by Andrew Grey
“Please.”
Dave signaled the server, and she took Jim’s order.
They talked all through lunch. Jim couldn’t remember such an easy rapport with anyone since he’d met Jerome. The server brought their orders, and they ate an animated lunch, talking, laughing, and admiring the view. They were both famished and finished the actual eating rather quickly, but neither appeared to be in a hurry to leave the other.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating,” Dave said.
“It’s the air. The clean crisp air gets the blood pumping and the body moving,” Jim said.
After lunch, they wandered around as Jim explained that the landscape was the work of glaciers scouring the area and retreating, leaving the small, deep lakes.
They were standing outside the lodge looking at the view when Jim took a chance and slipped his hand into Dave’s. That simple gesture was the first overture he’d made since Jerome left him, and it felt so good, particularly when Dave squeezed his hand in return. After standing hand-in-hand for a few minutes, they heard the bus driver calling, and they made their way back.
Since there was only one road into the park, the bus turned around and headed back along the same road. The bus driver explained that he wouldn’t be pointing out the sights, but he would be glad to stop if anyone wished to take pictures.
During the return trip, the swaying of the bus lulled Dave to sleep, his head resting against Jim’s chest. It had been a long time since he’d been touched by another man, and it felt wonderful. Jim was tempted to kiss him, but he held back.
“Dave. Dave.”
Dave sat up and looked around.
“Look across that meadow. Do you see the movement?” Jim asked. Dave nodded. “That’s a bear, and it’s headed this way.” Jim signaled the driver to stop, and the man pulled the bus off the road.
As they watched, the bear kept getting closer to the bus.
“Dave, look, she has cubs.” Sure enough, there wasn’t one bear, but a mother and two cubs. They were playing and frolicking as they crossed the meadow. As they got closer, Dave started to take pictures. They continued to get closer. The mother bear passed right by the bus at the base of the ravine, not twelve feet from where they were sitting.
Moving on, the bus continued its steady trek to the ranger station. Jim found himself hoping for a flat tire so he’d get to spend more time with Dave, with no such luck. They pulled into the bus depot on time, and everyone disembarked.
Jim looked at Dave as he got out of his seat. He could see a small war going on behind his eyes and wondered what the other man was thinking.
“Jim, would you join me for dinner?” Dave’s voice was touched with nervousness.
“I’d love to.”
That earned Jim another of those aurora smiles he’d seen earlier. Jim had to check in and confirm that he’d made the delivery, so they agreed to meet in an hour at the lodge restaurant.
An hour later, Jim was being seated with Dave at a table with an incredible view, and they ate and told each other stories. Dave seemed really interested in Jim’s childhood in Nome, asking a lot of questions. They talked through dinner, dessert, and coffee before finally getting up from the table and leaving the lodge.
Jim walked Dave back to his campsite, holding hands for part of the way. At his door, he said good-night and looked into Dave’s eyes, hoping for some sort of sign, and then took a chance and narrowed the gap between them, gently kissing Dave on the lips. He felt Dave respond, so he deepened the kiss slightly, nibbling gently on Dave’s soft lips before slowly backing away. “What are you going to do tomorrow?” Jim asked.
Dave answered, sounding a little off balance. “I was planning to go hiking. Why?” There was a definite hint of hope in his voice.
“I’d like to take you to one of my favorite spots in the park. It’s not on the maps, but it’s worth it.” Dave nodded, and Jim leaned in and kissed him again before saying good-night and walking toward his room, humming softly to himself.
In the morning, Jim rose before the alarm and happily got out of bed. It’d been a long time since he was this happy; hell, he even sang in the shower. Getting dressed, he couldn’t get the smile off his face or keep down his excitement at seeing Dave again. Like the previous morning, he grabbed a granola bar as he rushed out of his room, carrying his backpack.
Jim arrived at Dave’s campsite at a respectable hour and knocked on the door. It was opened by a smiling blond manwho quickly gathered his things and locked the van door behind him. “Morning, Jim.”
