Young and Hungry - For Life - 21. Irish Breakfast

Caleb came for his second visit a week later and wasted no time arguing or trying to be smart, like his first visit. He immediately pinned down Justin and said “I want a body like yours, where do we start?”

“Well I started when I was seven, doing gymnastics, so you’ve got a lot to catch up on. How about we start with crunches, that will get your abs working and soon that flat stomach will be rippling. Also those are exercises you can do back at the refuge or anywhere, like in the park”

“Sounds great”

<>

Justin worked with Caleb for about thirty minutes, showing him many different ways to do crunches to work on each muscle group. At the end, Caleb said “Is that all we’re doing, I want more”

“You may want more now, but you’ll suffer for it tomorrow. If you haven’t been working those muscles before, you need to give them time to recover. Each rep stretches the muscle and causes slight damage to the muscle. Recovery time repairs the muscle, makes it stronger and sets you up for the next session. But in the beginning that stretching will create pain. As you go on, the muscles learn and you recover quicker”

“But they say, no pain, no gain”

“Not necessarily true. Sure, your muscles will hurt but that doesn’t mean you should overdue it. In the beginning, the sorer your muscles are the longer the recovery time and the more likely you will not stick with your regime”

“So when do I do more?”

“We’ll see how you feel tomorrow. But whatever I show you here, you’ll have to continue when back at the refuge. Daily if you can manage it, but as often as you can. Once a week here will not achieve very much”

“I get that, but do you mean I will be coming every week?”

“Do you want to?”

“If it means improving my body with your tutoring, then yes”

“Good we’ll let Craig know that our guest room will be booked each week”

<>

When Craig got home late from Poppy’s and was told the news he was excited that Justin and Caleb had found a common interest and knew that a distraction like exercise would not only be good for Caleb’s body but also his mind, by beginning the emotional healing process.

“You two have certainly made a breakthrough today, you should be proud of that, especially as you were so hesitant about this arrangement in the first place”

“Yeah, I suppose so. Just doing what comes naturally and what young gay man doesn’t want to improve their body image?”

“This one”

“You’re not in such bad shape for an old fossil”

“What’s this old fossil business?”

“Well you are the older man in this relationship, by a whole five years”

“Tell you what, how about we put that to the test and see who lasts the longer?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Let me think...maybe who can come the most times in thirty minutes”“Only thirty minutes, make it an hour”

“Or we could see who can get it up first without touching”

“What about who can come first hand-free?” suggested Justin

“Can you do that?”

“Don’t know, but remember that guy did it at Divas New Years eve party”

“Do you know how he did it?”

“Not really, but I suppose you have to think about something or someone that really turns you on and concentrate on just that”

“And you need to use your pelvic floor muscles because I think, hands-free orgasm is not just a mental skill, it requires really strong pelvic floor muscles”

“How do I get that?”

“By doing kegel exercises with lots of repetitions”

“Sounds like something for another day. How about I just fuck you and you fuck me, then we call it evens?”

“And no more cracks about fossils”

“You’re on, roll over.... or do you want to face your fucker?”

“Face up, I like to watch your abs flex, your determined look, and then your orgasm face is just so beautiful, it almost makes me come”

<>

Afterwards they lay on their backs recovering and Craig said “We are so lucky to have found each other. I hope our house guest has the same luck in few years”

“You really care about this kid, don’t you?”

“Of course I do and don’t pretend you don’t, as well”

“I’m warming to him”

“Warming? Any hotter and you’d be on fire”

“I’m just helping him with some exercises”

“And who else have you done that for that weren’t family or in your stable of waiters?”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’m saying that you really care for him as much as I do”

“OK, yes I care. There’s something about him, that you can’t resist helping him, despite his cheekiness at times”

“Maybe that cheek is one of his attractions” suggested Craig.

“You may be right. I would have expected him to show more signs of depression, given how he’s been treated”

“Oh the signs are there, if you know what to look for”

“What signs?...No wait, don’t tell me. I’ll leave that to you. I just want to enjoy helping him in the best way I know how”

“We make a good team, don’t we?”

“We do,... in bed, in business and now as....what are we in relation to Caleb?”

“Carers, supporters....”

“Mmm, how about just friends?”

“I like that” concluded Craig

“And maybe you’ll also like this” Justin added as he rolled on top of Craig, held his head in both hands and kissed him so passionately they felt each other growing hard again.

When their lips parted, Craig asked “What are we going to do with those?”

