March Stephenson

Chapter 11

March Stephenson

Maxieplus

Mum was wise, and May took her crass but motherly advice and we didn't see her until lunchtime the next day. Mum had also decided to open her business and was doing okay from what I could see from across the road. I will go over and order a salad roll to confirm she's doing it right. March has dad helping today, they are working on two classic Mini's, which is fiddly work but these little cars are awesome, he promised I could test drive one when it's finished, but I was warned they had some power.

They worked away on them and I sat in the gym, two hundred and fifty clients, and someday's they were lined up to use the machines, maybe twenty or thirty people in there at the same time constantly during the day. A lot of them only come here once or twice a week, and some will drop out. The mums come in early after the school drop off and the men mainly on weekends and after work, or very early before work. Brian has sent his mum up today and as promised she had a list of four boys who need some cash. Her son will do three permanent shifts and the rest will fill in or be on call. I tapped them into my computer and will pay them the cash in hand, something Brenda negotiated. She also had a box of calendars in her arms.

"You had better start selling these Nicky otherwise I will have a riot on my hands. The staff mailed them out yesterday, so it won't be long before photos are posted on the page." She rolled her eyes.

I grabbed a box and opened it, I just had to have one more look.

"They are very addictive Nicky, don't stare at it all day people will talk." She laughed.

"How much?"

"Forty dollars, you can discount to friends but they are for charity." She winked. It was about then that March arrived we were going to have some lunch together. I handed a calendar to him he lingered on Hank's photo, but when he got to mine he nearly fainted.

"Wow, wow wow wow." He did the mating dance and smiled at me, then at the photo again.

"You like?"

"I like it very much Nicky, wow it's awesome."

"Turn to the back page, December."

"Omg no, I don't look like this, look at my hairy stomach, my nose is too big. Look at my hair it looks like it needs a wash."

I turned to Brenda.

"He doesn't see it, he's only picking out the faults."

"Nicky it's nice but not very sexy." He looked confused.

Brenda laughed her ass off as she patted him on the shoulder.

"Believe me Mr March Stephenson, that's the sexiest photo I have ever seen, and I have seen a few."

He did a double take and looked at it again, he was confused then he turned it back to mine.

"Now that is sexy look at the bulge, the abs, the legs, that's sexy."

"I agree March, Nickys is very sexy but not yours." I could hear her still laughing as she crossed the street.

"Nicky, do we have time?"

"You have run out of credits March, oh look here I found another one." We headed for the back shed to check out who was the sexiest and naturally, he won, that photo was pure innocent country beef, he doesn't see himself that way but he does see it in me.

"How is it going, mum?"

"Good Nicky, I have sold a few things. It will pick up when the word gets out."

I looked at her sandwich bar it was very neat and tidy and she started making us a salad roll each. March watched and while he watched his little finger was running up and down my bulge, I poked it out further.

"Stop that March Stephenson, you will give my little business a bad name."

"Sorry mum, the calendars came out today."

"I know, a box was dropped off earlier. I haven't had the time to put them out yet."

"Where are they?" May asked.

"Over there."

She opened the carton and looked.

"Awesome March and Nicky, what is that thing in your shorts?'

"A crocodile and it bites, so don't touch it," March said.

"Now you know why I married his father," Mum chirped in with a straight face, I smiled at her.

"Are those the calendars?" A shopper asked.

"Yes, forty each," Mum said.

"I'll take four I believe March Stephenson's photo is going to be a collector's item."

May took her money and she almost ran out of the shop she needed to sit and go through it.

"It's you they are looking at Nicky."

"No it's you March, why don't you believe you are the best-looking man in town?" Mum said.

He was stuck for words, and when we got our rolls and sat at a table, some cameras came out and photos of the both of us were taken by some shoppers.

"This is what I hate Nicky being the center of attention, they all know me and see me just about every day, they are nice people but they never make this much fuss."

"It's the camera it captured your inner innocence."

"What innocence?"

