Dan and Ben at Sixty-two

Dan and Ben at Sixty-Two--Chapter Nine By Ezra Randle

The next morning, Jerrad woke as Katrine came back into the bedroom from the shower. He watched her finish drying off. She'd worn the trimmed pubic look since he'd seen her naked for the first time several months ago. One time a few weeks ago, she suggested he trim his more. She thought his was too long when she sucked him. He laughed but several days later manscaped as she suggested. He slept lightly for another hour, then texted Gary asking him if their workout session at his club was still on. The visitor pass was still in effect for him as long as he was with Gary, and he needed a workout. He had to stay vigilant with his regimen. He got up and walked naked through the living room to the kitchen. Chip and Larry were sipping coffee, naked as well. "Want some coffee. I'll brew you a cup."

"If you would. I'll have it when I come out of the shower."

Jerrad appreciated the care Larry and Chip took with their morning ritual. It was much more refined than his or his dad's. They had even gone through the trouble of bringing up their coffee grinder and several pounds of beans from Arizona. Their supply of beans was winding down, so that would be an enjoyable reason to shop in Madison. His phone dinged when he got out of the shower. Gary wanted to meet at ten, which was perfect for him. Then Gary sent a second message inviting him over for omelets afterward.

Jerrad sat the dining table with Larry and Chip. "Where's Dad?

"He had some errands. Said he'd be back after lunch. What are your plans?"

"Gary and I are working out. He invited me over for a late breakfast after."

"Are you going to your dad's retirement party at Gary and Ben's Saturday?"

"I haven't been invited. But Dad probably just forgot. Who's going to be there?"

"The three of us and your dad. Ben and Gary. A neighbor guy name Ray and his friend. Maybe a few others. Ben's grilling salmon. Very low key according to him."

"I'm sure I'll go. Dad doesn't like being feted, but he deserves it. Plus he's not in such a great of state of mind. We need to support him."

"What happened to Alex? All he told us is that Alex has decided to see another guy."

"That's what I know, too. That Alex missed out on the stage of playing around with other guys. Maybe you two more about that than I do."

"Somewhat," Chip said. "When Larry and I first met, Larry was doing some of that, inspecting the possibilities. I same along and we both jumped in."

"I didn't see anyone during our six-month romance. Then I realized I needed to end it. I saw maybe five men over the next year. But unlike Alex, I never abandoned something good. Other than Chip and that wasn't meant to be while he was still married. Your dad said Alex doesn't want a timeout. He wants to see him at the same time he's seeing his new friend. But your dad didn't want it to go that way," Larry said.

"Do you two think he's reacted too hastily?" Jerrad said.

"Not for me to say, Jerrad," Larry said. "But your dad said that he didn't want be part of a three-way."

Jerrad met up with Gary at the club. They did a full hour workout, and while they were showering, Jerrad watched Gary soap up and rinse his body more than he usually did. Wondering what he might have done if it had been Gary instead of a man named Joel who discovered him in his private pool on the Wisconsin River. Gary had a very different body type than Joel, but it was well-maintained, and when Jerrad thought of Gary, he was physically appealing as much as he thought of his own body as attractive to others.

They talked about their jobs as Gary began the preparations for the omelets. "Where's Ben?"

"Off to see his daughter in Milwaukee."

"Which one?"

"Annie. The only one of the three who's completely accepted all the changes in his life."

"Do you get along with her, too?"

"Pretty well. Her kids are fun. And I'm great with kids."

"Really? I never would have guessed."

"Growing up, I did a lot of child care for families in our neighborhood. Even through high school. It was better money than working fast food or grunt labor. All I had to do was enjoy the kids and I was set. During my senior year of high school, there was one family that paid me two hundred a week just to be available whenever they needed me."

"Wow. Do you want kids of your own?"

"I could see it, but it's not going to happen with us. Ben has seven grandkids. My brother has two kids. He and his wife trust me with theirs. I don't need anymore."

Jerrad set the table and began some of the cleanup from the food prep. "I thought Ben was the cook and you just cleaned up?"

"Usually that's the case. But he thinks I need to learn to cook better than I do. I've fixed omelets since I was a kid. Ben's just helped me perfect a better version."

"Guess where I was on Friday when I took a day off?"

"I don't know. Some place with your grandpa and his boyfriend?"

"Yeah. We went to the naturist beach north of Mazomanie for several hours. Have you ever been?"