“Morning, Dave.” Jim smiled at Dave’s expectant look before leaning forward and kissing those full lips. This time, he kissed a little harder, and he heard a small whimper from Dave. Jim longed to continue, but they were standing outside in the middle of the campground. “Shall we go?”
Dave nodded and followed, Jim leading the way as they walked through the campground to the shuttle bus stop. Getting off the bus at the main ranger station, Jim led them off the main road and onto a path by one of the streams. Following the stream, he led Dave onto a narrow path across the tundra.
“Be sure to stay on the path. The tundra grasses are fragile and repair damage slowly. This path is rarely used and has probably been here for fifty or sixty years.” Jim pointed to a pass in the mountains ahead of them, standing close to Dave, their heads almost touching. “That’s where we’re going, through the pass to the other side.”
They held hands as they hiked along the path, paying careful attention to the trail ahead and making sure of their footing. After walking a few hours, they approached the pass.
As they reached the top of the pass, the view on the other side was breathtaking. A small valley with a small kettle lake in the center was surrounded by mountains. “This is one of my favorite spots anywhere.” Jim watched as Dave just stared at the tranquil, quiet scene below him, the lake, the snow-capped mountains, and the valley floor dotted with blooming wildflowers. Taking out his camera, Dave took a few pictures, before putting it back in his pack.
“The trail continues down into the valley; would you like to go on?” Jim asked.
Dave turned toward him, blue eyes shining. “Thank you for bringing me here.” He then brought his lips to Jim’s gently kissing him. As Dave broke the kiss, Jim put a hand on the back of his head, pulling Dave in for a second, longer kiss. Jim’s tongue gently probed those lips, feeling Dave’s heat spread through his entire body.
Jim pulled away slowly. “Let’s head down into the valley.” He turned and carefully led down the way down the trail. Soon they were by the shore of the lake, looking up at the peaks around them.
Dave stood near the water, turning as he looked up at the mountains surrounding them. Jim pulled a blanket out of his backpack and spread it on the ground before sitting down and watching Dave as he took in the grandeur around them. Dave joined him on the blanket, and Jim reached into his pack, pulling out bottles of water and some snacks. “This is incredible. Do you come here often?” Dave asked.
“Not often, just when I want complete peace and quiet.” Jim took a drink of water. “You’re the first person I’ve ever brought here.” He leaned forward, kissing Dave again, extending his arms around his back, and pulling them together. He felt Dave stiffen initially, but then he melted against him, and Jim slowly lowered him to the blanket. “You’re so beautiful,” Jim whispered between kisses as Dave clung to him, whimpering as he kissed him.
Jim pulled away, looking down at Dave. His lips were red, his eyes wide and dark. “Is this okay?” Dave nodded vigorously, and Jim captured his lips again, mouths opening, tongues exploring, hands holding each other tight.
Once they started, Dave acted like he couldn’t get enough. He moaned at each caress, arched and pushed into each touch. Jim pulled Dave’s shirt out of his pants, his hand sliding beneath, caressing the skin of Dave’s stomach and chest. Dave’s moans increased as he writhed beneath Jim’s hand, whimpering into Jim’s mouth wh
en he plucked a nipple.
Jim felt Dave slide his hands beneath his shirt, gripping his back as long legs gripped around his waist. He slid his hand down Dave’s stomach and into his pants, sliding his fingers along Dave’s length.
“Jim….” Dave groaned his name into his mouth as he thrust his hips against him. Jim opened Dave’s pants and spread the material, exposing his erection to the air. He then did the same to his own pants, lying on top of Dave, rubbing against him. Dave went wild, clinging to Jim’s back, pushing against him as he tugged on Jim’s lips. “Been so long….”
“It’s okay, baby… let it go… show me how you need it.”
Dave cried out softly, and Jim felt each shudder as Dave climaxed beneath him with Jim following right behind.
