Published: 9 Aug 2021

The weekend with Sam and Charlie had been a blast for Devyn. It had pushed the trouble at school out of his mind. It was not until he saw kids watching him, and more whispered conversations as the day went by, that he realized the talk about him was growing instead of getting less.

Devyn could tell that both Dewayne and Dale were shooting looks at him. They both looked like they wanted to kick Devyn’s ass. He also saw Dale’s buddy Ted looking at him and smirking. Devyn hoped that in time it would all settle down.

Devyn also noticed more of the girls watching him. They would giggle if he looked in their direction. He did not understand why he was so interesting to everyone.

Devyn even felt like the teachers were watching him closely. He seemed to always be running into Principal Tanner. It felt like the man was lurking around every corner. “I think he has been cloned.” Devyn told Charlie between classes.

“Don’t even joke about that,” Charlie said. “One of him is more than enough.”

“It is just he is everywhere,” Devyn said. “I cannot be that interesting to him.”

“He watches everyone,” Charlie said. “Just try and stay out of trouble.”

“Right.” Devyn did not know what kind of trouble he could get into with everyone watching him.

Devyn managed to get into trouble, despite Charlie’s warning. He was on his way to the office to collect Mr. Hanks’s iPad. Mr. Hanks needed it for a presentation he was doing and had left it in the office. Devyn had left the classroom without a hall pass and, like during the morning, Mr. Tanner was lurking around a corner just watching for Devyn.

“Why aren’t you in class?” Mr. Tanner barked.

“I, um, was going to the office to pick up Mr. Hanks’s iPad.” Devyn could see the man was skeptical. He had never noticed until now how large Mr. Tanner was. The man was built like a linebacker. It was no wonder everyone tried to avoid him.

“Where is your hall pass?” Mr. Tanner asked.

“I, um, forgot to get one,” Devyn said.

“No pass,” Mr. Tanner said, his lips curling up into a sneer. “Do you think you are above the rules? Do you think you are special?”

“Um, no sir,” Devyn said. “I just didn’t grab it.”

“Well, you will be grabbing a detention,” Mr. Tanner said. “I hope you like that. Now on your way.”

Devyn moved off but felt the man staring at him as he went down the hall. It seemed like that guy was going to be on Devyn’s case all the time.

Once Devyn had explained the situation to Mr. Hanks, Mr. Hanks was able to get Devyn out of the detention. But that only seemed to make Mr. Tanner more determined to bust Devyn for something.

“He glares at me all the time,” Devyn told Julie and Sam. Charlie was not in the lunchroom yet.

“He glares at everyone,” Julie said. “Just keep out of his way.”

“Easier said than done,” Devyn said. “He’s around just about every corner.”

“It will get easier.” Reaching over Julie gave Devyn’s arm a squeeze. “It is just going to take a few days for everyone to get used to the idea.”

On the daily bus rides home with Travis, Devyn could begin to relax a bit. Travis would tell Devyn about his school day and that would let Devyn push his day out of his mind. Devyn was awfully glad that the transition for Travis was going smoothly. Travis had been through a lot in just a few months and was adapting better than anyone could have expected. Joe said that Travis had inherited Hannah’s inner strength.

With the harvest starting, Joe was spending more time in the field. He would still be out there cutting crops when Devyn and Travis would get home from school. Devyn did not mind that he was taking care of Travis. He absolutely loved having a little brother, and playing games with Travis reminded Devyn of playing games with Todd. Todd had been one of the best parts of Devyn’s time living with Tom. Devyn needed to make time to see Todd again. The two had talked on the phone but they had not seen each other since the summer.

After Devyn had changed from his school clothes into his work clothes, he went out to do the chores. He knew enough now that he could take care of just about all of them. Travis liked following Devyn around and helping with them. It was hard to talk to Travis while carrying buckets of feed or putting new bedding in the calf pens but Travis did not seem to mind.

Devyn was watching Travis bottle feeding one of the smallest calves. The bottle was almost empty and the calf was butting at it trying to get every possible drop. Travis stepped back and tripped landing on his butt.

“Devyn moved to the boy and could tell he was not hurt. “You alright?” Devyn signed, pushing the calf back so Travis could get up.

Travis nodded and climbed out of the pen. “My butt is wet.”

“Well, the calves do piss in there.” Devyn laughed as Travis turned, showing him his wet ass. It was covered in fresh shit. “That is so gross. Let’s finish up and then we will have you take a shower.”

They finished up the last of the chores and headed to the house. Devyn led Travis over to the garden hose to spray the shit off his backside.

“That’s cold!” Travis signed the words and cried out in protest.

“You will live,” Devyn said but hurried to finish getting the nasty mess rinsed off.

“Take those off in the laundry room,” Devyn told Travis as they were walking to the house. “Then go take a shower. I’ll fix dinner.”

“Alright,” Travis said as he was running up the steps.

Devyn followed him into the house and saw Travis pulling off his clothes in the laundry room just like Devyn had said. He expected the boy to strip down to his underwear but Travis stripped naked. Devyn laughed watching the kid dart through the house and into the bathroom.

Devyn picked up the wet clothes and threw them into the washer with some other dirty clothes and then went to fix dinner.

Devyn was just finishing up his prep work for dinner when Travis came into the kitchen. The boy was still totally naked. “Where are your clothes?” Devyn asked.

“I took them off because they had cow poop on them,” Travis answered.

“Your clean ones goofy.” Devyn was glad that Travis was so easy going and not self-conscious at all.

“Want to ask you something?” Travis said.

Devyn put down the knife so he could sign. “What?”

“Will I get hair around my thingy like you and Ethan?” He was looking up at Devyn.

Travis must have been thinking about this since the day they had been swimming at the pond. “Yes, when you get older.” Devyn started to go back to fixing dinner but Travis signed again. “How big will I get?”

“Um, you mean tall?” Devyn asked. He was not sure if Travis was asking about his height or how big his penis was going to get.

“Will I be like Uncle Joe?” Travis asked.

“Um, maybe,” Devyn said. “How tall you are or how big you are doesn’t matter. What matters is what’s in here.” Devyn tapped Travis’s bare chest. “Now go pull on some shorts.”

“It’s just us,” Travis said and shrugged his shoulders.

“True.” Devyn did not want to make Travis feel self-conscious about being naked. It would be better for the kid if he were comfortable with nudity. “But it is not polite to be naked at the table, so go put something on.”

“Alright,” Travis said and darted for the stairs.

Devyn shook his head laughing as he watched Travis disappearing up the stairs. He could not help but think about how some of his former customers would have loved Travis. At least Travis would never be forced into that situation the way Devyn had been. Devyn turned his attention back to finishing up his dinner preparations.

After dinner they worked on their homework with Devyn helping Travis if he needed it. When Devyn heard the tractor coming in, he started warming up Joe’s dinner. He knew the man was going to be hungry and tired.

“That was good,” Joe said after he had finished eating. “Thanks for fixing dinner again.”

“No problem,” Devyn said.

