APPLE CHEEKS   *APPLE CHEEKS*
 *By GILDA LILY*
 
 Well, I answered my own Closet Challenge with this story (You know,
 the one that challenged the writer to put a fruit into the story.
 Ahem). I'm also posting it to DSX because the first tales of Circle Farm
 were originally posted there. Apologies to anyone inconvenienced by the
 cross-posting.
 
  Rating: NC-17 for graphic m/m sex.
 Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, Alliance does, more's the pity.
 (c) October 11, 1998
 
 *I*
 *PERFECT DAY*
 
 *Ray smiled at Benny's enthusiasm. His Mountie was as bubbly as a
 child, eager to start their adventure.
 
 Well, why not? Benny was sensuous, and a visit to Circle Farm
 outside of Salem, Massachusetts during the autumn was a feast for those
 senses. The colors of the trees were brilliant gold, scarlet, and
 orange. Fat, round pumpkins filled the fields of roadside stands and
 shiny red apples were being plucked off gnarled trees, their juices
 running down eager throats. Sparkling cider and sweet chocolate were
 also sold at those stands, and a touch of frost was in the air.
 
 The kitchen of Circle Farm smelled heavenly. Last year Benny and
 Ray had been guests during the time of Halloween (Samhain to the
 resident Witches) and were pleased to be able to come back.
 
 Selena Ashby, long blond hair framing a pink-cheeked face, bounced
 into the kitchen and declared, "Time to go to work, gentlemen!"
 
 Chris and Del and Sassy were right behind her. Chris was a tall,
 rangy brunette who was a free love advocate; Del (short for Delphina)
 was a short, stocky woman with dark red hair and a sardonic attitude;
 and Sassy was a blond with curves that didn't quit.
 
 "The others are already out in the orchard. Grab a bottle of
 Snapple and we're off!" said Selena.
 
 The sky was azure as the colors of the maple and ash trees dazzled
 the eye. Ray slipped his hand into Benny's, pleased at the freedom they
 experienced here. No one cared that they were gay. Some of the commune
 were gay, and those who weren't were used to seeing same-sex pairings.
 Benny blushed a lovely pink and squeezed his lover's hand.
 
 Selena greeted the other workers in the apple orchard, and
 everyone quickly scattered to their assigned duties. Chris and Sassy
 dragged a ladder over to a tree and Sassy scurried up the rungs, her
 perfect ass tightly encased in blue jeans. Chris smirked and winked at
 Benny and Ray, the Italian laughing and Benny just shaking his head.
 Ray grabbed a ladder and propped it up against a tree.
 
 "Okay, Benny, up and at 'em."
 
 Benny quirked his eyebrow and clambered up the ladder. Ray was
 getting a great view himself. Oh, yeah, Benny was made for
 apple-picking, all right.
 
 Ray enjoyed the view and was also pleased to be in this orchard
 with these people. Here he could ogle Benny and think of ripe,
 juicy...*apples*! That was it, *apples*!
 
 "Ray?"
 
 "Huh?"
 
 "Would you mind steadying the ladder?"
 
 "Oh, sure."
 
 It was then Ray's turn to climb, and he felt Benny's eyes on
 him...or the portion of his anatomy that his Canadian referred to as
 'peaches'. Oh, that wicked, wicked Mountie!
 
 Lunchtime arrived and they sat around the orchard and feasted on
 turkey sandwiches and fresh apples. Ray put his arm around Benny and
 crunched on his apple cheerfully.
 
 Sweet juice ran down his throat, and he felt a trifle flushed as
 Benny inched closer. White teeth bit into a rosy apple and chewed, then
 swallowed, the smooth throat riveting Ray's attention. A breeze sprang
 up and a shower of leaves swirled around the merrymakers. Gold and
 scarlet maple leaves rested in Benny's hair and over his shoulders.
 Well, that figured.
 
 Benny turned his head at that moment and Ray felt a jolt of love
 as he gazed into deep sapphire eyes. They kissed, and the day was
 perfect.
 