"I've been to the old beach that the DNR shut down a few years ago. Where's the new one?"

"It's a private campground with access to the shoreline along the river just north of the old one. Completely private."

Gary laughed. "Larry and Chip are trying to adopt you and turn you."

"It was nothing like that. I was pretty much by myself wandering around the sandbars. It is a really gorgeous setting."

"The old beach certainly was beautiful. It was easy to get into a sort of trance when I went there with the river and the bluffs and all the naked men."

"That's how it felt for me. A bit magical. I saw a couple of middle-aged guys playing with each other on an island. They wanted me to join in their stroking fun. So I did for a while. One of the two wanted to do more with me."

Gary looked at him. "Jerrad, what the fuck are you up to?"

"It seemed harmless. Like it was what people do there."

"Have you ever done something like that before? Any teen jackoff stuff?"

"Never. I told you how embarrassed I used to be about my body."

"OK. Anything else on the sandbars you want to tell me?"

Jerrad told Gary about the experience with Joel. When he completed the narrative, Gary shook his head. "And you really enjoyed it to the point where it's not leaving a bitter taste in your mouth when you think about it?"

"I did like it but I've been rationalizing it by telling myself I was under a spell and something totally unexpected happened. Katrine came over last night and we had incredible sex. Kind of to prove my point."

"And you were OK kissing this stranger? Because that's a marker."

"I liked that part, too. He started it. I just went along. Then my lust took over."

Gary got up and loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher without talking. "What, are you pissed at me or something, Gary?"

Gary looked back at him. "Not pissed. You're old enough to take care of yourself."

"You don't think what I did is amusing or peculiar?"

"It's plenty peculiar. But, amusing, not so much. I'm not sure what you're up to, Jerrod."

"I've told you my concerns about Dad and Larry. That something like what happened to them might happen to me. I just wanted your thoughts. I've not told anyone else."

Gary sat down again. "It's probably nothing. A momentary stroll into no man's land type of thing."

"Because it's got me thinking I need to explore it more. Just to understand it better."

"Like going back to the beach again?"

"Or something else. I was thinking that you might help me."

"Finding someone online?"

"I was thinking of you. We're friends. I really trust you. Maybe we could do something together. I could understand it better."

"What do you have in mind? Like what you did with this guy at the river?"

"I'm not sure. I'd leave that to you. I feel like I need to know more about it. I guess I'm asking you for a favor."

"Even if I was interested, I'd have to talk to Ben about it."

"Absolutely. I wouldn't want to do any harm to your situation. Or if it's something you don't think you could do and still remain friends afterward, we shouldn't do it. But I'm probably more honest with you than I've ever been with anyone in my life. That's why I'm asking. As you can guess, it's not an easy ask."

"I wouldn't think so. Jerrad, are you kind of in love with me?"

"I really like you as a friend. I'm really grateful you've taken the time to be my friend. Because I think it was way more you reaching out than me after we first met and we started doing things together. And I don't want to mess with that. So, if you don't think it's the right thing to do, I want you to tell me."

Gary leaned against the counter shaking his head. "I like you, too. Ben and I were worried about you when you first moved up here. The jilted lover thing. And you seemed pretty down in the dumps. Then Ben suggested you and I do some things together. Since we were fairly close in age, I might enjoy making a new friend. I don't really see many people other than Ben and my brother other than workmates. Ben's worried I don't isolate myself too much because at heart I am a gregarious guy. But it's different now. I don't ask you to work out with me at the club or invite you to a Brewer's game because I'm trying to help save you. I've kind of fallen for you in a platonic way. You're funny and clever. It feels good to have a friend."

Jerrod was very surprised by Gary's admissions. "I didn't mean to cause any hardships when I moved up here."

"It's not like that. We love your dad, and we could tell reaching out to you was good for you and for him. Then it became easy because you changed and you were easy to be around. You're just a really nice guy."

"Thank you. Your words are some of the nicest anyone's said to me. When Dad says stuff like that, he means it but he's still my dad. So, in a way, I trust you saying them more than him."

Gary could tell Jerrad needed more, so he asked him to stand up. "I'm going to hug you Jerrad to show you I meant every word. OK?"

Jerrad nodded and Gary embraced him fully. As they separated, Gary kissed him twice, once to each cheek. "As for your suggestion, Jerrad, I don't want to mess up what we have going. But I'm going to think about it because if I put myself in your situation, I'd want to know more, too."

