Free Purpose by Andrew Q Gordon Page B

between his legs. Pressing his hand between Will’s buttocks, Ryan teased him by running his hand over, but never trying to penetrate.
    “Turn again for me?”
    When they were facing each other, Ryan dropped to his knees and rubbed his soapy hands across Will’s legs. Ryan took a deep breath, put his lips around Will’s achingly hard cock, and swallowed most of it in one fluid movement.
    A low moan escaped from deep inside him. Forty years were compressed into a moment. There was no sense of loss to salve over. Will only knew here and now. He let Ryan continue for a minute before he decided to move things to the bedroom.
    Tugging softly, he moved Ryan back to his feet. Will’s smile was not matched by his partner’s.
    “Did I do something wrong?”
    Will shook his head and brushed his lips across Ryan’s. “No, but I’m clean, and the bedroom would be better.”
    Ryan’s pulse still raced as they helped dry each other. Will stopped to brush his teeth, adhering somewhat to his nightly pattern. His eyes lingered a moment on the counter as he touched a second toothbrush, the one he had given Ryan the night before. Were they already settling in with each other?
    Squeezing out some paste, he watched Ryan reach into the cabinet behind him. Mouthwash. For years, he wondered why he kept buying it. He didn’t date, and it certainly wasn’t because he had guests. Finally, he accepted it was a link, a small one, to his past.
    Accepting the bottle, he heard Ryan working it around his mouth with gusto. Watching the naked boy, for he was still a boy in so many ways, with a mouthful of Scope almost caused Will to spit out the swig of green liquid he had just taken.
    The absurdity of the moment didn’t tamp out his mood. After spitting out the liquid, Will nodded toward the bedroom.
     
     
    “W HO doesn’t have condoms and lube?” Ryan ran his hands over Will’s sweat-slicked chest. Despite the lack of supplies, they had found other ways to enjoy their time.
    “Who goes out and buys half the store and forgets to buy condoms and lube?” Stroking Ryan’s nearly dry hair, Will felt content. Sooner or later, he needed to understand what was happening, but tonight he was happy to let it linger another day or two.
    “You’re right. Maybe I should have snooped a bit more.” The sarcasm in his voice was only half convincing. “Had you told me before you left this morning, I might have known to buy some.”
    “Sorry you had such a horrible time. Would you like me to go sleep on the couch?” Will tried to sit up, but Ryan pressed a hand on his chest. It wouldn’t have stopped him, but he let it do as intended.
    Humor. It’d been a while since he joked with anyone like this. Then again, considering he hadn’t been like this for so long, it wasn’t surprising.
    “I never said I didn’t have fun.” Ryan’s voice was almost a purr. “Besides, it leaves me something to look forward to. Tomorrow, I’ll be sure to be prepared.”
    Ryan’s hand slid down from Will’s chest to his abs. “Your body is incredible. You feel like stone. I mean, I know about hard muscles and all, but this is….”
    Will didn’t respond. What answer could he give? Ryan pulled his hand away and twisted until his head rested on Will’s right shoulder. “Where did you go tonight?”
    Why did he ask things he already knew? “I had business I needed to handle.”
    “I thought you said It was dormant.” The soft, whispery voice hovered on the edge of sleep.
    “Not dormant.” Searching inward, he felt It , resting yet aware. No doubt ready to alert him when the time came. “Calm is a better word. It’s still there.”
    Ryan started to yawn but stifled it. “Does that mean you don’t have to do what It wants anymore?”
    “No, I still do.” The soft breath on his skin and the warm body next to his left him drowsy. Sleepy? Him? Sure he slept, but only to keep a semblance of a normal life. Usually, he had to force himself. He never got