By the Creek (10 page)

“Before you said something, I thought I was the only person in the world to feel like this.” Benjamin wiped his eyes with his hand, and David continued holding him. Suddenly his own fears and doubts didn’t seem so bad. It wasn’t like his mother was going to kick him out of the house; he was pretty sure about that. Sure, his life at school would probably be hell if people found out, but… he wouldn’t lose everything. At least he didn’t think he would.

“You aren’t the only one. I know that. There have been lots of television shows with gay people. There are lots of them. So I can say you aren’t alone.” David took a deep breath and then released it slowly as Benjamin rested his head on David’s shoulder. This was what he’d wanted for so long, but not like this. Not with the whole rug of Benjamin’s world ripped out from beneath him. David lightly caressed Benjamin’s back. “It’ll be okay,” he soothed.

“How?” Benjamin said, lifting his head.

“I don’t know, but neither of us is alone, and that has to count for something,” David answered, and Benjamin slowly nodded. “I don’t have many more answers about this than you, but we’ll try to help each other and figure out things together.” David didn’t know what else to say to try to comfort Benjamin.

“There’s more,” Benjamin said, and David tensed.

“What happened? Did you already tell someone other than me?” David asked.

Benjamin shook his head rapidly. “No, but I think I like you,” Benjamin said, and David grinned from ear to ear as the last of his butterflies settled to nothing. Lightly taking Benjamin’s cheeks in his hands, like he’d seen done in the movies and on television, he brought his lips to Benjamin’s.

The kiss was gentle, sweet, and oh so tentative, with David barely touching Benjamin’s lips, but even that was enough to send a small jolt of excitement through him, unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Slowly pulling his lips away, he gazed at Benjamin’s face to see if he’d felt what David had. Judging by the startled expression and slight smile, he had. David tilted his head slightly and kissed Benjamin again, harder this time, and he felt Benjamin respond, kissing him back.

The kiss ended and David blinked a few times. “Does that feel like it’s wrong?” David asked, and Benjamin shook his head slowly. “It didn’t to me either.”

“Benjamin!” A high-pitched voice called through the trees. Benjamin jumped back slightly, and David did the same.

“It’s okay. Just relax,” David said, and Benjamin nodded.

“What is it, Jeremiah?” Benjamin called.

“Are you going swimming?” Benjamin’s brother called and then stepped out of the woods on the other side of the swimming hole.

“No. The water is still too cold. Maybe in a few weeks,” Benjamin told him. “You remember David.” Jeremiah nodded without saying anything. “He’s never quiet at home,” Benjamin said to David. “I should get home and finish my chores.”

“Okay,” David said. “But you know where to find me if you want to talk. You’re welcome anytime,” he added for Benjamin’s ears only.

“Thanks,” Benjamin said with a touch of a smile, and David wanted to pull him into another hug and hold him until the doubt and fear left his eyes, but that wasn’t possible, so David waited until Benjamin and his brother were gone before hurrying down the path and then crossing the field. When he reached the house, it seemed like his feet had barely touched the ground the entire time.

Chapter 9

D
AVID
had just finished his shift at the Dairy Barn and was anxious to get home. It was hot as Hades outside, but he had most of the late afternoon left. He’d told Benjamin a few days earlier when he’d be home, and they were planning to go swimming. They’d seen each other a few times, but Benjamin’s chores kept him busy, so he didn’t have much time. David took off his uniform and headed to his car. Carol was working a different shift, and over the past few weeks, she and Jeremy had gotten quite close. He often brought her to work and took her home, so David wasn’t seeing as much of her. But she seemed happy, and David thought she might be falling in love, which was perfect for him, because he was pretty sure he was falling in love with Benjamin.

“What’s got you in such a hurry?” Carol asked as she got out of Jeremy’s car with a huge smile on her face. “You have a hot date?”

