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[disclaimer in part 1]
*Why be difficult when with a bit more effort, you can be impossible?*
Eight Days Later:
Nick turned off the computer and sat in the darkened control room, thinking. He had done a lot of thinking in the last few days, since that splendid, cozy night he had spent with Derek. He had much considered going to Alan's island to see him, to talk to him.
It had not escaped his memory what Derek had said about needing companionship, but neither had anything else Derek had said, including the mention of sex. He wanted desperately to go to him, to spend time with him. He was evidently the only one who could be with him without trying to rape him. He had heard the story from Charles what had happened when Derek had paid him the visit.
Nick could not get that bewitching aroma out of his head. He had become a hopeless addict and had suffered physical and emotional withdrawl. He had survived without it far too long now. He had to see him again, whatever the outcome. Alex was home now, so he wouldn't be leaving the house unprotected. After explaining things to her, he went to the helicopter and started its engine. Once he made up his mind to go, his haste was consequential.
Derek was sitting at the edge of the water pitching pebbles, pondering the ripples when he heard the helicopter approaching. He squinted into the setting sun, spotted the gleaming aircraft, shielded his eyes with a tilted hand until he was forced to look straight overhead to follow its flight.
It was Nick! Derek's heart pounded with excitement, but he controlled his facial muscles, did not let it show. Nick lowered the chopper on a flat scrap of ground closeby, cut the engine and stepped out to face him as the propeller ceased. "Hi, Derek." he said nervously.
Derek took his hands. "Nick, what are you doing here?"
"I had to see you. I felt like you needed me here."
"Are you telepathic now?"
"Something like that." Nick hugged him.
Derek sighed in his ear. "Is it still there?"
"Yeah, still there." Nick answered with his nose in his hair. "Very nice."
"I'm sorry I got angry with you."
"I'm sorry, too."
"I don't know what I expected you to say. You didn't know what I expected you to say. It was what we used to call a communication gap."
They laughed together. "Yeah, that's what it was." Nick agreed. "But I've been thinking about everything you said and I've sort of figured out a few things."
"You have?"
"Yeah, and I think we need to talk a little more." Nick reached into the helicopter for his carrybag, threw it over his shoulder and they walked toward the cabin with their arms around each other.
Derek was amazed with him. "You're so different from all the other people I came in contact with, and I don't understand it. Even Charles. People everywhere I went couldn't keep their hands off me. I got kissed by everybody along the way, everybody tried to get into my trousers. But you're different. What makes you different, Nick?"
"Maybe that I love you." Nick theorized. "Because you're the most important person in the world to me and I would rather die than mess up our friendship."
"So you really do feel the power of this aphrodisiac."
"Yeah, I do."
"And you do want me?"
"More than anything, and you know why I left?"
"No. Why?"
"More than one reason. I was feeling a little too weird, and you were getting totally hostile. And you said you would be willing for sex to have companionship. I thought we were both too weak and too horny to be together."
"Then why are you here now? Nothing's changed."
"Because I couldn't stay away."
"What if things happen?"
Nick stepped up on the porch shaking his head. "I'll try to watch myself."
"But you're here. How long are you planning to stay?"
"That's up to you."
"I want you to stay, Nick, forever if you will. But what if things happen?"
"What if they *do*, Derek? This is exactly where we were that morning."
Derek carried in a log for the fireplace. "Yes, it is."
"If I made a pass at you, would it mess up our friendship?"
"I don't know."
"I want you, Derek, but because of my own convictions, I feel *guilty* about wanting you. I wish I could feel free about this. I wish, for one minute, that I could forget that you are my boss, and that we're both male, that you're nearly old enough to be my father....so many other things I wish I could forget....”
As he knelt in front of the fire, Derek glanced up at him. "What are you talking about, Nick?"
"I don't think I can tell you in a few words." Nick went to sit on the furs that had been piled a few feet in front of the fireplace and blew out a hard breath. "I couldn't stay away from you, Derek. I couldn't leave you alone. I got too much of it that night we spent together. The truth is, I need something from you, something very intimate." Derek moved to sit beside him.
