The Shy Boy
Thomas strolled down the hall of his dorm looking into open doors to see what the guys were up to. They had been on campus for four weeks, three after classes started, and he was finally finding his way, making a few friends, and getting into the college routine. It was always a struggle for him, for he was shy. He never knew how to approach someone, the casual way some could just walk up to another person and start talking or invite them to a basketball game or a bike ride.
He had made friends with Garcia and Ian across the hall when they discovered their shared love of Sci-Fi and Dungeons and Dragons. And down the hall in room 323, the last one before the bathroom, there was Henry, who was in his English class, the last class of the day, and they found themselves walking back together three days a week. Henry too shared a love of Sci-Fi and fantasy, and obscure fiction, such as Kafka on the Shore by Murakami, a book Thomas had since read.
As to the others, he found it difficult. He wasn’t athletic and played no sports. He did enjoy riding his bike, but not on the trails in the park south of campus that required skill and balance, so he was not a part of the groups that had formed on their floor that loved to hit the trails. What was a bit unsettling after four weeks was his roommate being a total unknown, gone most of the time. Thomas knew it wasn’t for studying, so he assumed Stacy as just a partier, staying out all hours of the night and all weekend.
Then there was Charlie. The one that everyone knew and liked. Charlie was outgoing, friendly to everyone. If you crossed paths with him on his way to lunch or dinner, you were invited to tag along. If he was going for just a bike ride in the afternoon or evening, by the time he got to the ground floor, he would have eight to twelve guys in tow for the ride. He played basketball in the commons with whoever was around the court, helped a few of the guys struggling with calculus, and when Jacob called last weekend, broke down an hour away on his way back to campus, it was Charlie who bolted out the door to help him.
Thomas didn’t know how Charlie did it, the way he moved from one group to the next with such ease. He seemed to know a little about any topic, quoted stats of football games from the previous weekend, and hung out with any of the guys playing music, regardless of the genre. Just the day before Thomas found Charlie in Lou’s room, hanging out with Lou, Daniel, and Darius, listening to gothic rock and industrial music. The sight of Charlie, dressed in a white T-shirt and ratty jeans among guys who dressed in all black, hair dyed black, nails painted black, and wearing eyeliner, was a sight he would not soon forget. But seeing all four of them laugh at something Charlie said was even more bizarre.
Charlie even asked about joining Thomas and his friends for a night of Dungeons and Dragons, saying he was curious about how you played the game. It made Thomas consider the person. Average height, average build, brown hair cut short, blue eyes, and when Thomas was honest about it, a nice round ass he imagined touching, running his hands over its curvature, then maybe, just maybe, if Charlie would let him, slipping fingers down between those round ass cheeks and…
It didn’t do to think of it.
But he did think about it all the time. When guys roamed down the hall in just boxers, or worse, completely naked like Alejandro did all the time showing off that hot body and big uncut cock, he thought about it. Or when in the bathroom and one of the guys stepped out of the shower stall toweling a nice body, he thought about it.
Thomas knew he should just come out. Jordan across the hall next door to Garcia and Ian came out as soon as he arrived, and a few days later, Dylan in room 316 came out, and it had been no big deal. So, why hadn’t he done the same. Good question, one he could not answer, but he refrained from coming out despite a strong desire to do so. Maybe it was just the shyness overwhelming him.
Mr. Social
Charlie watched Garcia and Ian come down the hall deep in conversation overhearing references to the Expanse Series, then The Three-Body Problem. He knew it was references to Sci-Fi books and there had been some television series on each, and it did intrigue him. He enjoyed a good Sci-Fi movie and read a few books of the genre. He just wished some of the other guys wouldn’t disparage Garcia and Ian about their love of Sci-Fi.
“Hey, Charlie, we’re going to The End Zone for burgers. Are you in?” said Nathan, coming out of his room and falling in next to him.
“Sure; what time?”
“We’re waiting on Bryce to get back from getting that piece of shit Audi back from the shop, then we’ll go.”
“His car is in the shop again?”
“It’s nine years old and from what Bryce has said, it was ragged out when he got it.”
“He’d be better off with Civic.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Come get me when you’re ready to leave.”
Charlie arrived at his room to find Antonio, his roommate, lying down with headphones on. He waved to get his attention. Antonio pulled the headphones down letting them hang around his neck.
“What is it?” asked Antonio.
“Some of us are going to The End Zone when Bryce gets back. You want to go?”
“Thanks, but I’ve made plans to meet some friends at The Thia House.”
Charlie plopped down on his bed with hands folded behind his head. “That sounds good too. I guess I’m just hungry.”
“Hey Thomas, wait up,” someone called out from the hall, and Charlie looked up in time to see him come into view, stop and look back. A second later, Henry came up to him. “You want to go to The End Zone? Garcia said the burgers are the best in town.”
Thomas and Henry walked out of the door frame and Charlie never heard Thomas’ reply, but he hoped they would go to The End Zone too. Maybe they could all sit together. Then he thought of Bryce, and how he talked about Thomas, the same disparaging comments they made about Dylan and Jordan. Bryce called Thomas a faggot all the time, and it made him pull away from Bryce, knowing he didn’t need that kind of person in his life. He began to reconsider going with the guys since Bryce would be there.
What if Thomas was gay, so what, he thought as he lay back and closed his eyes. He considered his own feelings, how he was attracted to women, but at times, on some rare occasions, he found himself attracted to a guy. Did he mean he was bisexual. Bisexual; to find both sexes attractive. He knew it was true to some degree, for there were times he found guys attractive in a sexual manner, and on their floor of the dorm, it was Thomas he found this attraction the strongest when he dared to consider it, but then there were a few of the guys he had considered it. Dylan because he was out and reminded him of someone back home, then there was Lou, despite the black clothes, or maybe because of it. Something forbidden. But it was the painfully shy Thomas that intrigued him the most.
