Bear Hunting

by R. W. Clinger

  Chapter 37: This Can’t Be Happening

  “What can I say? I like you,” Carey says, running a palm down the center of his chest, pushing water droplets to patio bricks next to his feet. He shrugs a shoulder and admits, “You’re a hard guy to catch. I didn’t know how else to go about it.”

  “I don’t even know what to say. What do you want me to tell you?” Toby’s being honest, having not the slightest clue where this conversation is going between the two men. He’s confused and in a state of wonderment. He can’t tell up from down at the moment and is having problems breathing. Vertigo floods through the area between his temples and he almost faints, but he catches his balance at the very last second before falling to the patio.

  Carey’s a forward man and always tries to get what he wants. One theory he lives by is simple: if you get kicked down, push yourself up and off the ground and try again. This is what he accomplishes right now. He steps closer to Toby and closes the distance between them. His arms wrap around the blogger’s back and he pulls Toby against his naked frame. His chest collides with Toby’s, and his upright dick presses against Toby’s cotton-covered stomach. Without further ado, caught up in a whirlwind of emotion that maybe both of the men don’t fully understand, he tackles Toby’s mouth with his own and provides a heavy duty kiss to the man, fulfilling his unlimited attraction.

  This can’t be happening, Toby thinks. Carey’s lost his mind. With all the force he can muster, Toby squirms his hands between their touching chests and pushes Carey away, breaking free from the man and his mouth, ending the naked hug that Carey embraces him with. Toby shakes his head and is just about to wipe the back of his free hand across his mouth when…

  The timing cannot be any more perfect for that little squeak Minna Bowers who happens to walk in the house, carrying a white faux leather clutch in her right hand, and wearing a short dress with heels, obviously looking for Denver, as usual. Minna gasps at what she sees: Denver’s lover on the patio with a naked man; a DPS uniform next to his feet; the DPS driver soaking wet from head to toe, fresh out of the pool; Toby’s cheeks are a robust red and his mouth agape, evidently surprised to see her. A second gasp escapes her tiny mouth, which sounds more like a squawk instead of a squeak, and she says, “Oh, Toby, I don’t think I want to know what’s going on here.” She immediately spins on her heels and heads back inside, bolting away from the unpleasant scene on the patio.

  “Minna!” Toby yells at the woman, furthering the distance between Carey and him. “Minna, it’s not what it looks like!” He races after the spicy shrew, calling out her name again and again, swearing under his breath at the same time. But before he can catch up to her, explaining the situation on the patio, providing a full detailed report on the scathing heat and Carey needing to cool off, Toby watches the tiny bitch jump behind the wheel of her speedy BMW, a convertible with two seats, and vanish from the scene, leaving him speechless.

  * * * *

  “Get dressed and go,” Toby tells Carey the bear, pointing at the naked man, who seems to be drying off rather quickly in the sun, next to the pool. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I thought you just wanted to cool off. I didn’t know you were putting the moves on me.”

  “But the pictures I sent you. I thought you knew.”

  “You’re fucked up, Carey. No one sends pictures like that. I didn’t know they were from you until right now. Besides, you know I’m in a relationship with Denver Rawlston, who just happens to own this house and pool. What were you thinking?”

  Carey dresses, slipping into his briefs and shirt keeping his hands busy. “You knew, Toby. You can’t tell me you didn’t. Any man in your position would have known.”

  But Toby didn’t know, not that he can prove such a case. “Go!” he yells at the dressing DPS man and points to the front of the house and the man’s DPS truck, which is parked on the street with its flashers on. “Get out, Carey. Leave before I bash a fist in your face.”

  Like a dog having its tail between his legs and its ears down, struck with the reality that it has accomplished more bad than good, Carey Cunningham gathers up the remaining contents of his clothes—shoes, socks, and belt—and leaves 382 Bretton Way, unable to look at Toby because of his embarrassment.

