Love Begins

About an hour later, I woke up with Keith's sleeping face next to mine. Man, had things changed a lot! In the small north Texas town of Sherman I had few friends, mostly acquaintances. You know the kinds of kids that when you do see them, there simply doesn't seen to be much common ground. A bunch of kids moved away with their families in the late 1980's. The only guy I would've considered a best friend lived about two blocks away from me. We were in the same class all through grade school, Justin and I. Just about everyday we would do stuff. You know, kid stuff - playing at the park, riding our bikes around, little league baseball, I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Starting around the fourth grade, we would occasionally ask each other about whom we thought was cute in our school. Around the middle of the summer, before starting junior high, a few weeks before my birthday, Justin got all huffy and pissed off. I hadn't realized that I was the only one that had ever asked if he thought a guy was cute. I was just being honest. I thought girlsand guys could be cute. Well, he just picked up his stuff and told me in no uncertain terms to stay the hell away from him. My twelfth birthday sucked. It was the first birthday I had without him there in I don't know how long. I just never clicked again with anyone else after that. I did try a few times but it didn't happen. For three years, I can’t say I was miserable but I wasn’t content either; just kind of existing day to day with nothing to do and no one to spend time with.

Now here I was, a stranger in a new town, lying naked besides this handsome boy. I watched him sleep, his eyelids fluttering, his nose flare with every deep breath, his well-defined chest rise and fall, admiring the way his broad shoulders met his neck. I hoped I hadn't made a mistake having sex with him. I hoped more that he didn't think it was a mistake. My thoughts raced in many directions all at once, admiration, worry, hopes, new town, everything all at once for a long time. Keith breathed in deeply and snuggled closer to me.

I glanced at the clock. It was almost 10AM. It felt good to have him move closer to me, relieving some of my fears. But I had to be sure I hadn't messed up and jumped too fast. I slid my hand up his thigh and wrapped it lightly around his morning woody. His mouth opened. I could feel his heartbeat race. Encouraging, but I still needed some sign, some words that told me he didn't regret it either. I glanced down from his face to where my hand lay under the covers and I squeezed his shaft a bit. He bucked his hips up and I looked back up at his face. Keith's eyes were still closed when he whispered, "I love you, Preston".

Those were the words I wanted to hear and yet I felt lost again. Lost in amazement that such a wonderful, intelligent, polite, sexy boy would love me. His eyes opened and he smiled at me. I was the luckiest guy in the world to be loved by him. I lifted myself a bit and kissed him gently on the lips.

Releasing our kiss, I let out a quivering breath, holding back my sob and said, "I love you too, Keith."

"You're upset?" He asked, rolling on his side to face me. "What's the matter?"

"Nothin' now. I was just scared you'd think it was a mistake."

"No way. It was natural. I mean, umm… You sure didn't force me. I didn't make you…?"

"No, no nothing like that. I wanted it too. I'm just a bit surprised at myself, you know?"

"I've never, ever done that before either." He admitted and a wide grin slowly formed on his face. "And I want to do it again, but only with you!" The next thing I knew, I was under attack. We wrestled around, laughing harder and harder, each of us trying to gain the advantage. Soon though, I gave in to the laughter and stopped battling. He rolled me flat and sat on my stomach.

"No more tears?" He asked.

"No more tears." I answered looking in his eyes.

"No more worrying?"

"Who me, worry?" I answered, and glanced down at his semi erect penis watching it engorge with blood.

He reached back and wrapped his fingers around my hardening cock. "Go ahead and touch it dude. It’s yours. And yours is mine."

"You betcha - dude!" I exclaimed, wrapping my hand around his swelling member.

Keith giggled, "Heehee! Sounds closer, but still not LA. We'll work on it."

After a few minutes of silent stroking I said, "It feels so great! I'm getting close."

"Uh-huh. Me too." He gasped, sliding off me and kneeling to one side. I got up to kneel besides him, our free arms wrapped around each other's backs and waists. We kissed deeply, tongues battling, stroking tighter and faster until I could take it no longer. Breaking the kiss, I moaned loudly in to his neck and shoulder, releasing a tremendous load that splashed over both of us, setting Keith off in much the same manner. We leaned into each other, gasping, milking each others deflating erections and fell to our side onto the bed to snuggle.

