Change of Opinion 3--- Toys R' Us

"That?" Bobby said as he crawled up the bed toward where his new lover waited for him. "It's not for you, Ebes. Chill. That particular toy... is for Fawkes."

Lifting the item Hobbes had placed near the end of the bed, Darien blanched and began to shake his head.

"Nooo, no, no. Forget it. No way are you.... Hard as I am, you'd never get it on anyway...."

Halting his advance on Eberts, Bobby turned over, leaned back on his hands and leered at Darien.

"So you do know what it is?"

"I didn't say I didn't recognize some of this stuff. I just said we... I...."

"Trust me, babe, I can get it on."

"Aww, crap... when you start up with the double entendre's I'm in trouble...."

"Don't be a brat, kid. Eberts deserves to play too. Without the cock ring you'd go off the minute he even thought about touchin' you."

"Touching? Oh...oh, of course.... Well..." Eberts murmured uncertainly from among the pillows. Hearing him speak, Bobby immediately returned his attention to his co-worker.

"It's part of the game, Ebes. We all make each other feel good. Today's about you, yeah, but.... "

"No, I understand. I... I can see Darien needs.... relief...."

"An' he'll get it. Just not right now."

"Is that.... what is that... device for?"

"Lemme show you. C'mon, babe." Bobby said, beckoning to Darien, who complied and moved to stand where Bobby could reach him. "See, you.... Fawkes, Let go of the cock-ring wouldja? I can't demonstrate nothin' this way."

"Bobby...."

"I know. Here. I'll make it a little better first, okay?"

Circling the base of his lover's cock with his fingers, Hobbes squeezed gently, maintaining easy pressure until Darien's erection began to deflate. Before the other man could protest again, Bobby slid the ring on and secured it. "You okay? Not too much?"

"No.... Damn.... this is weird. Knowin' I can't..... that makes me need it more...."

"That's the point. See, Ebes? As long as this is on, he can't come no matter how much he wants to. Good for teachin' control to newbies."

"But... I thought you and he were..."

"We are. I'm just gonna take advantage of the situation to.... tutor him, that's all. His control's pretty good, but it could be better. It's for you too, a'course. This way you can work up to things an' not feel rushed."

"Is he... are you in pain?"

"Not yet." Darien laughed grimly. "I'm pretty sure I will be if he leaves it on too long, but right now.... I'm good." he asserted, sliding under the sheets and tucking himself close to Eberts' left side. "How about you?"

"Excited, frightened, curious..... too many other emotions to name."

"I remember. I was shakin', confused.... Once Bobby kissed me, though.... everything was really simple. I knew what I wanted, I asked for it.... I got it."

"Perhaps.... if you kissed me again...." Eberts suggested cautiously, a shy grin tugging at his lips

"Hell, yeah. Love to...."

As the other two began to explore, Bobby clambered over both men to the right side of the large bed and joined them under the covers. At the first swirl of a warm, wet tongue on his right nipple, Eberts gasped loudly. Darien swallowed the sound, absorbing the vibration and returning it as a rumbling moan. A moment later, he and Eberts separated, panting in their efforts to grab enough oxygen to allow them to continue, then came back together hungrily.

Soon, Darien felt a tentative hand slip over his collarbone and down to his chest, searching out and timidly caressing a nipple. The sensation instantly began to renew his erection.

"Yeah.... that's nice, Ebes... good.... just like that.... mmmm...." Darien encouraged between kisses and licks up the side of Eberts' face and into his ear.

"Oh, my. You're already.... I assumed it would.... take longer..."

"I told you.... watchin' you.... it makes me really hot.... tastin' you is even better... your sweat.... it's like pure adrenalin..... you make me so hard.... that's it.... twist it... just a little..."

Several minutes later, Fawkes began to feel Eberts' own renewal sliding against his thigh and he chuckled softly.

"See? Doesn't take all that long, does it?"

"Unfortunately.... no."

"It's okay, Ebes. You need to come, let it happen. Just for today.... the rules and regs don't apply. Matter of fact.... there are no rules."

"Yes... I'm simply afraid that... despite your faith in my stamina..... If I.... achieve release now, I won't be able to...."

Pulling back slightly, Darien braced himself over his bed-mate and locked their gazes together.

"Eberts."

"Y-yes?"

"You got your kiss. Did it work? Do you know what you want, now?"