"That's the first time a man has shown that type of affection. Other than Dad, of course. I'll be very honest. I'm quite moved by what you've said and done."

"You should be, my young friend. As you know, I don't usually hang out with people my age, much less someone ten years younger. And, just to reiterate, I've never had sex with someone younger than me."

"That was another reason I asked you. Because I know you could never be attracted to me in that way. This would just be...I don't know, like a teacher demonstrating some things to me. Like a hands-on lesson."

"OK. That kind of makes sense when you explain it that way."

"Can I ask you one thing?" Jerrad said.

"Sure."

"When you talk to Ben, don't tell him what happened on the island with the man I met. I'd prefer to keep that very private."

"No problem with that."

That night, as Gary and Ben were snuggling in bed, Ben told him about his day. "It was very good for me. Benjy and Ellison wanted me to play some board games. I had a nice chat with Nate, Annie's husband."

"Did he say anything about us and you being gay?"

"Just enough. He said he didn't pretend to understand coming out in midlife as one marriage was ending and the second was starting up. Then to go one enormous step further from being bisexual to gay."

"Was he looking for an explanation?"

"Not really. I think he just wanted me to know that he understood that I am gay now. He has friends who have always been gay. He was just clarifying. Because I'm a new wrinkle in his perception of how people can be different."

"Makes sense."

"He said Annie really likes you and that's enough for him. That she's verified you're a good person."

Ben kissed Gary. "I'm glad he doesn't need any more reassurance. Other than I love you."

"Did you tell him that?" Gary said.

"Yes, asshole. I didn't hold back. I wanted him to know you weren't just my fuck buddy."

"Speaking of, I had an interesting chat with our favorite thirty-year-old after our workout."

"Let me guess. He had a great time with Katrine and wanted to talk to you about it. I know he talks about that stuff from time to time."

"He did talk about their date last night, but it came on the heels of something else. He kind of propositioned me in his way."

"What?"

Gary told Ben about Jerrad's visit to the naturist beach and how he was intrigued and wanted to know more about it. "He would like me to do some gay demonstrations of physical affection."

"Like you and me as he watched? Like we did with Ray?"

"No. Like with me and him directly. So he would know what it feels like to be affectionate with a man in bed."

"OK. So, he's got a crush on you. That makes sense."

"No, fuckhead. He likes me and I told him I like him. Platonically. But he wants to know if being gay is part of who he is. Is he going to turn out like his dad and grandpa? He wants to understand it a bit. What it's like to be sexual with a man."

"He figured all that out from a day at the river?"

"Kind of. But think about it, if your dad and grandpa repeated the same behaviors as

Dan and Larry have. Coming out later in life. You'd probably want to know if you're next, too. He's a very curious young man. We shouldn't blame him for that."

"Given I can buy into that as opposed to him falling for you, are you interested?"

"I told him I'd have to talk it over with you."

Ben laughed. "So, you want to put it all on me. Thanks a lot."

"It's not like that. I just want your understanding that if I do something like this for him, you won't feel like it's weird or that you'd get jealous."

"It's at least unusual, if it's not weird. And as far as me being jealous, that's a bit unfair. Because, as you may have already guessed, if you plan on going ahead with this, I'd want to tell Dan first."

"I figured that. Even though Jerrad is an adult. We're all friends. I don't want Dan to be upset."

"I'm saying yes under one condition."

"What's that?"

"You give me a step-by-step demo of what you intend to show him."

Gary had been massaging Ben's ass cheeks during this conversation, and now he laughed as he slapped Ben's ass. "You're starting off with your spanking kink? That's kind of bold," Ben said.

Gary kissed him deeply. "I'll probably start off with kissing. If he doesn't like that, we'll stop. You and I know it's the most important thing."

The following Saturday, while Gary and Jerrad were in Milwaukee to attend a baseball game, Dan visited Ben at his home per Ben's invitation. "Thanks for coming over, Danny. You can help me get the house ready for your party tomorrow."

"I knew you had an ulterior motive for asking me over."

"Actually, I have several. But how are you doing?"

"I'm surviving mostly in a good way. It's a relief knowing summer won't end on September first. For the first time in thirty-five years, I won't have to start a school year."

"That, my friend, is a wonderful thought. I envy you on that one."