"I have told you this before March your attraction isn't your awesome looks it's your boyish innocence, pure beefcake with a touch of shyness."

"Oh, I see." He didn't see, at all, he just kissed me again, in front of ten customers all trying to buy calendars. The rolls were delicious and I felt I wanted to have another one. March did and when he was getting them, I saw him flipping through the pages again. I do know he was only looking at one page, mine.

They were flying out the door and when I got back there was money on the counter and calendars were missing. I did think I would stand out the front and sell them but my next thought unnerved me. There will be many locals masturbating over my man's photo tonight, men and women, he hasn't thought about that yet.

"What's all the fuss about Nick?" Dad came in.

"The calendars are out." He picked one up and looked through it, then laughed.

"Like father like son, son." He left to go eat.

My dad was a fit man, he didn't have an ounce of fat on him and he had a very good shape, I suppose we will have a father and son photo next year.

It was four weeks later the headlines said.

"Fastest selling calendar in town hits the four thousand mark." It was in the local newspaper and May said she saw it on a news channel also. The local page was full of comments, Brenda is full-on trying to delete the foul ones, and she had to do another big printing run urgently to keep up with demand. It wasn't just the locals, it was some city folk and tourists that wanted them too. After the second print, she pulled the plug, it was nearing Christmas and the calendar will start working in January. She was over the moon and her sporting clubs will get big cheques before the festive season.

I knew they would be a big seller, March along with his innocence could sell anything. I knew because I had been sort of in the business for a few years with Matt. I went to parties, opening nights, photo shoots, and rehearsals. I know how it all works and that photo was perfect. I was also, shoved aside for his latest handbag and there were opening nights where I sat almost at the back, while his friends sat in the front row.

Yes, I know the business, and it is littered with big-headed spoilt brats. I never doubted that he was also doing the group thing behind my back, sex sells and sex makes a career better, the worst of it was so awful I won't talk about it publicly.

I have never told a soul about this, and try not to think about it now, I dry retch every time I do. Matt wasn't only my lover and partner, he was selling himself to stardom, I could see that as plain as daylight. When he told me he would be going to Canada, I had no choice either go with him or stay here, my heart leapt and I chose wisely to stay put. I told mum and dad he just left and probably won't be back.

They helped me as much as they could but I crashed in a heap. I guess like March I had a mini break down and I had locked myself away. My breakdown wasn't because of Matt leaving, it was because of what had been done to me.

March wasn't happy he got the attention, and it did overwhelm him, he also locked himself away until it all died down, and he avoided the townspeople as much as he could. He stayed the simple mechanic he always was, and nothing changed for us, we still made love and I was still teaching him how to be gay.

Mum and dad moved into their new home before Christmas, our calendar sat proudly on the kitchen wall and by now I was sick of looking at it. She organised the Christmas lunch which was huge, all the main fare was on offer and May and March, with Jason sat and ate like it was their last meal, mum had a big smile on her face she had done very well.

Her sandwich bar was now a full-time job for her, March's garage was almost the same around that time and dad was working every day. My gym settled down and I was told by Jason it will pick up in late January as people would be away on family holidays.

The week after New year I was hanging out for a good time, the gym was almost dead and I walked into the workshop and found March talking to an almost well-dressed guy who had a big-breasted young woman with him, a city inhabitant, I can tell them now.

"Hey, Nicky listen to this." He introduced Paul to me and I shook his hand. He was a talent agent who wanted to sign March up to do some advertising shoots. This is where it all starts, one innocent local photo.

"You mean to do catalog stuff and catwalk?"

"Yes that and any modelling work I can get him."

"Soft porn, sleazy nights in shitty hotels, underwear shots nude shots selling his body for fame, things like that kind of work." The guy looked shocked, but not too shocked.

"Nicky?" March said.

"Sorry I was just remembering a friend's rise to fame."

"I can assure you that stuff doesn't happen in the business Nick, that's a whole different world."

"I was there I saw it all, I experienced it all. That's where most stars start, on the casting couch. Now, what will he be doing exactly, and don't give me that catalog bullshit, and why the bimbo, is she supposed to be here to excite him?"