"Oh, yes. Absolutely."

"Then take the next step. Forget the thousand dollar a word vocabulary. Just ask.... see what happens."

"Darien.... will you.... dear God, I can't believe I'm about to..."

"Ebes, stop thinkin' about it." Bobby advised. "If you want it, say it."

"Right. Damn the torpedoes.... Darien..... Robert.... I need you, both of you.... to hold me and kiss me and touch me... and make me know I'm worth something to someone. Make love to me.... please?"

"As if I'm gonna say no when you ask so nice..." Bobby responded, smirking as he returned to mouthing and suckling on Eberts' nipples.

"I gotta agree. A little not-so-nice talk wouldn't hurt, though...." Darien added, sparing a meaningful glance for Bobby before resuming his investigation of his friend's skin.

"I don't know, sweetcheeks. Tender ears, remember?"

"Please... don't waste a m-moment worrying about th-that." Eberts interjected, his voice trembling as Darien licked a sensitive spot on his throat. "After that night on the stairs with Charles, even if the rest of me was still untouched, my ears were no longer virgin territory. The words that man knows.... you boys would be shocked.... Oooh! Darien.... again please."

"Again please...." Fawkes snorted, obliging with another slow swipe over Eberts' adam's apple. "Way to go, Ebes. Told you he'd get the hang of things, Hobbes."

"No argument here. You feel like tossin' out a few a'those naughty words, Eberts, you just go ahead. Unless you do it in Swahili or somethin'.... you ain't gonna surprise us, believe me."

"I could.... if that will make you.... hot, I believe is the word Darien keeps using."

"You know Swahili?"

"No sexual terms.... but then.... I could tell you to go milk the goats... and you... wouldn't know the difference. Mmmm.... oh, yes.... quite nice...." Eberts groaned, twisting and arching as Darien left a warm, wet trail from the base of his throat to his bellybutton.

"Make a nice nickname for him wouldn't it, Fawkes?" Bobby mused, finally reaching out to release the cock-ring.

"You thinkin' Narnia or Shakespeare?" Darien replied, sighing breathily as the pressure fell away, then honing his focus to a fine point as he fought to keep control.

"Narnia. That satyr... what was his name...."

"Tumnus. I think...."

"That's right. Tumnus. We can call him Tummy for short..." Bobby giggled.

"What do you think, buddy?" he asked Eberts as he dropped his head between the other man's thighs, exhaling and watching happily as his friend's erection grew. "Time to milk the goat?"

Eberts, still stunned that he had just heard Robert Hobbes produce an actual giggle, had to shift his attention at lightning speed, but he managed.

"Oh, God.... yes please.... but.... what about you...."

"There are three of us, goat boy. I'll get taken care of. You just lay back an' relax...."

Extending a hand over the side of the bed, Bobby felt around for a few seconds until he knew he had what he wanted then pulled up to his knees again, allowing the top sheet to slide down his back and puddle around his calves. Gazing briefly back at his partner, he gently admonished him.

"Go slow, Fawkes. Gimme a minute to get things ready, okay?"

"I'll try. Can't promise more than that.. So what if I'm a little impatient? I've been waitin' for the better part of a week, remember." Darien responded, licking Eberts' inner thigh and drawing something close to a purr from his willing victim.

"You want the ring back on?"

"Bobby..."

"I'll do it. Don't test me, kid. You'll get everything you've been wantin'. You just have to curb your need for greed 'till I'm ready. You can do that. Right?"

"Yeah. I can do that."

"Good. Ebes. Look at me a minute."

Grudgingly, Eberts forced his eyelids up until he could see Bobby clearly. When Darien nipped the skin behind his left knee, he gasped suddenly, pushing his head back into the pillow and arching his neck. Once he'd recovered, he focused on Bobby again and presented his colleague a tired, but obviously delighted, smile.

"Hello there. Have I mentioned what a good time I'm having?"

"Not in the last ten minutes. You ready for these?" he asked, dangling the cuffs.

"Oh... oh, yes. I'm absolutely ready. Go ahead."

" 'Kay. Put your hands up over your head.... that's right. Just relax."

Soothingly, Hobbes continued talking as he secured Eberts' left wrist, threaded the chain and the other cuff behind a post in the head board and finished the job on the right. "See? These are pretty comfortable. Just as soft as they looked. I said you wouldn't get hurt an' I'll keep that promise no matter what. You believe that, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"Good to hear. Okay, Fawkes. We're all set here. You ready for your next tutorin' session?"

