Over the next two years my friendship with A. J. deepened into real love. I would have done anything for him and he for me. We were inseparable and I spent most of my spare time away from school, chores and piano practice at his house, especially in the kitchen with Petey. He was shameless the way he used me to do his prep work, but I didn't care. I could use a cleaver with the best of them and truly enjoyed cooking.

Petey was from New York. About twelve years earlier he had gone to Miami to work on the cruise ships. He managed through a couple of contracts, then burnt out, he decided to take a year on shore. While reading the Miami classifieds he came across an ad that intrigued him. "Central Florida couple seeks cook willing to do light housework and help care for an infant. Male only need apply." Petey was on the phone within minutes setting up an appointment. He never went back to the ships and he was the third member of A. J.'s family. Petey was also gay.

When Petey, A. J. and me gathered in the kitchen on those summer mornings, the chatter was deafening. The more insults and curses we threw at Petey's cooking the more excitable we all became. Often Drew, A. J.'s father, would wield a wooden spoon on all of our backsides to remind us that he was trying to work. That delighted Petey who would flirt outrageously with him. We understood that Petey deliberately let things get out of hand so that was the outcome. He would pretend to be so sorry for the commotion (so obviously not) so that he would get an extra firm thump from the object of his desire.

The object of my desire however, seldom got upset enough to wield a spoon because of the turmoil. He would stroll through and idly pick out bits of raw vegetable to munch on but he seemed able to let the chaos run off him. When Cole would see me he'd always stop for a brief hug and I was allowed to peck him on the cheek, neck or hair, wherever my lips could land. Every time I saw him my reaction was the same and it had just been getting stronger as I neared my eleventh birthday. I always blushed, even my eyes felt like they were burning, some small animal was prowling around in my groin and I could only breathe in tiny gasps until he disappeared back into his studio.

I lived for the afternoons when he would come onto the back terrace, sketchbook in hand, to supervise us in the pool. Cole always wore denim cutoffs, never a real bathing suit. His body was near hairless and smoothly muscled, not nearly as heavily built as Drew. The long black hair was always neatly braided or tied into a ponytail. He would sketch ideas and occasionally glance at the pool but it was habit. He knew we were both excellent swimmers. When the heat got too much for him, he would dive in effortlessly and join us in our games. I loved that I could touch him as much as I wanted all in the name of horseplay. At different times I had managed to swat him on his magnificent round ass when we played our own version of water-tag. Another favorite game of mine was 'torpedo'. He allowed us to wrap our legs around his trim waist and wrap our arms tightly around his neck for a rapid underwater ride across the pool. He took each of us separately over and over until I could feel his chest heaving against mine. Then he would slip out of the pool to lay in the shade to our taunts of "Who's an old man?"

He'd just smile serenely, then disappear into the kitchen for a cold beer. Sometimes Petey would come out and join him, but he really preferred the dark coolness of the house. No doubt he was clattering around in the kitchen hoping for Drew to re-emerge from his office.

That whole summer just floated by so wonderfully until I made a real mistake. My mom was flying up north for a seminar, Dad had a golf tournament, the hated Sarah was away at college and David couldn't be trusted with me after Dad found out about his little quirks. So Drew and Cole were asked to take me for a few days. It was no big deal, I slept over often, but I was to stay at their place and not be alone with David. They didn't know why and my embarrassed Dad was not about to tell them that my brother had been playing _s_e_x_ual games with me ever since the first month I came to live there. The guilty secret was to stay with Dad, David and me.

The weekend was to be a great adventure until Drew had to cancel his plans to take us all fishing on his boat. He was having trouble with a client and business came first. We were all disappointed but we understood. Drew pulled away from the dock shortly after dinner and was just to be away overnight. By next morning it was obvious that a real storm was coming our way. Everyone pitched in to put the patio furniture and potted plants in the garage for safety. Then we went next door to help David, who was alone, put as much of our stuff away as we could. In the garage, David grabbed me, whispered, then started laughing evilly. Cole looked on in disapproval and I blushed hotly, avoiding his eyes.

When we got back to A. J.'s there was a message from Drew that he was safe, but too far down river to get home before the storm hit so he was moored at a marina and would just ride it out there. Cole looked morose and grimly took the first of several beers from the fridge and spent the rest of the next hour prowling around the house, often looking out the windows. We made preparations for dinner in case we lost power.