The man blushed and I got my answer. March wasn't world-wise so he started telling me I was being rude. I told him to do whatever he wanted to do, and then I walked out but before I did I said to him.

"Do not sign anything, I warn you March Stephenson,"

I was mad as hell they had the gall to disturb my life, and I was madder March even listened to him. He should have said no, and left it at that, but he hesitated. I got into my car and drove off, I had a towel in the back and I had called one of the part-timers to come in for a couple of hours. When I got there I stripped off, the water was cold but I knew it would warm up as I swam around. I leaned on the bank and had my mini breakdown, I can't go through this again I just can't, why doesn't he see people for what they are?

I thought long and hard about the argument, March Stephenson hasn't got the balls to go the distance, he will look at it as a bit of fun. That will change when he's talked into doing 'extra' work for his career.

Matt had the balls and the ambition to see everything as a step in the right direction. I was never consulted and would only find out about things he had done through mutual friends, or were they my enemies? Because if any friend sits down and starts telling you what your partner has been up to in detail, they sure aren't your friend.

He didn't catch up with me and I had been there for almost two hours so I dried off and dressed to go back to work. I will fight for March but he has to see what I am fighting for, he can't joke his way through it all. Sometimes he has to pull himself up and be a man.

I let my part-timer go home and gave him his cash. March poked his head in and asked me where I went.

"For a swim, where else would I have been."

"Sorry I didn't think of that. I thought you may have gone home." He's forgotten our swimming river, I guess fame will do that to you too.

"Do you want some lunch?'

"No, thank you I got to clean the toilets."

"I will come."

"No, thank you I can do it on my own."

"Nicky what's wrong, you have been pretty off and silly today."

"What did you tell Pauly?" I looked him in the eyes.

"I told him I would talk to you, it was just for a catalog I thought you might get a kick out of it."

"Do it and we are done March, I won't go through this again."

"What are you talking about?"

"He was no real agent, he didn't smell right. Agents smell like real estate agents they wear expensive suits and their shoes are spotless, no he wasn't an agent with a modeling contract, he had other things to sell."

"How do you know all that?"

"Did you forget I was in the business, I can pick a snake oil salesman from a mile off. But March you go and do it, but don't come crying to me if they want you to pose nude for a women's magazine slash porn shot." He started laughing.

"You think I'm joking do you, well when I would go on shoots they would try and get Matt to drop his pants all the time, he did do it in private, but not when I was there. I saw young women and innocent guys turn into drug addicts before my eyes because they were being used and abused by their agents and their clients. It's a cesspool of drugs and sex, and I won't let you be a part of it. An innocent calendar once a year is okay but if you step one foot into that world I will disown you."

"I was only thinking of you that's all Nicky." He whined.

"Well, I'm fine with things just the way they are, don't think so much, and do not under any circumstances sign any documents that come your way."

"I won't Nicky, please you are scaring me."

"I am sorry March, I really am, but I get so mad at some people trying to get innocent people to do their bidding. If he was a true agent you would have got a call or email asking you if he could call in, and he wouldn't call with a pro on his arm."

"I'm sorry." He dropped his head and I felt sorry for him he knows nothing of the world I lived in.

"Come on help me clean the dunnies."

He looked into my eyes and said.

"Not now, maybe later."

I wasn't shocked but disappointed someone had come into our perfect world and turned it upside down today, no. I was fucking livid.

I worked until five then I was relieved, I waited for March and he took his time locking up so I drove off home. He didn't come home he must have gone to the swimming river. I jumped in my car and drove there, sure enough, his truck was parked in his spot. I found him sitting on the rock meditating so I stripped off and got in the water. He looked up and uncrossed his legs.

"Come in March."

"I don't know if you are going to get mad at me again or not."

'"I'm not mad at you, I could never be mad at you March. I am mad that someone disturbed our perfect day that's all."

"Well don't shout at me then."

"I promise I won't, please come in."

