After drinking too much rum these gay boys want to make each other cum!

Good Neighbor Ch. 04

Revised version copyright 2006 by the author.



PART SEVEN: EXITS AND ENTRANCES



Looking back I only have myself to blame for how things turned out. I knew in my heart that those few days with Marsh were all I was going to get but I couldn t help hoping for more. He was so open so uninhibited in his passion so willing to share his life and his son with me how could it all end so soon?



But it did of course. If only it hadn t ended so badly.



Friday we were on Marsh s living room couch as the late evening light slowly faded. I was seated Marsh s head in my lap. We had stuck to our no-sex rule while Jonah was around all week. The other days it had been hard but tonight abstaining was easy. Gloom hung over us both as heavy as the still air of the house.



Marsh making an effort broke the silence. Thanks for reading him his story.



I nodded. For our final night together I had been accorded the honor of helping put the little boy to bed.



We fell silent again then I said When is Audrey getting in tomorrow?



Her plane comes in about three. I ll drive out there with Jonah to get her I guess.



Marsh what are you going to say to her?



He looked away as if trying to evade my question. About what?



My jaw locked in anger though I tried to control it. I knew I should have seen this coming. Many times I had sat at the bar and listened to a like tale of woe coming from one of my friends smugly thinking I d never let myself get into a situation like that. But I had with hardly a struggle.



Marsh must have sensed what lay behind my silence. He lifted himself off my lap and swung his body around until he was sitting apart from me looking downward. Look what do you want me to say?



So your wife comes back and I m supposed to be just your good neighbor again is that it Marsh? I sounded like a bad soap opera. I hated myself but couldn t stop.



Marsh spread his hands in appeal. Rob I have a family a job a house a mortgage. It s not that simple. I can t just throw it all away.



Jesus I am such an idiot I said my voice rising. A fucking idiot.



Shh! You ll wake Jonah. Please Rob. The look on his face succeeded in diffusing my anger for the moment.



You never were going to tell her were you? I asked dully after another minute.



Marsh shook his head slowly looking down again.



I should have known.



He raised his head and met my gaze his expression willing me to understand. Rob I ve never met anyone like you. This week–has been fantastic. You ve got to believe me I thought about it leaving Audrey I mean. But–



His voice dropped and trembled slightly. I m a coward. I couldn t help thinking about Jonah. Audrey she d survive even if she hated me for the rest of her life. But what about him?



The damndest thing was I understood. I d held that little boy in my lap played with him at the pool helped him eat his Jello cubes read him a story. If I were Jonah s father could I face the prospect of seeing him rarely or maybe not at all? Of wondering how his mother would turn him against me?



I felt like crying but tears wouldn t come. Instead I just sat there depression filling my chest like a lump of lead.



Shit I said. How intelligent how eloquent.



Marsh gripped my shoulder the words flowing rapidly out of him. Maybe there s a way we could keep seeing each other I don t know exactly how. Maybe at the office or something.



I shook my head repelled at the thought. I don t think so. Another beat then I stood. Well it was nice while it lasted. Bye Marsh. Funny Stan had said almost the same thing to me ages ago it seemed.



I started to head for the door. Rob Marsh said. I turned. He was sitting there as handsome as ever. For the first time his physical beauty didn t take my breath away.



You–you re not going to say anything to Audrey are you?



If he had said anything kind or remorseful I might have started to cry. As it was I snorted with contempt. Fuck off I said and walked out the door.



I didn t think Marsh was going to come running after me this time and sure enough he didn t. I sat in the kitchen of my silent and empty house and downed two or three Scotches from a bottle that I hadn t opened until now. I finally went to bed and woke with a pounding headache.



I d broken up with lovers before. I hadn t ever broken up with one who happened to be my next-door neighbor though. Nor had I ever terminated a relationship with someone who had a kid who liked me. So I wasn t ready for some painful little incidents in the next couple of weeks after Marsh s wife came home.



I got a phone call from Audrey a few days later asking me out to dinner with the family. She wanted to follow through on the invitation she had extended before she left. There was no way to refuse without seeming rude and obviously Marsh couldn t nix the plan without arousing her curiosity. So the four of us Marsh Audrey Jonah and me went out to a convivial noisy hamburger joint downtown the next week. Only Jonah seemed unaffectedly glad to see me. Marsh hardly spoke a word or looked me in the eye the entire time and Audrey chattered nervously about her father s health and had one too many margaritas to drink. It was one of the most uncomfortable evenings of my life.



