Deklan and Oakland sat on the wooden bench observing the two roosters ignoring the hens that were trying desperately to get their attention with fluffing wings and shaking tail feathers. It was comical to watch the roosters caringly interacting with each other while completely snubbing the lady birds. The actions of those roosters suggested they were homobirduals.
It wasn’t long after the roosters had run away together that Deklan asked Oakland to follow him to the barn for a visit with Chadwick.
Ludicrous it would have been to say no. Oakland stood, letting Deklan know he accepted the invitation. They’d taken off running for the barn like lovesick schoolboys, Oakland chasing his heart’s desire, and it brought him joy to hear Deklan laughing.
Chadwick was standing majestically in the stall when they arrived, but his stillness changed quickly the moment Deklan and Oakland had come through the door. His nose bobbed along with what seemed like excited whinnies. His hooves beat the ground as he pranced in a circle.
Once the horse settled down, Oakland pulled a brush through Chadwick’s mane while Deklan scraped mud and soot from the underside of his hooves with a wooden tool.
Deklan had come up missing for a few moments, but returned with a scrub brush and a bucket filled with sudsy wash water. He started scrubbing Chadwick’s rump, moved down around his knees and legs before telling Oakland he might want to look away for what was about to take place next.
What could be so bad that it was necessary for him to put blinders on?
Then it happened.
Oh sweet surrender. Shock horror.
Oakland’s jaw immediately dropped when he witnessed what Deklan had done. “Holy bollocks,” was all he could muster. “That poor horse,” he thought. It looked more than painful. It was a horrific deep cleaning from what Oakland could see and knew for sure he wouldn’t want that done to himself.
“I warned you,” Deklan said. “First timers are usually shocked by this process.”
“Shocked? Jeez, Dek. Take it easy on him,” Oakland winced.
“It needs to be done to prevent buildup of dirt. It can get infected if not kept clean and then there will be a bigger issue in hand.” Deklan had extended the horse’s genitals to its fullest length and started scrubbing it with the soapy brush.
Oakland couldn’t stop staring at the size of this horse’s genitalia. It was huge. No, it was enormous. The thing couldn’t have been a fraction less than eighteen or twenty inches long. It looked massive in Deklan’s soapy hand. It was offensive really, but Oakland couldn’t seem to look away. His own genitals started to hurt from watching that bristly brush being scrubbed up and down the poor horse’s private parts. Oakland crossed his legs, attempting to sooth his imaginary pain. “Holy, bollocks!” he squealed again. “How much longer will this go on?”
Deklan laughed at him and finally let go of Chadwick’s great big reproductive organ. It hung like a rope for a second and then quickly retracted into hiding as if something frightened it away.
After that horrific wash job, Deklan moved behind Chadwick and flushed his tail with the remaining water in the bucket. A clean hind end helped keep the flies tamed. As dreadful as the bath had been, the added laughter helped lift the dark cloud hovering so sinisterly above.
After the brush bath, Chadwick seemed energized. He perked up and started dancing again. Then dropped down into a bed of hay and rolled around, his hooves galloping at empty space out front of him. He quickly stood and shook, flicking straw bits everywhere. He whinnied and stared with a toothy grin at Deklan.
“Are we done?” Oakland asked.
“Yep, that’s it. We’re finished.” Deklan tossed the dripping scrub brush into a wall bin about twenty feet away while he heaved the large bucket upside down over one of the stalls posts.
To Oakland’s impressed surprise, everything had landed where it was supposed to.
Deklan dried his hands on his pant legs, stepped up to Oakland and kissed him on the lips. “There now. Chadwick is squeaky clean and infection free.”
Oakland’s entire body was as stiff as a springboard. “Sorry, I’m still in shock over what I just witnessed. I had no idea Chadwick was such a big boy. Omigawd, that was awful. You really need to wash your hands.”
Deklan kissed Oakland again and laughed. “You’ll get used to it.” He tapped Oakland on the nose with his finger, his horse cocked finger.