"Man alive... what now?"

"Jeez, you just can't stop whinin' today can you? Thought I had you pretty much cured a'that."

Darien flushed and quickly lifted his upper body away from Eberts.

"I hear you. What is it? What'd you want me to do?"

"Better. Maybe you won't need a refresher course after all." Bobby told him, slipping a blindfold over Darien's eyes and adjusting it to his satisfaction.

"What the....okay, this is weird."

"Maybe, but you depend too much on what's in front of you. You wanna blow Eberts' mind or his anything else, use your other senses. Find your way with your hands, your tongue, your nose and your ears."

"My ears?! That's just sick.... oh, wait. You mean if I do somethin' right, I'll hear about it?"

"You do it right, the next county's gonna hear about it. Well? Get goin'. You do a good job with him, I'll do the same for you."

"Okay... " Darien replied uncertainly, tentatively reaching out with both hands until his fingers contacted skin.

"That you, Eberts?"

"It-it's definitely me, Darien."

"I was hopin' you'd say that. Hang on, okay? This could take a minute."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll be here." He chuckled, rattling the chain to the handcuffs lightly.

"Right. Almost forgot..." Darien said, using his hands to guide him as he leaned back in. Inch by inch he let his knees slide out from under him until he was stretched out fully. When he felt Bobby turning him slightly onto his right side, he went with the motion, understanding what his lover wanted and more than happy to give it to him.

After taking a second to orient himself again, Darien bent his head and breathed deeply, seeking the unique scent that was Eberts. A sweet and spicy newness invading his nostrils, and a low moan from the other man when he exhaled, let Darien know he was at least close. He extended his tongue and began to lick whatever was comfortably in reach. Eberts drew a swift gulp of air and held onto it for several seconds.

"Gotcha."

"I-indeed....."

Instead of answering, Darien merely grinned and went back to work.. Bobby watched for a few minutes, just to be sure that the other two were well settled, then he flipped his body so that the soles of his feet faced the headboard and wiggled closer to Darien until he was comfortable. After a moment of heated study, he gently wrapped his lips around the head of his lover's prick and sucked once decisively before backing off.

"Bobby! God... now who's a cock-tease...."

"Not me, that's for damn sure. I just wanna be sure you get the point.... that whiners never get anything they ask for..."

"I get it... I swear I do... please...."

"Sure, now? You sure you understand?"

"Bobbyyyyy....."

"I don't know. That was awful close to a whine..."

Darien shuddered for a moment, closed his eyes and seemed to be composing himself. When he spoke the tension was still there, but the words emerged with quiet dignity.

"Bobby, I need you. I need your lips and your tongue and your teeth and whatever else you feel like giving me and I need it soon. I'm so hard right now and you're the only one I want to make me come. Please don't make me wait anymore."

"Very nice. I'm impressed. You win the prize, baby. Since I'm the only not gettin' any attention.... that means I'll probably be the one to pop Eberts' cherry. You okay with that?" Bobby asked, following up his question with an excruciatingly slow stroke of his tongue.

" I get a feelin'.... I'll have my shot.... later. Besides... shouldn't you.... ask him?"

"I would, but if you work him like I know you can, he'll be incoherent in about two seconds."

"God I hope so. Speakin' of...." Darien mumbled. Determined to discover if Eberts knew anything other than polite words, he stroked his tongue up the vein on the underside then swirled it around the head a few times, gleefully collecting the fluid weeping from the slit. His effort was quickly rewarded.

"D-Darien! My God.... please...."

"Please what?"

"Please... don't stop..."

"Don't.... stop... what?" Eberts' tormentor asked between all too brief swipes of his tongue.

"Oh.... oh my.... oh dear..."

"You can say it... I know you can.... tell me what you want, buddy... I'll do anything.... just ask..."

"L-lick me again... please hurry.... I... I won't last much longer... I'm so close...."

"Not bad. Try this... repeat after me: I need to come..."

"I.. I need to... to come..."

"I want to come...."

"I want to come...."

"I want to come now..."

"Darien.... this would be considered torture in some countries...."