Nick hugged him hard. "I am literally obsessed with you." he said.
"I love you, Nick." Derek held Nick tightly, slowly massaged his back. Holding him was wonderful.
Nick's lips touched his neck. "I can't believe how good you taste." He nibbled on the flesh beneath his ear.
"Nick, I'm not edible." Derek chuckled.
"I could argue with you on that point." Nick said, licking and kissing his throat from ear to ear.
Derek leaned back his head and sighed in appreciation. "I'm so glad you are here."
"Did you really think I would stay away?"
"I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see you again. I have been so very alone, moreso than ever before in my life, and I cannot seem to overcome this sense of emptiness."
"You were here alone for eight days.”
"That was the longest eight days I have ever experienced."
"You won't have to be alone again. I'll stay and keep you company."
Unable to stop himself, Derek kissed him delicately. "You don't know how much that means to me."
"Yeah, I think I do." The kiss ignited a fire in Nick. His arms closed around Derek again and, for the first time, he kissed him with passion. It went on for long minutes before they drew apart and gazed gently into one another's eyes.
Derek smiled, the sweetest smile he had ever seen. "You can have anything you want from me." His offer was precious. "Anything, Nick."
Nick kissed him again, then again. "Anything?"
"Yes, anything."
"We can make love?"
"Yes, of course."
"You will give yourself to me?"
"If that's what you want."
"What do *you* want, Derek?"
"I want you, Nick. You."
"In what way? Have you thought about how you want me?"
"Yes, I have. If you are asking if I want to be the top or the bottom, I don't really care. I want you, I need you....any way I can have you." Nick kissed him again, taking the stronger position in their embrace. "You can have me, but I don’t want to be the bottom. I don’t want to be in that kind of compromising situation. That would be just a little more than my fragile macho ego can take." he whispered.
"Then be the top, Nick. I understand that you have this complex, this fear of being dominated. I have no such fear. You can have anything you want from me. Just love me. I was worried that you were only feeling this attraction to me because of the potion, but I don’t care any more. I need you."
They shared another kiss. Nick's hands began to wander, to caress all the erogenous zones, until Derek was writhing beneath his touch. "You are *so* sexy." the younger man said, watching him in fascination. "So sexy." He slowly stripped Derek's wool sweater up and over his head, turned the sleeves inside out as it was removed. Leaning over him, he kissed his nipples, first the right, then the left, biting them gently. "So sexy." He kissed his stomach, his ribs, his chest. His hand went to the trousers to undo them. Slid them down, took off shoes and socks, pulled the trousers free and pitched them away. The underwear followed, which left Derek lying naked on the furs.
“You’re sure about this?” Nick asked, still doubtful, but before Derek had time to answer, he was kissing him again.
Derek’s hands were undressing him, and when he could speak again, he murmured, “I’m sure, my love. Are *you* sure?”
“I’m absolutely positive.” Nick answered. His hands caressed Derek’s body, learning it, growing familiar with it. “You are beautiful.”
Derek was looking into those brilliant hazel eyes. “*You’re* the one who’s beautiful.” he argued softly.
Nick laughed. “I feel completely strange right now. This is really different.”
“What’s different? What are you talking about, Nick?”
“It’s just....different with a man.”
“The only real difference, other than the body hair, is that I don’t have the compatible female parts. It just means we have to be a bit more creative.”
“Creative. I don’t see a whole lot of options. I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to choke you, or vice versa. What else is there?”
Derek smiled. “Nick, let me show you.” “What are you going to show me?” Nick was pensive.
“Everything.” Derek answered as he kissed him. Carefully, he pushed Nick’s back to the furs and kissed him again.
The temperature dropped considerably in the next hour and it began to rain. The sound was soft on the rooftop, which made their night even more romantic. Covered by thick furs, they slept in each other’s arms. With peace deep in his heart, Derek opened his eyes the next morning and smiled up at Nick, who was hovering just above him. "Good morning." he said.
Nick kissed him gently, then kissed him again. His fingers were combing carefully through Derek's curls. When he drew back from the second kiss, his breathing was torrid, his eyes were full of longing. "Good morning." he returned.
