Chapter 26

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Chapter 26: You Wanna Drive? Then Take the Wheel

In September Cliff started his job and shortly thereafter I started my fall term and things fell into a routine again. Cliff worked hard and his hours were sometimes long, but he liked his job and didn't complain. I had the usual class load and labs plus my volunteering, so I hardly had time to miss him. Being apart as much as we were, especially after our summer together, we really appreciated the time we were able to carve out for ourselves. We still tried to be social, hanging out with our friends as time allowed, but we really loved the time we had for just the two of us. We became homebodies, finding we preferred staying in to dealing with other people. Friends started cracking the "old married couple" jokes, and while we certainly didn't feel we were there yet, we started talking about a future beyond my graduation. Cliff knew my ultimate dream was to get a position on the mountain with the National Park Service, which would mean staying in Seattle. He was all right with that, as long as down the road I would consider transferring to another national park if he needed to move to advance his career. I agreed, though with a heavy heart, knowing I would hate to leave the home of all my friends and family. Still, Cliff was a priority and he had sacrificed for me. It was only fair that I make a similar sacrifice down the road if need be.

I continued to volunteer my time on the mountain and at New Beginnings, but now that I had access to the trust fund, I also started talking with the lawyers about using some of the money to do more to help these causes. Helping with conservation was easy - I already knew which organizations I wanted to donate money to, so it was just a matter of the firm investigating the finances of the organization to make certain they would use the donations efficiently. With the domestic violence prevention programs it was harder, because as much as I wanted to assist existing programs, I was even more concerned about filling the gap I saw in services directed to help gay men in abusive situations. The law firm hired folks to research programs available in other parts of the country and started to analyze ways to make the biggest and most economically efficient impact. While they did their research and analysis, I did some research of my own at New Beginnings and saw something that ignited so much fury in me I actually had to leave the office and be by myself to help me calm down. In reviewing the list of donors to New Beginnings, I found that James Visser was a prominent contributor. The bastard! At first it was all I could do to stop myself from storming back to his office and calling him out for the hypocrite that he was. For him to have the balls to contribute to a cause for the prevention of domestic violence after what he did to Jasper was the very height of arrogance. As I thought more about it, though, I started to cool off. After all, I was volunteering for New Beginnings in part to change something about myself and make up for something I did. Maybe his donation was his way of atoning for his actions. I was generous enough to give him the benefit of a doubt, but I had to know for sure, so I hired a private investigator to look into James' activities. If the investigation showed that he was trying to be a better man, I would leave him alone. Otherwise, I now had the money to do what I didn't have the resources to do before. Make him pay for what he did to Jasper and to me.

After we all settled into our new homes, no longer down the hall from each other or even in the same neighborhood, with the busy schedules every one of us kept, the gay squadron no longer got together as frequently as we had before. We all missed the easy camaraderie, but in a somewhat ironic twist, the most social of all of us, Seth, seemed to miss it the most. It might have had something to do with the fact that in late September Emmett started seeing a new guy, and Seth could no longer be sure he would have a companion on the nights he didn't feel like going out.

Emmett's new boyfriend, David, was an accountant who worked for one of Emmett's employer's clients. David was a few years older than us and the quintessential accountant type: on the shorter side with slightly oversized ears, short brown hair, heavy dark brown brows, and brown eyes that were usually hidden behind a pair of black-frame glasses. Without the glasses he was moderately cute. With the glasses he looked too nerdy to be anything other than an accountant. When he met him, Seth was beside himself. Apparently, in addition to lacking in the looks department, David wasn't the most riveting conversationalist either, instantly earning himself a nickname of "Dullard." Not being at all impressed by or interested in Seth didn't earn him any points, either.

Cliff and I tried to give David the benefit of a doubt, but privately we tended to agree with Seth. We just didn't see what attracted Emmett to this man, other than David's very obvious sense of self-confidence, for which we could find no reasonable explanation. Apparently when the two of them met David set his sights on Emmett and pursued him relentlessly, until Emmett finally agreed to go out with him. David's arrogance and stalker-like behavior set off all sorts of alarms in my head, but I knew Emmett could take care of himself and I figured there had to be something about David that appealed to our friend that the rest of us were clearly missing. One night when Cliff, Seth and David were all busy, leaving Emmett and me able to have a rare evening together, a few beers gave me the liquid courage to flat out ask.

"I can't really explain it," Emmett was honest. "I like how unconcerned he is with appearances and what anyone else thinks of him. He's his own man. And he's interested more in my mind and what I do than in the way I look, which is refreshing."

I resisted the urge to express my doubts on this point, since I was convinced no one in their right mind could just dismiss Emmett's extreme good looks, especially someone who looked like David. Then again, David was pretty brainy and Emmett was very smart, and it was at least possible that the two were attracted to each other because of interests they had in common that the rest of us didn't share. Tempting though it was, it was insulting to Emmett to assume that David just wanted him as a trophy boyfriend. Besides, I mused, maybe there was more to David than any of us realized.

"And how're things in the bedroom?" The words were out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them. I was mortified, suddenly feeling an awful lot like Seth. "I'm sorry," I quickly added. "You don't have to answer that."

Emmett looked at me and smiled, showing his dimples.

"It's okay," he shrugged. "We're not all as private as you. In fact, you might be the most private gay man I know. David's a good top. He's got plenty to work with and knows what he's doing, and he always takes care of me. I've got no complaints in that department. I gotta say, though, I wish he swallowed, and I wish he'd kiss me after I swallow. It does kind of suck not to be able to kiss him after I blow him."

