Summer Vacation

Written By: Mel

Please Note: This is a sequel to ‘The Deepest Cut of All’ and is a WIP


The stream of sunlight falling on his face woke Danny from his deep slumber. He felt the familiar comfort of his lover’s arm draped across him. Paul was a cuddly sleeper and it had taken Danny sometime to get use to being held while he slept. He had always tossed and turned a lot during the night, and would often wake with the sheets tangled around himself or thrown off all together. However there was something comforting about having your lover wrap himself around you, something so reassuring about lying in Paul’s strong arms, that he soon came to enjoy the confinement.

Danny was too excited today to spend anytime lying in bed, enjoying his lover’s presence. He was anxious to get this day started, he and Paul along with their best friends Bobby and Dave would be leaving this morning for two glorious weeks of vacation. Bobby’s parents had given them the use of their cabin up in Muskoka for the last two weeks of August. It promised to be a relaxing and carefree time for the men. It would be good to get the two-workaholic doctors away from their patients and see them unwind.

Danny tried to roll over and slip out from under Paul’s arm, but it seemed his lover had other ideas. He quickly found himself being dragged back into Paul’s embrace.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Paul asked. His voice was heavy with sleep, but that sexy British accent still managed to give Danny a little shiver of excitement. Danny always swore that Paul’s voice was a beautiful blend, falling somewhere between that of Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery. “We are on vacation, sweetheart, there is no need to jump out of bed so early.” He lowered his lips onto his Brat’s and felt Danny melt beneath him.

Forty minutes later, the ringing phone awakened the slumbering lovers. Danny’s head popped up, he looked in surprise at the time and tried to climb out of bed. Paul fumbled for the receiver and grumbled out. “Hello?”

He was greeted by Bobby’s exuberant voice. “Hey Paul! You guys almost ready to go?”

Before he could formulate a response he heard Bobby yelp. “Oww!” and the sound of Bobby’s partner Dave could be heard in the background. “Didn’t I tell you not to bother them so early?” Dave came on the line. “Sorry, Paul, a certain young man here is pushing his luck this morning. He was told to wait until 8:30 before calling you.”

Paul chuckled. “It’s alright, David. I can understand his enthusiasm.” At this point the only thing holding Danny in the bed was Paul’s strong arm wrapped around his waist. “I’ve got a similar problem on my hands.”

Danny who was squirming in Paul’s arms, decided to try tickling Paul to get him to release his grasp, but soon found the tables turned and his partner was tickling him mercilessly. “Uncle…uncle” he squealed, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

“Hold on a second would you David?” Paul asked as he put the phone down on the bed and pulled Danny in close. He kissed him deeply, then gave a light swat to Danny’s bottom and said. “Hit the shower, Brat, we need to get a move on here.”

Danny was still breathless from the laughter and the kiss. “Tell Dave and Bobby to hurry, we don’t want to be late leaving!” he called out as he moved toward the bathroom.

Paul smiled to himself as he watched Danny’s tight little butt walking away from him. “Sorry about that, David. What’s your E.T.A. for this morning?”

“Bobby and I should be ready and waiting for you by ten AM. Does that sound good to you?” Dave replied.

“Sounds fine, we got everything except the perishable foods packed into the truck last night. So it will not take us long to get ready. We’ll see you by ten.”

Paul yawned and stretched as he got up from the bed. He was really looking forward to this vacation two wonderful weeks away with his lover and their friends, at a beautiful remote cabin. He smiled ruefully as he remembered his last visit to the cabin. They had gone in search of Dave’s runaway Brat. Bobby had injured himself on the job and had runaway with the misguided idea of saving Dave from disappointment. It had been an awful time for both Bobby and Dave, and the two were finally working through their problems. Bobby had been grounded from driving since the incident, three months earlier. Paul knew that the young man was desperately looking forward to retrieving his car from the cabin, where they had left it after bringing Bobby home.

Paul entered the master bathroom, his glasses immediately fogging up from the steam emanating from the shower. “Daniel!” he called out as he reached into the shower enclosure and adjusted the taps. “How many times have I told you not to have the shower so hot? It dries out your skin.” He gave his lover’s wet bottom a firm swat.

“I’m sorry, Paul.” Danny said as he jumped back from the older man’s reach. “It just feels so good.”

“It might feel good while it’s pouring over you.” Paul replied as he placed his glasses onto the counter and climbed into the shower to join his lover. “But it leaves your skin dry and itchy.” He pulled Danny out from under the spray, picked up the bottle of shampoo and poured a generous amount into his hand and gently washed his lover’s sopping hair. “And you, Brat that you are, scratch yourself until you bleed. And how do I feel about diabetics with open sores?”

Danny sighed as he quoted his partner mimicking Paul’s English accent. “You don’t like it, because open sores lead to infection, and diabetics are more susceptible to infection. And we don’t heal as well.”

Paul couldn’t help but laugh at the imitation. “Your accent’s improving,” he said as he gave his lover’s bottom a pinch. Danny jumped away, but Paul pulled him back and continued to wash the pale flaxen hair.

Paul loved to wash Danny’s soft hair, and of course Danny loved it too, he practically purred to the gentle massage. Danny was such a tactile creature, he responded so well to Paul’s touch. Whether it was the sensuous caress of lips to lips or a firmly applied hand to bottom, it never took much to get reaction from the younger man.

The two men finished up their shower, quickly dried off and returned to their room to dress. Ever prepared, Paul had laid out their clothes the night before. Danny frowned as he picked up the long pants and long sleeved shirt Paul had selected for him.

“You are kidding?” he asked, holding the garments in front of himself.

“Is there a problem, love?” he asked, knowing full well what Danny was complaining about.

“Long sleeves and pants!” he exclaimed. “It’s August, remember? Hot weather, sunshine, time for t-shirts and shorts.”

Paul smiled. “First of all, they are light weight cotton and will breathe very well. Secondly, we will be traveling for nearly two hours in an air-conditioned vehicle. So I hardly think you’ll get over heated. And finally, we will be unloading the truck on arrival and the mosquitoes will certainly love your unprotected skin.”

“The mosquitoes will be there the whole time we are! Do you expect me to dress like this all the time?”

“No, sweetheart, I don’t expect you to dress like that all the time, however when we are there you will have the time to put repellant on all your exposed skin before you go outside. That would be too difficult to do in the truck.”

Danny whined. “Paul, I’ll die from the heat!”

“I’m a Doctor I can revive you and if I can’t, I’ll make sure you have a nice funeral,” he replied with a grin.

“Not funny!” Danny shouted, as he threw the clothes down is disgust. “And I’m not wearing these.” He stormed over to the closet with the intention of seeking out more desirable clothing. Paul moved faster and grabbed his still-naked lover by the waist. Before he knew what was happening, Danny found himself face down over Paul’s bent knee, receiving a half dozen hard swats to his vulnerable bottom.

“Oww! No, Paul…stop!” he cried out.

“You do not speak to me in that manner, young man. Do you hear me?” He punctuated the question with two more swats before returning Danny to his feet.

Danny’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I’m sorry,” he sniffled.

Paul pulled him into a hug. “It’s alright. Now tell me, do you think that there was a better way for you to handle that?”

“I…I should have talked to you calmly and explained my feelings.”

“And if I still told you no, what should you do?” Paul asked.

“Do as I’m told, because you’re the one in charge and I gave you that authority over me when we started using discipline in our relationship,” Danny recited.

Paul shook his head. “Danny, this isn’t something to be memorized and recited. You should feel it and believe it. We’ve discussed this before and I’m willing to do so as often as you need it. Do you want discipline to be a part of our relationship?”

Danny nodded slowly. “Yes, you know I do. I just…well you know. Sometimes it’s hard.”

“I know, sweetheart, and I don’t expect you to be perfect. Just try and be more respectful and listen, okay?” Paul requested.

“I will, Paul, but please can’t I wear shorts and a tee?” He looked pleadingly at his partner.

“No, honey, I don’t want to take extra risks with mosquitoes. Scratching, itchy bites lead to the same kind of damage as scratching dry skin. I know it’s impossible to avoid all the mosquitoes that far north, but I’m determined you’ll avoid as many as possible. And for those that do get you I have packed the anti-itch cream.” Paul smiled at his young Brat. “Now let’s get moving here, before Dave and Bobby start wondering where we are.”

Although resigned to doing as his partner said, Danny still felt a little resentful of the required clothing. The two lovers quickly dressed, Paul wearing similar clothing to his Brat’s. The pair efficiently got the bed made and room tidy. Paul ensured all the upstairs windows were closed and locked, before they headed down stairs to for breakfast and to finish the final packing.

Danny had become quite efficient at his morning routine and had his blood glucose checked and insulin taken before Paul had a chance to remind him. Although Paul was still unable to stop himself from checking the readout on the glucometer before Danny shut it off. Satisfied with the numbers on the machine; Paul laid out a quick but nutritious breakfast. As they ate he couldn’t help but smile at how fidgety his young partner was, Danny was wolfing down his food in an effort to get going faster.

“Daniel, slow down! You’ll only end up with an upset stomach eating that quickly,” he admonished.

Danny was too excited to be effected by Paul’s chastising of him. “Come on Paul, don’t you wanna get going?” he asked while shoveling another spoonful into his mouth.

As Danny was preparing the next spoonful, Paul reached over and took hold of his wrist. He turned the wrist gently so that the watch face was turn towards its owner, effectively dumping the contents of the spoon back into the bowl. “Time please?” he asked.

Sighing deeply, Danny looked at his watch. “Nine o-five.”