"I love having Jerrad with me. And Dad and Chip are great guests. I'm trying to get Dad to stay for another month when Chip drives back in another week. I'd put him on a plane in Madison and he'd do just fine. I don't want him heading back to the heat. It's been over one hundred degrees in Tucson for twenty days in a row. That's not good for him."

"Bet you never thought your house would be so useful. I can recall not that long ago, you telling me you couldn't wait to sell it and move in with Alex."

"That plan is on hold. Maybe it's over. Alex and I are not talking much. I've told him to see Jorge or whomever as much as he wants without thinking of me."

"Generous of you. Do you miss him or `it' much?"

"Right now, `it' more than him. He's slipping away. I know I could return quickly but for now, I'm doing OK."

"Would you like us to satisfy the `it' piece. We'll be undisturbed for as long as we want."

"Do you have it in you?"

"Always for you. Gary would understand, if I even bother to tell him."

Dan opened his arms and Ben kissed him during their embrace. "I always have great feelings about us, Danny. Don't ever doubt it."

They showered and washed each other. Dan let the physical pleasure of Ben near him again soothe his lonely soul. When he opened his eyes, Ben was smiling as he circled his soapy hands around Dan's nipples. Ben reached down and felt Dan, and Dan, almost without knowing it, was very erect. "Hey, buddy, nice to feel you in this state again. I still think of you and me. Wonderful memories."

"Yes, incredibly rich ones. I could be living here instead of Gary if a few more things had worked out. I'm not wanting that. Just saying we had something magnificent."

"Still have it. But I have to share my love with Gary. He and I are in too deep to let it slip away."

"I know that. If me being here will do anything to upset that, let's stop right now."

"There's no chance of that. And Gary gets it."

They kissed some more in the shower, and Ben turned so Dan could wash his backside. "I'd like you to fuck me if you've got it in you," Ben said.

"If I do, it would be my pleasure."

"You were my first. Both ways."

They got into bed and kissed until the passion was almost too intense. Dan pulled his mouth away and said, "Jesus. That's so good. I'm really missing it a lot."

Ben slid between his legs and licked Dan's inner thighs up to his balls, over and over. When he started licking Dan's balls, Dan moaned and lifted his legs. Ben went lower and saturated his taint and hole. Dan rolled over and pushed his ass into the air. Ben licked him probing with his tongue. "Nobody does it like that, Ben."

"That's nice to know."

Dan rolled over again and began licking Ben's balls and taint. "God, that is still my golden zone." Ben perched on his hands and knees. "Don't stop."

Dan licked Ben's ass and probed with his fingers. He reached for the lube on the bedside table, and lubricated Ben deeply. "O, fuck. That feels good, Danny. Fuck me like it's the first time."

Dan was so aroused that he was in Ben quickly. "Gary keeps me stretched. Easy for you buddy."

He fucked him for many minutes. When he rubbed his hand across the hairy patch at the base of Ben's back, he was filled with lust. He used to think of that spot as far back as when they were nineteen and it caused such excitation that he could jack off to that memory alone. He let his cock make love to Ben, until Ben rolled over into their familiar spooning position. They were both sweating from the exertion of sex. Dan slid into Ben over and over, wriggling around inside him, and then pulling out so slowly it rubbed the underside of his cock driving him closer to orgasm each time he withdrew. Then the urge to push in again drove him to louder moaning. Ben was jacking his cock to the same motions. Dan thought it looked thicker and longer than he had ever seen it. Suddenly, the urge became too strong for both of them. They screamed, "Yes, yes, yes" as they exploded. Dan let himself collapse onto Ben, his cock still inside him. "Fuck, Danny, that was sensational. You've still got it. And you still know how to push my buttons."

"Must be fun to experience me and think of Gary fucking you, too."

, "Yeah. You're both really great lovers. I'm so very lucky."

"I'm going to nod off. I've been sleeping for shit. Will you just let me sleep?"

"Of course. If you wake up and I'm not here, I'll be doing some cleaning downstairs." Ben kissed him. "Love you, Danny."

"Me, too."

When Dan woke it was to the noise of the shower running and Ben clanking the shower door shut. He lay in a half-doze watching for Ben to emerge. When he did, for a minute, Ben didn't know he was being watched. Ben dried his cock, pulling his foreskin so his glans showed. Then he turned, as though he knew he was being watched, and dried his ass. The view was so enormously pleasing that Dan said, "It's such a joy to see you towel off. I appreciate it since I rarely see it anymore."

