IN THE ARMS OF ANOTHER MAN

'Quiet solitude of the morning ... usually my favorite time of the day. Yet this morning, as I sit and drink my first cup of coffee, and smoke my first cigar, I find myself troubled. It was quite a shock to not only find myself highly aroused upon waking, but to be in that state, with Alan's arm's around me!

'I'm Denny Crane! Denny Crane sleeps with women ... and only women!

'Yet there's something about Alan ...'

"Must be the mad cow ... it's the only explanation," Denny says quietly, as he puffs his cigar.

"What must be the mad cow?" Alan asks, as he lowers himself into the chair opposite Denny ... by the look on his face, it is apparent he knows exactly what Denny is thinking.

"Nothing," Denny scowls, then shakes his head, adding, "everything. And wipe that smug look off your face ... I'm not having sex with you!"

"I didn't ask you to," Alan replies, still smiling. There was something comforting in seeing Denny so disconcerted.

It looked as if Alan was about to say something more, but Denny jumped in, "Come on, let's go fishing." He drained the end of his coffee, and then stood, pointing his cigar at Alan, adding, "and not another word out of you about this morning ... got it?"

"Whatever you say, Denny," Alan quickly agreed, knowing that there would be many more opportunities to engage in sexual banter with Denny. "Let's go torture some salmon, shall we," and the two men gathered their equipment and made their way to the lake shore, where they were to meet their guide.

*****

By the end of the day, Denny had a lot more on his mind than waking up in Alan's arms ... and Alan had far more to gloat about. The conversation over cognac and cigars was more humiliating for Denny, simply because there was a stranger in their midst. Knowing that this stranger, an environmental attorney, knew Denny Crane, at least by reputation, normally would have puffed Denny up with pride ... but not this time ... not with Alan there, impugning his manhood at every turn. No ... Denny just got more surly by the minute.

When the stranger started talking about the environment, and the demise of the salmon due to seas lice, Denny lost it, and said, "Let me tell you something: I came out here to enjoy nature. Don't talk to me about the environment."

But the environmentalists words made Alan think. He was just beginning to enjoy fishing ... it would be a shame if the species died out due to fish farming. That night, neither man slept well. Alan spent hours researching the plight of the salmon, while Denny pretended to sleep, ever alert for the slightest move on Alan's part. He was not about to have a repeat of the previous nights surprise visit.

*****

Denny was grumpy. The more fish Alan caught, the grumpier Denny got. "Beginner's luck," he grumbled, as Alan snagged yet another one. Denny, on the other hand, had yet to catch a single fish ... he could see one, right in front of his fly, but it refused to bite. Frustrated, Denny went to shore, grabbed the guide's gun, and shot the salmon. Reaching into the water, he pulled out the head ... the only part still intact. Holding up his trophy, he looked up, and realized the depth of what he had done, once he saw the look of shock on everyone's faces.

But he was Denny Crane ... he was entitled to a bit of eccentricity. The guide, however, didn't see it that way. Denny felt he was quite out of line making him take a 'time out' for the rest of the day while Alan could continue fishing. It just wasn't fair!

Apparently, Alan agreed, Denny thought, or else he decided it wasn't fun to continue while his friend sat on the shore. But Denny soon discovered that Alan had other plans ... he intended to make an appearance in court, on that environmental issue the local lawyer was discussing the night before. Denny thought he was a bit crazy ... but he went along with it anyway.

They made a grand entrance ... Alan gave a powerful speech, and then they were on their way home. Much to Denny's surprise, Alan didn't spend time gloating about how many fish he had caught, nor was there any sexual innuendo to their conversation ... as a matter of fact, they hardly spoke at all. The silence was undoubtedly brought on by the news of Catherine's impending trial.

Alan was openly shocked to hear of her murder of Bernard Ferrion. With Bernard's past, he would have been less shocked to hear that *he* had killed Catherine. There was no denying what she had done; her confession made a plea of self defense their only option ... it shouldn't be too difficult to persuade a jury that she had been in imminent danger from the little cretin!

Denny had been thinking of how Alan would proceed, and before he knew it, they were landing in Boston. Without discussion, they made their way to the office to shower, and change, and get an early start on the day. Denny was glad that Alan would be first chair on Catherine's case ... she deserved the best, and for this case, that would be Alan, not he, Denny Crane. But as always, Denny Crane would be there, lending his support, and reputation, to the defense.

After a quick detour to their respective offices to get a change of clothes, they met once again in the locker room adjacent to the small employee gym ... neither man had ever used the exercise equipment there, but the showers were used frequently. At this hour, they had the place to themselves ... it would be an hour or more before any of the staff arrived for an early morning workout.

Denny couldn't help but notice Alan's aroused state, as he peeled off his waders and long johns. Oddly enough, the sight sent a ripple of excitement through Denny's loins.

Denny turned his back on Alan, as he stripped out of his own clothes, desperately trying to ignore the younger man ... he jumped when Alan spoke, placing his hand on Denny's shoulder. "Would you like me to wash your back?" he said, then before Denny could answer, he added, "I'd like you to wash mine."