 The night was still to come.*
 
 * * *
 *II*
 *PERFECT NIGHT*
 
 *The smell of freshly-baked apple pies filled the farmhouse, Ray's
 mouth watering as he craved a slice. Marjorie was the commune cook and
 an excellent one at that. The middle-aged woman reminded him of his
 mother. Rosa Vecchio was the best of cooks and the perfect earth
 mother.
 
 The evening meal was a convivial affair, everyone helping to cook,
 bake, and set the table. While waiting for the food to be ready,
 several commune members went to the library to study their magick books,
 and others pursued creative endeavors such as painting or writing. The
 television in the living room would be used after dinner, because even
 though the commune spent a great deal of time on intellectual pursuits,
 they enjoyed watching certain programs as they relaxed after dinner.
 
 Ray took Benny's hand and they slipped outside, Ray wearing a warm
 jacket and Benny wearing his white wool sweater. They held hands as
 they circled the house, Benny pointing up and saying in awe, "Look, Ray.
 She's beautiful tonight."
 
 Ray saw the radiant moon, spilling its light over the peaceful
 farm. He looked at Benny and smiled tenderly.
 
 "She's not the only one, Benny."
 
 The Canadian looked at his mate and blushed, smiling as he
 squeezed Ray's hand.
 
 They reached the front veranda and admired the glow of the Jack
 O'Lanterns in the windows, various cut-outs (more Witches, Jack
 O'Lanterns, ghosts, black cats,) adorning the bay windows. The front
 door was decorated with a blond Witch cut-out, and two fat pumpkins
 flanked the entryway. Cornstalks were tied to the front pillars and
 entwined with orange 'lanterns' that grew on the grounds, and a broom
 rocked gently in the wind in its place by the door.
 
 "This place is beautiful, Benny."
 
 "Yes, Ray."
 
 They took a seat on the old-fashioned swing, the rocking chairs
 further down the veranda creaking softly in the wind. They rocked back
 and forth in the roomy swing, and Benny rested his head on Ray's
 shoulder.
 
 The moon spilled forth, illuminating their bodies as they
 luxuriated in each other's presence. Ray took a deep breath, inhaling
 Benny's scent. He could pick that scent out in a crowded room now, and
 he silently laughed. Apparently Benny's olfactory habits were becoming
 his now!
 
 They spent several minutes on that front veranda, just looking up
 at the stars and enjoying the night air. The call of "Dinner!" roused
 them, and the mouth-watering smells of freshly-baked apple pie, roast
 beef, julienne salad, and other goodies brought them to the dining room.
 
 The meal was lively and filled with good food, good company and
 good conversation. Benny's cheeks were flushed pink from the cold and
 now from the heated farmhouse. Ray thought that he looked incredible.
 He caught Chris looking at Benny, too, and knew that his opinion was
 shared.
 
 The pies were brought out as the *piece de resistance*, and
 everyone pronounced Marjorie a first-class baker. She took the
 compliments with serene confidence.
 
 After the clean-up, Benny and Ray went into the living room to sit
 on the couch and watch a little TV with some of the other commune
 members. An episode of XENA, WARRIOR PRINCESS was a popular choice.
 
 "Jeez, get a room!"
 
 "Those two are *hot* for each other!"
 
 "I guess when one woman tells another woman, 'I love you', they're
 just 'good friends'."
 
 Comments were made throughout the episode, Benny a bit bewildered
 at the intenseness of some of them, but he smiled at the jokes and
 laughter. Ray leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I think Miss
 Fraser kinda looks like Xena, don't you?" He laughed at Benny's blush. 
 
 Throughout the program, Ray made his own witty comments, saying,
 "Hey, we gonna get to watch HERCULES after this? We guys want equal
 time, y'know."
 
 "Yeah, yeah," teased Sassy. She and Chris snuggled up closer
 together on the other end of the couch.
 
 After HERCULES ended, Ray got up and tugged Benny up off the couch.
 While another program started, he brought Benny back out to the veranda
 and they sat on the swing. The flicker of the TV could be seen on the
 front pillar as they swung.
 
 "So, Benny, didja enjoy another day at Circle Farm?"
 
 "Very much so, Ray."
 