"He doesn't swallow and he won't kiss you if you do?" I asked incredulously as my eyes bugged out. Cliff and I both enjoyed each other's cum so much, I couldn't imagine any gay men feeling differently. "And you're okay with that?"

"Well," Emmett said diplomatically, "Nobody's perfect, right? I'm sure I have at least one quirk he's not crazy about. And all the other stuff has been really good."

"Yeah, but Emmett, you're a good looking guy, plus you're smart and funny and caring, a great catch. And I know you get hit on all the time. And your best friend has evaluated at least half the tops in this town, so you have a great resource there. With all that going for you, why would you date a guy who doesn't meet all your needs?"

Emmett gave me a long look, then sighed and looked away. "I'm far from perfect, Edward, so I'm not gonna make my benchmark something I can't deliver myself. And it's not all that easy out there to find a guy who isn't too intimidated to top me or doesn't just want to do it for the novelty of it. David makes me feel good about myself in so many ways, I can't hold the fact that he's not a cum lover against him. But hey," he hesitated a moment. "This is just between us, all right? Don't tell Seth. It's important to me that he and David get along, and if Seth knew this, well, it might be a problem."

I promised not to say anything to Seth, remembering that Emmett had always been respectful of my privacy. I wished he'd never said anything to me either, though, because after that conversation I found it really hard to like David. Regardless of how Emmett felt, I knew David wasn't anywhere near good enough for him.

For his part, Seth made more of an effort to get along with David than I had ever seen him make for anyone Emmett dated before. Unfortunately, it was to no avail. All of us except Emmett could tell that David merely tolerated Seth. One way or another he managed to shoot down every attempt Seth made for the three of them to socialize, and when he was forced to spend time with Seth, he hardly even spoke with him. The bizarre thing was that Emmett, usually so sensitive to Seth's needs and moods, seemed not to notice David's complete lack of effort. Seth put on a good front, but I could see this total lack of recognition from Emmett of his boyfriend's behavior weighed heavily on him. As Emmett and David started spending more and more time together, Seth actually told me that he'd discussed with Leah the possibility of moving in with her for a while, if the situation with David got serious enough for him and Emmett to want to live together. I knew that Emmett would never ask Seth to move out, and I refused to believe he'd stay with any guy who made Seth's leaving a condition of their continued relationship, but Seth told me it didn't matter. If Emmett ever asked David to move in, Seth would move out.

"That apartment is just not big enough for the three of us," he explained. "I can't figure out what hold that guy has over Emmy, but whatever it is, I can't seem to break it without using some extraordinary means, and I don't want to make Em unhappy trying."

"I don't get it, Seth. You never have any problems telling me what's what. Why don't you want to tell Emmett that being in a relationship with David is changing him, and not for the better?"

"I try to wait to tell you what's what until you're ready to hear it, and the same goes for Emmett. He's not ready to hear it yet. Telling him now wouldn't do any good. It would just cause a bigger problem between us. I'll just have to wait and hope that in time he'll see what's going on for himself, or at least be open to me opening his eyes for him."

"And in the meantime?"

"In the meantime I need to occupy my mind with something else. Something big. God, I wish this was summertime - I could get busy planning a big bash."

"Why can't you do a fall bash?"

"Because fall is dreary and rainy and boring and there's nothing to celebrate. I'm hardly the harvest festival type."

"How about a Halloween party, Seth?" Cliff asked. "That seems right up your alley."

Seth looked at Cliff, his eyes wide. "A Halloween bash! A great big gay costumed extravaganza! What an inspired idea, Cliff. Why didn't I think of that?" he frowned. "Why didn't I think of that?" he repeated.

"Well, you have been a bit preoccupied lately," I pointed out. "Something about your best friend dating a dullard."

He squinted at me, trying to decide if I was serious or making fun of him.

"Yeah," he admitted after a moment. "It has been bothering me. Maybe enough to stifle my natural creativity. Thanks," he said to Cliff. "It really was an inspired idea. Now, who should I dress as?"

"I can't help you with that, but I sure know what costume I want to see Edward in."

"Oooh, do tell!" Seth clapped his hands at Cliff's excited tone.

Cliff said nothing, looking instead towards the book case and the photo of me in my football uniform. I groaned.

"Seriously?"

"Oh, yeah," Cliff said enthusiastically. "I would so love to see you in those tight, white pants with nothing but a jock underneath. I know just the jock, too. The one with the double snap front panel," he licked his lips suggestively.

"That would be great, Edward. I'd like to see you in those tight white pants myself. And Cliff, you know every football player needs a cheerleader."

I perked up at hearing this, thinking having to dress as a cheerleader might dissuade Cliff from this crazy idea. Unfortunately, he really liked it.

"Oh yeah, of course. I'd lead cheers all night long. 'Edward, Edward, he's my man. If he can't do me, no one can'" he intoned with a wink in my direction. I rolled my eyes skyward, but I had to admit, the idea was growing on me. I'd fucked my way through the entire cheerleading squad in Forks, and while sex with some of the girls had been more satisfying than with others, I never thought twice about any of them. But even with Seth in the room, the idea of fucking Cliff in a locker room shower or bent over a bench had a whole lot of appeal, and I could feel my dick starting to stir.

"Seems like you managed to tap into one of Edward's fantasies too, Cliff," Seth giggled, snapping his fingers in front of my face. "Settle down, boy, I'm still here, and I need you to help me start planning."

I scowled at him briefly, but let my annoyance go as soon as Cliff took my hand in his, his touch as calming as ever. "Of course we'd be happy to help, Seth," Cliff assured him. "What would you like us to do?"

