He opened the air mattress, found the correct valve adapter for his compressor, and started inflating. The compressor was loud for a few minutes but quietened after a minute or two of use. Bo clamped the switch so he wouldn’t have to continue holding it and let the mattress slowly unfold.
Damn thing’s huge.
He went back to the counter and the groceries and started putting stuff away in the cabinets and refrigerator. He took the towels, toiletries, and clothing to the bathroom, opening soaps for the sink and shower and placing the other goods in cabinets and drawers. Once he had everything put away, the only thing left was the bayberry candle. He lit it, leaving it on the kitchen counter.
The mattress filled up quickly and made the den in front of the fireplace look a little less empty. As it swelled, Bo opened the sheets and put the fitted one on snugly, spreading the other on top.
By the time he had the cases on the pillows, the mattress was near inflated. He removed the clamp from the compressor’s switch, finishing the job manually. Once disengaged, he secured the stopper and pulled the gigantic bed into the center of the room. When he stood he saw headlight beams through the partially opened blinds in the front windows. Ralph’s Denali was pulling into the driveway.
Right on time.
Bo stood back and observed the room. There was no doubt it was an empty house, but it looked a lot softer with the candle, the fire in the fireplace, and the bed. The overhead light was harsh though, so he flicked it off, leaving only flames for illumination.
Much better.
* * *
When he opened the door, Ralph was standing there with two large sacks in his hands.
Bo grinned. “That is a lot of food,” he said, taking the bags from Ralph and walking them to the kitchen counter.
When he turned back around, he felt a welcome sense of déjà vu. Ralph was there behind him, closing in. Only this time, Ralph grabbed Bo and pulled him into the kiss... and this time there was no surprise, no hesitation, and no resistance. Their mouths met in pure passion, like two storm fronts on a collision course, moisture building with the promise of precipitation.
Bo’s hands went to Ralph’s shoulders, pushing the coat off and onto the floor. Ralph groped low, feeling the bulge he knew he would find in Bo’s denim-clad crotch. Their mouths pressed together again after a brief separation for breath, like the lost pieces of a puzzle finally found.
When they parted a second time, Ralph looked into Bo’s dark-brown eyes and spoke. “Are you sure you’re OK with this?”
“I am, Ralph. It didn’t hit me when you first called, but I haven’t been able to think about anything else since.” He pulled Ralph tightly to him with muscular arms. “I know it sounds stupid, but the longer the day got, the more inevitable it felt.”
“It’s not stupid,” Ralph said. “It’s just timing. That’s all.”
“Yeah? Well, it almost didn’t happen. You were headed home.”
“I didn’t know, Bo. I’m not that guy. I don’t come between people.”
“You’re not coming between anybody. It’s only me now.”
Bo pressed his mouth back to Ralph’s. He unzipped Ralph’s fly and slipped his hand in, massaging him.
“Oomph,” Ralph grunted. “God, I feel like I’m dreaming.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m going to make sure.” Ralph undid Bo’s belt and jeans and they dropped to the floor. He slipped his hand beneath the waistband of Bo’s boxers and found him there, in a nest of fur... stiff, thick, and wet.
They kissed again, Ralph nuzzling into Bo’s beard, his tongue going deeper. Bo began stroking Ralph right there against the kitchen counter, still mostly clothed and him with his pants around his ankles.
“I’m gonna come, Bo. I’ve wanted this for years.” Ralph sighed the words into Bo’s lips. He was leaning into him for support, wishing that they had taken the time to undress, that he could see the muscled chest he felt beneath the fabric of Bo’s shirt.
“That’s the idea, Ralph. I don’t think there’s any going back with me either.”
“Fuck it, then.”
He groaned, and Bo caught the hot, wet spurt in the palm of his stroking hand, oozing between his fingers, creating a slick and natural lube that assisted the process. He looked down at Ralph in his hand, catching the whiff of a heady waft of Ralph’s spillage. Ralph was still stroking him, their faces near, panting furious breath... and that scent, that musky scent was engulfing him, intoxicating him with mind-bending lust.
Bo convulsed, spilling into Ralph’s hand, feeling those strokes become slicker too from his own manufacture, the scents mingling and growing stronger... too intense. He let go of Ralph and pulled him closer, both men still shuddering from their orgasms, collapsing into each other with only the counter behind them for support.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, saying nothing, just clinging to each other as their relaxing muscles fatigued—exhaustion settling within both of them, profound satisfaction that neither of them could explain... not at the moment.
