Heat Wave: Newark by Drew Hunt

Impulsive was twenty-four-year-old Aaron Jones’s middle name.

As soon as Ben Knight, the big hairy trucker, had shut off his engine and unbuckled his seatbelt, the words, “This is kinda like the place that time forgot,” were barely out of his mouth when Aaron acted.

Aaron undid his own seatbelt and launched himself on top of Ben. Aaron’s arms and legs wormed their way around Ben’s oh-so-wide flannel-clad trunk and his mouth clamped onto Ben’s beard-framed lips, muffling the man’s protest.

For the past hour or so Aaron had engaged Ben in conversation, liking what he heard but mostly using the exchanges as an excuse to perv on the big man’s body. Ben ticked every one of Aaron’s boxes. Ben was big, had a solid, wide frame, and a broad chest and soft belly. His forearms were hairy and, from what Aaron could see of the fur sprouting from his open shirt collar, he had a hairy chest, too. Best of all, Ben was kind, gentle, and totally oblivious of just how out-of-this-world hot he was. Hell, there was a heat wave going on outside but as far as Aaron was concerned, Ben out-heated the weather by several degrees.

“What the?” Ben said, finally pulling free of Aaron’s questing tongue and readjusting his baseball cap that had become partially dislodged.

Aaron produced his most winning smile. He’d often been told his smile could get him out of sticky situations, and now was his chance to prove that theory. This three-hundred pound bear could do Aaron serious damage, but Aaron’s gaydar was infallible. Ben was gay, and Aaron was sure the guy hadn’t had much experience. Certainly not with members of the same sex. Aaron was totally willing to change that last part. It was his duty, his pleasure. Heck, it’d be an honour to awaken the giant.

Licking his lips, Ben’s rich, full, earthy taste lingering on his tongue, Aaron said, “Could tell you needed a hug.”

“Some hug,” Ben said, sounding dazed, his warm, brown eyes unfocused.

“Yeah, well, in for a penny, in for a pound.”

Ben returned the hug, the grip so tight, Aaron feared his ribs would crack.

Aaron moved his right hand up to caress Bens’ cheek. His fingertips brushed the man’s beard, which felt surprisingly soft. “It’s okay, Big Ben, I got ya.” Although not very original, Aaron was proud of the nickname he’d thought up. It so fitted the man who sat in his driver’s seat like a king, all big and macho and furry and…

“Didn’t you say you had to use the john?” Ben asked, breaking Aaron’s newest favourite fantasy, that of marvelling at his good fortune at being picked up on the side of the road by this amazing person.

Ben’s words were like a trigger to Aaron’s bladder, which resumed its I need to be emptied, now! messages with increased urgency.

“Uh, yeah. It’s your fault for making me drink all that Gatorade.”

“Didn’t want you passing out on me or anything.”

Aaron had been pretty dehydrated. He’d not been standing by the on-ramp to the interstate long, but the heat and humidity had made him sweat.

Aaron smiled. “My knight in shining armour riding to my rescue on his white charger.”

Ben scoffed. “More like fat trucker in his black Freightliner picking you up before the traffic cops did. You can’t hitch on the interstate in Georgia”

The messages from his bladder escalated to red alert, so Aaron gave Ben a quick peck on the lips, slid off Ben’s lap toward the driver’s door, and began to fiddle with the latch.

“You could get out your side,” Ben said, reseating his cap before pulling the correct handle on the door to open it.

“This side’s hotter,” Aaron returned, smiling over his shoulder at Ben.

“Yeah, sorry about the A/C being on the fritz. Like I said, hopefully the garage at South of the Border will have some Freon.”

It was Ben with the whole trucker-bear thing going on that made the cab hot. But Aaron needed the loo too urgently to spend time correcting Ben’s wrong assumptions. Sure, the lack of air conditioning made things a bit sweaty, but Aaron had grown quite attached to the odour of sweaty man bear.

Door open, Aaron stepped out onto the running board and looked down at the cracked, broken, and pitted tarmac. Pretending a fear of heights, he said, “It’s such a long way down.”

“Turn around and go down the steps backward.”

Aaron did as he was told.

“That’s right, take hold of the grab handles and feel the steps with your feet.”

Aaron nodded and continued his descent. “Thanks,” he said once he reached the ground.

Dancing in place, Aaron looked up at Ben, hoping the big trucker was coming down and wouldn’t be abandoning him and driving off while he was taking care of business.

