A Little Guy With A Big Surprise

It was the morning after the attack and I woke up in Chad’s arms. This had been the first time he stayed with me the whole night since our Spring Break in Florida. I was still pulled up into the curve of his smooth, strong body. It was the same spoon position we had fallen asleep in. I thought back to last night. If Chad hadn’t risked his own safety and run to my rescue, I could have been lying in a hospital bed right now with a broken nose, broken jaw, broken ribs, two black eyes, a serious concussion… Chad had saved me. He sensed I that I had awoken and he pulled me in for a tighter squeeze. I smiled and said, “You stayed.”

Chad said, “Of course I stayed. I told you that you couldn’t get rid of me if you tried. Besides, I promised that nurse that you wouldn’t be alone last night. How are you feeling?”

I turned my head to look at him and I felt the room spin. “Whoa, not that great.” I closed my eyes again.

Chad said, “You need to stay home today. Skip your classes and rest. I still think you might have a mild concussion. I should have insisted on taking you to the real emergency room last night.” Chad is a Business major, but he was acting like he was pre-med.

I opened my eyes again and was beginning to get my bearings. The concern in Chad’s beautiful, deep blue eyes was genuine. “I’ll be fine. It’s just that I turned my head too fast right after waking up. I’m already feeling better. I wish it were Sunday and I could just lie here all day with you, but it’s Tuesday and I have an important test as well as a lab that I can’t miss.”

Chad said, “Taylor, things can be rescheduled. There were extenuating circumstances here. Everyone will understand.”

I didn’t want to, but I pulled myself out of Chad’s arms. I slowly stood, like a newborn baby deer. I steadied myself and I really was okay. The dizziness was manageable and the headache was slight. “I appreciate your concern, but I can’t fall behind like that.” Chad looked worried. “Some Tylenol and I’ll be good…really.”

Chad frowned, “And some food too. You are not leaving my sight, light headed and half concussed, on an empty stomach.” He was getting up now too. “There’s not much here in the house besides dry cereal. Maybe a banana and some orange juice. Do you have time for a real breakfast in the dining hall?”

I checked the clock, “Probably not.” Chad looked tired. “What about you? Are you okay? How much sleep did you get?”

He yawned, “I dozed a little here and there. I’m fine.”

I walked over to him and hugged him. “You stayed awake all night to make sure I was alright, didn’t you?” I felt a lump form in my throat and my eyes misted up as I realized that Chad was the first person who has ever truly cared about me.

He looked almost guilty, like I caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. “I told you last night, head injuries are nothing to mess around with.”

I said, “Do you have a light day? Maybe you should stay home and get some sleep.”

He scoffed, “Only if you join me.”

I smiled. “Let’s get ready.” I grabbed some clean clothes and we headed towards the bathroom. With four students sharing a house with one bathroom, the mornings could be chaotic. Fortunately, Mark and Sam were still apparently asleep. I suggested, “We could kill two birds with one stone and get ready together.”

Chad smiled and we entered the bathroom together. We had never showered together, not even in Florida. Chad scrubbed my back and I did his. It was a weekday morning and we didn’t have time to mess around, though I wished we did. We kept it as nonsexual as would could, though we were both human…21 year old horny humans…we both ended up with erections. It was Chad who commented, “We’ll have to do this again some time when we are not rushed.” He winked at me.

I grinned up at him. “Oh yeah.” I had to pull my eyes away from his wet, shiny, contoured body or I knew I’d never get my pants on over my foot-long hard-on. Chad stepped out first, dried off, brushed his teeth, wrapped himself in his towel and said, “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

I looked at Chad. He was so easygoing, so low maintenance. He simply towel dried his floppy blond hair and it fell into a messy, windblown pile that looked like he spent 15 minutes purposefully arranging. I felt my heart skip a beat. I was still toweling off as he closed the door behind him. With Chad out of sight, my boner calmed down and I was able to tuck my 8.5” flaccid tool between my legs and pull my underwear and pants on. More often than not, my giant organ was a burden rather than a pleasure. I brushed my teeth, neatly combed my boring, straight brown hair and left the bathroom.

As I padded my way down the hall, I could hear voices in the kitchen. Mark and Sam must be up. Their three voices were hushed but intense. I stopped short of being seen and listened. Chad was almost whispering but it came out as a stern scold, “You heard me. Taylor was attacked last night. It was a direct result of your stupid game. That idiotic stunt you pulled Saturday night. You two can be real assholes sometimes.”

Mark asked, “What did we do? We just wanted to help the guy out. We thought we were being nice!”

Chad shushed him, “Taylor doesn’t want you to know about it. One of those three girls, Sarah, had a boyfriend. Well, after Saturday night, she dumped him, but not before telling him all about that night and how he could never ‘measure up’ to Taylor. He found out who Taylor was, tracked him down and jumped him when he was alone.”

Sam said, “Sorry man, we didn’t think she had a boyfriend.”

I heard the clang of dishes of Chad went on, “Right, you didn’t think. Come on. I’ve known you guys for three years now but we’re 21 now. You’re acting like you’re still 18. It’s time to mature.”

Mark tried a defense, “Look, bro, we didn’t know he was gay until last night. If we knew, we wouldn’t have set up that little encounter.”

Chad was like a parent scolding a naughty child, “Don’t you see? That’s just it. It doesn’t even matter that Taylor is gay. That’s not why he was attacked. Sarah’s dumped boyfriend didn’t even know that. This stupid fucking prank you arranged…he could have really been…” Chad’s voice cracked and he trailed off.

Sam said, “Hey, dude, we like Taylor. We would never want him to get hurt. We didn’t know. It was an accident.”

Chad composed himself and cleared his throat, “Accident or not, your actions have consequences and you have to think things through. Grow the fuck up.”