Shifting backward, Oakland screamed. “Ho, hey. Whoa!”
Deklan laughed louder.
“That isn’t funny. GO… wash your hands.” Oakland pushed him away and pointed to the water pump outside.
“Yes Mumsie.” Deklan smartly obeyed.
As Deklan turned away, Oakland spanked his rear-end. “Good boy.”
Deklan held his hands out beneath the spout while Oakland started pumping the handle. It had taken a few thrusts to get the water out of the ground, but when it finally flowed, it had come out like the Grand Rapids falls.
As ordered, Deklan scrubbed. Once done, he said, “How’z ‘bout we sneak into the house and grab us some grub and a change of clothes?”
The look on Oakland’s face should have told Deklan it wasn’t a good idea for him to be making an appearance inside the manor. “What if somebody sees me with you?”
“Everybody’s too busy to notice if someone doesn’t belong.” Deklan shook his hands, flicking water droplets to their feet.
“Are you sure about that?” Oakland asked, glancing at the huge house.
“No, but who cares. They are bound to meet my true love someday anyway. And with a family like mine, it’s bound to be a spectacular introduction.” He wiped his hands on his pants.
“Aren’t they prepared to set fire to any man you bring home who’ll get in the way of your marriage to that girl person?” Oakland mentioned the bride-to-be as if she was an undesirable object. It was for him. He doesn’t do bouncing boobs or slippery vaginas.
“Don’t be silly. They may have their issues, but nobody is going to get injured or killed over this. Now come on,” Deklan asked again.
“I’m kind of a bit on edge, not quite sure what to expect. Ya better stay close or I’m bound to lose my way.”
“You’re going to fit in fine. I know this. Now, let’s go.” Deklan took hold of Oakland’s hand and led the way.
“I feel sick.” Oakland held his stomach.
“My place is yours. Since I found my way into your sweet entrance, comfortably through the back, now it’s your turn to make your way into mine, sneakily through the rear.” Deklan snickered.
“Did you hear what you just said?” Oakland’s mind wandered. He liked it.
“I know exactly what I said. Glad you were paying attention and understood what I was referring to. Follow close behind me and keep your eyes on the prize.”
“Oh. You can count on that.”
Chapter 29
At the top of the stairway at the front entrance, the door opened up and Deklan’s father stepped out on the stoop yelling at somebody inside the manor.
It wasn’t clear what he was hollering about, nor had it mattered, but the way Deklan reacted, it was best to dodge the oncoming bullet and get out of his way. He pushed Oakland aside into the bushes at the base of the stairs.
“Aaagh, bollocks. Roses.” Pricked by thorns, Oakland leaked itty spots of blood.
Deklan quickly sat on the first step, his leg bouncing nervously as his father approached from behind.
Dante seemed a bit more pleasant than the last time they were face to face, making the engagement seem less fierce. “It’s nice to see you, Deklan. You might want to get out of the sun before you burn up. It’s a hot one today.” Dante looked to the sky.
Deklan stood. “I suppose your right.”
Oakland hung tight in the shadow of the staircase, most likely listening. There was sincerity in Deklan’s fathers’ voice that probably hadn’t been heard in a long while. It was gentle and from what Deklan had told him, wasn’t what would have be
en expected.
Deklan shifted and said, “Pop?”
Dante ground his heels into the gravel and turned back around toward his son. “Yes Deklan?”
At a weird glance and hidden from his father, Deklan noticed Oakland had sunk deeper into the shadow and stayed quiet.
“No matter what happens, please know that I love you and will respect your decision as you deem fit. I may not agree with all of them, but know that I won’t let that get in the way of how I really feel about you and mother.”
Dante hadn’t said anything at first, but reached for Deklan and hugged him. Hugged him hard. Then in a voice that had come softer than before, he whispered, “I just can’t bear to see people hurting you. You are my child for God sake, and it’s my job to take care of you and keep you protected. My Gawd, I love you, Deklan. The world is a cruel place. I need you to understand that.”
