Its the Naked Truth

IT'S THE NAKED TRUTH

Knock. Knock. Knock.

With a quick sniff check, I verified I smelled like a fresh shower. I checked my t-shirt, ensuring I hadn't stained it on the way over. I even put on a nice pair of jeans. After all, I wanted to impress.

The door swung open, and I was greeted by Simon in a button-down shirt and tie. I had to do a double take to soak in the image. The blue shirt had thin pinstripes and rounded his gut before being tucked into a pair of black pants. He preferred suspenders over a belt, and I had to remind myself to blink… and not drool.

"I overdressed?—"

"No, no." My t-shirts and jeans felt inappropriate. At least I hadn't worn a shirt with a hole in it. "You look… amazing."

"I didn't know what to wear." I had spent all day thinking about where to take him. Nothing I came up with warranted a tie. The suspenders, however, he could wear those whenever I was around. "I should go change."

I reached for his hand. "Don't worry." Holding his hand, I didn't care what he wore. If he wanted to toss on some daisy dukes and a crop top, he'd still be the sexiest man in town. I'd spend the night staring at him and following his tie to his zipper, but that would happen no matter what he wore.

"Who is it?"

A rapid thumping came from inside the house. Simon stood aside, gesturing for me to come in. A tiny version of Simon flew down the stairs. I couldn't help but look at Simon and then at his son. I suspected if I had seen his childhood photos, he and Lucas would be twins. The only difference was the circular glasses Lucas wore.

"Lucas, this is my friend Jason. He's the owner of the comic book store."

I noted the friend comment. I didn't have time to focus on it as Lucas's eyes lit up. When he gasped, I felt like the most important person in the world. People called me a geek or a nerd, but never had somebody looked at me with this much admiration.

"Your dad tells me you like comics."

"He reads them to me. Do you have more? Do you own all the comics? What's your favorite? I like the superheroes. I want to be a superhero when I grow up. Do you know any superheroes?"

The questions came out quickly. I couldn't get in a word. Despite wearing his pajamas, he was anything but ready for bed. I pitied whatever babysitter had to wrangle this bundle of energy. Simon wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulder, pulling him tight.

"I blame you for this."

I dropped so we could speak eye-to-eye. "Think we can convince your dad to let you visit the comic store?"

Lucas tugged on his dad's hand. There'd be no stopping the kid. "Can we? Pleeeeease."

"I think we can manage that."

Lucas gave a joyous squeal. "Which is your favorite?"

"I'm Team Sentinel all the way."

Lucas shook his head, not caring for my answer. "Valiant has the cooler costume."

"It is pretty cool." I caught Simon smiling. It wasn't my first time dealing with rambunctious kids. After giving a talk to a room full of third graders the day before vacation, Lucas didn't scare me. "Now that you mention it, your dad kind of looks like Valiant. Think he might be a superhero?"

Lucas jumped back, looking at his dad. "Nah. He's not a superhero. He's just Dad."

"I dunno. Seems pretty super to me." I gave Simon a wink. "Did he tell you about the convention?"

Lucas stopped imagining his dad in a mask. That was one of us. His little head bobbled up and down. "Dad said people can dress up."

I rose to my feet. "Absolutely. There's a contest and everything. Think we can convince Dad to put on a superhero costume?" I'd pay money to see Simon in spandex. The fastest way into my pants was through my geeky heart. Him wearing a cape wouldn't hurt.

I snorted when Simon's face scrunched up. "Dad, can we? I can be Valiant. You can be Sentinel. We can fight crime together."

I had opened Pandora's box and there'd be no coming back. I'm sure I'd get a lecture for suggesting it. Thankfully, a knock at the door grabbed all our attention.

"Hi, Mr. Peterson."

"Julie?" I had gone to school with Timmy, her older brother. I barely recognized her after all these years. "It's been ages. You haven't graduated yet?"

She had a bulging backpack clutched against her chest. "Senior year. If I don't pass physics, it'll be my first senior year." Mr. Valente. I remember his class well. If it weren't for his pity, I would have never passed.

"Okay, lil buddy." Simon swooped down, picking Lucas up. The strength in those arms made me shiver. "Julie's going to watch you tonight. You've got an hour until bedtime. Are you going to behave?"

His head shook back and forth.