I had never heard Chad like this with Mark and Sam before. Within their trio, Chad had always been the third voice, the follower. He met them when college started three years ago, but Mark and Sam had been friends back in high school. They had the longer, tighter bond. It was touching to hear Chad standing up to them like this, not afraid of potentially losing their friendship.

Chad continued, “Taylor could have been really hurt last night. He could have been in the hospital right now with broken bones, a concussion…who knows what else?”

Mark sounded chastised, “Wow man. We’re sorry. How did he get away?”

Chad simply said, “It was just lucky timing. I was meeting Taylor at the fitness center at 9:00. It was dark and nobody was around. I turned a corner and there they were. The guy was surprised when I appeared. He got spooked and ran off.” Chad paused then added, “It was just luck. I showed up at the right place at the right time.”

I could not believe how Chad had just totally downplayed what he had done last night. He had been my hero. He saw the guy grab and push me from far across the quad. Chad didn’t stop to think, he sprang into action. He sprinted at full speed and just before the guy’s fist collided with my face, Chad’s forearms rammed into him and he was launched, airborne before landing ten feet away. Chad had threatened to “stomp the shit out of him” if he ever so much as spoke to me again. Now, telling Mark and Sam, he wasn’t taking near the credit he deserved. He made sound like a coincidence. A happy accident, like a tree in a Bob Ross painting.

I felt the lump in my throat return again as somehow his modesty made me love him even more. I entered the room. “Good morning.”

“Hey Taylor. We heard you had quite a night last night.” Sam had forgotten that Chad said I didn’t want them to know. Chad shot daggers at him with his eyes and Sam realized his mistake.

I said, “It’s okay. Yeah but thanks to Chad I just have a few minor bumps and bruises. I’m fine.”

Mark said, “We don’t know who this guy is, but we could talk to Sarah and find out. You could report him to campus security or even to the police.”

Chad and I briefly discussed that last night. It would be embarrassing to explain what had led to the attack. Well officer, these three girls heard that I have a mammoth cock so they jerked me off. When one of their boyfriends heard about it, he attacked me. No. We decided that Chad had sufficiently scared him off and he wouldn’t pose any further threat.

I said, “No, but thanks. We’re going to leave it alone.” Chad slid a plate and glass across the counter to me. A banana, a piece of toast and a glass of orange juice. I smiled.

Sam said, “We are really sorry. We had no idea this would happen. We never wanted…”

I still had 13 or 14 more months of sharing this house with these guys before graduation. They were not malicious, just ignorant and immature. They were dumb jocks. They didn’t mean me any harm. I accepted their apology.

Mark and Sam left the kitchen to get ready for class. I looked at Chad. “You totally didn’t tell them how you saved me last night. It wasn’t just a ‘coincidence’. You were me rescuer, my hero.”

Chad blushed a little. “You were listening?”

“I heard some.”

“Look, Taylor. I may have left out a few highlights, but really, I’m no hero.  Everybody needs rescuing from time to time. You already rescued me. I didn’t know who I was or what I was doing. Not only was I in denial and living a lie, I was also making some really bad decisions. My life has turned around 180 degrees in the past month and it’s all because of you. If I could be there for you when you need me…it’s only a small start at repaying you.”

I had never seen Chad tear up before but he now wiped at an eye as he ordered me to eat or he would not let me leave the house.

A couple days later I found myself in Chad’s room. I had never been in there before. Since Florida, all of our “hook ups” had involved Chad sneaking into my room after Mark and Sam had gone to bed. Now that Chad had come out to Mark and Sam and they knew about us being together, we didn’t have to sneak around anymore. Chad had stepped out of the room to get his book bag that he left by the front door. While I waited, I noticed an official looking letter open on his desk. I hadn’t intended to snoop, but I found myself reading it. It was from the school’s volunteer committee chair person. Apparently Chad was to receive the award for volunteer of the year. The ceremony was Friday night – tomorrow. I had no idea.

Chad came back into the room and saw me cocking an eyebrow at him as I was holding the letter. He said, “Oh that. It’s no big deal.”

I said, “Come on. Tell me about it.”

Chad sighed and reluctantly told me about how he been volunteering since college began. He said he was fortunate enough to not have to work at a job while away at school. He wanted to help those less fortunate. He spent time at the nearby nursing home, keeping the residents without families company. He volunteered at the Children’s hospital. And most of all, he helped feed and shelter the local homeless. His work with the homeless was what the award was for. He had earned a $2500 grant that went toward the cause. The letter, still in my hand, said that Chad had volunteered over 450 hours each of the last three years and stood out as a community leader, driving social change and making a difference.

Over the last month or so, I had learned that Chad wasn’t who I initially thought he was, but how had I missed this? How was I so self-centered that I never knew who he was and what he was doing? Between my classes, my labs, my studying and my job, I wasn’t around much. I ignorantly assumed that Chad filled his free time with video games, sports, or whatever Mark and Sam spent their time doing. I was ashamed of myself for not knowing more about the guy I was falling in love with.

Chad tried letting me off the hook. “How could you know? It’s not something I talk about much. You also have a full schedule. We’ve only gotten close recently and I tend to… I don’t know… I don’t like to brag.”

That was becoming more and more apparent. As I looked into his blue eyes I could see into his generous soul. I could see the charming young guy who spent time giving joy and companionship to sick kids and the lonely old folks. The caring guy who helped to feed and shelter the homeless. I felt a twitch in my shorts and another lump in my throat and I almost cried. I led him to his bed, pushed him down and kissed him.

In our time together, Chad had always taken the lead. He had been the one coming to my room, joining me in my bed. He determined what we would do, when we would do it and to what degree. I hadn’t minded. Chad was more experienced than me and I was comfortable following his lead. For the first time in our relationship, tonight I took the lead. I took care of him. I kissed him soft, I kissed him hard. I explored his lips and mouth. My hands found their way under his shirt and I felt his tummy quiver. I explored him slowly and deliberately like it was our first time.