“Thanks, Pop. I do”—Deklan grunted under the pressure of the hug—“I know you’re looking out for me. But I’m a grown man and should be taking care of myself.”
“Even so, you’re still my boy. I used to change your diaper for God sake. I still think of you as a snot-nosed whippersnapper that I still need to put over my knee and spank some sense into from time to time.” Dante kissed the side of Deklan’s head as if he was still a young boy and about to be sent off to grade-school. He eventually let him go and then turned to walk away.
Oakland slowly rose from the bush, weeping like a small child and it hadn’t seemed to have been because he was pricked by a rose. His voice quivered, “Are you alright?”
Deklan’s voice cracked too. “I’m fine. Let’s get inside.”
Oakland commented, “I can see your father really loves you, and it seems he’s only trying to look out for you the best way he knows how. This is all about keeping you from the hurt the world can dish out. I somewhat get it, but I still want you to be mine.”
The two of them climbed the stairway that Oakland had once before climbed alone dressed in fabulous ball wear. He glanced around, his expression displayed he seemed to have remembered the other side, how elegant it was, and the image of that first greeting with his handsome Prince. It must all have become familiar to him again, however, the fear of the unexpected had to have been hanging over him, dousing him with anxiety with each step closer to where his love affair had begun. What was on the other side could also spin in reverse.
“Why are you trembling?” Deklan asked.
“I’m trembling?” Oakland asked. “I hadn’t noticed,” he fibbed.
“It’ll be alright. My father is out of the house.”
They’d taken each step together as if they were trained for a march.
Oakland had been led by Deklan through the doors that overlooked the grand hall and had taken him through a short corridor to the left. That brought them to a long hallway off to the right where several doors were lined on both sides resembling an elegant hotel. The place was massive for a single family home.
When they reached the end, Deklan stopped and turned Oakland toward a door. It was like that of a castle. Deklan had sensed Oakland’s anxiety, felt him perk up the instant he passed through the doorway of his bed chamber.
Deklan closed the door and clicked the lock into place. His heart was racing. The excitement and nervousness consumed him for having a man he loved in his bedroom for the very first time.
Even though he’d been with Oakland before, the thought of being with him in his bed was unlike any other time.
The moment they entered, Oakland’s gaze traveled around the room. There were mostly dark colors. Rusty brown tones, some greens and light shades of walnut. It was cozy the way a bedroom should have been. The fireplace along the wall to the left was mammoth—one a tall man could actually stand in without head bumping the mantle.
As if the crackling fire had called to Oakland, he’d gone over and stood near the open flame.
Deklan followed and kissed him on the cheek, turned and confirmed, “This is it. My sleeping quarters. Around the corner over there is the water closet and sink basins.”
“Quite nice,” was all Oakland said, nodding his head and scanning the handsome room finely decorated for a striking chap like Deklan.
“The wardrobe is over there.” Deklan pointed. “Whatever you’d like to wear is inside. Take your pick of anything. What’s mine is yours.”
Oakland smiled as if he was an invited guest who had been given a handout instead of a boyfriend being offered sanctuary.
The idea of Oakland being Deklan’s boyfriend had a nice ring to it, but being his husband would be more fitting. If only that was possible. Until that day would come and if ever, Deklan would dream. “Sir Oakland Royal.” That had a better ring.
Deklan was about two or three inches taller than Oakland, and with that bit of a difference, the pant length would be the only issue with Oakland wearing his clothing.
There was something special about having Oakland dressed in his clothing. He knew having Oakland carrying his living sperm inside his body was one magnificent thing, but wearing part of his attire had added support to the claim he already had on him.
“How about we get changed so we can relax and enjoy the rest of the evening together?” Deklan opened up the wardrobe and took out a pair of gray woven pants that were hemmed just below the knee.