Thomas was a bit shorter than average, five foot six or so, if he had to guess, with a lean build and dirty blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Thomas was attractive. Pretty even, the description one he knew Thomas would not appreciate. But for him, there was some androgynous aspect to Thomas that made the description seem appropriate. He considered Henry but for some reason didn’t think of him the way he did Thomas. Henry was different, a bit alternative looking with his tall lean build, jet black hair kept long on top and fair skin. Henry would look goth if he dressed in all black. But he wore jeans and T-shirts and worn sneakers, beaten to death with skateboarding. He couldn’t image Henry being gay but knew that was another assumption he should not make. There were all kinds, some feminine, some muscular jocks, and everything in between. He went back to Dylan, who had that good ole boy look of his rural upbringing, and an easy-going personality that would quickly attract someone to him.
Looking over at his roommate, Antonio rocking his head to the beat of some song, and he wondered if Antonio had every crossed the line and messed around with a guy. He doubted it, for Antonio was the definition of straight male. He flirted with girls all the time, never to the point of harassment, but always with a cheerfulness that made them smile and laugh and eventually agree to go out with him or politely turn him down.
Charlie knew being at college was a time to experiment and discover yourself, and he wondered if he would ever act out on the curiosity he had about sex with another guy. Maybe, if he found the right one willing to fuck around with him with no strings attached. Then he thought of Thomas, wondering if there could be an opportunity there.
The Shy Boy
Sitting on the curb at the edge of the parking lot, Thomas watched Henry and his skateboarder friends maneuver around the empty parking lot, jumping over a plywood ramp someone had brought, or sliding down the handrail at a ramp leading down to the street sidewalk, or weaving in and out of a row of bollards set to block the entrance. It was an empty shopping center, located on the west side of town, and therefore a perfect place for skateboarders. There was a skateboarding park on campus but it being Saturday afternoon, the place would be packed.
Thomas watched Henry slide down the handrail, precariously balanced on it from top to bottom, where Henry hopped off and landed on the sidewalk, skateboarding away. He could never get the hang of it, his balance just not good enough for the tricks the others could do.
Joon called out to Graham, and it drew Thomas’ attention. Joon was North Korean, and despite the stereotypes, was tall with a nice build, with short black hair and hoops in each ear. Graham was lean to the point of skinny with dark red hair and green eyes and a deep southern accent. Charles Bentley (knowing it aggravated him, everyone called him by his first and middle name) was tall, lean, with brown hair, brown eyes, and clothing that spoke of money, and everyone knew it was old money. Graham and Charles Bentley were from Mobile, Alabama, private school educated and at the university for it was where their family had gone for generations.
The other two of Henry’s little group were Oliver and Theo. Oliver from some place outside Birmingham, England, and his Queen’s English dialect with some roughness around its edges enamored him with some of the girls but just got him some good-natured ribbing in the dorm. Theo was from Seattle, Washington, and by far the best skateboarder of the group. And it was ironic to Thomas how Oliver and Theo looked like they could be brothers, both with light brown hair, blue eyes, and similar lean muscular builds. They were also laid back and easy-going, constantly joking and horsing around. Could their friendship be more than platonic?
Thomas considered the six of them sexually, knowing it was Henry, Charles Bentley, and Joon he felt the most desire, and just as quickly, dismissed each one, thinking there was no way one of them was gay, and more precisely, willing to do it with him.
“Hey, can I join in?”
Thomas looked up to see it was Charlie, standing with one foot on his skateboard off to the side. Henry skateboarded over to him, clasped hands, then nodded for Charlie to join them.
Charlie once again slid into a group joining in so simply it amazed Thomas. He wished he was as outgoing as Charlie. Once again, having measured up the others again, he did the same with Charlie, and with Charlie he knew stats that were close, having seen Charlie’s high school baseball team stats in a program from the last game of the season last summer. Five foot ten and one hundred sixty-eight pounds. Then there were the stats not in any program, but those he had seen firsthand: brown hair, blue eyes, lean muscular build, and an uncut cock he had got to see a glimpse of in the bathroom their first week in the dorm. If only the others he was curious about were as careless with their modesty.
He watched Charlie build up speed, then weave through the bollards. He watched him jump, flipping the board, and landing on it without stopping. After about thirty minutes, he watched him skate his way, step off the board, kick it up into his hand, and sit next to him on the curb.
“Why don’t you skateboard?” said Charlie while watching the others.
“My balance sucks.”
“Really?”
Thomas nodded.
“I had a friend in high school that had poor balance. He tried and tried to skateboard, until he broke his wrist.”
“That had to hurt.”
“By the time the ambulance arrived, he was sweating and shaking from the pain.”
They watched Joon and Theo horsing around, circling each other, then skateboarding in opposite directions.
“I think Joon is almost as good as Theo,” said Charlie.
“Almost, but Theo is still the best.”
“Are you going for a bike ride in the morning? I know you usually do one on Sunday mornings.”
“Yes. It is the best time to ride.”
“Where do you go?”
“Usually out 501 over to a place called Jamesville and back.”
“Jamesville? I don’t know any town by that name.”
“It’s not a town, just a crossroads in the countryside. The roads there and back are just rural two-lanes and free of heavy traffic.”
“Can I go with you?”
Thomas looked over to see if Charlie was serious, knowing if anyone was serious, it was him. Charlie lived to hang out with others, but he wondered for a brief moment, why Charlie would want to hang out with him, but he liked the idea of it.
“Sure.”
“Will Henry, Garcia, or Ian go too?”
“Henry is going to some party with a cousin of his so I doubt he will be back until late, and Garcia and Ian are not going to do something that makes them sweat,” said Thomas, smiling at the notion of Garcia and Ian doing any kind of exercise.
“So, it’ll just be the two of us.”
“You can invite some of the others, if you want.”
“Nah, it can just be the two of us,” said Charlie, then he sat up in attention, and Thomas saw him looking at Theo doing some stunt when jumping over the ramp. “Hey, Theo, show me how you do that,” Charlie exclaimed, coming to his feet and skateboarding over to the ramp.
Thomas stood next to his bike watching Charlie push his bike out of the door, coming toward him.
“Ready to go?” said Charlie.
“Yes.”
“So, show me the way,” said Charlie, coming up next to Thomas.
They straddled their bikes and kicked off, heading across the parking lot. They would ride across campus to the west side, then out 501 until in the rural countryside.
