HomHS - Nate's Story Ch. 02

Chapter 2 - Free solo

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Sat. Feb. 8th, 2020:

I sat in the car and started the engine. Turned on the music, and I felt like a classic today. I was in a melancholic mood and began to drift at the tones.

I turned the wheel, and everything was set into motion. The houses started to blur around me, and now I knew I would not turn left. I am not going to work. I don't feel like working now.

I went straight, and my hands steered the wheel as if on reflex. I knew I would end up there. Every time I drive in a mood like this, I end up on this road.

I discovered it once on accident, and I knew I would return here from the moment I saw it. It led into the suburbs, with one side road heading uphill. It turned and twisted, and I knew by now how little people use it from the state of it.

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My foot slightly pushed on the pedal, and I felt a rush as my surroundings faded. Everything faded, and the only thing here was the road ahead of me. I knew it now by heart. It felt safe, yet there was this known forbidden rush as the motor was humming. I gently steered the wheel but didn't slow down, it had the effect I knew it would have, and then I sped up again.

Another turn was coming as the violins started to whine more desperately in my speakers, and the piano broke its silence with a heavy roar. I listened to the music and drove to its tune. The rhythm gradually increased, and with it, my foot was closer to the ground of my car.

Sharp turn. My subconscious warned me, but I wondered whether I would listen to it this time. I looked ahead and waited for how the music would decide for me, knowing what was to be expected.

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The singer began her cry, and at that moment, I stepped on the break, changed the gears with learned precision, and with that, I let my car drift and spin into nothingness, flowing on sharp music inside. I took control as the tones demanded and turned just in time to make it.

I didn't stop to pat myself on the back. Too many times, I had already done this. I just fluently continued further.

I raised my head with a smile and turned to another sideroad ending up in an area with trees around. I knew this place so well by now. I stopped the car in front of an old building. I stepped out, went to my trunk, and took off my clothes.

I stood there naked for a moment letting the cold February air burn my skin before I put clothes on. Long thermal shirt and pants and stretchy slacks with a sweater. I pulled out my climbing shoes and went barefoot to the place.

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When you climb for a long time, your shoes are a couple of sizes smaller than your regular shoes, so they are for climbing only. I also had sneakers in my trunk, but today I wanted to feel the cold ground.

I stopped under my rock. The grabs were white by now. I used them so much. I've sent this wall so many times that I sometimes didn't use the rope. Bad idea? Dangerous? Sure... I definitely don't advise doing that. It's deadly when one doesn't know what he's doing. But only that made my mind blank enough to concentrate solely on the next step and nothing else on those, thankfully rare, days as this one was.

I appreciated the look of the place above me and put on my shoes.

I turned off my phone but took it with me. I climbed, and every inch higher made me feel better. For the next few minutes, I wallowed in the void, listening slow violoncello in my ears.

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I sat on the ledge and stared at the view above the trees. Then, after a little while, I took out my phone and called Daniel.

"Hi, buddy."

"Hi."

"You up there again?"

"Yeah." I suppose the wind betrayed me. Daniel knew me too well.

"How was it?"

"We made up and talked about it. She is sorry. She hoped she wouldn't ever have to deal with this again."

"Is it that bad?"

"I don't know. There is so much resentment that is brutal. I mean, honestly, with everything she told me about her family, it's hard for me as I genuinely think Rick has the right to act hurt, but she doesn't want to see it. It's not my business."

"So he's cool?"

"No, not really. I mean, he seems to be, but when those two meet, he's really a dick."

"Maybe they just need some time together."

"Maybe."

"How was the night?"

I sighed. "I didn't slow down at the turn."

Daniel was quiet. "Do you want me to come?"

"No, enjoy your family weekend."

"Gee, thanks, it's amazing here..."

"That bad?"

"I hate being a father sometimes."

"I am sorry."

"It's fine. Everyone says it's only a phase, I keep hoping, but it's slowly taking a toll on our relationship."

"With Susan?"

"Yeah... But you dodged the question. How was the night?"

I lay down on the cold stone and sighed. "As usual, I woke up about three times, and each one was worse. It was a stressful day yesterday."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No, will you make me?"

"No..."

"Make me, Daniel, please," I whispered desperately.

"Then tell me, Nate."

"I gave Luke the keys, and Matt sat in the passenger seat. They started the car, and then I realized that you were there with Blake in your arms. I wanted to stop you and banged on the hood, but the car drove away. Then I ran behind you and screamed when it started spinning and fell off the cliff. The rest was a gore image of you as I tried to get you all from there."