"To quote one of my favorite Disney movies.... "If this is torture, chain me to the wall" Say it, Ebes... say it and I'll suck you like there's no tomorrow... I'll suck every drop outta you and make you wish you had more to give.... just... say the words...."

"I want... to come.... now..."

"Atta-boy...." Darien praised, finally giving Eberts what he'd been begging for. Within a minute or two, Eberts' prick was engulfed to the root and a few moments later, another large piece of his virginity fell away and shattered as he thrust his hips up over and over, finding his second release of the day in the warm cave of his lover's mouth and throat. Darien swallowed the sweet, mildly peppery fluid with great relish then retreated slowly, cleaning away any residue as he went. Not long after, Bobby became the receiver and Darien the giver. Wrapping one arm completely around Eberts' thigh, Fawkes held on, shuddering and softly moaning Bobby's name, until his own spasms ceased.

Using his other senses to guide him, he kissed his way back up Eberts' body until he found his lips once more. It wasn't until the kisses began to taste faintly of salt that Darien realized Eberts was crying. Instantly, he ripped off the blindfold.

"What's wrong? You hurt? I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No... It was me... Darien.... I'm so sorry... I tried not to, but I couldn't help myself.... I wasn't really aware...."

"Hey, no. It's okay...." he soothed, gently wiping away the tears. "Holy Hannah an' her sisters, Ebes... I knew what was gonna happen. I loved it..."

"How... how is that possible? He.... Charles said every man's... fluid tastes dreadful..."

"When are you gonna get it through your head that he lies?" Darien reproved him lightly. "He probably tastes like shit, so he wanted you to think it's always that way. You..." he offered gently, cupping his new lover's face. "you taste fantastic... like honey and cream mixed with just a little jalapeno. I could get addicted to you *real* easy..." Darien assured him, tossing his friend a lustful grin.

"But... why would he lie? I don't understand why he'd want to mislead me like that...."

"He's an ass. An' twisted to boot." Bobby replied as he crawled back up to join the other two. He continued speaking as he released the handcuffs and helped Eberts sit up. "He knew if he could get you to believe the crud he was sellin' it'd let him off the hook an' probably keep you from doin' any outside explorin' with somebody who might just tell you the truth."

"You mean.... he said all those awful things... just so I'd believe it was my fault that he wouldn't touch me.... and to assure that I'd be close at hand and properly browbeaten if he ever got... frustrated again? How dare he try to... What kind of man... How dare he?!" Eberts cried out, tears of anger replacing ones born of regret and sadness.

Simultaneously, Bobby and Darien both reached to gather Eberts into their arms. For a long while they simply held him, murmuring words of support and encouragement in his ears. The three men stayed that way until Eberts chose to break the embrace.

"Thank you.... both of you. You can't know what this day has meant to me... everything is a great deal clearer now. Can we... I think I'm ready now... ready to complete the bargain he made."

"Ebes..." Bobby began cautiously. "You know you don't have to. Now that I really know you, I'd never make good on my threat about the pictures. In fact they'll be ashes before the day's out...."

"I hope so, but that's not it. You've given me so much... opened my eyes to his treachery.... that alone is worth whatever you might ask of me. Besides... I *want* to go on. It feels so good to.... no. that's supremely silly." Eberts said, censoring himself.

"What is? C'mon, goat boy. Whatever it is can't be any dumber than some of the things I've said an' done." Darien told him.

"Well... all I was going to say was that it felt incredibly good to know that someone wanted me for more than my mind. There, you see? It sounds like a blonde joke gone horribly awry..."

The other two laughed easily and hugged him again for a moment.

"You absolutely sure about this? If you got any doubts at all, say so now." Bobby warned him.

"I'm one-hundred percent certain. Please... say you'll make love to me completely. Don't refuse me now..."

Gazing into Eberts' wide eyes and suddenly solemn expression, Bobby simply nodded and sent Darien to the bathroom for the supplies they'd need.

Change of Opinion 4 --- Finale and Epilogue

After several minutes, Darien returned with the items Bobby had requested and laid them in his partner's hands.

"Good. This is real good. Okay, Ebes. I'm gonna lay out your options. It's up to you how this happens... or if it happens at all."

"I told you I'm...."

"I know what you told us, but I gotta be sure you're really seein' the whole picture. The first time you take somebody inside you... it can really hurt. Don't get me wrong, it don't take long to start
feelin' damn good, but the hurt usually comes first."