"I'm friends with a lot of DJs, so music shouldn't be a problem, and I know quite a few boys who'd be willing to tend bar, maybe in shifts so they can still enjoy themselves. Nothing too fancy with the food or drinks - I'll need to figure out the budget..."

"Just tell me what you'd like, Seth. I'll get the food and drinks," I interrupted. I knew working for the Seattle Gay News didn't exactly put Seth in the top income bracket and, in addition to splitting the condo expenses with Emmett, Seth was paying off his school loans, so he wasn't exactly swimming in cash. I knew he was too proud to do anything other than pay his own way when we all went out, but I hoped on this occasion he'd let me contribute, especially since he knew damn well I could easily afford the food and bar tab. I watched his reaction to my offer, his internal struggle pretty obvious.

"You're already arranging for a lot of services," Cliff pointed out reasonably. "And you have to get the decorations. Why don't you let us take care of the food and drinks?"

"All right, fine," Seth acquiesced. "And no need to go overboard. Just beer and maybe a punch, pretzels, chips... no dips, though. Too messy. Oooh! We could put out bowls of snack size candy for dessert. Simple and perfect. What else?" he tapped his chin.

"How about stuffed pizza bread?" Cliff suggested. "It's self-contained - not at all messy. And maybe pop-corn chicken?"

Cliff and Seth continued to make plans while I just listened, on occasion providing a response if I was asked a question, but generally staying on the periphery of a subject on which I had no expertise. I was just thrilled that Cliff managed to come up with a way to distract Seth and make him just a little bit less sad and worried about Emmett's relationship with David which, I hoped, would burn itself out very soon. I was convinced that this would have to be the final result, given that David seemed to suck all the oxygen out of whatever room he was in, and without oxygen, there could be no flame.

With Seth and Cliff in party planning mode, the rest of September and October went by pretty quickly. On the home front, Mom was working through a divorce settlement with my father. Against my advice and the advice of her lawyer, she'd agreed to accept a one-time settlement payment from him in lieu of monthly spousal support, even though after over 21 years of the hell she went through with him, and considering that everything he had was due to her family's influence, she deserved monthly support and more.

"Monthly payments would just mean that I would be tied to him for the rest of my life," she explained. "And that's the last thing I want. All I ever wanted out of my time with him was for you to inherit what you were supposed to inherit, and I achieved that. Now all I need is some seed money for my new life. I'm not so old that I can't make a fresh start."

"Of course you are not too old to make a fresh start, and you don't need anything from him, not even seed money. You know that I'd happily assign the trust fund to you. All you have to do is ask," I reminded her. "It just pisses me off that he's going to get away with being such a supreme bastard to both of us virtually scot free."

"Oh, Darling," Mom sighed. "Please don't be angry or bitter. Truly, taking your father's money would make me less happy than getting this divorce over with quickly. Besides, I believe in Karma, and I know some day down the road he will pay for everything he's done."

I snorted, not as convinced as my Mom that there was some universal force out there meting out justice. Still, Mom was stubborn, and an adult, and this was her life, so in the end I shut up and let her make her own decisions, just as I knew she would have done if our places were reversed.

Seth's Halloween party was scheduled for the Saturday right before the holiday. Per my boyfriend's instructions, I secured all parts of a standard American football uniform except for the jersey. Cliff wanted to order the jersey himself, so that it could be customized to match his outfit, which he wouldn't let me see even though I was dying of curiosity. Even the day of the party he insisted that we get dressed in separate rooms, coming out of his room in a red track suit that matched the color of my jersey and was imprinted with 'Team Edward' on the back, but gave absolutely no hint as to what he was wearing underneath.

"You know, Sunshine," I teased, "cheerleaders typically show a little more skin."

Cliff, whose jaw nearly dropped when he saw me coming out of our bedroom with my costume on, came up to me and ran his hands over my bulky shoulder pads, then down my sides to my waist and the outside of my thighs, then back around to squeeze my ass.

"Does my big, strong Eddie want to see some skin?" he asked flirtatiously.

"You know it!" I confirmed enthusiastically. I couldn't wait to see the outfit he'd put together, knowing it was not going to resemble in any way any male cheerleader uniform I'd ever seen before.

"Well, you're just going to have to be patient, my love. Good things come to those who wait," he moved his right hand to the front of my lace-up pants, but the cup I had inserted into the jock prevented him from reaching his goal. His lip turned out in an adorable pout.

"You said you wanted an authentic uniform, Sunshine," I teased, enjoying the little surprise even though I probably would have enjoyed him handling my cock even more.

"I did," he admitted, "though maybe I should have told you to omit this little bit of authenticity. Then again," he said with a shrug, "this way no one else will be able to get their hands on you, and I'm sure some of Seth's guests will try. Keep it on," he decided. "We'll get rid of it when the time is right."

As unofficial co-hosts of the party, we arrived early. Cliff had stopped over earlier to arrange the food tables and it was now up to us to warm everything that needed to be warmed, and put out the rest of the munchies in the meantime. Seth, dressed as a mini version of the Scorpion King, helped and directed. Emmett wasn't around, apparently getting ready at David's.

"At least they're coming," Cliff whispered to me out of Seth's earshot and we both shook our heads in disappointment. Emmett had told both of us how hard he had to work to convince David to come to the party, eventually succeeding only when he threatened to go alone. Still, even knowing how important this party was to Seth, Emmett was remarkably understanding about David's stubborn resistance.

"He just doesn't like the idea of wearing costumes. He thinks it’s juvenile. And maybe when we're a few years older we'll feel the same way?"

