And Manny Makes Three: Gay Romance

by Solet, Trina

  Zack lingered in his room, letting Mark and Al get to the beach ahead of him. When he went into the kitchen, he saw that they had made peanut butter sandwiches with grapes not grape jelly. They had taken them to the beach with them and left one in the kitchen for Zack. He poured himself a cup of coffee, grabbed the sandwich and went to join them.

  As he went toward Al and Mark sitting with their feet splashed by waves, Zack had a sense of inevitability again, but in a different way. When he sat down to join them, he had a feeling of completion. A piece had clicked into place. Al was chattering at him. Mark was determinedly looking at the boats on the horizon. Then Mark turned his eyes to Zack, and Zack grinned so big that Al immediately started questioning him about it.

  "Why am I getting buried?" Zack grumbled as the sand was piled on top of him.

  "We voted for you," Al reminded him, exasperated that Zack was so forgetful.

  "You mean you voted against me," Zack corrected him.

  "Are you sure we can't cover his face?" Al asked Mark. "We can give him a straw for breathing."

  "Or a crazy straw," Zack suggested sarcastically.

  Of course Al missed the sarcasm and loved that idea. Mark mercifully still said no.

  After Al and Mark diligently covered him with sand then packed it down, Zack was almost completely encased. He pretended to sleep for the last part of it. When they were done, and Al was again asking to cover his face, Zack suddenly stood up and growled. Al screamed. Mark pretended to be scared. Zack growled that he was the Sand Monster and chased Al. Al splashed through the waves and tried to use his plastic bucket to throw water on Zack. Zack pretended that the water hurt him when it actually missed him completely most of the time. Meanwhile, Mark got most of it on video.

  Zack and Al came back from down the beach and found Mark looking over the footage he had shot.

  "I wish I got you jumping up with the sand falling off in clumps. That would have been great," Mark lamented.

  "You have to be quick," Zack told him. Then he announced, "I'm going for a swim." He wanted to wash off the sand that still clung to him and some which had found its way under his swim trunks.

  "Me too!" Al said.

  "No. Stay with Mark. I want to swim far," Zack told him.

  Al whined while Mark frowned.

  "Not too far," Mark warned him.

  "I can take care of myself. And anyway, if I start to drown, you'll come and save me," Zack said with a smirk.

  "He will. Mark is a good swimmer. Much better than you, Dad," Al said.

  Zack looked from Al to Mark, who was acting all innocent.

  "This kid. Every chance he gets," Zack said.

  "He just wants to keep you humble," Mark said smugly.

  "I'll bring you back a baby shark," Zack promised Al.

  "Really?" Al said with awe and maybe a little fear.

  "No. Not really. What would you do with it?" Zack asked, dismayed.

  "Aww! No fair!" Al said in frustration.

  Zack wished he and Mark could swim out into deep waters together, but they had to take turns watching Al. Al was right though, Mark was a great swimmer. Zack wanted to build him an Olympic sized swimming pool and watch him swim all day. The way his body cut through the water was something to see. His arms sliced the waves with lightning fast, decisive motions. Watching him, Zack couldn’t believe how lucky he was. This man had been in his arms just last night, and probably would be again if Zack didn’t come to his senses.

  As usual, Zack didn’t stay out long. He swam back to see Al practicing his dead man's float under Mark's supervision. When he got close, Al stood up and looked at him expectantly.

  "No, I didn't bring you a baby shark. Where would I put it?" Zack said to him just in case that's what he was waiting for.

  "In your swim shorts," Al said like it was only reasonable to put a baby shark near ones precious, private organs. Mark laughed at the idea. God knows what he was thinking about Zack's precious organs, but he had certainly liked them last night.

  "The truth is, I was going to bring you a baby shark, but then I remembered how you said I was iffy, so I didn’t," Zack lied while Mark glared at him.

  Al got mad and splashed at Zack.

  "You have to do better than that," Zack told him since his splashing didn’t reach very far. That was Mark’s cue to help him out. His splashing hit the target square in the face. Zack splashed back, and Mark shielded Al with one arm and splashed Zack with the other one. Seeing that, Zack took it easy on them, not that he got any credit for it. They just claimed they had won.