“What are you waiting for? The facilities, such as they are, are back there.” Ben pointed to a building behind his rig.

Aaron turned, biting his lip, his pee-pee dance ever more frantic. About fifty yards away stood a low, single-storey, cement-block, graffiti-scrawled building that had certainly seen better days.

Aaron was about to ask Ben if he’d wait, when the man said, “I should probably drain my tank, too, while we’re here. Don’t want you getting lost, this being a strange country to you and all.”

Despite having lived and worked in the States for over a year, Aaron hadn’t lost much of his cockney accent. Many Americans mistook him for Australian, however. Looking up at Ben, he said, “My knight in shining armour, wanting to protect me from all the big, scary bandits who’d raid the bogs while I was weak and defenceless with my trousers down.”

“Yeah, right.”

Aaron hadn’t known Ben long but already felt a connection to the guy, which he was sure went beyond the physical.

Aaron watched Ben expertly heave himself out of the cab, lock the door, and move down the steps. Aaron took in the worn cowboy boots, faded Wranglers, red and black checked flannel shirt, and blue baseball cap. His eyes sank back to Ben’s full, round and oh-so-edible arse. For such a big man, Ben walked with effortless grace, like a grizzly bear, Aaron mused.

Aaron wanted to rush up and give the big man a hug. Even though there was no one else around, this was the South, and Aaron sensed Ben wouldn’t be comfortable with public displays of affection. Reading between the lines of their earlier conversation, Aaron seriously doubted Ben had received any affection, public or otherwise, in a long time.

“Thought you were desperate to go? Ben asked, turning around from several feet away and regarding Aaron with a bemused expression.

“Uh, yeah,” Aaron said, snapping himself out of his musings. “Was just admiring the view.”

Ben laughed, but it was without humour. “Nothing to look at. This park used to be pretty nice but the druggies and guys out cruising moved in. The cops come by every so often, but…” He shook his head sadly.

Aaron chose not to correct Ben’s assumption as to what scenery Aaron had been looking at.

As they walked down the side of Ben’s rig, Aaron having to take three steps to every two of Ben’s, Aaron observed, “Wow, didn’t realise you were so tall.”

Ben shrugged his massive shoulders. “Yeah, lumbering lummox, that’s me.”

Aaron frowned and was going to correct Ben, but decided it would be better to change the subject. “What’re you hauling?” Aaron was sure Ben had already told him, but he couldn’t remember.

“Lumber. From Tallahassee. Taking it up to Maine.”

“You live in Maine.” Aaron was sure Ben had told him that.

“Yup.” The big man nodded.

They’d reached the outer door of the toilet block by this point, and Ben, gentleman that he was, held it open for Aaron.

“Why, thank you, kind sir.” Aaron wrinkled his nose at the hot, humid stench of stale piss. “God, what a pong!”

Ben chuckled. “It was either here or in the woods.”

Aaron would have asked if bears pissed as well as shit in the woods, but he needed to do the former too desperately.

The urinal was an ancient and battered galvanised trough. Aaron didn’t care about how primitive the facilities were, he was just relieved to reach them before pissing his pants. He pulled down the tab of his zip, fished out his dick, and began squirting almost before he’d taken aim.

Sighing in relief, Aaron returned to their conversation of earlier. “Surely you taking lumber to Maine is like hauling coals to Newcastle.”

“Excuse me?” Ben turned slightly to Aaron, the latter getting a good view of Ben beginning to unzip.

The sight of a big man handling his clothed goodies had Aaron’s mind wandering momentarily. Then he remembered. “Don’t you have plenty of timber, uh, lumber in Maine already?” Aaron’s knowledge of US geography wasn’t the best, but he thought they had forests in New England.

“Florida has trees with softer wood. It’s mostly hard wood up in Maine.” No doubt unaware Aaron could see what he was doing, Ben had finished unzipping and fished out a sizeable trouser snake.

Without missing a beat, Aaron observed, “Yes, I can see that.” At Ben’s look of incomprehension, dick still in hand, Aaron added, “Hard wood. From Maine, where you’re from.”

Ben might not have gotten the joke, but his cock sure did, because it started to stiffen at the attention being paid to it.

Aaron chuckled. “I was right to call you Big Ben.”

Ben went a delicious shade of red and turned away.

Aaron was about to apologise for making the man uncomfortable, when he heard someone enter the bathroom.