Cliff and I thought that regardless of his feelings, David should have been more willing to accommodate Emmett's desire to go to the party, but we said nothing.

A few minutes before the rest of the guests were due to arrive, Cliff disappeared into Seth's bedroom and finally emerged without the track suit. Looking at him, I instantly realized that I was going to have a problem, as my hardening dick started filling out the cup. He was wearing the briefest red spandex square cut briefs, laced up front just like my football pants, but with no cup to keep me from seeing the outline of his gorgeous cock. He wore a red and white tight fitting V-neck half-shirt on top, leaving most of his torso bare to my wandering hands. When he turned around slowly at my request, I saw that the back of his half-shirt was labeled 'Team Edward', just like his track suit, and that the back of his briefs boldly stated 'property of E. Cullen.'

"What do you think?" he asked coyly, looking back at me over his shoulder.

"I think that I have a problem," I said, my voice strained as confining my erection within the athletic cup was starting to get really painful.

"What's the matter?" Cliff instantly turned around and stepped in closer to me, concerned.

"This uniform was put together to protect players from injuries on the field, not to accommodate the kind of reaction I get looking at you in that outfit. Let's just say my most sensitive equipment is going to be injured if I have to look at you wearing that all night while wearing this damn cup."

Cliff smiled, obviously thinking I was making a joke, but the smile left his face immediately when he noticed my grimace.

"You're serious!" he said with alarm. "Eddie, we have to get that thing off you. Come on," he turned and pulled me in the direction of Seth's bedroom.

"Just make sure the only thing getting off in that room is the cup, Eddie," Seth called behind us with a giggle. "Guests will be arriving any second."

I would have shot him an annoyed look, had I been in any less pain, but my discomfort overrode all other concerns. Even before the door to the bedroom closed behind me Cliff was untying the laces that kept my pants in place, creating the space needed for him to reach in to extract the offending equipment. I grimaced slightly again as he pulled out the cup, though by now pain overrode the excitement and consequently reduced the size of my problem enough for the removal to be less painful than it potentially could have been.

"Better?" Cliff asked as he tossed the cup into a wastebasket by Seth's desk.

"Much," I confirmed. "Still a little tender, but I'll survive."

"Should I kiss it and make it better?" now that my pain was gone, Cliff was flirty again.

"That would be nice," I conceded, "but if you did we might be facing the wrath of the scorpion king."

"I'm not afraid," Cliff postured, batting his lashes at me and wrapping his fingers around my bicep. "I know my big, strong quarterback can take on a puny little scorpion king."

"Be that as it may, it's not a fight I want to fight tonight. I have to save my strength to fend off the rest of the guys who will be ogling you tonight. I'm not altogether sure I'm comfortable with everyone tonight seeing this much of you, Sunshine."

"At least I'm properly labeled, so there's no question who I belong to," he pouted. "I should have had your pants marked as well."

"There's not quite enough room here to fit your full name," I teased, lacing up the front of my pants again.

"You may be right," Cliff said, rubbing his open palm over my bulge. "But there might be a solution," he mused.

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Well," he stepped closer and slid both of his hands to my ass and gave both of my cheeks a squeeze, "there's room enough here to print my name."

"Ah, but then we'd create too much confusion as to who is the top and who is the bottom," I reasoned.

"Right, and we wouldn't want that, would we?" It wasn't so much what he said as how he said it that gave me pause. From the very beginning of our relationship I had been the top and he the bottom. We never discussed another alternative nor did I particularly want to entertain it. I wasn't at all interested in bottoming and I thought he was happy in that role. So why did it seem like I heard a note of regret and disappointment in his voice? I pulled back and was about to ask a question when he leaned in to kiss me passionately, and took all other thoughts right out of my big head and straight to the other one.

"We'd better get out there before Seth gives us the evil eye," he said when he finally pulled away.

"We can't go out there like this!" I protested, alluding to the fact that we were both sporting rather prominent erections.

"Why not? Seth's seen it all before, and more, and the other guests will, I'm sure, also be very comfortable with those parts of the male anatomy. At least this way he'll know we didn't do anything in here," he reasoned. Other than my potential embarrassment, which was bound to reduce some of the problem, I couldn't find fault with his logic, so I shrugged and followed him out of the room.

The party went exactly according to Seth's master plan. Although he initially invited Maggie and Rose as well as Leah, after the three of them begged off with other plans, Seth decided to host an all boy bash. Since no one in their right mind would turn down an invitation to a Seth Clearwater party, and everyone invited wanted to bring at least one guest, Seth's living room was filled wall-to-wall with costumed grinding guys. It wasn't exactly our scene, so Cliff and I tried to stay on the periphery, but we danced closely together and got ourselves all worked up just the same. We talked to some of the people we knew. Zack's cousin and Seth's co-worker, Brad, was there with his boyfriend, Stig. Brad was in his mid-20s and very outgoing and fun. It was easy to see why his little cousin idolized him so much. Stig, in his mid-30s and a patent lawyer by profession, was a little more reserved, but still willing to make an effort to socialize with the younger crowd. Quite adorably, they came in coordinating costumes, Brad as a shirtless Jimmy Olsen, carrying a giant prop camera, and Stig as a very blond Clark Kent, amid transformation into Superman, with his superhero suit peeking out from under an unbuttoned dress shirt and suit pants. The two guys obviously loved each other and loved to dance, the closer the better, and when we stopped talking they disappeared into the gyrating crowd.