“Just leave them to work it out themselves, I just want to look at you and think about how fortunate I am to have you under me, in my bed and in my life”

“So while you’re thinking about all that, can you stick your tongue down my throat again?”

***

On Sunday, Justin left early to prepare for the lunch shift and Craig stayed home with Caleb.

Caleb was awakened by Justin’s departure and looked out the window just in time to see him drive away. Feeling he’d lost his best mate for the day, he wandered slowly down the hall to the kitchen and looked in the fridge for orange juice.

As he was taking a long swig from the bottle, he was startled by a voice behind him saying “We have glasses for that. Please don’t drink from the bottle that we all have to share”

“Fuck...you frightened me. Oh...sorry about that, I didn’t think anyone would see me”

“I’d prefer you used a glass because it’s the right thing to do, not just because you might get caught”

“Are you always this serious?”

“When it comes to hygiene, yes”

“Oh, I forgot you used to be a nurse and all that”

“I am still a registered nurse, yes, but good hygiene is something we all should practice”

“Yeah OK, I get it”

“Good, now is there anything you want to do today?”

“While you get breakfast, I’m going to do a workout. Don’t want to disappoint Justin”

“We wouldn’t want to do that, would we?”

“No, he’s my mate and tutor, is that a problem?”

“Not the workout, but I’ll hold breakfast till you’re finished and you can help”

“What are we having?”

“Do you like pancakes?”

“With maple syrup?”

“Yes, but I put bacon and eggs on first, then the maple syrup”

“Yuk!”

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. You’ll be surprised how well it all goes together”

“OK, I’m game for anything”

“Then I’ll make the batter and let it thicken while you pump iron, or whatever you’re planning to do”

“Maybe you’re not such a bore after all”

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

Caleb did not answer. He wiped the top of the bottle with a used dish cloth, placed it back in the fridge and went out to the deck.

Craig muttered, under his breath “I give up”

***

After his workout, Caleb returned to the kitchen and was met my Craig holding out a large glass of water for him.

“What’s this?”

“Water, you need to replace your fluids and water is the best thing. All those so called, energy drinks they push are mostly sugar and caffeine loaded, flavoured water. They might seem like a quick fix for fatigue, but the short and long-term effects of drinking them outweigh the benefits. Energy drinks have been linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular issues. A single energy drink can contain more sugar and caffeine than you should have in a day”

“If you say so nursey”

“Right, now are you hungry?”

“Ravenous”

“Good, now get three pans, one large and two small, on the stove to heat up, but just on low setting”

“Why so many pans?”

“The large one of the bacon and eggs and two smaller ones for the pancakes”

“OK boss...no wait... on that cooking show, they say...Yes Chef. Is that right?”

Craig chuckled and said “Something like that”

When Caleb returned with the pans, he asked “Can we invite your gran to breakfast?”

“I suppose so, if she hasn’t eaten already”

“Well even if she has, maybe she’ll come for tea or coffee. Can I go and ask her?”

“Sure”

As Caleb headed up the yard, Craig watched him skipping along and wondered what connection Gran and Justin for that matter, had that he didn’t.

<>

By the time Caleb returned with Gran, Craig had a stack of pancakes warming in the oven, bacon sizzling away and he was about to break the eggs into the pan.

“Well about time, I thought you were going to help cook breakfast”

“Sorry, Gran and I were chatting about you”

“Don’t think I want to know” observed Craig.

“Probably best, now Gran, what was that tea you like?” asked Caleb

“Irish breakfast, I know Craig keeps it in the pantry for me”

“Coming right up”

While Caleb was fossicking around the pantry, Craig said “You two seem to have hit it off well. What’s your secret?”

“I can’t teach you that, it only comes with age. But really he’s not such a bad kid, just play the game his way”

“You mean give him everything he wants?”

“Of course not, just try to remember how you felt when his age, maybe even regress a bit and not always be the adult in the room”

“Gran, you continually surprise me. I don’t recall you being so understanding when I was a teenager”

“That’s because you probably weren’t listening, or I was trying too hard to be the responsible adult. Anyway, whatever I and your parents did or didn’t do, you turned out alright; even better than alright”

“That’s the second compliment I’ve had this morning”

“See, you’re on a winning streak”

“I’ve got it” announced Caleb “One pot of English breakfast coming up”

“Irish!” reminded Craig

“English, Irish, Scottish, what’s the difference?”