"The fire went out." Derek said, not really caring.
"I'll fix it later." Nick was being so tender with him that Derek melted in his arms. He kissed him again and it lasted a long time, soft and sweet, unhurried passion.
Derek felt the desire rising in him, felt the hardness pressing against his thigh. His hand caressed up and down Nick's ribs, cupped his butt. The kiss continued, hotter and hotter.
Derek’s hand slowly rounded his hip to the front and touched his penis. Nick raised up from the kiss and looked him in the eyes. "Do you really want to do that again?" he asked.
Derek shivered. His dark eyes were steady. "I want you, Nick." His hand closed around Nick's manhood.
Nick smiled, gave him another kiss. He rose to his knees, which temporarily broke the contact. Derek clung to him, kissed him passionately until he laid down beside him again. Suddenly, they were lost in a slow-motion chimerical fantasy. They fondled one another for a time without the frenzy, with only unhastened, gentle love while they kissed again and again. Nick’s mouth trailed over Derek's chin to his chest and he began to suck carefully on his nipples, first one, then the other. Simmering, keeping the flames low, they let it last until they were both at the point of eruption. They made love, softly, gently, completely, and it was the most beautiful love either of them had ever experienced. Throughout one brief eternity, they were suspended in utter ecstacy.
When they were expended, they gazed into each other’s eyes in splendor. Sweaty and sticky, peaceful and sweet, hopelessly in love, they listened to the rain.
Derek spoke first. "I love you, Nick, love you so much."
"I love you, too, Derek." Nick smiled. "You know what turned me on the most?"
"What?"
"The way *you* were turned on. So hot, so horny, so full of need... That was the biggest turn-on I ever saw in my life."
"Your touch drives me crazy, Nick."
Nick kissed him on the ear, then on the cheek, then on the lips. "You drive me crazy, too, Derek and I think you always did. I think I always wanted you. I just didn't know it before. Not only am I crazy in love with you, I’m completely obsessed with you. You're the only person I have really ever loved like this."
Derek pulled him close and kissed him passionately again. "You’re all that matters to me, Nick, the only one who will ever matter to me. You are the love of my life. Promise me you'll never leave me."
"I'm not going any place." Nick said. "You promise me."
"Oh, Nick, I want to be with you like this you forever."
"Then tell me."
"I'm yours forever. Forever."
"I'm gonna hold you to that. Not just until this stupid potion wears off. For the rest of our lives." Nick said, touching his nose. Then, he kissed him again.
Nick built a new fire while Derek lit the Coleman stove and started coffee. The rain was now coming down in torrents, so hard it made them want to go back to bed, just snuggle close and listen to its constant drum on the roof.
They sat huddled together in front of the fire in just underpants and tee shirts with cups of steaming coffee, a fur draped over their shoulders. Both men were firegazing. "You know what I want for breakfast?" Nick said without taking his eyes from the flames.
"What?"
"You." Derek laughed as Nick playfully moved in and kissed his chest. "What are you doing, Nick?" he asked.
Nick took up the hem of his tee shirt and lifted it high, put his lips on a nipple and kissed it. "Give me your coffee." He took the cup and set it on the floor, then pushed Derek down on the furs. He kissed the nipple again.
Derek swallowed down the ripple of eroticism created by the act. He felt the hands on his back that lifted his chest up to the warm lips, the firm suction, the flicking tongue that gave him pleasure. He moaned out loud and rubbed Nick's short hair, gripped his back and shoulders. "Don't stop. Don't stop yet. Oh, Nick, how are you making me feel this way?"
When Nick raised up and went to the other nipple, Derek was drunk with ardor. He wanted it to go on forever, but the rumbling in his loins quickly grew. He felt a white-hot surge of eroticism and cried out in the throes of a violent, extraordinary orgasm. His seed shot forth onto his stomach, some onto Nick’s shoulder, the first time in his life he had ever achieved a climax without having been touched. Nick raised his head to watch Derek's savage release, very pleased that he had caused such a reaction. He continued fondling and kissing him until Derek's cries faded, so hot he could barely contain his own.