I wouldn’t let him touch me back, not yet. I could tell it was his instinct to roll me over and take charge, but I wouldn’t let him. I told him wrap his hands around the bars of the headboard and not let go until I said to. Our relationship had begun as mere lustful attraction. How quickly things can evolve. Tonight was about me appreciating the man I had grown to admire and love. I pulled off his shirt and continued to lavish attention all over his beautiful body. I must have been at least adequate in taking the lead based on his physical response. His nipples were hard, he had goosebumps up and down his sides and I felt the pressure of his erection against my leg.

Eventually, after playing a little with his perfectly round innie belly button, I made my way down below the waist. I slid off his shorts and saw the huge wet spot on his underwear from his pre cum. I had him geared up. I pulled the underwear down and his 5.5 inches sprang free. Chad felt he was a little on the small side, especially for being such a big guy. I didn’t feel that way. His cock was smooth, shiny, vein-free…perfect. It was just right for me to take in fully. I loved it. I could tell he was amped up from the foreplay, but I took it slow. I first used just my hands as I teased the length of his shaft. I lightly tickled his scrotum and it contracted in immediate response. Eventually I decided he had waited long enough and I took him in my mouth. Chad threw his head back and gasped. I still went slow, gradually building the intensity and depth. Eventually my lips made it all the way down to his base and I was sucking him in earnest. He couldn’t hold it any longer and he convulsed in orgasm as I continued to suck.

I wouldn’t let him do me that night. I wanted it to be about him. After his climax he had involuntary twitches for about five minutes. I guess I did an okay job. He later told me it was the most intense orgasm of his life. His shorts were around his knees and his sneakers and socks were still on. I slid down to the foot of the bed, lifted his feet and sat with his DC high tops in my lap. I removed a well-worn sneaker and began to rub his foot. He was still holding on to the headboard and he moaned in pleasure. My hands were small and his size 11 feet were big, but I worked him good. He had a big smile on his face and I was as happy as I’d ever been.

I hooked a finger under the rim of his calf-high white sock with the Nike logo stitched in black near the top and peeled it off. As I stroked his now bare foot, his smile widened. I asked him about tomorrow’s ceremony. He again downplayed it. He said it was no big deal. I told him it was a huge deal. I asked if his family was coming. He said that they were. All three of them; his parents and his sister.

I said, “Okay, good. I’m glad you’ll have them there...to support you.” I looked away.

Chad said, “You know, I actually have a fourth ticket…”

I looked back at him, “Really?” A smile spread across my face and my heart kicked up a beat. “I would love to be there!” I thought for a moment. Was I being too presumptuous? I came back down to earth, “But I wouldn’t want to impose on your family time.”

He let go of the headboard, swung his legs down so he was sitting upright next to me and he put his arm around me. “If you are free, it would mean the world to me if you came tomorrow night.”

I was scheduled for shift at work, but I would move mountains to trade with a co-worker and free myself up. I’d call in sick if I had too. My pulse quickened again and I felt my cheeks flush. “There’s  nowhere I’d rather be.”

He said, “My family will be thrilled to meet you.” He pulled me in closer and kissed me. I melted.

I pushed him back down to a laying position. “I’m not done with you yet.” I put his feet back in my lap and began to untie his other sneaker.

The ceremony was the next night. Chad and I had never seen each other in suits before. His was newer and well-tailored for his body. Mine was old, off the rack and a little too big. Chad said I was cute. I met and chatted with his parents and his sister. They were all very nice. I could tell that they were genuine. They weren’t putting on an act. I could also tell how close the whole family was. How much they all loved each other. I’d never known that kind of family love.

When it came time to present the main award of the night, the committee chairperson listed the highlights of Chad’s three years of social service. In over 1500 hours of volunteered time he had positively impacted the lives of so many. I’d known Chad for 9 months and had been close to him now for almost two of those. I still could not believe I just found out about all of this yesterday. My head had been up my ass, but not anymore.

When the ceremony was over we had reservations for five for a nice, celebratory dinner. After, Chad’s family dropped us off at our house and we said our goodbyes. There were hugs and handshakes all around before his family headed back home to Connecticut.

In the house, Mark and Sam were playing a video game. They vaguely registered our presence. Eventually Mark glanced up and noticed our suits. He said, “Oh yeah, you had that thing tonight, right? How’d that go?” His eyes were already back on the tv screen.

Chad said simply, “It was good.” He put an arm around me and pulled me in.

Sam said, “You guys wanna join us? We could do four players.”

Chad declined the offer, “Another time. Thanks.” Under his breath, to me he said, “Idiots. Let’s leave Beavis and Butthead here to their game.” We both laughed.

We went back to Chad’s room for our own celebration.

The next day I had a new email in my school account. It was a notice that they would be performing maintenance and plumbing upgrades over summer break on the house we were occupying. They were very sorry for the short notice and any inconvenience, but we would not be able to stay in the house over the summer. We would be able to move back in a week before the fall semester began. I knew that Chad would be going home for the summer anyway. I didn’t know what Mark and Sam’s plans had been, but going home instead wouldn’t be a problem for either of them. It was a problem for me.

When I turned 18 and left for college three years ago, I never looked back. I haven’t been home since. The boss at my job was always nice enough to give me more hours during school breaks. I usually found an interim course or two to take during breaks. My housing was included in my full scholarship. Now, with no housing for the summer, what was I going to do? I counted on the extra summer hours from my job to help sustain me through the school year. If I had to pay for a room somewhere for a couple of months, I’d never make it through the rest of the year.

As it was I was already concerned about being separated from Chad for the summer. His home in Harford was less than two hours away from our school in Boston and he had said he would come visit me some weekends. He had a seasonal summer job he returned to each year, but his weekends were mostly free. Now, if I couldn’t afford to stay in Boston… What was I going to do.?

