Dustin drove out past the farmhouse before turning down a dirt road. “This is the rear entrance to the field at the back of your property,” Dustin explained, “where we’ve been parking for the full moon.” He hopped out and removed a picnic basket from the bed of the truck. “Would you mind bringing the tea?” He nodded toward an insulated plastic jug.
Seth snatched up the jug and followed Dustin a ways down a dirt road and through a metal gate into the field. From his vantage point, he spotted the roof of the farmhouse. Summer insects chirped and whirred. Soon fall would set in. He bet the trees would be beautiful once the leaves turned.
Gazing at the distant mountains, breathing in the fresh country air, Seth made up his mind. After the full moon, no matter how the night went, he’d make arrangements to have his few meager possessions packed up and moved down. He’d seen his last of Chicago, though while strolling through broom sage and buttercups in Dustin’s wake, he didn’t think he’d miss the city. He belonged here, and come hell or high water, here he’d stay. That is, if he survived any challenges. Only now, with Dustin by his side and his heritage hanging in the balance, failure wasn’t an option. Regardless of how cowed he’d been by his late grandmother, he needed to step out of her shadow and “grow a pair.”
He didn’t ask where they were going, somehow guessing it’d be to the pond. Dustin stopped on the bank, near where they’d recently acquainted themselves with each other’s bodies. A crane turned a baleful stare their way and took wing. Seth imagined the bullfrogs breathing a collective sigh of relief.
“The Johnson boys sometimes come here,” Seth warned, in case Dustin planned any amorous adventures—adventures Seth wouldn’t object to, providing they didn’t have an audience.
“Monica took them to a movie in Clayton. Won’t be back for hours.”
“Really?”
“Really."
They placed their burdens down before coming together in a flurry of tongues and hands and flying clothes. “What? Mr. Neat isn’t folding everything and hanging it on a tree?” Seth couldn’t help bantering.
“A time and a place for everything. And this time and this place is for something else.” Dustin grinned, revealing his imperfect front teeth. “Last one in is a rotten egg!” He turned and ran pell-mell to the deep end of the pond, launched himself from the bank, and landed with a splash.
Not to be outdone, Seth took off after him, sending jets of water up into Dustin’s face with his spectacular cannonball.
They laughed and splashed like happy youngsters. Then their eyes met and the kidding ended. One minute they stood in waist-deep water, the next Seth found himself lying in the shallows.
“How much did you miss me?” Seth asked, craning his neck to gaze down his body into Dustin’s eyes.
Dustin’s smirk evaporated a moment later as he lapped the crown of Seth’s length with his tongue. “Damn, that’s good!” Seth exclaimed, closing his eyes and resting his head on his arms. Up and down the moist heat of Dustin’s mouth worked him, a startling contrast to the cool water caressing his hole with each of Dustin’s movements. As long as it had been, he feared he wouldn’t last five minutes.
He wanted more, but didn’t have the strength to ask. Besides, he hovered too close to the brink. Dustin’s magical mouth disappeared and wet skin caressed wet skin as Dustin climbed on top of Seth. After sealing their mouths, they thrust frantically against each other, and Dustin slipped one of his hands between them to slide their cocks together.
Uncalled, Seth’s inner circuitry summoned power from deep within. The hairs on his arms and legs rose as Dustin’s own energy met and matched Seth’s.
“Oh, God!” Seth moaned, pushing into Dustin’s fist. He found the rounded mounds of Dustin’s backside and pulled him closer, urging him on. Harder and faster, they shoved against each other, lost in the moment. Dustin stroked Seth’s ear with tongue, teeth, and hot breath, moving down to his shoulder and the most sensitive parts of his neck. Hands scrabbling for purchase on Dustin’s wet skin, Seth whined, cried, and begged wordlessly for what only Dustin could give. Every nerve ending felt on fire, their joined essences mating as surely as their bodies.
“That’s it, baby, come for me,” Dustin murmured, shattering Seth’s control. Their lengths slid together more easily, both men crying out together. They lay half in and half out of the water, catching their breath.
“I love you, Seth,” Dustin finally said.
Seth scraped together enough blissed-out brain cells to reply, “I love you too, Dustin.”
“No matter what happens at the next full moon, it won’t change how I feel.”
“I hope not.”
“I know not.”
Before Seth had time to dwell on what might happen in a few days, Dustin rose, offering Seth a hand up. “C’mon. Let’s eat. Afterwards, I want you to meet some people.”
“YOURgrandpa is over there, here’s your grandmother, and over there is your Aunt Irene.” Dustin pointed out the flattened stones marking the graves of the elder McDaniels. He took Seth’s hand in his and led the way around the pin oak before kneeling beside two more stones. “Here’s where they buried your parents.” Dustin had been too young to attend the passel burial, though he’d been to the bogus one in town, but many times he’d visited this place, remembering Seth and their friendship.
“Deep down, I always hoped you’d come back someday. My
mother told me that even if you did, you’d be changed.” He gave Seth’s hand a squeeze. “You were, but it’s not a bad thing.”
“It’s peaceful here,” Seth said.
“Yeah. That’s why they chose this spot, and why I come here.” “Junior wants to build a casino.”
“Yeah.” The thought turned Dustin’s stomach.