Mercifully it was easier than I thought it would be to avoid seeing Marsh otherwise. I simply started leaving for work earlier and coming home a bit before he did. Of course it was impossible to avoid him or his family altogether but I would simply wave or say a brief hi before disappearing into my house. Once I thought I saw a puzzled look on Audrey s face as I walked away from her and her son who still obviously looked up to me-why was I being so unfriendly? Another time I ran into Marsh and Audrey together. I saw the anxiety in his eyes and remembered a joke I heard once about the definition of being gay: somewhere there s a married man who s terrified of you. Still his discomfiture was hollow satisfaction.



I found myself getting irrationally upset about the state of my yard and grounds. I no longer felt like doing the work myself but lacked the energy to go about looking for someone to do it. Things began to look overgrown and seedy and this lowered my spirits still further.



I buried myself in the business and managed not to think too much about Marsh during the day. At night was another matter. I would lie awake alone in my bed staring at the ceiling as images of our lovemaking flashed through my mind so real I could almost feel my arms around him again. The longing was a physical pain. I d had him for so short a time–why couldn t I forget him as quickly?



The summer dragged slowly on hot and joyless now. One night lying sleepless despite what had become my usual routine of two or three stiff drinks before turning in I couldn t stand tossing and turning any longer. I got up padded downstairs and quietly opened the back door stepping out onto the back steps dressed only in my boxers. It was very warm outside but still it felt better than being in the house which too often these days was like a prison. I figured I d stand here for a few minutes until the mosquitoes got too bad.



There were plenty of crickets and the noise they made was surprisingly loud. Dim light filtered in from the safety lamp shining on the driveway of the house behind mine and from the half moon above but most of the yard was shadowed in blackness. Suddenly I stiffened. I stood absolutely still hardly breathing listening alertly. There it was again–a soft wordless sigh from an unmistakably female voice. It was coming from the next yard–Marsh s yard.



My feet were bare and made no sound as I quietly walked diagonally across the grass until I could see the back deck of the Atkins residence. I crouched down in case I could be seen by anyone there–there was enough light so that an alert eye could have detected my movements.



I needn t have worried about being noticed though—they were totally engrossed in what they were doing. Audrey was standing with her back against the wall of the house behind her husband so I couldn t see her very well. Marsh was facing her crouching slightly his broad shoulders and back unmistakable in a dark muscle shirt. His bare butt was clearly visible from where I stood–whatever he had been wearing on his lower body was in a heap around his ankles. As I watched the rhythmic clenching and unclenching of his dimpled cheeks told me all I needed to know.



Another moan from Audrey wafted through the night air to my ears. I realized that my hands were balled up into fists and I was gritting my teeth so hard they could crack. Rage shot through me like a blue flame. I wanted to turn and run into the house hide under the covers of my bed stuff my fingers into my ears. But I couldn t move nor could I take my eyes off them.



Despite the turmoil that seethed in me I must not have made any sound for Marsh and Audrey continued their lovemaking with increasing frenzy. Her moans increased in frequency and volume. I saw her arms encircle his neck and her feet rise off the ground as her slender shapely legs wrapped themselves around his body. He began to thrust faster and I heard his voice join hers. Thank God I was too far away to understand words—the unmistakable guttural quality of the sounds he was making was torture enough.



The sounds reached a crescendo of intensity then began to diminish. Audrey s feet descended to the floor of the deck again and Marsh s body became still. They turned to one side embracing their lips touching. I heard or perhaps imagined the distant clicking of wet kisses. I could stand no more. As quietly as I could I backed away and re-entered my house letting the door slam no longer caring if they heard.



In the kitchen were the remnants of that evening s nightcap on the table–the half-filled bottle of Campari the empty tumbler. I heard sobbing breaths cut through the silence of the house and realized they were coming from me. I sat down and got the bottle open with trembling hands. The neck of the bottle clinked violently against the rim of the glass as I poured myself another drink. I took a big gulp of the bitter stuff neat and choked on it. Coughing and sputtering my windpipe burning I shouted Damn it! and threw the glass at the wall. Glass shards flew and the pink liquid went spraying over the counter top and linoleum. I put my head down on the table. In all the time since I had walked out of Marsh s house that Friday night I hadn t shed a tear but I began to cry now heavy broken sobs.



I could have stood anything but the sight that I saw for I knew exactly what it was to be loved by Marsh Atkins to be held naked and defenseless in his arms to be possessed by his body and cock. The first time I had seen husband and wife together in their bedroom I had longed for what I thought could never be. Now seeing them happily reunited I grieved for what would never be again.



CHAPTER EIGHT: DINNER WITH STAN



He was noticeably different on the phone this time. Hey–how are you doing he asked his tone guarded neutral. I heard the TV going somewhere nearby a sitcom perhaps as there were frequent bursts of laughter.