Keith said, "That is the best way to start the day!"

"Hell yeah!"

The phone rang and we heard the pitter-patter of feet running past the bedroom door. A few seconds later John knocked on the door then tried turning the knob.

"Keith, the phone's for you. Why's the door locked? Lemme in!" John whined.

Releasing me with a sigh, Keith crawled out of the bed. "Don't get yer panties in a bunch. I'm coming." I got up too and joined Keith in the search for the missing boxers. While we were searching, we could hear John behind the door telling whomever was on the phone that we were locked in the bedroom.

Keith yelled, "Shit! Who's on the phone John?"

"It's Mike."

I found both pairs of boxers and tossed one pair to Keith. We pulled them on and he unlocked the door. John came in the room, handed the phone to Keith and, saying good morning to me, plopped himself on the bed.

"Hey Mike, what's up?" Keith said.

"It smells weird in here," John remarked. Naturally, I hadn't noticed but I knew what the room must smell like and started to chuckle. Keith was chuckling too as he showed John to the door and locked it behind him.

Looking at me with a wide grin, Keith said to Mike, "We didn't do nothin'!" Hearing those words I started laughing harder.

"I don't know why Prez is laughing, he's just whacked I guess," Keith giggled, having a difficult time containing his own laughs.

I stood up and signaled to Keith to let me have the phone.

"Nope. Just a sec, here's Prez." Keith said

Taking the phone and hearing Mike's laughter with what I assumed to be Derrick's behind him, I said, "Hi Ya Mike!"

"Hey, Prez. You had a really good night, didn't you?"

"You might say that," I laughed, and watched Keith fall back on the bed in muffled hysterics.

"Come on dude, details, I want details!" Mike laughed

"Okay but you'll have to share some too then," I said, and Keith looked over at me grinning, shaking his head and mouthing no.

"I will, I promise!" Mike said.

"We never got to sleep. We looked through the book, tried everything at least once, then wrote a few new chapters." I said.

"Ya know, that's just the kind of bull shit answer Keith would've told me. Fine, don't tell me. I saw the way you dudes were looking at each other last night. Hey, I called for another reason. Since Keith has to work this afternoon and I have to work later tonight, let's all go down to the beach for a while."

"Hold on and I’ll check." I told Mike. "Keith, do you want to got to the beach with Mike and Derrick for a while?"

"I’d like to, but I can’t. I’ve got yard work to do and then I have to work later this afternoon." Keith replied. "But if you’d like to go, that’s cool."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about the yard work. I won’t go then," I said. I told Mike that we’d get together some other time, thanked him for the offer and hung up the phone.

Keith said, "You could’ve gone, dude."

Sitting besides him on the bed I told him, "There will be plenty of other chances to go to the beach. I want to be here with you today," and kissed his cheek, making him blush.

We put our shorts on and went out back. Drew and John were already out there doing their assigned chores. I offered to mow the lawn while Keith started trimming the trees and shrubs. John cleaned up the tree and shrub clippings behind Keith. Drew swept up the walkways and driveway after me.

When I finished the mowing, Drew asked, "How do you like LA so far?" and struggled with the lawn waste container.

I stepped over to help him out. "It’s pretty great so far. The weather is always beautiful and you guys and your folks have been making me feel welcome. I think the only bad thing I can say is about the smog."

"Wait until August on the 101 in rush hour," he grimaced. He then bent over to pick up another pile of clippings. "You can sometimes taste it driving down the freeway."

Looking at Drew's boxers peeking above his baggy shorts and his back muscles ripple, I knew this kid was gonna be at least as cute as his older brother in a few years. I asked him how old he was and how old John was. He said that he would be fourteen in two months, on the last day of August and that John had just turned twelve in May. I noticed that Drew’s voice was changing. We asked each other a few more questions about school and friends when, from the backyard, I heard shouts, then laughter. Drew finished sweeping and we returned to the backyard. Keith was sitting on top of John on the ground giving him a serious pink belly. Drew shook his head, walked right past them as if this was expected and picked up the last few handfuls of leaves and clippings. I laughed when John finally pronounced Keith his lord, master and supreme ruler of the universe.

