Chapter 1

April 2023

Aaron tapped Fred’s score into the app on his phone as he swore tossing his club towards the golf cart. Mark danced out of the way of the club as it skittered along the grass.

“Fuck, Fred!” Mark shouted. “If it’s not fun, let’s just stop.”

Fred swore again and stalked toward them to pick up his club.

“It is fucking fun,” he said. He swiped a hand over his forehead. “It’s just so fucking hot here, what the fuck?”

Aaron pulled a beer from the cooler they had stashed in the cart and handed it to Fred. He twisted off the cap and took a long swig. The three men had been playing golf all afternoon and drinking the whole time. Aaron’s head was pleasantly buzzy as he did his best to keep score on his phone.

“Are you sure it’s fun? Cause you seem pissed,” Mark said readjusting his golf gloves for the hundredth time.

“Yeah, just got frustrated,” Fred said. “Stupid fucking ball.”

“Is it the ball or the swing?” Mark asked, swigging from his own beer.

“Fuck you, man,” Fred said with a grin. “I don’t see you doing any better, huh Aaron?”

Aaron glanced up from his phone.

“Oh, actually you guys are really close,” Aaron said. “Mark is winning by just a few strokes.”

“Well,” Mark said, smiling and crossing his arms.

“Probably Kate’s witchcraft, she cast some shit to make my swing suffer,” Fred grumbled.

He took another hefty swig from his bottle. Mark feigned surprise and horror.

“I’m shocked you would question my integrity that way? Is it so hard to believe I just have natural talent?” Mark asked.

He shoved his empty beer bottle into the cooler and slid his club back into his bag.

“It is actually!” Fred shouted. “You were way behind me last time we played at home, so obviously, witchcraft.”

“It’s probably the heat Fred,” Aaron said. “And the fact that we’re drinking beer and no water.”

“Speak for yourself,” Mark said, pulling a water bottle from his golf bag and taking a hearty gulp of water. “I’ve been balancing out my beer consumption with water. But now I’ve gotta pee like crazy.”

Aaron’s head spun as he tipped back the rest of his beer.

“Good thing we’re on the last hole,” he said.

Mark slid behind the wheel of the cart, while Aaron and Fred settled on the passenger seats. He zoomed off down the cart path, while Fred searched for his wayward ball.

“Stop! I see it!” Fred shouted.

Mark stopped the cart and Fred slid out of the seat a little clumsily. He chuckled as he selected a club.

It was so damn hot; he could feel sweat trickling down his neck under his collar making his polo shirt stick to his skin. He twisted a bit, trying to get it unstuck and positioned himself for his next shot.

Aaron watched his friend get ready for his shot and noticed how his shirt pulled across his broad shoulders. His eyes wandered down to Fred’s ass as he leaned forward to take his shot. As he twisted Aaron felt a rush of heat in his stomach. It coiled through him nestling low in abdomen. He bit the corner of his lip as he watched Fred closely.

The sleeves of his shirt hugged around his biceps. Aaron’s eyes were glued to those arms as he swung the club. He sucked in a little breath as his cock twitched, thickening slightly.

He shot a quick glance at Mark, blushing a bit hoping his arousal wasn’t obvious. Mark was staring down at his phone with a smile, texting quickly with both thumbs. So, talking to Kate again, he didn’t notice Aaron’s reaction to one of their lifelong friends. He adjusted in his seat slightly trying to tuck back his cock, that seemed to thicken more, each time he looked at Fred.

“Yeah! That’s fucking better!” Fred shouted.

He turned quickly biting his lower lip savagely pumping his arm, kicking out one leg. Aaron watched his little celebration, his mouth open slightly and his cock going harder in his pants. It would be difficult to hide in a minute. He cleared his throat and tried to look away from Fred but couldn’t drag his eyes away.

What the fuck is happening here? Aaron thought to himself. His forehead was misted with sweat unrelated to the scorching desert sunshine. He wanted to groan and grab himself. Or grab Fred and grind his hips...

He shook his head quickly as Fred approached the cart.

“Mark, come on you dick,” Fred spat. “Be in the moment.”

“I am!” Mark said, sliding his phone back in his pocket. Fred rolled his eyes and then looked at Aaron.

“Oh shit,” Fred said. “Are you OK Aaron?”

“What? Yeah! I’m fine,” Aaron sputtered.

“Holy shit you looked really flushed,” Mark commented. He held out his water bottle. “Here, drink some water.”

“Damn man,” Fred said, as he pulled a towel from his golf bag and handed it Aaron. “You’re sweating like crazy. Maybe we shouldn’t finish.”