"I... I understand and I'm more than willing to endure whatever discomfort I have to in order to... to be that close to you. I wish..." Eberts smiled tensely at Bobby then lowered his eyes, censoring himself again.

"You wish what?" Darien prompted gently. "Go ahead."

"No. It's alright. Please... let's just... move on."

"Eberts..."

"Robert, no." the other responded firmly. "Perhaps I'll tell you later. We'll see. Right now.... I need you to make love to me. I need that so much...." he pleaded, his voice tight with emotion as he reached for and grasped Bobby's hand.

"Absolutely. Absolutely, I can do that." Hobbes replied, finding his own throat suddenly a bit dry and constricted. "Ari. Go get a couple glasses of cold water, wouldja?"

Darien responded without a word and without hesitation.

"What was it you just called him?" Eberts asked curiously once the other was out of ear shot.

"Ari. It's a... whadda ya call it... pet name. We don't use 'em anywhere but here. It's just somethin' we do at the end of the day that lets us know we're not out in the world anymore.... that we're home an' together.... an' it's just us."

"He must have one for you."

"Yeah..."

"Oh, come now. It can't be that bad."

"Bert. He calls me Bert."

"Bert." Eberts repeated, speaking the nickname as if he were contemplating the worth of an intensely beautiful object. "It suits you. Not as formal as Robert and not as common as Bobby. Quite fitting."

Just then, Darien returned carrying two near full glasses beaded with condensation, the ice within rattling occasionally as he moved. He handed one to each man then resumed his place on Eberts' right side.

"Drink just a little now, okay Ebes? Just enough to wet your throat." Bobby instructed. "Good. Put it on the nightstand over on your side an' lay back down for me."

Eberts handed the glass back to Darien, who placed it where Bobby had directed. To Fawkes' surprise, however, instead of continuing to speak to the newcomer, Bobby turned on him, his expression deadly serious.

"You know you broke the rules today, right?"

"I... I guess so. I'm..."

"Stop. You weren't about to apologize, were you?"

"No."

"I didn't think so. You know better than that. I'll admit, my first thought was to sit you on the floor and handcuff you to the leg of the bed. Then maybe put the blindfold back on you, add a set of earplugs and let you drive yourself crazy wonderin' what you might be missin' out on."

For a very brief moment, Darien considered offering a mild protest, but immediately realized that would only get him in deeper with Bobby than he already was.

"I could handle that. If that's what you want, I'll go with it."

"You not only could, if I told you to, you *would*. Like I said, that was only my first thought. Since your lessons today were more for fun than anything, this once, I'm lettin' it go, but when I say once, I mean it. Clear?"

"Perfectly."

Over the next few seconds Bobby's expression softened and lightened considerably and he reached his hand out to cup Darien's face.

"I love you, Ari. You know that, right?"

His lover nuzzled into the touch, closed his eyes and smiled.

"Of course I do. You answered all my questions before we ever did anything... hell, before we even moved in together. I've always known the hows and whys. Plus you said from the beginning that I could leave anytime I felt like it was too much. You swore you wouldn't make me stay if I didn't feel right about what we have and what we're doin'. I believed you then and I believe you now. I'm still here because I wanna be.... an' I love you too."

Swallowing with some difficulty, Bobby fought down his knee-jerk emotional reaction, nodded his acknowledgement of Darien's obeisance and further disarranged his lover's already volatile hair before returning his attention to Eberts.

"Okay, where was I? Options, right? We can do this a lotta ways; on your back, on your stomach, on hands an' knees... my suggestion would be on your back. It'll let me control the speed an' the timing... easier on both of us that way."

"Dearest Robert... I surrendered control the moment I walked into this apartment today... and please trust me when I say that I never had any doubt who I was surrendering it to. Being a novice in this field, I'm more than happy to allow you to 'run the show' as they say."

"Good man." Bobby chuckled, grinning as he slowly ran his hands up and down Eberts' inner thighs. "Just relax... an' let me make this happen, okay? Just close your eyes... forget where you are... forget the world even exists. Just focus on what you feel... focus on the way your skin goes all pins an' needles when I touch you... like it's been asleep your whole life an' it's just wakin' up. Let that be all there is to think about right now. Fawkes? Find one a'those pieces of silk rope. The long one."

