Page 5 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

The Sanctuary reminds him of the property he grew up on. There was a forest lot, just like this, behind the modest little blue trailer home. He’d spent much of his childhood wandering paths that wove through trees and crossed tiny streams. He loved to watch squirrels and chipmunks play. They’d chase each other, hopping from limb to limb overhead. He had stopped exploring the woods around the time he entered middle school. Trading the outdoors for the solitude of his bedroom. Chatting on the phone for hours with his best friend Erin. They were inseparable buddies until she met her first boyfriend, their sophomore year of High School and just stopped talking.

Jamie had lots of fair-weather friends who would disappear from his life that same way. Some boy would come along and replace him. He understood though. He never wanted to stand in the way of their romances, no matter how hard the abandonment crushed him. He was the fat friend who’s company sufficed until something more interesting came along. He’d dreamed of his own whirlwind romance happening one day. He just couldn't tell anyone he also wished for a boy to call his own.

He was nineteen the first time another boy showed interest in him. It was at a Halloween party. Everyone was drinking. Jamie found himself alone with a guy he didn’t know. He thinks his name was Justin, but the introduction was muffled by a speaker blasting country pop music in their ears.

Justin invited him outside, to smoke a joint. Jamie has always been oblivious to subtle flirtations. They don’t really come by him often. He hadn’t picked up on Justin’s signals until he leaned in and kissed him. That moment woke something in Jamie he was never able to shut down again. It inspired him to start coming out to friends, and eventually family. He never did see Justin again.

He remembers hearing about a popular Haunted Hallows Eve event, held here in the little nature reserve around Halloween. It’s just weeks away. Organizers set up candy and gaming booths for trick or treaters along the paths.

Jamie pulls his phone from his pocket to search for the event and check it’s details. Like any good gay, he’s always loved the holiday. Men in slutty costumes? Yes please! He could never bring himself to dress up but enjoyed being a bystander.

A chimed alert pops up across the screen. He forgets the Gaydr app is even there, so doesn’t check it often. It’s usually just the same handful of local men he’s turned down dozens of times, or random tourists looking for a vacation fling. The amount of married family men looking to step out for a quickie gets wild in a summer tourist town! He taps the little rainbow demon icon and it opens to his own profile. HeyitsJMC43. Age 38, single, looking for friends or dating. Not really, but “jaded and sometimes bored,” aren’t an option. Four selfies he’d thought were the best out of at least 40 he had taken with the phone’s camera. Posing for pictures is a least interesting pastime. He taps the messages icon, flashing red.

NomadNurse6: “Hey. ;)” The message reads.

Jamie touches the tiny photo of ample pecs, supple mauve nipples and robust butterscotch belly. Black wavy hairs swirling into a pattern enticing the eye downward. The second photo, a less hairy bum with cheeks just as glorious as the chest. Beautiful, but no face. And then the single locked pic. “Ugh.” He grunts aloud.

NomadNurse6: “What’s up?”

Jamie notices the furry nurse’s location is just 97 feet away. “Shit!” His entire body flushes with panic. The main reason he hates these apps is the GPS locators. It feels like a violation of privacy for a shy gay with a tinge of dating PTSD. The number of feet is shrinking as the seconds pass. The headless guy is about to walk up on him. He can’t just ignore it, that’s rude.

HeyitsJMC43: “Hey. Just out for a hike.” He sends the message through the tiny keypad. The stranger is so near he hears the chime reaching its destination. The crunch of footsteps on twigs and dirt are too close to make a run for it. Jamie takes a deep breath. He can feel the red hotness on his face. His stomach tries crawling out of his body through his throat. The anxiety beast likes to gurgle Jamie’s guts in awkward social situations but kicks up a notch when the stranger is a fellow gay.

Nomadnurse6 steps around the corner from behind a large maple tree. Dressed in a thin brown hoodie over a light blue V-neck tee, just snug enough to accentuate that scrumptious, shapely torso. Dark blue jeans folded up at the ankles. Gray beanie stretched down over his ears pushing thick black curls into his eyes. A beard that could use a cleanup, but frames sculpted cheekbones and full lips the same mauve as the set of nipples in the picture, stretched across a big toothy smile. He waves.

Jamie can’t control the goofy grin creeping across his face. He waves back, pulse racing through his chest.