The first wave of the storm hit around three that afternoon. We lost power briefly several times but we knew the drill. Cole grumbled about resetting clocks and was the first to break a rule by opening the fridge door for yet another beer. He glanced around sheepishly and we took the opportunity to surround him and swat his ass. Laughing, he bent over and grasped his ankles. We all excitedly grabbed wooden spoons and whacked those glorious mounds. It broke the tension for everyone except me. I thought I was going to faint with a rush of pleasure. The storm continued through the night and about 9:00 p. m., the power went off and stayed off.

Petey turned in early, then Cole told A. J. and me to get ready for bed while he prepared an insulin injection. A. J. took the shot wordlessly and clambered into his night attire with a little help from Cole; because he still wet the bed, A. J. wore a diaper every night. They were from a hospital supply that catered to pediatric and geriatric patients. A. J. took it in stride and it didn't faze me. In fact, I found it strangely erotic to lay next to him in bed and feel the light cool plastic on my skin. Cole kissed both of us on the cheek and I could smell the beer on his breath as he wished us good night. Within minutes, A. J. was in a deep sleep. I laid there in the dark enjoying my memories of the day then the list of facts I knew about my heart's desire. It had become a ritual to look at them like diamonds.

Cole was thirty, born in March in Arizona. He had some Native American and Mexican blood. He rode a Harley, favored denim, leather, silver jewelry and cowboy boots. Around the house he wore cutoffs, T-shirts and was usually barefoot. He drank Corona and tequila, spoke fluent Spanish and liked the occasional strange looking Cheroot. He went to college for two years, dropped out, then met Drew, who was still trying to get him to complete his education. He liked all kinds of music and he played chess and pool equally well. He was an extremely sensual dancer and when he moved his hips every eye was on him. At times, from my bedroom window, I had seen him on the terrace with Drew who would always reach to undo Cole's hair then sit in a chair and just watch his lover undulate to some beat. When I'd witnessed that scene I'd felt sick with envy. It always ended the same way. Drew would reach out, take Cole's hand and kiss his palm. Then they would glide away into the darkness.

That night was to be my night. Cole was worried and he needed some comfort. It took me about an hour or so to go over my thoughts and then I quietly slipped out of bed and my briefs, then made my way along the hall to their bedroom. The door was closed but I knew it was seldom locked. I opened it slowly to see if there was a response. If there was, I could say A. J. needed him. My eyes adjusted quickly to the dim light and I could make out two more empty Corona bottles on the bedside table. I made my way to the bed and was delighted to see that he was naked, his hair spread loosely across his pillow. The room was heavy with the smell of jasmine from the plants dragged off the bedroom terrace. Rain continued to fall and the wind remained steady, just enough noise to cover any sounds I might make. I knelt by the side of the bed and lightly stroked the hair that was closest to me. He didn't stir so I moved his hand lightly with my thumb and he opened it palm up. At that point I still could have said I came to get him for A. J. He remained asleep.

Now or never, I thought as I bent over and kissed his palm. It flattened open for more and he groaned softly. I kissed it again, then moved across his thigh trying not to touch him and blew lightly on his _c_o_c_k_ and balls. He moved slightly. Emboldened, I gently took the head into my mouth and slowly ran my tongue around it and up over the tip. I probed the tiny slit, Cole shivered and opened his legs wider. The whole length of him slipped between my lips in a rush. I used my hands and legs to get into a kneeling position so that my body would not touch his. Maybe he would let me cuddle with him after it was over. Meanwhile I kept my mouth doing what it had so carefully been taught to do. He started to squirm and buck so much that I had to place my palms on either side of his hips to keep from being thrown off balance. Instinctively, I hooked my fingers into the ends of his hair as his movements became even more violent.

Suddenly, he yelped "Ouch!" as his eyes shot open. I had been holding on too tightly and pulled his hair. He looked down in horror to see me with his _c_o_c_k_ still in my mouth. It definitely broke the moment. Cole seemed unable to move so I slowly rocked back on my heels and waited to see if he wanted to continue.

He put a hand over his eyes and still didn't move. Hesitantly, I put a hand on his thigh and he gently removed it. "You know, little boy, I have never wanted to have to do something like this to you." He said it quietly as he turned and took something off the bedside table. I recognized his hair brush. "Lay across my lap." he mumbled. Things weren't turning out the way I had hoped. I moved to obey him but I didn't understand why he was going to spank me. He obviously was enjoying my efforts and he didn't even seem angry, just sort of dazed.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! I didn't make a sound but I did start crying, not from pain but because my planned seduction had failed. The bedroom door flew open at the noise and I though we'd wakened A. J. We both looked up to see Drew standing in the doorway soaking wet. Even in the poor light, I could see by his body language that he was in a rage. I rolled off Cole and tried to flatten myself against the headboard. Cole was frozen, legs spread, arm upraised ready to strike. Drew strode across the room, grabbed Cole by the arm and hit him flat-handed across the face. Cole slumped across the bed, crying.