“I’m sorry I did not get in earlier to help with dinner and Travis,” Joe said. “I appreciate you taking care of him after school.”

“Not a big deal,” Devyn said.

“I will probably be counting on you more as the harvest progresses,” Joe said. “I’ll need your help with Travis more.”

“I know,” Devyn said. “I don’t mind. You know I love Travis. Fixing dinner is no problem. I have to eat after all. Plus, I want to be more of a help than I was this time last year. I will be ready to help with the harvest on the weekend or after school. Just let me know. I messed up and I want to…”

“We are past that,” Joe said, cutting into Devyn’s words. He did not want the teenager to continue to beat himself up over the past. “You were working through some problems and we are past that.”

“I should have been better to you,” Devyn said. “You gave me a chance and it is probably more than I deserve.”

“Stop it.” Joe shook his head trying to come up with the right words to let Devyn get beyond the past mistakes. “You got a raw deal from your folks. You deserve this second chance.”

“Just like the one someone gave you?” Devyn said with a question.

“What do you mean?” Joe asked.

“I never asked about your history,” Devyn began. “It isn’t because I don’t care. I, um, just never really thought about it. It must have been hard growing up gay. I mean even harder for you in a small town and all.”

“It wasn’t easy,” Joe said. “Some people will never be accepting of us.”

“Your Dad?” Devyn asked. He was studying Joe’s face closely. His talk in the woods with Charlie and Sam had made him wonder more about Joe’s parents.

“He wasn’t going to have a gay son,” Joe said.

Devyn could see the hurt that still showed in the man’s eyes after all this time. “I’m sorry about that.”

“I know you probably understand it better than just about anyone else,” Joe said. “I’m guessing my old man and your dad are similar.”

“Mine found me and Brent together and wasted no time in kicking me to the curb.” Devyn still felt a stab of pain in his gut at the memory of his dad yelling at him when he had found him and Brent together. He wondered if he would ever fully get over that hurt.

“Mine was going to try and beat being gay out of me,” Joe said. “At first I thought I was just a constant screw-up. I was always in trouble for something but that first time he caught me with a guy I began to understand that he was seeing the signs before I even knew I was gay.”

“The first time? You got caught with a guy multiple times?” Devyn wondered why Joe would be so careless.

“I only got caught twice with a guy,” Joe said. “The other beatings were to toughen me up. He was going to make a man out of me. He believed a gay man was weak.”

Devyn could not believe Joe as weak. He also could not believe Joe would be someone that had been abused like that. Devyn had to remind himself that Joe was not always the large guy he was now. Now the only one Devyn knew that was bigger than Joe was Tanner. “You are the strongest man I know.”

“I was smaller back then,” Joe said. “Actually, probably smaller than you are now.”

“Really?” Devyn could not believe that. Joe’s shoulders were broad and he was six foot two. He also had a chest and arms that were built like Superman’s.

“My growth spurt came later,” Joe said. “Oh, don’t get me wrong I was not scrawny or anything but just really had not filled out much. My old man thought I was a sissy. He believed he could beat me into a strong straight man”

That was another term that Devyn would have never associated with Joe. The man was far from being a sissy. “So, you got caught twice with another guy?”

“That first time was horrible. We were out there in the barn.” Joe could still remember it like it was just last week.

They had just finished unloading the bales of hay from the wagon. They had climbed down from the loft to rest in the shade of the barn. Joe had followed the other boy’s lead and peeled off his sweat damp shirt. His eyes kept drinking in the hard muscles of the older boy. He wanted to reach out and touch that boy. He wanted to run his hands all over that chest and those strong arms. Joe’s eyes traveled down from the boy’s chest down over the flat belly and followed the little trail of dark hair from the boy’s belly button down to where it disappeared into the boy’s sweat damp jeans.

The older boy smiled at Joe. He could see the way the kid was looking at him. He could feel the desire of the younger guy. “Whatcha thinkin’ about Joey?”

Briefly, Joe looks up into the boy’s green eyes. “Um, nothing.” Turning his head Joe looked away from the older boy.

“I think I know what you were thinkin’ about,” he said. “You were thinkin’ about the other night at your lean-to.”

“Um, maybe,” Joe said, feeling his neck burn a bit.

“You want to do it again?” He asked.

“Joe glanced at the barn door. He knew his dad would be in the field for a while working on the next batch of hay. He also knew his dad would skin him alive if he ever found out what he and this boy had done. “We can’t.”

“Come on Joey, you know you want to do it again.” His green eyes burned with the desire he felt for his younger friend.

Joe studied the older boy. He could not help but be attracted to the boy’s broad shoulders, hard chest, defined arms, and the boy’s handsome face. “My Dad…”

“He’s still out there cutting down more hay for us to put up,” he said. “We have time. You do like me don’t you Joey?”

“You know I do,” Joe said looking down at the dusty floor and feeling his face burn with the admission.

“I like you too Joey,” he said. “Do you regret what we did at the lean-to?” He was studying Joe. He loved the hot blue eyes that looked back at him. He could see the desire burning in those blue depths. “You did like it didn’t you?

“Yes,” Joe admitted. He could feel his teenage cock stirring at the memory.

“I liked it too.” He moves closer. He was taller than Joe. He take’s Joe’s chin in his hand and pulls his eyes up to meet his own. “Just like the other times it will be our secret.” Leaning down he kisses Joe’s lips. Their mouths are joined together and their lip’s part to allow their tongues to do battle.

Joe’s arms slide around the older boy. He moves even closer to him as his hands slide up the boy’s back exploring the hard cords of muscles. The kiss breaks and they look into each other’s eyes. “We shouldn’t.” Joe mutters.

“Are you sure Joey?” He asks as he is looking into Joe’s vivid blue eyes. He kisses Joe’s lips again. “Are you absolutely sure?”

Joe can feel his resistance wavering. He knows they should not be doing this here. He knows it but he also wants this guy. He wants to hold him. He wants to be held by him. He wants those strong hands caressing his skin. “I, u, we, um…” Joe stammers. He is not sure what he wants. He is torn inside. Torn by desire and fear. He is afraid of his feelings. He has been told how wrong this is. He has been told how wrong it is but it feels so right.

Leaning in he kisses Joe’s lips again. “I can tell you want to do more than kiss.” His hand moves over the front of Joe’s sweat damp jeans. He squeezes the basket of the younger boy. He can feel the growing desire hidden inside the damp blue jeans. It grows even harder as he is squeezing the teenager’s basket. “You know for a little guy you got a big cock.”

Joe feels his face burn. He is not sure if it is with excitement or from working out in the sun most of the day. He feels the boy’s fingers opening his pants. He feels the boy’s hand sliding down the zipper. “We can’t.” Joe’s words are soft and if the other boy hears them, he gives no indication.

“I’ll even go first this time.” He pushes open Joe’s jeans and then pushes them halfway down the younger boy’s legs. He kisses Joe’s neck and then his bare shoulder. “You like it when I do it to you don’t you?”