Emmett and David showed up a half hour after the party started, Emmett dressed as Conan the Barbarian in a loin cloth and a long blond wig, with a long sword hanging off his hip. David stood out like a sore thumb in his suit and starched shirt, claiming to be some guy called Leopold Bloom from the Producers, as if any of us would know who the hell that was. Emmett gave us a small shrug and a sheepish dimpled smile, as if apologizing for his boyfriend's lameness. For the rest of the party the two of them were even bigger wallflowers than we were, when they weren't hiding in Emmett's bedroom.

Cliff and I spent the majority of the time at each other's sides, since the few times we'd separated were rather treacherous. The first time Cliff left me to get us drink refills I was accosted by a twink in a fairy costume, complete with pink gauze tutu and wings, who slid up in front of me unannounced and started grinding his ass into my cock. I grasped his hips and pushed him forward, then to the side, explaining that I wasn't interested. I looked across the room to find Cliff enjoying my discomfort, sending me a little wave to let me know he'd seen the whole thing. The second time we parted ways Cliff wasn't nearly as happy when a burly fireman stepped up behind him and started grinding up on him, holding him firmly in place when Cliff tried to move away. As soon as I noticed what was happening, I was off like a shot in their direction, even before Cliff sent me an alarmed look.

"I guess they no longer have reading tests for firemen?" I asked coldly when I reached them a few seconds later. The fireman gave me a blank look, but made no move to release his hold on Cliff.

"He's with me," I said pointedly. "You'd know that if you bothered to read what's printed on his briefs before you started grinding into his ass."

The fireman scowled at me. "You had your boy marked?" he was incredulous.

"He did it himself, and he clearly doesn't want to be near you, so let him go, now!" I made my voice as authoritative as I could over the sound of the pulsating music. The fireman looked me over and must have concluded I was serious, because he let Cliff go with a shrug.

"I was just dancing. No harm, no foul."

"I suggest you find a willing dance partner next time," I retorted, wrapping my arms around Cliff, who had stepped up and pressed himself up against me as soon as the thug let him go. "Who are you, anyway? Seth would never stand for this kind of behavior in his home."

At the mention of Seth's name, the panicked look in the fireman's eyes mirrored Cliff's earlier expression. Without a word he turned and blended into the dancing crowd.

"What a jackass," I whispered into Cliff's ear as he nuzzled at my neck. "Are you all right, Sunshine?"

"I'm fine. You're so sexy when you get into your possessive protective mode. It was worth going through that to see you like this," he straddled my thigh and rubbed himself against it as he spoke. I looked down and saw that he was fully erect, his head nearly peeking out of the tiny briefs.

"Shit, Baby, that's hot. You're too damn sexy for your own good. Where is that track suit you wore on the way here?" I liked seeing him like this and knowing that I caused his arousal, but I didn't need any more of Seth's guests to be getting any ideas.

"You want me to cover up?" he looked up at me with a pout.

"No," I explained patiently, "I want the exact opposite. I just want to stop every other guy here from wanting the same thing I do."

He grinned but didn't stop rubbing himself against me. "I can think of several ways we could make this problem go away that do not involve either of us putting any clothes on," he suggested.

"You're killing me, Sunshine," I groaned.

"Aw, I don't want to do that. I want to make you feel good. Edward, Edward, you're my man, if you can't do me. . ." he launched into a modified version of his cheer.

"I'll tell you what, I've just about had enough of all this anyway. Let's say bye to Seth and Emmett and go back to our place, where we can do whatever the hell we want without any unpleasant interruptions."

We quickly found and said goodbye to our host. Emmett and David were hiding in Emmett's bedroom again, so it was easy to say goodbye to them as well. I told Emmett about the obnoxious fireman and he followed me out into the living room after Cliff and I retrieved our jackets from Seth's room. Emmett spotted the thug before I could even point him out and started advancing menacingly in his direction. The guy saw him coming and didn't think twice before making a beeline for the exit. The three of us followed him.

"And don't show your face here ever again," Emmett called after the retreating man. He didn't even bother turning around.

Cliff and I hugged Emmett again, declining his offer to accompany us to the car. The idiot wouldn't know I had a private spot in the garage, so I was sure he would not be waiting there. And even if he was, I was reasonably sure I could take him.

"You should spend some time with Seth, Em," I told him. "He misses you, and if it wasn't for David you know you'd be hosting this party together."

Emmett grimaced, a guilty look settling on his face. "I guess I haven't been a really good friend today, have I?" Cliff and I just looked at each other, neither one of us inclined to say anything or offer absolution. "It's just David hates these things and he's miserable."

"Then tell him to go home. It's not like you can't see him tomorrow," I pointed out. "Seth needs you tonight, especially now that we're going." Seth may not have wanted to say anything or to make Emmett feel guilty, but I had no such qualms. When he still looked hesitant, I stared deep into his eyes. "Emmy, he's your best friend. You can give him one evening, can't you?"

He sighed and raised his hand to rub the back of his neck. "Yeah," he said. "I guess so. All right. I'll figure something out."

Cliff and I were somewhat subdued on the ride down to the parking garage and then on the drive home, but by the time we entered the elevator of our apartment building I remembered what Cliff had on underneath his track suit, and my libido overrode all other thoughts.

"I can't wait to get these clothes off you, Sunshine," I said as I pulled him back against me.

"You're going to have to," he said as he slipped his left arm up and into my hair, turning his head back and leaning up for a kiss.

"Why's that?" I asked before obliging his silent request. We broke apart as the elevator doors slid open on our floor.

"Because tonight I get to be in charge," he explained as he left the elevator and headed for our apartment, with me following closely behind.

