Brad's Search

[truxtun]

This installment was definitely worth the wait A.G. The sex is incredible and the support of Brad's mom, focusing on his happiness, is so incredible. That's the element a lot of Brads out there don't have, of course. It will be very interesting to see if James' dad is a parent of similar support, or something different. The setting in Seattle and all the marvelous atmospheric accompaniments really add to the beauty of the story.

 

[AstareGod]

Thanks for all the comments, guys! You won't have to wait as long for the next part. It's all edited and ready to go for tomorrow. Hopefully I can keep up the writing like I was earlier.

Amazing update.....I would definitely say after reading that romantic and passionate night, it was worth the wait! That just sounded like a nice day all the way around. I myself really enjoy markets like they went to, can always find such good food and people. It adds that much more to the food when you cook with it also. Speaking of which all of the food that James has cooked so far sounds so good.

I can't wait for the introduction of James dad. Was wondering when this would occur. I am interested to see how similar James and his dad may be.

I had a great time when I went to the market when I visited in September. I had heard of the flying fish, but had no idea just how large the whole thing was and how many different kinds of things you could shop for. New Orleans is the nearest place to me that has anything close to what Seattle has, but it can't hold a candle to Pike Place Market. It truly is an experience - I hope you get to see it in your lifetime!

I'll have to come up with a recipe book for everything James cooks! I don't do much myself but have always wanted to get more involved.

How great knowing that Brad has finally found someone that can fulfill all his needs and desires. James, too, is fortunate having found Brad. As Vater says, their romantic and passionate night has proven their commitment to each other. I love Sharon's request for grandkids... Hopefully James' dad will inquire about the same thing. Thanks for the great update, AG.

Craiger

Sharon better be careful what she wishes for! Even though Brad and James have really only known each other for a little over a month, can such a young relationship overcome the test of time? They definitely seem committed. Let's hope they stay that way.

This installment was definitely worth the wait A.G. The sex is incredible and the support of Brad's mom, focusing on his happiness, is so incredible. That's the element a lot of Brads out there don't have, of course. It will be very interesting to see if James' dad is a parent of similar support, or something different. The setting in Seattle and all the marvelous atmospheric accompaniments really add to the beauty of the story.

I'm glad you're enjoying the erotic parts! It certainly took quite a while for them to start showing up, and they definitely aren't the main focus of the story, but I feel they have their place. Brad's mom is a pretty awesome woman. Brad is all she has, and she wants to make sure he continues to be happy and healthy. What mother wouldn't? Hopefully we will see more and more parents and relatives of LGBT children be as supportive as Sharon has been.

I'm also glad you're enjoying the setting of Seattle. I really feel like I have a special connection to that place, and I love bringing it into the story here and there. I've certainly done my research, so anyone who lives there or who has visited there should appreciate it. I'm glad they are having a positive effect on the story.

 

[AstareGod]

Hey boys! This next part is coming to you bright and early. Enjoy!

Part 35

I stir awake and see James sitting at the foot of the bed putting his shoes on.

He looks over to me. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

I stretch. "Nah, I should be getting up anyway."

He stands up, looks in the mirror, and straightens his tie.

"Damn, you look fine in a suit."

He turns to me. "I look even better with the suit on the floor."

"Care to prove it?"

He chuckles. "Maybe another day." He walks up to me, bends down, and gives me a kiss. "I'll see you when you get home. Love you."

"OK. Love you, too."

He heads downstairs and out the door, locking it behind him.

I take a quick shower and get dressed. I pour myself a bowl of cereal for breakfast and then head out the door to work. It now takes a bit longer to get to work from where I live, so I haven't yet had a chance to go out running yet. I'll have to start getting up a bit earlier.

By now our teams at work have gotten into a good groove and we've made great headway. Eric is very pleased with how well I've been managing things. I ask him if he has any idea when we can wrap everything up.

"If we keep working at this pace, and the client likes everything we've done so far, I bet we can get this out the door in early April. Two more full months. It's a bit optimistic, but I think we can get it done."

"Great, because I want to take some time off afterwards to visit Mom in Denver."

"Is James going along with you?"

"Yes; he says getting time off won't be a problem for him."

"It won't be a problem for you, either. Whenever we get this project finished, you can take off as much time as you need. You've earned it."

"Thanks, Eric."

* * * * *

I finish work for the day and head home. I park along the street. There's a car here I don't recognize. I head inside.

James greets me with a kiss as soon as I walk through the door. "Hey Brad; my Dad's here already." He leads me to the kitchen where his father stands up and approaches me.

He reaches his hand out to me. "You must be Brad."

I take his hand and shake it. "Yes, sir. Brad Palovich."

"William Briscoe, but you can call me Willie."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Willie."

"Pleasure's all mine, Brad."

I turn to James. "Mind if I go upstairs and change?"

"Sure, go ahead. Salmon's in the oven, but it's almost finished."

I run upstairs, pull off my polo and khakis, and throw on a t-shirt and jeans. I head downstairs just as I hear Willie say, "James, listen to me. You should call your brother back. He really needs to talk to you."

"Dad, can we please not discuss this right now?"

They both look at me and fall silent. James continues, "I just don't feel like dealing with him right now. I'll talk to you about it later."

"Fine, James, but it's not just going to disappear."

I speak up. "I'm sorry I interrupted."

Willie turns to me. "No interruption at all, Brad. Come have a seat."

I sit next to Willie.

"So, James tells me you work with computers?"

"That's right. I used to work more closely with them, but I recently got promoted to project manager, so now I oversee a team as well."

Willie pats me on the back. "Congratulations! I bet it feels good to be a little higher on the totem pole."

"Thanks. It certainly does. We have a big project going on right now for a casino in Vegas. We're actually a bit ahead of schedule and may finish in early April."

James turns to me. "That's great to hear!"

Willie speaks up. "And you guys are planning to visit Denver once that's all finished?"

"Yes, sir. We'll be heading down there to see my Mom. She came up to visit me last month, but it's been a while since I've been down to visit her."

"I bet she can't wait to see you again."

"She can't. She never likes it when we have to part ways. It'll be good to see her again, though."

"And I understand your father was in the Air Force."

"He was, yes."

He places his hand on my shoulder. "I just want to let you know I sympathize with you. My own wife passed away a few years ago."

"Yes, James told me. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Well, at least your father passed away with honor, unlike my wife who mostly brought it upon herself."