“Danny, we have only to clear up from our breakfast, load the perishable foods into the coolers, and put them and ourselves into the truck. You were the one who worked so hard at getting everything else loaded last evening, while I was finishing up at the office. Now relax, sweetheart. We don’t have to be at David and Bobby’s until ten o’clock. You have time to finish your breakfast in a calm manner and still get all the other things done and be there in plenty of time. Okay?”

“Okay, Paul,” he mumbled as he continued to eat his breakfast in a somewhat more subdued manner.

Within short order the two men had their chores completed and were in the garage, placing the last cooler into the truck. Paul shook his head in wonder. “It’s going to be a real squeeze to get all of Dave and Bobby’s gear in here as well. Are you sure we need everything you packed here?” he asked as he poked through one large carton that appeared to be filled with nothing but inflatable beach toys and rafts. “Daniel, there must be four rafts in here and I don’t know how many beach balls.” He poked further around in the truck. “Volleyball net and ball, fishing gear, croquet set, beach chairs, pool noodles, boom box, and CD’s. You cannot possibly expect to need all of this.”

“The rafts are all different types and besides which, what if one gets a leak then we wouldn’t have enough. We need the sports equipment. Oh heck, Paul, we need everything here. Don’t worry; we’ll get it all in. Bobby and I can fit a lot of stuff around us in the back seat, too,” Danny spouted enthusiastically.

Paul shook his head and smiled. “Alright Brat, I don’t want to put a crimp in your vacation joy, but if we cannot get everything David and Bobby bring into the truck, we’re leaving you behind.”

Danny laughed as they closed the tailgate. “You’d miss me.”

Paul reached out and grabbed his young partner around the waist, and pulled him close. “Babe, I couldn’t imagine taking a vacation without you ever again.” He leaned over and kissed him deeply.

Ten minutes later they pulled into the driveway of the Brooks residence. Bobby was placing a large suitcase in front of a pile of other bags, cases and boxes. Danny winced at the size of the pile, Paul had been right this was going to be quite a squeeze. Danny leaped from the truck as soon as it came to a halt.

“Hey Bob-man, you guys got enough stuff here?” he called out as approached the huge pile.

“Shhh, quiet, Danny,” Bobby whispered. “Dave’s already on my case about how much stuff I packed. You don’t need to be adding fuel to his fire.”

Paul was close enough to hear the exchange between the two Brats. “Don’t worry, Bobby, you’re in good company. Daniel here has packed equally as much if not more than you have. And from the looks of things, you’re both going to have to give up some of your extras.”

“Extras!” they cried out in unison.

“Paul, I didn’t pack extras. Everything I brought was a necessity!” Danny exclaimed.

“That goes for me too!” Bobby added just as enthusiastically.

Dave came out of the house carrying one last bag. He took in the stack of baggage and the discussion going on between the men and knew they were going to have a problem with their over-packing Brats.

“Hi guys!” He called to Paul and Danny. Then looking at his own lover he admonished. “Bobby, didn’t I tell you to cut back on some of this stuff.”

Bobby turned toward Dave. “I already did cut back, we need all these things.”

Paul shook his head. “Boys, the laws of physics apply here, you cannot fit six cubic meters of volume into four cubic meters of space. Some of each of your stuff has to go.”

Danny looked indignantly at his partner. “Why ‘our’ stuff?” he asked. “Shouldn’t some of your stuff have to go too?”

“Daniel, I have packed one suitcase full of clothing, toilet articles and sundries, plus a small bag with books and medical journals. Beyond that there is only the food and bag of beach towels that we both are making use of. You on the other hand have a large volume of amusements and comfort items, that you will have to pare down. And I believe the same likely applies to young Robert here.”

Dave was quick to agree with his friend. “My packing list is just about identical to Paul’s, the only thing extra that I have is that small lumbar pillow for my back and since I will use it in the car, it won’t be taking up any extra space. However you, my boy,” he said, looking at Bobby and then pointing at the stack of bags, “seem to have just a few things more.”

Both the younger men frown and looked to each other. Danny spoke first. “Man you’re just gonna have to get rid of some of this junk, cause mines already packed.”

Bobby looked outraged. “My stuff isn’t junk! And I need it all; you get rid of your crap!”

“Crap!” Danny shouted.

Before the disagreement could escalate, the two Tops each took hold of their own Brat and delivered a firm swat to the seats of their trousers.

Paul spoke up. “That will be quite enough of that,” he said firmly. “You will both cooperate or we will not be leaving for this vacation. Daniel, I expect better behavior than this. We will unload the truck and sort through our belongings and you will decide on what you can leave behind or I will make that decision for you and you may not like my choices. Do I make myself clear here?”

Looking properly chastened, Danny replied. “Yes, sir.”

“The same goes for you, young man,” Dave said to his young partner.

Within short order the four men had everything laid out on the driveway in two distinct piles, one of necessities and the other luxuries. After some quickly-ended bickering, each Brat had given up an equal share of their luxury items, which were then locked up into the garage. Then everything else was loaded carefully into the truck.

By the time they were done it had gotten quite warm and Danny was whipping perspiration from his brow.

Bobby seemed to notice for the first time how his friend was dressed. “Danny man, what’s with the long sleeves and pants? You expecting a cold spell?”

Danny tipped his head towards his partner and replied. “You know who is afraid of mosquitoes,” he whispered.

“Afraid of mosquitoes?” Bobby laughed loudly enough to be heard by the older men.

Danny looked indignantly at his partner. “See Paul, Bobby thinks I’m over-dressed too!”

Paul gave Danny a look that caused his partner to wilt. “Daniel, haven’t we already had this discussion? Do we need to talk about it again?”

Danny knew from the look on Paul’s face that there was no sense in arguing. “No, sir,” he answered sullenly.

The four men piled into the heavily loaded truck and pulled out of the driveway, the two Brats in the back seat sorting through the CD’s trying to pick out the music they wanted to listen to. It had been agreed that the younger men could pick the first CD and from there they would alternate choices until their arrival.

Bobby pulled a disc out and showed it to his friend with a smirk. “How about this one? It’ll drive them nuts,” he laughed.

Danny whispered, “You know they both hate rap. You sure you want to pick this?”

“Why not? They said we could have the first pick and we both like Eminem.” Bobby leaned forward handing the disc to Dave. “Dave, we picked this one. Will you put it in for us please?”

Without bothering to look at the title, Dave popped the CD into the player. Within seconds the first of the rap music came over the speakers. Dave and Paul both turned to look at the two smiling Brats. Paul frowning even more than Dave, but before they could speak Bobby injected. “You said we could pick what we wanted.”

As Paul was about to respond, four letter expletives began to play over the car’s stereo system. Dave immediately reached over and ejected the offensive disc.

“Who is the owner of this trash?” he inquired holding the disc up to view.

Bobby looked a little sheepish. “It’s mine,” he responded.

Without further hesitation, Dave snapped the disc in half. “Not anymore it isn’t. I can barely tolerate your wanting to listen to rap-crap, but I will not tolerate the disgusting language I just heard. Would I put up with you talking like that?”

“Dave that disc cost me $17. You had no right to break it!” Bobby said indignantly.

“If that’s how you’re spending your money, young man, I’m going to have to start monitoring your purchases. This is totally inappropriate! What would make you want to listen to such garbage?”

“It’s not garbage; it’s music and I like it. Danny does too!” Bobby shouted.

Dave looked into the eyes of his partner and spoke in a soft, yet serious voice. “Lower your voice immediately, young man. I will not be spoken to in such a disrespectful manner.”

Bobby continued to shout. “You’re just being mean! And in the language of that song, fuck you!” He regretted the words the very second they came out of his mouth, but didn’t know how to take them back.

Danny looked in shock at his best friend. Dave and Paul exchanged looks, Paul slowed the truck and did a three-point turn on the road only two blocks away from their starting point and headed back to the Brooks house.

Realizing what was happening Bobby began to recant. “Dave, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. Please, don’t be mad,” he pleaded.

Dave held his temper. “Be quiet, Bobby. We’ll discuss this at home.”

“No, Dave, please, I’m sorry! We don’t need to go back home.” Bobby looked to his partner with tears welling in his eyes.

“I asked you to be quiet, Bobby. I meant it! Not another word until we are home,” Dave replied.

Bobby wrapped his arms around himself and stared out the window of the car until they pulled into the driveway. Dave got out first and opened Bobby’s door. When Bobby didn’t move, he reached over and undid his seat belt and took his arm, pulling his unresisting partner from the truck. Dave lead Bobby up the front steps of the house, unlocked the door and quick marched him into the den.

Not feeling the need to provide the comfort of the couch, Dave pulled a straight back chair out and sat on it. He pulled his Brat between his legs and holding him there, he reached up, undid his pants and lowered them along with the boxers down to Bobby’s knees.

“Please, Dave, I’m sorry!” Bobby pleaded again as he found himself staring at the carpet.

“Why are you being spanked, Bobby?” Dave asked.

“I’m sorry, Dave, I didn’t mean it…”

“Bobby, I asked you why are you being spanked?” he repeated.

“Because I swore at you and spoke disrespectfully,” Bobby replied knowing that Dave would keep him in this position until he gave the right answer.

Not wanting to hold up the proceedings any longer Dave raised his hand and delivered twenty sharp smacks to his partner’s bottom. By the time he was done, Bobby was sobbing freely. He pulled his young lover up into his arms, watchful of the tender behind and softly rubbed his back until Bobby regained his composure.