I grew up in southern Georgia and I never felt like I belonged. I was bullied my whole life, both for being the smallest guy in my class and for being smart, or “weird”. I couldn’t wait to get out of there and my family didn’t seem to care that I was gone. What would I do now? Even if I bit the bullet and called them, would they want me or even let me come home for the summer? And if I did, would I find a job down there? I would need to save money over the summer. If I didn’t, would I even be able to return to school in the fall?

I didn’t share my concerns with Chad until he dragged it out of me. He could tell over that next week that I was troubled by something. Chad already knew about my family. How I never fit in and they didn’t understand me. He didn’t realize my financial situation or that I would be forced to go home. I told him, “If I knew then what I know now, I would not have agreed to go on that Spring Break trip. Even though it wasn’t very expensive, I could have used the money now.”

Chad looked hurt, “We got together on that trip. If you hadn’t gone, we might never have…” he trailed off.

I was sorry I said that. That trip and our time together meant the world to me. I said, “Of course, I am glad we had that week. But you have to realize that if I go back to Georgia, there is at least a 50/50 chance that I’ll never come back. Everything that I worked so hard for will be gone, including my future. Most people in that damned town never get out. They are born there and they die there. I never wanted to go back.”

He was genuinely concerned and he tried to help me find a solution that would keep me in Boston. I simply didn’t make enough money at my job to support alternative living quarters. I told Chad I’d have no choice but to call my family. I still had a few weeks, so Chad asked me to hold off. He said that you never know. An opportunity we couldn’t see now might pop up. I didn’t think so, but I waited anyway. Putting off the call I dreaded making was easy to do.

The end of that week had arrived. There were only two more weeks left of school. Two more weeks and I’d be homeless for the summer. Unless I went home to Georgia. That Saturday morning I told Chad I’d call home tomorrow and try to work things out with my folks. I didn’t want to, but what choice did I have? No magical solution had “popped up” and I was running out of both options and time. I was due in for a shift at work. I wanted to stay with Chad in the safety of his strong arms, but I had to go. I only had a couple more weeks with him before we’d be separated for three months…or forever if I couldn’t come back.

I got back from my shift around 10:30 at night to a seemingly empty house. Mark and Sam were apparently out. I stopped by Chad’s room first, but it was empty. Where was he? Maybe he had accepted the inevitable end of our time together and he moved on. He didn’t owe me anything. I had no right to expect him to be here. I made my way to my own room, opened the door and there he was. He wasn’t lying naked on my bed with a rose clenched in his teeth or anything, but the sight of him made my heart flutter and I felt my eyes well up.

He had set up an intimate, though makeshift, meal for two on my desk. Just a couple tacos from the place I like in town and two bottles of water. He stood there, still dressed from the day, and offered me a seat. He said, “I know when you work the late shift, you don’t always eat.” He smiled and sat next to me.

I was starving and I devoured my taco as we sat in silence. When we finished, Chad turned 90 degrees and faced me in his chair. He said, “Don’t make that call tomorrow.”

I turned away. I didn’t want him to see me cry again. “I don’t want to but I have no choice.”

He spun my chair so that I faced him. He took my small hands in his big ones and said, “Look at me.”

I looked and tear rolled down my cheek.

Chad wiped it away and continued, “I want you to come home with me for the summer. I’ve already talked to my parents. They understand the situation and they are happy to have you.”

I smiled at him. It was nice to know he cared. Really nice. But I didn’t want to be a burden on him or his family. “That’s really sweet, but it’s too much of an imposition. It’s not like it’s just for a weekend. I don’t want to be a charity case,” or anyone’s social cause. That didn’t come out exactly how I had heard it in my head. I meant no offense, but I also took pride in self-reliance and my independence.

Chad’s hopeful expression fell to a frown. “What do you think? That every person who needs a little support, a little help, is a charity case? That they are weak?” He continued to hold my hands and moved past my blunder. “Taylor, you are the strongest person I know.”

I scoffed, “What are you talking about?”

He said, “There are different kinds of strengths. You are independent. Your whole life, everything you have, everything you achieved, you earned it all. You worked your ass off for that full scholarship. You planned your escape since middle school. You set goals for yourself and you achieved each one. You studied, worked a part-time job, saved your money, bought a car, earned a scholarship and drove away from that town and those people, never looking back. That was three years ago and I’m not going to let you look back now. And I won’t let you lose the life that you earned.”

I squirmed a little in my seat as he went on, “I’ve spent the last week making some arrangements. Hear me out. I already told you my parents are on board. My sister is cool with it too. She thinks you’re cute. And ‘good for me’, whatever that means.” He smiled and so did I. “Our house has a basement apartment. It has its own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living space. You are invited to be as included in the family as you want to be, but you have your own space as often as you want as well. My family really liked you when they met you last week. When I gave them the full background of your story, they were very impressed.”

I tried to respond, “This is all beyond generous, but…”

“I said, ‘hear me out’. I also talked to my boss at my summer job. One of the regular guys is graduating this month and won’t be back for the summer. There is an open spot and it’s yours if you want it. It’s a full 40 hours a week at $15 an hour. You’ll be making more money than you would have at your regular job and you’ll have less expenses. This is not charity. It is a real job with hard work.”

I knew that Chad’s summer job was with a landscaping company. It worked out perfectly because their busy season matched up exactly with the dates of summer break from school. I was beginning to think this might actually work out. I asked, “What about all of your friends back home? You just recently came out to your family. You have a town full of old high school friends who know you as a girl magnet. Who will I be and what will they think of me?”

His blue eyes bore deep into my brown ones, “You know who you are. I spent a lot of time this past week talking to a lot of people. I have messaged people on Snapchat, on Instagram, I texted and I even sent a few emails and made a few phone calls. Everyone important to me is now aware of my situation…and our relationship. They were surprised, but understanding. Look at how Mark and Sam reacted. They didn’t care, and they’re morons. The bottom line is, we won’t be pretending to be college friends or roommates. We will be us…together, no hiding.”