"Oh really?" I unlocked the door and we both stepped into the hallway, closing and locking the door behind us.

"Yes, really," he confirmed as he grabbed the front of my jersey and shoulder pads and shoved me against the closed door. Thanks to the padding on the back, I barely felt an impact. "You got a problem with that?" he asked, his face so close to mine I could feel his breath on my skin. This was a side of him I didn't get to see very often, and I was most intrigued and excited. After I became comfortable with sex and ready to lead and experiment, Cliff had mostly taken a more passive role in bed, letting me set the pace and choose our activities, though he never hesitated to state his preferences when asked. Only on rare occasions did he make it clear that he wanted to be in charge. I didn't mind. I trusted him implicitly, and knew he wouldn't do anything he didn't think I'd enjoy. And while leading and being in control came naturally to me, it sure was a turn on when Cliff wanted to engage in a little role reversal.

"No problem at all," I replied readily, a tingle of excitement and anticipation running through me. "I'm here for your pleasure." My half hard cock made its way to fully erect quickly as Cliff grasped it through my pants and jock and began to stroke.

"That's what I like to hear," he said, "and feel. But, I assure you, the pleasure will be mutual," his voice was soft but suggestive.

"It already is," I murmured, closing my eyes and getting lost in the sensations brought by his hand and the wet kisses he was now planting down the side of my face and neck.

"I really love you in this uniform," he told me. "You have no idea how hot you look right now and how much you're turning me on."

"I might have an idea," I said suggestively, looking down to where the outline of his hardness was clearly visible even through the annoyingly modest track pants. "But it would be easier to tell if you took those pants off. Your little outfit is quite hot too, as you damn well know."

"You think so, really?"

"False modesty doesn't become you, Sunshine," I offered, hooking my thumbs into the elastic waistband of the track pants and pulling them down to his thighs, then immediately returning my hands to his ass, where the lycra material of his square cut briefs barely contained the perfect mounds of his backside. I began to knead the firm tight muscles and we moaned against each other, both enjoying my ministrations. Our lips met and we kissed long, hard and deep in an attempt to ease our growing hunger for each other.

Cliff slipped his hands beneath my jersey and ran them first over the exposed parts of my back, then stomach, finally resting them against the shoulder harness. "Much as I love you in all this, the shirt and the pads have to go. Take them off!" he ordered, stepping back to allow me to follow the command.

I reached for the hem of my jersey and pulled the shirt up enough to reveal my abdomen. "Are you sure you want me to take it off?" I teased.

"Yeah, Eddie," he said as he leaned against the wall and stroked his cock through his briefs. "I'm absolutely sure."

I reached across my body with my left hand to grasp the other side of the front hem and tugged the jersey up until it was over my head and I could toss it to the floor.

"Now the pads!"

I unclipped the two underarm straps that held the shoulder pad harness in place, watching Cliff shake off the jacket of his track suit and pull the pants all the way off. He then quickly took off his small tight top with one hand in a single smooth overhead pull, returning to his observation pose while I lifted the harness overhead and lowered it to the floor beside the jersey. Finally naked from the waist up, I ran my right hand down my chest and to my crotch. "What's next? " I asked huskily.

"Take off the shoes and socks," he didn't hesitate and I immediately complied. Cliff followed suit.

"Should I take off the pants?" I inquired, fingering the laced up closure.

"Nope," Cliff was firm. "Go to the dining room and lean back against the table."

Curious to find out what he was planning, I did as he asked, removing the chair at the head of the table and leaning back, both of my hands braced on the tabletop behind me.

"Very good," Cliff complimented as he walked towards me. "Now keep your hands right where they are until I tell you otherwise."

I was already hard with anticipation, but his command sent another wave of excitement through me. Almost involuntarily, I thrust my hips out to meet his approaching body.

"Somebody's eager," he commented as he traced a path with his fingers across the criss cross path of the lace that held my pants closed.

"Eager for my favorite cheerleader to show me how much he appreciates his quarterback," I confirmed.

"Oh, am I your favorite cheerleader?" he teased. "That's sweet. You're my favorite player too. Especially since you're so well equipped," his hand curled around my erection, which strained against the fabric of the jock and pants. "Though I never realized you needed a club to play football."

"I'm. Hardly. That. Big." I took shallow breaths as he stroked me while pressing himself against me and covering with noisy wet kisses the neck I'd exposed by throwing my head back.

"Oh, you're plenty big," he disagreed. "Luckily, I know of a couple of places that will perfectly accommodate that weapon of yours," his voice was low and deep and suggestive as all hell, and if it had been possible, he would have made me even harder than I already was, especially when he followed up his statement by sucking my Adam's apple into his mouth and caressing it with his tongue while biting around it just enough to cause the most exquisite pain.

"Don't. Tell. Me. Show. Me," I panted, thrusting my hips against him and his stroking hand.

"Oh, I will," he assured, "but first things first."

He used his other hand to untie and loosen the laced up closure of my pants. Then he moved both hands to my ass, rubbing and kneading as he thrust his laced up erection against mine, his lips continuing their thorough exploration of my neck and shoulders. I gripped the tabletop tightly, not letting go, as ordered.

"I need to touch you," I complained, frustrated. "Please!"

"Not yet," he denied. "Keep those hands right where they are," he repeated. He ran his hands over my hip pads and my thigh pads. "Have I told you how hot you looked in your uniform tonight? And especially in these pants? Do you know how many twinks at that party were checking you out, wanting to get a piece of you?"

"I hadn't noticed," I answered honestly. "I was too busy watching my smokin' hot boyfriend and fending off his would be suitors."