After riding for nearly two hours, Thomas rode alongside Charlie, feeling closer to him, but there still existed something that held him back. They had talked about where they were from, how they were doing in their classes, and gossiped a bit about the guys on their floor, eliciting a laugh or two.
On the last hill heading toward campus, they could see the few tall buildings, those over five stories, and the football stadium. Charlie looked over and smiled, then stood on the pedals taking off down the long grade before them. Thomas smiled, stood on his pedals, and took off to catch up with him.
They neared the bottom of the grade and began to coast. Charlie swung right on the road that would take them back to the dorm. Thomas swung right behind him, getting a bit too wide. He got to the edge of the broken pavement and lost it. The bike slid out from under him sending him down into the ditch, rolling to a stop.
“Thomas!” Charlie yelled, sliding to a stop. He turned and pedaled back to where Thomas lay in the ditch. By the time he got to him, Thomas was sitting up, looking shocked at what happened.
“You’re bleeding,” exclaimed Charlie.
“What?” Thomas replied, looking at the wrong arm, then finally seeing the right knee that was scratched deep enough to bleed. “OH,” he exclaimed holding the knee at the sides with both hands, looking at the blood ooze through the scratches.
“Come on, Thomas, I’ll help you up.”
Thomas winced as Charlie helped him to stand. He hobbled over to his bike, picking it up and looking over it.
“Can you ride it back to the dorm?” said Charlie.
“Yes,” Thomas replied as he pushed the bike into the road. “Come on, let’s get back.”
“Yes, let’s go,” said Charlie going back to his bike. “You need to get those scratches cleaned up and treated.”
Thomas winced when he straddled his bike, then he eased away, every move of the right knee hurting. He pulled up next to Charlie, who was riding slowly, and together they bicycled back to the dorm.
Charlie followed Thomas up to their floor and down to his room. “I’ll grab my stuff and medical kit and meet you in the bathroom.”
“I can do it,” said Thomas.
“Don’t be silly. You haven’t even seen that elbow. Just get your towel and head down.”
Thomas didn’t want Charlie to help him, not if it meant he could expose himself to Charlie in a way that could reveal his thoughts.
In the bathroom, Thomas hesitated then felt foolish about it, and he stripped to his boxers, carefully working his bleeding arm through the sleeve of his T-shirt and his bleeding knee through his shorts. He was looking in the mirror at his bleeding elbow when Thomas strolled up carrying a medical kit.
“You really messed up that elbow,” said Thomas. “Get a shower then I’ll patch you up.”
“What?”
“Go on, get a shower first,” said Charlie, shaking his head and smiling. “Silly, you can’t bandage everything then take one. Do you want the bandages to get wet?”
“But…” The word hung between them and Thomas knew how it would sound if he admitted to being scared to get naked in front of Charlie. He could reveal so much.
“But what? Go on, get cleaned up,” said Charlie, pushing Thomas toward the row of shower stalls.
Thomas stepped away from Charlie, then pushed the boxers down, stepping out of them as he entered the shower. Once the shower was at the temperature he liked, he moved under the spray feeling his elbow and knee sting. He lathered up, careful with the elbow and knee, then rinsed off. It was then he remembered his towel was lying on the vanity where Thomas was waiting on him.
He found himself standing still, wondering how he was going to face Charlie naked. Just the idea of it made him anxious. He finally moved, getting under the spray of the shower to rinse off, he listened out for Charlie. He heard the shower next to him running and hoped it was Charlie, and not one of the other guys.
He shut off the water and slid the shower curtain over slowly, looking out to see the coast was clear. The shower next to him shut off and he realized he needed to move. He headed across the room hearing Thomas slid the shower curtain aside, then he realized two towels were on the vanity. He glanced back seeing a naked Charlie following him. As soon as he got to the vanity he grabbed up his towel and let it hang in front of him as Charlie came to stand next to him.
He had seen Charlie before, but now he was naked too and it felt different. He looked at the body with its natural masculine definition and cock hanging heavy over the nuts.
“Get dried off and let me dress those wounds,” said Charlie.
“Hand me my boxers,” said Thomas.
“Don’t be so shy, Thomas,” said Charlie moving in front of him and squatting down.
Thomas froze when he felt Charlie hold his leg at the knee and he watched him lean down and look at the kneecap closely.
“It’s not too bad. Not as bad at your elbow,” said Charlie. “Hand me the kit.”
Thomas handed the medical kit to Charlie then he looked up and focused on not getting aroused. He struggled to keep his thoughts boring, avoiding any sexual. He felt the hand holding his leg while the other one gently applied antibiotic. He found himself holding his breath wishing Charlie would hurry up.
Mr. Social
He kept looking up at the cock. How it lay over the sac and he swore it thickened, then got a bit longer. He put the bandage over the knee and looked up at Thomas who had his eyes closed. Did his knee hurt? He stood and stepped back, feeling a temptation to try. Just once, give it a try and see what it would be like. Then he wondered if Thomas would be willing. So many times, over the last few weeks he had sensed a willingness, but looking at him now, eyes closed and hands gripping the edge of the vanity in a death grip, he wondered.
“All done,” said Charlie keeping his tone light.
Thomas looked first at him, eyes seeming to plead for something, then down at the bandaged knee.
“Hold up your arm and I’ll bandage the elbow,” said Charlie.
Thomas raised his arm revealing the nearly hairless armpit and the lean nature of his build. He looked so young, but Charlie knew Thomas wasn’t the only one. Just the one before him naked and vulnerable. He stepped back close to him and held the arm as he wiped a disinfectant wipe over the scratched elbow.
“It looks clean,” said Charlie, as Thomas winced when the wipe moved across the scratched skin. “That’s got it; I’ll just bandage it now.”
He followed Thomas from the bathroom, baggy boxers concealing what he knew was a nice round ass and in front a cock that seemed larger each time he had looked at it. When Thomas passed the door to his room, he looked back causing him to stop to see what he had to say.
“Thanks Charlie.”
“You’re welcome. When you heal up a bit, you want to ride again?”