"Dad!"

"Sorry, son. Excuse me, I'm being rude."

The next few seconds are tensely silent, except for James retrieving plates and silverware. He takes the salmon out of the oven and serves it on three plates. We sit at the dining table and James lights a fire.

Willie takes a bite of the salmon. "Oh, James, this is delicious."

"Thanks, Dad," he says unenthusiastically.

After a few more bites, Willie turns to me. "So, how did you and James meet?"

"Pretty randomly, actually. I go running in Volunteer Park occasionally, and one day James was there with his friends. About two weeks later we ran into each other again at a bar."

"Well, as long as you don't drink as much as James's mother did, you should have nothing to worry about."

James slams his hand on the table. "Dad, please don't say things like that, especially in front of Brad."

"What? You don't think he can handle it? He's not a kid, you know. He needs to be aware of these things."

"Now is not the right time. Let's just eat dinner, please?"

Willie hangs his head down. "Sorry, James."

The rest of dinner is uncomfortably silent. Willie takes his last bite and wipes his mouth. "That was a very good dinner, James. Thank you for inviting me over."

"You're welcome, Dad."

"It's late. I should be getting home."

We all stand up. Willie walks over to James and gives him a hug. "I'll see you at the office tomorrow." He then turns to me and shakes my hand. "It was nice meeting you, Brad. I hope to see more of you soon."

"Sure thing, Willie. Have a good evening."

James accompanies Willie as he walks to the door. Willie steps out and James shuts and locks the door. He then walks back to me.

"Brad, I'm so sorry. That was such a total fucking disaster."

I take his hand and lead him to the couch in front of the fireplace. "I wouldn't call it a total disaster. The salmon turned out nicely."

We sit down in silence for a few seconds until he speaks up again. "I really don't know what got into him tonight. He's not usually like that."

"Did something happen at work today?"

"Not that I know of. He tends to get like that from time to time, but never around people he's just met." James takes a deep breath. "In the past before Mom died, he never really spoke up. For a while after she died, he used to blame himself a lot for her death because he never tried to stop her self-destructive patterns, but now he's realized he never really had that much control over them anyway. He couldn't help that Mom smoked and drank a lot. But now he almost makes her out to be the bad guy and completely forgets she was a human and made mistakes in her life, just like anyone does. Sure, she wasn't perfect, but who is?"

I place my hand on his thigh. "I'm sure he means well."

James slams his hands on the couch, barely missing my leg. "It just frustrates me how he talks about her sometimes. Deep down she was a good person. Dad wouldn't have married her if she wasn't. Now he acts like he regrets ever having anything to do with her."

I rub his thigh. "I'm sorry, James. I wish things could be different for you."

"And then he brings up that thing with Paul."

"Paul?"

"My brother out in the Midwest. He's been calling the office the past few days wanting to speak with me. I see his name pop up on the caller ID and just ignore it, so he's been talking to Dad this whole time. I tell Dad every time that I don't want to talk to him, but Dad keeps telling me Paul's got something important to talk to me about."

"Why don't you want to talk to him?"

"Paul just hurt me so much with his words and actions back when I came out. I don't want to open myself up to that kind of pain again."

"Maybe he's calling to apologize."

"Yeah, right. Paul apologize?"

"You'll never know unless you speak with him."

James groans. I continue, "You'll probably feel a lot better once you talk to him and get things resolved. It sounds like that's what he wants."

"I don't know - I'll think about it."

"And I'm sure that's what your Dad wants, too. I'm sure having his two boys not talking to each other hurts his heart, too. Perhaps his being open about it, even in front of me, is his way of coping with the pain."

James sighs. "You're right. I guess I shouldn't have acted so frustrated with him. It's just - my relationship with my brother has been full of pain for so long that I've become numb and used to it-"

"-But it's probably affecting your father more as time passes."

"And he of all people really doesn't deserve the pain."

I squeeze his knee. "I'm sure you'll get things figured out."

"Thanks, Brad."

He leans in and we hug tightly for a few seconds. We pull away and kiss. I wrap my arm around his shoulders, and we lean back and enjoy the warmth from the fire.

After a few seconds, he turns to me and says, "Why does life have to be so complicated?"

I sigh. "I guess it would get too boring if it wasn't."

James chuckles. "Boring can be good - sometimes."

We continue sitting there for a few minutes, enjoying the fire. James speaks up again. "As much as I get frustrated with Dad sometimes, I really do love him. I mean, I wouldn't have this place if it weren't for him. I guess I should let him know I appreciate him more."

I rub his shoulder. "I'm sure he knows that deep down."

He sighs. "Yeah."

"Do you mind if I head up to bed early? I want to get up earlier tomorrow morning and go for a run."

"Not at all; go ahead. I'll probably stay down here and read for a bit to relax. I'll try not to wake you when I head up."

"Everything will be all right, James. I'm sure of it."

He chuckles. "You're beginning to sound like me."

"Well maybe you should be taking your own advice more often."

He nods. "Yeah, I should. All right, you go on up and sleep well."

We kiss and I get up and head upstairs. I strip down, brush my teeth, and crawl under the covers. I fall asleep pretty quickly.

After what seems like a few hours later, I'm stirred half-awake by James crawling under the covers. He kisses my cheek, whispers 'I love you,' in my ear, and wraps his arms around me.

 

[Craiger]

So, we're seeing a slightly frustrated James. Some of the undercurrents are rising to the top. It's good he has Brad to help stabilize him. Willie sounds nice, but as Brad observed, something has set him off from his normal ways and that in turn frustrates James. That sitting in front of the fire sounds really comfortable and cozy.

Craiger

 

[truxtun]

Well, what appeared to be a privileged and ideal life isn't so ideal after all. James seems to be broadsided on two fronts. Very strange for someone to be so openly critical about a deceased spouse to someone whom they've just met. Brad is going to play an important role in providing the love and support James requires to face his family issues. And BTW, I would love to plant myself in that park and watch them jog by.

 

[vater292]

Well I do believe James envisioned the night going smoother than that. It does seem like something is bothering Willie and May be making him act differently than he may normally. I am interested to find out what James brother wants to tell him. As Craiger said its good James has Brad to help stabilize him and help him deal with whatever situation comes from speaking with his brother and with how different his father is acting.