"GET TO BED, BOY!" Drew thundered at me. "NOW! MOVE IT!"

Then I was the one unable to move. I started pleading for him to listen to me. "PLEASE SIR!" I fairly screamed. "THIS IS MY FAULT! DON'T HIT HIM! I DID IT TO HIM WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING!" I yelled while throwing myself across Cole's back to protect him. "I MADE HIM THINK IT WAS YOU!!" I howled while forcibly taking Cole's hand and kissing his palm. Cole was crying quietly, no fight in him. I had to protect him at all costs.

Drew went to the bedside table and picked up one of the beer bottles and looked in disgust at me. "ARE YOU STUPID, BOY? HE MISTOOK YOU FOR ME? HE COULD DRINK ALL THE BEER IN MEXICO AND NEVER MAKE THAT MISTAKE!!"

The walls shook with his fury. He banged the bottle back down, picked me up and deposited me kicking and screaming outside the door. I could hear him locking it as I pounded on it still hoarsely bellowing, "IT WAS MY FAULT! DON'T HIT HIM! DON'T HIT HIM!"

The sounds of something beating on bare skin began to be heard. I later found out that Drew kept a paddle in there. It was a terrible noise, a steady rhythmic THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! I could hear Cole moaning as I kept my ear pressed to the door. I was still pounding on it and crying incoherently. Thankfully, at last, it was over and I could hear them speaking quietly. I sat on the floor, exhausted and when the door finally opened I fell over into the room. No doubt Drew would now force me to A. J.'s room but he didn't. He took me over to the bed . He spoke very softly to me, although I didn't know why. The household was awake and hiding in their rooms in case they somehow got involved in that mess.

"Tell me, little boy, exactly what you did." he offered soothingly. I told him everything between sobs and hiccups. Drew listened carefully. "Why did you do this tonight?" he calmly inquired. It seemed obvious to me that it was because he was gone. That wasn't enough for him. "Did someone tell you that this was a perfect opportunity? Was it the same person that showed you how to give pleasure with your mouth?" He was looking at me intently. I nodded. "Ahhh..." he murmured then put me over his knees and began to spank me with Cole's brush.

Cole was curled nearby in a fetal position, his hair cascading down his back and he was still naked. I was mostly cried out and didn't care about being spanked. All I could do was reach over and touch his foot while I told him softly, "I'm so sorry, Cole. I did it because I love you. I never wanted to hurt you. I'm sorry, sorry." I trailed off weakly.

I didn't go back to A. J.'s room that night. Drew put me on one side of him while Cole slept on the other. We all did get some fitful sleep which we certainly needed to face the morning. Cole rose first and I saw his beautiful butt covered with angry purple splotches as he stiffly made his way to the bathroom. That started me crying all over again and woke Drew.

"Hush boy. He needed a lesson in responsibility. Two children, a tropical storm and he's drinking too much." Drew barked out grumpily. "Like you kids, he needs to have his ass whipped once in a while."

I kept forgetting that Cole was thirteen years younger than Drew, so maybe he did seem like a kid to him. That would explain the treatment he'd received that night. Once Cole left the bathroom, it was my turn and then Drew came in and we showered together. That was a big surprise because I had never seen him nude before. He was something else and I could see why Petey was so crazy about him, but to me he was too big. Cole was just perfect. Thinking about Cole I started to cry again at how badly everything had turned out and that just earned me another swat on the bottom from Drew, now out of patience with me.

We walked to the kitchen together. I could see Cole resetting clocks, A. J. drinking juice at the breakfast bar and Petey making eggs. Everyone wisely kept their eyes and voices down. Drew went outside to survey his property. David must have been doing the same because I heard Drew shouting pleasantly, "HOW MUCH DAMAGE? NO? GOOD. COME OVER AFTER BREAKFAST. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU."

After eating, everyone but Drew went out to pick up the downed debris that always came with a storm. A. J., Petey and me gathered the stuff in bundles and Cole hauled it all out to the curb. There would be piles at the end of every driveway waiting for the trucks to come and take it away. The trucks were busy most of the year, but especially in late summer. David passed me on his way to see Drew. He was smirking at me, probably thinking that I had missed my chance.

David may have walked into that house under his own steam, but after a half hour of listening to him scream and howl, Drew had to carry him out over his shoulder like a sack of flour. As they went through the gate that separated the two houses, Cole and I finally made eye contact. I was going to look away, but he smiled slightly and winked. He didn't hate me after all!

David was sent off to college that very week.