When Derek had recovered, he lifted himself over Nick to return the favor. He began with his lips and kissed his way down his body, finally taking his throbbing organ into his mouth. Nick laid back and enjoyed it, realized as he laid a soft hand on the back of Derek’s head, that he was less apprehensive about letting Derek touch him. In fact, Derek’s touch was becoming more and more appealing every minute, from any position. Nick’s shouting release lasted more than a minute, longer than any Derek had ever witnessed. He was amazed at Nick's resilience. He was more than just verile, he was incredible.
They laid still for a time, and when they got up, Nick went outside to wash himself in the rain. Derek drank his cold coffee and fixed the fire, looked up as Nick returned soaking wet. "You're crazy!" he said with a laugh. "Come over to the fire! You’ll have pneumonia tomorrow!"
Nick grabbed him and danced him around in front of the fire. "But I'm tough. I never get sick! Tough guys don’t get pneumonia!"
"You’re full of shit, Nick.” Derek hugged him tight, dried him with a towel. “Does it do for you what it does for me? Making love?"
"I never felt anything like it, Derek. I don't even feel guilty about it any more. Making love to you is the love I always dreamed of. I never want anybody else. That's what you've done for me. You've ruined all other lovers."
"So have you for me." Derek put his forehead to Nick's. “You turn me on more than anything I have ever known. Everything you do turns me on. Your very touch against my arm makes me hot now. I am madly in love with you, Nick."
Nick smothered him with kisses. "You want some more coffee? Yours got cold."
"In a minute. I just want to hold you a while."
The while became a long, long while. They laid down again and cuddled close, lost in kisses.
*****
A month later.....
The days and nights seemed to fly. They had no way of knowing whether or not the potion had worn off as they had been together every minute since Nick’s arrival. But it did not matter. They were in love and that love had not been daunted in the least; in fact, it grew more every time they made love. Their eyes were just as soft when they met, the smiles just as fond. For thirty days, they existed alone in their own private world, loving each other more and more every day. They spoke of spending the rest of their lives together as a couple, of their unfaltering love and how the world would greatly hinder their relationship once they returned to life on Angel Island.
They heard the motorboat’s engine in the distance on another very gray day and went to the shore to watch its approach. "Three people." Derek counted the dim figures in the fog.
The boat drew closer and Nick frowned as he recognized the occupants. Their neighbor, Charles, Alan Windham and Saundra West. Saundra! Her presence at this time was more than he could handle.
Saundra and Derek had made love. No. They had had sex, but, being a woman, she would interpret it as love. She would, no doubt, try to reclaim him and if she got her way, Nick would be left standing alone. His guts growled with the most frightening unease he had felt in weeks. Alan bounced from the boat and helped Charles out, but let Saundra fend for herself. Nick reveled in the reverse Chivalry! The man was a true gentleman.
The three of them came to greet Derek. Saundra kissed him, then as an afterthought, kissed Nick on the cheek. Alan and Charles both hugged Derek, then stepped back and shrugged. "You're not sexy any more." Charles said. "It's gone."
Derek sighed relief. "Good." he said. "You don't know how happy I am about that."
Saundra shook her head at him. "The potion couldn't have been all that, Derek. I mean...Nick was here with you all this time and nothing happened, right?"
Derek looked at her without expression. "Could I offer any of you some coffee?"
Charles rubbed his cold hands together and blew on them. "You could offer me some." he said. "We should have brought Alan’s yacht instead of this thing." He indicated the motorboat.
Alan laughed. "We thought we'd come see how you were faring, Derek, since you got attacked by the world. I’ve heard all about your misadventures. How are you?"
“I’m fine. Come inside.” Derek led the way to the cabin. Saundra hurried to put an arm around him. Nick, instead of challenging her, simply walked a step behind the others. When they were inside, he put on the coffee while they all found a seat.
"How did things go between you and Nick all this time?" Alan asked. "Are you still friends? It appears that you are."
Derek glanced at him sharply. "Of course." he answered.