“I’m so sorry, Dave. I’ve ruined the start of our vacation,” he sniveled into Dave’s shoulder.

“No, baby, you haven’t ruined anything. It’s over now, finished and forgotten. Okay?” Dave continued to rub Bobby’s back. “Shall we get ourselves together and head out again?” He pulled himself and Bobby up from the chair and led his lover to the washroom. “Give your face a wash and we’ll to back out to the car.”

Within minutes they were climbing back into Paul’s S.U.V. Bobby gave Danny a half smile that his friend quickly returned.

The remainder of the journey to the cottage was uneventful. The moment they arrived, Bobby jumped from the truck and ran to his abandoned car. His car had been sitting there since May when he had run away from home after injuring himself in his workshop. He had taken refuse at his parent’s empty cabin and when Dave, Paul and Danny found him there, they took the injured Bobby back home in Paul’s SUV. Part of Bobby’s punishment for the debacle had been losing his driving privileges for the summer, so his car had remained where he’d left it all those months ago. Bobby was so grateful to see his car was still intact after sitting at the cabin all that time that he actually kissed the hood.

Danny laughed as he teased his friend, “Man, you really missed the car that much? You better watch it or Dave might get jealous.”

“Yeah, well, I missed her a lot. You know it’s hard not to have a car when you’re used to driving where ever you need or want,” he quipped, but then instantly regretted his words. Danny hadn’t been allowed to drive for months after he was first diagnosed with diabetes; his condition was difficult to stabilize and he had had dizzy spells. He had only just been able to regain his driving privileges a short while before. “Sorry, man, I forgot,” he said quietly to his friend.

“It’s okay,” Danny replied. “I understand.”

Dave called to the boys. “Come on, guys, lets get this truck unpacked and we can start having fun. That is if you’re through making out with your car, Bobby,” he teased.

The two Brats laughed and ran back to help with the work.

The dreaded unloading of the truck, and putting away of their belongings went well. The beautiful century old log cabin was fully modernized for convenience, but still maintained its old rustic charm. There were four good sized bedrooms each equipped with large comfy beds, a well-appointed bathroom, the great room with attached-kitchen, had huge windows right across the front with a spectacular view of the lake and a screened in deck. On the Deck were a large patio set and a six-person hot tub.

Bobby and Danny were in the kitchen fixing some lunch for the group. Paul was in the great room admiring the view of the lake, when he noticed in the reflection of the glass that Dave was coming up behind him surreptitiously rubbing at his lower back. Without turning he asked, “Is the pain bad today?”

“How do you always know?” he said with a grimace and shake of the head. “It’s really not too bad, just aching from the long trip and carrying so much baggage.”

“Have you taken anything?” Paul inquired.

“Just Advil.” Dave responded quietly, knowing how that would go over.

But Paul just looked at him over the top of his glasses. “Is that enough?”

“The Flexeril makes me drowsy and it’s not that bad right now. Okay?”

Dave had injured his back playing college football, despite repeated physiotherapy and the ongoing care of his personal physician, who was staring at him right now over the rim of his glasses, Dave still suffered bouts of pain and muscular spasm.

Paul decided it wasn’t worth arguing about yet. “Why don’t you try out the hot tub later, it might help.”

Dave smiled. “Sounds like a good idea.”

In the kitchen Bobby and Danny had fixed a plate heaping with sandwiches and had filled three glasses with iced tea and lemon and a fourth with Diet Pepsi for Danny. They carried them on trays through the great room to the sliding doors that lead to the deck beyond.

“Come on, guys, let’s eat!” Danny called out enthusiastically.

“Yeah, let’s get this done so we can go swimming,” Bobby agreed.

“You have to wait a while after you eat, before you can go in swimming,” Paul cautioned.

“Oh, come on, Paul. That’s an old wives tale,” Danny moaned.

Paul gave his lover a serious look. “It is a healthy and reasonable precaution that you will follow.”

Both of the younger men sighed knowing that an argument would get them no where.

A brilliant thought came to Bobby’s mind. “How about we go out in the boat after lunch? We could tour around the lake.”

Danny smiled. “Yeah, that sounds like a great idea! We could all go for a ride. I’d love to see some of the other places around here.”

Paul nodded his head in agreement. “Excellent thought, Bobby. Something we’d all enjoy.” However, his enthusiasm for the idea came to a sudden halt when he heard the soft moan from Dave. Turning to look at him, Paul realized that his friend and former lover was in a lot more a pain than he had previously admitted. “David, that back of yours is giving grief, isn’t it?”

Dave plastered a smile on his face and decided to lie through his teeth. “No, I’m perfectly fine and a boat ride sounds like fun.”

Displeased with Dave’s deception but not wanting to call him on it in front of their partners, Paul formulated a plan. “After we finish, why don’t Dave and I go down to the dock and get the boat ready to go, while you boys clean up the dishes. Then Dave and I will take care of the dinner and clean up, while you two go swimming. Sound fair?”

The two Brats agreed enthusiastically and the group quickly finished their lunch.

Paul took the boat keys from the kitchen cabinet and they walked down to the dock, Dave could feel the spasms in his back getting worse, but there was no way in hell he was going to let on to Paul. He knew Paul would have him doped up and on restricted activity if he was aware of the situation. Besides he thought, if he took the muscle relaxants at bedtime and made liberal use of the hot tub he’d be just fine.

The boat was an old 1940’s cedar strip model with an inboard motor. Bobby’s stepfather had lovingly restored it to its original beauty and it was his pride and joy. When they reached it Paul easily climbed in and sat at the helm watching as Dave carefully lowered himself inside. As soon as Dave was in, Paul turned to check the gages.

“Looks like we’re low on fuel. Is there a marina near by?” Paul asked knowing full well there were no marinas on this lake. The gas for the boat had to be brought in from the outside, in containers that were stored behind the garage.

“No,” Dave answered, and explained the gas situation.

“Oh yes, I remember now. Bobby mentioned it when we were discussing this trip,” Dave said smilingly. “Be a good fellow would you and bring down one of those petrol cans, so we can fuel her up and be on our way.” He knew that Dave would find climbing back out of the boat, trudging up the hill to the garage, and then carrying back a full can of gasoline, to be impossible with the pain he was currently in.

Dave attempted to come up with a plausible excuse to have Paul get the gas, but knew in his heart he was being set up. He looked at his friend’s intense blue eyes and finally sighed. “You know damn fine I can’t manage that right now, don’t you?”

Paul was unwilling to let Dave off quite so fast. “Whatever do you mean, old man?” he asked sweetly.

“My damn back, that’s what I mean and you bloody well know it, too!"

Giving Dave a look he knew only too well, Paul responded, “And I don’t appreciate being lied to. I’ve half a mind to turn you over my knee right here. About the only thing stopping me is the fact that your back couldn’t tolerate that position.”

“So then let me sit here and rest my back while you get the gas, huh?” he suggested, hoping that Paul would go along with him.

“David, you’re obviously in a great deal of pain. Now let’s get you back up to the cabin where you will take the Flexeril and some Tylenol 3. I’ll give you a massage and you will get some rest.” He moved over to Dave, holding out his arm to give his friend a hand out of the boat.

However, Dave had other plans. “The boys want to go boating and I’m not about to disappoint them. My back will be fine, this is hardly a life threatening condition, Doctor, and I will survive a few muscle spasms.”

Paul sat down on the bench seat beside him. “The boys can manage to wait for the boat ride until tomorrow when we get these spasms settled. You however cannot wait to receive treatment you know that the pain will only get worse with the buffeting your body would take in the boat. Now stop giving me grief, young man, and do as you’re told.”

Dave sat momentarily considering arguing further with Paul, but knew it would be a waste of energy. He knew that Paul was right, the boat ride would play havoc on his back. He might just as well give in and let his friend treat him.

“You win,” he sighed. “Let’s go.” He reached for Paul’s arm and allowed his friend to assist him out of the boat and back up to the cottage.

Bobby and Danny were just coming out the door as Dave and Paul arrived. Paul was supporting Dave as he walked and handed the boat keys to Danny. “Put these away for me, honey. We won’t be going boating today.”

Danny took the keys looking very disappointed. “How come?” he asked.

Paul had no time to answer as Bobby took in the pained expression on his lover’s face and the hesitant manner in which he was walking.

“Dave, is it your back again?” he interrupted.

“Yes, honey, I’m afraid it is.” Dave looked sadly towards his partner. “We’re going to have to put off the boat ride for now.”

“Oh, of course we will. Let me help you,” Bobby replied sympathetically. They led Dave down the hall towards the bedroom he and Bobby were staying in, and Bobby helped him strip down to his shorts as Paul went to retrieve his medication.

Dave dutifully swallowed the pills Paul handed to him and smiled up at his lover from the bed. “Bobby, I’m just going to get some rest. Why don’t you and Danny do something to amuse yourselves? You could shoot some hoops or toss the Frisbee or something. Then you can go for a swim in a little while. Okay?”

Bobby didn’t want to leave his lover in pain. “No, I’m going to stay here with you. You might need me.”

It was Paul who spoke up to reassure him. “Dave is right, Bobby. I’m going to give him a massage, and stay with him a little while. The medication will make him sleepy. It’s perfectly fine to leave him. You and Daniel might as well go and have some fun. Just promise me you’ll stay out of the water for another half hour okay?”

Bobby looked hesitantly at Dave, but Dave smiled at him. “Go on, hon, and have some fun,” Dave said.

“Okay, if you’re sure?”

“Yes, baby, I’m fine. I’ll feel better if I know my back isn’t spoiling your fun.”

