The Apprentice

by and © N Fourbois

Chapter 16

The fact that Kieran and Orlando came down the stairs and into the kitchen holding hands did not go unnoticed. In the meantime Julian had set the table beautifully and put various items of salad out so that people could help themselves. Since Eric had to make the omelettes separately, Julian was already tucking in to his, while as the boys arrived Eric took a plate from the oven and with a slice slid a second one onto it and served Orlando.

"Tuck in while it's still hot." He started on the third one which he turned with care to ensure it would be light and fluffy and served his nephew. Finally he made his own and all four could sit down and eat together. It felt odd sitting with a bare backside on wooden kitchen chairs, but the boys got used to it as the wood warmed up and they were too peckish after an active morning to dwell on that for too long.

The telephone rang and as the only permanent resident it was Kieran's duty to go and answer it. He hesitated as the excitement of the occasion had given him a bit of a boner. He soon got over that by quickly rationalising to himself that Eric and Orlando had seen it before, while he doubted he had anything new to show Julian. All three noted and admired the fact, but nothing was said. Kieran had settled down, but nonetheless was annoyed to announce that their meal had been interrupted by a financial adviser who had a tranche of 'can't fail to rise in price' shares to place.

"Boiler room scam," declared Eric.

"A what?" from the others.

"It's called a boiler room scam because temporary offices are set up and can literally be in boiler rooms. They try to get you to invest thousands in shares, and if you fall for it they prove worthless."

The four carried on with their meal amidst a great deal of banter led by Julian. The meal ended with a cup of tea. As guests, Orlando and Julian went off and sat in the living room, while Kieran and Eric remained in the kitchen to clear away and feed the dishwasher, but it gave them an opportunity to talk and compare notes.

"How's it going, Kieran?"

"Good. We've had a lot of fun and I reckon we'll take it one step on tonight."

"What, oral?"

"Yeah, but I don't know who's going to do what to whom yet. We'll let it happen, I guess."

"Best way. It's obvious to Julian and me that you're well matched."

"How about you two?"

"What, me and Julian? We're having fun. We've known each other for a long time."

"I know that. During breakfast this morning we thought you were going to bring the ceiling down."

"Oh, that. Julian can get a bit passionate at times."

"And you didn't, Eric?"

"I didn't say that."

"Who shouted out?"

"That's for us to know and you to find out."

"Why aren't you two a steady married couple by now?"

"That can be answered in a single word - commitment. I don't want to settle down yet and he openly admits he fancies too many guys to be able to stick to one."

"And you don't mind that?"

"Why should I? We're just long standing friends and occasionally we can spend a weekend like this together. But I've no illusions. Monday night he could be in someone else's bed or have someone in his, or on the other hand no one."

The chores done, Kieran said

"I'm beginning to feel cold like this. I'm going to take Orlando upstairs to get warmed up a bit."

"Okay, we'll probably see you before we go out this evening, otherwise tomorrow morning - but not too early - for Masterchef."

"Have a good time, if we don't see you."

"Thanks. By the way, you're not going to..." and here Eric's voice dropped to a whisper, "... not going to get into any penetration?"

"I think not. There are a lot of other things we want to try first."

"That's all right. It's just that looking at Orlando we'll need to do quite a bit more of your apprenticeship before you get that far."

The boys disappeared upstairs and once the bedroom door was closed, they put their briefs and tee shirts on, pulled back the duvet, crawled underneath and snuggled together. A little bit of petting went on, nothing more serious, though Kieran could feel his briefs were soaking up gallons of precum, but he was savouring the warm moist feeling. He and Orlando dozed in each other's arms. Kieran leant over to kiss him, but before their lips met Orlando poked out his tongue to meet Kieran's and they had a gentle jousting match with them. There was something exquisite in the sensation, different from a full blooded French kiss, something sublime which they both enjoyed, but just the same they ended up with a full and intense French kiss which brought Orlando to the brink of shooting his load inside his 2^(x)ist briefs. After that they lay there, an arm round the other's shoulder and chatted.

"You're different," said Orlando.

"What do you mean, different?"

"I don't really know. I've done stuff with other boys and afterwards got up and walked away, feeling quite fulfilled and satisfied until the next one came along. But you're different."

"You've already said that," said Kieran, more as a tease.

"I know. With you I like the smell of your body. I've never noticed that before with other boys. I can smell your hair, your pits, your spunk. I'm content to lie here with you after we've climaxed. Your just being here does something for me. It makes my skin prickle, but in a nice ticklish way, and when you touch me, I can feel a warmth spread through my body."

"Do you know something?" said Kieran. "You're the first boy I've ever been to bed with. With others it was always a quickie in the bogs or in the showers, even the Australian kisses."

"Australian kisses?"

"Yes, BJs. They're like French kisses, but down under." Orlando couldn't help laughing.

"Are you into blow jobs?"

"Yes. Are you?"

"Yes, I think so."

"What do you mean you think so?"

"I've given them and been given them, but I'd rather have a good wank."

"I'll give you a BJ tonight, and if you like it you can give me one back. I don't think you'll be disappointed. So, Orlando, what was your first experience with another guy?"