“No, guys, really I’m ok,” Aaron said.

He swiped Fred’s towel across his face and caught a whiff of his cologne on it. He nearly groaned as another wave of arousal swept through him. He leaned forward to try to disguise the growing bulge in his pants.

“Drink some water,” Mark urged again.

Aaron took a large swig trying to distract himself.

“Yeah...” Fred said studying Aaron. “Let’s head back.”

“No, come on guys it’s one last hole,” Aaron argued.

“Whatever, it’s alright Aaron,” Mark said. “Don’t push yourself, you don’t want to get heat stroke. I gotta pee anyway,” he reminded them.

“Yeah, especially because we’re going out tonight,” Fred said.

“I’m gonna need a nap,” Mark groaned.

“We have to go out!” Fred said.

Mark sighed. Fred climbed back into the golf cart and Mark drove them back to the clubhouse. The drive wasn’t too long, but Aaron took the time to think about particularly unsexy things, sipping at Mark’s water and taking deep steady breaths.

By the time they arrived at the clubhouse, he could stand without embarrassing himself. The three guys took a rideshare back to their hotel and went to their separate rooms for a few hours. Aaron was grateful for the time on his own.

He remembered the pool party twenty-some-odd years ago and Fred’s drunken attempt at comfort, that had turned to what ... he wasn’t sure. He hopped in the shower with thoughts of Fred kissing his neck all those years ago swirling in his brain. And that afternoon, his arms swinging the club, sweat rolling down his neck, the stretch of his shirt, the flex of his biceps.

Aaron groaned as his cock hardened while he washed his hair. He let the water flow over his back and shoulders for a moment before he scraped his hands down his face roughly and stared down at his raging erection.

“Goddammit,” he groaned. His fingers ran over his hard length. “What the fuck?”

He grunted as his mind wandered to Fred, his body responding. He shoved a finger unceremoniously into his ass while his other hand worked over his swollen head. He felt a twinge of guilt-ridden anxiety thinking about Fred while he jacked off, as if he would find out somehow. Despite that feeling lingering in his mind he still plunged two fingers into his ass and worked his hand up and down his cock. He came quickly with a grunt, watching the rivulets of cum wash down the drain.

He rinsed his shaking hands, his heart clenching hard in his chest feeling shame over what he’d just done. Thinking about Fred while he jacked off? What kind of friend was he anyway?

He toweled off, wondering if he should say something to Fred, his mind flicking back to that drunken pool party over and over again. Maybe if Mark decided not to go out with them tonight, he could get a second alone with Fred and talk about what was happening here. What would he even say?

Aaron sighed and lay down on his bed hoping to get some rest before his friends called him for dinner and, if Fred had anything to say about it, partying afterwards.

Fred requested a table at the bar on the top floor of the fancy resort/casino where he, Aaron, and Mark were staying. Even after showering, drinking water and grabbing a quick power nap, Fred still felt exhausted. But he had planned this trip to have a wild time, they were in Vegas baby! So, he ignored all the protestations of his 40-year-old body, all the drinking, the lateness of the hour, on top of their day of golfing. He insisted that he was going out with or without his buddies.

Mark and Aaron were less enthusiastic about going out. Mark’s mind kept wandering to Kate, wondering how she was doing, what she was doing. Even after years of marriage he hated to be away from her for more than a couple of days. So, this extended weekend guy’s trip he had spent a lot of his downtime (and non-downtime) texting her. He had promised to call her again after he got back to his room, even though she said not to. She had encouraged him to just hang out with Fred and Aaron and forget about her for a day or two.

Aaron was distracted and anxious about these feelings that had seemingly snuck up on him while they golfed. His activities in the shower had only confused and frustrated him further and now it was clear that Fred just wanted a good time. So, Aaron knew he’d have to sit there and awkwardly endure it while Fred chatted up random ladies.

They were seated at a table, next to two women. They looked alike in a vague way. As if they were part of the same family, but none of the men could decide how they were related. Fred thought it was the glasses that one of the women wore that was throwing him off.

At first Fred only politely looked over at the women next to him and nodded with a charming smile. However, after a few moments, conversation became inevitable, as the tables were small, low, and intimate. Aaron had to admit it was difficult to not overhear their neighbor’s conversation.

Besides, they were attractive, so Fred couldn’t help himself. He had a natural charisma and charm and struck up a conversation with the women easily. Laughing effortlessly and speaking warmly without being creepy. It was truly no small feat to accomplish, being handsome helped of course, but there was a certain way to approach these types of situations.