Danny was in the living room waiting for someone to let him know what was happening. He looked up expectantly as Bobby came down the hall.

“How’s Dave doing?” he asked.

Bobby gave his friend a reassuring smile. “He’ll be okay. He just needs some rest. Paul is going to stay with him for a bit. They both said we should go have some fun. So what do you wanna do?”

Danny smiled brightly. “So let’s go out in the boat.”

“Not without Dave and Paul, ‘cause they both wanted to go with us,” Bobby reminded him.

“We can go again tomorrow with both of them. But what’s stopping us from going now? You have driven the boat before, haven’t you?” Danny teased.

“Of course I have,” Bobby answered. “I just wanted to take all you guys to see the lake together. It’s so nice to see.”

“Well I want to go and I don’t see why our good time should be spoiled because Dave has a bad back.”

Thinking it through, Bobby began to believe a boat ride was just what the doctor ordered. “Okay, but you go and check with Paul. I don’t want to go without their okay.”

“Sure,” Danny replied enthusiastically. “I’ve got the keys and I’ll tell Paul we’re heading out.”

Danny stopped outside of the door to Dave and Bobby’s room. He could hear Dave moaning, and then Paul’s voice could be heard.

“Dave, you’re really tight, when was the last time you let anyone do this for you?”

“You were the last one, Paul. Quit talking and just do it.” Dave moaned again. “Press harder you’ll never loosen me up going that gently.” There was a pause and then Dave spoke again. “Oh yeah, that’s better, that feels so good.”

The blood drained from Danny’s face as he realized what was happening in that room. Knowing he’d heard enough, he turned from the door and ran down the hall through the great room and out the door, not stopping as Bobby called out to him.

“Hey, Danny! Where you going, man?” Bobby yelled as he ran after his friend.

Danny ran down the incline to the dock and jumped into the boat, tears streaming down his face. He threw himself into the helm seat and sobbed miserably against the steering wheel.

Bobby was seconds behind and placed his hand on Danny’s shoulder as he took the seat beside him.

“Danny? Danny, what’s wrong?” he asked gently.

Danny just sat there feeling the boat bobbing up and down in the water, and the hand of his friend pressed against his shoulder. Nothing in his life could ever be the same again; the man he loved was cheating on him. Not only that but now he had to tell Bobby that Dave was cheating on him as well. He tried to pull himself together to explain what was wrong, but only found himself crying harder.

Bobby was worried; he couldn’t understand what was happening with his friend. Danny was always such a happy person. What could have caused this sudden change in his mood. He tried again to comfort his distraught friend.

“Danny, it’s okay, man. Just tell me what’s wrong, I can help you.” But Danny still couldn’t seem to talk, he just continued to cry. “I’m gonna go and get Paul, okay?” Bobby added, thinking this would reassure his friend.

Horrified by what Bobby was saying, Danny yelled out, “No!” Barely able to catch his breath enough to talk, he grabbed Bobby’s arm and again repeated, “No, don’t…don’t get Paul.” He sobbed as just saying Paul’s name caused a pain to stab through his heart.

“Okay, Danny. Just calm down, man, and I won’t get him.” Danny was squeezing his arm unbearably hard, and he tried to loosen his fellow Brat’s grip.

Danny just wanted to get far away from the cabin; he needed some space in order to explain the situation to Bobby. Pulling himself together enough to speak he said, “Let’s go and take that tour of the lake.” He was trying to wipe the tears away from his eyes enough to get the key into the boat’s ignition.

Bobby said, “Danny, we shouldn’t be going anywhere with you so upset. Please tell me what’s wrong.”

Danny turned and was finally able to meet Bobby’s eyes; he tired to formulate an excuse that would persuade him to go. “I’m okay Bobby, really. I’ll tell you all about it as we go. Okay?”

Bobby shook his head. “We need to tell Paul and Dave where we’re going first.”

Danny knew they had to get away and couldn’t let Bobby go back up to the cabin and hear what was happening in that bedroom. “No, it’s okay I already told them,” he lied.

Bobby was torn, he knew that Danny was keeping something from him and that he really should go and discuss it with Dave, but his best friend needed him. ‘Damn, are you a man or a child?’ he asked himself. A man would be able to help his friend without running to his lover for advice. Besides they were just going for a boat ride and he didn’t want to disturb Dave, who should be sleeping.

Bobby nodded. “Okay, just let’s go, but I should drive. You don’t know the lake like I do.”

“You can navigate,” Danny replied as he put the key into the ignition and started up the motor. It took a couple of tries to get the old engine to turn over, but soon it was purring and he turned to his friend. “Can you release the lines?”

Bobby went first to the front and leaned out releasing to line from the dock and then repeated the same at the back of the boat. Danny pulled slowly away from the dock. Bobby guided Danny along a well-known route around the lake and watched his friend’s expression carefully as they drove. Danny appeared pale and tense; a sad look in his face was that of someone who had lost their best friend.

“Danny, you wanna talk about it now?” he asked gently.

Danny shook his head. “In a little while; let’s just get far from here, okay?”

This was a quiet, private lake with cottages that had been kept in the owner’s families for generations. Most cottagers owned large pieces of property with beautiful cottages nestled into the trees. Many were century buildings like Bobby’s parent’s cabin, and there were long stretches of shoreline with no development.

The boys were about four miles from the cabin towards the west side of the lake and at least eight-hundred feet from shore when Danny heard the engine sputter. He looked down at the gas gage for the first time that trip and realized with horror what the problem was. The engine quickly died and he turned to Bobby with fear. “Oh God, Bobby, we’re out of gas.”

Bobby leaned over his friend to look at the gage, as if doubting the truth of the predicament they were in. “Shit! Didn’t you look at the gage when you started out?” he asked reprovingly.

Shaking his head, Danny replied, “No, I didn’t even think about it. Fuck, this is the worst day of my life.” He began to cry again.

As the boat bobbed silently in the water, Bobby took in his surroundings. They were a long ways from any cottages and the lake was quiet right now, no other boaters were anywhere near to them. He looked back at his friend and knew that there were other problems to be dealt with. Danny was still very upset and being stranded on the water wasn’t helping.

“Danny, since we’re stuck here for the moment, you wanna tell me what’s bothering you?”

Looking up at Bobby’s huge blue eyes he realized it was time to tell his friend the truth. They could share their broken hearts together and somehow figure out what to do with their shattered lives. He wiped at the tears that threatened to spill again and swallowed hard. “Bobby what I have to say is very hard and I know you’ll be as miserable as I am when you hear it, but I can’t hide it from you.”

A chill ran up Bobby’s spine as he listened to his friend.

“When I went to tell Paul we were going to go out boating, I heard something, I heard Dave moaning and…” he stopped for a moment to pull himself together. “Paul was telling Dave how…how tight he was. Oh God, Bobby, Dave was telling Paul to push harder. They were having s…sex.”

Suddenly Bobby burst out laughing. At first Danny thought he was crying but looking at his friend’s face he knew it was laughter. Had Bobby flipped out he wondered; what the hell was wrong with his friend?

Looking at Danny’s stricken face sobered Bobby quickly. “Oh Danny, I’m sorry, but you’re so mistaken. Danny, they weren’t having sex, don’t you see? Paul was giving Dave a massage.”

Danny’s eyes opened widely with surprise. “A…a…massage?” he stammered.

“Yeah, you nut. Paul and Dave would never cheat on us like that. Paul told me he was going to give Dave a massage for his back. Besides, with the drugs Dave took, he would’ve fallen asleep in the middle of it. Think about it, Paul said Dave was tight, right? And Dave said push harder. Yeah, that could sound like sex, but it could also be a massage. Am I right?”

Poor Danny felt like such a fool. Of course Paul wouldn’t cheat on him; he’d made such sweet love to him only that morning. Paul was such an honest decent person that cheating like that would be completely out of character.

“I’m so stupid,” Danny answered him. “How could I ever have thought they would cheat on us?”

Laughing Bobby replied, “Yeah, can you picture those two Tops together? What a hoot; both of them trying to take charge.”

The two Brats sat in the powerless boat laughing until they had tears pouring down their cheeks. They traded ‘Top’ jokes for sometime until Bobby noticed that the wind was picking up and the boat was being tossed about in growing swells. He looked upward and could see a quickly approaching storm front. Sudden afternoon storms on hot humid days like this were not uncommon but not good news for boaters out on the lake; especially ones stranded without gas.

Danny turned to look at his friend, concern written on his face. “This weather doesn’t look good, Bobby. What should we do?”

Bobby moved to the back of the boat and lifted up one of the seats that was over a storage box. He pulled two paddles from the box handing one to Danny. “We’re going to have to try and paddle over to the closest shoreline, and wait out the storm there. You paddle from where you’re sitting and I’ll paddle from the other side, we need to work together to get the boat going in the right direction. It won’t be as easy as trying to paddle a canoe, but we can do it.”

Danny took the paddle and followed Bobby’s directions. The wind was rapidly picking up and the two young men franticly paddled working hard to get the boat going where they wanted, the shore-line slowly grew closer as the skies opened up on them. Rain pelted down in great sheets and the sky was lit by huge bolts of lightening, within seconds both of them were drenched to the skin.

As they got closer to the shore they could see that it was lined with large boulders with the waves crashing over them. Bobby knew that the boat could be thrown against one of those rocks and smashed like kindling. He turned to his friend shouting over the storm. “We’ve got to paddle further down the lake towards the next cottage; the boat will be torn to pieces over those rocks if we get too close.” But the wind and the storm were too strong for the small paddles to control the direction of the boat. They found themselves getting closer and closer to the rocky shore. They paddled like mad men trying to avoid impending doom.