We all went in the house together. John went directly to the shower to wash off the grass he was covered in. Drew went to the fridge, offered me a 7-Up and thanked me for helping out before going to the family room to watch TV. Keith got himself a soda and after taking a huge gulp he washed the few remaining breakfast dishes in the sink. Sitting at the kitchen counter, I quietly drank my soda and watched Keith wash the dishes. After being outside, Keith’s beautiful tan glowed, demanding my attention. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Drew watching me. I turned to look and he snapped his head back towards the TV. His blank face eventually weakened. He grinned at me and blushed. Keith finished washing the dishes, sat on the counter stool beside me and gave me a thank you kiss for helping out. It wasn’t a long kiss but enough to make Drew blush again.

"Anything wrong, bro?" Keith asked Drew.

Drew softly replied, "I’ve never seen you kiss anyone before."

Keith said, "Your time is just around the corner, dude."

"I don’t know," Drew whispered.

"When you least expect it, Drew. Right, Prez?" Keith said. He got up and nodded for me to follow him.

Following Keith, I said, "That’s right. If anyone had said three months ago that this would be happening, I’d have probably asked what drugs they were on."

Keith and I walked back towards his room, he closed the door behind me and fell back on his bed chuckling. "Oh man, I do not believe I just kissed you in front of my brother! I must really be loosing my mind!" He turned and looked at me, still standing next to his bed. "You know, I actually missed you while you and Drew where in the front yard?"

I sat down on the bed and confessed, "I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself tonight while you’re at work. Probably just play Civ2 and think about you. You’ll be home around nine tonight?"

He put his hand on my shoulder and gently pulled me back to lie beside him. Turning onto his side he stroked my hair and whispered, "Closer to nine-thirty. I’ll call you as soon as I get home, okay?"

Reaching to hold his hand, I said, "Cool. I’ll be waiting."

"Maybe, if we’re lucky, I’ll have a little surprise for you when I call."

"Really? What kind of surprise?"

"It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I gave you a hint now would it?" he chuckled, gripping my hand tighter.

"Now I really can’t wait!"

"I think you’ll like it."

I whimpered, "Don’t tease me."

"Come on, let’s get some lunch," he chuckled. "I’ve got to get ready for work soon."

Standing, we each noticed the tented shorts of the other. I pulled Keith closer for a hug and we kissed. It was a tender, reassuring kiss. The feeling I had with our arms wrapped around each other, bare chest to bare chest was the warmest, most secure feeling in the world.

Drew and John were rummaging through the refrigerator when we got back to the kitchen. Keith put a Tombstone pepperoni pizza in the oven. The four of us ate lunch in the family room. When we had finished, Keith asked his brothers what they were going to do the rest of the day. Drew said he was going swimming at his friend Corey’s house. John said he would go down the block to his friend Tommy’s house. Drew and John picked up their plates and left the house shortly thereafter.

After a few minutes alone, Keith turned off the TV, took my hand and led me back towards the bedrooms. "I’ve got to shower and get ready for work," he said, and pulled me into the bathroom with him. I closed the door behind me with my foot and he pulled me towards him for another warm embrace. After a few small kisses he rested his head on my shoulder and sighed. "Oh man, you make me feel so great."

"I feel fantastic when I’m with you too, babe." That was the first time I had moved from "bud," or "dude," to "babe," I think.