His stare intensified and his grip on my hands tightened. “Taylor, everyone needs a little help sometimes. The support of those around them. It’s not charity or a sign of weakness. You are important to me and now, to my family as well. This is what people do for each other. They help each other out. Like it or not, you’re not in this alone anymore. You’re stuck with me.”

For the moment the whole world seemed to shrink down to the size of this gorgeous, generous man in front of me. In my whole life nobody has ever cared for me or lifted the slightest finger to offer me help or guidance (save for a couple of scattered teachers and school counsellors). Chad had thought this through. He put a lot of effort into his plan. He really cared. My lower lip quivered and he stopped it by wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a deep kiss.

As we kissed I felt tears on my cheeks and I realized that they weren’t mine. We pulled apart and Chad’s eyes were red and wet. He said, “If you left and never came back, I don’t know what I would do. It would have been hard enough to just be apart for the summer. You know, you’re not just my friend, or my boyfriend, or even my lover – you are the man that I…I mean I…I love you!” Another tear spilled from the pool in his left eye.

Neither of us had said those words out loud yet, but I had been feeling it for weeks now. My own tear mirrored his and I said, “I love you too!” We kissed again and I dissolved into him. We groped each other as we made our way to my bed. Our four hands seemed like at least eight as we explored the other’s bodies while never breaking the kiss. Somehow we ended up out of our clothes and we panted in passion. We had many encounters together by this point but this one was the most intense and sensual experience yet. I thought we were still alone in the house, but I buried my face in my pillow as I screamed out in orgasm, just in case.

Afterwards, we laid there, spent and drained. I was curled against his masculine frame and I told him that I would love to go home with him for the summer.

The next day I talked to my boss about having to leave town for a few months. I was concerned about not having a job to come back to. I would still need to work when I moved back for the fall semester. My boss was cool with it. He promised to keep my spot open and waiting for me. Everything was falling into place.

Those last couple of weeks flew by. Before we knew it we had taken our last finals. Since we were moving right back in at the end of the summer, we were allowed to leave whatever we felt comfortable leaving behind in the house. Chad and I decided to pack mostly just clothes and shoes. Because of this, everything fit in my car so Chad rode with me and his parents were saved the trip of picking him up.

The drive was less than 2 hours so there was no need to split the drive time. Besides, if I drove the whole way, I got to control the music. For some inexplicable reason, Chad likes Country Music. No matter how much I love Chad, I will always hate his music choice. He is not a huge fan of the Classic Alternative that I like either, but hey, too bad. We rocked out to late 70’s/early 80’s New Wave and Punk the whole way.

We arrived at Chad’s house and I was in awe of the beautiful neighborhood he lived in. Hartford Connecticut was lightyears from the poor southern Georgia town I grew up in. The house was nice too. It was clean, spacious and everything seemed to be in working order, unlike the rundown mess of my youth. I unpacked my clothes in my room in the lower level apartment and stretched out on the bed. It was the most comfortable bed I’d ever been on.

Chad’s mom had made a welcome home dinner and we feasted on filet mignon, salad and baked potatoes. I could get used to this. After dinner, we played a few family games while we talked. Chad’s family asked me all about my classes, my job, my future plans. They did not ask me about my family. I figured Chad had prepped them ahead of time and asked that they steer clear of that subject.

Chad’s sister had recently turned 18 and was graduating from high school in two weeks. She would be going away to a different college at the end of the summer. She was interested in the Sciences and was considering Chemistry for a major, so she had a lot of questions for me. She was a nice kid and I enjoyed her company.

As it began to get late, I headed downstairs to my space. Chad followed me down and we sat on the couch and turned on the tv. I turned to him and said, “Your family is great.”

He replied, “I know. I’m lucky.”

I leaned against him. “We haven’t talked about ‘being together’ while we’re here. Are we going to have to abstain for three months or do we revert to sneaking around late at night like we used to?”

Chad laughed. “This isn’t an episode of Three’s Company.” I was never much of a tv person and I didn’t get the reference. He continued, “My parents are cool with whatever. It’s more private down here than upstairs in my room, so whenever you want my company, I’d rather join you down here. My bedroom shares a wall with my sister’s room…so…”

I cringed, “I get it. First of all, just assume I ‘want your company’ every night. If you need a break from me, feel free to take a night off upstairs.”

Chad grinned and pulled me in tighter, “Unlikely,” was all he said.

I went on, “Secondly, are you sure your parents are okay with this? It’s one thing inviting me to stay over as a house guest. It’s quite another thing to have sex with their son in their house. They don’t have rules we have to follow?”

Chad laughed again. “We’re both 21 years old, Taylor. We are grown adults. Well, at least I’m grown, but we’re both adults.” I couldn’t help laughing but I elbowed him in the ribs too. He groaned and feigned injury. He continued, “It’s not like we’re 14 and they’re yelling up the stairs to keep my door open as we play in my room. They know we are consenting adults involved in a loving, physical relationship. I made that clear to them when I talked about bringing you home for the summer. They will respect our space and privacy and we will respect theirs. They understand.”

We were looking each other in the eyes. His piercing blue eyes. “Whew. I hated the sneaking around and especially the disappointment on the nights it didn’t happen. Maybe we should go deflower the bedroom?”

Chad smiled, clicked off the tv that we hadn’t watched at all and we retired for the night.

Work started first thing Monday morning. They gave me an olive green short sleeved, buttoned shirt with the company logo on the breast pocket to wear with the shorts or jeans and shoes of my choice. The job was mostly physical work. Mowing lawns, trimming edges, pushing full wheel barrows, spreading wood chips etc. I am not a big, strong guy, but I didn’t mind the physical work. It felt good to work outside and use my hands and it paid well.