Joe feels the boy’s tongue sliding over his neck. He feels it sliding down to his chest and to his left nipple. “Oh yes.” Joe moans as the boy is taking his nipple into his mouth.

The boy is licking and sucking on Joe’s sweaty chest. He sucks the left nipple and then moves across the smooth skin to the right nipple. He sucks on it causing more moans of pleasure to leave Joe’s lips. “You like that, Joey?” He is looking up into Joe’s vivid blue eyes. “You want me to stop?” His hand had lowered down Joe’s underwear. He has Joe’s erection in his hand stroking it as he is waiting for Joe to tell him to stop. He moves his other hand to cup Joe’s teenage eggs. He rolls them around in his fingers as he is stroking Joe. Leaning in, he kisses Joe’s chest. His tongue is sliding over the pectoral muscle licking and sucking on Joe’s salty skin.

“Please.” Joe’s voice is hoarse as he wants to tell the guy to stop but what he is doing feels so good that Joe does not really want it to stop.

The boy’s mouth is moving lower. He kisses the flat plane of Joe’s stomach and then the soft brown hair of Joe’s pubic area. He licks the head of Joe’s cock and then takes the younger boy into his mouth.

“Oh shit,” Joe breathes in pleasure as the warm wetness surrounds him. He feels the boy massaging his sweaty balls as the mouth is sliding up and down on him now. “Oh yes oh that feels good.”

“MMM,” the boy moans as he is sucking Joe from tip to base.

“Oh,” Joe moans and tangles his fingers in the boy’s shaggy hair. He holds him tight as the boy’s mouth is working up and down Joe’s cock.

The boy’s tongue is swirling around the head and then he takes Joe all the way to the base. He swallows Joe down allowing the teenager’s cock to slide past his gag reflex into his throat. He hears Joe moaning louder and knows the younger boy will not last long. He sucks harder and faster on Joe. He wants that young teenage cum. He wants to make the boy shoot ropes of hot milk right into his mouth.

Joe’s moans are louder as he is enjoying the waves of pleasure coming from his teenage rod. He wants to hold back his climax. He wants to make the pleasure last. Joe knows that they only have a short time together but he wants to stretch out the pleasure as long as he can.

The boy is sucking faster up and down Joe’s teenage bone. He slips a finger back behind Joe’s nut sack and rubs Joe’s perineum. He feels Joe tensing up. He knows the boy is even closer. He slides his finger back further and lightly rubs across Joe’s sweaty hole.

Joe tenses up. He knows he is about to shoot. “I’m so close.” Joe wants to give him a warning just in case he wants to pull off.

He presses his finger against Joe’s pucker. He presses it a little harder and feels Joe’s body go rigid. He knows Joe is slipping over the edge and is going to be giving up his teen milk. He presses his finger into Joe and feels the cock in his mouth grow. He feels it getting ready to explode.

“Oh shit!” Joe cries as he erupts, sending jets of cum into the older boy’s mouth. Jet after jet of his young seed blasts from his cock into the boy’s mouth. The boy swallows them down. He drinks in every drop of Joe’s juice.

Joe is sweating and breathing hard from his climax. His knees feel weak as he is coming down from his orgasmic high.

He sucks every drop of Joe’s juice from the cock. He swallows it down and then lets the teenage rod slip from between his lips. The boy’s tongue flicks across his lips, cleaning them of the last traces of Joe’s seed. “Did you like that, Joey?”

“I, um, it was awesome,” Joe muttered.

Good,” he said, getting to his feet. He leans in and kisses Joe quickly. His tongue brushing across Joe’s lips until they part. He pushes his tongue in Joe’s mouth so Joe can taste the remnants of the cum.

The kiss breaks and the boy is once again looking into Joe’s blue eyes. “Your turn now Joey.” The boy pulls Joe over to the hay bale where they had dropped their shirts earlier. He quickly undoes his jeans and drops them down. He pushes his damp underwear down and his erection springs free. He is already rock hard and pre-cum is forming on the head. He places their shirts between his bare ass and the prickly hay. “Come on and do it.

Joe gets to his knees with his pants still halfway down his legs. He looks at the boy’s cock. It is almost the same size as his own. He leans in and kisses the head of the cock. He knows the guy likes it when he starts out by kissing it.

“Oh yes Joey,” he said. His fingers tangle in Joe’s reddish-brown hair. “Now suck it, Joey. Suck me.”

Joe swipes his tongue back and forth through the piss slit. He tastes the precum and sweat of the other boy. He drinks it down and then opens his lips. He takes the head into his mouth and begins sucking on the boy. His tongue is swirling around the boy’s sensitive head. He sucks faster and faster on the boy. His mouth is sliding further down the boy’s shaft each time he bobs up and down. He will soon have every inch of the boy’s cock in his mouth.

“Oh yes Joey,” the boy moans. “Suck me baby.”

Joe feels the boy’s hand on the back of his head pushing him down on the cock. Joe goes all the way to the base. He swallows the boy down. His nose is buried in the sweaty brown curls. Joe is having an easier time sucking the boy than he had the first time. He can suck him down to the base now without choking on the cock.

Joe can hear the boy’s moaning getting louder. Joe tastes more of the boy’s precum as he slides up to the head of the cock. He swallows it down and then plunges all the way back to the base. Each thick inch of the older boy’s cock going into his mouth and down his throat.

“Don’t forget my balls, Joey.”

Joe pulls off the boy’s cock and begins lapping at the boy’s sweaty balls. He can feel the hairy sack against his tongue. He sucks one orb into his mouth and hears the boy moaning in pleasure. Joe lets the large nut slip from his mouth. He takes the other orb into his mouth. He massages it with his tongue. Joe is rewarded with more groans of pleasure from the older boy.

“Oh yes Joey,” The juice in his balls is building. He wants to feed Joe his load. “Suck it again Joey. Go on and suck it, Joey. Suck it all.”

Joe’s mouth returns to the cock. He swipes his tongue back through the piss slit and swallows down the new pre-cum that had formed on the head. Joe’s lips part sliding across the fat knob and then going down the boy’s shaft. He takes him all the way back to the base.

“Oh yes Joey.” The boy can feel the pleasure building. Since the first time he convinced the younger boy to do this, it has only gotten better between them. “Faster Joey. Suck me faster.”

Joe’s mouth is moving up and down on the shaft. His lips are stroking the boy even as his other hand is massaging the boy’s wet balls. He can feel the cock producing more and more pre-cum. Joe knows it is not going to be much longer before his mouth is being squirted full of cum.

“Oh Joey,” he moans. “Oh, I’m so close. I’m going to cum.” He feels his balls pulling up. He feels the cum beginning to surge into his cock He feels the wave of pleasure building.

Joe’s own cock has returned to a full-blown teenage erection. He begins stroking it as he is sucking on the older boy’s cock.

“Oh, Joey!” The boy’s cock expands inside Joe’s sucking mouth. His balls are pulling up to empty his load into the hungry mouth.