Suddenly over the din of the storm Bobby could hear the sound of a boat motor he looked up and saw a large modern boat closing in on them. The boat’s driver was waving at them yelling something. At first neither of the boys could understand, but as the boat grew closer they could see and older man at the helm of the boat and a young woman, both were dressed in life jackets.

The driver called out again to them. “We’re going to throw you a line, secure it to the bow cleat and we’ll tow you in.”

As Bobby began to crawl out onto the bow the driver again yelled to him. “Get a life jacket on you damn fool!”

Bobby stopped and realized how foolish they both had been not wearing life jackets in this storm. He grabbed one from the storage box and tossed another to Danny. The both donned their jackets and Bobby again proceeded onto the bow. The driver angled to boat a little closer he had dropped fenders down the side of his boat to prevent damage if the two boats should make contact. The young woman had a coil of line in her hand the other end of which was secured to a water skiing hitch. When the two boats were close enough she tossed to line to Bobby, who immediately tied it to the cleat on the bow of his boat.

The older man again called to him. “Get back and sit down while we tow you in.” The two cold and wet young men sat together in their boat thanking what ever gods who look after wayward Brats for their timely rescue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour earlier at the cabin:Paul smiled down at his sleeping friend, Dave had finally settled off to sleep the pull of the medication and the relaxing massage had overcome his restlessness.

Leaving Dave to rest he walked out to the great room in search of the two younger men. He walked to the side entrance and looked out over the yard behind the cottage, seeing no sign of them he walked around to the lakeside. It had been longer than the prescribed half-hour wait, so he expected to find the Brats splashing around in the lake. Instead the sight that caught his eye was the empty boat slip on the dock.

‘Damn,’ Paul though to himself. ‘I don’t believe those two would go out in the boat without saying a word to us.’ He turned back to the bookshelves behind him, remembering that he had seen a pair of binoculars there earlier that day. Taking them with him, he left the cottage and ran down to the dock. Paul scanned the immediate area, seeing no sign of the boat he began to search as far as he could with the high powered field glasses. He had been sure that the boys would not go far from the cottage and began to grow worried as he realized that he was mistaken in his presumption.

Paul scanned the lake with futility for more than 30 minutes. As he was searching storm clouds began to move in overhead and the water grew steadily choppier with the increasing winds. Small whitecaps formed on the lake and Paul began to feel the edge of panic setting in, as he could still see no sign of the vintage boat within range of the cottage.

As the skies began to open and fat raindrops started to pelt down around him, Paul knew it was getting less and less safe to be standing in the open. The first bolt of lightening lit up the heavens as he ran for the cottage. In the few short seconds it took him to reach shelter Paul found himself nearly soaked to the skin. He quickly toweled himself off and returned his attention to the outdoors and the storm blowing across the lake. He once again scanned the lake with the binoculars to no avail.

The sound of footsteps coming down the hall behind him drew his attention from the window. Dave came into the room. “Hell of a blow we’re getting; the thunder woke me up,” he said with a grin. Looking around he noticed the absence of their lovers. “Where are the boys?” he asked. The scowl of Paul’s face immediately alerted Dave that there was a problem. “What’s wrong Paul? Where are they?” his voice taking on a decided edge.

“I don’t know David. The boat was gone from the dock when I came out here. I’ve been searching the lake ever since.” He indicated the field glasses in his hand. “I just came inside when the storm hit. What I don’t understand is why they wouldn’t have come back when they saw the storm approaching?”

“It’s been over an hour since Bobby left me to your ministrations. Do you think they left immediately?”

Paul shook his head. “I wish I knew. Why wouldn’t they say anything? Those two know better than to take off like this without informing us.” He asked not really expecting an answer.

A great clap of thunder shook the cabin and rattled the windows, both the Tops stood at the window transfixed by the tempest before them. Dave shook himself from his reverie and turned to his friend. “The only think I can think is that they were too far out to get back safely and they found a safe place to dock and wait out the storm.”

“I hope you’re right. But one way or the other that young man of mine is in serious trouble for taking off like this without letting me know,” Paul replied.

“Danny isn’t the only one in trouble; Bobby is in just a deep with me.” Dave stood chewing on his lower lip, an unconscious habit he had whenever he was troubled.

Paul noticed the action and reached up carefully tugged the lip out of the mouth with his thumb. “Don’t chew,” he admonished gently. “How’s your back feeling?”

“It’s fine,” Dave replied, distracted from his chewing. “I just wish we would hear from the boys.”

Another thirty minutes passed and the two men were getting as frantic as two cool headed Tops can get. The storm was letting up, reduced now to a steady rainfall without the high winds and electrical activity it previously had.

As their powerless boat arrived at the dock behind their rescuers Bobby and Danny took hold of the docks edge and then pulling the boat into position they got the lines and secured it to the dock. The older man and young woman had already secured their boat and were approaching the smaller craft.

“Tie her off well.” The man advised rather loudly over the storm. “We need to get inside before one of us becomes a lightening rod.” He pointed up to a beautiful cottage nestled between huge spruce trees. As they finished with the boat the man reached down to help the boys up. “Let’s go!” he yelled.

The four ran for the cottage and were breathless as they made their way inside. Turning to the young woman, the man said, “Grab us all some towels Stephanie.”

“All ready on it, Dad,” she replied. Stephanie handed large soft towels to each of them and taking one for herself; they all began to dry off.

Bobby looked around and saw they were in a mud room of sorts with large hooks on the walls many of which were filled with jackets, rain wear and assorted hats. There were neat cubby holes with various foot wear and boots tucked into them and cupboards and shelves all well organized and filled with various sporting goods and beach toys. This included the deep shelves filled to capacity with the soft fluffy beach towels of which they were all making use.

Once they were no longer dripping the elder man turned to Bobby and Danny. “There are robes in that closet behind you. Hand me the navy one, you two can have your pick of the others.” Then looking to his daughter, he said, “Steph, you go change in your room we’ll strip down here and get all these clothes into the dryer.”

Obeying the directive Danny opened the closet and took out three robes as the young woman called Stephanie left the room. He handed out the robes and then the two boys stood shyly as they waited for their host to make the first move.

The man looked at the two self-conscious younger men and laughed. “Shuck the clothes boys. We’re all men here, nothing to be embarrassed about.”

The two boys stripped down and quickly donned the robes; they were both shivering from being soaked so long and the cool air-conditioned cottage. The man tossed them each a pair of thick gray insulated socks. “I don’t think I have slippers that will fit you but these should help warm your feet.”

Speaking up for the fist time, Bobby whispered quietly. “Thank you, sir.”

“Yes, thanks.” Danny joined in.

The man smiled at them. “Hand me those wet things lads and we’ll toss them into the dryer.” At the end of the room there was a stacked washer and dryer, he placed all the clothes into the dryer and started the machine. He then led the way into the cottage interior.

The cottage was of a newer construction from that of Bobby’s parents place, but was very tastefully decorated, and filled with large overstuffed furniture that just cried out to be sunk deeply into. There was a beautiful view of the lake through expansive windows. “Make yourselves comfortable, boys,” he said as he took a seat in a large wing chair and to boys sat together on the huge sofa. “So which one of you is Phil Brewer’s step-son?”

Bobby looked up in surprise. “I am,” he replied. “But how did you know?”

“Well let me introduce myself first. I’m Dr. William Simmons, and Phil Brewer is a friend of mine. It was his boat on the lake in this storm that first caught my eye. There is no mistaking that antique of his. He told me that you and your partner and friends were using the cabin for the rest of the month, I was going to come over and say hello this week anyway. This just speeds up the introductions.”

Bobby smiled at the man. “Well I’m Bobby Brooks and this is my best friend Danny Ladd. I don’t know how we can thank you Dr. Simmons. You saved our lives out there. We were so lucky you saw us and that you were willing to endanger your own lives to rescue us. We would have smashed into those rocks for sure.”

“No need to be so formal, young fella, just call me Bill,” he replied. “What I don’t understand though is what made that boat stall out on you. Phil had that motor completely rebuilt only last month.”

Danny hung his head in shame. “It was all my fault. The motor didn’t stall out, we ran out of gas, cause I didn’t check it before we left.” He whipped at the tears forming in his eyes. “I nearly killed us both and would have destroyed that beautiful boat as well.”

Bobby put his arm around his friend’s shoulder. “Hey, Danny, it's okay. It could have happened to anyone.”

Bill looked at the remorseful young man and felt his heart melt for the poor kid. But still such foolish behaviour needed to be dealt with firmly. These young people needed to learn to take appropriate precautions before taking on such potentially dangerous activities as boating.

“Sorry young, Robert, but it really isn’t okay. Taking a boat on a lake this size is serious business; you always do a complete check before you leave the dock. You boys made some dangerous mistakes out there, running out of fuel wasn’t the only one. For instance, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found neither of you had put on your life jackets during that storm. And paddling towards an unknown shore was very foolish indeed.”

With this Danny began to cry. “Paul is gonna kill me,” he muttered.

Bobby wasn’t having much luck holding back his own tears. “Dave too, we’re in deep here, Danny.”

“I’m not sure who Paul and Dave are, but I can take a guess that they are your partners. Am I right?” Bill inquired. The two Brats nodded in unison. “Don’t you think you should give them a call and let them know you’re okay?”