“Sure; I’d like that,” said Thomas. Then he turned and headed down the hall and Charlie watched him, feeling like he let an opportunity pass him by. He wondered if he really wanted to try it, or if it was just his innate curiosity getting the better of him. He unlocked his door and went in wondering who he should invite to dinner, never wanting to eat alone. He should let Thomas rest, despite the urge to ask him first.
A knock at his door and he wondered if Thomas came back to ask him something. He swung the door open to see Alejandro standing there.
“Hey, some of us are going for Mexican around six. Are you in?” said Alejandro.
“Sure. I’ve not had Mexican in a few days. Just knock on the door when you’re heading out.”
Friday night and Charlie found himself at a party. It was off campus at some senior art major’s place; an old house rented to students. He wasn’t sure, but he thought there were six living in the house. It was after one in the morning, and the house was not as loud as it had been, many left to go out or to other parties. Those that remained were less rowdy, those that sat in groups talking about politics, art, and philosophy. He followed some of the conversations, but not all, but he did understand the injustices and inequality they spoke of. He might understand better if he had laid off the vodka. How could something that looked so benign be so lethal. Of course, he smirked, it was not as lethal as tequila.
He went to the bathroom again, staggering just a bit when he swung into the short hall, and stood behind a woman waiting at the door.
“I hope they are just pissing and not doing some shit; I really have to go,” she said as he leaned against the wall next to her.
“Me too.”
“But you could go out and piss in the bushes,” she replied.
Charlie heard no humor in her response.
The door swung open and a woman came out, smiled at them, then staggered back toward the living room. The one next to him went in and locked the door.
“Now don’t you do any shit while in there,” Charlie mumbled, grinning at his silly joke.
Charlie came back to find only a few people still in the room and not knowing any of them, he decided it was time to call it a night. He said goodbye to everyone and slipped out.
The walk back to campus cleared his head but he still felt the effects of the alcohol. He felt loose and, shockingly, horny as hell. He tugged on his growing cock as he cut across the main quadrangle, then slipped down a sidewalk between two buildings, a short cut to the dorm.
As he approached the dorm he thought about Shelia, no it was Sharon…or was it Shelia, he couldn’t remember, but she had shown an interest in him. Why didn’t he pursue her, he didn’t know. Feeling his arousal, he wished he had done so. To feel someone touch him, manipulate his cock, then suck it or let him fuck them, it would have been a perfect ending to the night. Instead, he found himself horny and approaching the dorm.
Maybe Thomas would be up.
The thought rattled him at first, then he laughed, out loud, not caring who heard. Thomas. Yeah, he was horny enough. He would do something with that shy boy. He didn’t even feel any hesitation at what some of those things could be. He thought he could do it. Suck a guy’s cock, maybe…even…
The third floor was quiet, only a few doors open and Charlie realized one was Garcia and Ian’s room. Were they playing Dungeon and Dragons, and if so, was Thomas with them. He strolled past his room down to the open door. He heard voices and worked out it was Garcia, Ian, Henry, and Thomas. He rounded the door jamb and saw the four boys were packing up their game. Henry looked up first and Charlie swore it was the look of disappointment to see him, then the look changed quickly to a smile.
“You’re drunk,” said Henry, causing the others to look up.
“Just a bit,” said Charlie.
“Did you go to some frat party?” said Ian.
Charlie heard the accusation. That he would dare go to one of those parties. He shook his head. “No, I went to this party thrown by some art majors.”
“Really,” said Garcia.
“Really.”
“It looks like you had fun,” said Ian.
“Yes, but…” Charlie left it unsaid, how he was horny and regretted not hooking up with Sara, or was it, Sharon.
“I’m calling it a night,” said Thomas, moving toward the door.
Charlie leaned tight to the door jamb to let Thomas pass. “Hey, can I come over a sec?”
Thomas froze in the door, their faces only inches apart. “I…I guess.”
“Great,” Charlie replied seeing Garcia and Ian smirk and Henry looked, what was it, surprised.
Charlie followed Thomas into his room, shutting the door and locking it. He saw Ryan wasn’t there.
“What is it?” asked Thomas.
“Nothing really, I just…I was wondering…”
Thomas sat on his bed and slid back until resting against the wall with his feet overhanging the side of it. Charlie went to sit in the desk chair, but he stopped, his hand on it ready to spin it around, still standing with his back to Thomas.
“I almost hooked up with some girl.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know.”
Silence. Too long. A moment in time with just the two of them. No one there to hear or see.
“Have you ever messed around with someone…I mean…I’m not asking if you’re a virgin, but…”
“But what?”
Thomas’ reply sounded defensive.
“Have you messed around with a guy or ever thought about it?” said Charlie.
Again, a deafening silence.
“You can tell me, Thomas. It’s just between us.”
“Have you?” said Thomas, defensively.
Charlie knew the defense mechanism. A need for the other to admit it first. He turned to face Thomas, knowing he had to do it. “I’ve thought about, wondered what it would be like. I’ve not acted on it but lately…I’ve thought about it a lot.” He stepped closer to the bed, less than two feet between him and Thomas’ feet. “I’ve thought about it with you.”
The feet jerked back, just an inch or so, then settled back in place. Charlie looked into the face, one that seemed confused, scared even, and he eased to the bed and sat next to him. He reached out, hand hovering over the right thigh, not yet touching him.
“Tell me to stop, and I will,” said Charlie.
Again, the silence, but this time it spoke to something else. Something permissible. Charlie touched the thigh, rubbed his hand along it, from knee to near the crotch.
“Thomas, do you want me to stop, or do you want to try it with me?”
“I want to try,” Thomas replied, so low Charlie could barely hear him, but he heard the desire and willingness, and he moved his hand to the crotch and squeezed it feeling another guy’s cock. He wasn’t repulsed. He was aroused by it, this touching of another, and he wanted to go further.
He turned and leaned toward Thomas, bringing their lips together. An intimacy he new some guys would never allow, but Thomas submitted to him, allowed the kiss, letting it continue until he could slip his tongue into the mouth.
The Shy Boy
He felt breathless. First the admission by Charlie, then the touch, now the kiss. He let Charlie guide him to turn and lay properly on his bed. He spread his legs and let Charlie slip down between them. He felt the weight of Charlie, the physical body on top of him, moving against him until his cock stirred. He grew aroused. His breathing grew heavy, and he tentatively reached around Charlie and hugged their bodies together. Charlie pushed against his growing cock, and he moaned into the mouth.