I had a great time when I went to the market when I visited in September. I had heard of the flying fish, but had no idea just how large the whole thing was and how many different kinds of things you could shop for. New Orleans is the nearest place to me that has anything close to what Seattle has, but it can't hold a candle to Pike Place Market. It truly is an experience - I hope you get to see it in your lifetime!

I hope to be able to get that way at some point as well. I am sure I will probably find a time, I just do not know when. I know it is not the same, but when I lived near Raleigh I really enjoyed the State Farmers market and would go pretty much every weekend. I enjoyed the variety of things that could be found there in the produce and food to other things.

I'll have to come up with a recipe book for everything James cooks! I don't do much myself but have always wanted to get more involved.


A recipe book would be cool! I am not much of a cook myself, normally I just throw whatever I can together for my meals

Sharon better be careful what she wishes for! Even though Brad and James have really only known each other for a little over a month, can such a young relationship overcome the test of time? They definitely seem committed. Let's hope they stay that way.

It is interesting to think that they have only been together a month and they are already moving in. At this rate it might not be surprising to want to try and have a kid soon.

 

[AstareGod]

So, we're seeing a slightly frustrated James. Some of the undercurrents are rising to the top. It's good he has Brad to help stabilize him. Willie sounds nice, but as Brad observed, something has set him off from his normal ways and that in turn frustrates James. That sitting in front of the fire sounds really comfortable and cozy.

Craiger

I guess nothing's as perfect as it seems. One thing is for sure: Brad and James do very well having each other to lean against from time to time. Obviously a lot of turmoil existed in James's past, and a lot of it is still fresh in his mind. Hopefully he has all the strength he needs to overcome and resolve it.

Well, what appeared to be a privileged and ideal life isn't so ideal after all. James seems to be broadsided on two fronts. Very strange for someone to be so openly critical about a deceased spouse to someone whom they've just met. Brad is going to play an important role in providing the love and support James requires to face his family issues. And BTW, I would love to plant myself in that park and watch them jog by.

Brad probably got thrown a curveball, not really knowing what to expect from Willie. He needs to tread carefully in this new territory and needs to be able to figure out where he fits in this new dynamic.

Well I do believe James envisioned the night going smoother than that. It does seem like something is bothering Willie and May be making him act differently than he may normally. I am interested to find out what James brother wants to tell him. As Craiger said its good James has Brad to help stabilize him and help him deal with whatever situation comes from speaking with his brother and with how different his father is acting.

James's whole family situation seems really challenging. It sounds like lots of emotion has been put on hold but is starting to resurface now. We'll have to wait to see how it all plays out.

 

[AstareGod]

Part 36

My phone's alarm goes off, ushering in the arrival of a new day. I hear the shower running. I had set my alarm especially early to have time to run. I stretch my arms and get out from under the covers. I hear the water from the shower turn off. I rummage through the dresser for a few seconds and eventually find a jockstrap and running shorts. I bend over and put on the jock. I'm about to pull up my running shorts when I hear-

"Damn, cutie; you gotta warn me when your ass is just hanging out like that."

I stand straight up and turn my head to look at James and smile. All he has on is a towel draped around his waist. He approaches me from behind and cups my ass in his hands. He massages it for a few seconds, then digs his hands underneath the leg straps of my jock, grips my hips, and pulls me toward his crotch. I can feel his semi-hard cock through the towel.

He bends his head over my shoulder. I turn my head to meet his lips and we kiss.

He sighs. "Why can't today be Saturday?" After a few seconds, he continues, "I'm really not looking forward to going in with what happened last night."

I turn around and place my hands on his chest. "I'm sure everything will be fine. Even though he said some things he shouldn't have, he did sound genuinely sorry."

"I know, but I just can't help but take it personally sometimes."

I fondle his cock through the towel. "Well, if it helps, just think of me to help you get through the day."

He cups his hand on the pouch of my jock and gives it a light squeeze. "Likewise."

He removes his towel and hangs it up, then begins retrieving his work clothes from the dresser. I pull on my running shorts and a shirt. I turn to him as I'm putting on my socks and shoes. "Those friends of yours getting married..."

He looks up at me as he pulls on his briefs, snapping the waistband against his hips. "Patrick and Damon?"

"Yeah. That's not this Sunday, but the next one, right?"

"That's right. Did you still want to go?"

"Sure, it's just that I've never been to a gay wedding before, so I don't really know what to expect."

He pulls on his pants, but leaves the zipper down, probably because he's still semi-hard. "Well it's not like they're planning to have a huge orgy during the reception, though I'm sure a few of their guests would kill for that. They're keeping it mostly traditional."

I start tying my shoes. "Will I get to meet them before?"

He puts on a very tight, form-fitting undershirt. "They're in town, and we're all going to Volunteer Park to play Frisbee this weekend."

"I don't know. I kinda suck at Frisbee. I wouldn't want to be a bother."

He puts on his dress shirt and begins fastening the buttons. "Nonsense. You're always more than welcome to join us. You're part of the group now, and the guys all love you. Plus, they're happy I'm getting laid now."

"I know I'm happy I'm getting laid now."

He nods in agreement. "Mmhmm."

I stand up and walk towards him. "Well, I should try to get as much running in as I can before I have to head to work."

He places his hands on my shoulders. "All right, cutie." He pulls me in close and we kiss. He reaches around and lightly taps my ass. "Take a key, because I'll probably be gone before you get back."

"OK. Have a good day at work."

He sighs. "Thanks; I'll try. You too. See you tonight."

We kiss one more time. I turn and head to the door, making sure to grab the spare key on the way out. I put on my running jacket and head out the door.

It's a bit dull and dreary. Clouds fill the sky, and a brisk, cool wind blows from the south. I can feel a light mist. Now I know why Starbucks is so popular here - everyone needs a cup of coffee not only to wake up, but also to warm up.

I had never thought of Gas Works Park as a place to run, but it fits that role surprisingly well. There are paved paths throughout the park, and the earth mound is great when I want some altitude variation. However, the park can be a bit creepy with the sun still below the horizon and the ancient metal structures of the long-since-abandoned plant sticking up out of the ground. I feel for a moment like I'm all alone in the world. I would give anything for James to come running out from nowhere trying to catch a Frisbee, just like on the day we met.

I finish out my run and head home. I take a quick shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, and head out the door. It's hard to resist the temptation, so I grab a bagel and coffee and head into the office.

