Chapter 1: Dreaming of a White Christmas
1959 Words
Chapter 1: Dreaming of a White Christmas
“Merry Christmas, Dad,” Brad Sturgis said into the phone, trying to keep the homesickness from showing in his voice. “I know Christmas isn’t for a couple of days but I just thought I’d check in.”
This was Brad’s first Christmas away from the Bennett-Barnes household since David and Andy had taken him in and adopted him following the death of his parents when he was in high school.
“How are things at home? Is Claudia up?”
Claudia was the family’s Christmas tree. It had been a family tradition to name their Christmas trees. Claudia was a seven-foot, artificial blue spruce, and decorating her each year was a major family event.
“Brad!” Dad David Bennett exclaimed. Then Brad heard, “Andy, it’s Brad. Pick up the extension!”
Brad heard a click, and then both dads were talking at once, asking questions one on top of the other. His heart warmed at this expression of enthusiasm for him.
“Whoa, whoa you guys,” Brad said, laughing, his melancholy mood of moments before evaporating somewhat in the love that poured from the receiver in his hand. “Hank and I are fine, only really busy,” Brad said in reply to one of their questions.
Hank Reynolds was Brad’s boyfriend and business partner. He was a horse trainer. The two of them were in Florida for Winter Quarter Horse Circuit in Tampa: a series of three shows which ran from two days after Christmas to well into January. They had traveled to the Sunshine State a week earlier to get things set up and the horses acclimated to the change in temperature.
“We’re gonna do all three shows this year. Hank has about ten riders to work with and coach, as well as showing our horses, Desi and Tango. The clients aren’t here yet so it’s up to him to work all the horses until they do. Sure won’t seem much like Christmas this year. With all the work and the heat…” Brad paused. Then, to keep from falling back into his funky mood, he repeated his query about Claudia.
“Well, I’ve been pretty busy with the practice,” put in veterinarian Andy Barnes. “So, we’re just getting around to decorating the ol' gal.”
They all laughed.
David added, “The kids and grandkids will be here Saturday, and we’ll decorate then.”
The kids were David’s four grown children from his previous marriage.
“Are Mike and John coming in?”
Mike, David’s oldest son, and his husband John lived in Boston.
“They’re flying in tomorrow afternoon,” David replied.
“Nelson and Norman will be coming as well,” Andy added.
Brad pictured the group gathered in the Bennett-Barnes family room. He could see the little ones vying for just the right place to hang a special ornament, his adopted brothers and sisters laughing and talking. He thought of Nelson, Andy’s dad and his eccentric partner Norman, and smiled. Their presence usually liven up any gathering of the family.
He wished he could be there. He especially would like to see Mike and John. As a young gay couple they were a source of inspiration to him in his relationship with Hank…as were his dads…but since Mike and John were closer to his age he felt he could relate to them in these matters more closely.
His thoughts were interrupted by Andy. “I’ve invited Ted to join us, too.”
“Oh?” Brad replied.
Ted was Brad’s first boyfriend. It was with Ted he had discovered his s****l orientation. Ted had graduated from Michigan State and joined Andy’s vet practice.
“Yeah, his family’s traveling in Europe for the holidays. We didn’t want him to be alone.”
Brad smiled. He was so grateful he had David and Andy. Ted’s parents hadn’t responded too well to his coming out. It was probably best for them to be away. Holidays hadn’t been comfortable for Ted. He would be better off with Brad’s family.
“We invited your grandmother, too,” David put in. “But she’s spending the holidays with your Uncle Ned and his family in California.
After a long conversation catching up on all the family news, Brad reluctantly said goodbye, promising he would call again on Christmas Day and ended the call on his cell phone. Just as he did, the door to the Fleetwood Discovery RV opened and his cowboy came in. Brad got up from his seat on the couch to greet him.
“Hey, babe,” the cowboy said, taking off his Stetson and hanging it on one of the row of pegs inside the door.
Brad walked over to Hank, wrapped his arms around his partner and kissed him. By the time the prolonged kiss ended, both men were breathless.
“Wow,” Hank said, “if I’d a known this was waitin’ for me, I’d been home way before this. What’s the occasion?”
Brad, not wanting to reveal the kiss had been inspired by his talk with his dads and his missing home, merely said, “Just missin’ my big strong hunk, that’s all.”
They kissed once more.
“If these kisses are the invite I’m thinkin’ they are, let me take a shower and we can do it proper,” Hank said, pressing his burgeoning hard-on against the bulge in Brad’s jeans.
“Can I join you?”
“Ya know better than to ask,” the cowboy said, cupping Brad’s firm butt and grinding against him.
They kissed again.
Brad stripped his tank top off over his head, pushed his jeans to the floor and stepped out of them. He turned to face Hank, dressed now only in white socks and briefs, his already hard d**k straining against the fabric.
Hank unsnapped his western style shirt. Dropping the garment on the floor, he sat on the couch. Brad knelt and unbuckled Hank’s spurs, got back to his feet and hung the spurs on the peg next to the Stetson. He came back to Hank to help with the removal of the big man’s boots. Turning his back to Hank, Brad straddled Hank’s leg, grasped the raised boot and pulled. Hank placed his other foot squarely on Brad’s ass and pushed. The boot slipped off and was deposited on the floor next to the shirt. The process was repeated for the other boot. This time, however, Hank’s stockinged foot rubbed Brad’s ample butt, wiggling his toes and causing his partner to laugh softly.