 "Good." Ray's lips began to nibble at Benny's ear. "And are you
 ready to enjoy another night?"
 
 "Yes, Ray."
 
 "Good again."
 
 Shadow, the black cat owned by the commune, was sitting by the
 broom and swished its tail back and forth. Yellow eyes glowed in the
 dark.
 
 The lovers left the swing and went into the house and up the stairs
 to their room. Once the door closed, Ray cupped Benny's cheeks in his
 hands and then tenderly kissed him. He bestowed butterfly kisses on
 those cold cheeks and then down the smooth throat. Benny closed his
 eyes and his breathing grew a little more prounounced as Ray slid his
 hands up his ribs, pushing up his white sweater. Ray stopped the
 sweater above his mate's nipples and sucked on the left one, pleased at
 Benny's little moans, and then the other, delighted as the Canadian's
 hips began to thrust forward. He ground his own groin into Benny's,
 then pushed him back toward the bed.
 
 He began kissing all the way down from the nipples to the navel,
 then unzipping and bringing the jeans down to start lavishing kisses on
 sturdy, satin thighs.
 
 Benny's hands were busy unbuttoning Ray's shirt, fingers carding
 through the dark chest hair and stroking the lean stomach. Shivering,
 Ray pulled down white boxers and slipped his hands underneath warm flesh
 to cup the mounds that quivered in his grasp. Benny kicked off his
 jeans the rest of the way and then pulled his legs up, allowing Ray
 better access. Ray licked along downy-soft flesh, his tongue darting in
 the dark recess between the cheeks and Benny moaned.
 
 "Turn over, love," he whispered, and Benny obeyed with alacrity.
 
 Ray lovingly stroked both buttocks, rubbing his cheek against them
 and giving each one a playful slap. He quickly divested himself of his
 clothes and then worshipped the beautiful butt presented to him.
 
 "Oh, baby, yeah, such works of art! Yummiest little butt around,
 mmm, hmm. Soft and curved and ready for my juices. Like two pert
 little apples, hmm? Ohhh, babeee...!"
 
 Benny gasped and pushed back against Ray's warm hand, wiggling and
 enticing. Ray took his cock and slid it back and forth across his
 mate's buttocks, teasing the crack with the tip of his penis. Benny
 clutched the sheets.
 
 An owl hooted as the moon came out from behind a cloud and streamed
 with silver light into the bedroom, illuminating Benny's delectable ass.
 Ray could hear the murmurs of voices and the TV down in the living room,
 his tongue licking along his lips. He quickly lubed himself with the
 jar kept in the nightstand, taking a slower time with his Mountie. His
 fingers were magical as they teased and spread the smooth cheeks, cream
 coating the tasty pinkness. His cock was bobbing now, the tip
 glistening with pre-cum as he set aside the jar and then slowly eased
 in.
 
 Benny let out a low moan as his head thrust back. Exquisitely
 slow, Ray went in deeper, deeper, deeper...
 
 "Ray!" Benny gasped.
 
 "What?" Ray whispered.
 
 "Oh, please!"
 
 Smiling at the nearly-incoherent plea, Ray began a long, slow
 stroking. He could feel Benny's flesh clench his cock, silkiness
 milking his stiff shaft, then his pace picked up, sweat gleaming on his
 lover's broad back as Benny thrust upward, further impaling himself on
 his mate's hard, hot cock.
 
 Ray could feel his blood pounding as he pumped faster, his cock
 sliding in and out of the perfect rosy cheeks. His strokes were long,
 hard, and driving them both wild. With a cry, they spiralled up
 together into the starlit night.
 
 Panting, Ray collapsed on top of an equally-breatless Benny, who
 rested his head on the pillow. After several breathing-impaired
 minutes, Benny managed to get out, "Ray?"
 
 "Yeah?"
 
 "Can I shake your apples next?"
 
 Ray's body began to shake, then he let out his laughter in
 full-blown mirth. Leave it to Benny to mix up a slang saying!
 
 "Sure, Benny, sure."
 
 He kissed his lover's shoulder and giggled, Benny joining
 in.*
 
 
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