Joe can feel the boy’s balls pulling up. He knows any moment the cock in his mouth is going to erupt, sending the hot seed firing into his mouth. It is just as the boy is about to climax that they are discovered.

“What the holy hell!” Joe’s father’s voice cuts across the boys freezing them both in place. He grabs the closest thing to him which is the bullwhip that was hanging by the barn door.

Joe pulls off the other boy’s cock but not before it starts shooting cum. Joe can feel the first shot splattering across his skin. He backs away. He wants to hide. He wants to run but the fear is growing. He wants the ground to open up and swallow him.

“Mr. Erikson,” the boy said, shocked. He had not heard the tractor. The old man should have been out in the field for hours.

He is wielding the bullwhip like an expert. It snaps across the older boy’s bare chest. “Get the fuck out of here. Don’t ever show your fucking face around here again!”

The boy pushes Joe back, knocking him to the dirt floor of the barn. He moves trying to get out of the way of the whip. It snaps across his bare back. Then it snaps across his bare ass. The boy is trying to move without tripping over his own feet and trying to pull his pants up.

“You never come around here again,” he bellows at the boy. “You do and it will be the last thing your perverted ass ever does.” He strikes out with the whip again striking the boy once more.

“Dad please,” Joe starts trying to get to his feet. He had seen his dad enraged before but nothing like this.

“You fucking son-of-a-bitch!” Each word is punctuated with the whip striking against the boy’s skin.

“Dad please stop,” Joe shouts. Joe is concerned for his older friend. He can see a couple of the places where the whip struck are beginning to bleed.

The boy is running for the barn door. He feels the whip strike him again. He makes it through the door. He pauses just long enough to get his pants up and then to turn to Joe. He sees the smaller boy on the dirt floor as Mr. Erikson is turning his full attention onto him. He knows the best thing he can do for Joe is to just get out of there.

The man turns on Joe. “What the fuck is wrong with you? What the fuck were you doing?”

“Dad I…” Joe does not know what to say. He tries to get to his feet but his pants are tangled around his feet.

The whip slaps across Joe’s chest. “You disgust me. My son is not going to be some fruit! You will not make me the laughing stock of the entire town!” The man’s voice echoes in the barn. The sound of the cracking whip sounds again and again. It seems to be punctuating each word.

Joe is trying to roll out of the way. He can feel the stings as the whip cracks across his back. Repeatedly the whip strikes him from his shoulders down across his bare ass and legs. He cannot get out of the way. He is trapped by the bail and his pants have his feet tied together.

“Fucking perverted little shit. You fucking worthless pussy!” The whip snaps against Joe’s bare skin. Repeatedly.

“Dad please stop,” Joe begs as the tears are streaming down his face. He tries to get to his feet but the man knocks him back to the dirt floor.

“Don’t fucking be a pussy!” He is still raining down whip strikes on Joe.

Joe cannot get away. If he gets up, his father knocks him back to the barn floor. All he can do is stay down and let the blows of the whip fall on him. He bites his lower lip drawing blood as the whip sears pain through his back, butt and legs. Every inch of bare skin is a target for his father’s rage.

The silence is loud when the man stops whipping Joe. Joe waits knowing another blow is coming. He does not know if he should move or not. He hears the feet moving closer. He wants to jump up and run. He wants to hide but he knows he cannot. His secret is out. His world is falling apart.

The whip arcs through the air again. It lances another stinging blow across Joe’s skin. “You will never do this again. You will never see him again. Do you understand?”

Joe tries to say yes but his voice is caught in his throat. He cannot seem to get the words out.

“I said, do you understand?” The man’s hate filled gaze looking down at Joe’s bare ass.

When Joe does not answer fast enough, he feels the whip stinging across his bare skin again. “Yes, yes I understand.”

“Then get your filthy ass up. You’ve got work to do.” The man turns and heads towards the barn door. “I said get your fucking ass up!”

Joe scrambles to his feet. His entire body is sore. His body is covered in dirt from the barn floor. It has mixed with his sweat, tears, and blood to form smears of mud across his skin. He hurriedly pulls up his underwear and then his jeans. He winces in pain as the fabric rubs against the whip welts.

“Get your ass on that tractor and get that hay raked while I get the belt changed on the bailer. If that belt hadn’t broke, I might not have discovered just what a worthless pervert you are.”

“Yes sir.” Joe’s voice was soft and his eyes were downcast as he was moving gingerly towards the tractor. He knew it was going to be agony bouncing across the field but he also knew he had no choice.

Joe could remember those events like it had happened only yesterday. He could still feel the sting of the whip across his skin. He could still feel how humiliated it had been to get caught with his pants down and the cock in his mouth. It had been pure agony riding the tractor that afternoon. He had been barely able to move by the time he climbed off it. He could see the dark stains on his jeans. He knew it was blood from the whip strikes across his ass. He had put the tractor in the barn and as he was gingerly climbing down, he saw the bale of hay where their two shirts still lay. He glanced at the door and did not see his father anywhere. He went and picked up the shirts. He could still smell the scent of the other boy on the shirt. He took them both back to his room and tried to only remember how special the feelings had been. He tried to focus on how good it felt being with someone that was like him.

After that day, the beatings had gotten worse. Joe was constantly reminded how much of a screw-up he was. It seemed he could never do anything right.

Devyn’s words pull Joe out of the past and the painful memories. “I just find it hard to believe you would be so careless as to get caught a second time. If I had been given a second chance, I’d never have done it where I would have been caught.”

“Keep in mind I was a dumb kid,” Joe said. “It was a couple of years later before I was caught the second time. I was sick of hiding.”

“I understand about the hiding part.” Devyn knew all too well how stressful keeping a part of your life hidden from your parents was. It was not easy and it always felt a bit like you were deceiving them. “But wouldn’t it have been better to just come out?”

“Probably,” Joe said. “I was in a lot of pain emotionally.”

“Why is that?” Devyn asked. He was so glad that Joe was sharing so much with him. His heart hurt for the pain that Joe had gone through but he also thought it might be doing the man some good to talk about it.

Joe could also remember that incident like it was yesterday.

“I did not care if I was discovered, on some level I guess I wanted to get caught. I was tired of hiding. I tried dating and having sex but it did not make me the man he wanted me to be.”

“Was it the same guy?” Devyn asked. He was so glad that Joe was opening up to him.

“Yes, same guy,” Joe said. “He had come to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” Devyn asked. “He was leaving?”

“Yes, he knew he could not stay here,” Joe said. “He was afraid of folks finding out about us.”

“Then this was like a relationship. Were you in love?” Devyn could see pain in Joe’s eyes. Devyn felt bad that his questions were bringing up painful emotions.

“We were,” Joe said. “He was older by several years. He was trying to have a life. He had gotten married right out of high school. He wanted to make it work with his wife but the feelings were not there.”

“Damn,” Devyn said. “It sounds rough on both of you.”

“It was,” Joe said. “We should have never let it go as far as we did. I was young and stupid and he was…well trying to have both lives…the gay life and the straight life.”