“Do you want the short answer, the long answer, or the very long historical answer?” asked Gran

“Short answer please”

“English is the red packet, Irish is the green packet”

“I can manage that”

***

The rest of the day went well and Caleb was picked up by Pamela at 4.00pm. As they left, Caleb said “Same time next week?”

“That’s my line” replied Pamela

“Yes, to both of you, same time next week will be great. Have a good week both of you”

“Thanks, and tell Justin I’ll be doing my exercises every day”

***

Justin arrived home not long after Caleb’s departure and even before asking Craig how his day was, he asked “How was Caleb’s day?”

“Fine...and so was mine, thanks for asking”

“Sorry, I’m just showing an interest, as you wanted me to do”

“He’s making himself quite at home here. He even invited a guest for breakfast”

“Really, who?”

“Gran was his special guest. Made tea for her and even walked her back to her flat”

“That’s nice for Gran”

“Oh, I’m told to tell you, Caleb said he’ll do his exercises every day”

“Good boy, isn’t he?”

“Seems to be popular opinion around here”

“Am I sensing some...what is it...jealousy?”

“No, not jealousy, just that I was the one who arranged for him to come here but you and Gran are the popular ones”

“I think that’s jealously. But I’m sure he appreciates what you do for him”

“Well he did say...what was it now...maybe you’re not such a bore after all”

“That’s good isn’t it?”

“Mmm”

“Oh I have to tell you, Raj came in today”

“Did he and Juanito go for lunch?”

“No he came on his own and just hung around asking questions about how the place runs”

“Do you think he and Juanito had a fight?”

“I don’t think so, he mentioned Juanito in a friendly manner. I think he might be looking for a job”

“But he has a job at his parents’ restaurant”

“Yeah, I know but there was something in the way he asked questions about rosters and staffing and house rules that made me think he was scoping us out”

“Just wait and see, or maybe ask Juanito tomorrow if he knows what Raj is up to”

“And another thing, Charlie wants to take holidays now that he can travel to other states”

“That’s no problem, I can fill in for him and Snowy’s so responsible now I think it’s time to give him a few shifts in charge of the kitchen”

***

Jonathan said to Lachlan “You know I’ve been a pretty good customer of my tenants”

“How do you mean?”

“I had a number of functions at Divas during my election campaign, we’ve eaten at Poppy’s a few times and recently joined that group for drinks at Dean’s. That leaves only one business that I have not patronised”

“If you mean Dare to Bare, then you don’t have a booking. Only I am booked in for today. Remember we agreed that If I don’t scream, then you’d have yours done as well?”

“Yes, I remember, and a deal’s a deal”

“Then I had better call the studio and make sure they can fit you in after me”

“That confident, are you?”

“Always”

***

“Welcome gentlemen” said Jeremy “We’re ready for you now. We’ve set up the studio so you can both be bared together”

“But Jonathan has a condition”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, nothing contagious is it?” asked Brett

“Not that sort of condition. We had a sort of bet, that if I didn’t scream during the process then Jonathan would subject himself to the same”

“Oh that’s a relief” replied Brett “I just hate it when clients come here with crabs, so thoughtless of them. You know we should offer a decontamination service”

“Maybe that’s why they come here to be deforested?”

“You just may be fuckin’ right”

“Well, gentlemen come into the studio and we’ll get started” suggested Jeremy.

Lachlan stripped from the waist down and lie on the table, while Jonathan observed.

“Are you going to remove your pants?” asked Brett as Jeremy warmed the wax and prepared Lachlan.

“I want to watch Lachlan first”

“Not having second thought are you?”

“No, I just want to watch him, should be fascinating”

Jeremy removed two strips of pubic hair from Lachlan with only a slight grimace from him, then he said “See, it’s easy, hardly felt a thing” he lied.

“So are you ready now” Brett asked Jonathan.

Without answering he dropped his pants, then his jocks and sat on the table. “Wow, very impressive” said Brett.

“Thank you” replied Jonathan

“What have I told you about commenting on the client’s genitalia?” scolded Jeremy.

“I like to give credit where it’s due and besides, I was also commenting on his very impressive cock ring that enhances his other jewels. Is that onyx”

“Yes, you know your stones”

“I do see some from time to time. Is that some of Andy’s work?”

“Yes, he’s very good isn’t he? Lachlan has one as well, but didn’t want to wear his diamonds today”

“Diamonds?”

“Nothing but the best for my man”

“So it would seem, shame I don’t get see his diamonds”

“Maybe that could be arranged”

“Lie back now Jonathan, and tell me more”

*****