  That evening, they had hiked up the wooded hill west of the beach house. They walked by some big, old houses in shaded gardens. They were going toward a hotel restaurant at the top. They ate on the terrace enjoying a spectacular view of the darkening ocean. Afterward, they raced each other down the hill. The path looked different than when they went up earlier in the evening. The trees and bushes gathered the darkness while the path was lit by lights with moths flying around them. Some of the big houses looked dark and mysterious while others were lit up and festive. Their little beach house, with its porch light on, looked extra inviting as they reached it.

  When they got to the beach house, though he was tired, Al wasn’t ready for bed. Zack was on the phone while Mark did some reading for class and Al leaned against him. Mark couldn’t remember him ever looking bored like that. He guessed at the reason.

  "You miss PJ, huh?" Mark asked.

  "Yeah," Al said sadly.

  "I bet she misses you too. But cats don’t like the ocean so she wouldn’t have much fun here. And the sand would get in her fur."

  "Maybe," Al said not willing to admit that it wasn’t a good idea to bring her.

  Mark put down his own reading and got a book he and Al could read together. The reading turned into a discussion about a big house where Al could have every animal he wanted. He would build it with George and Yuka’s help.

  "Isn’t that a zoo?" Mark asked him.

  "No. A zoo is not a house," Al said.

  When he noticed the time, Mark asked him, "Aren't you sleepy?"

  "No. I'm never sleepy. Dad just makes me go to bed anyway," Al claimed.

  Mark wondered if he was rushing Al to go to bed because he wanted more time alone with Zack. But really, he wasn’t sure what would happen. Mark only knew he couldn’t stay away. The rest was up to Zack.

  Even after Al had been in bed for some time, Zack stayed with him in his room. Mark wondered if Al was having trouble going to sleep or if Zack was avoiding him. When Zack came out of Al’s room, Mark didn’t like the look on his face. He felt paralyzed. He was afraid of what Zack might say. Even more, he was afraid that Zack might just go to his room and lock the door, sending Mark a wordless message to stay the hell out.

  "Don’t look like that," was the first thing Zack said as he stood in front of Mark.

  Mark was standing too though he didn’t remember getting up.

  "We need to stop this now, while we still can," Zack sounded like he was begging.

  "Wasn't I good?" Mark challenged him, dared him to deny it.

  Zack tried to sidestep the issue.

  "You fishing for compliments? Have you ever heard me give a compliment?" Zack asked since he wasn't in the habit of throwing around compliments much.

  But Mark had a different answer from the one Zack was expecting.

  "Yes, I've heard you give plenty of compliments. To me. All the time." Mark smirked at Zack as if he had sabotaged him. But it wasn't that easy.

  "I'm glad you brought that to my attention," Zack told him. "Obviously you've had more than your fair share. You're cut off, mister."

  "We'll see," Mark said feeling more invigorated. Talking to Zack always made him feel better. Mark pulled close to him and did nothing more than stare into his eyes. That was enough. Their bodies took over, and they were in Zack’s bedroom again. Just being there, being allowed in, gave Mark a feeling of happiness. And if that was happine
ss, there was no word for how he felt as they kissed. In every way their bodies shared a perfect unity. Mark had never felt closer to anyone. He just wished he could erase all Zack’s misgivings and his own.

  He could hardly call what Mark did seducing him. All he did was stand close to Zack. But it was allowing Zack to stare into his dark eyes that did it. He wrapped his arms around Mark to hold him there, so he wouldn't move, and he could just keep looking at him.

  But a body doesn't just want to be looked at, it wants to be touched. Zack held Mark too close not to feel the hardening of his dick against his own. What a wonderful sensation it was to feel two cocks coming alive together, urging each other on to reach their full potential.

  Since he couldn’t pretend to resist him, Zack pulled Mark into his bedroom. His dark eyes shone as Zack leaned in slowly for a kiss. As he was kissing him, his hands went to Mark's waist. His fingers were digging in as his need was building then his hands reached behind and down his back to cup that beautiful ass. Mark reached for his ass as well and their groping pushed them closer and closer, jamming their erections against one another. The unbearable stimulation was building as they kissed and caressed each other.