Suddenly Charlie was slipping a hand into his jeans, fingers raking across his skin, through his pubic hair, then…then…then touching him. He felt his cock respond, flexing with his arousal. He pushed upward, against the hand; against the body on top of him.
Charlie kissed along his smooth jaw to his ear. A tug at the earlobe, then lips moving against it.
“Please don’t make me stop,” Charlie whispered.
“No,” Thomas uttered as he turned his head giving Charlie greater access to kiss and nip at his neck.
Suddenly Charlie was sitting up straddling his waist. Hands worked buttons free down his shirt until it fell open. Charlie pulled him to sit up and roughly removed it.
“Get it off!” Charlie exclaimed as the shirt slipped free. It was tossed across the room as Charlie moved down. Hands worked his jeans undone, then were tugging and pulling until he raised his ass letting Charlie get them off. As the jeans were tossed out of sight, He saw his cock was protruding through the fly. It was hard, rock hard, and flexing with his arousal. Then Charlie touched it, just grazed fingers over the head, and he moaned and pushed upward. He wanted to beg Charlie to take it in hand, that just jacking him off would be enough. Anything that let him get relief.
Charlie exceeded his expectations, leaning over and licking the head of his cock. He shivered with the feel of it and clutched the bed. He watched Charlie lean to his cock again, looking at it as if it were some unusual discovery, then he watched the lips touch the head, then slide over it. He threw his head back and closed his eyes as lips moved down his cock. When the lips dragged up to the head he moaned, unable to hold back. Let Charlie hear how it affects him.
The mouth moved up and down on his cock, then it slipped off it. He raised his head to see Charlie taking his boxers by the waistband.
“Get these off; we have to get these off,” said Charlie.
He raised his ass again and let Charlie strip him naked. There was no longer any reason to pretend to be modest. Charlie had sucked on his cock. He watched the boxers slip down his legs then tossed to the side. Charlie dropped down on hands and knees straddling him and took his cock in the mouth again. The head moved up and down and he wondered if Charlie would let him. If Charlie would push him to the point of release and let him come in his mouth.
Charlie was fully dressed, and he was naked. He felt it. The way every touch was on bare skin. A hand rubbing across his chest and stomach. It rubbed over hardening nipples, then pinched down on the left one, making him shudder. Jeans rubbed his calves, lips and tongue worked his cock, and the other hand worked his nuts, then slipped between his legs. He wanted it. Wanted it so bad, he spread his legs as much as he could with Charlie straddling him. The hand moved down between his thighs and touched him, rubbed over his tightness until his cock was flexing in the mouth.
“Charlie,” he uttered, then moaned as a finger breached his tightness. A guy was penetrating him, playing with his ass. It was so intense, so much better than his own fingers buried in his ass when he masturbated. He moaned again and pushed down on the fingers. He wanted them deeper, pushing into his depths, far more than they were capable.
The fingers moved inside him, twisting and pumping through his tightness until he loosened to it. When Charlie slipped the fingers out of him and rose on knees, he raised his legs, willingly, ready to take Charlie’s fuck.
“You can do it,” said Thomas.
Charlie tugged off his T-shirt and tossed it aside. He undid his jeans, frantically getting them undone and down his legs along with his boxers. He stroked his cock until it curved upward, hard and ready to fuck.
“You sure?” said Charlie.
“Yes,” Thomas replied.
Hands took his ankles holding his legs up. Cock raked across his ass, pushed at his tightening sac, then slide alongside his own cock. It drove him mad. He clutched at the bed wanting to beg Charlie to fuck him. To stop teasing him and just do it.
“Please,” Thomas uttered.
The cock pressed against his opening, then slowly, gently, it penetrated him.
“Jesus…you’re tight,” said Charlie.
The cock bore into him, inch after inch, until he felt the fullness of penetration by another. Then Charlie began to fuck. To tug outward, then push inward, over and over, building up his pace. And he took it. Every penetrating push, every tug at his opening until he was working his body, undulating and working his hips trying to get that cock deeper, deep enough to touch his soul.
“Fuck me,” exclaimed Thomas, finally honest with what he wanted. He saw Charlie smile, tighten the hold on his ankles, and fuck. Harder. Faster. Shoving cock into his depths until his own drooled on his stomach. Time ceased. Nothing was in focus. Nothing existed, except Charlie and his cock, fucking his ass. He opened his eyes to see the sweating torso, the gasping for breath, the masculine body, fucking and fucking and fucking.
Charlie stopped and shifted hands from his ankles to behind his knees. Pushing forward, Charlie folded him in half, pushing his thighs against his chest. His ass was angled upward and Charlie buried his cock in it and fucked. Hips bounced off his ass as cock bore into his depths. Charlie increased the pace of their fuck until he couldn’t tell the difference between the cock pushing inward and tugging out, just the staccato sound of flesh smacking against flesh. Charlie slamming down against his ass.
“Fuck. I’m going to cum,” exclaimed Charlie.
“Don’t stop,” Thomas pleaded.
Hips continued to hammer against Thomas’ upturned ass until Charlie lost his rhythm. Then it was one hard push inward then another with Charlie jerking and shuddering. Then Charlie buried cock in his ass and shuddered with release.
Charlie was on his knees backed away from Thomas letting him stretch out. Thomas felt cum trickle from his ass and his own cock ached for release. He took it in hand and started to masturbate, when Charlie knocked his hand away.
“Wait,” said Charlie.
He looked at the confused expression, wondering what Charlie was thinking. When Charlie met his eyes, there was a smile.
“Might as well, right?” said Charlie.
Charlie lay next to him on his stomach and looked over. “Come on, Thomas. I want to see what if feels like.”
Thomas was shocked. But he was pleased too, for he thought it would be Charlie getting off then he left to masturbate. He reached out and touched the back, then rubbed down over the round ass. He felt the firmness of the left ass cheek, then he slipped his fingers down between them and touched Charlie. He rubbed the tight opening, then he penetrated it. Like Charlie had done to him, he worked one finger into the ass, then two, and finally three, stretching it open.