Sniffling back his tears, Bobby looked up at their host. “Yeah, can we borrow your phone?”

Reaching to the table beside him Bill took a cordless phone and handed it to Bobby. "Help yourself. I’m happy to talk to them and give them directions on where to pick you up.”

Bobby took the phone and with shaky fingers began to dial the number to the cabin.

On the other end the two Tops dived towards the phone and Dave had it in his hand before the echo of the first ring ended. “Hello?” He spoke anxiously.

“Hi Dave, it’s me,” Bobby whispered into the phone.

“Bobby! Thank god! Where are you? Are you all right? Is Danny with you?" He spoke his voice breaking with relief.

“Yes, Danny’s here and we’re okay. We’re at a cottage a few miles down the lake,” Bobby replied.

Paul was hovering near Dave, waiting to hear what was happening. Dave quickly relayed the answers as he was getting them.

“What happened to you? Why didn’t you head back home as the storm was approaching? For that matter what were the two of you thinking about, going out in that boat without even discussing it with us?” he questioned his partner.

“Dave, can we discuss all the details when you get here?” Bobby pleaded.

“You want to bet we’ll be discussing this in detail, young man. Just tell me where to find you. Paul and I will be there as quickly as possible.”

“Bill, that is Dr. Simmons, the man that helped us. He’ll give you the directions, okay?” Bobby handed the phone back to their host. “This is my partner Dr. David Brooks. You can give him the directions.”

“Dr. Brooks,” Bill said. “Bill Simmons here, I’m a friend of Phil Brewer’s. I found these young fellas stranded on the lake during the storm. No need to worry though they’re just fine.”

“Dr. Simmons, I don’t know exactly what happened here, but I get the impression I owe you my deepest gratitude for helping out our partners.”

“Not at all, glad to be of assistance. Now if you’re going to drive here you need to take the lake road you’re on back out to Side Road 38 and turn west until you come to Humber Trail, go north along Humber Trail for 5.3 km. My cottage has a sign by the road that says Simmons Retreat just turn in the driveway. We’ll be waiting for you.”

“Thank you, we’ll be there as quickly as possible,” Dave replied.

Bill turned off the phone and replaced it in its cradle. Stephanie re-entered the room; she had changed into fresh sweatpants and a T-shirt. Her long dark hair tied up into a twist on her head. She was carrying a tray with a jug and several ice-filled glasses. “Can I offer you gentlemen some lemonade?” she inquired.

Bill smiled gratefully. “Thanks, hon, that’s very nice.”

Bobby nodded his head enthusiastically. “Thank you! I love lemonade.”

Beside him though, Danny just whispered quietly. “No thank you. I’m just fine.”

Realizing his friend’s problem, Bobby spoke up. “Danny can’t drink something with sugar like lemonade.”

Bill looked towards the slim, quiet young man and his experienced medical eye told him that the boy wasn’t just dieting. “Are you diabetic?” he inquired kindly.

Danny nodded. “Yes sir.”

“Can I offer you a Diet Pepsi?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Danny said with a smile.

Stephanie sat the tray down on the coffee table and turned as to go back to the kitchen, but Bill his already risen. “Sit down sweetheart; I’ll get our guest his drink. If you could pour some lemonade for the rest of us?”

“Sure, Dad,” she responded

Within moments, the four were enjoy a refreshing drink and talking about life on the lake. Stephanie took a shine to these delightful young men. They were close to her age and she found herself lamenting the fact that they were gay. Especially that Danny, she had a weakness for blondes.

It took little effort on her behalf to have Danny smiling and laughing at her stories. He had a beautiful smile that lit up his face and although she knew she couldn’t have the type of relationship she might like with him, she found herself thinking what a good friend he would be. Not that she couldn’t be friends with Bobby as well, but there was something she just found exceptionally appealing about Danny.

She was especially pleased when they discovered that the men lived only a short distance from where her dad and she lived. Travel time would be less than half an hour door to door.

A short time later, they could here the sound of a car coming down the gravel driveway. Bill stood and looked out the back window to see two men exiting an SUV. “I think your partners have arrived.”

Bobby and Danny rose and saw their lovers walking up to the cottage. “Yep,” Danny said, “that’s them.”

Bill opened the main entrance to the cottage as the two men approached. “Good afternoon, I’m Bill Simmons.” He introduced himself and held out his hand towards Paul who was first at the door.

“Paul Ladd,” he replied, “and my friend, David Brooks.” He indicated Dave.

Hands were shook and Dave and Paul followed Bill into the cottage. Danny and Bobby stood by the sofa, trying to gage the collective moods of their senior partners. Although the men had smiled pleasantly at the introductions, their expressions when their eyes met with the younger men were quite serious. Both boys cringed slightly and lowered their eyes.

Stephanie didn’t like what she was seeing. Where Danny and Bobby afraid of their partners? Shouldn’t they be happy to see them after such a harrowing experience? Being a rather forward young woman, she decided to speak up. “I’m Stephanie Simmons, Bill’s daughter. You are?” she asked of the two new arrivals.

Dave turned towards her. “I’m Dave Brooks and my friend, Paul Ladd. I’m Bobby’s partner and of course, Paul is Danny’s. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Simmons.” He held out his hand to her, as did Paul.

Stephanie took the offered hands and gave a sharp firm shake to each.

With the introductions complete, the men were able to give their full attention to their young lovers. Paul placed his hands on Danny’s shoulders and looked him over carefully. Then meeting his eyes, he asked, “You’re alright?”

Danny smiled up at Paul with unshed tears. “Yeah I’m fine. Really,” he reassured his lover. Paul pulled him into a tight embrace.

Dave just grabbed Bobby and gave him a quick hug, whispering into his ear as he held him. “We’re going to have a long talk when we get home, young man.” Bobby sniffled a bit and nodded his head against his partner’s shoulder.

Although she appreciated the affection she saw, Stephanie still wasn’t sure about these men, about what in them would make the Danny and Bobby cringe. But she was determined to find out, determined to make sure that Danny was in a safe, healthy relationship.

Stephanie had just graduated from University with a Bachelor of Social Work the previous spring. In her short career, she had already seen too many cases of domestic abuse and felt somewhat unsure of what she was seeing in front of her now.

Releasing their partners almost simultaneously, Paul and Dave turned back to their hosts. Looking towards Bill, Paul spoke. “I don’t know how to thank you for rescuing my partner, but you have my eternal gratitude. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to Danny. And I know that David feels the same way about Bobby.”

Dave nodded his head. “Yes, we are most thankful. I would however, like to know how this whole incident came to pass.” he asked mostly looking to Bobby for an answer.

It was however, Danny’s soft voice that answered the question. “It was all my fault,” he replied. “I was the one who wanted to go out boating and…” Danny swallowed. “And I didn’t check to see if there was enough gas. So you see no one is to blame but me.”

“No, Danny, it was a much my fault as yours,” Bobby chimed in. “You were so upset; I shouldn’t have let you drive.”

This caught Paul’s immediate attention. “Upset?” he questioned. “What were you upset about?”

Danny’s cheeks coloured with embarrassment. “Can we talk about this later?” he spoke so low his partner could barely hear him. Paul looked so sternly at him that Danny felt he could read right through to his soul.

Picking up on his young guests discomfort, Bill felt it was a good time to steer the subject in another direction. “Do you want to put some gas in the boat and take it back with you now? Or would you rather leave it docked here until tomorrow?”

Knowing the younger men were still pretty shook up, Dave spoke up. “If you don’t mind, I think it would be better if we left it here for the night.” Looking towards Bobby dressed in the bathrobe, he asked, “Where are your clothes?”

“They were soaked. Bill was kind enough to put them into his dryer for us,” Bobby answered.

“I’m sure they’re dry by now,” Bill said, pointing toward the mud room. “Why don’t you fellas go and get changed?”

Danny and Bobby looked to their lovers and were each given a quick nod. They both went into the mud room, shutting the door behind them. This too did not escape the observant Stephanie; she was again puzzled but the deference that Danny and Bobby showed for their partners. She sat contemplating this while half listening to the polite conversation between her father and the two older men. Before she could formulate any response, Danny and Bobby had re-entered the room dress once again in their own clothes.

Dave and Paul stood up from their places on the sofa. “Once again, thank you so much everything you have done for us today,” Paul said as he held his hand out to take hold of Danny’s. “We will be in touch with you tomorrow about picking up the boat.”

The four men made their good-byes to their hosts and made their way out to the truck. Bobby and Danny nervously took their places in the back seat; they could feel theirs stomachs knot with anticipation. Each knowing that their partners would be less than happy with this afternoon’s adventure.

The drive back to the cottage was quiet and the tension only mounted as they pulled into the driveway. Danny and Bobby gave each other a consolatory glance as they entered the cabin.

“You two take a seat on the sofa,” Paul commanded the boys. Once they were seated, with Paul and Dave on chairs right across from them, Paul asked, “So who wants to begin the story of this mess?”

Forty minutes later, the whole story and all its sorted details had been explained to the partially bemused and partially horrified Tops. Dave spoke first. “Bobby, go in our room and pick a corner. I’ll be with you shortly”

Paul looked to Danny. “Same for you, young man,” he instructed.

The two Brats slowly shuffled towards their respective rooms quietly closing the doors behind them, leaving the two Tops looking at each other.

The two Brats slowly shuffled towards their respective rooms quietly closing the doors behind them, leaving the two Tops looking at each other. Dave couldn’t help the slight grimace on his face as he met Paul’s eyes.