"I'm not having sex with you," Denny said in reply and headed to the farthest showerhead.

Alan followed, turning on the shower next to Denny's. "I didn't say anything about having sex ... I just want my back washed," he replied then smiled, adding, "besides, I like to take it slowly, and frankly, we don't have the time to fully enjoy ourselves ... if we *were* to have sex, that is."

"Well, we're NOT, so stop thinking about it," Denny said, as he turned away from Alan. The move was a strategic one, initially made to prevent him from seeing Alan's aroused state. But as Denny began to wash, he discovered that he was also partially erect ... for the second day in a row. He could not let Alan see him in this state ... especially after the confession about needing a pill to get it up. The truth of the situation would be too difficult to explain.

Unfortunately, Denny could not ignore Alan for long ... he turned and saw Alan under the spray of water; eyes closed, one hand braced against the wall, as his other hand stroked his manhood.

Denny made an involuntary moan at the sight. Alan opened his eyes, and smiled, saying, "So tell me, Denny ... did you pop a little pill, or are you just happy to see me?"

"I am not having sex with you," Denny proclaimed as he watched Alan ... by his expression, there was no doubt in Denny's mind that climax was swiftly approaching.

"So ... you ... keep ... saying," Alan replied with difficulty, then closed his eyes again as his release came. He stood under the flowing water, composing himself, for a moment, then turned his attention once more to Denny, asking, "would you like me to take care of that for you?"

"I told you ..." Denny sputtered.

"I know," Alan interrupted, "you're not having sex with me," then with a mischievous smile, continued, "but fellatio is not sex ... at least, not according to our former President."

"Probably the only time I ever agreed with the man," Denny said as he stepped closed to Alan. Both men were now standing under one showerhead, as Alan reached out and gently stroked Denny ... the slight touch made Denny twitch, and a small moan escaped. Alan continued to stroke him lightly; Denny closed his eyes, swaying slightly from the lack of blood to his brain.

A strong arm across his back kept him from falling, as Alan whispered, "Denny, let's finish our shower, and find someplace more ... comfortable ... to finish this."

Denny's eyes opened, and he smiled slightly, "Agreed ... I'm too old for this," he whispered, as he stepped away from Alan, and proceeded to wash under his own showerhead.

He jumped as he felt Alan's washcloth-covered hand on his back, and the silky voice whispered, "obviously not ... but I can assure you that my knees would protest spending any amount of time on these tiles."

Denny relaxed as Alan washed his back quite thoroughly; from the base of his neck, to the tip of his tailbone ... when he sensed that Alan's hand was about to explore farther south, he pulled away, saying, "turn around ... that is, if you still want your back washed."

"Oh, yes," Alan said with great satisfaction in his voice. He sighed with pleasure as Denny washed him. Denny found this simple act to be unexpectedly sensual, and his reaction surprised him. He found himself getting more aroused by the second.

When Alan reached back, and began to stroke Denny once again, it was his undoing ... his climax caught both men by surprise.

"I don't know what to say," Denny admitted as he finished rinsing off, then shut off the shower. As he dressed, he watched Alan, who had a very pleased look on his face ... not smug, or gloating, just *happy*. "It's been ages ..."

"What's been ages?" Alan asked, as he looked down on the sleeping Denny. He hated to wake the older man, who had apparently been having a very good dream, but the plane had landed, and they had to disembark.

Disoriented from sleep, it took a moment or two for Denny to figure out where he was. Alan noticed his confusion, and a sudden look of relief when he looked down upon himself and discovered he was covered with a blanket. At last he said, "Nothing ... just a dream."

"I see," Alan smiled, adding, "well, it's time to get up. Let's get to the office, and get to work."

"Lets," Denny agreed, and threw aside the blanket.

*****

They had not expected to encounter anyone at the office this early in the morning, so they were quite surprised to see Paul and Shirley as the elevator doors opened. "We look better than we smell," Alan said by way of greeting ... the nonplused looks this remark got only seemed to emphasize just how bad they must have smelled.

Paul and Shirley continued on their way, as Denny whispered, "They know we slept together."

"Don't be ridiculous," Alan replied as they continued down the hall. When they got to Alan's office, he said, "I just want to get a change of clothes ... meet me in the showers?"

"I think I'll pass, for the moment ... I really need to get some sleep," Denny replied, the dream he had on the plane was too fresh in his mind. He was afraid his body would betray him, if Alan showed the slightest bit of arousal.

"Suit yourself," Alan said with a smile, then wrinkled his nose, adding, "but you're quite ripe, you know."

"I know ... but I'm also dead on my feet." Denny continued down the hall to his own office, closed the door, and locked it. Peeling off his coat and waders, he grabbed a pillow and blanket from his closet, and proceeded to curl up on his sofa.

At once, images of Alan in the shower popped into his head, and he cupped himself ...

the dream continued ...