He dropped his shorts and in all his magnificence I saw a small boy gently move into the water.

"Come here." I held my hand out. He took it and pulled himself into me.

I kissed his head and said quietly that everything is all right, he looked up at me and asked me if he could kiss me. I didn't give him an answer but I did kiss him gently on the lips, he half smiled and I said I was sorry I scared him.

"I wasn't going to do it I was just excited you might like to see me do some modelling. I was only thinking about you Nicky."

"I don't want you to go into that kind of business March. I have been there and I know things that would curl your hair. March you once asked me if I had ever had a threesome I told you no. I have had one threesome with a Hollywood producer and Matt, to further his career. I nearly vomited it was so gross. The second time he was trying to get me drunk so I would have sex with another star who had made it big overseas. Do you see what is going on here?" He started crying, this is so out of his area that it probably sounds so alien to him.

"Hush my love, it's all in the past. The point I am trying to make is that Matt didn't love me, but he needed me to sell off to his mates when it was advantageous to him. Another night he took me to the beach we got drunk and he already had the guy waiting in the bushes to fuck me, I sobered up enough to run off. To this day I haven't had a drop of alcohol. He was the one that broke everything of mine in the house he was furious because the agent was a big-time one and he had fancied me, so Matt set me up."

"Nicky I am so sorry I have no words."

"You wouldn't March, you don't or didn't live in that kind of world. You are innocent, and that is why I love you so much, you would never do that to someone you loved."

"I can't even imagine it Nicky, how could he do that to you? I mean that's just so awful."

"For his career, not for his enjoyment. He had many lovers behind my back. I tolerated it until he got what he wanted a big break in Canada. He was already a sort of star here, and he couldn't go any further in Australia he had to go overseas to get more work. Now you know why I had the break down it wasn't because he left me, it was what he did to me. March the day I left him at the airport was a happy day for me." I pulled him in closer.

"I might have overreacted today but I am one hundred percent certain that guy was up to no good. I can tell a sleaze bag from the real thing and he was a sleaze, he even bought a bimbo with him in the hope you liked her, she is just another lost soul."

"I didn't know."

"Well you know now, please I beg you if anyone offers you work as he did, call me, or kick them out."

"I will Nicky, I didn't know."

"I love you so much March Stephenson, you have been so good to me and gave me back some of my self-respect. I loathed myself for ages and now I am good with you. Look after yourself and can you look after me also? Sometimes I do lose my shit and that's when I need you the most. And March, I know you didn't know about these things, I am just being very protective of you. There is no way I would let anyone harm you and I was rude because I know how to talk to these people and it did scare you, and I am so very very sorry"

"Do your parents know?"

"No baby, nobody but you knows all my secrets. Today that guy bought back so many memories from my past and I reacted badly. I want you to forget all about it. I am alright now and it's long past, I want to live in the present and future, not the past."

"Me too Nicky, I am the same."

"Good, then we are fine then?"

"Yes of course we are fine, I just wish I could give that Matt the thrashing he deserves."

"Some day we will hear he's been found dead in a hotel room full of drugs he will do something to stuff his career up. They already have canceled his second season, and the last I heard he's looking for work."

"Will he come back here?"

"I doubt it, there's no work for actors in Australia, well nothing as well paid as overseas." He started kissing me again and I turned it into a full-on pashing event.

"Can we go home to the hot tub Nicky I'm getting cold?"

"I will race you." I smiled.

"At last that smile is back." Then he smiled.

"Ditto."

We have never said an angry word to each other and this didn't sit well with the both of us, with Matt we were a mismatched couple at opposite ends of the book, with March we are on the same page and I aim to keep it that way.

I beat him by a mini second, but he giggled and pushed me aside then fell into the tub backward. He pulled me in and started touching me all over, I did the same as I sat on his lap.