“Okay, Thomas, I think I can take you.”
Thomas rose to his knees and stroked his cock slowly smearing its slick down every fat inch, realizing the difference between them. Charlie was longer, but he was thicker, a lot thicker. Could Charlie take it, he wondered as he moved over him, determined to find out. He couldn’t believe Charlie lay before him, and when he raked his cock across the ass, Charlie reached back and spread it until he could see his target.
“Come on, Thomas, put it in me.”
Thomas put his cock to the tight opening and pushed. He pushed slowly, relishing the way it squeezed his cock as he penetrated him. He shivered and shuddered as he sank inch after inch into the ass. Charlie buried his face into the pillow and moaned, then pushed upward, and Thomas watched the ass slide back on his cock, taking nearly all of it.
“Fuck,” Charlie uttered breathlessly.
Thomas moved his hips watching his cock disappear in Charlie, then come back into view. He felt it. He relished the feeling. He worked his hips until fucking with a steady rhythm. He wrapped an arm around Charlie’s neck and hugged him tightly as he pumped his cock into the depths of the ass.
After being fucked and now fucking, he was too damn close. He felt his building need for release. He fucked harder, faster, hips slamming down on Charlie’s ass. Then he could hold back no longer. He buried his cock in Charlie and jerked and shuddered with every ejaculation.
Thomas lay on his bed, still naked, cock flaccid and his breathing finally back to normal. He watched Charlie dress silently, boxers, jeans, then flipping the T-shirt back around to put it on.
“Hey…I enjoyed it…”
“But?”
“Thomas, this isn’t me, not really. I wanted to try it, to see what it was like, but…I can’t see myself in a relationship with a man. I’m not sure but…I have no regrets.”
“I know,” Thomas replied, remembering comments Charlie made when some of the guys were talking about life after college.
Charlie headed to the door, stopped with his hand on the knob, and looked back. “I’m glad it was you. I hope you understand you have nothing to be shy about.”
“Thanks Charlie.”
Charlie slipped out of his room, closing the door behind him.
Saturday morning, a little after ten, Thomas rushed out of his room and down the hall. He was hungry and wanted breakfast. The cafeteria served until 10:30 so he had to hurry. At the elevator, he pushed the button three times, as if that would speed it up. It seemed to move slower than usual: floor 1…floor 2…
“Come on,” said Thomas.
“Hey, where are you going in such a hurry,” said Henry coming up next to him.
“I want breakfast, and the cafeteria stops serving in…twenty minutes.”
“I’m going for breakfast at College Station,” said Henry, referring to the diner that served breakfast all day.
“Out of my budget until I get more funds,” said Thomas.
The elevator doors slid open, and Thomas rushed into the cab followed by Henry.
“I’ll buy. None of the other guys are even up yet and I prefer not to eat alone,” said Henry.
Thomas looked over at Henry, seeing the expression. “Okay, I’ll go. I’ll catch you next month.”
Henry smiled. “Great.”
“Are we walking or do you want me to drive us?”
“Nah, let’s just walk. It is supposed to be nice out.”
As they walked out of the dorm, down the steps, then along the sidewalk that would take them toward downtown, Thomas kept glancing over at Henry. He had done it before, especially in the first week. Sizing him up, comparing him to the others, wondering if he would be willing. He was only five foot six and Henry towered over him, over six feet tall. Ian said Henry was six foot three, and Thomas saw no reason to doubt it. Henry’s lean build made him look taller. He had shown up on campus looking like a kid, with long unruly black hair and a baby face, but a couple of days later, Henry got a haircut. It was short and made him look older. More like an eighteen-year-old than some fourteen-year-old boy. He wondered what Henry would look like naked, and he found his eyes going to the crotch.
“Thomas…Thomas?”
“Yes?”
“After breakfast, do you want to go to that record store?”
“The place that has vinyl?”
“Yes.”
“But you don’t have a record player.”
Henry smiled.
“What?” said Thomas. “No?” he added when he realized Henry had gotten one.
“It came this morning.”
“This morning?”
“It’s my birthday and my parents sent me a turntable system.”
“It’s your birthday?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“It’s no big deal; besides I didn’t think it was a good idea to let the guys on the floor know I was still seventeen until now.”
“Good point,” said Thomas. “What kind of system?”
“A Technics. SL dash 1500C.”
“That means nothing to me,” Thomas joked.
“It’s nice turntable and the speakers are really good but small, so it doesn’t take up much space.”
Thomas was standing on the opposite side of the vinyl display table from Henry, thumbing through the letters T, U, and V with W, X, Y, and Z in the next section. Henry was holding four or five albums and still looking, and Thomas was looking at him. Looking at the tall lean body, the short black hair, the fair skin, and the green eyes. He had not noticed the eye color before, but now he couldn’t unsee it.
He compared Henry to Charlie and wondered how far the differences would be between them. He tried to image sex with Henry, what it could be like. Would Henry be as passive as he had been with Charlie at first, until given permission to be the one on top. He hoped not, for it would be awkward if both of them were as passive. But still…he wanted to know. He admitted to himself he wanted to have sex with Henry, and if willing, maybe take it further. Maybe on go on dates, at least for a time. The idea of a boyfriend was appealing. Someone to go out for dinner or a simple lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Someone to go to some silly rom-com movie and hold hands in the dark theater.
But first, there was the question of whether, or not Henry was willing.
At the graffitied counter, he looked at the albums Henry set down for purchase. The Stone Roses, Ride’s Nowhere, Incubus’ Light Grenade, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Bauhaus’ The Bela Sessions, and Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures. He recognized some of the band names but didn’t know any of the recordings. How had Henry known these bands and which albums to buy, he had no idea.
Henry turned and saw his expression. “Mom gave me some money to buy these.” It wasn’t what he was thinking, but he nodded as if it were.
Henry took the bag and receipt and followed Thomas out the door. They headed down the sidewalk of the small downtown area. As they neared the next intersection, Henry broke the silence between them.
“You want to get an ice cream,” said Henry, pointing at the ice cream parlor on the corner.