It was so easy to veer into the territory of making someone uncomfortable, the wrong joke, or a misplaced chuckle. Lingering around for too long while you mustered the courage to talk to someone, making sudden inquiries or worse, letting your nervousness get the best of you and making demands; all these things could easily earn you the label of a creepy person.

And these two women had already had a lurking creeper prowling around them for a good thirty minutes before Fred, Mark, and Aaron showed up. They were prepared and ready for another annoying encounter. Instead, Fred turned on the charm and won them over.

“I’m Fred,” he said. “This is Mark and Aaron.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Esther and this is my sister Susan,” Esther said.

“So, where you ladies from?” Fred leaned back in his chair.

Mark chatted idly with Susan, checking the time on his phone regularly to show the picture of him and Kate splashed across the lock screen. Mark was friendly but not encouraging and Susan seemed to appreciate the fact that he would chat with her. He eventually noticed the huge rock on her ring finger and felt a small wave of relief. A few moments later she mentioned her husband back in their suite. Mark felt he was able to relax at that point until he wondered if they were swingers, but he quickly pushed the thought away.

Aaron sat back in his chair glumly nursing a vodka martini. He excused himself twice to splash water on his face in the bathroom. At first, Mark had indeed said he wasn’t going to come out with them after dinner, that he was going to stay in his room, chat with Kate and then call it a night.

Aaron had felt a swift flip of his stomach as the opportunity to talk to Fred about what was going on with him presented itself. Then at the last minute, Mark had decided to join ‘for just one drink,’ he’d said.

Aaron hoped that he had successfully hid his disappointment at Mark joining them. But he knew he couldn’t talk to Fred with Mark there. Anxiety curled in him viciously enough just thinking about confessing certain things to Fred on his own. Having Mark around for it was simply not going to happen. And now, on top of that, Fred was flirting with this woman, Esther. It was enough to drive him crazy.

Maybe he should just let this all go. Aaron couldn’t be sure if his feelings of attraction were legitimate or just ... appreciative of Fred’s physique. Of course, one would often notice the appealing things about the people that one spent a great deal of time with. However, if he was honest with himself, this felt different to Aaron.

It was less of a fleeting observation and more of a lingering thought. He remembered sitting in the golf cart and the deep ache in his groin, quickly looking elsewhere to stifle the stiffness he felt developing, trying to redirect his thoughts on the ride back to the clubhouse.

Now as he stood in the bathroom for a second time, he felt the same ache, and his dick twitched as he thought of Fred out there flirting, a smile gracing his lips. His mind floated towards Fred flirting with him, touching his thigh casually, that charming grin directed at him. Aaron turned quickly to one of the empty stalls and locked himself inside, as the growing stiffness in his pants had begun to show.

Carefully, he unfastened the button and lowered his zipper, easing his pants down around his ankles along with his boxer shorts. He dared not get anything on them since Mark or Fred were sure to notice. Mark probably wouldn’t say anything, but Fred ... At the thought of Fred teasing him, his member stiffened further, a small bead of moisture forming at the tip. Aaron looked down at his stiffening member wondering what the best course of action would be.

He could tuck it up and risk getting dribbles of moisture on his clothes. There was also the risk of getting more turned on as Fred talked, the waistband of his oldish boxers rubbing on the tip of his cock. As Aaron contemplated his options and various consequences his dick betrayed him and stiffened further sending the glistening drop balanced at the head of his cock trickling down his shaft. He sat down trying to make it look like he was just using the toilet.

He could rub one out quickly and put the whole thing behind him. If he did that though he risked getting caught and he knew it was generally frowned upon to masturbate in a public place. But what else could he do? After considering it he decided the only option was to rub it out quickly before heading back to the table.

By now his cock dripped continuously with precum and he ran his fingers over the tip using the moisture to lube himself up. He gripped himself firmly and rubbed up and down thinking about Fred. It didn’t take long before his dick was rigid and hot. He did his best not to make any noise as people moved through the bathroom. After only a few minutes he could feel the wave of his orgasm rising. He stood quickly and aimed for the toilet as a soft grunt escaped his lips, his cock spurting two cords of cum into the bowl.

“Excuse me,” said a male voice. “Are you alright in there?”

“Uhm, yeah, sorry just finishing up,” Aaron squeaked out.

He quickly grabbed some toilet paper and cleaned up his dick and a small amount of splatter from the seat. He wiped his hands and pulled up his pants flushing the evidence down the toilet.

“Sorry,” he said as he came out.

A male janitor stood there watching him for a moment.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t say anything.”

Aaron washed and dried his hands.