He told me he loved me lots and I answered with the same words. If he had said long ago he would like to try a threesome or group, I would have walked out, once desired is never forgotten. I would have wondered all our life together if he still desired to do something with others. He would have been untrustworthy in my eyes. Maybe in the future when we get sick of the grind, I might take him to a gay sauna, he can have all the sex he wants there. But I do know he won't find anyone as good as me, and he would probably run a mile as soon as he saw what was happening.

I slid down on him and he gasped like it was his first time, then he said again.

"I have no words Nicky, only that I love you so very much, you are so good to me."

"I feel the same March, you can begin now."

He giggled because he's still learning to be gay, fortunately, being gay is not just sex its relationships, and learning to care for and protect your partner.

The clouds didn't disappear for several days, he was very timid to approach me at times. I persisted with my hand gestures and big smiles and he came around, he will be on top of the world again very soon. I found the card the agent had given him and looked him up on the web, there were a few sites that mentioned his name and one of them had over two hundred comments about the way they were treated and he was untrustworthy, and yes he is a soft porn sleaze. I thought about telling March about him but I had got him to the stage where he was begging me for sex again, so I didn't want to spoil the good thing I had going by bringing up the past.

May was as happy as a puppy that had just won first prize in a dog show, mum was raking the money in her little business is doing very well. Our renovations forged ahead and quite often I would find March patching up or filling spots with plaster, it was looking very top shelf. Ron is halfway through the bathroom, I could see it's going to look spectacular. Dad did his job with March and when they weren't busy they somehow had taken up fishing. Now I don't mind him doing that, it's kinda cute to watch them go off together. But it did take some time away from us one day a week.

March had fished with his dad and they went to the same river he had gone to years ago as a youth. To get there they had to get permission from Ethan, and March said he sometimes tags along. The farm machinery in the area still broke down, the awesome classic cars still cluttered up the workshop, and March and I still used the toilets or shed to get off during the day. I wanted to put in a glory hole but that would be a bit too much. I found an old door I thought I might drill a big hole through but had nowhere to place it.

I told March what I had in mind and then we watched some porn so he could get an idea, I left it to him to come up with a plan.

I liked teaching him gay things and one time I bought a small dildo and tried to place it you know where the screaming could be heard from mum's place, it was tiny. I knew then he would never bottom, rimming was so much better and didn't hurt.

He asked me many questions about the bottoming and I answered truthfully it did hurt, but for me, it was a good hurt, especially the way he was built.

Everything was going smoothly, the gym was busy and the cash was rolling in. Our home was beautiful, more beautiful than the last one because it was full of love.

March Stephenson was the perfect lover and attended to my every need, we ate mainly at the old table on the porch and mostly mum did all our cooking. She always had leftovers but they were very fresh ones. Jason started on the meditation gardens and stayed with May when he was in town. He said they weren't getting married they thought it might spoil what they already had. She was getting more and more into the Zen thing and attending his classes, I could see where this is going.

I spoke to mum about it and she said May hasn't said anything about moving or leasing her shop out, but you know when you get a gut feeling something big is about to happen you sort of go with it.

"Nicky he does it for me in a very big way."

"I can see that." We had been watching Jason from the back porch, he was carting around some stone statues and his grey sweats were showing every bump.

"Not that Nick, I am in love with him big time."

"So why don't you move in with him permanently?"

"March, he needs me."

I laughed and answered.

"Are you serious?" She nodded her head.

"I'm very serious he needs me still, I can't leave him."

"Maybe that's been your problem all along, you can't cut the cord."

"Maybe, but I still feel responsible." She sighed.

"Why don't you leave that one to me, I got this." I smiled.

"He still might not like it, but I have talked to Jason and he thinks we should move in with each other, maybe merge my herbal cures."

"The question is do you want to share your life with a virtual stranger and your business?"

"I know what you mean Nicky, and I know you are only looking out for me, he makes a lot more than I do, he's almost a corporation."

"May keep your cafe open and sell your cures still, but move in with Jason fully, you are almost living there anyway. It's only a twenty-minute drive for fuck sake what are you moaning about, people travel to the city from here every day and that's a lot further away." I had watched Jason move all that garden stuff and I suspect so did March, because moments after our little conversation he came out with his grey sweats on. There was no contest as March's goods swung in the breeze, he hadn't put any underwear on.