"What if we get some ice cream tomorrow?" Good to know he wasn't above bribery. Lucas's head changed direction, now quickly nodding. "If Julie says you behaved, we'll get ice cream tomorrow."

"Julie, do you like comics?" As Simon set Lucas down, my heart swelled. Once upon a time, I had been Lucas. I was about his age when Mom bought me a stack of comics to keep me quiet on a long car ride. I had gone from being a reluctant reader to picking up anything I could get my hands on. Knowing I could make a difference for a kid… pure joy.

I couldn't help but smile. Julie looked from Lucas to me. "This is your doing, isn't it?" Did all teenagers have the ability to judge and not care at the same time? Too bad. I'd take this victory.

"Yup! Just wait until after the con. Every kid you babysit will be demanding you read them comics."

"I'll be there." The statement lacked any emotion. When I said nothing, her body language shifted. "Mrs. Sampson is giving us extra credit if we attend. I figure, why not? How bad could it be?"

"Your unwavering support is appreciated." She gave me a salute, missing the sarcasm. I made a mental note to reach out to Mrs. Sampson. If the teachers were on board, then I could expect Firefly's teens to be in attendance.

Lucas grabbed Julie by the hand. "There's this guy. He flies and has a really big axe. Oh, he shoots lightning, too." He led her into the living room, where she plopped down on the couch. An hour to bedtime? I somehow didn't think that'd happen.

I gestured out the door. "After you, good sir."

I closed the door behind us, watching his ass as he stepped off the porch. When we reached the driveway, I felt embarrassed at the state of my truck. Here he was, dressed to the nines, and not only did I look like a bum, but I was going to drive him around in a rusted pickup truck.

"This yours? "

I debated stealing Julie's car and claiming it as my own. The truck's passenger door whined as he pulled it open. He climbed into the cab without a word. I followed suit, noting his dress shirt and tie, which looked out of place with the torn seat and busted glove box. I grew self-conscious. At least I had done a quick cleaning before I came over.

"Don't judge," I said. "Mom sold it to me after Dad gave up his license."

"This is a judgement-free zone."

"Dressed up like that, you're raising the truck's value." When I turned the key, the truck rumbled to life.

"Are you sure I'm not overdressed? Maybe I should change. Yeah. Let me go change."

If clothes were the issue, I knew how to nullify the disparity between us. I popped the truck in reverse and rolled down his driveway. "Too late now. I'm going to show you how we have a good time in Firefly." As we hit the road, I couldn't help but tease him. "Besides, you won't be wearing them for very long."

"Is this where you murder me?"

"Nah. You're too cute for that." We hit a bump in the road, tossing us about the cabin. We had left the pavement and, for the last five minutes, driven down a dirt road. As I turned off the dirt road, the power lines vanished. We had left civilization and entered the wilderness of Maine. "We're almost there. "

"I thought we'd be driving around town."

"That's for tourists. You can see the town anytime. You need the real Firefly experience." I reached behind his seat while using my knee to steer the truck. Pulling out a couple of towels, I set them between us.

"You're not helping your murder defense."

I laughed. "I shouldn't mention I keep a shovel in the back?" It amused me to no end that for the locals, this wouldn't raise a single red flag. Flatlanders and their need for safety, it bordered on adorable. The sinister thoughts in my head had less to do with murder and more to do with getting Simon out of those slacks. "Do you want the legend or the reality?"

"Curiosity piqued. Give me the legend."

I appreciated his sense of adventure. "Firefly is known for its lumber industry, at least back in the day. Little known fact, we were also known for our rocks. They would mine these giant holes in the ground and then move on. Years ago, there was a drag race?—"

"Firefly had drag racing?"

I gave the engine a rev. "We're wild people. What the guy didn't know, the finish line was just before a quarry. He thought he was winning the race but drove his car into it."

I slowed the truck as the tree line opened to a wide area. I popped the truck into park and opened the driver's door. The dome light revealed his confusion.

"Fun fact. There's a car at the bottom of the quarry."

"So, it's not a legend? "

"Oh," I laughed. "That's the truth. The legend is, his ghost still haunts the place."

I flipped the brights on and got out. Standing in the beams of light, I waited for the familiar whine of the door. I gave him props for his bravery. At this point, we were little more than strangers, and I did just bring him to the middle of the woods. I had seen plenty of horror movies that ended like this.