Nick wondered what Derek would tell them. It didn't matter. If he wanted to confess that they were lovers, it was perfectly all right with Nick. In fact, he wanted Saundra to know. He wanted to tell her himself. She tilted her pretty head and asked, "So, if the potion was really that strong, and Nick has been here all this time, does that mean....that the two of you....are...a couple now?"
Derek used the poker to roll a stick of wood in the fireplace. "Saundra, what are you asking?" he asked, as if he didn't understand.
"You know very well what I'm asking." she said defiantly. "Are you and Nick lovers?"
"What if we are? What are you going to do...go back and tell the world?"
She gazed at him, wondering, then looked at Nick. "No, I won't tell anybody."
Nick went to his lover’s side as he turned to face them. "You know, Derek, you don't have to tell us anything. It's none of our business really." said Alan.
"You're right about that." Derek said.
"But you're going to tell us, aren't you?" Charles asked, very interested. Derek closed his eyes and pressed his face in Nick's collar. Nick gently played with his hair.
"You know, Charles," he said, his hazel eyes on their guests. "I wish we could just stay here forever, just me and him. He’s mine here. Mine, Saundra. Not yours."
Saundra gave him a quirky little smile and nodded her head. "Sure, Nick. I understand. You two love each other. Right?"
"Right." Nick answered. "Exactly right."
Derek drew away from him and faced them again. "Right." he confirmed.
"So you've made commitments?" Alan asked. "Very much." Derek answered.
"Sorry, Saundra. Sorry, Alan." Alan raised his eyebrows and sighed.
"Oh, well, nothing lasts forever." Charles stared at him.
"You mean *you* were with him?"
"It begins to look as if everybody has been with him, Charles." Alan answered.
Nick was a little surprised, too, but he said nothing. "I haven't been with him." Charles said. "I guess I'm the one person who hasn't jumped your bones, right, Derek?"
Derek shook his head in embarrassment. Charles chuckled, a sarcastic sound. "How many men have you been with, Derek? I didn't know you were into men and I thought I knew a lot about you."
Derek looked down. "How many, Derek?" Charles persisted.
"Do you want names and dates?" asked Derek.
"Sure. Fill me in." Charles knew he wouldn’t name them.
Fearfully, Derek met Nick's eyes. "I'm sorry, Nick, that I didn't tell you about them."
Nick was still playing with his hair. "They were before me. You love *me* now."
"I do. I do, Nick. I love you and you know it. I love you forever. And I'm yours wherever we go. Wherever we go! Not just here." Nick kissed him, uncaring of the eyes that pierced them, scrutinized their every move.
“Wow. You guys are for real." said Charles. “Derek, would you have fallen for Nick if it hadn’t been for the potion?”
“I have always loved Nick.”
“Even when he was a little boy? You’ve known him his whole life. That seems a little perverted to me, you know what I mean?” Charles said.
“Tell me, Derek, how many men *have* you been with?”
Derek looked straight into his eyes. “I don’t kiss and tell."
"Really?" Alan spoke up. "You just told them about us. What are you going to do when you and Nick decide to go your separate ways? The two of you won't live together forever. You can't."
"And why not?" Derek asked angrily. "Why can't we love forever?"
"You haven't loved anybody else forever." Alan said.
"What we have is different." Nick said.
"That's what we all thought." said Alan, waving toward Saundra. Nick’s eyes flashed an emerald green. "Did you tell him you were in love with him?"
"No. The words just never came up."
"But you made love to him?"
"I made love to him, yes. It was casual."
"Then don't be jealous." Nick said. "I don't believe in casual love, or in casual sex."
"How old fashioned." Saundra said. "In what century did you get your education, Nick? You should know better."
"I know what I have with him is not casual."
Derek spoke up. "He's right. What we have is extraordinary. I'm willing to make a lifetime commitment to him. Have I ever said that about anybody else? I want him forever. Forever."
"So you both feel this way?" Saundra asked.
They nodded. "You realize it could be the potion that makes you feel this way." Charles said. "And when all the affects are gone you will wake up in bed together some morning and be completely mortified."
"The affects have evidently been gone for some time now. We love each other no less." Derek said. "Why are you needling us? Let us love each other. If it turns out badly, we've hurt no one else. But it won't. It cannot because I would die before I would lose him."