I was also glad that most of the time, Chad and I work apart from each other. The times that I saw him, I could see his contoured, muscular shoulders and arms working beneath his tight fitting shirt that was short on his 6’ frame. Whenever he would reach out his arms, his shirt rode up a little exposing a strip of tanned smooth abdomen and back that caused a stirring in my pants. This was not the time or place for an erection and I didn’t to be distracted from my work. I wanted to do a good job and earn my pay. We would have evenings and weekends together all summer. Working independently from him was for the best.

The evening of that first day of work, my feet were sore. It was after dinner and we were downstairs on the couch streaming an episode of Three’s Company because I had made the mistake of telling Chad that I didn’t know the show. The silly situations in the show were a little contrived, but it actually was kind of funny. Chad had noticed me hobbling a bit earlier, so now he pulled my legs onto his lap and began to untie my oldest sneakers that I purposely wore for the outside work. A foot rub would have been fantastic, but I worried about the effects of the long day.

I said, “Maybe I need a shower before you do that. They’re probably a bit rank.”

Chad replied, “You’re fine. Just relax.” Once my shoes were off, he pulled my socks off and I felt the cool air of the room on my damp, exposed soles. He began to massage and I couldn’t help letting out a soft moan. “You know, you really should wear work boots for this job. They would provide better support and you won’t be as sore. We could stop at the store tomorrow after work.”

I said, “Sounds good. By the end of the summer, I’ll probably need a new pair of sneakers too. These are really old.”

Chad held my small left foot in his hand, turning and inspecting it. He said, “You know, maybe we could save you some money. We could check the attic where my parents keep my baby stuff-” he burst out in laughter before he could finish his sentence.

I laughed too. “It’s funny that you would want to play the size shaming game with me. I’m pretty sure you’d be headed for a loss.” I hoped I hadn’t crossed a line, but he laughed even harder.

“Good one,” then he pretended to be hurt. “Ouch. You know what I do when my feelings get hurt? I get revenge!” He held both of my ankles together in just his left hand and with his right hand he raked up and down both of my soles. I couldn’t wriggle out of his grip. He was tickling me just enough so that I would not scream out and alarm the whole house, but also enough to drive me crazy. Just when I thought I couldn’t stand it any longer, his sister Lizzie walked into the room.

Chad released my imprisoned feet and I sat back upright on the couch. It was a little embarrassing, but at least I was free from Chad’s evil, unrelenting attack. Lizzie stayed for the next episode of Three’s Company. I quickly noticed that the show had a formula. There always seemed to be some type of misunderstanding that involved a sexual innuendo.

We chatted casually during the show and when it ended, she said good night and left. Chad picked my feet back up and proceeded to give me the massage without any further tickling. I was tired from the long day of outside work and I accidentally fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I was still on the couch, but I had been covered with a blanket. Chad was nowhere to be found, so I assumed he went to his own room.

The next day I apologized for falling asleep on him. He was understanding and said it was no big deal. We did stop at the shoe store after work that day. When we walked in, the sales person asked if we needed help and Chad said, “Yeah, where are the little boys’ shoes?”

I warned him, “Watch it,” but he was flashing me that crooked grin of his that turned me to mush and I couldn’t help but smile back. I bought a good pair of work boots and we headed home for dinner.

That evening it was my shoulders, arms and back that were sore. Chad took me to the bedroom, closed and locked the door so that there would no surprise visitors this time and he pulled my shirt off. I don’t think my skinny body is attractive, but Chad’s eyes danced all around me as took in the sight. He told me to lie on my stomach and he proceeded to give me a long, deep massage that unknotted and relaxed me. I made sure to NOT fall asleep this time. When he finished the massage he rolled me over onto my back and said, “Every massage needs a happy ending.” He walked over to the dresser, opened a drawer and removed something that I hadn’t seen since our week in Florida for Spring Break.

It was the fleshlight. He had said that it had taken some effort to find one that was extra-large to accommodate my size. He must have packed it and snuck it in that drawer without my noticing. He didn’t bother warming it this time, but he did have a tube of lubrication. Chad does a good job with his hands and mouth. I have no complaints. The fleshlight is a different sensation though. It is all-encompassing. It is a nice change of pace. He pulled down my shorts and saw that I was already hard in anticipation. He said, “There’s my nightstick,” as I pulsed and pointed straight up.

He drizzled lubricant on me and I laced my fingers behind my head. He worked the opening over my mushroom cap and I gasped. He plunged the toy down the full length of my near foot-long shaft and I bit my lip hard. He worked that thing up and down repeatedly and the interior bumps and grooves were magical on my senses. Then he began twisting with each up and down stroke. I moaned and gripped the sheets. Next he pulled it up so high, it almost came all the way off before he plunged it all the way back down as far as it would go and my head reached the end of the tube. He began to alternate between each of these maneuvers and I could hold my load no longer. My toes curled as my body thrashed in orgasm. What I had feared would be an awful summer was turning to be the best.

As the first weekend approached, Chad mentioned that one of his high school friends was turning 21 and there was a get together at a nearby bar. I told him that I didn’t mind if he went, but he said he wanted me to be there with him. I was unsure. I didn’t know any of Chad’s high school friends. He assured me that they were all nice and if I was uncomfortable, we could leave after putting in an appearance. He said that his good friends wanted to meet me. I was afraid they’d be disappointed, but I agreed.

It was crowded. We each ordered a beer at the bar and Chad recognized his group across the masses. We made our way over to them and Chad introduced me to his friends with one arm around my shoulders. He really had “come out”. Unlike me, Chad excelled in social situations. He had the remarkable ability to make everyone in the group feel like they were the most important person to him. He talked and laughed with each of them and never let me feel left out. I don’t know how he did it. I also noticed that none of his friends were sneaking looks at my crotch. Chad really had matured. He wasn’t talking out of school about my secret. I had learned that when people hear about the heat I pack, they can’t help but let their eyes drift downward.