"Such a city boy," I joked.

"Hey! I could be a rugged country boy."

"Rugged, maybe." The lights from the truck reflected off the trees, illuminating the clearing in a soft glow. It'd take a second, but as our eyes settled, we'd be able to make out the hole in the ground and the glow of the water.

"This is my favorite place in Firefly." If we traveled in any direction, we'd hear the crunch of slate under our feet. Here, the locals had cleared off the rock, treating it like our hidden oasis.

"What makes it your favorite?"

It was hard to put into words, especially to somebody who grew up in the city. We made fun of the flatlanders, but every person in the northern half of Maine understood we were part man and part nature. I spent my nights indoors watching television, but I always felt the calling to be outside and part of this place we inhabited.

"When I was younger, I'd play in the woods." The memory made me chuckle. "I'd slay dragons. I served Firefly as a valiant knight. Not sure why, but I always think about that. It sounds lonely when I say it out loud now, but sometimes the world is just so?—"

"Busy."

I nodded. As we both grew quiet, the chirps of insects and the distant hoot of a howl filled the gap. "I always felt larger than life and, at the same time, insignificant."

"You're anything but insignificant."

I'm sure I didn't quite convey the impact of this midway point between civilization and nature. If Simon was going to be a member of Firefly, I needed to indoctrinate him.

I pulled my shirt over my head.

"What's happening?"

I threw the t-shirt on the truck. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out two glow sticks. With a quick crack, they turned green. I held them up to my face and gave him an eyebrow waggle. On chains, I fidgeted with the clasp before putting it on Simon's neck. I did the same for myself.

"It's so I don't lose you."

I kicked off my shoes and pulled my jeans down over my hips. A second later, I wore nothing but my briefs. "It's my duty as a townie to properly welcome you to Firefly."

"Will everybody in town be getting naked, or is this just a you thing?"

I reached down and picked up a rock. Chucking it away from the car, I waited for the splash. Simon's green face looked horrified. Reality had set in.

"You can't be serious."

"As a heart attack. "

I hooked my fingers in my briefs. "It's a Firefly tradition. There are bare bears in these woods." I dropped my underwear. Standing in all my glory, I didn't miss him giving me the up and down.

I reached for his tie, giving it a slight tug. Leaning in close, I breathed him in. My pillows would smell wonderful bathed in his scent. I whispered in his ear, "Unless you're too much of a city boy."

I turned and ran.

Ten feet, and then I pushed off, arms wrapped around my legs. I hit the water with a boom. The heat from the rocks kept the water warm enough for swimming. In a couple weeks, the chill would set in, and I'd have to worry about shrinkage. When I surfaced, I sucked in a breath of air.

"The water's fine!"

I floated on my back, staring up at the stars. Even with the truck lights, the sky was filled with thousands of tiny dots. I could stay out here all night dreaming about faraway galaxies. Stress from the comic shop washed away. The convention was all but a distant memory. The world turned quiet as I bobbed in the water.

After a minute, I worried Simon had gotten in the truck. Had I pushed too hard? Did I break my city boy? "Is everything okay?" Had I overstepped my boundaries? Maybe it wasn't cool to get naked unless we were?—

"Holy shit!"

I barely noticed the flailing man as I followed the green rectangle over the edge of the quarry. He hit the water with enough force a wave rolled over my face. When he didn't rise to the surface, I kicked myself for not asking if he could swim. I prepared to dive for Simon when he bolted upright.

"Oh my God," he yelled. "Did I just — I just — It's so cold!"

I cackled. Spoken like a true city boy. "It's official. You're one of us now." I wanted to make a joke at his expense, but my brain replayed the flailing bear. Wait, was he naked?

"This is hazing," he said. "I can't believe I did that."

"Maybe you have a little country in you."

"Payback for putting a little city in you?"

I nearly choked. Even the cold water couldn't stop my little friend from jumping upright. With miles between us and the town and not another soul in sight, I gathered the bravery to ask the question that had been pounding away at my brain since our day in the backroom.

"What was the other day?" I blurted it out with no finesse. This moment played out in my head a thousand times. I needed the answer for my sanity. However, the moment the words left my mouth, I feared the answer wouldn't live up to my fantasy.

"I'm going to need more information."