  Zack kissed Mark’s neck. Burying his face there, Zack groaned. But Zack wanted to see Mark, his eyes, his half open mouth. Zack leaned in for a thorough, wet kiss. Pressing himself against Mark, Zack felt their hard cocks needing to be freed. He unzipped Mark then himself. Two hard, living instruments were striving to link love with pleasure, to become more than a part of a man's body, to be joined with another, to become one. Zack wanted to laugh at his own feelings, but he couldn’t. This was what Mark did to him.

  Zack stroked their cocks though they were more than a handful. Thinking about the size of Mark’s cock made Zack want it inside him, but his better judgment said no. He gasped as he forced himself not to ask to be fucked. It was even harder to hold back as he stripped Mark, revealing the contours of his body by moonlight. Zack knelt in front of him, feeling like a worshiper again. Looking up, he saw Mark gazing at him in a way that made him shudder. If he asked for it, Mark could have his soul. Instead of asking for anything Mark ran his fingers through Zack’s hair then he slipped his hand over the back of his neck and over his shoulders. His touch traveled up Zack’s arms to his hands clasped around his waist. Mark moved Zack’s hands to his ass. Zack sucked slowly, aware of every movement, every breath, every time Mark swallowed.

  Suddenly, Mark made him stop and sit on the bed. After Mark went to his knees but before he started sucking, Zack pulled him into a kiss. Mark allowed the kiss only for a short while. He was hungry for Zack’s cock. He started fast almost rushed, but then he slowed down to savor him. Zack lightly caressed Mark’s face and his throat while Mark’s eyes stayed locked on his. This was a different look from the one Mark had while Zack blew him. Now he looked almost predatory, and again Zack wanted Mark to fuck him. Just as suddenly as he had stopped Zack, Mark pulled his mouth off Zack’s cock and pounced on him for a kiss. They rolled on the bed grappling with each other, a picture of perfectly synchronized arousal. Then Mark turned upside down to Zack and lay on his side. He licked Zack’s rock hard cock tenderly. He left it to Zack to do whatever he liked with Mark’s cock now in range of Zack’s mouth. Running his lips and tongue up the shaft, Zack kissed the beautiful, hard flesh. He matched his pace to Mark’s until he felt the needs of Mark’s body take over. Mark needed to come, and Zack was happy to make it happen. He moaned desperately around Zack’s cock then let go of it so he could come, flooding Zack’s mouth.

  Mark made one of his quick maneuvers, and he was straddling Zack and kissing away the drops of come from his lips. Then it was Zack’s turn. Mark kissed down his body as wildly and desperately as if he was the one who hadn’t come yet not Zack. He took Zack’s cock into his mouth and cupped his balls. With his other hand he teased Zack’s ass, fingering the hole with only the tip of his middle finger. That and the taste of Mark on his tongue was enough to make Zack come, surging into Mark’s eager mouth. They kissed again sharing the taste of each other, their bodies sweaty and hot to the touch.

  Reviving first, Mark sat up then straddled Zack, who could see that sweat had made his body glow. Zack was still reluctant to move a muscle though his cock was rising in response to Mark. When Mark took it in hand, Zack’s cock was ready to obey and stiffen for him in record time. Mark’s cock was ahead of his own. As Mark joined their cocks together, he had to use both hands to stroke them jointly and firmly. Seeing that Mark aimed for his chest, Zack warned him, "That’s going to make a mess."

  "That’s the idea," Mark said.

  Zack rubbed Mark’s ass and his powerful legs. His chest heaved in anticipation. They were both sweating even more now. Zack felt like he was burning up. The come hit him from Mark’s cock then from his own. Mark leaned forward, placed both hands on Zack’s splattered chest to support himself as he kissed Zack.

  "Let’s cool off," Mark said.

  "No skinny dipping for us. Can’t leave Al," Zack managed to gasp, out of breath from coming and from kissing Mark.

  "Shower," Mark said as he got up. He clearly didn’t need to be reminded about Al.