“Sure.”
Thomas followed Henry to a small bistro table at the storefront where they could watch people strolling by. Henry lay the albums on the table, and they sat back with their cones.
“Do you have any homework to do this afternoon?” said Henry.
“No, I got it done yesterday.”
“You want to come to my room and listen to these?”
“Sure.”
Henry smiled, then looked out the window. Thomas found himself smiling too, wondering if Ji-Hoon, Henry’s roommate, would be there. He knew Ji-Hoon was in some computer programing curriculum that had him on campus in some computer lab at all hours of the day and night. If he was lucky, Ji-Hoon would be gone.
“She’s Lost Control” was playing, one of the last songs on Unknown Pleasures, and Thomas saw Henry was pleased with the purchase, just as he had been with the Ride album. He lay across Henry’s bed, legs turned up against the wall. Henry was sitting on the floor, back resting against the bed. There was less than a foot between them. Henry had a mole on his neck just below the left ear. Henry’s hairline was perfect, the way it arched over the ear and down the back of the head and straight across the neck. Henry had broader shoulders than first realized. If he gained twenty pounds, he would be a big masculine guy. But it was Henry, and the lean build fit him.
“Thomas?”
“Yes, Henry?”
“What did Charlie and you talk about last night?”
Yeah, Thomas, what did you and Charlie talk about. What if he told Henry. Just put it out there that Charlie was curious about sex with another guy and they did it. Would it be too much for him. Would he be asked to leave with Henry avoiding him from now on. Henry was friendly with Dylan, so he wasn’t a bigot.
“We…”
“Did you guys mess around?” Henry’s voice broke a little, showing how nervous he was in asking.
Thomas felt cornered, but he looked at Henry and realized it wasn’t like that. “Yes. He was curious what it was like and…”
How to say he had been willing. Or admit he was gay, and it was his first time.
“Are you gay?” said Henry.
“Yes,” Thomas uttered. He was looking at the albums on the floor next to Henry, then he looked up and saw Henry was staring at him. “Are you?” he asked, really needing to know.
“Yes.”
“Why have you kept it a secret?”
“I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret. I just…didn’t think anyone would care.”
“What?”
“I know I’m not like most guys, into sports or—”
“And you think I am? What about Garcia and Ian. They’re straight and disparage football all the time, calling it a stupid game.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Henry replied, smiling.
“I think we all feel different from others in some way. Not normal when the whole concept of what constitutes normal is bullshit.” Thomas rarely used profanity, and it caused Henry to look at him with a grin. “Look at Charlie. Mr. Social, a flirt with the girls, and yet, completely kills the notion of a straight male with eyes only for the opposite sex.”
Henry took the album off the turntable and gently slipped it back into its sleeve then into the album cover. Thomas noticed he picked up the Incubus album and put it on the turntable. Another genre of music, completely different from Joy Division. Henry sat back and all through the first song they were silent.
The second song came on and Thomas was desperate for something to happen. He felt his heart race and he inched his right hand closer to Henry wanting to touch him. Come on Henry, tell me you want to do something, he thought, trying to will him into action. But Henry was shy too and he knew if anything happened, it would have to be him to initiate it. He would have to build up his confidence and do it. He would have to be like Mr. Social for just a few seconds, and he would know if Henry was willing. People like Charlie, if rejected, would have hurt feelings, but would move on. People like him feared rejection so much, they didn’t put themselves in a position to get rejected very often. He reached out and touched the mole on the neck.
Henry jerked away, then turned to him with a surprised look.
“Did you know you have a mole on your neck?” said Thomas, giving excuse to his touch.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry I touched you.”
Henry tilted his head down. “Thomas…I wanted you to touch me. It’s just…I didn’t think you would do it.”
“Why?”
“We’re so different, you and I.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Really?”
“No,” Thomas replied then he daringly, boldly, leaned toward Henry until only inches were between their faces. “Will you kiss me?”
They kissed and kissed again. Then Thomas guided Henry to get on the bed with him. He lay on his back and Henry knee walked over his legs and stopped. For a second neither moved. Then Thomas sat up and pulled his T-shirt off, tossing it to the floor. With Henry watching him, he undid his jeans and raised his ass, pushing jeans and boxers down as far as he could. He exposed himself to Henry, let him see his skinny torso and flaccid cock. Henry smiled, then tugged his own T-shirt off revealing the long lean torso. Thomas watched him undo jeans then awkwardly work boxers and jeans down the long legs, until slipping each foot free.
“Take mine off,” said Thomas, holding his legs up.
Henry took the hem of each leg and pulled the jeans off. Then he slid the boxers off and dropped them to the floor. He leaned down and ran his hands up the legs.
Thomas shivered with the feel of the hands as they lightly moved along each leg, then he watched with anticipation as the hands touched his cock. One fondled it making him start to get erect, the other toyed with his nuts, tugged on the sack until they were tight in the bottom of it, and Henry leaned down and licked them.
“Fuck,” Thomas exclaimed.
Henry licked his nuts, took one into the mouth, then released it and moved to the base of his cock, kissing and licking the growing length of it. Henry took his cock in the mouth and pushed down then back up, over and over, until Thomas felt his arousal grow to the point he wanted to cum.
“Henry; not yet,” Thomas exclaimed, pushing Henry to release his cock. “My turn,” he added as he guided Henry to lay next to him. He leaned over and kissed the left nipple. He tongued it as Charlie had done to him, flicking it across the hardening nub, then he lightly bit down on it making Henry shudder.
Thomas kissed across the chest, then down moving around the navel feeling its undulation against his lips. He moved further down kissing the abdomen, then moved over the pubic hair, dragging his nose through it until the cock was against his cheek. He turned to it, put his mouth over the arrow shaped head and pushed down as far as he could. Henry grew erect, and his cock was impossibly long, longer than Charlie, and Thomas could take most of it, but not all. But what he could take, he worked his mouth on until Henry was pushing upward. He knew Henry was close and he kept up his manipulation, for he wanted Henry to come. To come in his mouth. He tightened his lips around the cock and worked them up and down as fast as he could.
“Thomas!” Henry cried out, then shoved upward.