How are you Stan? I said feeling pretty tongue-tied myself. I had half expected him to hang up when he heard my voice.



Okay. So–what s up?



I decided to go for broke. I d like to take you out to dinner.



He snorted then taken by surprise. Dinner? Why?



Just then I heard another burst of laughter. This time a single male voice much closer joined in. Stan must have company.



Oh God this is a bad time isn t it I said really abashed.



Naw that s just my buddy Gary in from Florida. He s crashing on my couch for a few days. You really want to buy me dinner?



Sure I do.



Just a sec Gary s yakking at me. There were vague noises at the other end of the line then Stan s voice came on again amused less guarded. Gary says never turn down a free meal. He says I m lucky my yuppie boyfriend wants to give _me_ dinner.



I smiled to myself. So are we on?



Only if you ll take me to Castle Hill which was a casual but topnotch pricey downtown establishment.



Done.



Wow that was easy. When?



On the appointed evening I got to the restaurant first ordered a glass of wine and waited. Just as I began to worry that he was going to stand me up Stan walked in. He was wearing dark blue slacks a lighter blue short-sleeved shirt and a necktie. I had never seen him before in good clothes. He saw me waved tentatively and made his way across the dining room.



Thanks for coming I said as he sat down.



Thank you for buying me dinner he said. I could see he was curious about why I d invited him but he wasn t about to ask.



After ordering a beer from the waiter–no wine for Stan–he said without preamble So I guess the married guy didn t work out?



I shook my head. No he didn t.



Don t be too hard on him Rob he said to my surprise. They have a lot on their minds. Married guys I mean.



And how would you know?



I was married. I was taken aback. It must have showed on my face because Stan grinned in the old way. Heck why not? Most guys get married Rob.



I guess so. How long?



Six years.



How come you never told me before?



You never asked. Rob when you ve been over at my place you haven t wanted to talk much.



The waiter arrived to take our order at that moment and saved me from having to come up with an answer to that one. Stan sensed his advantage and started in on me again after he left.



So why the invite Rob?



Of course we both knew why we were there but I wasn t about to let him win that easily. I had an ace up my sleeve. Know anything about landscaping? Sprinkler systems?



Stan blinked. Huh?



I smiled blandly. I put in these flowerbeds earlier this summer and now I ve gotten lazy. I have to figure out a way to keep them from dying. I need professional help. That s why I called Stan–I figured you might know some good people.



Stan looked disappointed. Well he said slowly I could come over and take a look.



Why? I didn t know you did sprinklers I said acting skeptical. Actually of course I was elated.



He got a bit huffy. Well no I don t exactly. But I know enough so I can tell you what you really need so you won t get taken for a ride.



Okay. How about Saturday morning?



Fine. The meal came a few minutes later and Stan ate his food with gusto. A few times during the rest of that evening I caught him eyeing me with a puzzled look wondering why I had gone to all this trouble to ask him to look at my yard. He didn t know yet that this was just the first part of my little scheme.



Promptly at ten o clock on Saturday morning I heard the doorbell ring. Carefully I walked over to answer it. I grasped the doorknob turned it and pulled the door slowly open making sure I stayed behind it invisible from the outside.



Rob you there? What s going on? Where– Stan s voice asked as he stepped into the hall. His head turned toward me and he stopped in mid-sentence. A smile spread across his face and he shook his head. Aw you.



I was naked of course. I leaned back against the wall in what I hoped was a seductive pose. To my embarrassment I realized I was trembling a little bit from excitement but mostly from fear that Stan would laugh in my face and walk out.



There was a moment of suspense then he extended one of his big hands and pushed the front door shut with a bang. He stepped forward and put his arms around me but as I prepared to receive what I thought was going to be an affectionate hug his grip tightened he crouched down and suddenly my feet were in the air as he hoisted me bodily onto one broad shoulder. Stan what the hell are you doing? I shouted and his laugh rang out.



Upstairs yuppie scum he said giving my butt a vigorous swat.



He didn t make it to the bedroom with me but he did manage to get all the way up the stairs. At the top he put me down puffing from his exertions. I m not that young any more he said before I kissed him.



Later I turned to him as we both lay on my bed. My ass was pleasantly sore from the attentions Stan had paid to it with his mouth and cock.



Why don t we go out and look at the yard as long as you re here.



Stan laughed. How long are you going to keep this up?



I wasn t kidding I protested. I really do need help with the grounds.



Why do you keep saying that Rob? he said suddenly serious. Fuck you could have just told me to get my ass over here the night you called.



And you d have come?