  Chapter 38: Minding Matters

  The next six hours are somewhat a disaster for Toby. The first thing he does is call Denver at King’s Barbells and Boxing. King doesn’t like it when his employees use cellphones while he pays them to work, but he suffers from nepotism when it comes to Denver, since the guy is sleeping with his best friend.

  Toby sounds like a bumbling idiot, walking the nutritionist through what has occurred at Denver’s house. He asks questions like: Who is Carey Cunningham? What was he doing in my pool? Why did he kiss you? What shoe box filled with pictures? And Toby finds himself repeating his story of the afternoon’s events approximately three more times until Denver comprehends the tale in full.

  “Can we talk about this later?” Denver asks, sounding confused and somewhat irritated that he has been disturbed at his job for whatever is happening at his house with his current boyfriend.

  “Yeah. Sure,” Toby replies, apologies for the call, and decides to burn the photos of Carey Cunningham’s body parts in the Webster grill, scorching every last one of them, including the shoe box, until they become ashes.

  * * * *

  Toby finds Minna exactly where he thinks she will be, at Cup of Beans on Weston Row Street. Minna can’t live without coffee, drama, or men in her life, plus she’s a silent partner of the place, all of which her daddy and his millions has paid for.

  She sits in the parking lot of the coffee house, comfortable behind the wheel of her BMW. Toby sees that she’s on her cellphone, not that he cares, since he jumps into the passenger seat of the convertible without even opening the door.

  Fear strikes the woman because of Toby’s sudden confrontation and she jumps in her seat. The cellphone almost falls to the seat between her legs, but she catches it before it lands. After the quick catch, she says into the phone, “Mom, I have to call you back,” and presses a button on the cellphone’s screen, powering it off.

  “Minna, stay out of my business,” Toby says. “What you saw between the DPS driver and me was nothing. I’ve already explained everything to Denver. Don’t think that you’ll break me on this.”

  She squeaks, “You’re cheating on Denver, who’s my best friend. Of course I’m going to get in your business. I won’t have you hurting him.”

  Toby shakes his head. “It’s all a misunderstanding. The DPS guy came on to me. He tricked me by saying he was hot and…” Toby tells her everything. He leaves nothing out. No detail is spared.

  Just when Toby finally thinks or believes that she understands what he’s trying to tell her, she says, “Denver is too good for you. He deserves better. Get out of my car or I’ll call the police on your ass.”

  * * * *

  A mile away from Cup of Beans and Toby accidentally runs into Carey’s tan DPS truck. Toby pulls up to the truck, climbs out of his vehicle, and ends up inside the DPS truck, standing next to Carey’s seat, the gear shift, and steering wheel. He touches Carey’s right shoulder with a few fingers, begins to tap its bone and material-covered area, and says, “Just so you know, I’m not turning you in to your supervisor. Some guys would, but I’m not one of those guys. As far as I’m concerned, your dip in Denver’s pool never happened. So don’t worry about losing your job.”

  “Thank you,” Carey says. “I was worried about that. And I’m sorry for what I did to you. The pics and everything, of course.”

  Toby releases his fingers from the delivery man’s shoulder, and says, “No problem, Carey. Just don’t let it happen again.”

  And Carey won’t. Never. Certainly not after being rejected by Toby and how humiliated he feels because of his ludicrous actions.

  Chapter 39: Nothing Happened

  382 Bretton Way

  8:29 P.M.

 
“Did you have the grill turned on at some point today?” Denver asks, sniffing the air near the kitchen. “It smells like charcoal was burning.”

  “I did, but just for a minute or two. I burned the pictures Carey Cunningham mailed me.”

  “The DPS driver you told me about this afternoon?”

  Denver is a little buzzed because he had a few shots of whiskey after returning home from his shift at King’s. “He’s a cute guy.”

  “You know him?”

  With outstretched arms, Denver provides his lover with a strong hug, wrapping Toby against his bare chest. Once Toby is secured against his bulk, he dabs a kiss to the tip of Toby’s nose, and says, “I don’t. But I’ve seen him drive around the neighborhood. He’s an adorable bear with his brown hair and eyes. Hell, I may have slept with him if I were in the same situation you were in.”