“Sounds like he was using you,” Devyn said softly.

“I’m sure in some ways he was,” Joe said. “I was young and stupid. I would have done just about anything he asked of me. Hell, I did do everything he asked.”

“So, he came to tell you it was over?” Devyn prompted when Joe was silent.

“Yes,” Joe said. “I was crying because my heart was breaking. I was willing to share him but he said it would never work that way.”

“Don’t cry Joey.” Stepping closer to Joe, he pulls the younger boy tight to his chest. “It is better this way. You need to find a girl. You need to stop having these feelings for me.”

“I can’t just turn them off,” Joe said, his voice muffled into the boy’s chest.

“You will in time,” he said.

Joe looked up into his green eyes. “I won’t. I’ll never stop loving you.”

Their eyes were locked together. The depth of emotions more than either of them could stand. Leaning down his lips find Joe’s. His stubble was rough against Joe’s smooth skin. Joe’s lips part allowing the man’s tongue inside.

“We can’t do this,” he says trying to pull away but Joe is holding him tight.

“One last time,” Joe breathes, tightening his grip on the man. “Just once more before you leave.”

His lips return to Joe’s. Their hands begin exploring each other. “I want you to do it this time,” Joe said looking into the man’s eyes.

“Are you sure?” he asks. His hand had pushed open Joe’s shirt. His fingers are lightly caressing Joe’s nipple. He can feel it growing harder.

“I am sure,” Joe said. “I want you to be my first. I want it just once.”

They moved to a darker corner of the barn. Joe grabs down a couple of old horse blankets and tosses them on the straw. He begins undressing.

“Joey, I don’t know about this,” he said but he too was pulling off his clothes.

“The two boys move naked onto the makeshift bed. Their naked bodies sliding together as they are kissing again.

“It might hurt,” he said as he was looking into Joe’s eyes. His hand is caressing the smooth skin of Joe’s teenage chest. He slides it down lower over Joe’s flat belly. His fingers begin moving through the dark curls that surround Joe’s teenage member.

“I know it will,” Joe said. “I don’t care.”

Leaning down, the man kisses Joe’s lips and then Joe’s neck. He works his way down over Joe’s shoulder to the smooth chest. He takes the left nipple into his mouth and sucks on it. He moves lower and lower, licking his way across Joe’s smooth skin.

His breath is hot and moist as it passes over the head of Joe’s throbbing erection. He kisses that teenage knob and then opens his lips. He takes Joe into his mouth and slowly begins suckling the head.

“Oh yes,” Joe breathes. The pleasure coming from his teenage organ momentarily pushing away the pain of the goodbye.

He slides his lips down the shaft of Joe’s cock until his nose is in Joe’s brown curls. He then slides back up to the head. He swirls his tongue around the head and then goes back down to the base.

“Oh yes,” Joe moans in pleasure.

He swings around on the makeshift bed and his throbbing member is dangling before Joe. His mouth never leaves Joe’s cock as he changes his position on the bed. He pulls off Joe’s cock to spend a little time on the teenager’s smooth balls.

Joe’s cock is jumping with each beat of his heart. The teenage milk leaking from the head and onto Joe’s skin. Reaching up, Joe begins stroking the cock that is swinging over his head. He guides the head to his lips and kisses it. He runs his tongue through the piss slit tasting the man’s pre-cum. He swallows it down, drinking in the taste of the man. It is a taste he never wants to forget. His tongue slides over and around the fat-head coating it with his spit. He slips it between his lips and begins sucking on it.

He lets Joe’s cock slip from his lips. He moves lower to Joe’s smooth teenage eggs. He licks and sucks on them as Joe is sucking him. He moves Joe’s legs further apart and begins probing behind Joe’s balls. He finds Joe’s tight hole and teases it. He hears the teenager moaning around his cock and knows the boy is enjoying having his little pucker teased.

He brings a finger to his mouth and coats it with his spit. He then moves it to Joe’s tight star and begins probing at that sphincter muscle. He slips the tip inside and hears Joe moan more. He is not sure if it is pleasure but since the boy does not stop sucking on his cock, he pushes his finger in deeper.

He takes Joe’s cock back into his mouth while his finger is working in and out of Joe’s hole. He adds a second finger and hears Joe moaning even louder.

Joe moves his feet to rest them on the hay bale. He keeps them wide apart allowing his hole to be probed even while his cock is being sucked.

Joe’s cock is deep in his throat as he uses fingers from each hand to stretch Joe’s hole. He can feel the muscle relaxing. He knows it is almost time. He pulls off Joe’s cock and then moves, pulling his own cock from Joe’s sucking mouth. Moving around on the bed he faces Joe again. Both of their cocks are glistening with saliva. “Are you sure Joey?”

“Yes,” Joe said and kisses the man’s lips. “Do it.”

He moves between Joe’s legs. He lifts them to his shoulders and places his leaking cock at the opening to Joe’s tight virgin hole. “If it hurts, tell me and we can switch places. You know I like it when you are doing this to me.”

“I want you just once.” Joe’s eyes look into the deep green depths of the other boy. “It will be fine. I can take it.” Joe pulls his legs back over his chest giving the other boy easy access to him.

His lips curve up into a smile. “I’m sure you can Joey.” He kisses Joe once more. He moves his cock into position against Joe’s hole. He begins applying pressure to Joe’s sphincter. His cock head is forcing the muscle to stretch. He can see the pain on Joe’s face. He can see the beads of sweat as he forces the head inside.

“Ah!” Joe moans as the head of the man’s cock is being forced inside.

“You want me to stop?” he asked looking down at the younger guy.

Joe shakes his head no. He wants this. He wants to remember the feeling of this for the rest of his life. He is never going to get another chance to experience this kind of relationship. “Go on and do it.”

He thrusts forward pushing more of his cock into Joe. He works his cock deeper and deeper with each thrust. Slowly he thrusts forward and back. He is trying to make it as good for Joe as it is for him.

They are both covered in sweat as the man’s balls rest against Joe’s smooth skin. He rests there over Joe. His weight is supported on his strong arms. He leans in and kisses Joe. “You alright Joey?”

“Yes.” Joe answers

Slowly he pulls back almost withdrawing all his length from Joe but stops just short of the head popping from the boy. He thrusts forward forcing the length back inside.

“Oh, Oh,” Joe moans with each thrust of the man’s hips. Over and over, he feels the man’s cock sliding deep into him. He then feels it being withdrawn but to only have it thrust back inside.

Reaching up Joe runs his hands over the man’s sweaty chest. The heat of the summer is beating down on the barn but the two seem to not notice it. They kiss and hold each other as Joe takes the man’s thrusts.

“Oh Joey,” he breathes. “You are so tight.” It feels so much better than any other sex he has had. He hopes it is as good for Joe. He wants Joe to enjoy every moment of it. Leaning in close he whispers into Joe’s ear. “I love you, Joey.”

“I love you too.” Joe’s arms are wrapped around him holding him tight. He can feel the man picking up speed with his thrusts. Time has almost stopped for the two as they satisfy their desire for each other.