Chad and I each had finished our first beer and I volunteered to go to the bar and get us seconds. As I waited in line I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and didn’t recognize its owner. He looked to be about my age, bigger than me, of course…who wasn’t, and with black hair and green eyes. He was a decent looking guy but he was swaying a little and I thought he might be drunk. He said to me, “You came here with Chad, right?” His speech was slurred. He was definitely drunk.

I replied, “Yes, I did.” I noticed he had a friend with him. A guy standing just behind him, like a guard or an enforcer maybe.

He said, “Chad and I were friends before college. Maybe he told you about me? I’m Corey.”

The name didn’t sound familiar. I said, pointing, “Chad is right over there if you want to say hi.”

Corey didn’t budge. “He must have told you about me. We were particularly good friends the summer between high school and college. We spent that whole summer together. Like together, together.” He didn’t have a drink in hand but he was slurring more and more.

Chad had told me about a guy he messed around with that summer, but he never mentioned a name. I remembered that Chad had said he didn’t even like him as a friend or as a person. They were attracted to each other and experimented with each other physically, exploring their sexuality. They had gone off to separate colleges and not seen each other since. Maybe they had actually hooked up on breaks over the last three years and Chad just didn’t want to tell me. Either way I gave nothing away to Corey, no sign of recognition. It was my turn at the bar. I placed my order, paid, grabbed the beers and turned to go, but Corey and his silent enforcer blocked my way.

Corey continued, “I saw him with his arm around you. You must be his new play thing.”

I was already past uncomfortable. “Chad is right over there. Why don’t come over with me?”

He went on, “You know, it’s really okay. I haven’t even seen him in three years. I was away at school and didn’t even come home for breaks. But I’m back now. For good.”

I asked, “Did you finish school in three years?”

Corey said, “Sort of. Or at least they finished with me.” He looked me up and down and said, “You’re kind of cute. We should all get together and have some fun. Are you adventurous in bed?”

I hardly comprehended the word adventurous through his impaired speech. I said, “I can only speak for myself, but no, I’m not interested.”

He smiled and it made his face turn sinister. He said, “As I recall, Chad is not exactly biggest guy where it counts the most. He probably picked a little guy like you so he’d feel better about himself. I think I was too much for him to handle. Do you think you could handle me?”

I said, “Okay, that’s enough. This is over. Excuse me.” I started to push my way past him and his sentinel.

He called out behind me, “No, it’s not over. Not until I say it’s over.”

I kept going and didn’t look back. I made it back to Chad’s little gathering. He smiled at me, took his beer and put his arm back around me. I felt safer already, with Chad and away from that creepy asshole. A couple of Chad’s friends decided to head back to the bar and our group was suddenly smaller. I pulled Chad aside and told him about the encounter I had with Corey. Chad crinkled his nose and said, “Corey? I haven’t even seen him in three years.”

I said, “Well, he’s back now. Permanently. I think he was kicked out of school. He’s drunk and I think he’s jealous. Maybe your summer with him meant more to him than it did to you. I think he wants a threesome with us. Or maybe a foursome.”

“A foursome?” Chad asked.

“I don’t know. He has some weird, silent guy with him. A partner, a friend, I don’t know. And I haven’t seen them since I walked away, but I have a feeling they haven’t left.”

Chad’s friends made it back from the bar and group was full again. We finished our second beers and, since we aren’t big drinkers, we did not order thirds. Chad said he needed to use the restroom. He told me to stay right there with his friends and not to move. Like a potted plant, I stayed where I was told. The minutes ticked by and Chad hadn’t returned. I hadn’t been watching the restroom hallway because I kept scanning the room for Corey. Once it had gotten to be 10 minutes, I began to worry. I took out my phone and called him. Voicemail. I excused myself from his friends and headed to the men’s room.

I entered and it was empty. Where was Chad? The two beers had gone through me and I needed to relieve myself. I stepped up to one of the urinals, unzipped my pants, pulled out my member and began to pee. I was almost done when I heard the door behind me open. I don’t like looking at people in men’s rooms so stared at the wall straight in front of me. Two hands grabbed my shoulders and I heard Corey’s slurred voice. He said, “I told you it wasn’t over. Great news! I talked to Chad and he’s into it. He’s waiting for us out back. He sent me to come and get you. Let’s start by seeing what we’re each dealing with here. I heard him unzip his pants.

I had just finished urinating when Corey put his hands back on my shoulders and spun me around. He was standing there with his fully erect 7 inch penis pointing right at me. I was completely soft and my 8.5 inch flaccid tool swung like an elephant’s trunk. A few lingering drops splashed onto Corey. His eyes bugged out and the sight seemed to sober him up some. His companion, who was guarding the door, uttered his first sound in my presence: “Whoa”.

Corey took an involuntary step backwards. He was 7 inches, but he was pencil-thin, maybe not even 4 inches of girth, giving it the appearance of being smaller than it was. My girth was almost 7 inches, totally soft. Corey asked stupidly, “Is that thing real? How big does it get?”

Suddenly I wasn’t afraid of these guys. There was a toilet plunger with a wooden handle on floor next to the urinal and I picked it up and raised it as an improvised weapon. I yelled, “Where is Chad?”

Corey said to his friend, “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” I wasn’t sure if he was afraid of the stick in my hand or the stick hanging between my legs. His erection was subsiding and he shoved his dick back in his pants and zipped up. They backed out of the restroom and I yelled again, “Where’s Chad?”

