Chapter 10 – Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

We told no one. But, rumors were swirling around us at Rice. Many people knew I was gay, and we were inseparable and, for the first time, living together. Even Luke's reputation and poster boy status could not insulate him against innuendo under those circumstances.

Plus, we were rarely out and about. We were married and, both now 21, we had years and years of oppression and suppression to overcome and release. We were well on our way to making up for lost time.

I loved every inch of Luke's body. As I explored it, I discovered new things each time. He had very small ears. He had milky skin, but a lot of moles. He had a birthmark on his right shoulder blade, which made perfect sense, in a way. His right hand was a size larger than his left, which also made perfect sense, in a way. The same was true of his right foot. And his right testicle.

I loved pleasuring him, especially with my mouth. I was constantly at him. I took him whenever I could, even when he wasn't ready. I liked him soft, but I loved him hard, his thickness filling my mouth. I learned to use my hand and mouth together, and he learned match my rhythm. Whether he was on his back, standing before me, or hovering over me, I could always feel his orgasm coming. I sped up when I did, craving his finish.

As my Senior and his Junior year wore on, we were an island. We couldn't and wouldn't let anyone else in or on.

We split up for Christmas, me to my family and he to his. The girls were keenly interested in whether Luke would be visiting. They were surprised when I said no. Chastity asked if we had broken up, which question I dismissed as "ignorant." She was keener than I had thought.

Spring semester was busy. I was preparing to graduate, and trying to decide my next step. I could go to work full-time for the NSA, but that would mean a year in D.C. away from Luke, and we had vowed after the prior summer "never again." It would also mean more visibility to a world that petrified me. I wasn't sure I had the constitution for daily terror alerts.

The Owls were better than the year before, but everyone was looking to 2013. They were a projected juggernaut, as the talent that he followed Luke would be fully developed.

In an attempt to staunch the rumor mill, I did not go to the Owls' home games, much less the road games. I followed Luke's season only through him.

I continued to Ecclesia, but Luke did not. He joined a very conservative Christian church, again in an attempt to disassociate himself from the rumor mill.

We had watched his now almost two year old interview over and over. He had never mentioned a girl. He had said "marry" and "date." The press had assumed it was a girl. When we finally stepped into the light, Luke could honestly say he had not been dishonest. He had been honest, and the press had made false assumptions that he saw no need to correct.

We knew we were going to step into the light at some point. But, we didn't plan to do so until after Luke had been drafted and signed. We were watching what was going on with Michael Sam, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and we thought it was shameful. We wanted to avoid all the pre-draft drama and innuendo swirling around him.

Our relationship was like a dream. We were a balloon, and we just went higher and higher. I kept waiting for a little air to leak out, but it never did. We loved each other very much. We loved Christ more. We remained deeply Christian, imperfect but devout. We prayed together every morning, over every meal, and every night. We continued our personal search for truth, reading and listening to podcasts and sermons from those who agreed with us, but much more from those who did not. We did not believe we had all the right answers, and we were skeptical of those who claimed they did.

Our sex life was awesome. In the six months since our wedding, we had more than made up for lost time. For the first time in our lives, we felt free to explore our sexual sides. We bought books and used the internet to guide our explorations.

We made love almost every morning, almost every night, and often in the middle of the night. Typically, I was under Luke. I liked when he was in and over me, rocking gently back and forth, dripping sweat on me, and finishing just when I was certain I couldn't take any more.

He sometimes begged to be under me, which was fine. I liked staring into Luke's eyes as I delivered myself to him.

But, he preferred being over me, and I preferred being under him. I loved how full and loved I felt when he was inside me. I also loved watching his face as he finished, his eyebrows arched and eyelids fluttering.

As we grew more comfortable with the idea of sex, we got more adventurous. We sheepishly bought aids. We timidly tried different positions and different acts. We liked the things and the ones that felt more intimate. We eschewed the things and the ones that felt more base.

About halfway through the season, Luke wanted to tell Coach Grantham about our marriage. I was opposed. I had an NSA background, and I understood the importance of keeping secrets (the NSA even keeps secrets from the President and his team). Luke thought Coach Grantham would keep our confidence, would be supportive, and might be able to help us navigate the path through the rumor mill and out into the light.

I gave in to Luke. I always did.

We told Coach Grantham together. We showed him our pictures and our necklaces. He was stunned, to say the least. The rumors had not penetrated his office.

He thanked us for our candor and pledged his discretion to us. Then, he stood up, walked from behind his desk, and wrapped me and Luke in a big, warm embrace. He pressed his cheek to Luke's and said "Congratulations, Son. I'm very happy for you." He then pressed his cheek to mine and said "Congratulations, Evan. I'm very happy for you, too." It was one of the most affirming moments of my life.

As we were getting ready to leave, Coach stopped me. "Evan, you take care of your husband. He's very important to me."

"Don't worry, Coach," I said, reveling in his use of of the word "husband." "He's more important to me."

Coach smiled at me and answered "I guess that's right."

Telling Coach was one of the smartest things we did. To our knowledge, he didn't tell a soul. But, he became very interested in us, and he helped arrange a meeting for me with George Leonard, the General Manager of the Astros. Leonard had guided the Cardinals into the 21st century and was now trying to do the same for the Astros. He liked my mathematical mind and familiarity with baseball, we hit it off, and I left with a year-long internship in the Astros' analytics department. I'd be staying in Houston after all.

*****

Rice made the NCAA tournament, but – for the second year in a row – did not make it to Omaha. The media was circumspect, as everyone thought Luke would be enough to drag the Owls home. He wasn't.

Once Rice was eliminated, we spent the summer devouring each other. My tongue found its way into every nook and cranny of Luke's chiseled, hot body, and his tongue found its way into every nook and cranny of mine.

I learned that I liked rimming more than I liked being rimmed. In the yin and yang that was us, Luke learned he liked being rimmed more than he liked rimming.

I preferred to bottom. Luke preferred to top.

I liked when Luke was in my mouth. Luke loved when I was in his mouth. As soon as he finished inside me, he'd finish me with his mouth.

I liked to be left alone after I came. Luke liked be wrapped up.

I liked the smell of Luke at the end of the day, especially after practice. I'd bury my face in his crotch and his pits.

He liked me to be clean.

We complemented each other perfectly. When I was up, he was down. When he was down, I was up. We were a teeter-totter.