"Suitors," he snorted. "More like illiterate and unwelcome distractions. No one at that party even came close to diverting my attention from you. You just look so sexy in these," he ran his hands over my thighs again, this time in the spaces between the pads. "It's almost a shame to take them off."

I groaned and he giggled. "I said almost," he relented, then lowered his head to my chest and lapped at my left nipple with the flat of his tongue, causing my body to shudder.

"I love when you do that," I told him, though the feedback was hardly necessary given my physical response.

"I know," he informed. "I love doing it too."

He moved his hands to the top of my pants, tugging at the waistline to loosen them further. "It's time to take these off," he stated as he pulled the fabric down to my hips. He positioned his mouth at the top of my happy trail and began to lick and kiss his way down as he lowered himself to his knees, pulling down my pants as he went along. He rubbed his face against my hard cock through the fabric of the jock strap as he gave the pants a final tug so that they pooled at my feet. He used his hands to signal that I should raise first my right foot, then my left, as he removed the pants completely and tossed them aside. He ran his hands up my shins, knees and thighs, then around my hips and under the straps of my jock, while he covered the inside of my thighs, right below my jock-encased balls, with slurpy kisses.

"Sunshine, you're killing me," everything he was doing felt so good, yet it was so frustrating not to be able to touch him and not to have his skin directly on my cock.

He looked up at me, giving me his broad smile, his crystal blue eyes twinkling mischievously. "I am just getting started." He moved his hands from my ass to grip the table top and hoisted himself back up to a standing position. He leaned his body against me so that his lips were right next to my ear. "Now I want you up on that table, on all fours," he whispered.

Another shudder went through me, this time one of anxiety. Being on all fours was not a position I was used to, at least not when his body wasn't directly below mine. I was keenly aware that wearing only my jock left my ass completely exposed, and the thought of being so vulnerable with another person behind me made me extremely anxious.

"Cliff, I'm not sure," I started to express my reservations.

"Trust me, Eddie," he interrupted. "You're gonna like what I have planned. Nothing to be afraid of."

His voice was calm and reassuring. I let out a small sigh of relief and relaxed muscles I didn't even realize I'd tensed. "Okay," I said with a nod.

He stepped back, allowing me to push myself away from the table and turn around. I hiked my knee up onto the table top and pulled myself up, bringing up the other knee behind me. I felt a little ridiculous up on the make-shift pedestal, like some live art installation. I started to move towards the centered of the table but Cliff stopped me, indicating I should stay close to the edge. I got a bit nervous again, until I realized that I was way too high for Cliff to intend to get his cock anywhere near my ass. Suddenly calmer, my attitude changed and I started feeling a delicious anticipation and curiosity about what he had in mind.

"God, you look so hot like that," Cliff said in a husky voice; "You don't know how often I've fantasized about seeing you exactly like this. Ever since you told me you played football, I think, and then once I saw your picture in your uniform..." he trailed off. I waited, but nothing happened. It felt strangely erotic to be posed like this for his observation, but the lack of activity was unnerving as well. I tried to turn back but he stopped me.

"I want you to keep looking forward. In fact, you might enjoy this even more if you close your eyes altogether."

I didn't understand what was going on, but I figured if I couldn't look back I might as well close my eyes. A few seconds later I felt his hands on the backs of my thighs, moving up to grab my ass. With my eyes closed I could fully concentrate on his light but purposeful touch, and it became doubly erotic.

"You have a beautiful ass, Eddie. Delectable. I have to get a taste."

He continued to massage my butt with his hands, but suddenly I felt his teeth closing on the flesh of one of my cheeks in a gentle and playful love bite. I sucked in my breath at the unexpected but pleasurable contact, and gave a small moan when it was followed by a swirl of a soothing tongue. He bit and licked again, on the other cheek, then continued to pepper my cheeks with a shower of tiny bites. Without the ability to look back, I never knew where the next bite would land, and waiting for each contact became an erotic torture. It all felt so good I found myself pressing my ass back and up, moaning my pleas for more.

"You're delicious," he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. "I can't get enough."

"Don't stop," I begged, even the short time it took him to speak being too long of a pause between the highly exciting contact.

"Don't worry," he assured me. "I have no intention of stopping."

I felt his tongue on my right cheek, just next to my crack, and felt him lick a broad path along the entire length of the separation. I shivered with excitement at this new sensation, grateful to feel him repeating it on the other side. I felt his fingers probing at the juncture of the support straps and the pouch of my jock, with several slipping in and gently massaging my swollen nuts, even as he continued his broad licks along the mounds of my ass. My moans were now loud and completely unabashed, and I shamelessly pressed myself back against him in encouragement. Keeping my eyes closed heightened every sensation and made this one of the most arousing experiences of my life.

I whimpered when Cliff withdrew his fingers from the jock, but smiled when I felt his hands move to the snap closure. The jock had a two-step snap closure on either side of the pouch. The first snap released the front panel, leaving the jock on and just a supportive ring beneath my balls. The second snap released the ring, allowing for the instant jock removal. Cliff didn't bother with the panel, which from his position would only get in the way when down. He immediately unsnapped the second closures and ripped the jock off, throwing it to the floor. He continued licking as he grabbed my erection and stroked it loosely. I flexed my hips, preparing to thrust into his fist, when he abruptly let me go.

"Not yet, and not that way," he chastised. "Patience."

I growled slightly with frustration, but the growls quickly turned to moans as his hands moved back to my ass and he once again began nibbling and licking, getting closer and closer to the split between my cheeks. Suddenly I felt him part my cheeks and he was no longer licking the outside. Instead, he ran his tongue along the inside of my crack on both sides, just to the outside of my hole.