With a couple of strokes, he tread water in front of me. The two glow sticks created a soft green glow in the water. It was impossible to see the white stripe through his chest hair, but it was there. I knew it, but I also remembered feeling it against the palm of my hand .

I could have changed the subject without him knowing. However, I owed it to myself to get to the bottom of it. "In the comic shop. You might find this hard to believe, but it's not often I hook up with a hot bear in the backroom."

"No? I'd assume you were beating them off with a stick."

I refrained from making a ‘beating them off' joke. "My life isn't that exciting."

Other than the slight sloshing of water and symphony of crickets, the quarry grew quiet. I wanted to kiss him. My lungs wanted to fill with his cologne and have it burned into my memory. I could lie to myself and blame the environment. Every inch between us felt like an eternity, and I wanted to close the space.

"Honestly, I don't know what came over me. I just…" His voice trailed off. Had Simon never considered the possibility he liked men? I hadn't been part of somebody's coming-out story since college. None of them had been through a divorce.

"It's okay. You don't owe me an explanation." I wanted one, but it didn't entitle me to an answer. I had come storming out of the closest in a burst of glitter. Not everybody had the luxury of being their authentic selves.

"It wasn't my first time." The words were almost a whisper. "My roommate in college, we sort of had a thing."

I had watched plenty of porn with that exact plot. I'd file that away for masturbatory fantasies later. "That explains why it was so damned good. "

"I've thought about it plenty, but it's hard to explain. I mean, you're sexy on your own. But when you offered to help with Lucas… I don't know. Can paternal instincts be sexy?"

I hadn't thought of it like that. Did my love for comics and desire to help his kid read get me laid? If that were the case, I'd be giving Simon more comics as soon as we got dry.

"Maybe I'm gay." He gave a slight shrug, his face dipping into the water. "Bi? Would it be cheating to say I've never given it a label?"

I had heard the statement before. After all the changes in his life, this might not be at the top of his priority list. I wasn't in a rush to slap a label on him. This was his journey, and I'd follow him as he walked it. I hoped his path to self-discovery included me.

Moving closer, I gave him a peck on the lips. "Not cheating at all."

His smile said I made the right decision. If Simon needed time, I'd gladly give it to him. It might result in our connection being nothing more than a friendship. I'd be sad we didn't have a repeat performance. I don't know if it'd ever be quite enough for me. That was my baggage to sort through.

"So, I heard from Dorothy, who talked to Gladys, who mentioned?—"

"I can't believe any of them. Is nothing sacred?"

He laughed. "Abraham said you didn't think this was a date. "

I'd have to move if I ever wanted privacy. I suspected that Abraham knew his comment would travel across town. My wingman's duties didn't end when Simon asked me to hang out.

He swam close, his belly pressed against mine.

"I assure you," he whispered. "It's a date."

It had been almost an hour of lying on our backs staring at the stars. Despite this canopy of awe above us, I could only think of his pointer finger running along my knuckles. With every rise and fall, I waited to see if it'd come to an end. I breathed a sigh of relief as he continued in the other direction.

"This is what I needed."

"Easing into the country life?"

We had spread out towels on nearby rocks and sat in the open as we dried. The temperature dropped as the evening chill set in. The rock had lost its warmth. How cheesy would it be if I rolled over and draped myself across his body? Was that too much? Too forward? I understood Amanda's point. Dating was not my forte.

"I could definitely get used to this."

I turned. The glow sticks had faded, and now we relied on the truck's headlights. I couldn't help but stare at Simon. Using the word handsome didn't do him justice. Even though he lay there butt naked, I couldn't take my eyes off his face. I had spent countless hours at the quarry but never with somebody who amazed me more than the landscape.

He pulled my hand to his mouth, giving it a kiss. "This too."

I half expected my chest to explode and fireworks to zip into the air. I didn't know what to say. "Aww." Nope, that wasn't the right thing. "Yeah." Also not right. He had come in with a smooth line that pumped me full of feelings and I couldn't manage a monosyllabic reply that sounded genuine.

"Ignore me. My mouth doesn't work when my heart is drowning in feelings."

"Oh, good. I'm not the only one."

There was no point in speaking and making a fool of myself. I rolled onto my side, draping a leg across his. I couldn't make out the color of his eyes, but they caught the twinkle of the moon. His hand rested in the middle of my back, pulling me closer until I lay across him. If he made any move to leave, I'd refuse to get up. This moment wouldn't end without a fight.