  Will Denver cheat on me? This is what Toby thinks as he feels the man’s lips against the stretch of his neck. Will he simply give up on our relationship and find a guy like Carey to sleep with, or Carey himself? It’s food for thought in Toby’s world, of course. But Denver has been faithful up to this point in their relationship, hasn’t he? There hasn’t been a single sign that allows Toby to believe that Denver has ever strayed. Not once.

  “You’re joking,” Toby says to Denver. “Something tells me that you’ll always be faithful.”

  “You know it, guy,” Denver says, adding more kisses to the splay of Toby’s neck. When he pulls his face away from the smooth area, he says, “I know that nothing happened between you and Carey.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Minna said you were dressed from head to toe, and dry. That tells me you didn’t go swimming with the guy or have any intentions to fuck around with him.” Following his spiel, he dabs a kiss to Toby’s lips, slides his tongue inside the blogger’s mouth, and holds his hips.

  Before Toby really knows what happens he is pushed against the kitchen counter and stripped out of his clothes, which end up on the floor in a pile. Denver begins to kiss his chest, starting at both nipples and working his way down to the mass of somewhat hard cock between Toby’s legs. His balls are squeezed with tenderness and his stomach is grazed by Denver’s right palm.

  Toby is not given the blowjob that he thinks he’s about to get. Rather, Denver spins him around, nuzzles his handsome face against Toby’s ass, and becomes wild and relentless with abrupt licks, rocking Toby’s world for the next fifteen minutes against the kitchen’s quartz counter.

  * * * *

  They don’t fuck like men who meet in an all-male bar and sneak into the restroom to get each other’s rocks off. Both men feel as if they make love, enjoying their united time together, naked and compressed by erections, mouths, and arms. They move their intimacy from the kitchen to their bedroom and find pleasure on the queen-size bed, rocking the mattress up and down, and to and fro, heaving for breath, perspiring on each other, until they release semen from their dicks, decorating whatever skin they can emboss, becoming naked artists together, in love.

  Chapter 40: Bear Blog, August 28

  Some bears can be crazy as hell. I’m not saying they all are. But a low percentage is off their rockers and need to stay away from cubs or other bears. These bears definitely have to stay single and can easily be considered sociopaths. They don’t care what they have to do or who they will hurt to get the man they want. I’m sure you know one or two, even though you probably don’t want to.

  I’m talking about bears that stalk, following you all over your city, bears who find their way inside your apartment and take things that remind them of you, and bears that won’t take no for an answer. Other bear problems include: they think they own you, jealousy issues, and physical or verbal abuse.

  Frankly, I’m not going to sit here and tell you a story about the insane bear I have recently had in my life for fear that he will read this and act on my words, which I don’t want to happen. Instead, I’ll just give you some advice regarding bear nature and what to do in situations when dealing with a disturbed bear.

  I suggest you get a history of the bear you’re currently dating, or will soon be dating. Find out what’s in his mental genes and family’s background regarding psychosis. And if he needs help, see that that’s done. Psychiatrists and psychologists are there to help. Try to prevent the bear from being dangerous to himself and others, which includes you.

  Don’t tease the crazy bear. Be smart about it and try not to piss him off. Bears can be lethal and unmanageable. Stay clear of them to the best of your abilities. I guess what I’m trying to say in bear language is simple: don’t become bitten by a bear because they can bite and shred you to pieces. That’s all you need in your life. Honestly. Believe me.

  Maybe you have to cater to the bear and give him what he wants. Be smarter than the bear, stay wise, and feed him his desires, whatever they entail. Because you never know, you may fall in love with the guy. Love does the strangest things like this. No one can determine what is going to unfold in any relationship, with or without bears. You two could fall in love or end up hating each other. But maybe you want to give the bear a shot. Maybe you really do like him. So wrap your arms around him, cuddle him against you—or be cuddled by him—and let the bear Gods do their thing. You don’t know what’s out there for you. You can’t tell me you do. But try and go for it, because who would I be to stop you, right? Right. Amen to that.