"Boys and their toys," May shouted out.

"And the winner is March Stephenson." I punched the air and took some photos.

The garden will look awesome there were statues of gods everywhere and a big prayer altar. I had bought him an incense burner and some bright cushions, he is teaching me and I am slowly getting a handle on it, but unfortunately, we both start giggling and that's not good. He doesn't get stressed now, and I am the happiest I have ever been. I doubt we will ever use it full-time, but it does look good.

Injuries are a part of the gym crowd, because I had been a nurse I knew something about muscle pain and I started doing back rubs and thigh massages, just the mainstream sort of thing. The guys were very appreciative and I got them moving so they could go and see a proper physio. If it was something that I thought was pretty bad I rubbed liniment into the sore spot and only once I had thought about calling an ambulance. These men were not sooks, they were big strong men. They would limp out of the gym and peel themselves into their trucks or cars, and drive home. Thank God it didn't happen often it's the big ones I saw not the minor ones they were badges of honor. I didn't have that problem with the ladies they didn't take risks and were thankfully mostly accident-free.

On a very quiet day, a very suspect young man yelped and decided he had pulled a stomach muscle. I had decided he was gay weeks ago, so I didn't mind giving his abs a good liniment rub, after all, he had an awesome body. I was having fun rubbing away when I heard the door open, it was March. Not only was his face red, but he also had a bucket in his hand. He moved me out of the way and tipped water into the guy's lap, he yelped again and stood up, then I saw what his problem was, he had a boner.

"Now behave yourself when you are in here, or it will be battery acid next time." He walked off, what could I say?

"What he said." The guy walked out without a hitch, I must have cured him with my healing hands, but we did have a laugh about it when he left.

"He was about to place his hands on your head Nicky, we all know what that means."

"What?"

"He was looking for head, that's a basic gay thing, didn't you know that, keep up Nicky?"

I feigned ignorance so he had to show me the maneuver in the bathroom. To my surprise, he also had to talk me through it. That was the only time anyone had done that, most of my members were very well behaved, except when you take too long on a machine, then the verbal abuse starts, but no violence.

There is a window in the door that opens between the workshop and the gym and many times during the day I would catch March looking through it, he's my random security guy, and if there is any funny business he opens the door and leans on the frame then crosses his arms, his stare is awesome also, it gets things done.

"We have mums tonight March, cottage pie, and chips." He started drooling as soon as I said it. Mum was so well organized, she would leave work at three then rush home, or to the veggie barn and have a roast on the table by six thirty. She said she had cooked the pies last night, another of March's favorites. May and Jason couldn't make it but she promised she would bring one in for May to try tomorrow. We usually get home just after five, and by five thirty March is in the tub entertaining me, he has it all worked out. We do fool around a bit, just some foreplay, the main event happens before we go to sleep.

We showered, then dressed to go to mum's house. This happens regularly and she does have a lovely back porch seating area she likes to use. Once a week we buy the Chinese, then on Friday night the fish and chips, so we aren't sponging off them all the time.

We have taken them to the pub several times and she agrees with him the food is too over-seasoned on most everything. But she does love a flutter and so does dad, they take their car and stay a little later feeding money into the machines. I can't do that because someone insists we have to be in bed by ten otherwise he wouldn't get his lengthy good-night cuddle.

"Nicky does sounding mean anything to you?" I started laughing.

"Yes, it's pleasure and pain for some men."

"Do you think I would like it?"

"You won't like it, where did you even hear that word?"

"I am well educated Nicky, and they mentioned it in that porn we watched last week."

"It is sticking a steel rod down your piss hole, and I mean right down."

"Oh, I don't think I would like that then." He giggled I gave him a rim job instead his legs were everywhere. And he bloody well knew what it meant he's probably watched it on his phone a work. March watching porn to improve his gayness doesn't bother me at all, I have the real thing and that is so much better.

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