“Oh yes,” Joe moans. “Oh yes.”

Faster he is thrusting into Joe. He is watching Joe’s face. He is watching as he feels his own climax growing. “Joey, I’m getting close. I want you to cum with me. I want you to cum too. Alright?”

Joe takes his cock in hand and begins to pump on it. His stroking is fast and furious as he watches the pleasure on his lover’s face growing. “I’m close. Just a minute more.”

“Come on Joey. Cum with me. Cum with me now.”

He cannot hold back any longer. His balls pull up. His cock swells inside Joe. “I’m going to cum.”

“Me too,” Joe said as he felt the first blast of cum shooting into him. He feels jet after jet of man seed being deposited deep into him.

“Oh Joey!”

Joe’s own cock explodes sending his teenage seed splattering across the man’s chest. He is shooting jet after jet of his teenage spunk up onto the defined chest and flat belly of his lover.

The two ride the wave of pleasure. Slowly they come back to earth from the height of sexual bliss. He rests there, his sweaty body on top of Joe. “I love you, Joey.”

His cock is softening and it slips from his lover’s hole. He moves to lay beside Joe. He kisses the teenager again. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Joe asks, looking into the green eyes.

“For being you.” He kisses Joe again. “For giving me that.”

The two jump a foot off the bed at the sound of the shotgun. “I should shoot both you fucking perverts.

He is grabbing for his clothes as the second shot echoes in the barn. He knows he is finished. The old man is crazy and he is going to fucking shoot him.

“Run,” Joe cries and launches himself at his father. He knocks the gun from the man’s hands.

Joe’s ears are ringing and he is not sure if it is from the noise of the gunshots or the blow from his father. The second blow knocks him to the ground. He can see that his love has managed to run from the barn. At least he will not get him.

“You disgusting queer! You make me sick.”

Joe starts to get up but is knocked back to the ground. He feels the boot landing a kick to his ribs. He knows he must get away or he is going to die. A second and third kick follow the first. He rolls away and manages to get to his feet. He snatches up clothes from the pile. He does not know if they are his or not. He just grabs them and runs from the barn.

He can feel the rocks of the driveway cutting into his bare feet as he runs. His only thought is to get away.

Joe darts into the cornfield. He can feel the leaves of the corn scratching his skin as he is running between the rows. He is not sure where he is going. When he exits the corn field, he is across the pasture from the pond. He runs naked across that pasture ground. He drops down in the tall grass, panting, next to the pond. Tears are streaming down his face as he rests there in the grass on his knees.

Some small part of him is glad he was caught. Somewhere inside he is relieved he no longer must hide. There is no way his father will ever accept him after being caught like that.

The worst part for Joe is knowing that this was the last time. It was the last time he would ever be with his love. It was the last time he would be kissed like that. It was the last time he would be held like that.

Joe looks up and across the pond. His eyes are drawn to the rope hanging from the tree. He could remember just a week ago jumping off the rope and into the pond with Lee, Danny, and Greg. It had been so easy that day to just be with his friends.

Joe got to his feet and walked towards the rope. He paused at it. He lifted the rope and in only a few moments had fastened a noose.

“So, you got caught on purpose and then went to the pond?” Devyn swallowed, not wanting to think of Joe almost ending his life.

“I was in the worst pain I can ever remember.” Joe’s voice was thick as he was remembering the feelings. “The physical pain was nothing to the heartbreak. I knew I was never going to see him again. He was going to be gone and would probably never be back.”

“I can relate to that some,” Devyn said.

“I knew my dad was never going to accept me. I believed I would never find anyone that felt the same. I felt alone and broken. Joe swallowed, fighting back the emotions. “I knew he was never going to love me. I was ready to stop the pain. I do not even remember moving to the rope or making the noose. I probably stood there for over an hour with his words ringing in my head.”

Devyn waited when Joe paused. He wanted to know more but he also did not want to force Joe to bring up painful memories. “I guess in a way I was doing to myself slowly what you were going to do in one leap.”

“Maybe you were,” Joe said. “If Lee and Hannah hadn’t found me when they did, I might have done it.”

“How did they know?” Devyn asked.

“I’m sure he went straight to Hannah when he left here,” Joe said. “She found Lee to see if he knew where I might have gone. I never asked Lee why they went to the pond but they did. Hell, Lee was even good at figuring stuff out back then. He probably saw where I broke the corn stalks as I was running through the field.”

“Thank god for them finding you in time.” Devyn felt his gut flip over at the idea of a world without Joe.

“The old man was waiting here for us when we got back,” Joe said. He was looking at Devyn but his eyes were focused on the past. “My cheek still had the red imprint of her hand. Damn thing stung like a bitch. I’m surprised her hand wasn’t broken.”

Joe paused again and Devyn waited. He was hearing more than he normally got from Joe. He wanted it all. He wanted to hear every detail.

“He was ready to beat me but Lee stepped between us. Lee was bigger than me back then.”

Devyn was a bit surprised by Lee being bigger than Joe. Lee was a couple inches shorter than Joe now. Lee was no slouch in the muscle department, Devyn had discovered that during their training sessions, but he was not as muscular as Joe. Joe’s shoulders and chest were made up of cables of hard muscle. Devyn decided you just never knew how you would end up developing.

“Lee told him that I was going to be staying with him and that he could go straight to hell. So, I did. Lee’s Dad wasn’t happy with me being there. Lee stood up to him too. He said he could either accept it or we would both be going. The tension was too much though. I was there for only a few days before I had to get out of there. I needed to make it on my own. I left Lee a note and took what little money I had and hitchhiked my way to the bus station. I bought a ticket on the next bus out. I didn’t care where it was going. I just needed to go. Lee stole his dad’s car, he did not even have his license yet, and showed up. He said he wanted to go but I wouldn’t let him. I did not want to ruin his life. He handed me every dollar he had. Then he pulled me in and held onto me for what seemed like a lifetime.” Joe’s voice grew thick. “Don’t forget I’ll miss you, he said, and I love you.” Joe took a breath before continuing. “I have never really heard him say that before or since that day. I guess he thought I would never be back.”

“He’s a great guy,” Devyn said. “Why didn’t you stay with Hannah?”

“She was still young and trying to make it as a cop,” Joe said. “She would have had me living with her but I did not want to burden her with it. She was barely making it and didn’t need her teenage brother moving into her one-bedroom apartment.

“It is great Lee was there for you.” Devyn thought about how Brent had not stood by him. He was glad that Lee was there for Joe. “He’s a great friend.”

“Yes, he is,” Joe said. “What has started you asking about all of this?”

“We were talking in the woods Saturday night. Sam and Charlie wanted to know my story. I realized as much as I know you and love you that I don’t know your history. At least I don’t know much of it.

“Well, now you do,” Joe said.

“I know there is more and I would like to know all of it,” Devyn said.

“There is but it needs to stay in the past,” Joe said.

“You need to share these feelings,” Devyn said. “It isn’t healthy to keep them buried inside.