As Darien turned away to complete the task, Bobby watched him carefully. "Tie one end around your left wrist. Don't make it too tight. Loop the rest around the bedpost twice and leave the other end hangin'."

Darien complied with all Bobby's requests, though his expression grew more and more confused. It stayed that way until Hobbes reached out and quickly secured Darien's other wrist with the trailing end of the cord.

"What's this about, Hobbes?" Darien asked, carefully tempering all harshness or whiny tendencies out of his voice before speaking. "You said you'd let it go..."

"It's not punishment, babe. It's another lesson."

"In?"

"Patience. Maybe a little self-control thrown in for good measure." Bobby whispered gutturally in his ear. "There's enough slack here so you can touch yourself all you want...." he told him, caressing the rope. "but don't you dare come until I say so. You get off before I do.... I'll suck you back to full erection, put the cock ring back on... and you'll wait another hour. On your feet with your hands tied behind your back. Understood?"

"Yeah. Understood."

"Alright. Here we go, Ebes. Spread your legs apart a little more.... better. Stay just like that."

Retrieving the bottle of lubricant, Bobby squeezed a few drops out onto his index and second fingers and began rubbing the digits together to warm the gel. "Stay cool, here.... this is gonna feel a little weird at first." He warned as he began massaging and manipulating the sensitive skin around and behind Eberts' testicles.

"Ohhhh.... heavens.... it... it seems to be quite.... delicate there... please..."

"It's okay. I'm in no rush. Slow an' easy is the only way."

"I-I must agree.....ah! Robert... good.... that was.... good..."

"You're learnin', goat boy. Keep talkin. What's good?"

"Tongue.... there.... very good..."

"Back to one and two word sentences. That's a step in the right direction. Now let's see if I can get you down to groans, moans an' gibberish...." Bobby said as he slid the tip of his index finger barely inside Eberts' body.

"Oh!"

"You okay?"

"Yes... yes, I'm... fine... keep going... more, please...."

"Fawkes was right, you are gettin' the hang of this. Okay, I'm gonna start to stretch you out a little. Hang on..."

Over the next half hour, Bobby gradually loosened and relaxed the muscle with his fingers and tongue, proceeding gently as long as Eberts seemed to be with the program, stopping or retreating when his responses indicated he was feeling fear or discomfort. Gradually he was able to insert two fingers and scissor them apart to his satisfaction, but his experience told him that two wouldn't be quite enough and he cautiously raised his concern to Eberts.

"You're doin' really great, Ebes. You're a champ, man. One more finger and you'll be ready to finish this..."

"More? Robert.. I'm not sure... I don't know if I can...."

"It's okay. You're free to back off, even this far in. Let's give it one shot, okay? If it's too much to handle, it's too much. Should we give it at least one chance? What about it?"

"I... alright. Just one attempt..."

"That's the man... here we go.... relax as much as you possibly can...." Bobby soothed, talking and stroking his free hand over Eberts' abdomen to help keep him from tensing up. "I'm so proud of you, Eberts. When you found out what was really goin' on.... I figured you to run like your tights were on fire, but you stayed. You've been incredible. You can't know how hard I am right now... how hard you make me.... knowin' I'll be inside you in a minute.... knowin' how tight you're gonna squeeze me... You were practically unconscious, so I know you didn't see this.... but after that hand- job I gave you, I licked my fingers... Fawkes is so right, man.... you taste like nothin' I've ever known.... the flavor was all about your sweetness an' innocence... backed by that touch a'heat an' spice.... All I wanted right then an' there was more.... I wanted to taste you, over an' over, forever. Maybe Darien ain't addicted yet... but I sure as hell am...."

"R-Robert.... if you're going to m-make this a-attempt... do it now...."

"I already did, buddy. I've had three fingers inside you for a couple minutes now. Matter a'fact... I think I'm finally deep enough to show you somethin' amazin'.... grab the sheets or somethin'. This can be intense..." Bobby warned, crooking the tip of one finger and making momentary contact with Eberts' prostate. The man beneath him bucked suddenly, hips lifting completely off the bed, and screeched. By the time he landed, his lavishly treated, but exhausted prick was back at half mast for the third time that day. Bobby chuckled softly. "Whoops. Did I say intense? I meant six point five on the Richter scale. It's just about time, Ebes... you ready?"

"My God, yes.... I want you.... I need you, Robert.... please, now..."

