Shadow Tales

Adventures of a Yeti Hunter-2

“Do you cook a lot?” Joel asks.

“A fair bit. I live alone, and I don’t like microwave meals, so I cook. My mom taught me and my sister,” Tommy says while chopping vegetables.

“Do you have a close-knit family?” Joel steals a bit of raw carrot to munch on.

“I guess so. I just turned forty. My parents passed in my thirties. But me and my sister are close, and I love my three nieces. They’re the cutest things ever.” Tommy smiles, and it suits him, makes him look even more handsome.

“None of my family talks to me,” Joel admits.

“Can I ask why? You don’t have to tell me,” Tommy says gently.

“No, it’s okay. It’s because I’m pan. They are very Christian and very judgmental. They firmly believe that men should just be with women. So when I was growing up and dating cis girls, it was fine, but then I started dating other people: men, genderqueer, trans. I see the beauty in them all, but my family doesn’t. So we stopped talking.”

His family had given him a choice: turn away from his true self and only date women and keep them in his life, or date whomever his heart desired and have nothing to do with them. It hadn’t been an easy choice. He loves his family, despite their faults, but he couldn’t live a lie.

“I’m sorry. That sucks,” Tommy says softly. “I wish I had something more profound or helpful to say, but I don’t. I’m just deeply sorry your family couldn’t see that sexuality doesn’t matter, doesn’t make you a different person, or any less amazing.”

Joel smiles faintly. “How do you know I’m amazing? It’s only been an hour and a half since we met.”

“More than enough time to know that you’re amazing,” Tommy says, not taking his eyes off the stew.

Joel wonders if this is all a dream. Maybe he fell in the snow, and this is some kind of coma. One where he meets a handsome, kind, gay man who thinks he’s special, who treats him as if he deserves the best after such a short time. Joel discreetly pinches himself, and he can feel it, so he decides it’s not a fantasy.

But it feels like he’s found something nearly as rare as the yetis he hunts: his own Prince Charming here in the woods.

“You look deep in thought,” Tommy says.

“Just thinking that you’re really something, too, and it hasn’t taken me long to see that either,” Joel admits.

They talk as Tommy cooks, and then after about an hour, Tommy serves the stew with fresh crusty bread. They sit at his kitchen table with a glass of white wine each because Tommy says it goes better with chicken.

Joel doesn’t really care. To him, wine is wine. It’s a nice meal and a good first date. They ask lots of questions, getting to know each other. When the meal is done, Joel insists on helping with the washing up, and they do it together, flicking water and bubbles at each other.

Joel scoops up some bubbles from the sink as it drains, the plates, pots, and pans having been cleaned, and dabs them straight onto Tommy’s nose. Tommy looks stunned for a second, and then he laughs. Surging forward, he wraps his arms around Joel’s waist, and to Joel’s surprise, lifts him off his feet.

“Going to behave if I put you down?” Tommy asks, looking Joel in the eyes.

“Who says I want to be put down?” Joel says, a little out of breath. He can’t believe how easily Tommy is holding him up. As the seconds tick by, Tommy’s arms don’t start to tremble. He doesn’t seem to be feeling the strain of holding a grown man off his feet at all.

“You like being manhandled?” Tommy asks, eyes dropping to Joel’s lips.

“Apparently I do.” Because Joel was so not aware of this kink until this moment. The guys he’s been with have mainly been other professors and men he met searching for yetis. None of them have been like Tommy, who is broad in his shoulders and chest, with thighs like tree trunks. Joel hadn’t known being held by a man like this would be so hot.

“Cool,” Tommy says, and proceeds to carry Joel back to the main room of the cabin and set him down on the fluffy rug in front of the fire roaring in the fireplace.

“Let me grab some wine, and I’ll be back,” Tommy says, and Joel is a little disappointed when Tommy lets go of him. That warmth, that strength, had felt so good pressed against his body.

Joel gets comfortable on the rug, pulling a few pillows down to help with that. Tommy isn’t gone long before he’s back with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He gets down on the floor with Joel, getting comfortable beside him before pouring them each a glass of wine.

“Here’s to snowstorms and strangers becoming friends,” Tommy says, raising his glass.

Joel echoes his words and touches his glass to Tommy’s before they both drink.

“I’m having a really good time,” Joel says.

“Sometimes a simple date can be the best. It all depends on the person you’re with,” Tommy says softly.

“How are you so perfect?” Joel asks, reaching out to brush Tommy’s long hair back off his forehead. It’s soft, a rich brown flecked with gold. It looks like it’s been done at salon, not by a man who mentioned that he cuts his own hair.

“I’m far from perfect.” Tommy laughs, catching Joel’s hand before he can take it back and holding it between them.

“Give me an example?” Joel demands.

“I snore. I yell too loudly at football on TV. I suck at board games. I have a lousy poker face. I’m bad at lots of things, but no one’s ever perfect in my opinion. I really like you. I want to take you on another date after tonight, and you don’t need to be perfect for me to want that,” Tommy says softly, all the while rubbing his fingers over Joel’s knuckles.

“None of those things sound so bad. But you’re right: looking for perfect is harder than looking for a yeti, and it’s not something I actually need or want. It’s if someone is perfect for you that matters,” Joel says thoughtfully.

“Yeah, I like the way you think. So will you’ll agree to another date?” Tommy asks.

“Yeah, I’d like that a lot. It’ll take something to beat this, though: a warm fire, cold wine, good company. Yeah, this is a pretty awesome date.” Joel smiles.

