get wind of this story? We're on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic?"
"You'll have to ask Kendra Taft in the Pierce International PR department that question?"
"So, what are Brock and I supposed to do?" James asked.
"Nothing, be yourselves. You have two more days of vacation. Just be cognizant of the possibility that someone may be watching you. We'll talk when you get back to the City."
When James finished his conversation, he asked Brock how his conversation went with his parents.
"Well after Mom was satisfied you and I are okay, she started chewing my ass and kept chewing until Dad reminded her the call was on international rates. Then we each said, we love you, and hung up. My sister texted me saying, Dad was secretly proud of me for standing up for the underdog and getting into my first bar fight. He inherited a bit of Irish from his mother. Dad's uncles were notorious brawlers in their day."
James kissed Brock and told him to "Go play with the other boys. I've got a couple of more calls to make." His next call was to Kendra.
When Kendra picked up the phone James asked, "Are you going to scold me too?"
Kendra laughed and said, "No, I like my job, plus I just finished hanging a mouth-watering picture of my super photogenic boss and his sexy, shirtless boy toy on my office wall."
"You're gloating, aren't you?"
"Just a little, besides how I see it, you two are my job security in PR."
"Okay Ms. PR, how do you plan to spin this story?"
"We're debating three different strategies. First, is Nothing to see here, so just move along,' the second is Boys will be boys,' and the third is `They saw someone who needed help, and they helped'."
"I like number three," James said.
"Yeah," Kendra said, "That will be the corporate comment if we have to make one. Although, I would like to see how you, Brock, and Raheem would handle Boys will be boys.' I'm guessing it would be a lot of talk shows and interviews. The girls on The View' would eat the two of you up."
"You are enjoying this too much," James said.
"Actually, yes. I'm still smarting a bit from our first meeting. Also, we don't see much corporate downside to this story. Hell, we've even thought about giving it some air of our own."
"Don't you dare! I'll have Mom demote you to writing retirement puff pieces for the company newsletter."
"You'd better check with your Aunt Sydney about that. Do you know she was the Maid of Honor at my wedding?"
"Fine, fine. Just put in a good word for me with my mother and Sydney."
"Already done."
"One more question," James said. "How did you pick up on this story so fast?"
Kenda said, "I don't know how it works, but one of the technology research projects the company sponsors is working on AI-supported facial recognition searches of the internet, so when Michael called in his report to the security agency last night, the agency then called PI Headquarters. Someone a couple of pay grades higher than me had the researchers point their interest at Spain, particularly the Canary Islands, and 20 minutes later I got a call. I will say, you guys made an impression on the dance floor. There are at least 80 pics of you two dancing and drinking uploaded last night. Of course, my fav is of you giving Brock a cute little kiss."
"Oh fuck," James moaned.
Kendra laughed and said, "I'll see you in a couple of days. Try to enjoy the rest of your holiday."
"Sure, easy for you to say. You don't have to face my Mom."
Kendra laughed, and they ended the call.
James had thought about asking Kendra if she knew who at Pierce International had sicced the dogs on him and Brock, but he already knew. It was Axella. James hadn't gotten a call or a text from her, which meant she already knew where he was and that he was safe. Also, no one else would have the authority to mobilize the corporate security and PR resources without first notifying Julia and Sydney.
James next went to find Michael. When Michael opened his room door, James said, "I hope Brock and I didn't get you in trouble."
"Nah, the boss was happy I was there, and that I wasn't part of the story. Especially since the Spanish authorities would take a very dim view of me having used a stun gun. I just hope I didn't get you into trouble."
"I've been in much worse before. Plus, what is Mom going to do, take away my allowance?... Shit, I shouldn't have said that so flippantly. There are lots of things Mom could do. She probably couldn't and wouldn't prevent me and Brock from going to Europe this Summer. However, if she told me to stay home, I would. She's put up with a lot for me and because of me, and she's earned my respect. So, I'd do anything she tells me to do."
"Well, I hope you're not too pissed at me for reporting this last night."
"Pissed? Hell no, you save Brock and me from a probable ass-whooping. Also, it worked out much better, giving the PR department a heads-up. They have worked out a plan for what to do if this becomes a thing. And.... This whole episode has taught me why it's not a good idea to sneak off without security."