His arms released me and he unbuttoned my shorts. We undressed each other and stepped in to the tub together. Keith turned on the water, waited for it to warm up and switched on the shower. I picked up the soap and wash cloth then took his hand in mine, kissed it and rested it on my shoulder. I washed his upper body while looking deeply into his eyes. He twitched and giggled when I washed his sides and underarms. Man, it felt good to touch and wash him! We switched places in the shower; he rinsed off and took the soap and washcloth to wash me. When he finished my upper body, he turned me around and guided me to the far end of the tub. The composure I managed to maintain while he washed my upper body was totally shattered when I felt him wash my feet and up my legs to the crack of my ass. He chuckled when he felt my body shiver from his touch and asked me to do the same thing to him. As he finished my legs and backside he embraced me from behind, nibbled on my neck and took my throbbing hard-on in his soapy hand. Between the nibbling, his expert hand and his boner sliding in the crack of my ass, I lost all control and shot my load in a cosmic climax that left me delirious. If he wasn’t holding me upright, I would’ve collapsed! It took a minute or two for me to regain consciousness. I turned around and kissed him deeply then stepped under the shower and guided him into position at the other end of the tub. My deflated boner began to spring back to life the second I kneeled down and touched his foot. Gently and methodically, I washed his feet and legs. God, he was so handsome. I noted how the dark hair of his lower legs got lighter the further up I went. Standing up, I grabbed the soap and wrapped my arms around him. I worked the soap in my hands while I nibbled and sucked on his ear lobe. He was moaning his appreciation and practically begging me to get him off. I squeezed the bar of soap and it shot out of my hand. "Oh, damn! You're such a tease!" he complained. I giggled in his ear, took hold of his cock with one hand and massaged his balls with the other. Quickly his muscles tensed, squeezing my cock between his cheeks and he started to cum buckets. Just then, the water spraying my back got colder, making me tense up and I came a second time between his clenched ass cheeks. We floated back to earth from our orgasmic high, rinsed off as quickly as we could and got out from under the cold water.

The toweling off process took almost as long as the shower did. Eventually we finished up in the bathroom, walked across the hall to Keith’s room and got dressed. We kissed one last time before leaving the house and got on our bikes. I followed Keith to Blockbuster Video then headed home. Finally I could make a trip on my bike without being completely lost, I thought to myself.

When I got in the apartment, I went to the fridge for a Coke and found a note from my mom asking me to go to the store and pick up a few things. My Aunt Eileen and cousins were coming over for dinner that night. I looked at the clock and saw it was almost three-thirty. My mom would be home by six. I got a Coke and watched TV for awhile. We still didn’t have cable TV hooked up so I flipped channels until I had finished my soda then walked over to the supermarket. The kid that bagged my groceries was way cute, I thought to myself. Thinking of how a friendly kid had said hello to me a few days earlier and all the good that came of it, I found the courage to at least say hi to this kid. Who knows, maybe he’ll be in my school or in some of my classes.

I walked back home and put the groceries away then went back to my room and powered up the PC. I started up Civilization and had my Russian empire up to sixteen cities, destroying the German and Babylonian civilizations by the year 1 AD, when my mom walked in the door. I saved the game at the end of the turn and went out to the kitchen to say hi.

"Hi ma"

Browsing through the day’s mail, she said, "Hi Preston. Did you have a good time yesterday and last night?"

"Yeah, a great time." I said a bit too enthusiastically. "The Hundser’s are really nice."

She looked up from the mail and said, "Look at you! All tanned and wearing California clothes."

"Umm yeah, Keith and I got all sweaty riding around the valley yesterday. These are his. Do you like them?" I said, and walked around the counter to stand beside her.

"Sure they’re fine," she said, and kissed my cheek. "You just look different since I saw you yesterday morning."

What did she mean by that, I wondered? Think fast. "Must be the tan. We spent the day in the sun yesterday and most of the morning today."

"I’m glad you had a good time sweetheart. Did you get the things from the store I asked for?"

"Sure did. The change and receipt are on the table."

She looked at me and smiled, "I can barely believe the change in you since we got here, Preston. You’re acting responsibly and cleaning up after yourself and standing up straight. Your not getting sick, are you?"

"I’m fine, mom. I couldn’t be better."

"Do me a favor and fill a large pot with water. Your Aunt and cousins will be here by seven."

"Sure mom." I reached into the lower cabinet, got the big pot and filled it up. "What’s for dinner?" I asked.

"Spaghetti and salad. I made brownies last night for desert."

"Is there anything else you need here mom?"

"Not really sunshine. What did you do today?" she asked, turning on the six o’clock news.

I answered, "I didn’t get home till after three. I’ve only been back from the grocery store for about an hour. I was just playing a game on the PC since there’s nothing on TV." But in the back of my mind, I was shouting, I HAD SEX FOR THE FIRST TIME! And with Keith! Meeting him was the absolute best experience of my life!

"I’ve ordered the cable TV, they’ll be here next Tuesday. I need you to be home for them, okay?"

"No problem. I wish they could get here before the weekend though."

"I know sweetheart. We’ll get some movies at the nearest video store tomorrow."

"That’ll be better than regular TV. Keith works at Blockbuster Video. I’ll ask if he can put some recent releases aside for us."