Eric and I make plans to grab lunch together. We then work with each team to see how far along we've gotten. The programmers say they have hit a huge obstacle, and with me now being the lead developer and tester, I'm given the task to figure out how to overcome that obstacle while the team goes on to tackle another area.

It's been hard - no pun intended - trying to keep James off my mind. I get all excited thinking about him in just that towel, rubbing his cock against my ass. I imagine him kissing my neck as he slips the towel off of his body and onto the floor. He positions the head of his cock and pushes against me, ever so gently, until he's inside me. He continues kissing my neck as he pulls my hips closer and closer to him until he's all the way inside me and then starts slowly thrusting...

I catch myself drifting off into this erotic moment and shake myself back to reality. I look down. Crap - it's almost lunchtime, and there's no hiding this erection. It's totally obvious in these khaki pants.

Eric steps into the doorway of my office. "Hey Brad. Ready to head to lunch?"

"Erm, give me a minute."

"All right. Let me know when you're ready."

He turns and walks away. I try with all my might to not think about anything sexual at all. I feel my cock start to get softer, but all of a sudden it tenses up and the head pushes against the soft material of my briefs, adding to the sensation - and the length and thickness.

After what seems like an eternity later, Eric appears again. "You about ready to go yet?"

"Umm, almost."

"Come on, Brad. If we leave any later, we won't have any time to eat."

I take a quick breath. "All right." I stand up from behind my desk.

"Cool, I was thinking we could try that-"

We break eye contact, and I see Eric glance down at my crotch.

"-Whoa! I see programming isn't your only talent!"

"Oh Eric, I'm sorry. This is so embarrassing."

"Don't sweat it, Brad. It's the bane of every man's existence."

I turn my back to him, undo my belt, unzip my pants, and reach down and try to adjust myself as best as I can. "I can't help it. James came up to me this morning wearing nothing but a towel."

"You know, I never have this problem."

I turn my head and glance at him as I keep adjusting. "What's your secret?"

"Anytime I feel even the slightest bit horny in the morning, I make sure to take care of it before I go to work, either by myself or with Lorna."

I glance down at myself, then back at him. "You know, you're not making this any easier."

He laughs. "What, you get excited thinking about straight men?"

"I get excited thinking about men, period!"

My erection has gone down enough to where it's not that noticeable. I pull my zipper up, buckle up my belt, and turn around.

Eric smirks as he glances down once more. "Ready now?"

"Yes," I say sheepishly. "You were saying?"

"I was thinking we could try that deli we went to before."

"You really want to go there again?"

"Sure. Is something wrong with it?"

I hesitate for a second or two. "No. That sounds fine. Let's go."

We hop in Eric's car and head to the deli. We step inside and I look around for Derek. He and I haven't spoken since the night before James flew back in town. Knowing Derek, he'd probably try to exact his revenge by cumming into my ham & Swiss panini.

Eric and I walk up to the counter and order. We find a nearby table and wait for our sandwiches.

"So how are you and James doing? Besides the fact that you haven't had sex in the last six hours."

I roll my eyes and give him a half-smile. "Things are OK, I guess."

"Just 'OK'?"

"Yeah. Willie, his father, came for dinner last night. He seems like an all right guy, but he said some things that James didn't like."

"What did he say?"

"Well, James and his brother, Paul, don't get along too well. When James came out, Paul reacted badly. He lives out in the Midwest and is married with kids, and he and James don't really talk to each other anymore. Anyway, Paul's been calling James at work wanting to talk to him, but he refuses, and Willie ends up having to take all the calls, and all he wants is for his two boys to be on good terms with each other."

Someone approaches the table with our sandwiches. They come from behind me, so I can't tell if it's Derek or not. A sense of relief washes over me when I hear a female voice. "Here you go, gentlemen."

I look up at her as she places our sandwiches on the table. I thank her and she walks away.

Eric sighs. "Family drama is never easy to deal with, especially when you're an outsider to the whole thing."

"Yeah. And James's mother died of a heart attack a few years ago. She used to smoke and drink heavily. Willie didn't really say or do much to stop it in the past, but now he acts very critical towards her and her past actions. James just thinks his dad is being unfair, especially now that his mother's gone."

"What was his mother's name?"

I pause for a few seconds. "You know, I don't think he ever mentioned her name."

"Hmm..." He is silent for a few seconds. He then continues, "All I can say is: Everyone deals with loss differently. Anger is a part of that process. Everyone's relationship with someone before they die can have a big effect on how each one of them handles the loss. All you can really do, as hard as it may and will be, is to just be there for James. There's probably a lot more about his past that you still need to find out about from him."

I tilt my head to the side. "Like what?"

"Well, as I mentioned, his relationship with his mother."

"He said, as kids, he and Paul used to stay mostly in their room because of how bad the house reeked of cigarette smoke."

"Yes, but last night he sounds like he took much of what Willie said about her personally. He wouldn't have done that unless he had some respect for her in the first place. Trust me; there sounds like there's more to this than meets the eye."

"How do you know all this?"

"While I was in college, I also thought about pursuing a career in counseling. I took a few social work classes. They taught me a lot about how people work."

I ponder for a few seconds, then speak up. "I have a feeling that I'll be talking to you a lot about this."

"And I want you to feel comfortable doing so. You can talk to me about anything you want, Brad. We're not just coworkers, you know. I really cherish your friendship, too, and I want to be a good friend to you as well."

"You are, Eric. You've been there for me when I was struggling with whether or not I could handle being together with James. I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

"Think nothing of it."

We finish eating and start heading back to his car. He turns to me as we walk. "So how are you coming along with that problem the programmers are having?"

I groan. "I've been beating my head against the wall trying to figure it out."

"I bet you'd rather be beating another part of your body."

I look at him, surprised. "Eric, I never thought you had this much of a sense of humor."

"Wow, I take offense to that!"

"Oh, come now. I didn't mean it like that."

After a few seconds, he says, "I know; I'm just fucking with you."

I feel really lucky to have someone like Eric for a coworker - and a friend.

 

[vater292]

Hmm...Don't know if I would standup in front of my boss if I had a noticable erection. haha Just saying!

I am anxious to see if James talks to his brother and what he has to say. As well I am hoping we hear more of James prior relationships. It will be interesting to hear how James day went following that evening. I wonder if it came up throughout the day and how it the conversation went. Then Derek hasn't been heard of since the night before James came back, so I am wondering when and how he will show back up. Kind of feel like a decent number of things are building up and its just waiting to see how they all might play out.