“I don’t believe it,” he said, shaking his head. “We’ve always been so careful that they don’t find out about our past and then Danny overhears you giving me a massage and suspects of us having an affair. Talk about irony.”

Paul smiled at his friend. “Well, thank goodness they realize that Danny was mistaken in his assumption and that they have no good reason to suspect that we were involved in the past. As we’ve said before, nothing good could come from them knowing about us. It would only give them cause for concern and knowing my Danny, a reason to get himself in to a major panic.”

“Bobby wouldn’t be much better, I’m afraid,” Dave replied. “Paul, I know we both have said that how we handle our Brat’s punishment is personal and that we would never interfere with each other. However, I think that in this circumstance, it would behoove us to be working together.”

“I agree the boys got into this trouble together and we are sharing the same place of residence at this time so the punishments should be of a similar nature.”

Dave nodded. “I’m also concerned about preserving the privacy and dignity of Bobby and Danny. I have never made punishment a public scene and I don’t intend to start that now. Even though they both know the other is to be punished and they may even talk about it after, I won’t embarrass Bobby by having anyone, not even you or Danny witness to it.”

“I think that goes without saying for both of us, David,” Paul agreed. “If we have the doors closed to the bedrooms and perhaps play the radio in each room, it should be enough to preserve privacy.”

The two Tops discussed and worked out the level of punishments that they were comfortable meting out to their respective Brats, and then each went to deal with the difficult business.

Paul quietly closed the bedroom door behind him. He looked to his young partner. Danny stood in the far corner from the door with his face pressed into the wallboard. Paul couldn’t help but admire him. Danny was not very tall, only 5’4” but he had a perfectly formed body. Lithe and slim, his hair was a little longer that Paul might have liked but he wasn’t going to argue with the young man on that small thing. He could see Danny’s slight shiver as he became aware that his partner had entered the room, his round tight bottom clenched in anticipation of the up coming punishment.

Walking over to the antique armoire, Paul opened the cabinet and turned on the radio hidden within. He adjusted the volume so as to be loud enough to muffle sounds from outside the room and yet not affect the ability of he and Danny to communicate comfortably. He took a seat in the large wing-backed as it was the only one in the room. He knew he would have to sit forward to hold Danny across his lap, but it seemed the best solution.

“Daniel, please come here,” he called.

Danny steeled himself with a deep breath and turned around. He had made up his mind as he stood in that corner that he was not going to give in and cry. Biting hard down on his lip, he walked over to face the music and focused his eyes just below Paul’s face so that he didn’t have to see the look there.

However, there was no fooling his loving partner. Paul reached up and gently tugged Danny’s lower lip out from between the teeth. “Don’t bite your lip,” he admonished as he slipped that same hand under his chin and tilted it up just enough to meet Danny’s eyes.

Paul noticed the slight quiver in Danny’s lip as he looked at him. “Come on, baby, let’s get this done,” he said more calmly than he actually felt. Punishing Danny was never easy. Paul always had to remind himself that it was what worked for them and that Danny had agreed to this. Natural born Top though he was, he had a soft spot for his lover and it was difficult to see this beautiful young man in trouble. He pulled Danny down to sit on his lap.

“You have explained everything that happened this afternoon. What we need to do now is to cover exactly what you did that was wrong,” Paul said with more calm surety than he was feeling.

“I’m sorry Paul, I really am.” Danny looked to his lover. “I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble.”

“I know you didn’t mean to, Honey, but the fact is you and your partner in crime put yourselves in a lot of danger, caused Bill and Stephanie to endanger themselves rescuing you, and scared both Dave and I half to death,” Paul said as he rubbed gentle circles on Danny’s back. “Now let’s cover the issues here so we can get this over with. First, you ran off without taking a moment to say where you were going.”

Danny opened his mouth to protest, but Paul held up a hand to silence him. “I know you were upset by what you thought you’d heard in Dave’s bedroom. But, Daniel, you have got to stop being so impulsive. If you would have stopped for a minute and thought things through, I think you would have come to the conclusion that what you thought you’d heard was not right. You should have knocked on the door or at the very least gone into the other room and waited until I came out to ask me what was happening. Do you honestly think that David and I would be having an affair?”

“No, I know that you wouldn’t do that, but at that moment I just…well I just…didn’t think, I guess,” Danny said sadly.

“No you didn’t think and you didn’t stop and think either when you decided to get in that boat and drive off without stopping to check the gas gauge or watching the weather before you went so far from home. Then when you were sitting there on the lake out of gas, with a storm bearing down on you, neither of you even considered putting on life jackets. Danny, when I think of how close I came to losing you today, I can hardly breathe.”

Despite his earlier resolve, Danny’s eyes filled with tears that threatened to overflow. “I’m so so…sorry Paul.”

“I know you are, baby, but we need to deal with this now. Get it behind us, okay?” Paul stood Danny up in front of him and reached for the closure on his pants. He had them undone in short order and pushed them down the slim legs. He then hooked his thumbs under the waistband of his young partner’s boxers and sent them down to join the pants blow Danny’s knees.

Before he could squirm away Danny found himself looking at the braided carpet that covered the plank flooring, his bottom helplessly displayed for his lover’s attention. He could feel Paul’s large right hand resting against his butt cheeks and his left hand and arm wrapped firmly around his waist.

Paul raised his hand and brought it down smartly against one cheek then quickly down on the other. He continued this back and forth pattern while slowly moving around each rounded globe and down to the backs of each thigh.

Danny could feel the heat growing with each painful spank. When it began to burn something awful, he squirmed and tried to kick his legs. However, Paul had trapped Danny’s legs firmly between his own as he continued the painful assault. He was determined to make his young partner see the error of his ways, to emblazon into his very soul the need to think before acting.

Danny’s bottom was already a deep rosy shade and he was struggling to move his butt away from the stinging slaps, but there seemed to be no end. His early resolve not to cry was quickly forgotten and tears began to stream from his eyes.

“Please…” he cried out. “Paul, please I’m sorry…please stop.” Paul kept up the barrage; it felt to Danny that each spank was harder than the last. By this point Danny was sobbing hard and could no longer put together words of protest. Feeling the spanking would never end he stopped struggling and slumped over in exhausted submission.

This was the moment that Paul was waiting for, when Danny finally gave up the fight and surrendered to the punishment. He brought his hand down twice more on each cheek and then stopped. He released his tight hold on his young partner’s waist and Danny slid to his knees on the floor, while wrapping his arms around Paul, he buried his tear-soaked face into the soft shirt of his lover and sobbed. Over and over he repeated “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…”

Paul stroked the sweat-dampened hair. “Okay, baby, it’s over now, shhh.” He reached down and carefully pulled Danny up into his arms. Mindful of the sore bottom, Paul sat back in the large chair and placed him gently into his lap with his butt resting between his open legs. Danny clung tightly to him and continued to cry into his shirt as Paul rubbed soothing circles on his back.

Paul didn’t expect any verbal response from Danny, he knew his lover to be quite incoherent at times like this. He just sat giving a gentle massage and speaking nonsensical words of comfort. He had to smile as he looked down at his shirt, it was soaked with Danny’s tears and mucus from his running nose. He realized as he smiled just how much he loved this young man, for he could not imagine finding the tears and snot of any other person to be endearing.

Within a short time, Danny’s hitching sobs quieted and he pressed his face again into Paul’s shirt to wipe away the last of the tears. When he looked up to his lover’s face, he could see a small smile there.

“Are you feeling better?” Paul asked.

“Yes, I think so,” he replied.

Paul carefully lowered Danny from his lap and helped him regain his feet. He stood and led his sweet partner across the room, where he pulled back the covers on the bed and managed to get Danny to lie down on his stomach.

“I’m going to get the aloe, honey. Just lay still okay?” Paul retrieved the large bottle of green gel from his bag and sat down on the side of the bed and carefully inspected the hot red behind of his beloved partner. Satisfied that there was no bruising, Paul applied a liberal amount of aloe to the blazing skin.

Danny hissed as the cool gel first touched him, but was grateful for the reduction in heat. He turned his head so he could look at his Top. “We’re okay now, right?” he asked.

Paul bent over and kissed the tear-stained face. “We’re fine now, honey, it’s all over. Why don’t you just close your eyes and have a nap. I’ll lay down with you for a while, okay?” Paul stood, kicked off his shoes and removed his pants. He folded them neatly and put them over the chair he and Danny had just vacated and returned to the bed. He lay own beside his love and pulled him over so Danny was half on top of him with his head lying on Paul’s broad shoulder. It was quite warm still and neither felt the need of a blanket. Paul gently stroked Danny’s back as together, the two lovers drifted off to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dave walked into the bedroom he shared with Bobby. His beautiful lover stood in the far corner, dark hair curling over his collar. Dave couldn’t help but admire the view. Bobby was perfect. Taller by several inches than his fellow Brat, Bobby was still six inches shorter than Dave’s six foot two. He was broad at the shoulder and leanly muscled with strong callused hands, thanks to his work as a carpenter.

From the position Bobby took in the corner, Dave could see the edge of the angry red scar on his leg. Although well healed now, the scar had not yet faded in colour. It had been more than three months since Bobby had cut himself with the saw and subsequently ran away, leaving Dave to search franticly for him, only to find him incoherent and fevered with infection in this very cottage. That had been the occasion that had led to his most severe punishment to date. Although Dave didn’t feel the current circumstances warranted quite as harsh sentence, he did feel that he needed to make an impression on his young partner. Bobby’s reckless behaviour had to be dealt with; he needed to learn to think before he acted.