“I’m supposed to be the adult,” Joe said. “Not you. You should be enjoying your teenage years.”

“I am enjoying them.” Getting up, Devyn began clearing the dishes. “I like taking care of you and Travis.”

“How much did you tell Sam and Charlie?” Joe asked.

“Not everything,” Devyn said. “If Charlie and I get serious I’ll tell him but until then I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Oh, but you need to talk about these feelings,” Joe said. “It isn’t healthy to keep them bottled up.”

“Shut up,” Devyn said, chuckling at Joe turning his own words back on him.

“You are right though; it probably is good for both of us to talk a little about the past.” Joe got up from the table and moved to where Devyn was cleaning up the dishes. He enfolded Devyn in a strong hug. “You are not only a great kid but a good friend. You will make someone a wonderful wife.”

“Shut up!” Devyn said laughing.

“You will make someone one hell of a husband. Some guy is going to be really lucky.”

“Thanks,” Devyn said. “Now go spend some time with Travis and let me finish cleaning this up.”

Joe stepped back and looked at the attractive young man. The kid was amazing. He was going to make someone a great husband.

“What?” Devyn asked, feeling Joe staring at him.

“Um, just wondering, um, you never heard back from that Matt guy, did you?” Joe asked.

“Not yet,” Devyn answered. “He was on vacation or something,” Devyn said. “I called again today and left a message with both his house phone and his cell phone.”

“We should probably get you your own phone,” Joe said.

“Getting my own phone would be cool,” Devyn said. “Um, you know there is the chance he knows what happened and doesn’t want to talk to me.”

Joe heard the sadness in Devyn’s voice. “Then he isn’t the man you thought he was. That is on him and not you. It is his loss.”

“Um, thanks,” Devyn said.

“But he is probably just getting caught up on his work after being gone,” Joe said. “Don’t give up on him just yet.”

“I won’t,” Devyn said. “Matt seemed like too much of a standup guy to be that shallow. At least not to at least hear the truth from me first.”

“Keep trying,” Joe said. “If he doesn’t get back to you, well, we can make a road trip.”

“Yeah,” Devyn said, “we talked about doing that anyway. I can let him tell me to my face, how he feels.”

“That is right,” Joe said. “And if he is a prick, then he can deal with me.”

“Thanks Batman,” Devyn said. “Now go spend time with Travis before it gets too late.”

“I love you kid,” Joe said and squeezed Devyn’s shoulder before going to see Travis.

So, the week went. Devyn could live with the glares and the whispers. He could handle just about anything as long as he had Travis, Joe, and Charlie.

After a while people were moving on to new and more interesting topics. He was feeling like fewer people were talking about him and the looks and whispered conversations were mostly gone. It seemed that even Tanner had given up on watching him. Devyn no longer felt like the man was lurking around every corner.

“I told you things would settle down.” Charlie and Devyn were in study hall and Devyn had just said that he was not feeling as though everyone was watching him. Charlie was glad that everyone was moving on to new points of interest. He was hoping that with fewer people watching Devyn it would mean fewer people also watching him.

“It is nice. I no longer feel like a lab rat that everyone is watching running through a maze.” Devyn felt better that the other kids were getting over having an openly gay classmate.

Even though most of the kids were getting past Devyn being gay there were still a few that were not accepting. Devyn would still see Dewayne and Dale glaring at him. There was also that big jock Ted sneering at him. Ted was definitely the right guy for the football team, the guy was built like a bull. Devyn often wondered if the guy was on steroids or something.

Devyn was just leaving the restroom to get back to study hall. He had gotten a hall pass so he would not have any problems with Tanner. Study hall was his last class of the day and it was near the end of that period. He would just have time to get back before the final bell rang. He was just coming out of the rest room when Dewayne stepped in front of him. “What do we have here? Looks like the little fucking queer.”

“Back off DeWayne,” Devyn said. “I got to get back to class.”

“Fuck class,” Dewayne said. “You aren’t going anywhere.” He pushed Devyn hard in the chest and backwards into the restroom. He stopped, and Devyn realized that Dewayne had two more of his buddies with him. Dale and Ted followed Dewayne into the rest room.

“You were told to leave Mindy alone,” Dale said.

Devyn was tensing up. He thought with Joe and Lee’s training he could easily take any one of these guys one at a time. Both Dale and Ted were on the football team. They were bigger and well-muscled. Dewayne was no slouch either. Each one of them was a senior. He just was not sure he could handle them all at the same time. “I haven’t talked to Mindy,” Devyn said.

Devyn took another step back as the three boys moved closer to him. He stepped back until he hit the wall. “You were warned.”

Dale threw the first punch and Devyn blocked it easily. He returned the blow eliciting a loud grunt from Dale. As Ted was approaching, Devyn lashed out with his foot kicking Ted in the gut. The boy doubled over with a loud groan. Devyn spun, slamming his fist back into Dale and knocking the football player back. He lashed out again with his foot sweeping Dale’s legs out and knocking Dale to the floor.

“Fucking faggot!” Dewayne barked, punching Devyn.

Devyn had not seen the blow from Dewayne as he was trying to fend off both Ted and Dale. It snapped his head back and he was briefly seeing stars.

Devyn recovered quickly and blocked the second blow from Dewayne. Ted had recovered and was coming at Devyn again.

Devyn tried to move away but there was less room to maneuver in the restroom than there had been in the barn when he was practicing with Joe and Lee. ‘We will need to practice this in small spaces,’ he thought as he felt Dale grabbing his arm. Devyn spun trying to break Dale’s grip. He was sure he would have been able to but Ted was there grabbing Devyn’s other arm. Devyn was unable to break Ted’s grip, the boy was as strong as an ox.

Devyn’s arms were wrenched up painfully behind his back. Dwayne was punching him once in the face and two rapid blows to his guts. Devyn grunted with each punch.

Dewayne stepped back and Dale was stepping up. Dale’s blow was harder than DeWayne’s. Devyn thought he might actually puke. If he did, he hoped he blew chunks all over them.

It was only Ted’s vice-like grip that kept Devyn from falling to the floor. He was pulled into the stall and thrown headfirst into the toilet.

“You faggots like being manhandled don’t you,” Ted said. “You like drinking piss so drink this!”

Devyn tried holding his breath. He was still recovering from having the wind knocked from his lungs by Dale’s powerful punch.

Devyn’s head was plunged repeatedly into the toilet bowl. At one point he thought he might drown when he was held under the water for several long moments. He was only saved when the bell rang and the two knew other people would be coming. They dropped him there in the stall. His hair and clothes drenched from the dunking.

Everything had happened so fast that Devyn was still in shock as he knelt there on the stall floor with his hair dripping.

“Keep your fucking faggot ass away from Mindy,” Dale said and kicked Devyn. “Or next time it will be worse queer boy.”

“Come on,” Ted said. “We need to get out of here.”

