Page 16 of Finding Basil (Foggy Basin Season Two)

Chapter Ten

He spent the morning out in the greenhouse planting with Lila, since Basil had to help his family with a few things.

Lila, for all her grumpiness, was a funny, warm person.

“You and Basil seem to be getting along well.”

An automatic smile came to his lips when Basil’s name was mentioned, and of course, she noticed. “Look it that! Got quite the crush.”

“Crushes are for schoolboys, not men.”

“Then you better read up on your division, because you look just like a little kid hunched over his homework.” Dusting her hands on her jeans, she said, “Listen, he’s the best guy I know, and I’ll for further.

Best person I know. Loves his family, works hard, listens when someone knows more than him about something, and that’s not something you find anymore.

I’m an old woman, and I’ve seen my share of people, and men, in particular, hold a little affection for me.

Most are no good, think with their peckers, and always think they know better about anything from car engines to the weather. ”

“I agree. Most people I know, well, they can’t hold a candle to him.”

“That’s why I sent him over that day. Wouldn’t have if I thought you were a piece of horse shit like most.”

“You sent him over to set us up?”

She placed the last dome on the mint and nodded, “oh, yeah. I saw what he went through, trying to help that Steve. Steve ain’t a bad guy, now, don’t get me wrong.

Having something messed up in your head don’t make you a bad person.

But some can’t be helped, not until they’re good and ready.

And he won’t be until he loses everything.

It’s like people in their bottles and into dope.

Until they’re ready, no one can talk ‘em out of it, whatever it may be for them.” She sat on a stool and dusted potting soil into a bucket as she whispered, “And until their ready, they can do a helluva lot of damage to those that care about ‘em.”

“Sounds like you have experience with that.”

“Don’t we all? We all have that person who tore us into ribbons. It might not be their fault, but it don’t hurt any less for that.”

Herb couldn’t push her to say more, and she didn’t offer it. “I hate to think of Basil having been hurt at all.”

“Good. Don’t be the next one to do it. He’s a good boy.

Treat him like a king, like he deserves, and don’t ever piss off his family.

He’s…their pet, I guess. He was sickly when he was born, and everyone just fretted over him terribly.

Grew up to be fine and healthy, but that sticks with a family.

Being afraid for a child bleeds over into everything that child does from then on. ”

“I can imagine. Lila, thank you for introducing us. I just met him, and yet I can’t imagine a day without him now.”

“Romantic cuss, aren’t ya?”

“Not before this,” he admitted, laughing.

Lila handed him a cylinder of tomato seeds and said, “Monday, I’ll start you on your personal plants for you to grow just for yourself. We’ll section off a place in here for now, then we’ll get a piece of dirt behind the house for next spring.”

“Sounds great. Thanks a lot, Lila.”

“Don’t be telling people I’m nice. Ruin my reputation.”

“My lips are sealed.”

After placing every candle he had around the bedroom, he scrubbed the house from top to bottom and then started planning the meal he’d cook for them. Nothing heavy, nothing greasy, and nothing that would keep him in the kitchen too long.

He settled on marinated chicken thighs, steamed broccoli with almonds and lemon, and a small spinach salad.

The food was cooking when the knock on the back door came and he opened it to see Basil, holding a bottle of wine and a small bouquet. “Oh, wow, those flowers are almost as beautiful as you.”

“Sweet talker,” he accused and stepped through, kissing Herb quickly. “It smells great in here.”

“I’m hoping it won’t suck too bad. I’m up against your family, so mine won’t come close.”

“Yeah, they’re a hard bunch to beat, but I’m sure I’ll be able to choke your food down,” he said with a laugh.

“Mean! Sit, and I’ll open this wine. How did you know to buy white?”

“I thought about your mind. This night…what it will be, you wouldn’t want a heavy steak or roast beef and potatoes. So, I figured maybe fish, but ew, the smell. Then I thought, it’s got to be chicken.”

“Brilliant deducing, dear.”

He opened the chilled cabernet and then poured them each a glass into his best wine glasses and got the flowers into a nice crystal vase. After he served the food, he sat across from Basil at the kitchen table, watching him take a small bite of the chicken. “This is delicious.”

“I’m glad. I want everything to be perfect.”

“You don’t have to do all this to make it perfect. I’m not a hard sell, Herb. I like you.”

“Let me spoil you. I’ve rarely gotten to spoil anyone in my life, and when I did, it was a dog I had in high school.”