Dave got out the small boom-box that Bobby had insisted upon bringing and placed his favourite mixed disc of 70’s pop music into the player. The music flared to life just as he could hear the sound of the classical radio station Paul preferred, coming on in the bedroom across the hall. To his amusement, the first song on his disc was the old Donna Summer classic, Last Dance. As he listened to the lyrics of the chorus he felt almost like he was receiving a divine message.

Oh, I need you by me

To guide me, to guide me

To hold me, to scold me

'Cause when I'm bad

I'm so, so bad

‘Alright,’ Dave thought. ‘Time to get on with this dance.’ He sat himself down on the side of the bed and called to his partner. “Bobby, come here please.” He gave Bobby a gentle smile as he took in the worried look on his face. “It’s going to be okay, baby,” he reassured.

Bobby knew that it would be alright. Dave loved him enough to deal with issues between them. He knew his backside would be burning before the hour was out but his heart and soul would be free of the heavy weight that currently was residing within him.

Thirty minutes later, the two lovers lay cuddled together on the bed. Bobby lay on his stomach with his head pillowed on Dave’s shoulder, and Dave slept with a half smile on his face and his arm firmly wrapped around his Brat.

The next morning with breakfast out of the way, the four men decided to head back over to the Simmons' cottage and collect the abandoned boat so they could enjoy their postponed cruise of the lake. It was decided that Dave and Bobby would take the boat back across the lake to the cottage while Paul and Danny made the return trip in the SUV.

When they arrived at the Simmons’, Paul lifted the large red gas canister out of the back of the SUV and the men made their way down to the dock. Danny was pleased to see his new friend, Stephanie, sitting there throwing a stick out into the water and having it eagerly returned by a beautiful golden lab.

“Hi!” Danny called as they arrived at the dock’s edge. “Who’s the dog?”

Stephanie jumped up, a huge smile across her face. “Hi, yourself,” she returned. “This is Peaches. I belong to her. You wouldn’t have seen her yesterday because of the storm. Poor thing is terrified of thunder, so I’m sure she spent the entire time cowering under my bed.”

“She’s beautiful,” Danny remarked as he watched the dog swimming back to the shoreline with the stick in her mouth.

Bobby had stayed on the shore to get a closer look at the dog as she emerged from the water.

”I’d stand back if I were you,” Stephanie called out in warning, but it was a little too late as the lab stopped only a couple of feet from the young man and began to shake vigorously. Bobby was quickly dowsed with doggy spray. He let out an indignant yell as the rest of the spectators laughed. Peaches then trotted past her hapless victim onto the dock and deposited the stick at her mistress’s feet.

Brushing some of the water from his clothes, Bobby gave his friends and partner a sour look. “It isn’t that funny,” he replied to their laughter.

“The look on your face is,” Dave replied with a grin as he wrapped his arm around his sodden lover. He leaned in close to Bobby’s ear and whispered, “You look so sexy when you’re wet.”

The younger man’s face went from indignant to happily embarrassed as he returned Dave’s embrace.

Paul put down the gas canister, came up on the dock behind Danny and wrapped his arms possessively around his young love as Danny talked with Stephanie. They were quickly joined by Dave and Bobby who was held lovingly against his partner’s side.

As they talked congenially about the weather and their plans for the day, Stephanie took in the body language of the men in front of her. Each of the younger men was being held firmly in the arms of their older partner. Although she could read no signs of discomfort in either of them, to be honest both Danny and Bobby looked quite content in their positions. She still felt a certain hesitancy that she just couldn’t put her finger on. The looks she saw on these two young faces yesterday afternoon were just not right, at least in her opinion, and Stephanie Simmons was not someone who would simply discard her gut feelings. There was something unusual going on between these men and if it involved any form of abuse or coercion by the two doctors she would find out and do something about it.

“We’d better be off or we’re never going to do the things we have planned,” Dave announced.

Bobby nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, let’s get the boat back to the cabin and then we can take our cruise.” He pulled out from Dave’s arms and started to climb into the boat. Before he sat down, he looked to his partner questioningly. “Is it okay if I drive?”

“Sure, honey, but I don’t think you’re going to get far,” Dave replied with a smile.

“Huh?” Bobby responded.

“What was the reason that the boat was here in the first place?” Dave asked.

Realization suddenly dawned in the younger man’s mind. “I guess the gas would be a good idea eh?”

“Your brilliance is only exceeded by your good looks, my love,” Dave chided. He turned to pick up the gas can from where it sat on the dock, only to have his hand slapped as he reached for it. He looked up into the face of that slapping hand’s owner and grimaced.

“I’ll lift it, you save your back,” Paul admonished.

Dave signed and stood back as Paul handed Bobby the canister. Then he watched his partner carefully fill the boat’s fuel tank.

This entire exchange and deference that Bobby showed towards Dave, once again caused Stephanie to frown.

Dave and Bobby settled into their seats after they had done the appropriate safety checks, and Bobby started up the engine. “See you guys at the cabin!” he called as the last line was freed and they pulled away from the dock.

Stephanie turned back in time to see Paul once again wrap a possessive arm around Danny’s shoulder. Hoping to visit with Danny a little longer, she asked, ”Can you stay for a cold drink?”

However, Paul shook his head before Danny had a chance to speak. “Thank you, Stephanie, but I’m afraid we have to decline. Even leaving right now, David and Bobby will arrive back at the cabin before we will. Thank you though, for your kind offer and again, you have my eternal gratitude for rescuing Danny and Bobby yesterday. I cannot even imagine what I would have done if something had happened to Daniel.” He squeezed his lover tightly. “He means the world to me.”

Danny looked slightly embarrassed at his lover’s attention, but appreciated the feelings behind the words. “Yeah, Stephanie, thank you and your father for everything you did yesterday.”

Stephanie smiled brightly at Danny’s words. “It was our pleasure. I’m glad we got a chance to know you.”

Later that evening, after a fun filled day of boating, swimming and croquet, a game the two Brat’s had handily won; the four men lounged in the hot tub, each snuggling happily with their partner.

Paul sat and studied the young man wrapped in his arms and sighed. Never in his life did he believe he could find such happiness as he found his Danny. Deciding that he needed to be alone with his lover, he turned his mouth against the delicate shell shaped ear, sucked the tender lobe into his mouth and tongued it gently. He listened to Danny moan quietly against him, then released the lobe and whispered softly, “I want you so badly.” He could feel Danny’s heart rate accelerate against his arm as he stood and pulled his lover up with him.

Paul smiled toward Bobby and Dave who appeared to be caught up in a similar mood. “Daniel and I are going to call it a night; we’ll see you two in the morning.”

He received only mumbled replies as he and Danny climbed from the tub. They dried off quickly and made their way back towards their bedroom. As soon as the bedroom door was closed, Paul took Danny into his arms and kissed him deeply. Danny tasted like the bar-b-que sauce on the ribs they had eaten for dinner, sweet and tangy. Paul kept his lips locked to Danny’s as his fingers fumbled to push down swim trunks over slim hips. Once the trunks were out of the way, he grasped the tight buttocks and kneaded at them gently.

Danny’s hands explored the furry chest in front of him and rubbed his thumbs over the dark nipples, causing them to stand at stiff peaks. Then he too divested his lover of his swimsuit. With the height difference Danny had to stand on his toes to press his hardened cock into that of his lover, but Paul was holding him so firmly by the butt that he had no fear of toppling as he ground his hips against Paul’s.

Paul nipped and sucked at the tender skin along Danny’s neck, eliciting deep moans from his partner. His hands wandered across the cheeks they held and his fingers dipped into the crevice, gently teasing the rose bud opening until his lover began to buck and groan against him. He then slid his hands down the taught young thighs and lifted them up over the curve of his hips. Danny wrapped his legs around Paul’s waist and held on tightly as his Top carried him over and deposited him gently on the bed.

Becoming almost frantic with need, Paul groped in the nightstand drawer for the lube and flipped the cap off and across the room in his haste. He squeezed a generous amount into his fingers and then kneeling between his lover’s legs, he began to prepare him. He bent over Danny, peppering his lips, face and neck with kisses as he gently slipped first one slick finger into the opening and another until neither of the lovers could stand the wait. He pressed his throbbing cock against the tight opening and pushed. Danny gave a slight hiss of pain, but it passed in a moment and they both began to move in pleasure.

Paul slowed for a moment, trying to regain control. He looked into the glazed eyes of his lover while Danny began thrusting against him, trying to regain the rhythm. He placed his hand against Danny’s hip. “Easy, lover, if you want me to last more than a few seconds, you need to slow down a bit.”

Danny smiled, pulled Paul’s head down to meet his lips and kissed him with hunger and need. After a few seconds, Paul pulled away breathless and began to move in deep slow thrusts. Danny moaned with pleasure every time Paul brushed over his prostate. His breath grew ragged until suddenly he gasped and let out a strangled cry as Paul grasped his cock and stroked it in time to their movements. Danny mewled with pleasure as he came in Paul’s hand. Seconds later, Paul too cried out as he emptied himself deep within his lover.

Paul held himself carefully above his young partner as he slowly slid out of his body then gently lowered Danny’s legs to the bed. Danny’s eyes were glassy and his face gave the look of deep contentment. The older man suddenly realized he had made no preparations for this love making and had nothing with which he could clean up his lover and himself. He was not about to go walking out in the hall to the bathroom in his present condition, so he reached for the soft old T-shirt he had been wearing earlier and used that to gently wipe first Danny, then himself clean.

The two sated lovers then fell asleep in each other’s arms.

TBC………