Alan smiled. "It sounds like love." he said, then stepped forward to hug them both. He lightly kissed Derek’s lips. "Okay. I'll offer you my congratulations."
"Thank you." Derek said.
Saundra stood, too, kissed them both again. "I hope you're happy together." she said in defeat.
Then, Charles raised up to hug them. "Good luck." he said.
After coffee, they got back into the boat and sped away again, leaving Nick and Derek to think about what they had told their friends. Nick could not get it out of his mind what he had learned about Derek’s past.
It was raining again. Nick sat idly, cross-legged on the furs, gazing down at his lover as he slept. He was beautiful. Beautiful. Nick was completely in love with him and could not seem to get through a minute without touching him. It was almost obscene how obsessed he was, almost spiritual.
Derek opened one eye and grinned at him. "I can feel your eyes." he said softly, then stretched and yawned. "You woke me with a look."
Nick kissed him. "I love looking at you." he said. "I could sit right here and do nothing but just look at you the rest of my life."
After several passionate kisses, Derek sighed. "Okay, what's on your mind?"
Nick sighed, too. "I'm just...thinking about those other guys you were with.”
Derek sat up and straightened his hair. "Does it bother you, Nick?"
"A little.” Nick admitted. “I’m intrigued. I thought I was the only one. You've been with a lot of men?"
"A few. But none like you. I love you, Nick."
"Did you love any of them?"
"I cared about them, yes....I thought I loved them at the time, but the difference is vital! My love for them never drove me to passion as you do, none of them. You are the single most important person in my life, past or present, and the only one I want in my future! I'm in love with you, Nick and I will be faithful to you from now on. I want nobody else, man or woman, ever again. Just you. And it's more than just love I feel for you, you are essential to me, moreso than my own arms or legs, moreso than the heart that beats in my chest. I need you, I cannot live without you. I would die if you turned away from me now. Tell me you're not turning away, Nick."
Nick kissed him ardently. "I'll never turn away from you, Derek, never. Never. I couldn't live without you, either. I don't *want* to live without you."
"Then we're all right? Things are good between us?" His hand rested on Nick's cheek.
"We're wonderful. Wonderful. Did you think I wanted to break up with you over old lovers? I'll shoot them if they ever try to take you away from me. You're mine."
"I'm yours, Nick. And you won’t have to shoot anybody to keep me."
They sat there holding each other, secure in their love, in their future together, realizing everything they were likely to face, every prejudice, every scorn, and the love outweighed it all. They were strong enough to handle anything because they would always love each other.
Derek sighed, ran his hands through Nick's hair. "We have to go back soon. We're running out of supplies."
"We could just make a run and get more." Nick suggested.
"Yeah, we could."
"But you’re right. I think we should go home."
"We’ll do whatever you want to do."
Nick smiled at him. "What do *you* want to do?"
"I want to go back. I miss my home. I’d like to take a real shower. I'd like to hear a telephone ring again, to check out that case Saundra was talking about. A woman took a picture of her daughter, a child who died over forty years ago. We should investigate that case. I'd like to hear the toilet flush and have running water and make coffee in the coffee maker. I'd like to have a drink with Charles and come home late, and sleep in my own bed snuggled up in your arms."
"Sounds good to me." Nick kissed him again. "But what if people talk?" Derek gave him a smile.
"Let them talk." he said. "What could they say?"
"Look, there go the gay guys!" Nick answered. "The gay Legacy members."
"Don't be ridiculous. Nobody knows we're Legacy members."
They laughed, then sat looking lovingly into each other's eyes. Finally, Nick said, "I just can't give a damn what other people think or what they say. The hell with them. If they run their mouths it's probably just because they don't have love of their own and they're jealous."
"You're smarter than you look, Nick." Derek said.
"Do I look stupid?"
"No, you look hot."
"I do?"
"Yeah, hot."
"I am. For you."
"Show me." Derek challenged him, in his arms. He kissed him sensuously. They made love again, then packed their bags and took the helicopter back to Angel Island.
the end.....maybe
*No matter where you go, there you are.*
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