"I should warn you, this date is going to be gossip for a few days."

Of course, I'd keep my mouth shut about the quarry and lie that we went for a stroll through town. Nothing I said would stop the whispers. They were well-meaning, but they'd have him labeled as gay. It'd only be a matter of hours before they threw him a coming-out celebration.

"I've never shied away from new experiences. "

"Are you ready for the nosey Nellies to comment on the new gay guy in town?"

He kissed my forehead. My body shivered as his fingertips traced down my spine. I lied. I couldn't keep my mouth shut. Amanda and Jon need to know, not that it'd take them more than a second to figure it out. It'd result in a group hug and more than a little squealing.

"This isn't an experience I want to shy away from."

Did he realize his words were like a hug I didn't know I needed? His other hand held the side of my cheek, a finger lifting my chin. The beads of water in his beard brushed against my face as we kissed. In this position, there was no hiding the way my body responded to his touch. If I got any harder, I'd cut his thigh. I almost forgot that we were outside, unable to hide if any of the locals decided they needed a late-night swim.

"We can head back…" I wanted him naked in my bed. Kissing wouldn't satiate me tonight. I wanted to straddle the man and?—

"I've never seen the stars while having sex."

My head shot up at the thought. It had never crossed my mind. I figured this city bear wanted amenities, a bed, mood lighting, and a little light jazz. It wouldn't be my first time, not even my first time at the quarry, but I'd save that for a funny story later.

I raised my leg along his body just enough to feel his erection. Whether it be the night air or lying butt naked outside, the thought excited Simon. I wouldn't say no, especially after feeling him brushing against me in the water. If I could have held my breath long enough, I'd have taken care of business while we swam.

With my head on his shoulder, I stared down at his body, barely able to see the outline of his body. I didn't need to see to memorize every curve. My hand drifted down his chest, stopping at his nipples. Pierced with a small loop, I gave it a flick. I shifted, sliding down his body until I could lick the other one. My tongue pulled at the piercing. He gasped, his cock bouncing against my thigh. Mental note made. I'd be playing with these more in the future.

My hand continued its adventure downward through a valley of hair. His body flinched as I crossed over the tickle zone. For good measure, I gave it another pass.

"That's mean," he whispered.

I wrapped my fingers around his cock, giving it a squeeze. "How about that?"

"Less mean," he said with a sigh.

Not being able to see his package, I relied on my fingers to describe it. Thick, meaty, and impressive enough that I marveled at being able to take it in the shop. As I reached the tip, I ran my finger around his foreskin, taking care as I rubbed the head. Simon had already started leaking, and knowing he was excited made me want him more.

I wrapped my fingers around the base, moving the skin up and down his shaft. It wasn't my first uncut cock, and I took care to not pull the skin tight. The more I circled it, the more I wanted to pat myself on the back for getting it inside me. However, last time, Simon hadn't lasted long enough for a thorough fucking .

Tonight, we'd change that.

I rolled on top of him, hoisting myself up on all fours. If he lifted his head to watch, I didn't notice. I had one thing on my mind, and it entailed seven… no, seven and a half inches buried inside me. A soldier on a mission, I would not be deterred.

I slid down his body, lying between his legs. He gave his hips a wiggle, shaking his cock back and forth. I caught it with my mouth. Simon changed directions, giving a small thrust. Pulling back his foreskin, I exposed the head, giving it a long lick with the flat of my tongue.

"Damn," he moaned. "Don't stop."

I hadn't planned on it. Licking the underside of his cock, I shifted until my mouth hovered over this beautiful piece of meat. Even with the glow stick around my neck, I couldn't make out the veins, but I had mapped them with my tongue. With a deep breath, I dove downward, taking his cock until it pushed against the back of my throat.

Simon's hands shot forward, resting on my head. With the gentlest of pressure, he urged me further. I had underestimated the length as it reached the bend of my throat. With a slight shift, my lips touched his pelvis, and I had to fight my gag reflex. My stubbornness won, and my body relaxed, swallowing him to the hilt.