Cum hit the back of his throat nearly choking him, then wad after wad filled his mouth. He captured it, held every drop before he swallowed.
Henry was breathing hard, and his cock remained erect as Thomas nursed it, licked over the sensitive head, then down the wet shaft. He knew Henry was ready for their sex to continue and he got to his knees and moved over him. He eased his ass down on the cock, then rocked back and forth, feeling the wet cock slide along his ass. It aroused him, made him want it, the feel of Henry’s cock touching him there. Henry pushed upward and he bore down on the cock increasing their pleasure.
Thomas knew Henry was primed. Ready for whatever he wanted, and what he wanted was Henry’s cock boring into his depths. He rose and took the cock in hand, holding it up. He eased down until it was touching his ass.
“Let me do it, okay?” said Thomas.
Henry nodded, watching him wide eyed and wanting.
He eased down, let his body weight carry him, feeling Henry’s cock stretch the tightness of his ass. He shivered with the initial penetration, and he moved down slowly, taking an inch, then another until finally he had almost all of it. He held still for a moment watching Henry reach out, raking fingers up his right thigh, then over to his cock. The fingers just touched him at first, working along its length then toyed with the head. Then they closed around it and roughly stroked it. It pushed his arousal, and he began to move, up, down, over and over, working his ass on Henry’s cock. He built up his pace, moved until in the steady rhythm of a fuck. As he worked his ass on Henry’s cock, he went down further and further until coming down on the hips.
“Jesus,” Henry exclaimed.
Thomas kept up his pace, working his ass on that long cock until he felt feverish. Sweat trickled down his face, then down his chest and back. He closed his eyes focusing on the fullness of the penetration, then he stared down at Henry, seeing the lust and desire, eyes glassed over and mouth hanging open.
He wanted to move faster, to work his ass on Henry’s cock harder. He leaned back until resting on his hands, and worked his ass up and down faster and faster until smacking down on Henry’s hips.
“Fuck. Thomas. I’m going—”
Thomas slammed his ass down on the rising hips, as Henry shoved upward. As he ground his ass down on the cock, he felt Henry pushing upward as if it were possible to shove deeper into him. He watched Henry shudder and jerk, knowing the cock in inside him was erupting with wad after wad of cum.
Then it was over, but it wasn’t. Thomas was on his knees between the long legs stroking his cock keeping it hard. He looked up the long torso until staring into the green eyes. He saw Henry wasn’t finished, and he smiled as the long legs rose for him to take them.
“Do me. Do me, Thomas.”
Thomas let the legs rest on his shoulders, and he moved forward until his cock could touch the ass, rake across it, slap it, making him so aroused he wanted to cum. He put it to the tight opening and pushed.
The tightness was impossible. It squeezed down on his cock making him shiver. He wondered if he should pull back, give Henry more time to adjust, but he felt a push and saw the ass take another inch of his thick cock. Another inch of himself inside Henry.
“Fuck. Fuck me. Fuck me, Thomas.”
Thomas began to fuck. To work his cock through the tightness until it loosened to his penetration, then he fucked faster, slamming his hips against the ass. He slid his hands down the legs until behind the knees and he folded Henry, brought the legs down against the chest raising the ass perfectly for his fuck. He bore down on the legs and fucked. Fucked with every inch of his cock. He pulled out, then pushed back in. He fucked with a hard rhythm, hips smacking down on the upturned ass. And all the while, Henry begged him to keep going. To fuck him harder.
Thomas fucked. Fucked until his muscles burned, and he kept fucking. His body undulated in that primitive way, pushing for release. He opened his eyes and looked down at Henry. He had lusted after him, and now…finally…he had him. Connected in a fuck, hard, physical, hips smacking down on ass pushing the two the of them to the breaking point. Then he thought of Henry in more intimate terms and leaned down and kissed him as he pumped his cock into Henry’s depths. Hands held his ass, squeezing and pulling him to keep fucking. He rose up and looked down at him.
“Henry,” he exclaimed, then shoved inward all the way and shuddered with his release. He jammed his hips against the ass with every ejaculation until finally spent. Then he rolled to Henry’s side gasping for breath.
“That was…” uttered Henry.
“Yeah…” Thomas replied.
A New Beginning
Thomas sat next to Henry with Charlie on the opposite side of the table. They were at the White Lotus, a Thai restaurant on the edge of downtown, with a patio in the space between its building and the used bookstore. They were at the back of the patio under the shade of a maple and shielded from view of the sidewalk and street by a Japanese maple, its leaves a vivid red. A waiter brought their drinks, then moved to a nearby table to take their order.
Thomas had come out of Henry’s room first, the two of them planning on just going for a sandwich in the cafeteria when Charlie strolled up, inviting them to lunch. Despite over a week passing since the first time Charlie caught him coming out of Henry’s room, the Sunday morning after their first night together, he had not said anything about it. Maybe he was going to let it go but looking across the table at the grinning Mr. Social, he doubted it.
Henry’s hand came to rest on his leg, and he smiled, comforted by the connection, then he looked up to see Charlie smiling, then laughing.
“I knew it,” said Charlie.
“Do you have something to say about it?” said Thomas.
“It’s about time,” said Charlie.
“Really?” said Thomas.
“Look, it was obvious for days that you were gay and so was Henry, and the way Henry looked at you.”
“Hey,” said Henry, shaking his head, not in disagreement but in being called out.
“But it’s true and I don’t know how long you two would have circled each other if Thomas hadn’t gotten a little push. I’m just curious. Is this serious? Do you think you guys will make this work?”
“I hope so,” said Henry.
“Yes,” said Thomas, suddenly not so shy in expressing himself. He smiled at Henry, then turned back to Charlie. “Did you have sex with me just to push me to be more open about being gay?”
“No. It was just a side benefit of doing so. I really did want to know what it was like.”
“And now you can go back to girls,” said Henry.
“Yes. I think so,” said Charlie.
“Charlie?” said Thomas.
“Thomas. Right now, I want to be with girls, but I’m not ruling out the other,” said Charlie, then he leaned in looking at Thomas. “If I find my Henry, maybe I’ll reconsider.”