"That would be nice," she said, and headed off to her bedroom to change clothes.

Dinner with my Aunt and cousins was uneventful. My mom and Aunt talked non-stop about all kinds of family stuff. Even this dinner was different from the way things were in Texas. We didn’t have many dinner guests there other than during the Christmas holidays. I excused myself and went back to my Civilization game. My little cousin Bobby joined me and watched me play, asking tons of questions. The next thing I knew it was nine-thirty and my Aunt and cousins went home. I saved my game and waited for Keith’s call while watching TV with my mom. My heart was trying to beat a hole through my chest! At nine forty-five the phone finally rang and I bolted off the sofa to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Prez. Wassup dude?"

"Not much, man. Just watching TV with my mom."

"Sounds real thrilling," he giggled, "I’ll bet you’re really excited."

I stepped around the counter and in to the corner of the kitchen so my mom wouldn’t hear. "Umm… not near as exciting as being with you," I said softly.

"Hold on sec. Take off John! I’m on the phone. I’m back."

"Cool. So what’s going on?" I asked.

"I’ve got on boxers and shorts. Nothing else," he giggled.

I pictured his bare chest in my mind. "That’s not what I asked!" I laughed.

"My mom’s ironing. I’ve got to work tomorrow morning, ten until three."

Frustrated, I loudly said, "Come on Keith! What’s my surprise?"

Keith laughed, "Oh, I love it when you get all anxious and demanding."

"Arrrggg!! Dude, I’ve been wondering about this all day. Don’t make me wait any longer."

Keith laughed. "Okay Prez. Here’s the deal. Tomorrow’s Friday and I have to work…"

"Until three! Yeah, I know! Then what?"

"Then I’m coming over your place and helping you pack."

I excitedly asked, "Pack? Where are we going?"

"Remember my dad saying we were going to Big Bear?"

"Oh yeah."

"He rented a cabin up by Big Bear lake for the weekend. I asked my folks and you can come with us if you want."

"Hell yeah dude!" I shouted. "Hold on a sec and let me ask my mom." I put the phone down on the counter and sat next to my mom on the sofa and gave her my best puppy dog look.

She grinned at my obvious attempt to butter her up. "Where and when?" she asked.

"Big Bear Lake with the Hundser’s. Tomorrow night. For the weekend. Please, can I go?"

"For the weekend?" she asked, and put out her hand. "Let me talk with Keith’s parents."

I ran for the phone, asked Keith to put his mom or dad on the phone and handed the receiver to my mom. I paced the floor while my mom made small talk, asked if they were sure it was okay and if she needed to give me any money. After what seemed like forever, she handed me the phone back and said yes, I could go. I kissed her forehead and told her she was the greatest. She just grinned and shook her head at my excitement.

"Keith?"

"Yeah buddy! Your gonna dig Big Bear dude."

"I can’t wait, man."

"I’ll see you a little after three tomorrow afternoon. I’m so glad you can come with us." He paused for a second then whispered, "I missed you today Prez. I love you, ya know?"

"Umm… yeah I know," I giggled, and walked back around the counter into the corner of the kitchen again.

"Tell me you missed me too."

I softly giggled, "My mom’s in the next room, man."

"Tell me anyway. And that you love me. I won’t be able to sleep until I hear you say it."

Just then a commercial came on the TV and my mom got up and left the room. I waited till I heard the bathroom door close.

"Prez? Ya there dude?"

"Yeah I’m here. I did miss you and I thought about you all afternoon. I love you too, Keith. Thanks man, for everything."

We talked for over an hour about the trip, what it was like to be in the mountains, all kinds of stuff. I closed my eyes and pictured him beside me several times. Then he said that he had to go and we said our good nights. I said good night to my mom, thanked her again and went to my room.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I played Civilization till 2AM then layed down and tried to go to sleep again. After a half-hour of lying there awake, I got up and did pushups and sit-ups until I was worn out. I pictured the mountains to the east of us that my mom and I had crossed just two or so weeks before. Sleep came but I woke up. Then I dozed off again and woke up to hear my mom getting ready for work. I heard the door close when she left and I dozed off again. I woke around 10AM and decided that was all the sleep I would try to get. This was going to be a fun weekend.