Slowly and carefully, Jim lifted himself off Dave and got some paper towels from his pack that he used to clean them up. Dave still reclined on the blanket, looking completely debauched and absolutely beautiful. “You look wonderful when you come. Your eyes sparkle.” Jim leaned down and kissed his swollen lips. “I know you’re leaving tomorrow to continue your vacation, but I’d really like to see you again.”
“I’d like that too.”
“Could I see you next weekend? I’m heading home to Wasilla on the train tomorrow, and I’d love to have you visit.”
Dave smiled one of those smiles again, warming Jim on the inside. “I’m heading that way as well. Would you like to ride with me?” Jim winked and leered at Dave’s now flaccid sex still hanging out of his pants. “I meant a ride in the car.”
Jim smiled and leaned close to his ear. “Baby, I’ll take any kind of ride you wanna give me.”
IV
Dave’s alarm sounded, waking him from a sound sleep. He banged on the clock, trying to get the buzzing to stop, and then rolled over and started to fall back to sleep. This was his usual ritual; the alarm would sound again in ten minutes, but this morning the phone rang instead.
Dave was still groggy. “Hello… this better be good.”
“Morning!” Jim was always too damn cheerful in the mornings, probably because he’d already been up for hours to check on the markets.
Dave smiled through a haze of sleep. “Hey, Jim.” He yawned as he got out of bed, taking the phone with him.
“Did I get you up, Blondie?” The nicknames Jim came up with.
“Nah, just having a hard time waking up.” Dave padded to the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee.
“I was wondering if you could get out of work early today.”
Dave tried to think. It was Friday, and things were usually slow in the afternoon. “Probably, why?” He yawned again.
“Because if you can get that beautiful butt of yours up here by two or so, I thought we could go fishing for the weekend.”
Dave was awake now. “Really?”
He could hear Jim laughing on the other end of the phone. “Yes… really.”
“Okay.” Dave was chucking now. “I’ll check my schedule and call you from the office.”
Jim was still laughing when Dave hung up. He finished his coffee and went into the bathroom to get cleaned up and ready for work.
The last few months had been very good for Dave. He’d been seeing Jim steadily, and he was happy. But he was still having trouble letting go. The drawing of him and Kevin that he’d found during the move still sat on his nightstand. His clothes were in the antique dresser that Kevin always used, and the bottom drawer still contained the plastic bag of Kevin’s clothes that he’d saved.
Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt—Fridays were casual, and Dave took advantage of it—he threw a hastily packed bag and his fishing gear in the car and headed off to work. The office was already bustling when he arrived. After about an hour, he dialed Jim’s number and told him he’d arranged to get out at noon.
“Great, I have to get some things. I’ll pick you up at work and we can leave from there.” Jim was so full of energy.
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
Jim’s energy was catching, and Dave spent the rest of the morning getting his work done. At noon, he turned off his computer, wished everyone a great weekend, and headed out of the office. Dave stopped in his tracks when he saw Jim leaning against his truck. Tight jeans, flannel shirt open at the collar, Jesus, the man looked good, real good. Jim slowly stepped forward and kissed him, right there in the parking lot.
“Missed you,” Jim said.
Dave smiled, got his things from the car, loaded them in the truck, and climbed into the passenger seat. Jim was already inside, waiting for him. “Missed you too,” Dave said, and he leaned across the seat and kissed Jim, hard, letting him know just how much. “Where are we going?”
“To one of my favorite fishing spots on the Kenai River. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery.”
Jim pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. He had packed a lunch, and they ate as they drove. As they got out of the city, the scenery changed rapidly, buildings giving way to nature with forests, swamps, and rivers. The further they got from town, the more Dave relaxed, watching the scenery as it passed the window, his thoughts drifting.
“Dave.” He swiveled his head from the scenery to look at Jim. “I need to ask you something, but I’m not sure how.”
Dave shifted a hand to Jim’s leg. “Just ask what you want to know.” Dave was suspicious, and he felt his stomach clench.
“We’ve spent almost all of our free time together for the last couple of months, and I’m starting to have deep feelings for you.”