"I'm glad to hear that," Michael said.
"It's just that... well, we didn't think you would be comfortable going to a gay dance club," James said sheepishly.
"I go where you go... Well, not the bathroom or the bedroom, but everywhere else. I've been thinking about how we can handle it this Summer and I have an idea. I know a couple of guys from the European agency who will likely be providing backup for your trip. I was thinking if we got them on board, I could have a pretend boyfriend when we went clubbing or other things. That way I wouldn't look so out of place."
"Yeah," James smiled and said, "it will also keep you from getting hit on all the time."
"There is that as well," Michael said.
After a bit more chatting to make sure he and Michael were good, James headed off to find the boys. They were in the hot tub relaxing after a day of hiking. While they were all athletes and in good shape, hiking trails in a rainforest is a lot different than running on a field or swimming in a pool. James stripped and slid into the bubbling hot water.
"Brock was just telling us about your big adventure," Weston said.
Brock looked at James and said, "I hope that was okay."
"Sure," James said, "We got nothing to be ashamed of or to hide... Well, at least about last night."
"I just can't believe you didn't ask us to go," Kip said.
"You would have gone?" Brock asked with a note of surprise.
"No," said Kip, "but it would have been the polite thing for you to ask." The guy broke into laughter and demanded James tell them what happened, as Lance said, "To find out how much Brock had embellished the story."
That evening the guys hung around in the resort bar watching a delayed broadcast of NCAA men's basketball, playing pool, and just being guys. They didn't stay up too late because James had a special activity planned for the next day. No matter how much they pestered him, he wouldn't tell them what it was. He would only tell them they wouldn't want to be tired or hungover, and that they would be leaving at 7 a.m.
James was more than ready to go to bed; not because he was tired, but because he needed to recharge his emotional batteries. Whenever he felt drained, James would lay next to Brock and use his chest for a pillow. The feel, the smell, and the warmth of Brock's body did more for his mood than any of the expensive therapists James had seen. James wondered if many of the problems of modern life began with kids not sharing a bed. Physical contact is so comforting, yet we deprive children of that at an early age. One of James' fondest memories was of the hammock strung between two oak trees in his Grandfather Spangler's backyard. Grandpa Spangler liked to take naps in that hammock on summer afternoons, and when James would visit as a boy he would also crawl into the hammock. Grandpa would tell him a story and then they would fall asleep together.
Brock didn't tell James stories, but they would talk about their dreams, what they wanted to do with their lives, and what they wanted to do together. James would never say cuddling and talking was as good as sex. No horny teenage boy would ever say such a thing. However, both James and Brock knew that those times were just as important to their relationship as the sex. So that night, James and Brock held each other and shared. They shared dreams, fears, kisses, warmth, and most of all love.
The next morning, the guys were in the van at 7 a.m. They had no idea what James had planned for them, so they were totally blown away when they arrived. James had booked Supercar Gran Canaria for the morning. They would get the chance to drive some of the world's fastest cars on the Circuito Maspalomas under the supervision of professional drivers. The Circuito Maspalomas is a 2.27 km racetrack and the only permanent track in the Canary Islands. James had booked the Ferrari 360 F1, Nissan GT-R R35, and the Porsche 911 for them to drive. The way it worked was the guest would sit in the passenger seat while a professional driver took them for two laps and gave them some pointers. Then they would trade places, and the guest would get to try it out for three laps plus a cooldown lap.
The guys drew numbers for their order and car. Lance got to go first in the Ferrari. On his first lap behind the wheel, Lance was tentative, but on the second lap he was more confident, and on the third lap he opened the car up on the straights. When Lance climbed out of the car, James was sure they'd have to use a crowbar to pry the smile off of his face.
Next up was Weston, who managed to get his large body into the Nissan. His father had taken him on a similar experience for his 18th birthday, so he had some experience in a fast car on a closed track. So, from the get-go, he was ready to put the pedal to the metal.