***

Nathan likes what he sees, standing at the center of the little footbridge. A tall blond. Fair skin. White tee rolled at the sleeves, showing off square shoulders and long arms. Nervously fumbling to stuff a phone in his pocket. Jeans hugging all the right curves. He can’t wait to unwrap the sweater tied around his waist and unveil the gifts underneath. Those profile pictures didn’t begin to do the cutie justice.

“Hey.” Nathan steps up, leaning against the handrail, nearly touching fingers. He tilts his head, resting his cheek on a raised shoulder. Putting on the sultry grin he’s practiced in the mirror hundreds of times and looking up into deer-in-headlights eyes. Deep brown with amber reflects from the hues of autumn leaves overhead.

The cutie pulls his hand from the rail and chops the air between their intimately close bodies. Almost poking Nathan’s belly. Offering an introductory shake. “I’m Jamie.” His voice cracks.

“Hi Jamie.” Nathan maintains a confident and dreamy smile. He holds eye contact, raising a free hand to meet Jamie’s. The cutie is trembling. They shake and hold on longer than necessary. Soft hands with a strong grip. There’s absolute fire filling the narrow space between them. Lust gurgles like molten lava through Nathan’s entire body.

Jamie’s hand returns to the rail. Doing his best to maintain a smile, chewing his lip to quell the quivering muscle in his chin.

Nathan wonders if this is new for nervous Jamie? There’s no ring or mark from one on his finger. Not married. Maybe straight and questioning? Doesn’t feel like the case. He wouldn’t have face pics posted on the dating profile. Looking for friends, but obviously they’re both here for the same thing.

Jamie clears his throat, “Do I call you Nomad?”

“Sorry, It’s Dave.” Nathan sticks with his trusty alias. Looking Jamie down and up again. Hungry beast on the prowl.

The cutie’s cheeks flush brighter pink. Adorable. Nathan extends a finger, petting the back of Jamie’s white knuckled hand gripping the rail. There’s near visible electricity in the connection. It carries through the air and seems to inspire the trees to sway in a sudden gust that comes out of nowhere. Rustling leaves dance on bouncing limbs. The sanctuary becomes an amphitheater all around them. Wild things taking their seats, anticipating the show about to go down.

Jamie doesn’t pull away. His eyes drop down to their touching hands. Staring at Nathan’s index and middle fingers, stroking his thumb. His gaze locks for a long moment before rising back to meet Nathan’s. The world falls away around them. The chill autumn air is suddenly red hot and buzzing with static electricity.

The entire reserve gets still and deafeningly silent. Every tree and critter focused on the pair’s next move. Tension blurring the aura around them like heat from a bonfire. Showtime. Nathan reaches around the back of Jamie’s neck and pulls him in. Lips smash together. The cutie smells like cocoa butter and fresh laundry.

Jamie’s body goes stiff for a moment, then melts into the heated exchange. He wraps both arms around Nathan’s shoulders, pawing the back of his head, wrenching him closer. Fingers tangling in dark curls under the gray beanie. Sticky sweet lips part and tongues dive deep into each other’s mouths. Flavors of sweet, creamed coffee and peppermint mix. Delicious.

Their bodies meld together. The orange sweater breaks loose from Jamie’s waist and drops to the ground. Nathan reaches behind the cutie and grabs a handful of ass. Pulling him in hard against his own belly. They stumble as one, against the rail. All inhibitions gone. Jamie groans and whimpers. The pair are mauling each other at the center of the small footbridge, groping and clawing like wild beasts. Making the critters blush.

Nathan pulls back. The cutie’s face reaches forward, smooching the air. He looks around for a more private space. Bending down to scoop up the sweater, like a gentleman, he leads Jamie by the hand.

They step over a low stone wall just off the trail and whip around the trunk of a big maple tree. Nathan backs up against the bark. It digs into his flesh through thin layers of the hoodie and scrubs. He pulls Jamie in. “Come here” he growls. Their bodies collide. His hard cock pushes against the fly of his pants meeting Jamie’s through layers of denim. Nathan reaches both hands around and latches onto Jamie’s ass cheeks. Solid and round, they fill his palms nicely. Their bodies grind against each other. Lips and tongues weaving and swirling. Chests expressing hot, heaving bursts of air.

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