  They put on their pants and left the room quietly. The bathroom was down the hall, but they risked it. They slipped in and stepped out of their pants and into the shower. The cold water made them both stifle their gasps and laughter. Zack was already composing an excuse in case they woke up Al. It was something incoherent because he was distracted by Mark’s wet body and busy hands. Mark was scrubbing him down vigorously. As he pulled Zack close, Mark rubbed Zack’s back hard then his ass and the backs of his legs. Crouching in front of Zack, he soaped up his legs. Mark threw his head back letting the spray of the shower run over him. Zack saw he was aroused again. He took his turn washing Mark. He did it more gently. Standing behind him, he washed Mark’s chest and his hard abs. He soaped up his cock and balls but handled them lightly. Mark leaned into him, his back against Zack’s chest, and Zack squeezed him in his arms. Their breathing at first hard and out of sync, unified into one breath. With water running over them, and Mark held against him, Zack never wanted to move. The side of his face was against Mark’s until they both turned to share a kiss.

  Chapter 24

  Once again Mark had woken up in Zack’s bed. It was still early so he felt safe as he quietly left Zack’s room for his own. Just as he reached his door, he heard Al’s voice.

  "Why are you sneaking?' Al asked startling Mark.

  "Who are you to talk?" Mark asked defensively. From his perspective Al had sneaked up on him though he probably didn’t see him come out of Zack’s room.

  "Al," Al said, asserting his identity and his right to question Mark at the same time.

  "Oh, is that who you are? I was just being quiet," Mark said since that wasn't a lie. Part of sneaking was being quiet.

  Al nodded.

  "As long as Dad doesn't catch you," Al said.

  "Catch me what?" Mark asked a little bewildered.

  "I don't know," Al admitted.

  "Do you think I'm doing something wrong?" Mark asked as if he expected the child to absolve him or blame him without even knowing anything about what was going on.

  Even without facts, Al did absolve him.

  "No. You wouldn't do anything wrong," Al said with blind faith.

  "Then I must be very boring," Mark concluded.

  "Yeah," Al agreed.

  Mark was about to argue with him, to assert his potential as a wrong doer and possibly a bad boy, when he thought better of it. He realized that Al didn't need him to be a bad boy. He needed him to be the same boring, dependable Mark he knew he could count on.

  "Thank you for having faith in me," Mark said and put out his hand to shake hands with Al.

  "Any time," Al said as he shook his hand vigorously.

  Mark praised his manly handshake and then invited him to help with coffee and breakfast.

  As Al puttered around
the kitchen, Mark couldn’t help sneaking a look at him. He felt his heart become constricted in his chest. If things between him and Zack went wrong, he might have to leave Al. All this time it had been building in his heart, but Mark didn’t want to acknowledge his love for Al. Mark was so attached to him now, if he had to leave it would crush him. Mark closed his eyes and resolved not to let that happen. He would hold on to Zack and Al both, forever.

  As soon as Zack got up, he started teasing Al. He was telling him that he couldn’t catch a fish and showed him the little net he had found from the year before. Then he held it up out of Al’s reach while Al jumped to catch it. When Zack tried to interfere in the making of oatmeal Mark’s way, Al once again demonstrated his faith in Mark by admonishing his father.

  "Let Mark make the oatmeal. He knows how to make it good."

  "Not too good, I hope," Zack groused.

  "It’s just a little fruit and honey," Mark told him. "Have a little faith."

  Zack was going to the store while Mark and Al were headed to the beach. Zack just put on an unbuttoned short sleeved shirt over his swim trunks and grabbed his wallet. He hadn’t shaved and his hair was not thoroughly combed.

  "You look like a beach bum," Mark told him. He actually liked the look, found it sexy as hell, but wasn’t going to let Zack know that.

  "I'm just going to the store," Zack said looking wounded.

  Mark shook his head.

  "I don't see what's wrong with it?" Zack looked down at himself.

  "Nothing. Never mind," Mark said deliberately sounding insincere. But Zack was so gorgeous. His new tan set off his eyes. His hair had lightened a tiny bit. And the wild man look was deadly to Mark. And the hair on his chest – Mark just wanted to lay his head there and rub his face on it. He wanted Zack naked so bad. He wanted to see his cock and the hair of his crotch then run his hands all over him and lick him everywhere. He wanted to swallow every inch of him down to the root.