David chuckled slightly. “No. But I’m meeting a friend to go swimming in the creek near the house. The water’s warm enough, and it’s so hot out here. Have a good shift and call me later,” David said with a wave before opening the car door to let the heat roll out of the interior. He waited a few minutes, rolling down all the windows, and finally got into the sweltering car. The drive home felt like riding in a swamp. At home, he opened the garage door and pulled the car inside so it wouldn’t heat up again. Then he rushed inside the house and quickly changed into his bathing suit and grabbed the things he’d need before hurrying across the field.

The shade of the trees did little to abate the heat, and David had sweated through his shirt by the time he reached the swimming hole. Benjamin was already there and up to his neck in the water. David took off his shoes and shirt before stepping to the edge of the water and jumping in.

The water was a bit cold, but he didn’t care. It beat the heat, and he closed his eyes and let the water wash away the heat, sweat, and tension. “Have you been here long?” he asked, turning to Benjamin with a smile.

“No,” Benjamin said and looked around the clearing before he moved closer and then into David’s arms. Their kiss quickly deepened, until David could barely think. His body reacted instantly, and he felt Benjamin’s reaction pressing to his hip. They hadn’t done anything more than kiss and touch a little up till now, but David was quickly losing control of his own will, and without shame, he slid his fabric-covered erection along Benjamin’s.

Benjamin moaned softly and then stilled. “It’s okay to feel good and be happy,” David said, repeating the motion. He could see the doubt in Benjamin’s eyes. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he added, while hoping against all hope that Benjamin would want what he wanted.

Benjamin wrapped his arms around him, and David held Benjamin tight as they slowly moved together in the water. David languidly stroked Benjamin’s back, venturing lower with each up and down motion until he slipped his hand under Benjamin’s shorts and over the round curve of his butt. When he pressed them together, Benjamin moaned louder and with more urgency. David kissed Benjamin, and he felt Benjamin start to shake and gasp softly. David felt his own passion building and he moved his hips with Benjamin. David’s breathing became shallow, and he held Benjamin tight, stroking his smooth skin. Clamping his eyes closed, David felt the waves of release begin to wash over him. His head felt light, and then Benjamin slowly rubbed his hand up and down his back as David spilled into his bathing suit.

David stilled and simply held Benjamin as they both came down from the floaty feeling that seemed to last a wonderfully long time. He kissed Benjamin and held him close, never wanting to let him go.

“Was that right?” Benjamin asked, and David grinned.

“It was perfect,” he answered, and Benjamin smiled. They stayed where they were for a long time, holding one another and letting the water cool their fevered skin. Then, slowly, almost reluctantly, they moved away from each other. David watched Benjamin’s every move, wondering how this would change things. The last time he’d sprung something on Benjamin, David hadn’t seen him for weeks. He hoped this would be different, but he wasn’t sure. “Are you okay with what we did?”

Benjamin turned around, grinning like a cat. “Yes.” A wall of water came at him and David didn’t have time to dodge.

“So that’s how it is,” David yelled as he pounced, catching Benjamin around the waist, but he squirmed away, and the roughhousing and splashing began, just like the previous summer. Only this time, it ended with the two of them holding one another, David kissing Benjamin, his Benjamin, deeply.

When they began to chill, David climbed out of the water and spread the blanket he always brought on the ground. The thick air surrounded him as he lay on his back, watching as beads of water ran down Benjamin’s pale chest and stomach.

“We don’t have much time,” Benjamin said, and David turned toward the path to see if anyone was coming. He heard no one, so he turned back to Benjamin and lightly trailed his fingers over Benjamin’s work-strengthened chest, circling his nipples until he felt Benjamin shiver and then laugh softly. “It tickles,” he whispered, and David shifted, bringing his lips to one of Benjamin’s nipples, sucking it lightly.