Once the second boot had been removed, Hank got to his feet. The two men stood for a moment gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Love me?” Hank asked.
“Ubetchim,” Brad replied, borrowing the word he’d heard so often at home when Andy had asked David that same question.
Brad leaned in and kissed Hank. Stepping back, he let his gaze roam down the body of this man he loved. Hank was a big man, at least six foot four. His black hair and piercing blue eyes caused many a heart, both male and female, to skip a beat, especially when he smiled. Broad shouldered and narrow hipped, his muscular body, honed by many hours of working with horses, made Brad’s c**k tingle with desire. Hank’s biceps were huge. He had a deep chest and rippled abs. The black hair pattern was perfect: thick across his pecs and tapering to a treasure trail that disappeared behind his silver championship buckle and into his jeans. Brad was well acquainted with where that trail ended. They had been together for five years and he was just as in awe of this man as the first time they had been together.
Brad was no slouch himself. Although a couple inches shorter than Hank, he had been a football player in college…at least until an injury sustained in a near-fatal car crash had ended his career. He had maintained his linebacker physique and still cut a fine figure with his well muscled body covered with fine, blond hair. His handsome boyish face, blue eyes and ready smile completed the picture. Together the men made a handsome looking couple.
Brad reached out and undid the silver show buckle, unbuttoned the jeans and pulled the zipper down. Brad reached inside and stroked the hard d**k. As he did so, Hank pushed his jeans over his hips and let them drop to the floor. Brad continued to stroke him as Hank leaned forward and initiated a kiss. Wrapping his strong arms around Brad’s smooth back, he began probing Brad’s mouth with his tongue. As their tongues danced, Hank kneaded Brad’s ass cheeks. Catching the waistband of Brad’s briefs with his thumbs, Hank pulled them down. Running his hands over the smooth mounds of muscle, Hank guided his fingers into the deep crevice, pressing the tight pucker within.
“Shower?” Brad reminded, breathing hard. “Before I c*m right here?”
Hank laughed. Brad loved his man’s laugh. It was deep and rich, seeming to resonate in Brad’s chest.
“Yeah, babe, shower.”
Two big men taking a shower in the Fleetwood was a challenge. Although the motor home was spacious as all get out…the bathroom was not designed with dual bathers in mind. Situated in the corner of the small room with its curved front, it offered a tight fit for Hank and Brad, not that they minded. After all, being as close together as possible was the goal. However, mutual washing was no easy task. Their bodies being in almost constant contact, most of the job was accomplished by soaping first and then turning around so their bodies slid by each other.
Once the washing had been completed, Hank held Brad and kissed him as the water from the overhead showerhead rinsed the soap down the drain. Brad turned and leaned against the wall. Hank covered him with his body, sensuously rubbing his muscular chest against Brad’s back, probing the man’s ass crevice with his thick, hard c**k and reaching around to fondle Brad’s balls and his erect d**k.
“You want it here, babe?” Hank asked, his voice husky with desire.
Brad nodded and gave a muted, “Uh huh,” turning his head, seeking Hank’s lips.
Hank laid his head on Brad’s shoulder, reached down and guided his c**k into his partner’s waiting body; the combination of the warm shower and Brad’s desire for union made his entry easy.
Once inside, Hank held still for a few moments, both men relishing the feeling of union. Then, slowly at first, the undulations began. Hank stroked Brad’s c**k in time to his rhythm. They had done this so many times before that Brad could readily time his climax to that of his partner. He relaxed into Hank’s control and sank into that state of other-consciousness where nothing mattered except their union and their love.
Brad knew his partner was close to climax; Hank was increasing the speed and depth of his thrusts. Brad heard Hank gasp, felt Hank’s teeth on his shoulder as well as Hank’s throbbing c**k in his ass. Brad was pushed over the edge and coated the wall of the small shower stall with his c*m.
They stood for a few more minutes just experiencing the afterglow of their mating. Hank slipped out. Brad turned to him and kissed him once more letting the warm water wash over their bodies.
Stepping out of the shower, they took turns drying each other and then walked to the bedroom.
The men lay on the queen bed, Hank on his back, Brad on his side next to him, bracing his head with his hand. Brad idly traced the hair on Hank’s chest, occasionally bending down to kiss his n****e.
“I called home today,” Brad said.
Hank turned toward him. “Oh, babe, I wished ya woulda waited for me. I want to talk to them, too.”
“I’m sorry. I should have waited, but…”
“But?”
“Well, I just miss them, this being Christmas.”
Hank raised up farther, and Brad rolled onto his back.
“Geez, I’m sorry, Brad. This isn’t much of a Christmas for ya, is it?”
“It’s just different is all. I’m used to cold and sometimes snow and a tree and…”
“s**t!” Hank exclaimed, collapsing onto his back. “I’m so used to being down here at the Gold Coast Classic every Christmas. Been doing it with my folks since…well, since before I can remember. This is Christmas to me. I’m really sorry, babe. I shoulda thought. Pretty damn selfish a me.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up,” Brad said, shifting so he was partially lying on top of Hank. “I’m a big boy. I’ll survive.”
“Yes, sir, you are a big boy,” Hank replied, putting his arms around Brad’s back. “But still, I feel bad.”
“Well, if you feel that bad, maybe I can think of a way you can make it up to me.”
“Yeah, anything. What can I do?”
“This,” Brad said and kissed him.
- Writer