Stan clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. You are so full of shit you know that? Haven t I come panting every time from the first time you saw me through your kitchen window?



I dropped my eyes ashamed. I wouldn t have been surprised if you hadn t this time.



Yeah well I guess I m a glutton for punishment. I looked up at him. He was still trying to look reproachful but the twinkle in his eyes was definitely there.



So–speaking of punishment my company s having a Fourth of July picnic out at the club. Want to go with me?



Stan stared then threw his head back and guffawed. You re something else. You mean I have to wear my good clothes again?



I shook my head. You look like a gas station attendant in those things. Wear your jeans and boots. Believe me you ll be a hit. C mon Stan say you will.



Stan was grinning broadly. His eyes had fully regained the challenging sparkle I knew so well and had missed so much. Let me think about it while you fuck my butt.



Whatever you say I laughed as I pulled him to me.



EPILOGUE



It took me a while to persuade Stan to move in with me but he finally did. He eventually installed the sprinkler system himself and the yard always looks great now. Adjusting to my office social life turned out to be a snap–he quickly figured out that a lot of the people who worked for me hadn t gone to college either and even the ones who had didn t like to do their own landscaping. He s worked up quite a nice business–the fact that he looks like a cross between Tom Selleck and the guy on the Brawny paper towel rolls doesn t hurt of course.



I saw less and less of the Atkinses as time went on. Occasionally I still ran into Audrey at the coffee shop or supermarket. She was still pleasant but noticeably less friendly—she never talked about getting together any more. I wondered how much if anything she knew or figured out about what happened while she was away that week visiting her father. One day I saw her going into the local post office with a dark-haired gravely handsome boy. I realized with a start that it was Jonah now about eight or nine years old. After marveling how much he was growing up to look like his dad sadness pierced through me. The lively toddler whom I had held in my lap and comforted whose hand I had held while we window-shopped at the mall was gone forever.



Soon after that a For Sale sign appeared in the yard of the house next door. I thought about going over and saying good-bye but decided against it. The thing with Marsh was ancient history. I hadn t had any real contact with him in a long time and I was sure that suited him just fine. It was summer again and Stan and I were about to go on vacation. When we came back the house was empty and deserted–the occupants had moved while were gone.



So Marsh Atkins made his final exit from the stage of my life. As it turned out it wasn t quite so simple–life is never that neat.



It was sometime that fall that I booted up my home computer one evening in my upstairs office to check my e-mail before turning in. Stan was in the shower I remember hearing the water going.

There was a whole lot of junk and spam and I got to work deleting it. One subject heading caught my eye though: Blast from the Past it said–not exactly the kind of heading you would usually see on a smut or sales promotional. There was an attached file and immediately I thought: virus. But there hadn t been any warnings lately and I was pretty careful about keeping track of those things.



Deciding to risk it I opened the e-mail and began to read.



Dear Rob



I hope you haven t figured out who this is and deleted it already. If you figure it out now don t delete it please? It s Marshall your former next-door neighbor. I was surfing the Net and found your company page. So how are you doing? I guess I m sorry I never got to say goodbye. I don t know if you talked to Audrey either before we left but FYI we re divorced now. I m living out in Cal. Got a good position here with the Silicon Valley branch of my company. We sold the house as part of the settlement. She got custody of Jonah but she s being good about letting me see him. Actually Rob she s being really good considering everything. You see I m living out here with another guy…



Okay so are you finished saying I told you so? I don t know exactly why I m telling you this. Maybe you won t think I m such a bastard now or maybe you still will. After all this doesn t change the fact that I treated you like shit. Rafe is great but I miss Jonah all the time. Say hey to him for me if you see him will you? He s still living in town with his mom.



Guess I ve rambled on enough. Hope you re doing okay.



Marsh



P.S. The attached file is a pic of me and Rafe my partner.



I opened it and looked at Marsh and another man smiling at the camera squinting a bit from the sun on their faces their hair windswept. Behind them was an expanse of blue water and what I recognized as the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.



I became aware of Stan behind me a towel around his waist. He pressed his bare stomach warm and fragrant with soap against the back of my head.



Our former neighbor I explained. He s divorced and living in California with a guy.



Saw the light eh? Stan said patting my shoulder. I took his hand.



Guess so.



You sorry he didn t see it sooner?



I looked up at him. Maybe a little. On the other hand if we play our cards right we might have a place to stay in the Bay area.



Stan snorted. Too damn civilized for this puppy. You going to stare at that thing all night?



I shook my head. Be there in a minute. After he left I gazed at the screen and the picture of the two men apparently happy for a while longer. Then I closed the file shut the computer down and went to join him.



END

None Found