“What?” he asked.

“I know what you were doing in there,” the man said.

He smiled and made a jacking off motion. Aaron felt his face flush.

“I ... I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aaron said. “I was taking a shit.”

“Oh, sure, sure.” The man touched the side of his nose. “Mums the word.”

He took his mop and swiped it across the floor as Aaron left the bathroom.

As he walked back to the table to rejoin his friends he paused and took a deep breath in an attempt to clear his flushed face. When he returned, he was disappointed to see another round of drinks at the table, Susan and Esther had turned and were chatting continuously with Mark and Fred.

It was clear that Susan was sort of disinterested, she still smiled and politely asked questions of Mark, answering the ones he asked in return. Plainly both her and Mark’s motivations were clear, to appear engaged in conversation with each other to give Esther and Fred the freedom to chat. Aaron plopped down next to Fred again.

“Hey, there he is,” Fred said, turning to him for a moment. “I got you another drink.”

Aaron swore he saw a flicker of empathy go through Fred’s eyes before turning back to Esther. Mark kept glancing at his phone and at Aaron. He had sensed as soon as Fred started chatting with Esther that this was not what he had had in mind when he agreed to go out with Fred. Mark momentarily wondered if he was crashing a party he wasn’t invited to.

He took a pull on his beer and subtly tapped his foot against Fred’s. Fred looked up at him and Mark nodded towards the entry. Fred glanced at Aaron sipping his drink and staring at the floor making no effort to be involved in the conversation at all. Fred raised his eyebrows and looked around for their waitress who he motioned over.

Esther and Susan turned away slightly and opened the menu again, talking between themselves quietly. The waitress brought the men their check and took the women’s next drink order. After signing the check, the three men stood.

“Great talking with you, get home safe!” Fred said as Mark waved, and Aaron bolted out of the bar. The women smiled, waved and went back to conversing between the two of them while they drank their cocktails.

“What the hell, Aaron?” Fred said. “I thought you wanted to come out! No one was twisting your arm.”

“I know! I thought I wanted to come out too,” Aaron said.

“Hey guys, I’m going to fall back a little and call Kate before it gets much later. I’ll meet you for breakfast tomorrow,” Mark said as he fell out of step with the two men.

“Sure thing man,” Fred said. He turned back to Aaron. “So...”

Aaron wondered if he could really be honest with Fred. He had drunk those two martinis, and they had been drinking all day while they golfed. Maybe he could play it off as some kind of drunk chatter if the conversation started to take a bad turn. He didn’t exactly feel drunk but not quite sober either.

“Hello!” Fred said.

“Yeah, I just...” Aaron trailed off trying to gather the courage. There were so many people around, he just wanted to be alone with Fred.

“I don’t want to walk and talk. Can we go somewhere?” Aaron asked.

“We just came from somewhere,” Fred said a slight tinge of annoyance in his voice.

“Somewhere we can talk,” Aaron said quickly. “Just you and me.” Fred hesitated.

“What’s up man?” Fred asked. “Is ... is everything OK?”

Fred stopped walking, upsetting the group behind them. He moved to the side, off the walkway towards the slot machines.

“Yeah, I’m fine, everything is fine, I just ... Have something a little more private to discuss.” Aaron started walking again although, to where he wasn’t sure.

“Ok, sure,” Fred said slowly.

He walked with Aaron and looked around for a destination.

“How about there? It looks quiet. We can get a drink and talk.”

He pointed to a modest, nearly empty bar just off to the left of some poker tables. Aaron nodded and followed Fred up the three steps up to the bar.

The two men seated themselves at a table tucked away from the bar, most of the other patrons, and foot traffic. Aaron had seen the table as they walked in and made a beeline for it.

Fred went to the bar to get drinks. After ordering and receiving a neat whiskey and a vodka martini (with two olives, just how Aaron liked it) Fred wound his way to the table, setting the martini in front of Aaron. He took the seat next to him rather than across the table since the nature of his discussion seemed to require lowered voices. Fred was itching to know what was going on with Aaron. He’d been acting strangely since this afternoon when Fred thought he had been suffering from heat stroke.

“So, what’s up?” Fred asked.

Aaron took a tentative sip of his martini. It was strong, he used it as fuel for what he was about to say. He’d decided while Fred was grabbing drinks to just come right out and tell him, no beating around the bush just honesty.

“While we were golfing today, I was ... noticing you I guess,” Aaron paused.

“I hope so, you were keeping score.” Fred smiled.

Aaron felt a warm thrill flowing through his gut and couldn’t help but smile back at Fred’s fucking grin.