Brock chose the Porsche 911 for his ride. Unfortunately, he had some trouble with the car's manual transmission, but eventually, he got it figured out. The professional driver gave him an extra lap; and although his last lap was near-perfect, Weston and Kip weren't giving him any slack. They had plenty of jabs dripping with sexual innuendo about how Brock "couldn't get it in gear" or that he "didn't know how to work the stick shift."
Malik was the surprise of the day. He chose the Nissan and when he got behind the wheel was a bat out of hell. James didn't know if Malik could even drive, but when he got his hands on the steering wheel he was in charge. After Malik drove, there was a break for brunch and Malik was the center of attention. Everyone wanted to know how he learned to drive like that. He said his uncle was a driver in one of the small racing circuits and had taken Malik out to drive several times. He said, "My uncle is a risk taker, and has to hide it from the family. In addition to racing, he also surfs, skydives, and rock climbs. Malik said "Of course if you saw him at work, you'd never believe it. He's only 5'8", maybe 150 pounds, and wears glasses with black plastic frames and a lab coat when he's working in his pharmacy." Malik looked at James and said, "He's just another superhero hiding in a nerd costume."
After brunch, it was Kip's turn, and he chose the Ferrari. Brock gave him crap about being afraid of the manual transmission. The Ferrari, like the Nissan, had a paddle shifter transmission. Kip just laughed and said, "Manual transmissions went out with landlines and CDs." Kip's run was respectable, but not nearly as fast as Malik's.
Next up was Michael and Brock said, "Show us what the old man can do."
"Old man, is it?" Michael said with a smile and picked the Porsche. When Michael took over the wheel it was obvious that he knew how to drive a manual and that he was a great driver. Michael showed the `boys' who the man in the group was. When he pulled into the pitstop the guys couldn't heap enough praise on him. James said, "Damn, it's good to know that if we are ever in a car chase you aren't afraid to go balls out."
James was next, and Lance asked, "James, do you even know how to drive?"
James smiled and said, "Of course, I know how to drive. You call the car service and tell them where you want to go." The guy's laughed. The truth was James wouldn't have known how to drive if not for his Grandpa Spangler. Gill had taught him the basics and they'd practice driving around the estate, but it was his grandfather who had the patience and courage to take James out into traffic. Grandpa Spangler told James, "Driving is more than operating the car; it is having the confidence to get on the road, to drive in traffic, and the ability to get your ass out of trouble when you or another idiot makes an error in judgment."
Every time he got behind the wheel, James remembered the first time he drove in New York traffic. He and his grandfather were coming back from a week at the cabin. Usually, they would stop, and Grandpa Spangler would take over the wheel, but this time he said, `James, why don't you go ahead and drive the rest of the way.' James wanted to say he wasn't ready, that he needed more practice, but he couldn't say the real reason was he was scared. So instead, he swallowed hard and said, "Yes, sir."
Grandpa Spangler was calm and reassuring even when James nearly pulled in front of a truck. Instead of yelling, he simply reminded James of the procedure for changing lanes. James was never so relieved or so proud as when he pulled the car up to the front door of the estate. When James told his parents that he had driven from the cabin, including the city, Julia was angry, but his father smiled and gave his grandfather a sly wink. It was then that James figured out his father had contracted out teaching him how to drive. When he started the car, James suddenly got the feeling his grandfather, not a stranger, was sitting next to him.
James knew the guys would love the supercar experience, but he had no idea how much he would like it himself. The adrenaline rush was crazy and the feeling of power was amazing. He was surprised and a bit embarrassed when he realized his cock was semi-hard after his run. He also knew it was something he wanted to do again.
After getting "certificates of accomplishment" and photos, the guys were ready to shop. Originally, they had planned to spend the night and fly back the next day, but they figured it would be just as easy to sleep on the plane, and then have more time with their families before going back to school.
They decided to check out Vegueta, the oldest district of La Palmas. James wasn't planning to go shopping for souvenirs or gifts. He figured this wouldn't be the only time he visited Gran Canaria. He planned to make the resort a regular part of his and Brock's travel itinerary. He even wondered whether he and Brock could sail there on his grandfather's yacht. He knew his grandfather had sailed from NYC to Bermuda, then on to the Azores, before sailing the Mediterranean. Of course, when his grandfather did it, he had Commodore Jake by his side.