"The classic boy-next-door scenario. It was during one of the summer holidays. We'd hang out together even though he was a couple of years older. You see, he didn't have many friends in the neighbourhood because he went away to boarding school. It was raining that day and so we were up in his room doing something on the computer. His parents were at work. We got into one of those silly arguments that boys do and it led to a wrestling match. Being bigger he got me onto the bed and we started grabbing each other's nuts. When he grabbed mine he was very gentle. I now realise he knew what he was doing. He made me stiffen up and I could feel he was stiff already. We stopped and looked at each other. We could read what the other was thinking from our faces. He nodded, I nodded, I unbuttoned my jeans, then he had his wicked way with me. He thought that was it, but no way, José. I wanted the return match and got it. So that was my first experience with another boy. After that we had a lot of fun until he went back to boarding school. He was obviously experienced - just not very good at BJs. This was the time that not only did I find out that I was gay, but that I enjoyed being gay and that there was a lot of fun to be had out there. You didn't need to look very far and so I soon found my fun elsewhere when I got back to school. By the time term ended his parents had sold the house and moved out to the country and so we didn't see each other again. It was only about that time I recognised that I was a big boy, which gave me a reputation and meant I didn't have to look far for a willing partner, but it also meant that no one wanted any real sex with me and so I remain a virgin to this day... unless, of course, you want to take up the challenge."

"Mmm, I might well do, but not this weekend. I'm not ready for it yet."

"In fact, you're the only guy I've even thought of doing it with."

"I bet you say that to all the boys." Orlando looked at Kieran, wriggling his eyebrows and grinning, and said nothing.

"Hey, Orlando, do you want to see some of my pictures?"

"What sort of pictures?"

"Naughty ones."

"Naughty ones? You keep naughty pictures on your computer?"

"Not on my computer exactly." Kieran booted up his computer and went to his wardrobe. Inside was a safe like those found in hotel rooms. He bent down, tapped in the code and took out a memory stick and pushed it into one of the USB sockets. When the icon appeared, he double clicked it and a number of folders appeared. "What do you fancy?"

"What's that one called Boys don't do that?"

"It's pics of boys kissing and snogging."

"The boys I know do do that."

"And me." Kieran double clicked again and a whole lot of thumbnails appeared with an array of boys, adolescents and late teens, appeared in various states of dress and undress, but all performing the act of kissing in one way or another. Then Kieran said "There's an easier way of doing this." A few more clicks. "I've made these into a powerpoint presentation." The boys pulled up chairs and sat there with their eyes glued to the screen while the pictures ran their course. They both soon became hard and their cocks pressed against their briefs. Again the precum started flowing and damp patches appeared on their underwear. When the show came to a end, Orlando turned to Kieran and said

"You know what that's made me feel like doing, don't you?"

"I can't imagine," replied Kieran.

"Get up against that wall and I'll show you." Kieran did as he was told and Orlando pressed against his body and pierced Kieran's lips with his tongue. After a few minutes he led Kieran across to the bed, told him to get on it and he climbed on top of him, interlocking legs, then continued the kissing as they ground their packages together.

Kieran woke up and looked at his watch. He nudged Orlando.

"If we're not going to miss the start of the film, we'd better get showered and changed."

Dressed in trainers, jeans and different tee shirts, and underwear if it came to that, they went downstairs to say goodbye to Eric and Julian before they went out for their candle lit supper.

Do you want a lift into town?" asked Julian.

"What time are you going?" asked Kieran.

"In about half an hour."

"Thanks, but we'll miss the beginning of the film."

"What are you going to see?" said Eric.

"The King's Speech," answered Orlando. "We might find out what everyone's talking about."

"Have a bona time, boys," called out Julian in a camp voice. Kieran gave his uncle a look.

"Thanks a lot. And you," and they disappeared out of the front door.

The sun was still giving some warmth to the evening as Kieran and Orlando walked into town, in a bouncy manner that Tigger would have been proud of, not holding little fingers as it was in the light and quite a few people were still abroad.

"We haven't made up our minds about what we're eating tonight," said Orlando.

"Do you like curry?" asked Kieran.

"Sure, but it's not recommended for a romantic encounter afterwards."

"I don't think it matters as long as we both eat curry."

"Remember if it's a good curry the smell comes out of your pores."

"Mmm, that's interesting," said Kieran.

"What's interesting?"

"Sucking your cock and having it taste of beef Madras."

"That's great," said Orlando. "Choosing your boyfriend because he tastes and smells of beef Madras."

"So we're boyfriends now?" They stopped in the middle of the pavement. Orlando took hold of both of Kieran's hands and they looked each other straight in the eyes.

"Well, are we?" said Orlando in rather a pleading tone. Kieran stopped to think for a minute. Orlando dropped one of his hands and they continued along the road, oblivious of who might see them. Kieran was in a complete state of confusion. He knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to shout yes at the top of his voice, but they hadn't even known each other for week yet. They hadn't met each other's parents. Was that a rather old fashioned concept, he wondered. He'd only just come out to his own parents, and over the phone at that, and although Orlando was out to his, they were not exactly enthusiastic about the fact. He and Orlando had spent one night together and he was looking forward to the remaining two. All his other relationships had been promiscuous. Could he remain faithful to one person? "I'm sorry, Kieran," said Orlando. "I've obviously shocked you. Forget that I asked."

"No, it's all right," said Kieran. "It was just a bit of a surprise. I know what I want to say, but I need a little time to think things through. I'll try and give you an answer by Monday morning. Come on, let's forget it for the moment, enjoy the film and see whether after a curry we can live with one another." The last remark brought forth a little giggle from both of them. Then they suddenly remembered that they were still holding hands in the middle of a busy street in a town where either of them could be seen by people who knew them.