"Oh!" I exclaimed at the surprising maneuver which sent another shudder of pleasure though me. His tongue felt so good along the sensitive skin that had, for the most of my life, remained untouched. Still, I couldn't help reflexively clenching my cheeks in an effort to close the gap.

"Relax, Eddie," Cliff soothed. "How did that feel?"

"It felt wonderful," I admitted. "But..."

"But nothing," he cut me off. "Nothing matters right now except the way we both feel. You taste wonderful. I want more. Just relax and let me keep making you feel good."

His soft voice was reassuring, as were the fingers gently massaging my cheeks in an effort to part them. Knowing I could trust him, I relaxed my muscles and pushed back against him, allowing him to spread me open.

"That's it, Eddie. So beautiful," he complimented. He ran the flat of his tongue along the entire length of the inside of my crack, from my perineum, over my hole, to my tailbone. "So delicious!"

"Oh, God," I choked out, amazed at how much I loved the feeling of his tongue on my most private body part. But even as my cock throbbed with arousal, I had to ask. "Cliff, are you sure you want to. . ."

"I've never been so sure of anything in my life, Eddie. You don't know how long I've waited to do this," his warm breath flowed over my skin, newly coated with his saliva, and I let out another throaty moan. I didn't hesitate for a second when he asked me to spread my legs wider, giving him better access to my intimate fissure. I couldn't wait to feel his tongue on my skin again.

He didn't disappoint. Moments later I was awed and nearly struck breathless as the tip of his strong muscle swirled slowly over the sensitive flesh and through the hair surrounding my opening. Maddeningly, he studiously avoided the entrance itself.

"Sunshine," I whined again in complaint as I tried to wiggle my butt to maneuver his tongue to the center, an effort he managed to expertly avoid, chuckling softly.

"Yes, Baby?" he asked, pulling away. I huffed in frustration, realizing my complaint had the exact opposite effect of what I wanted.

"Please, more," I breathed.

"Maybe you'd like a break?" he was coy, his hand reaching between my legs to pull my hot throbbing rod down and towards him. I was about to protest when I felt his tongue sweep over my frenulum and through my slit. My breath caught in my throat.

"Fuck," I groaned when I started breathing again. "That feels so good."

"Mm," he agreed. "You're delicious all over." He traced a path with his tongue up my cum tube to my balls.

"Again," I requested and he obliged, starting once more at my frenulum. "Don't stop," I encouraged as he repeated his action again and again. I felt my muscles tightening as he brought me closer and closer to the edge. I was painfully hard now, and so ready to come. But Cliff wasn't going to make it that easy. Knowing my body as well as he did, he realized I was getting close too, and that wonderful tongue was suddenly gone.

"No," I protested. "Please don't stop."

He was still gripping me loosely with one hand, and I once again tried to pump my hips into his grip to create enough friction to trigger my orgasm, but the more I tried the looser his grip became.

"You're not being patient, Eddie," he chastised.

"No, I'm not," I agreed. "I need to come so bad, please."

"But you can't come yet," he teased. "Not until I've done this."

I gasped as he let go of my cock, letting it bounce back towards my stomach while he used his hands to part my crack again and pressed his face into my ass. This time his tongue found the exact target, circling the skin of my opening as his hands groped my cheeks.

"Ugh," I couldn't hold back the grunt of pleasure as I pushed my hips back against him. This was the most amazing thing I'd ever felt. Or it was for a moment, until he kept his tongue firmly in the center and pressed. "Oh, God," I cried out as the muscle gave way and his tongue was probing inside me, flitting back and forth against nerve endings that had never been touched like this by anyone before. The feeling was indescribable. I simply had no words that were adequate to articulate the cacophony of pleasure that exploded inside me. I adored feeling the warm, soft, wet probe breaching my last sanctum, a place I had thought would be forever off limits to anyone and anything, but doing it so gently and sensuously that I had no reason to protest. I began panting as I felt, once again, right on the verge of orgasm, but needing just the one extra push to send me into the abyss. And then, as if answering my unspoken request, he reached for my cock, brushing his thumb over the entire head to spread out the leaking precum. He gripped me, pressing the flat of his wet thumb against my frenulum, and began to stroke me in time with his thrusting tongue. It was all I needed. I felt the familiar building tension increase exponentially and then everything went blank and jets of my cum sprayed all over the dining room table, some even reaching the chin of my lowered head, as Cliff continued to pump and lick me and my body continued to shudder in response.

At last I was spent, and regained awareness of my surroundings. My knees were aching from the hard surface of the table and my arms shook a little from supporting my weight the entire time. Cliff released me and backed off, allowing me to lower myself and curl on my side, still breathing hard. He walked around the table to stand next to my head and lowered his face to mine, his tongue reaching for the bit of cum on my chin. I turned to lay on my back so I could look up at him.

"That was absolutely amazing," I said, gazing up at him in wonder and awe of the things he just did to my body that he had never done before.

"I agree," he smiled and pressed a hand to my cheek, then leaned down to give me a long, sensuous kiss. When he pulled away, I looked to the side and saw the conspicuous bulge inside his tiny briefs.

"I need to take care of you, now," I announced, turning again to face him and reach for the laces on his briefs.

"I can wait if you need to rest," he offered. "You seem a little drained."

I gave him my crooked grin and sighed. "You did take a lot out of me," I agreed as I continued to loosen the lace closure of his briefs. "But I think I have enough energy left to take care of my man."