While James was thinking about sailing, he heard the bell of Santa Ana Cathedral ringing. He suggested it was time they find a cafe for a late lunch. What they found was a food truck selling Camperos, a sandwich that originated in Malaga, Spain. The Campero is basically a rustic sandwich, but a true Malaga Campero is made with a traditional Spanish bread called a Mollete. The other key part of a Campero was that it had to be incredibly fresh, which is why the Canary Islands are a great place to eat them.
Brock wanted to get a second Campero, but James stopped him. "Hey, don't forget, the chef at the resort is planning a special feast tonight to celebrate our last night in the Canary Islands."
"I don't think it will be a celebration. I don't want to leave," Brock said with a pouty face.
"Hey, we can come back any time we want."
"Really!?"
"Sure, I've got the keys, remember."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you can do about anything you want."
"WE can do anything we want."
"Until you find someone better and kick me to the curb."
"That ain't gonna happen, jock boy. Before you, I would have spent Spring Break moping around Mom's apartment and dreading going back to Mill Brook. Even if I were here, I would have done things, but they would have lacked joy. Don't you see, you gave me what my life was lacking, JOY! That's why I can face the responsibility of being James Pierce III with hope rather than dread." James then gave Brock a big kiss.
When they finally pulled their lips apart, Brock asked, "Aren't you worried someone took a picture of us kissing?"
"Not one bit. I am not ashamed of you or us. If they don't like it, fuck `em." Brock smiled and gave James another kiss.
That evening the staff of the Hacienda al Sol gave the guys an amazing send-off. There was plenty of food, wine, and beer. It was good that they were being picked up to go to the airport rather than trying to get there themselves.
At supper, James and Brock sat with the resort manager and assistant manager. James asked how busy the resort was on a normal week and the two suddenly looked very serious. "Is something wrong?" James asked.
"Well," Isabella said, "since the change in leadership at Pierce International, we have not been very busy. We are wondering if there is a plan to sell the Hacienda al Sol."
"I don't think so," James said. "But I know who to ask." He then stepped away from the table and called Axella.
When James returned, he said, "What Axella told me was that the resorts had been my father's special interest, and when he was no longer in the corporate offices, the resorts had lost their corporate function. I asked if the company was thinking of selling them, and her words were, `it has been discussed.' I told her that the discussion was off the table."
The two managers smiled at the news, but then James said, "The problem is, I don't have the authority to make that call. So, I called my mother and aunt to tell them what I just told Axella and Mom said what we do with the resorts and other similar projects was up to the Vice-President of Pierce Hospitality and Entertainment. I had never heard of that Division, so I asked who the VP was, and she said, `You are. Your aunt is standing right here, and we just made the executive decision to create a hospitality and entertainment division and name you to lead it."
For some reason, James was the only one at the table who wasn't smiling. Brock leaned over and said, "You know this will be fun, and I can already see the gear in your head turning." James didn't want to admit it, but Brock was right. After a great end to a great week, it was time to say goodbye to Gran Canaria, but James knew it wouldn't be a long goodbye.
When they were in the air, Brock leaned over to James and whispered, "So stud, do you want to join the mile-high club?"
"We've already done that," James said, "And our membership is good for a year."
Brock moaned, "I can't wait until we get back to the apartment."
James said, "I think you've forgotten something."
"What?"
"One of the reasons we're going back a day early is so you can go with your parents to D.C. It's your grandmother's birthday and the Ambassador is receiving his credentials. They are picking you up at the airport."
Now Brock really moaned, "It's not fair."
"Poor baby. It's only four days. Oh, and no jacking off while we're apart."
"Four days! Why? I can't go four days without cumming."
"Sure you can," James said with a wicked grin. "When I fuck you the first night we're back at school you'd better shoot like a bottle of champagne in the Super Bowl champion's locker room."
Brock nodded and said to himself, `Four days. I can do it. How bad can it be?'
I hope you're enjoying "Exposed."
If you have enjoyed reading "Exposed," I hope you contribute to keeping Nifty.Org a place where I and other authors can share our stories. https://donate.nifty.org/
Also, if you would like to find other stories I've written, or am writing, check out https://www.nifty.org/nifty/authors.html#williammarshal