“For me?” Oakland asked.
Deklan pushed the hanger toward Oakland. “If you like them, they’re yours.”
After Oakland took hold of the britches, Deklan reached for another pair quite similar to those he’d just given away, only brown. He disrobed completely, putting on the trousers, leaving his chest exposed.
Oakland on the other hand put on a white button down shirt, leaving several of the top buttons undone and rolling the sleeves back until they locked above his elbows.
“You are such a sexy man,” Deklan confirmed, running a gentle finger down the deep center of Oakland’s chest.
“As are you.” Oakland said, then turned toward the looking glass with Deklan following his action. “Look at our reflection. Had you ever thought about how different we are from each other? Complete opposites?”
“I hadn’t, but I can see the differences on the outside.”
“It’s a good thing. Opposites seem to attract. That’s probably why we are so connected to one another. I’m black and smooth, and you’re white and perfectly hairy.” Oakland lifted a hand and dragged his knuckles over Deklan’s chest.
Deklan turned toward Oakland, “I love you just the way you are. Defects and all.” He kissed Oakland. Gently.
Oakland sputtered, “Defects?”
Deklan grinned and gripped the front of Oakland’s pants. “This beautiful bulge doesn’t even fit in one hand. You said it yourself. Freakishly deformed.”
“As are you.” Oakland gripped back. “Whoa… and getting stiff.”
“A sexy man can do that to me.”
“Only me?”
“Only you.”
Oakland released Deklan and stepped to the window, looking out at the place where he had been living. The bedroom was located inside the great big house, not too far from the carriage house where he stayed every night.
“It’s funny isn’t it?” Deklan crept up behind Oakland, pressing his warm body against his boyfriends back.
“What is?” Oakland leaned into him.
“That you’ve been living right outside my window all these years and I never noticed you.”
“Well that tells me a lot about my character. But I’d always been known to blend.”
“I mean, I knew somebody was there, just never paid attention to the help.”
“That makes it much better.”
“No, wait,” Deklan choked. “I didn’t mean that either. What I meant to say was I just never took notice of it being someone I’d be so attracted to.”
“I see.” Oakland grinned.
Deklan was only trying to be sincere and the way he was obliterating himself m
ust have been the reason Oakland let off that quirky side winders smile.
“Forget it. I love you and you know it. You want some wine?” Deklan slyly changed the subject, hugging him from behind. “Kiss me.”
Spinning around, Oakland had given Deklan that kiss he’d come for, then shimmied around his side to collect the two metal goblets sitting on the table in front of the fireplace. “Would love some,” Oakland said.
Deklan followed Oakland and pulled the cork from the glass bottle. He poured Oakland’s first before his own. It was red. Oakland’s wine flavor of choice.
“I know it’s predictable, but we can’t drink our first carafe of wine together without making some kind of good cheer,” Deklan proclaimed.
“Of course not,” Oakland agreed while ogling Deklan’s shirtless chest—the perfectly groomed hair had always gotten his attention. As he’d mentioned before, he liked Deklan’s chest and how good it felt against his smooth skin, especially caressing him while Deklan made love on top of him.
“As outlandish as it might sound, let’s toast to everlasting love between you and me.” Deklan made the typical motion of raising his metal goblet.
Oakland lifted his and tapped it against the rim of Deklan’s. The chime it made was magical, lingering a few seconds after the goblets touched.
As soon as the chiming ended, they sipped. It was so good. Warm, fruitful and delicious.
“Good?” Deklan asked.
With a mouthful, Oakland replied, “Mhmm. I enjoy wine, but hadn’t had it at my disposal that often. When I have the chance to drink it, I border line on indulgence. I gotta watch that.” He sipped slowly that time as if refraining from coming across as a wine drinking lush as it had come across to Deklan. He’d even waited for Deklan to sip from his goblet first before making a swan dive into his own.
The Prince of Almond Manor Page 16