His back arched, and I reluctantly withdrew. Gasping for air, I wanted more. I continued bobbing up and down on his cock. His fingers grazed my cheeks as I moved to his balls. For such a hairy man, I was surprised to find them hairless. I went from one to the other, holding them in my mouth before returning to his cock. I continued this circuit until he started thrusting, trying to work all the way into my mouth.

Once more, I took a breath and dove to the base. Except this time, his hand held my head in place. In and out, he fucked my mouth. His cock might be exciting, but his hands, not giving me a choice, took my erection from hard to rock hard.

"I'm close," he whispered.

I pushed back, pulling off his cock. "Nope. That's not how this is going to go." I preferred my tops to call the shots, but if he only had one orgasm tonight, it wouldn't go down my throat.

He pushed himself up on his elbows. I moved forward, crawling along his body until I could give him a kiss. With a push, I sat upright, his cock trapped between us. With a quick angle change, it slid along the crack of my ass. Figuring out my intent, Simon relaxed, his hands laced behind his head.

I reached back, sliding his cock into place. I gasped at the girth pushing at my hole. "We're going to need to carry lube from now on." With a lick of my fingers, I coated my hole and gave it another try.

"Fuck," I gasped. Even for a greedy bottom, it'd be a tight fit. Rocking back a little more each time, I let his precum lube my hole. I braced my hands against his chest as I continued the rocking motion. Simon gasped, and my determination grew. It went from a want to a need. I needed him inside me .

Leaning back, I let out a low growl. Somehow, I had taken all of Simon. I'd be sore tomorrow. I'd love the reminder of mounting him. My cock throbbed, and the growl turned into a roar. Lube. We'd definitely need lube in the future.

Simon's hands slid along my thighs while I adjusted to his girth. "You're huge." Usually, when I said that, it was a nicety. For Simon, it didn't quite cover it. The encouragement gave him the okay to start with small thrusts.

"You feel amazing," he said.

I leaned forward, hands on his chest. Now that he was inside me, I wanted to take him for a ride. Sliding forward, I held still as he tried shoving back inside. In one smooth motion, I pushed back, taking the length of him. I couldn't decide if I should focus on my cock trapped between our stomachs or his commanding thrusts. Either way, in or out, it felt amazing.

Simon moved his feet, giving himself leverage before he gripped my hips. He held me still as he took over, fucking my ass. I wasn't the only one on a mission. Each time he shoved inside, his cock hit that magic spot, forcing out a yelp.

"Don't stop," I whimpered.

Simon went from long, steady strokes to short jabs and then back. He varied his tempo as he continued holding me in place. I should have warned him I had gotten close, but I didn't want him to stop. Each time he slammed into me, my cock rubbed against our bellies. I didn't want to fight the orgasm. It built in my sack, drawing it tight as my toes curled. My entire body stiffened as he continued the railing.

I let out a howl as the orgasm took over. I planted a hand on either side of his chest as I fought to stay upright. A hand clutched my ass as he continued fucking. He growled into my ear, giving a hard thrust. I clenched, wanting to milk the cum from his cock. He repeated the motion, each time thrusting harder than the last.

He didn't need to announce his orgasm. His cock grew thicker, knocking the breath from my lungs. Simon held still while his cock jerked. He filled my ass, giving me a sense of satisfaction. I rested my head on his chest while our orgasms faded. It wasn't until a coyote in the distance howled that Simon tensed.

I laughed. "Don't worry, they're scared of bears."

It took a moment before he relaxed. His cock slid from my ass before he kissed the top of my head. I could have rolled off him… I could have, but didn't. This moment needed to last as long as possible.

I listened to his heart as his pulse slowed. Simon ran his fingertips up and down my back, eliciting a shiver each time he reached my waist. This was the perfect ending to our first official date. I knew I was getting ahead of myself, but I wondered if the next date would be the same.

"You can check public sex off your bucket list."

"Public sex? That's got plenty of checkmarks." My head shot up. "I said first time under the stars." Simon had plenty of stories to tell .

"We should probably head back so I can relieve Julie of babysitting duties."

I rolled off him, getting to my feet. The ache in my hips and ass had already set in. Helping him up, I gave him a slight shove toward the water. "Time for a chilly cleanup." He resisted, giving me a curious glance. "Firefly rite of passage."

Instead of arguing, he jumped off the rock. He hadn't lied. Simon didn't shy away from new experiences.

Lucky for me.