"I'll be there. I got some preparin' to do myself. Won't take a second."

Once the condom was securely on and well lubricated, Bobby rolled on top of his new lover, aligned their bodies and leaned in, peppering Eberts' face with kisses in-between murmured instructions in his ear.

"Lift your legs around me... that's it.... lock your ankles.... good.... arms around my back.... you got it... okay... now all you have to do... is hold on... I'll do the work.... Not too much at first, okay? Just a little bit.... slow and easy..."

His movements deliberately controlled, Bobby guided an inch of his solid cock into Eberts' body then held very still for several seconds, wanting to give the other man all the time he needed to adjust, physically and mentally, to what was happening. Eventually, Eberts gave him the green light.

"M-more.... I need more.... deeper..."

"Yeah.... anything you want... here it comes...."

"R-Robert.... Ohhhhh.... I ... I never....all the way.... please do it now... "

Bobby responded immediately, employing a little more force and speed, and within seconds he was fully seated. Once again, he made himself wait, knowing that, no matter what Eberts might say in the depths of passion, the smaller man needed patience and coherence more than he needed swift resolution of the pressure building inside him.

"Ebes? Can I..."

"Yes... oh, yes...."

In one smooth motion, Bobby slid out then drove back in. He hesitated only a second or two this time before repeating the movement. Gradually, he established an easy, comfortable rhythm; lift the hips slowly as you withdraw, drop back a little faster, reveling in the restoration of skin to skin contact.

"Mmmm.... ahhh.... R-Robert.... i-it doe.... doesn't h-hurt.... please... harder...."

"I hear ya.... but if I'm gonna do somethin'... I do it right, goat boy.... we got a little time yet..." Bobby told him, reaching down between their bodies to stroke Eberts' cock firmly. "Makin' love ain't about just gettin' it over with.... it's about desire... takin' it to the point where you want it so bad.... you'll do anything to get it.... that place where every time your heart beats... you feel it all over your body.... but especially here...." he whispered, giving an extra squeeze and rubbing his thumb slowly over the head. "How bad do you want it? Are your nerves so on edge.... you think you'll go crazy if you can't come right... this... second? You there yet, Ebes? Hmmm?"

"Yes! I'm already crazy.... I'm begging you, go faster.... push into me deep and hard.... I need to feel that... Please, Bobby...."

Hearing his casual name forced from Eberts' lips shocked Hobbes for a long moment. He recovered quickly, however, and instantly sped up the work of both his hand and body.

"Do it for me, Ebes.... c'mon, baby..... come for me one more time.... let it all go... don't hold back now...."

"Ohhhh! I can feel it! I can feel you pulsing inside me! So hot.. and powerful.... oh, don't stop....."

Abruptly, both men stilled, frozen in the moment, afraid that unnecessary movement would cause time to move forward before they were ready. Bobby held his breath, unwilling to risk even respiration until the wrenching spasms in his gut had ceased. Eberts held himself rigid, clamping down on Bobby's cock, suddenly terrified that if he let go he would wake up to his own bleak room and the clinging, tattered remnants of a fantastic, gossamer-fragile dream.

Eventually, the muscles in Eberts' lower back and hips began to ache fiercely and he forced himself to relax, uncrossing his ankles and allowing his legs to fall to the bed on either side of his lover's body. Sensing the weight fall away from his own lower back, Bobby carefully slipped out and rolled over, breathing harshly and heavily. After several minutes, he finally remembered Darien.

"Fawkes?"

"I'm here."

"You pass the test?"

"Barely.... but yeah, I passed."

"Good boy. Gimme a minute to catch my breath an' ill untie ya."

"Take your time. Sounded like you really outdid yourself. You must be beat."

"Pretty much." Bobby replied, slowly sitting up and disposing of the condom before releasing Darien from his bonds. Both then turned their attention to Eberts who had turned onto his side and pushed his hands under the pillow.

"Hey. You in there, Ebes?" Darien asked gently.

"Hmm? Yes... I think so. Er... I'm afraid I'm quite done in... would it be acceptable if I... sleep for just a short while?"

"Great minds think alike, goat boy. I was just thinkin' about catchin' some zzz's." Bobby said, crawling up and molding himself against Eberts' back. Darien followed, dropping into a facing position with his friend and colleague and pulling the sheets back up over all three of them.

