Sharing - 1. Prologue

The following is based on an interview. It turned out too long for the magazine article but ended as a book. My assignment was to interview an unconventional household: five gay men living, not as roommates, but rather as a romantic, sexual unit. Did this arrangement constitute promiscuity? Must a household of men resemble a frat house? What aspects of family did this group provide? I came prepared with these and other questions.

The idea for this article came through the usual channel of a friend of a friend who heard at a party of a group of guys living like an extended couple – dishes, laundry and sex. My editor loved the idea as an article for the series on the variety that was gay life and how it was redefining relationships and households. I was skeptical that this group would be open to a reporter’s questions, but was surprised to have the interview welcomed.

We had agreed that we would meet at the group’s loft apartment in a revitalizing section of the city. I was greeted at the door by John, the eldest of this group at twenty-nine years. He opened the apartment door, revealing a large, open space with exposed brick walls punctuated with windows along three sides. The center of the room had a free-standing fireplace. Easy chairs and couches seemed to have come to rest randomly around the space. The fourth side was a wall made up of doors. Just doors side by side the length of the room. No two were alike, but shared a character as if salvaged from old buildings. John led me to a seat in the great room of their loft apartment, facing the other men as they sat around the room in various casual attitudes.

As John crossed the sitting area and sat down, another of the men, strikingly beautiful in appearance and graceful in movement, reached out, taking John’s hand and pulling him into the large chair where he sat, making room for him. This was Mark. What I next observed spoke volumes about the relationship among these men and their comfort with who they are. As Mark snuggled against John, his hand came to light between John’s legs, absently stroking the growing bulge. John lifted Marks hand to his lips, kissing it gently, then put it into Mark’s own lap saying softly, “Not now Love, we’ve got company.” Mark replied only with a sweet smile toward me and a kiss on John’s cheek.

Another two of the men, who could be characterized as ‘twinks’, sat side by side on a couch. They sat with entwined arms, holding hands, Sean - Asian with dark hair and eyes, the other Tim - Caucasian with darkening blond hair and soft hazel eyes. I soon learned that they responded like twins, checking the other before responding, then answering my questions as one.

The last of the household, Brad, sat on the floor leaning against the couch where Sean and Tim sat. He was strikingly masculine in jeans and athletic shirt, his muscled arms and shoulders evident. Sean’s hand rested on Brad’s shoulder, occasionally stroking his earlobe. Brad stroked the sparsely haired leg of Tim.

Reporter: “I guess I’ll begin the interview with some questions about how you all interrelate. With five of you, it can’t be couples. Can you describe the dynamic?”

They all laughed as one. John spoke for the group. “Well, it’s pretty fluid. We’re a bit of a commune, everyone pitching in – and that goes for running the household as well as sex.” Again a group chuckle. “We each have our own lives. Brad and I have jobs, Mark splits his time between an acting career and odd jobs, and Tim and Sean are students at the University. There’s a changing mix of who is in the house at any one time. Most nights we all end up back here. Wouldn’t you say so guys?”

Nods in the affirmative.

I asked, “It seems kind of rude to jump to the bedroom so quickly, but I admit I’m wondering. So what are the sleeping arrangements? This is a pretty big place.”

Tim, the Caucasian twink stood, breaking free of the seated group. “Come on, I’ll show you the ‘kennel’.” He led the way to a door in a wall of doors – interesting design element – which he opened to a medium sized room at the center of which was an enormous raised platform bed. “Room for all, though we have two other bedrooms, too. At some point in the night, we all seem to end up in here in a big puppy pile – hence the name for the room. We do respect each other’s privacy – such as we can.”

Returning to the sitting area, the men had rearranged. Brad had assumed Tim’s place next to Sean. Tim extended himself across the back of the couch, occasionally nibbling on Sean’s ear. Mark was draped across John’s lap, looking up at him with open affection.

“I guess I can’t ask what goes on in the ‘kennel’.” I ventured with raised eyebrows.

“If you’re any kind of gay man, you can guess.” Sean spoke up. “We’re a fair mix of preferences. I’m pretty much a bottom, but as a small man there are limits to what I can take. Mark here, he’s our power bottom. All that male beauty and he’s only happy when he’s getting plowed. At desperate times, even I’ve been known to do him.”

Mark interrupted his gaze of John to toss out “Love you too, Sweety.”

Sean continued. “Now Tim here, top with major oral skills, not that we all don’t rival him there. John, he’s our all around player. A stud who loves to give and receive. This brings us to Brad, our most recent addition. He’s your basic big dick.”

“Hey, hey, I’m not just a piece of meat, you know. I got skills, too.” Brad answered, muscles flexed belying his response.

“That brings up a question. How did you all get together?”

They each looked at each of the others, knowing smiles were exchanged. John again spoke for the group. “There are lots of chapters in that story. I guess it goes back to when I was here alone…”