That got him a gasp of surprise that turned to a small moan. David sucked a little harder, and Benjamin moaned again. When he stopped and rested back on the blanket, he saw Benjamin hesitate at first and then reach out to rest his hand on David’s belly. David closed his eyes and waited, afraid to move in case he scared Benjamin off.

“You’re warm,” Benjamin said as he traced the thin line of hair that extended from David’s belly button into his bathing suit.

“You’re amazingly beautiful,” David said, opening his eyes so he could stare at Benjamin. Sliding a hand around Benjamin’s neck, he brought Benjamin’s face to his and kissed him hard, using his tongue to explore Benjamin’s lips and mouth.

Soft, chattery sounds reached his ears, and David backed away. Benjamin stood up and reached for his towel, putting distance between them. The sounds got louder, and David knew it was the chatter of Benjamin’s brothers.

“Papa said he was here.”

David recognized Jeremiah’s voice. David saw them emerge from the path on the far side of the pool, smaller versions of Benjamin with almost the same eyes. “Mama said you would watch us swim,” Adam, Benjamin’s youngest brother, said. He was about seven and never seemed to go anywhere without Jeremiah.

“Very well. You two be careful and play nice,” Benjamin said, going into what David had come to recognize as big-brother mode. David sighed, silently wishing he’d had more time alone with Benjamin. He’d come to realize that the times they had together were stolen, secret moments, and that was most likely all they would ever have.

“Watch me, Benjamin,” Adam cried as he slowly climbed to the edge of the pool before jumping in and paddling around in the shallows. David watched them for a while, and they seemed to watch him back. Eventually, Benjamin got back into the water and played with his brothers while David began to pack up. It was time for him to go home. He was an outsider now, and while Benjamin’s brothers no longer asked if he was going to eat them, they remained wary, and David knew they would have more fun if he wasn’t around.

David pulled on his shoes and shirt before folding up the blanket. “Have fun,” he called, and the two boys waved while Benjamin flashed him a quick, but longing, smile. Like David, he too seemed to wish they had more time together. David headed down the path, taking a few quick steps until he was hidden from view. Then he stopped and listened to the yells and shouts of happiness. He could easily discern Benjamin’s voice from the others. He wanted to rush back, jump into the water, and hold Benjamin in his arms forever. But that wasn’t an option. Their feelings for one another had to remain a secret, and no matter how much it hurt every time David had to leave, it was the price he had to pay.

Turning toward home, he slowly walked down the path. The air was too thick and humid to move any faster. When he reached the edge of the trees, David looked to the west and saw clouds forming on the horizon. He stood at the edge of the trees and watched them quickly grow taller and darker. The sun still blazed overhead, but that probably wouldn’t last long. David started for home and had gotten about halfway across the field when the first edges of the clouds covered the sun. The past year in school he’d taken a class on the Great Lakes and their history. One of the things they’d covered was some of the great storms, and in each of those cases, huge summer storms had almost always happened during extremely hot weather.

Suddenly worried, he turned around and raced back across the field to the path entrance. He ducked under the trees and ran down to the clearing. As he got close, he heard shouts and laughter still coming from the pool. “There’s a storm coming,” David called as he burst into the clearing. All activity in the pool ceased, and David saw half a dozen heads turn toward him. “Benjamin, you need to get these kids home.” As if to punctuate his words, thunder cracked in the distance. “It’s coming up fast.”

The light that had been shining through the leaves overhead dimmed and the area darkened quickly. A breeze kicked up, rustling the leaves overhead, and then continued to grow into wind that shook the branches. Benjamin got out and began helping the kids get dressed. Thunder sounded again, closer and louder. Some of the kids began to whimper, and Benjamin calmed them as he helped them into their clothes. David dropped what he’d been carrying and hurried down the path and over the log bridge, coming around to the other side of the pool.

Benjamin had most of the younger kids ready. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed, much closer this time. Whatever was coming was moving fast, driven by the wind, which continued to build. “This must be a squall coming through,” David said. “We need to get everyone to shelter.”