I put down the plunger, tucked away my member and zipped back up. I left the men’s room and scanned for Corey. I didn’t see him anywhere. I looked over to where our group had been hanging out all night. No sign of Chad. I walked outside and scanned the parking lot. I had my phone in my hand and was ready to call 911, but first I walk around the building. I called out for Chad but there was no reply. When I made it to the back of the building, I saw him.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and ran over. His eyes brightened when he saw me, but he was a disheveled mess. His hair was a mess, his shirt was untucked and half unbuttoned, his pants were unzipped and just barely hanging on to his hips. He looked like he had taken a couple of punches. He was tied to a huge metal fire wheel. There was a zip tie tightly securing his wrists and another that looped his wrists around the fire wheel. His ankles were also bound together and they were secured to the fire wheel as well. His right foot was bare and his sock was shoved in his mouth.

I pulled the sock out of his mouth and Chad said, “Thank God you’re okay. I was so worried. Corey said they were going to get you and I didn’t know what they were going to do!”

I said, “Unbelievable! You are the one who was abducted and attacked and all you could think about was how worried you were about me!” I gave him a quick hug, but I wanted to get him freed. I always carried a small Swiss Army Knife in my pocket. I don’t know why. It was too small to be an effective weapon and it almost never came in handy, but it did now. My hands trembled as I pried the blade open. One by one I cut the four nylon zip ties and Chad fell away from the pipe and into my arms. We held each other tight and I felt him shudder. “Are you okay?”

He said, “I will be, now that I know you are. I just kept hoping that you stayed right with my friends like I told you to. I knew you’d be safe if Corey and his goon couldn’t lure you away and get you alone. So I guess they never found you?” Suddenly his tone was urgent, “We need to get out of here before they come back.”

I said, “They did find me. But it’s okay. Take your time. They’re not coming back.”

He looked at me quizzically. As he straightened his clothes and put his sock and shoe back on, he told me what happened. He went into the restroom and no one was in there. He used a urinal. As he was going, the door opened and Corey and friend stepped inside. Chad was still urinating so he was helpless. It was four hands against two as they pulled his arms behind him and zip tie his wrists.

I asked him, “How did they get you out of the bar and around back?”

He answered, “Well, the first thing Corey said was that if I gave them any trouble, you would pay the price when they came back in for you. After that, they had my full cooperation. He told me to act drunk so it would look like they were helping out a friend who over did it. They got on either side of me and each had an arm around me. My tied wrists were concealed from view. They walked me right out and around back. Nobody thought twice. They finished tying me up and Corey wanted to know your name. I wouldn’t tell him so they roughed me up a little. I still wasn’t talking, but eventually he said it didn’t matter. He knew who you were. He wanted me quiet while they went after you so that’s when he took off my shoe and shoved my sock in my mouth. I was dying with worry this whole time.”

I told him my story. “That’s the same thing they did with me. I was waiting and waiting for you and eventually I got worried. I went to check the restroom, but it was empty. I had to pee and that’s when they came in. Corey obviously didn’t think I posed much of a threat. I never saw any zip ties. He told me that you had agreed to have that threesome and you were waiting for us.”

Chad cringed at the thought. I continued, “He wanted to impress me with his penis and get a look at mine. Fortunately, I had finished peeing before he spun me around. I can’t blame him for thinking I’d be small, but surprise, I’m not. I think I stunned both of them. I grabbed the plunger that was sitting there and waved it around. Corey literally shrunk and cowered away. Then I set off looking for you.”

Chad seemed both proud and angry at the same time. “I told you to hang close to my friends until I got back. You could have gotten hurt!”

“But you did get hurt. Are you okay? We should get you to the ER.”

“What? No. I just took a few punches. I’m fine.”

I looked at the reddening bruise on his jaw. “Someone once told me that head injuries are nothing to mess around with.”

He looked at me through watery eyes and softened. “You saved me. You and your nightstick.”

I blushed a little. “Let’s not exaggerate. And I was a little late. You’re hurt.”

I was never in any real danger. I was just a means to get to Chad. I said, “Corey was not over you. He told me he thinks about his time with you every day and he thinks you do too. He was jealous of me being with you but he didn’t care about me one way or the other. I was an opportunity, a way back in. If we did have that threesome, I’m sure he expected I would just be mostly watching. He is obsessed with you. And crazy.”

Chad smiled down at me and we walked to the car. I drove us to the police station. Chad initially protested but I convinced him that unlike they guy who attacked me at school, who Chad had effectively warned off, Corey would probably be a persistent problem. He had said he was here permanently now. I asked Chad if Corey knew where he lives and Chad admitted that he did. I reasoned that every time Corey got drunk, which was possibly daily, he could pose threat to Chad or his family. Chad relented and we went in a filed a report.

The rest of the summer passed without incident. We never saw or heard from Corey again. Sometimes on weekends we’d drive down to the beach. One weekend, Chad’s dad took Chad, Lizzie and I to a Red Sox game. I am not a huge sports guy, but I’ve always liked baseball. Growing up in Georgia, I had defaulted to being a Braves fan, but I feel no connection or loyalty to Georgia anymore. I could switch to the Red Sox and besides, historic Fenway Park is not the worst place to take in a ballgame.

Chad’s family was great all summer. Lizzie thought Chad and I were “cute” together. Chad’s parents seemed genuinely happy for us. Chad and I grew closer and closer over the three months. It was the best summer of my life, though in truth, there wasn’t even a runner up to consider.

By the end of the summer, thanks to the landscaping job, I had begun to develop some muscle tone. Not a lot, but I no longer looked like a starving Ethiopian. I had gained 7 pounds, none of it fat. And all of the beach time had me sporting a slight bronzy tan. Chad had noticed my physical changes and had demonstrated his approval. Chad, of course, had already been and continued to be the perfect physical specimen.

Chad had really come through for me. He took me in and gave me a home when I had needed one. He saved me from my family and possibly from having to drop out of school. I could have become like Corey! I ended up making and saving more money than I would have if I could have stayed in the house as planned. It had all worked out, thanks to Chad. We moved back to Boston in August and back into our house with Mark and Sam. I knew we would have the next nine months of senior year together before we would have to figure out the rest of our lives.