“But…?” Was Jim taking him fishing to dump him? That didn’t make sense.
“But… you seem to be holding back, and it scares me.” Jim glanced over as he drove. “I’m concerned that you’re not really interested in me.”
Dave didn’t know what to say. That couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“I’ve been to your house, and I’ve seen the pictures of Kevin, including the drawing by your bed,” Jim continued. “I’m just worried that you’re comparing me to him and that I can’t compete with your memories.”
Dave didn’t know where to begin, but he tried. “I don’t know what to say. I do care for you, and I am interested in you.” He knew it was a cop-out and that he should just say the words, but he couldn’t. “You’re the first and only person I’ve been with or wanted to be with since Kevin died.” A tear rolled down his cheek. “I really don’t know what else to tell you except this: I do not compare you to Kevin, and I do see you for the wonderful person you are. All I can ask is that you be that wonderful, patient person for a little longer.” Deep down, Dave knew what the problem was; he just couldn’t verbalize it to himself or anyone else.
Jim pulled the truck off the road, putting it in park before leaning over and wiping the tear off Dave’s face. “I’m not leaving you or anything, but I needed to know what was going on in that head of yours.” He leaned closer as Dave did the same, their lips coming together gently. “I know you’re having a rough time of it; I guess I just needed to know how you felt.”
Dave was surprised that the normally confident Jim needed reassurance too, but then he remembered what Jim had told him about his last boyfriend leaving him. Maybe they both needed the same reassurance.
“Let’s go fishing, and I promise you’ll be the only man on my mind,” Dave said as he rubbed his hand along Jim’s inner thigh. “Particularly in those pants….”
Jim chuckled, and they shared another kiss, both reassuring the other that things were okay. Jim pulled back, put the truck in gear, and they continued down the road. Dave kept his attention on Jim, and they talked as they went.
Late afternoon, they arrived at Jim’s fishing spot. Jim made up beds in the back of the truck beneath the topper, explaining that they’d be safer should any large, hungry animals wander by, particularly since they were in a pretty remote area. Once camp was set, they grabbed their fishing gear and headed down to the water. The plan was to fish from the bank. Jim helped him choos
e his lure, and they fished together, quietly casting their lines, the hushed sounds of the river, breeze, and birds keeping them both company.
Between casts, Dave watched Jim, his fluid motion as he cast his line, his muscles moving beneath his shirt. Without warning, a rock shifted beneath his feet, but his attention was on his handsome fishing partner instead of where he was walking. His leg turned, and he fell, his pole going one direction and he in another.
His body felt like it was being poked with millions of needles as he was pulled under by the force of the water and then pushed back up to the surface as the current carried him along. He tried to right himself but couldn’t get his feet under him. Then the needles went away, and he felt nothing. Dave managed to call out, “Jim!” before the current pulled him under again. A rock scraped his back, and he tried to grab it, but it was gone before he could get his arms around it. “Jim… help!” Sky, water, rocks, and trees all blended into a blur that got more and more confusing.
Finally, he got caught on a branch or something, because he stopped rolling, and the water started to flow around him. Thank God. He was so exhausted and tired; he couldn’t move. All he wanted was sleep.
“Dave… Dave…!”
He cracked his eyes open when he heard the familiar voice. “Jim… am I dead?”
“No. Can you help me get you up?”
Dave tried to get his feet under him, but he couldn’t tell if they were there. Finally he realized he was standing upright and moving. The next thing he knew, his clothes were being yanked off, and he was being pulled into something.
“Get in, Dave.”
He complied, realized he was lying down. Then he started to shiver and shake, but he could feel again. His legs and arms throbbed and he felt arms around his chest and a body pressed to him.
“Dave, wake up, please.”
“I’m h... h… h… here.” He was shaking uncontrollably, and he was cold, really cold, but… oh, it was Jim holding him, and Jim who’d saved his life. “C… c… can feel my legs again. They really hurt.”