"Damn... I am sorry, buddy."

"It's fine... Somehow I really think I am getting used to it."

"Did you talk with Megan about it?"

"No. I will meet her Wednesday."

"Good."

"What's ahead of you, buddy?"

"Trees and wind."

"Who's behind you?"

"You and everyone who loves me," I smiled.

"That's right. Please tell me you used the rope. Did you?"

"I may have forgotten."

"Nate, I will not repeat this again. I will not be telling Blake about you, only from pictures! Don't you dare risk that for me!"

"Sorry."

"I don't care for your sorry, Nate. I will be seriously upset if you do that one more time!"

"I won't."

"Stay there."

"Why?"

"I am coming there."

"No, Daniel, I went down many times like this, there are few sturdy rocks, and then I just jump on the roof of that old building."

"You are 38, man! Seriously stop acting like a brat! You will sit on your ass until I come. Is that clear?"

"Yeah."

"Man!"

I smiled even though I felt a bit guilty. I took a deep breath and stepped away from the ledge. I found a wooden slab and sat on it, meditating.

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...

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"If you wanted to climb with me, you could have just called me, man." Daniel's voice sounded stern, but his eyes were gentle. He sat next to me and handed me my climbing gear.

I smiled and nodded.

"Sorry, it was an impulsive idea."

Daniel hugged me around the shoulders.

"I am just glad you call me every time."

"I am glad you come every time."

"You would too."

"You bet I would."

We sat there.

"Susan is getting apprehensive."

"About the baby?"

"That too, but I meant the pandemic."

"Ow, right... She and Abi are still on the hotline?"

"Every night. That woman knows more about my wife than I do. Susan keeps telling me it's a shame that John and I are always fighting."

"It is a shame that the two of you are always fighting," I looked at Daniel meaningfully, and he shrugged.

"We're just very different."

"What is the issue this time?"

"John and Matt want to establish remote work only in their company, and Susan thinks I should start working from home as well."

"Right..."

"I would do crazy there!"

"I believe you, but I am sure Susan could use the help."

"You are right..."

"What about Ashley, any news?"

"Man, if such news would come, you would be the first to know. I would be over the moon, not sitting on the ledge of rock."

"True, but are you still trying?"

I laughed. "Yeah, we are mostly laughing at it now. We made it into a weird kind of team building."

Daniel laughed. "You really are something, Nate. I miss having sex, and you are trying to find ways to hate it less."

"I suppose we are just different."

"True. But it's good to laugh while having sex if you are not laughing at each other."

"No, we are just making fun of that. Of course, it takes much longer that way, but it's at least fun."

"That's nice. I hope our kids will be buddies."

"I hope they will be happy. The rest is up to them."

"Sure."

"We should go down, Nate."

"Yeah, let's. So we are jumping to the roof?" I grinned.

"Shut up, and put that harness on." He said sternly, but his eyes smiled.

"Yes, sir!" I saluted, and he pushed me a little with a laugh.

We got down and talked more as we got to our cars.

I came home, and Rick was sitting on the couch working. I said hi to him and went to shower.

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...

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The following weeks flew by, and I felt like everything had worsened. If I hadn't sworn to Daniel that I would not drive there like that and free soloing (climbing without the rope), I would be there probably like every weekend, since at work there was too much to do, thankfully, and I could hide there, but at night and over the weekends it was horrid!

I tried to steer the conversations so many times that I got burned out after a while. Since Ashley started work from home, it was even worse as when I came back, they had already built up quite a momentum, and it was hard for them to stop bickering about even those least important things.

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One day Rick came down and took a package inside. Ashley pretended she didn't care, and I really didn't until we heard the sound of the drill above. Ashley went full-on raging and stormed up the stairs. I just rolled my eyes and went after them.

Rick was on the ladder and was drilling in the ceiling.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"I am drilling," he said in such a tone that I had to hold myself not to laugh. Ashley looked at me for support, and I tried my best to give it to her. But, unfortunately, how she was acting around him was not always cool.

"And what are you drilling, Rick?" I asked calmly.

"I need something to train on, or I will go crazy in this house!"

"And did you even consider asking Nate? This is his room and will be after you leave this house."

"I did ask him a week ago if he would like to have a push-up bar, and he was thrilled, so I ordered it. I can take it with me or leave it when I find some damn place after people stop freaking out about the virus."

It was tough to find the place since the general panic started, and I already told him I understood that. I was surprised by him installing a pull-up bar in my room, but I didn't mind him doing it one bit.

