in the tub,” he said laying there completely nude with his arms outstretched along the rim, his legs opened wide apart for the whole world to gawk at. Floating atop the bubbling water, appearing to be a cork-fishing floater, was the tip of his erect cut cock. “Come on in babe, you are going to love this. There’s plenty of room for the two of us.”

Joseph poured two glasses of wine, handed one to Richard, set the other on the rim of the tub, and placed the rest of the bottle in the wine bucket filled with ice. Looking around at the setting sun and enjoying the sight, he realized that, short of a helicopter with a group of tourists aboard, there was no way anyone could see them. So, slowly, he started a strip tease leaving on only his OD boxers. Then climbing up and standing on the redwood platform and looking down at Richard he lifted his wine glass in a mock toast, saying, “To the nosy neighbors, get out your fucking telescopes and have a good look!” He drank the wine and threw the glass against the wall shattering it.

“I saw that done once in a picture and always wanted to do that,” he said as he hooked his thumbs under the waistband of the boxers and slowly stripped off the last bit of clothing that concealed his young panther-like body, exposing his hard seven-inch erection. Then like some burlesque queen, waving and twirling his boxers around his head, he let them fly. He did a few “bumps and grinds” and a few nude poses, while Richard whistled and cheered and applauded. Then he stepped down into the bubbling water and lay beside Richard.

The warm water rose up to envelope their young bodies, with the exception of their two cock heads. Now there were twin-fishing floats bobbing on top of the water. The two of them just relaxed and sighed and watched the sky as the sun started to set. The sky turned from light blue to darker blue with streaks and patches of yellow, gold, orange, and flaming red. It began to look like an old “Paint by Number” picture. They watched in wonder as the first stars began to come out and darkness closed in upon them. As the moon came out and bathed them in its silvery glow, they kissed and hugged each other. The night sky turned into a panorama of stars that danced before their eyes, making them both dizzy with wonder.

“Rich, dear, tonight is really special. I never felt like this before. I want to do something to make it a night to remember.”

“It already is. Just being together here in each others arms is all the ‘special’ I need or want.”

Taking another sip of wine from Richard’s glass, Joseph protested, “Thank you for saying that, but I somehow have this overpowering need, this feeling, that I have to show and prove my love for you. Richard, you have done everything to show me how you feel about me and you have held nothing back—while I am still afraid…afraid of everything.”

“Everything?”

“Yes, everything. Afraid that we will be discovered—afraid to be seen holding your hand in public, to say nothing of putting my arm around you. The thought of possibly forgetting and having someone witness a secret touch or gesture or the slightest bit of mutual affection scares the shit out of me. Even when we are alone,