Ben took a couple sideways steps from Aaron, finished pissing, then put himself away. Aaron did the same and looked up at the newcomer, a thin guy in his mid-fifties. The man gave Aaron a knowing smirk and then turned his attention to Ben, who had moved to the sinks.

The man’s look of hungry interest had Aaron’s hackles rising and a voice in his head shouting, oh, hell no! I saw him first! Out loud, he said, “These sinks are disgusting.” Aaron placed himself between the newcomer and Ben. “Come on, we’ll use the hand wipes in the cab.” He put a hand in the small of Ben’s back and applied gentle pressure to get him moving.

Ben looked momentarily confused but allowed himself to be guided back outside. “How did you know I had wipes?”

“Because you’re organised with stuff like that.” In truth Aaron hadn’t known, but had said the first thing that came into his head that would get Ben out of the way of the letch.

Not wanting to move his hand from Ben’s flannel-clothed back, but fearing the big guy would become uncomfortable at the prolonged contact in public, Aaron let his arm fall to his side.

“Why’d you rush us out of there?”

Aaron decided to be honest. “That guy was eyeing you up.”

Ben laughed and shook his head. “Yeah, right. He was probably looking at you.”

They reached the cab and Ben got in at the driver’s side and leaned over to unlock the passenger door for Aaron.

Before Ben could buckle himself in, Aaron had climbed over to Ben’s seat and straddled the man’s lap once again. “That bloke was definitely checking you out.”

Ben shook his head. “Nobody checks me out.”

“I’ve been checking you out ever since St Marys.” Aaron delivered the sweetest, softest, and most tender kiss to Ben’s lips.

* * * *

Ben rubbed his eyes. “Can you reach into the glove box and pull out my shades?”

“Sure,” Aaron said, relishing the prospect of going through the man’s belongings. He was nosey that way, something his mother had told him off about many times.

The glove compartment was stuffed full of paper—old diesel receipts, takeout menus, napkins and…his fingers closed around something smooth, flat, and plastic. He knew it was a DVD case. “What have we here? Trucker porn maybe?”

Ben snorted.

Aaron pulled the box out. “Scooby Doo?” He held it up for Ben to see.

“Got it for my nephews.”

“Uh huh.” Aaron bet it was actually Ben’s, it wasn’t sealed in cellophane or anything. Was there a DVD player in the back?

“My shades?” Ben prompted.

“Oh, yeah, sorry.” Aaron resumed his search and soon pulled out a pair of Ray-Ban wrap around glasses. “Hot!”

“Yeah, right,” Ben said, taking the sunglasses from Aaron and putting them on. “Much better.”

“Definitely!” Aaron said, drinking in the sight. It reminded him of a character in a porn movie he’d seen where the guy lounged back in a blue dressing gown while eating grapes and…

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Ben said, turning his head briefly to Aaron.

Far from embarrassed at being caught staring, Aaron said, “Great idea!” and whipped out his phone. “Just look this way for a second…That’s it. God, you’re so hot. Can I get one with you being all tough and stern, and—”

“Knock it off!”

“Great!” Aaron tapped the shutter icon a couple more times. “God, my friend will be so jealous.”

“I doubt it,” Ben muttered, turning on his turn signal before changing lanes.

“Oh, she is, she said so.” Aaron tapped out another message and attached the latest pictures.

“Excuse me?”

Aaron bit his lip. He hadn’t meant to let on that earlier he’d surreptitiously taken a few pictures of Ben and sent them off.

“Sorry. Probably shouldn’t have done it without asking you. But Tammy’s cool. She won’t pass on the pics.” At least Aaron hoped she wouldn’t.

Ben grunted.

“She said you look like a nice man.”

Ben grunted again, this one sounding more dismissive.

In actuality Tammy had said Ben was a hunk of prime beefcake and she hoped Aaron would get a chance to snuggle with the big teddy bear that night.

Aaron fidgeted and felt the urge to fill the uncomfortable silence. “Tammy works the customer support desk at the company in Florida where I used to work. She’s about the only friend I made there.” Aaron grinned. “She’s good people.”

This time Ben’s grunt sounded more encouraging.

“Her only fault is she asks too many damn questions.” Aaron wasn’t going to tell Ben what she’d asked about him.

Ben scratched his beard and grunted again. This time it seemed to say, “I know the type.”