  Don’t be afraid to contact me. I love to hear from you guys and your bears. Keep me in mind.

  —Toby Cartwright

  * * * *

  Toby thinks of Carey Cunningham as he uploads his latest blog to his page. He wonders if Mr. Right is in the world for the man, and if Carey is mentally stable enough to keep a relationship intact, falling in love, and marrying a man. None of these thoughts or questions matter to him, though, since he has Denver in his life, the man he’s falling in love with and maybe wants to spend the rest of his life with. Denver’s his guy and moonlight and life and…

  “Are you coming to bed, Toby?” Denver pops his head into the kitchen where Toby writes on his laptop at the counter with a bar stool and minimal light.

  Denver smiles. It’s a nice smile that Toby finds handsome and warm; a caring smile that Toby doesn’t want to walk away from at the moment, or anytime soon. Denver, he has decided, can stay in his life and they can continue being lovers for as long as their relationship will last.

  “I’m coming, guy,” Toby says, saves his blog page, closes his laptop, and follows Denver to their shared bedroom, slipping into bed with the man, against each other.

  Part 5: Jim Bone

  Chapter 41: Millard LeCarre

  September 1, 20—

  Toby receives an email from Jim Bone, whose real name is Millard LeCarre, a gay XXX star who works for Thor Media Productions. Toby has known the man since grade school and they’ve been friends for over two decades. Although Jim was a few years older than Toby, they still hiked and bicycled around Templeton as boys, until Jim was fourteen years old and moved to California with his mother, Trudy LeCarre. Trudy met a wealthy director of B-grade horror films and fell in love with the man. The director lived in Malibu and drove a Rolls Royce. Trudy and Millard were well taken care of by the man, who offered the mother and son a vault filled with money, lavish material things, around-the-world trips, love, and whatever else they desired.

  Toby and Jim have kept in contact throughout the years by text, email, Skype, and cellphone calls. Their conversations vary, but they usually discuss their current boyfriends or lovers, their careers, and other general information that pertains to their separated lives. Toby considers the adult film star one of his best friends, a shoulder to rely on, and someone of importance in his life, similar to his relationship with Dave King.

  Seeing a fresh email from Jim causes Toby’s heart rate to increase and a smile forms on his face. He likes to hear from the man in California, particularly about his filming tales in the XXX industry, and
other stories that have recently occurred in Jim’s life on the west coast.

  The email from Jim is short and sweet: Hey, Toby. I’ll be in Templeton on the third and leaving on the fifth. What do you say you wine and dine me? We can play catch-up. Let me know. Millard.

  Toby’s delighted with this news, always welcoming Jim back to Templeton and its quiet and reserved lifestyle without the queer glitz and glamour of West Hollywood. He’s bubbly with excitement to see Jim again, missing the man. The last time the two men connected was in December, for Christmas, and Toby only saw him for two hours, having dinner and drinks with the man.

  The email Toby returns to Jim comes right from his heart: Glad you’re coming. Will love to wine and dine you. Text me when you get into town. Xxxooo, Toby.

  When Toby tells Denver that Jim Bone is coming to town, Denver doesn’t respond, ignoring Toby. Denver’s been distant for the last few days, Toby has noted. Not once has he shared a lengthy conversation with Toby, or even a short one for that matter. They seem to be like the old cliché that sometimes happens in relationships: they are two ships that pass in the night, parted. Neither exchange kisses, hugs, or the slightest chatter with each other, which is starting to cause a concern for Toby, unclear of his relationship with the man, even though he loves him.

  Toby makes a mental note to have a sit-down with his lover and learn why he is distant. What is happening in the nutritionist’s life that he isn’t sharing with Toby? What’s on the guy’s mind? And when does Denver plan on snapping out of his period of silence, if ever, welcoming Toby back in his life, just as Toby is welcoming Jim Bone back to Templeton?