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"You told him to put it here?" Ashley looked at me accusingly.

"Well, not exactly, but I cannot say that I mind."

"I don't want him to put it there!"

"Ashley, but as you stated, it's my room, and I could really use that. I am getting crazy here as well."

"I don't want it in my house!"

"Ashley, you are acting a bit immature now. I am sure we can find a solution. Even though, Rick, I would appreciate it if you would ask me beforehand." I gave him a calm but stern look.

"Right, sorry, I was just excited that it came."

I could see that on him. He was genuinely cute right now. His biceps were white from wall dust, and his eyes shined with excitement. For some reason, I couldn't help but smile as well.

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"You won't even have access to that since Rick's in your room. What will you do? Ask him every time you want to use it?" Ashley was trying to find something to stop this. But I knew her well enough to know that she was now really just being spiteful.

"Actually, that is a good point. It seems like he will stay here for some time, how about we put it in the hall? There is enough space for that."

Rick shrugged. He wasn't thrilled but could agree. Ashley, on the other hand, was even more enraged. It took us a long time to discuss that, and in the end, she let us install it in the hall in the corner in front of my old room.

She stormed off, and Rick smiled at me like a little boy. How can be such a huge guy cute like that?

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So we prepared everything needed and installed the push-up bar. I couldn't help but stare at him from time to time. I loved how those muscles moved under his shirt when he was helping me move some things from that corner, and soon that fragrance became stronger as he started sweating a little. At one point, I was holding the ladder and watched in awe his shirt rise up and show defined abs as he was fixing the bar position and marking the spot for the drill. I inhaled and felt my stomach tense as a rush went through it, stirring my cock a little. I was so amazed by that feeling that I just let it run through me, observing it internally while I kept looking at his bare abs.

"Nate?" he looked at me with a strange deep stare.

"Yes?"

"I was asking if you can take it?"

"Right, yeah, sure, give." I reached with my hand, and he handed the console to me with that stare.

I put it down, and he stepped down beside me, watching me closely. The smell of him now was getting intoxicating. I felt myself breathe deeply and looked into his eyes. We just stood there like that. He frowned a little, and I tried to calm down and asked him what to do next.

We installed it, but I couldn't help but to wallow in that scent and observe all that unknown feelings inside me. I never knew that scent could be so arousing. Interesting... so this is it? Arousal? Shame it came from someone I can never explore that with. Well... There are more important things in life.

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He pulled himself up and grinned excitedly again with that little boy look. He really is cute.

"When you will move out, could you leave it here? I can pay you for it, or I can buy you a new one, but I love this spot here for that, and honestly don't want to fight with Ashley about it."

"Sure," he smiled at me. "Do you want to try it?"

I came closer and couldn't help but inhale more of him. Its effect was immediate, and I realized now how that could look to a gay man if I sported a boner in front of him just like this. Maybe I shouldn't give him the wrong impression, and I am not ready to talk with him about my a-sexuality.

"I will later," I smiled.

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March came, and the atmosphere in this house started to be absolutely unbearable sometimes!

One night I arrived after work, and Ashley was yelling so loud I didn't even recognize her. Rick was on the same page, and when I tried to calm them down, they both turned on me. It was now too much even for me. I have been in the mids of their fights so many times that I couldn't care less at his point! We were all furious by the end, and I just stormed off and left, leaving them.

For the next few days, Ashley spoke to me only about absolute necessities, and I haven't talked to either of them.

One night she reminded me that in a few days, she would leave for a trip to Europe she had been preparing for months. I wasn't happy about that since we were in the mids of the pandemic, but she was adamant! She had invested too much into it and refused to stay here.

I didn't blame her. I wouldn't want to stay with everything going on here like this, either.

So that morning, I helped her put the suitcase into the trunk and drove her to the airport. We talked, made up, and even kissed and hugged goodbye. I loved her no matter what demons that guy unleashed from within her.

I smiled and drove home. It was officially the first day since I had to start working from home since our company issued this policy.

Hopefully, we will be fine...

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...

I opened the door, and something inside hit my nostrils. I couldn't help but shake as my cock filled with blood. I looked around and inhaled. What is that?!

It was everywhere around the entrance. I saw a small tee shirt and don't know why I grabbed it and sniffed. A sweet scent made me cringe, and I knew this was not it. I let it down, and even though I knew what was probably happening here, I couldn't stop myself from ascending the stairs like in a dream.

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>>Chapter 3 - Cedar, Cherry, and Sandalwood