 

[72-Jay]

Just read the last 3 updates tonight. & enjoyed all
Its gonna be interesting to see what James's brother wants. .. .hmmm I wonder if that also has something to do with his father's actions?

 

[Craiger]

Paul's need to talk to James does seem to be the big mystery right at this point. However as Vater commented, Derek hasn't been heard of for a while and seems to be missing from the deli. There's another mystery brewing. I'm surprised that he hasn't tried to interfere with Brad and James' relationship. But there is plenty of time for these things to unfold. Not only does Brad and James have each other for support, Brad has really found a good friend and sounding board in Eric. Something we all need now and again. Great update as usual, AG.

Craiger

 

[truxtun]

Brad, I've got a great solution to your problem of highly noticeable hard-ons. Trade dicks with me and then your hard-on won't be big enough for anyone to take notice!

 

[AstareGod]

Thanks, as always, for reading and for the comments! I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story. For anyone who hasn't chimed in yet with feedback, feel free!

The next two parts are fully written and edited. Next part will be posted sometime Monday, and the following one will be posted sometime Wednesday. Thanks again for reading!

Hmm...Don't know if I would standup in front of my boss if I had a noticable erection. haha Just saying!

I am anxious to see if James talks to his brother and what he has to say. As well I am hoping we hear more of James prior relationships. It will be interesting to hear how James day went following that evening. I wonder if it came up throughout the day and how it the conversation went. Then Derek hasn't been heard of since the night before James came back, so I am wondering when and how he will show back up. Kind of feel like a decent number of things are building up and its just waiting to see how they all might play out.

The car ride from Seattle to Portland can be pretty long. I think it took me around 3-4 hours when I did it in September. It's about 160 miles long on I-5. Plenty of time to talk about lots of things. Some of your questions will be answered in the next upcoming part.

Just read the last 3 updates tonight. & enjoyed all
Its gonna be interesting to see what James's brother wants. .. .hmmm I wonder if that also has something to do with his father's actions?

I'm glad you're all caught up! All that stuff should hopefully be known soon...

Paul's need to talk to James does seem to be the big mystery right at this point. However as Vater commented, Derek hasn't been heard of for a while and seems to be missing from the deli. There's another mystery brewing. I'm surprised that he hasn't tried to interfere with Brad and James' relationship. But there is plenty of time for these things to unfold. Not only does Brad and James have each other for support, Brad has really found a good friend and sounding board in Eric. Something we all need now and again. Great update as usual, AG.

Craiger

You and Vater are right - Derek has been a bit, er, invisible lately. Perhaps he'll make an unexpected return... Eric has definitely been a godsend for Brad. He has a lot of people going for him - Sharon, Eric, Gary, Harry... and Willie seems pretty supportive of their relationship, too. It's great to have all those people on their side.

Brad, I've got a great solution to your problem of highly noticeable hard-ons. Trade dicks with me and then your hard-on won't be big enough for anyone to take notice!

I had to laugh out loud at your comment!

 

[AstareGod]

Part 37

We finally reach the end of the work day. I pack up all my things and begin driving home.

James texts on the way. I have my phone read it out loud to me. "Hey, cutie. I just got done with work and don't feel like cooking tonight. Want to head out for dinner?"

I call him back. "Hey, I'm just getting off, too. Going out sounds good. Where to?"

He gives me directions to a place close to the law firm. I tell him I'll meet him there shortly.

I drive to the restaurant and meet him outside. We head in together and get a table.

"Brad, can you drive me home tonight and drop me off at work in the morning? I might need a drink or two."

I place my hand on his. "That bad?"

"No, not bad; just a bit overwhelming."

Our server approaches our table. We order food and James orders a drink.

"Did you have a talk with your dad?"

James takes a deep breath. "Yeah. I didn't really feel like talking, but Paul called the office again and Dad came to me right when he got off the phone."

"What did he say?"

"Dad's just getting more and more tired of this sibling rivalry with each passing day. He's not taking sides; he knows it was wrong how Paul treated me years ago, but he thinks I should be over it by now and that it shouldn't stop me from having a relationship with Paul."

"And what do you think?"

He pauses for a moment. "If it's starting to affect him this much, I think it's worth it to talk to Paul."

I caress his arm. "Good. Honestly, I'm glad to hear that. I never really like it when conflicts remain unresolved for so long."

"Me neither. I just know it's going to be a painful process."

"Sometimes we need to go through the pain in order to heal and grow stronger."

He sighs. "Yeah."

Our server returns with James's drink and our appetizer.

I turn back to James. "So when are you going to talk to him?"

"Probably on the way to Portland."

"In the car?"

"Yeah. I don't think I can muster the energy to talk to him after I'm done with work, and I certainly can't talk to him at length during work. I want to spend my free time this weekend with you. The only other time is when we're driving down to Portland."

"But you won't mind me being in the car, listening to your conversation?"

"Brad, you and I have no secrets. Even if you weren't present during my phone call with Paul, you'd still hear about it from me. I'm not really worried about what he'll say. I have no shame about the decisions I've made in the past."

"All right, as long as you're OK with it."

We relax and wind down as we eat dinner. We've both been pretty taxed mentally and emotionally. And it's only Tuesday.

We finish dinner and I drive us home. On the way, James places his hand on my thigh. "Dad also said he's sorry for how he acted last night. He wants to take us out to dinner on Friday to make it up to us. I told him I'd ask you."

"That very nice of him. I know he's a good man - there was probably just a lot on his mind last night. I'd like to see him again on Friday, though."

"Great. He feels so bad about it, and says he'll try to be a little more on his best behavior."

I continue driving as the sky grows darker and darker. We arrive home and I park along the street. We step inside and head to the kitchen.

"Brad, can you make me one of your world-famous lemon drops?"

"Absolutely."

He lightly pinches my cheek. "Thanks, cutie."

I gather the ingredients, shake them up, and pour them into two martini glasses. I hand one to James and we toast to our new relationship.

"Did you have a good run this morning?"

"It was OK. It's great being near the water, but it's kind of spooky at night with no one around. I kept waiting for the boogeyman to jump out and kidnap me."

James chuckles. "I know what you mean. I've gone there late at night once or twice and felt the same way."

We take sips of our drinks. James continues, "Speaking of running, you looked so god damned sexy this morning in that jockstrap."

I'm a little shocked and surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah. Can I see you in it again?"

"You mean, like right now?"