Devyn heard them hurrying from the restroom. Devyn pulled himself up and wiped the water from his eyes. He tried not to think about where the water had come from. He was going to need a super-hot shower. The only plus was that it was last period. He only had to go to his locker and then go to the bus. Grabbing some paper towels, he proceeded to dry off as best as he could. He would just have to let the rest wait until he got home.

“What happened?” Travis asked when he sat in the seat next to Devyn. “You are all wet.”

“Just an accident,” Devyn lied. Devyn was still surprised he had managed to avoid Charlie and Sam as he was moving towards the buses. He had seen them near the sidewalk by the main doors but had avoided them seeing him. He did not want to have to explain to them what had happened.

“How?” Travis asked.

“I tripped,” Devyn said. “How was your day?” Devyn wanted to get the topic off him and onto Travis. He could feel the stares of the other kids on the bus. He could hear the giggles of the other kids. He knew they were talking about him.

Devyn knew he needed to do his chores but first he took a shower. He felt gross after the bathroom dunking. He was sure at least one of those guys had pissed in that toilet before dunking him. After the shower he went out and did the chores before helping Travis with his homework. While Travis was working on his homework Devyn started fixing dinner. He figured Joe was going to be late. Joe would try and get as much done while the weather was cooperating. After dinner he and Travis played a couple of games and then he put Travis to bed.

Devyn was working on his own homework when Joe finally came in. “Damn you look tired.”

“I am.” Joe’s voice was a little horse and the man had dark circles under his eyes.

“You know I could skip school and help you tomorrow.” Devyn knew the chances were slim that Joe would let him cut school but it would be better than having to face the jerks again. He was not sure how he was going to be able to avoid them. Devyn believed he could take any of them one on one but not all three of them at the same time.

“You aren’t cutting school.” Joe’s voice was firm.

“I’ll be free all weekend to help you,” Devyn offered. “My plans can wait until after the harvest.”

“I needed to get as much cut as I could,” Joe said. “I saw the forecast is calling for rain tomorrow.

“Well hit the shower,” Devyn said. “I’ll warm dinner up while you get cleaned up.”

“Thanks,” Joe said before heading to the bathroom.

While Joe was in the shower Devyn warmed up his dinner. It was ready when Joe sat down at the table. Devyn sat across from him working on his homework.

“You didn’t have to stay up,” Joe said.

“I don’t mind,” Devyn said. “Besides, I have homework I need to do. If I get it done now, I can screw off in study hall tomorrow.”

“At least you have a plan,” Joe said grinning. “Everything ok with Travis?”

“Yeah,” Devyn said. “We got his homework done first. He ate dinner. He took the dog for a walk and then we played a couple games and he went to bed. I tucked him and said you would see him in the morning.”

“You know I don’t know how I would manage this without you,” Joe said. “I’m not sure I could have raised Travis alone.”

“You would have figured it out,” Devyn said. “I’m only glad I am here and get to help. I like being a part of this family.”

“I love having you a part of this family,” Joe said.

“I know you are going to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow, so just go on to bed. I’ll clean up.”

“You have school,” Joe said.

“Yeah, but my homework is done,” Devyn said. “I can sleep in study hall.”

“Don’t get into trouble,” Joe said. “I don’t want a call from Ed Tanner.”

“No problem,” Devyn said.

The next day was mostly uneventful. Other than Devyn hearing Dewayne call him a fag as they passed in the hall. Devyn was avoiding being alone. He felt a bit like a coward, but he also did not want trouble. Joe was working too hard right now for Devyn to add to his burden.

Since the rain never materialized, Joe worked another late night. Devyn had dinner ready and Travis was just ready to go to bed when Lee and Joe came inside. “It smells good in here,” Lee said. “I am starving.”

“I saw your car in the drive,” Devyn said, “so I fixed extra.”

“What you aren’t going to bitch and moan about me coming in late and ruining dinner,” Lee said and flashed Devyn a warm smile.

“Um, no,” Devyn said, a little perplexed.

“That is usually how it goes at home,” Lee said. “Melissa bitches when I come in this late.”

“You should have left earlier,” Joe said. “I could have finished up…”

Lee put up a hand cutting Joe off. “I told her I would be really late and not to fix anything. Hopefully, she won’t be too pissed.”

Lee went into the bathroom and cleaned up. He came back out shirtless and his hair damp. Devyn once again marveled at the perfect thatch of chest hair. He also checked out the strong shoulders and hard biceps. He had a sudden desire to run his fingers through that furry chest.

“So how is school?” Lee asked.

“Fine,” Devyn answered, watching the man’s electric blue eyes. Lee’s five o’clock shadow was thick tonight. He wondered if he had to shave twice a day to keep that face nice and smooth.

“No one giving you shit?” Lee asked, looking directly into Devyn’s soft chocolate eyes.

“There’s some trash talk,” Devyn said. “But nothing really serious.” He was not going to tell the two about the bathroom dunking he had endured.

The two men finished up and Devyn started doing the clean-up. He felt a strong arm go around his shoulders. He thought it was Joe for a second and then realized it was Lee. “Thanks for dinner,” Lee said. “You’re a good cook. Hell of a lot better than me.”

“Um, thanks,” Devyn said. He tried not to think about the sexy man standing next to him shirtless with his arm around him. He tried to keep his mind on anything but Lee.

“If you get too much shit from anyone,” Lee began, “let me know. I’ll put some fear into them.”

“Um, thanks,” Devyn said. Lee removed his arm, grasped Devyn by the soft skin of his neck and massaged him. “You are tight,” he said. “I think you need a back rub as bad as I do.”

“Um, maybe Melissa will do that when you get home,” Devyn said.

“No,” Lee said. “I’m out too late. I won’t be getting anything tonight.” He patted Devyn’s back again and grabbed his shirt off the back of a chair.

“Give me a call tomorrow,” he told Joe as he moved to the door. “I can come back and help.”

“Thanks again Lee,” Joe said. “I’ll get you a check when I haul off the crops.”

“No problem,” Lee said. “Whenever is fine.”

Devyn thought again what a great guy Lee was. If the man were only gay, he would be so damn much fun in bed…What the hell was he thinking. He has Charlie now. He should not be lusting after a straight guy. Devyn shook his head to try and clear it from the image of Lee’s naked torso.

Devyn said goodnight to Joe and headed upstairs to bed. He needed to get his mind off Lee. He did not know why the man had become such a fantasy for him. “Maybe it is because other than Joe he is like the only male adult that treats you well,” he thought as he got undressed and ready for bed. Devyn’s Dad had not treated him well after finding out his son was gay. Tom had been a total prick. Hannah’s partner had even been a jerk in the beginning. He had come around after Hannah had let him have it. Devyn still wondered just how that confrontation had gone. Devyn was sure that Dean had gotten quite the chewing out after the way he had treated Devyn during the interrogation.

“You just need to get over Lee,” Devyn told himself. “Sure, the guy is hot, but he is straight and involved.” Devyn knew nothing could happen there. But the man was fun to fantasize about. Devyn just needed to keep reality and fantasy separate.

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