Basil laughed, and nodded to agree, “okay. A little spoiling can’t hurt.”

They ate and spoke casually, which was a bad mask for the heaviness in the room from what the night was really about. It wasn’t a fearful or anxious heaviness. Just because it was so big. The next step in their beginning.

After dinner, while dessert, a Crème Brulé baked, Herb put on some music, and they danced right there in the kitchen. Herb’s hands around Basil’s waist, Basil’s arms slung over Herb’s shoulders while his eyes locked with Herb’s…it was magical.

“Lila warned me not to tell anyone what a nice person she is.”

“Everyone knows. She just likes to pretend to be an old codger.”

“I was convinced that first day. The veneer wore off quickly, though.”

Basil was done with the small talk as he stopped the dance and pulled Herb closer, kissing him deeply until Herb was dizzy. Basil’s hard body was so close to his, so perfectly lined with his, that missing piece back in place once more.

When that kiss ended, Herb turned off the oven and told Basil, “dessert can wait.”

“We’ll need the energy later.”

“Oh? Plan on wearing me out, are ya?”

“You know it.”

They went up the stairs hand in hand, Basil’s blush deepening with each step. That told Herb his thoughts were of them bare and in bed, making love until the morning crept over the horizon.

The door closed behind them, and Basil pulled off his black polo shirt. The man never wore especially tight clothes, so Herb did not know what great shape he was in. His six-pack and chiseled chest were mouth wateringly beautiful, all in that light fawn color skin.

Herb moved to him, running his hands over his front, smiling as he felt each little ripple. “You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you. I want to be beautiful for you.”

That choked him up a little. The thought of a guy wanting to look his best for Herb? He didn’t think people still ever felt that way. “I hope I’m as beautiful for you.”

“I know you are.”

As Basil unbuttoned Herb’s shirt, his blush left his face. Like he knew he was going to make love with Herb, and there was no more shyness about it. Certainty and need replaced wonder and hope.

Basil’s lips traced down Herb’s bare torso as Basil sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers nimbly unfastening Herb’s khakis. As they slid down his legs, Basil nestled his mouth and cheek against Herb’s straining cock that threatened to rip right through his tan briefs.

“Baby, God, you’re making me crazy.”

“That’s the point,” Basil said with a chuckle.

Herb gently pushed Basil onto the bed and hurried to get his jeans off, then pulled his briefs down to see his glorious cock, dark, long and uncut. It was as beautiful as the man himself.

“Damn, that looks good enough to eat.”

“I wouldn’t complain.”

He didn’t want to just dive into sucking the man’s beautiful dick.

Not with the rest of that body there for the taking.

He moved up to Basil’s mouth and kissed him slowly, seductively, making sure his intentions were clear.

Herb wanted to taste him, all of him, but it had to start there, with his mouth, those fully, succulent lips.

His next tasted of fresh air and the slightest hint of cologne. Down his chest, he began to smell of a man, the pheromones emitting from that hard chest. Over each nipple, Herb grazed his teeth, licking the tips, suckling, then starting all over again.

Down the line that started between Basil’s pectoral muscles, down between the muscles of his six-pack where there was a thin line of hair that led to his pubic hair. He traced that line and then he started to lick and suck the long the shaft of Basil’s cock.

The moaning wasn’t overly loud, but it rang in Herb’s ears, as it meant he was giving the man pleasure. His entire goal in life, from that moment on, he knew, would be that. Giving Basil pleasure, making him smile.

That was his life, that smile. Oh, it was obvious long before he’s felt the man in his bed that he was falling deeply in love with him. Basil was special, and no one person that knew him could deny that.

As Basil’s hips rolled, his hands grasped gently at Herb’s face, threading fingers through his hair. The sweat that already was gathering on Herb’s flesh was matched only by Basil’s, that salty, delicious sheen that was the only thing to take his mouth from the cock onto the rest of his flesh.

Basil’s legs opened as he pulled Herb up to his mouth again, kissing him while keening, his fingertips digging into the flesh of his back, and he begged as their mouths separated for a heartbeat’s length of time, “In me. I need you inside me.”

That was exactly what Herb wanted too. To be inside Basil, closer than he’d been with anyone. Still, there was one thing he hadn’t tasted, and that had to come first. “Turn over first. I want to make sure you’re nice and stretched for me.”

“Herb…I don’t know if I can take more!”

“You will. You’re tough.”