James gets a dreamy look in his eyes. "Yeah."

Weirder things have been asked of me. "Sure."

James downs the rest of his drink, and I follow suit. We walk upstairs to the bedroom. He sits on the bed while I grab a random jock from the dresser.

"Can you put on a black one like you had on this morning?"

"Yeah, I think I have a clean one in here somewhere."

I search through the underwear drawer until I find a black jock. I set it on top of the dresser, then I undo my belt, unbutton and unzip my pants, then push my pants and underwear off my body and onto the floor. I place one leg, and then the other, into the jock and pull it up to my waist.

James stands up and walks over to me. He runs his hands over the waistband, pouch, and leg straps. "The jockstrap is such an interesting piece of underwear."

"It sure is. Don't you like how it feels when you put it on?"

"I don’t know; I've never tried one."

I gasp. "Really? You never had to wear one in gym class?"

"I never had to take gym."

I stand there, stunned, for a few seconds. "Wow. I guess Denver and Seattle are more different than I thought."

"I've always wanted to try one on, though. Do you mind?"

"I've already had your dick in my mouth. Why would I care if you wore my underwear?"

He chuckles. "Never thought about it that way."

I hand him the first jock I had pulled out - a white one. He bends down and struggles with putting his legs in, but eventually gets it on the right way. He pulls it up and snaps the waistband against his body. "You're right; it does feel kinda weird at first, but I love how it lifts everything up. I wonder how it feels underneath jeans." He grabs a pair of jeans, puts them on, and zips them up. "Yeah, I think it would take some getting used to, but I kinda like it."

"Well, they're really meant for when you're doing lots of physical activity, because they keep everything from flopping around everywhere."

He moves his legs around, attempting to get a more comfortable fit. "Can I borrow one when we go play Frisbee on Saturday?"

"Sure. I'll probably have to do laundry a day earlier, but I don't mind."

He thinks for a few seconds. "You know what else I'd like to do in a jock?"

I have no idea. "What?"

"Get fucked while wearing one."

"Uh-, I-, ah-" I'm at a loss for words.

"Care to help me out with that fantasy?"

I slowly regain my composure. "Like, tonight?"

"Yes, tonight. If you're ready to."

"I wasn't quite expecting that so soon, but I'm not going to say no."

"Good."

He wraps his hands around my hips and cups my bare ass. The warmth of his hands feels wonderful. I reach my hands between his arms, unbutton and unzip his jeans, and slide them to the floor. I take his ass in my hands and massage it. He begins walking backwards toward the bed and pulls me with him. He reaches the bed and lies down on his back, pulling me on top of him. Our cocks rub against one another through the pouches of our jocks. I lie flat on his chest and torso, our cocks pressing against each other. We make out for a while, and then I pull away.

"Are you sure you want to do this tonight?"

"Yes. I'm more than sure."

He grabs the back of my head and pulls me into another kiss. We break contact and I get up and walk to the dresser to grab the lube. I walk back to the bed, place the lube on the nightstand, and begin to take off my jock.

"No, leave it on. I want you to fuck me with it on."

I pull the jock back up and lie on the bed beside him. He sticks his knees in the air and spreads his legs, giving me easy access. I squirt some lube on my fingers and move them in a circular motion around his asshole. I lean into him until our lips meet and we kiss. We keep kissing as I gently push my finger further and further inside him until my knuckles meet his perineum. I slowly pull out and insert two fingers this time until they're all the way inside. I lightly massage his prostate, and he softly moans in pleasure.

I whisper in his ear, "Are you ready?"

He nods. "Go for it."

I pull my fingers out and get back on my knees as he pulls his knees to his shoulders, leaving his ass wide open. I pull the pouch of my jock to the side to expose my now-hard cock. I squirt some lube on my hand and begin to work it on my cock. I position the head at the opening of his ass, slide it up and down a few times, then push it against him. His hole gives way easily and quickly swallows the first few inches of my cock. The sensation almost pushes me all the way over the edge. It has been a long time since I've felt this sensation - that I can remember.

I gently push my cock the rest of the way inside him until I can go no further. I lie flat on top of him and we kiss for a few seconds, then I hoist myself back up to my knees, grab his ankles, and start thrusting. I start off slowly, but the sensation feels so amazing that I quicken my pace.

I look straight into his eyes. "How's that feel?"

"Oh, God, it's wonderful. Keep going, Brad, keep going."

I keep thrusting at my new, quicker pace. His eyes roll to the back of his head and his mouth hangs open and his breathing gets faster. I lie down against his chest so that our faces are just inches apart. We gaze into each other's eyes as I keep thrusting.

"Fuck, James, this feels so good. I'm getting close."

"You feel like you're gonna cum soon?"

"Yeah," I gasp.

"Me too."

He slides his hand between us and grabs his cock from underneath the jock and begins jerking off. I get back upright on my knees to give him more freedom to move.

I start thrusting faster and faster. "James, I'm getting really close. Want me to cum?"

James is breathing so rapidly he can hardly get the words out. "Yeah. Cum. Inside. Me."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Do it."

I lean forward and support myself with my hands. I pound deep into his ass a few more times and feel myself going over the edge. I moan very loudly as I feel my balls preparing to empty their load.

"God, Brad, I'm gonna cum!"

His balls tense up as he starts shooting his load. The first few spurts of cum fly right past his head onto the pillow behind him.

"I'm cumming, too! Augh!"

My own orgasm starts. I maintain my motions as I shoot rope after rope of cum inside his ass. Believe it or not, this is the first time I've ever done something like this.

Our orgasms subside and I collapse on top of him. He wraps his arms around me and we hug each other tightly.

"I love you, Brad," he whispers in my ear.

"I love you, too," I whisper back.

I lift my head up to kiss him, then hoist myself back up. I slowly pull all the way out of him and walk to the bathroom to get a washcloth. I wipe off my cock and then clean up around his ass and all the cum on his chest and torso. I toss the washcloth onto the bathroom floor. I then grab the waistband of his jock and pull it off of him. I do the same to mine. I hop into bed and we crawl underneath the sheets.

"Brad, that felt absolutely amazing. Thank you for indulging in my fantasy."

"Fuck, I'd be happy to, anytime."

"I do have one more thing to ask of you."

I patiently await his request.

"Do you think you can get hard again and stick your cock inside me and we can fall asleep like that?"

"Wow, that's kinky!"