"Go ahead and get some rest, Ebes. We'll be right here when you wake up." Darien promised.

"I pray that's true...." Eberts mumbled drowsily as his eyes fluttered shut and he slipped into sleep.

--------------------------------

FOUR HOURS LATER

Darien was nudged out of sleep some time later by the sense that the pillow beneath his cheek was damp. Opening his eyes, he found that his feeling was accurate. Eberts, who had apparently been awake for quite a while, had been crying again and it was his tears that had soaked the surface both he and Darien slept on.

"Eberts?" Darien inquired softly. "What's this about, huh? You alright?"

"Fine. Truly... I'm so sorry for waking you. I was just... laying here thinking.... and my emotions overwhelmed me."

"You regrettin' what happened today?"

"Oh, no! Never. What you both gave me in just these few hours... it's been a revelation and a miracle, and if my experience has taught me anything... it's that miracles don't happen twice. You take them where they happen, appreciate them for what they have to teach you... and you hold yourself together when they go away. I... I was... storing up good memories... and the reality suddenly intruded and made me very sad. Again, my intention wasn't to wake you..."

"Eberts, stop." Bobby said from behind him as he slipped an arm around the other man's waist. "Just stop, okay? I'm gonna tell you the same thing I told Fawkes when he and I first got together. Then you can make your own choice. I want there to be more days like this. I want to be with you. I want you to be happy. What I *don't* want is for you to feel like I'm puttin' any pressure on you at all. I'd never make you do what you don't wanna do or stay where you don't wanna stay. I'd love it if you'd be a part of our lives... but it's up to you."

"Robert.... I need to believe what you're saying.... I need that so badly it's almost painful... but having been lied to so recently, blind belief is very difficult..."

"Blind? Who said anything about blind? Go back over today in your head. Look at the promises we made to you, check out the evidence for yourself an' use that to make your decision."

After a few minute of quiet contemplation, Eberts' eyes brightened and a cautious smile crept onto his lips. He sat up and Bobby followed suit a moment later.

"It's true. You never lied to me. Charles was the liar. I'm allowing his deception and cruelty to cloud my thinking. Robert.... I.... I'd like to take you up on your offer, if you'll accept me. I realize there will be tests, but I think I should do well...."

"Tests? What tests? You mean what I've been puttin' Fawkes through today? That has nothin' to do with you. That's between him an' me. Your acceptance is unconditional, Tummy."

The name brought a surprised giggle from Eberts.

"Tummy. I'd almost forgotten that. I think I like that very much."

"Glad to hear it." Darien replied. "Now, can we go out and get some dinner? I'm starved."

"But... oh, dear. I have no clothes. I can't...."

"You can borrow somethin' from me for now. We'll stop at your place on the way so you can change." Bobby offered.

"Oh. Yes that should work just fine. Thank you, Robert. Not for the clothes so much as for... everything. How I'll ever repay...."

"Don't worry about it. You can settle up next time by showin' me how well you paid attention today." Hobbes told him, throwing back the sheets and rising to his feet.

"Oh? Ohhhh...."

A wicked grin that was totally unlike him insinuated its way onto his face. As he examined its origins, he found he really didn't mind the thoughts and feelings behind the smile and allowed it to stay. Flopping back into the pillows, he tucked his hands under his head and relaxed as he waited for his turn in the shower.

--------------------------------------

EPILOGUE: MONDAY MORNING

"You're half an hour late, Eberts."

"I realize that."

"Well? You're never late. Ever. I demand an explanation."

"They were out of 1% milk for my half-caf latte. I had to wait."

"They were out of what.... for your what?"

"Pardon the necessity of my saying so sir, but if I'm going to survive a morning with you, coffee is an essential. I wasn't about to walk out without it. Now, what case file was it you said you needed?"

The Official let his jaw hang open for a few seconds before he gathered his composure, cleared his throat and repeated his request. On his way out of the office, Eberts' 'Lord, I'm having fun' grin made an appearance. He had gotten accustomed to it throughout the day Sunday and now was quite comfortable with it and all it meant. He anticipated a major shift in the direction of his life over the next few weeks and months and, for the first time in his life, he welcomed the changes, no matter where they might lead him.

At the doorway, he stole a swift glance back at his employer and the smile widened. His future was not the only one he was anticipating....



THE END