Ben slid back under the sheets. "I'm glad you're awake. I have something to tell you."

"That you want more?"

"I could use that, too. But this is different and involves your beloved son."

"Did he do something crazy? He's been acting very respectably."

"I'll let you decide on that one. Apparently, Jerrad went to the naturist beach on the Wisconsin River some time back."

"Yeah, with Chip and Dad. They had a good time."

"Unbeknownst to Chip and Larry, and of course to you, he had an encounter with a man he met in the privacy of one of the islands. He enjoyed it and told Gary about it. Nothing new there as they share confidences. He asked Gary to teach him a few more lessons about man to man loving."

"What? That really does sound crazy."

"Gary thought so initially, too. Jerrad knows Gary's not attracted to men his age. That was the charm about his proposition from Jerrad's point of view. He knows that Gary won't fall for him other than being closer friends. They like each platonically quite a bit. That part of things has been good for both of them."

"What kind of lessons?"

"The hands-on type. He wants to know what it's like making love with a man. He had a taste of it and it brought back his old concerns about him being gay, just like you and Larry. But he's not afraid of it, at least not at this point. He just wants to understand it."

"And Gary told you all of this?"

"Most of it. Gary promised he'd keep most of the details with this man private."

"Is Gary good at secrets?"

"For the most part. But he did tell Jerrad he'd have to tell me. Since we're partners. And that I'd probably tell you. Apparently, Jerrad was OK with both of those caveats."

Dan smiled. "What the fuck is all I can say. But it does make sense when I picture Gary teaching him. Gary is a wonderful guy. I'll bet he could maintain the difference between affection with Jerrad and something more."

"I told Gary I was OK with it."

"I think I am, too. And I won't say a word to Jerrad. Or to Dad. It's too delicate of a thing to be blabbing to others about."

"Nice. I thought you might be upset."

"How could I be?"

"Just a thought I had."

Dan rolled away from Ben and Ben positioned himself behind him, rubbing his chest. "I've been missing sex so bad. I needed you to remind me of that," Dan said. "When my father and son are getting more than I am in bedrooms on either side of me, I know it's time to start up again."

"I get it regularly. Gary is very good with me in bed. But I figured you really needed it. It was my pleasure to make love with you again."

"Thanks."

Ben's cock was half-hard as he spooned Dan. "We have had so many beautiful spooning moments. Gary said that's one of things he loves most about our sex. That I enjoy the intimacy of spooning so much. I don't usually tell him I learned it from you. I usually say it's one of the most transferrable aspects of lovemaking with a woman."

"That's very true. And you feel very good behind me right now. The fact you are nearly erect sure helps."

Ben pulled him closer, his tip right up against Dan's hole. It was still somewhat moist there and through Dan's taint from an hour ago, so it was easy for Ben to slide through the area. "You want me to?"

"Yeah. Very much."

Ben grabbed the lube and coated Dan. "I won't be as loose as you were. Stretch me a little first."

Ben slipped his thick middle finger inside and fucked him with that digit. When he pulled out, he put his naked glans right at the hole and pushed a little. "Go easy for a bit."

Ben did that, maintaining his erection as he gradually filled Dan. As he pushed in and pulled out, Dan started crying. "I'm so lonely some nights, Ben. I know I miss you, but that's unfair of me. But I still do. Everything about you. That you have so effortlessly taken up with Gary. I'm jealous. Don't tell him that. But I am. Not that I want you two to break up. Just to know you love me like this."

"I do. He doesn't need to know about today. He's not been asking much about you anyway."

"Can you cum in me or is it too soon after you came earlier?"

"I'll try. How about you?"

"If you tell me you love me, I'll get hard and cum."

"Hey, that's easy."

They fucked for a long time, though neither of them orgasmed. Finally they both lost their erections. "Sorry," Ben said.

"It was wonderful. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it."

They drifted off for a short nap, then showered again. As they were getting dressed, Dan asked, "Who's coming tomorrow beside my gang?"

"My neighbor friend, Ray. He's still having his affair with Jack who will also be here. That's it other than an old friend of Gary's. Dolph. Gary's a bit worried about him. Hope you don't mind he'll be here."

"He's gay?"

"Something like that. Former married guy like you and me."

"Sounds like a very nice gathering."