"Not really; I just want to have my boyfriend inside me as I drift off to sleep."

"Sure thing."

"Good."

He kisses me, then rolls over and turns his back to me. I reach my hand under the covers and jerk myself off so I get good and hard again. I feel around for his hole and then position my cock and gently push until I'm balls deep inside him.

"Like that?"

"Yeah, just like that."

He turns his head and we kiss. "Good night."

"Good night."

I normally sleep having someone else hold me, so it's a bit of a different feeling holding him - not to mention having my cock inside him as well - but it's a pleasurable sensation nonetheless. And I've never felt closer to anyone else in my whole life.

 

[vater292]

WELL HOT DAMN!! That was most definitely erotic. For the first time going that far with each other that is one heck of a way to do it. Sounds like a lot of fun!

Hopefully Friday we will get to see more of how Willie normally is. I think it does show a bit about how nice of a guy he is that he recongnized he had done some things he shouldn't have when he first met Brad and is wanting to take them out to dinner. Then this drive to Portland should be good. It will give them time to talk as well as get to find out what it is that James brother wants to talk to him about this should be interesting to hear. Whatever it is James brother has to tell him it will be good that Brad is there to support him. Like Brad I am glad James is going to see what his brother has to say. Great update!!

 

[Craiger]

That was extremely erotic, AG. Oh to be a little mouse and witness such erotic and intimate happenings. Trouble is, I would want to join in..... This trip to Portland sounds like it may be fairly stressful. I hope Brad will be the one driving as the I don't think James will be in a state of mind to handle both Paul and the auto. Of course the conversation may well be very positive and help James get beyond the hurt of the past. I look forward to, after a weeks absence, catching up on all the events.

Craiger

 

[truxtun]

Holy shit! Craiger's right on, this is extremely erotic. But very, very good erotic. I can only imagine the sensations and emotions these men must feel - I feel very cheated that I never experimented personally to explore the wide range of pleasures life can provide. So particularly for someone like me A.G., your tale is not only deeply interesting but deeply liberating. Thanks

 

[AstareGod]

WELL HOT DAMN!! That was most definitely erotic. For the first time going that far with each other that is one heck of a way to do it. Sounds like a lot of fun!

Hopefully Friday we will get to see more of how Willie normally is. I think it does show a bit about how nice of a guy he is that he recongnized he had done some things he shouldn't have when he first met Brad and is wanting to take them out to dinner. Then this drive to Portland should be good. It will give them time to talk as well as get to find out what it is that James brother wants to talk to him about this should be interesting to hear. Whatever it is James brother has to tell him it will be good that Brad is there to support him. Like Brad I am glad James is going to see what his brother has to say. Great update!!

HOT DAMN INDEED! I loved your reaction! I'm happy you're looking forward to seeing where all this is heading. You guys really keep me going. So glad you're interested in reading more.

That was extremely erotic, AG. Oh to be a little mouse and witness such erotic and intimate happenings. Trouble is, I would want to join in..... This trip to Portland sounds like it may be fairly stressful. I hope Brad will be the one driving as the I don't think James will be in a state of mind to handle both Paul and the auto. Of course the conversation may well be very positive and help James get beyond the hurt of the past. I look forward to, after a weeks absence, catching up on all the events.

Craiger

I'd want to join in, too!!! Good advice about Brad doing the driving - I think James has something like that in mind. ;-) Enjoy your mini-vacation - there will hopefully be lots to catch up on when you get back.

Holy shit! Craiger's right on, this is extremely erotic. But very, very good erotic. I can only imagine the sensations and emotions these men must feel - I feel very cheated that I never experimented personally to explore the wide range of pleasures life can provide. So particularly for someone like me A.G., your tale is not only deeply interesting but deeply liberating. Thanks

I'd hazard a guess that every writer has written something that he or she wanted to have done in his or her life, but never got the chance to. I may get into trouble saying this, but I find myself living a little vicariously through my characters. It's just about as entertaining to me writing it as it is for all of you reading it. There are MANY things in this story I want to have happen for me. Unfortunately I'm not quite in the right situation YET, so my characters and the story is the best I have at the moment. Believe it or not, it's been quite a liberating experience for me, too. I'm not sure if you believe in reincarnation, but for me, I definitely have some plans for my next lifetime! Hopefully we'll get the chance to flesh these out again.

 

[AstareGod]

Hey guys! Here's the next part!

Part 38

I'm still holding James as he wakes and shifts himself onto his back. My now-flaccid cock slides right out. He opens his eyes, looks at me, and smiles. "Morning."

"Morning. How're you feeling?"

"Pretty good, though I may not be able to stand up after what happened last night."

"Oh, come on. I didn't pound your ass that hard."

"No, but it's been a while since I've had a good pounding."

"Me, too."

"Well then, we may have to revisit our new jockstrap fetish, but with a little role-reversal. But not right now, of course. You've got to take me to work, remember?"

"Yeah." Guess I'm not getting any running in today.

"Come on. Let's go shower."

We stand under the hot water and wash each other's body from head to toe, paying special attention to the cock, balls, and ass. Once we're all clean, we hop out and dry off.

We return to the bedroom. I walk to the dresser to grab my work clothes, but James interrupts. "Ever eaten breakfast naked?"

"I can't say that I have, at least not that I can remember."

"Want to?"

I think for a second or two. "Sure. Why the hell not?"

So we walk downstairs, naked.

"Eggs and bacon?"

I nod. "Sure. They were delicious last time."

James heats up the pan, retrieves some eggs and bacon from the fridge, and starts cooking. The loud sizzling sound instantly wakes up my taste buds.

I sit at the island. "How did you get to become such a good cook?"

"Believe it or not, it's one of the things Mom and I loved to do together. Because she smoked so much, she used to load all of our meals full of spices so she could taste them."

"Smoking affects your sense of taste?"

James flips the eggs. "Apparently. Anyway, when I wasn't pent up in my room, I was in the kitchen cooking with Mom. I learned a lot about what spices went best with which foods, learned about wine pairing - all kinds of stuff. That's probably one of the only good things that came from her smoking habits."

"I didn't do much cooking with my mom. My parents got me a computer when I was young, so I spent a lot of time by myself doing all kinds of things on it."

"Yeah, I kinda figured that."

James turns off the fire and serves breakfast. I take a bite of my eggs, and some of the egg yolk drips onto my chest.

