Chapter One - An unusual assignment
I woke at an unspeakable hour feeling as though I were the filling in a toasted sandwich. According to its label, my duvet was ‘summer weight’ but at four and a half togs it was like a ton weight pressing down on me. I kicked it aside to feel a rush of cooler air hit my sweat soaked body. I had taken to sleeping ‘au natural’ these past few weeks and was conscious of the fact that the unwelcome warmth had caused my balls to sag so far that if they could speak my knees would say, ‘Howdy pardners, ain’t seen you hangin’ around here before.’
My scrotum with its precious cargo may have gone south but my dick was pointing in the opposite direction and aching for attention. Resisting the temptation to give my morning wood a friendly rub, I pushed up from my sweat pit and staggered to the bathroom, where after a pee welcomed by my bladder with a general feeling of relaxation, I stepped into the shower. [Unlike most guys in gay fiction who always ‘jump into the shower’]. Turning the thermostat down to an almost cold setting, I was soon feeling refreshed and ready to greet whatever the day threw at me.
I walked into the office dead on the stroke of nine, never one to be late – nor early if I could help it and made my way to my desk. The early birds were already pounding at their computer keyboards and once my terminal had booted up I joined in with the rest. Just like me, my father before me had worked for this same insurance company and he delighted in telling me how, in his day, pens and paper and calculations based on rating guides had been the way of doing business and that the introduction of computing had taken all the skill out of underwriting. That’s as maybe, but a computer could not (as yet) deal with an irate customer on the phone or be a calming influence when much loved property was lost, stolen, or destroyed. Neither, for that matter, could a computer answer a summons from the boss to go to his office.
The branch manager had a pleasant manner when he needed you to do something for him, otherwise he would treat his underlings as though they were either invisible or the dirt beneath his immaculately polished shoes. Today, he was being overly pleasant. ‘Ah, Tom come in; take a seat. This is my nephew Darin; he and his mother are staying with me for a while. Darin, this is Tom, the young man I was telling you about. I think you guys may get along and I was wondering Tom, if you would take some time to show Darin around as he is a complete stranger here. At first, I though the boss waned me to merely show Darin around the office; but no, I was given a couple of days off to show the young man around town.
Leaving the office, we made our way to a nearby coffee shop. Sitting opposite Dain I had a better opportunity to look at him and admire his sullen good looks. Dark hair and amazing brown eyes he was slim with an athletic look about him. He looked forlornly into my eyes and said, ‘My uncle’s a complete ass-hole, I hate him and wonder how you can work for such a prick.’
‘Oh, as bosses go he’s not so bad and I have little contact with him on a day-to-day basis. How come you are staying with him?’ I asked.
‘My Mom and Dad are going through a rather nasty divorce just now and Mom always turns to her brother for support when things get out of hand. I have been dragged along as our house has been sold and Dad has bunked up with his new paramour,’ Darin explained. ‘As for me, I am non-existent in Dad’s eyes since I came out as gay when his girlfriend made a move on me,’ he added.
‘Are you really gay or was that just a ploy?’ I asked.
‘No, I am gay and in the closet until recently. I find it a relief to be honest about my sexuality at last, although I think Mom had an idea about me for some time, but she ever said anything. She is quite OK about it saying that at least I won’t break some poor girl’s heart, referring to my father’s behaviour.’
‘Well, I too am gay. Doubtless that’s why your uncle introduced us. I don’t shout it from the roof tops but at the same time I have never tried to hide the fact and your uncle may have his faults, but he is not a homophobe.’
‘How do you propose we pass the day?’ Dain asked. ‘As it is so warm, I don’t fancy traipsing around town.’
‘There’s a nice pool at the condo where I live if that’s of interest. It will be fairly quiet there just now as everyone will be at work until around five this afternoon.’ I suggested.
‘That will be great, I swam on the team in college and was a member of the swimming club back home.’
‘I hope you won’t be disappointed by our shared pool. It’s more for cooling off than anything else. It’s hardly long enough for competitive style swimming,’ I explained.
‘As long as it’s cool and wet. That will be more than welcome,’ Dain laughed, for the first time since we met he seemed to be coming out of his shell. His smile was infectious and I was beginning to relish the time I would spend with him.
Arriving at my apartment, the first consideration was to fit Darin our with some swim shorts. Fortunately, we were not dissimilar in size, and I had a couple of pairs. I opened the drawer and told him to take his pick. He plumped for the ones that were in fact my favorite, but I could hardly complain when he immediately and unashamedly stripped naked and put them on. I wasted no time putting on a pair of shorts and we made our way down to the pool. As I anticipated there was no one else there, so we had it to ourselves and were soon enjoying the refreshing cool of the water. Darin swam like a fish, making the most of the limits of the smaller pool than any he would have been accustomed to using for competitive swimming. I sat on the edge after a while watching as he continued to do lengths, much of them under water. He was impressive! Eventually, he pulled himself up beside me. I half expected him to be short of breath but no, he was breathing normally and looking ready to repeat his exertions all over again.
‘Let’s make use of a couple of those loungers,’ I suggested and he agreed and we both lay in the sun to dry off. I found to my amazement that I had an immediate rapport with this slim young man and he seemed equally at ease with me. ‘How long are you staying at your uncle’s?’ I asked.
‘A couple of weeks, maybe more,’ Darin said. ‘Everything’s in a state of limbo just now.’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking,’ I said. ‘I’ve got an idea, let’s discuss it over lunch. There’s a diner on the next block that does some great burgers. I guess you’re hungry?’
‘When am I not!’ Darin said again with that infectious laugh I had come to like. We went back into the apartment and got dressed then headed for Chuck’s Food Emporium and what they advertised as ‘notoriously good food’. They were starting to get busy with the lunch trade and we were lucky to find a table. Josey, the blond waitress came over and greeted us and took our order. I took out my cell phone and rang a number. After a few rings my cousin picked up.
‘Hello, Tom. What’s up. Haven’t heard from you in weeks?’ my cousin Rob asked.
‘I wondered if your cabin by the lake was free over the weekend and if so could I use it and bring a friend?’
‘Sure, you know you are always welcome. Do I know him?’
‘No. We’ve only just met, and I have been charged with the task of keeping him entertained,’ I said with a smile.
‘It’s all yours. There’s a stack of food in the freezer and plenty of beers in the cooler, just help yourselves and have a good time but not so good as to make me jealous!’ Rob said. ‘You know where to find the key. Try not to drown yourselves in the lake!’ With that he rang off.
Darin had been listening to my side of the conversation and as I closed down my cell he asked, ‘What was that all about?’
‘How would you like to spend the next few days up at the lake? Rob, my all too affluent cousin has a cabin up there and it is at our disposal; he has also given permission for us to raid his stocks of food and drink.’
‘That sounds wonderful,’ Darin replied enthusiastically. ‘Do I need to pack a bag?’
‘You may want some essentials but mainly bring yourself,’ I replied.
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To be continued