Tommy leans in and steals the smile off his lips with a tender kiss.

“Oh,” Joel says.

“No pressure. Nothing has to happen tonight. I just needed to taste your lips once,” Tommy says, stroking the fingers of the hand not holding Joel’s down Joel’s cheek, just touching the corner of his mouth.

“I’m not usually a one-date kind of guy,” Joel admits, but he can feel his body yearning to be closer to Tommy’s.

“That’s not what I want either. However far we go, I want to see you again. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, but I’m aware there’s more to find out, more to learn about you, and I want to keep doing that. I won’t lie: I do want to get into your pants, but I can wait.” Tommy sounds like he means it, but Joel’s only known him one evening. He doesn’t know if he can be sure about Tommy’s words. He wants to believe them. He wants to believe that over time, this spark they’ve found tonight will grow.

Joel’s head says to be careful, but his body is telling him he’d be a fool to miss out on getting to feel more of Tommy.

“I don’t need you to make me any promises. You don’t owe me anything, but I’d appreciate honesty. When the snow clears enough for me to leave, if I give you my number, will you use it?” Joel asks.

“Yes. You believe in yetis. Well, I believe in fate. Something brought you to my door today. Something thinks you should be in my life. I want to see if it’s right. I haven’t put myself on the line for a guy in a long time, but maybe it’s time I took a risk,” Tommy says in a rush.

Joel leans in and claims a kiss, pleased when Tommy responds by wrapping his arms around Joel and pulling him closer to that strong body, crushing their lips together. Joel can’t help letting out a small moan that gets muffled by Tommy’s mouth. They kiss until Joel’s lips feel bruised and his d**k is aching in his jeans. He’s sweating, and not because they’re in front of the fire.

And that’s when Tommy suddenly stops.

“What?” Joel groans.

“Depending on how far we want things to go, I need to go get some things,” Tommy replies, and thankfully one of them is still thinking with his upstairs brain. Joel’s has gone to mush, and all he wants is to feel more of Tommy.

“I, ah, think you should get some stuff,” Joel says, because he doesn’t do things halfway. If he’s going to spend the night with Tommy, it’s going to end how Joel dreamt it would.

Tommy nods and gets up, kicking off his shoes. He grabs a blanket off the couch and throws it over Joel before he heads into one of the other rooms that Joel hasn’t been in yet.

Feeling daring, Joel strips under the blanket. He gets rid of every layer and is grateful for the blanket and fire. He can hear the wind howling outside and the snow beating against the cabin, and he’s very glad not to be out in it—for more reasons than just the cold.

The rug beneath his naked back is soft and tickles the sensitive skin of his ass a little. The blanket on top of him is a little rough on his skin, but he doesn’t mind. The friction of it against his d**k is a sweet torture. He wants more, yet at the same time as he wants it to stop.

After a few minutes, Tommy reappears, holding a tube of lube and a package of condoms. The lube has been used before, but the condom package is new. As Tommy gets closer, Joel slowly draws back the blanket, revealing every inch of his naked body to Tommy’s hungry blue eyes.

“You look amazing,” Tommy says softly, setting the lube and condoms on the rug. Still standing, he pulls off the sweater he’s wearing and then unbuttons the undershirt. He drops them to the floor, revealing his broad muscular chest and defined abs. He has a tattoo of a dragon on one pec, and Joel gets the crazy idea to taste the tattooed skin to see if it’s any different under his tongue than the bare, un-inked skin.

“Thanks. You’re wearing too many clothes. Lose the pants and join me under the blanket,” Joel replies.

“Your wish is my command.” Tommy grins. He starts unbuckling his belt, and Joel can’t help watching Tommy’s hands move. He loves those hands, so strong. He bets they could hold him down easily. He wants to feel them on his hips, on his ass.

Tommy gets his belt unbuckled and then moves on to the buttons and zippers. Eventually he’s pushing his jeans down his legs, till he’s left in nothing but a pair of fitted boxers that showcase an impressive bulge.

“I showed you everything. It’s only fair,” Joel teases.

“I’m not shy, just taking my time. I don’t want to rush this. We may be rushing into bed, but we can take it slow once we’re there,” Tommy says, but he hooks his thumbs in the waistband of his underwear and pulls them down.

His trimmed pubes are the same brown and gold as his mane of hair, and his c**k is long and thick; it’s uncut, unlike Joel’s c**k. He’s seen a foreskin before. He’s never been bothered by them either way, but when he looks at what Tommy has between his legs, his mouth waters.

“Are you secretly a porn star in your spare time?” Joel asks as Tommy kneels down on the rug before lying down, getting closer to Joel. He can feel the heat coming off Tommy’s body, better than any fire to drive away the chill of the snow.

“No? Why?” Tommy asks, clearly confused.

“You’re seriously hung and buff. You’d clean up online,” Joel replies. Feeling brave, he reaches out to stroke Tommy’s firm chest.

“I think I’ll stick to taking pictures of animals.” Tommy grins, and he reaches for Joel again. They fall together, bodies getting to feel each other’s bare skin for the first time.

Tommy kisses down from Joel’s mouth to his neck, his lips soft, but his beard slightly scratchy. The combination of rough and smooth is surprisingly pleasurable, and Joel arches his neck, giving Tommy more access. He’s so caught up in Tommy’s kisses that he doesn’t notice Tommy’s hands have been moving until one wraps around Joel’s c**k. That he notices right away. Tommy’s hand feels even bigger wrapped around his d**k. His skin is soft, apart from a few calluses, and Joel arches up into Tommy’s touch.