James points to where the yolk fell. "See? Good thing you're not wearing any clothes!" He then leans down and licks the yolk right off my chest, then lifts his head and kisses me open-mouthed. I can taste the egg on his tongue. He then looks down at my cock, which is now getting harder and harder by the second. "Someone order sausage?"

"Too bad we have to go to work, or else we'd have time to eat it."

"Oh well. Guess it'll have to wait."

We finish eating and rinse our plates off in the sink. We head upstairs, get dressed, gather our things, and head out the door. We get in the car and start on our way.

"James, can I ask you something about your parents?"

"Sure."

"How was your father's relationship with your mother when she was still alive?"

"Oh boy. This car ride won't be long enough for me to tell you all about it, so I'll just give you the short and simple version. We actually all got along as a family when I was younger. Things started going downhill when Paul turned thirteen. He got into some trouble - even landed in jail once."

"Wait, this is the same Paul who became very religious?"

"Yes, but you're getting ahead of me. He started getting into trouble, and that's when Mom began down her path of self-destruction. Dad told him to straighten up, and Paul began to see how much his actions were negatively affecting Mom, so he did a complete one-eighty and turned to God - which was no problem for any of us, until I came out, that is."

"What happened then?"

His voice turns somber. "Well, after I came out, Paul got even more religious, Mom got more destructive, and Dad was at a complete loss and didn't know what to do." He sniffles. "Paul and I shared a bedroom up until that point. We became real close and talked about everything under the sun, because we were pent up in that room most of the time because of Mom's drinking and smoking. It was a huge blow to me when he flat out told Mom and Dad that he didn't want to sleep in the same room as his gay brother. He moved into the guest bedroom we had and stayed there until he went off to college."

I rest my hand on his thigh and give it a light rub to try to comfort him. He places his hand on top of mine, then suddenly squeezes it.

"Fuck! He hurt me so much, Brad. He stopped loving me and just left. How can Dad expect me to let this all go, just like that?"

I hold his hand. "I don't think he expects you to just let it go, but this is obviously still strongly affecting you. Maybe he sees that and thinks talking to Paul will help heal the wounds."

He wipes a tear from his eye. "I hope so. I just want to get this over with. I just want the pain to go away."

"So do I. No one deserves this."

We reach the law office and I park along the street. "Mind if I go in with you? I want to tell Willie myself that we've accepted his invitation to dinner on Friday."

"Sure, you're welcome to come in anytime."

We walk inside and James leads me to his dad's office. Willie sees me and stands up.

"Good morning, Brad. Please, step inside. What brings you here?"

I walk in and shake his hand. "Good morning, Willie. I'm just dropping James off and I have to be on my way, but I wanted to let you know that James and I would be delighted to join you for dinner on Friday."

"Ah, that's great to hear. I wanted to apologize to you for how I acted before. It was none of my business bringing up such sensitive topics, especially on the first day we met."

"It's OK, Willie. I know how things can get sometimes."

"Thanks. I appreciate your understanding. Anyway, I should let you be on your way. I'll see you on Friday."

"See you then."

I step out and walk up to James, who's been waiting for me outside the office. "I'm heading out. I'll see you when I get home."

"All right, cutie. Thanks for everything."

"Love you."

"I love you, too."

I give James a quick peck, and then we hug each other tightly. We break the hug, and I glance at Willie, who smiles at us. I wave goodbye to him, then turn around and head to work.

I spent most of the day yesterday trying as hard as I could to solve that problem the programmers had run into. What I thought could be solved in one day has now turned into two, then three, then four. On Friday, Eric runs to my office after he hears me scream in delight.

"I hope that was a good scream," he quips.

"It was. I just figured out the problem."

"About fucking time! What was it?"

"It was an order of operations issue in the formula we used to calculate eligibility of discounts on hotel rooms."

His eyes widen. "Damn. It sucks that it took four days to figure it out, but I know anyone other than you would've taken much longer."

I tilt my head to the side. "Aww, thanks! Don't give me too much credit, though. With a project this big, it could've taken weeks to find this bug. And the hotel piece isn't the only one that uses this code. This could have affected a lot more."

"Well, I'm impressed that you fixed it so soon. You've worked pretty hard on this. I think you deserve an early start to your weekend."

"Oh, Eric, you're my favorite."

"Shh. Don't let anyone else hear you say that." He smiles and winks at me.

I pack up and head home. I step in the door. James stands up from the couch. He's still wearing the suit he had put on this morning. "Hey, you're home early."

"Yeah. I figured out that problem at work, and Eric let me leave early for the weekend as a reward, I guess."

"Wow, that's awesome! What was it?"

"It had to do with some mathematical formula in an obscure part of the code. It was hell to find and narrow down, but as soon as I found it, I felt so relieved."

James walks up to me and gives me a kiss. "I just love having a smart boyfriend. We have some time before we have to get ready to meet Dad. How about I give you a reward of my own?"

He takes my hand and leads me to the couch. He unzips my pants, shoves his hand through the fly, and gropes my cock through my underwear for a few seconds. He then unbuckles my belt, undoes my pants, and slides them to the floor. He grabs the waistband of my briefs and pulls down. My cock springs out from under them, beckoning him to engulf it with his mouth.

He sits me down on the couch and kneels in front of me and gives me a congratulatory blowjob. I cum inside his mouth, and he hoists himself up and gives me a kiss.

"I hope I run into more of these kinds of problems at work."

"Hey, even if you don't, I still don't mind sucking you off."

I laugh. I reach for his crotch. "All right. Your turn."

He stops my hand from going any further. "No, not right now. That was your reward, just for you. We have to leave to meet Dad now."

I bend over and reach down to the floor to pull up my underwear and pants as I stand up. I buckle up my belt.

James kisses me quickly. "Ready to go?"

I nod. "Yep."

We step out the door and into his car. We head out to the restaurant Willie had invited us to.

 

[vater292]

Awesome update!! Great insight into James relationship with his mom. As well as the start of the relatioship with the rest of his family. When you have a falling out with siblings it can definitely have an affect on others in the family. I do have an idea of how Willie is feeling because of the issues his sons are having and the way it affected their mother. I look forward to hearing if James and Paul are able to reconcile their relationship, for their own good and their fathers. I do know of the mental toll it can take on others in the family to continue ignoring each other and leaving pent up feeling ignored in a sense.

Great update! You are doing a great job of keeping the story enticing and keeping me coming back for more.