Aaron was proud of himself for being able to translate bear speak. “My first morning at work she extracted my entire life history.”

“Huh.”

Aaron was saved from having to translate that by his phone vibrating. It was a message from Tammy which concluded with an emoticon that indicated she was green with envy. Aaron smiled, replied with a teddy bear and a stuck out tongue emoticon, and slid his phone back into his pocket.

“I’ll miss her.” Aaron sighed. She was the only thing he’d miss about that awful company.

Aaron yawned. Even with the efforts of the small dashboard fan, the temperature inside the cab was climbing ever higher. It didn’t help that he hadn’t slept much the night before. So Aaron found himself nodding off, before jerking awake and apologising to Ben.

“You don’t have to keep saying you’re sorry. If you want to sleep, then tilt back your seat and go to sleep.”

“You don’t mind?” Aaron thought it was his job to keep Ben amused—hadn’t that been why the guy had picked him up in the first place?

“I’ll put the radio on low. Should still be able to pick up a few Savannah stations. That should keep me awake.”

Aaron wondered what type of music Ben liked. He watched Ben scan the frequencies and settle on something country. Aaron wrinkled his nose; country was so not his thing. However, Aaron saw how the twangy steel guitars made the corners of Ben’s mouth turn up in a smile and his fingers tap out the rhythm on the steering wheel. Aaron closed his eyes, reclined his seat, and did his best to block out the singer’s voice. No doubt he was bemoaning the loss of his job, his woman, his truck, and his dog all before lunch.

The song changed and Aaron paid more attention because this guy was singing about riding on his big green tractor. The mental imagery of a farmer riding a big vehicle had its appeal. Aaron grinned to himself. He liked men controlling big pieces of equipment. Farmers were nice, cowboys even nicer, but both worked in the outdoors. Aaron was a city boy through and through and didn’t do outdoors.

Of course they had lorries and tractors back home in the UK. They pretty much had everything back home they had in the states, but everything in America was done on a bigger scale. That was one of the reasons why, after university, Aaron had sought employment in the States. Plus, he wanted to get away from his mollycoddling parents and prove to them he could make a worthwhile career in computing and not just sit in his bedroom for the rest of his life writing and playing video games.

However, after a year of bullshit from his employer, not being awarded the raise he’d been promised and not receiving the recognition he’d deserved for his work, Aaron had told his boss to go fuck himself and stormed out of the building. Before flying home to London, tail between his legs, Aaron decided to see a bit of the US first. That had been another bone of contention with his boss—the jerk hadn’t given Aaron the vacation time he’d been owed, making vague noises about unexpected workload and unfavourable markets. It was complete bullshit.

Rather than flying home from Orlando, Aaron decided to take a road tour of the country he’d fallen in love with. He’d hitch rides up the Eastern Seaboard, preferably with big, sexy truckers, and fly back from Newark. And the truckers didn’t come much bigger or sexier than Ben. Aaron drifted off to sleep, to fantasies of being held tight in Ben’s arms as the big bear made sweet, tender love to him.

* * * *

Aaron’s journey out of Florida had taken him longer than he’d planned. He thought with the heat people would be heading north to escape it. They were, but not many were interested in giving a lonely hitchhiker a lift. It’d taken him two days to get as far as St Marys, Georgia. His last ride had been with Petal Blossom and Eagle Sky, a weird but friendly older hippy couple driving a rusty VW camper van, the interior of which smelled of a mixture of fresh tomatoes and burned tea leaves. Aaron was no fool. He knew it was marijuana, but as the old couple didn’t let on or smoke the stuff in front of him, he stayed dumb.

They dropped him off at a diner just off the interstate where Aaron ate a late breakfast and then slowly walked back toward the interstate.

But the intolerable heat and humidity made him sweat, and the small bottle of water he’d bought at the diner was soon gone. His arm was getting tired, not to mention his feet.

A jeep slowed and Aaron picked up his backpack and began to walk toward the hot Tarmac. The passenger’s window rolled down and Aaron heard a wolf whistle. A whisper of air-conditioned air passed over his face.

“Hey, mate, thanks for stopping,” Aaron panted, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his arm.

“Fuck, we thought you were a chick!” a college-age guy from inside the jeep said.

“Uh, no?” Okay, he wasn’t overly tall at five feet seven, slender in build, had long blond hair tied up in a man bun to keep it off his face and neck, and maybe his facial features were a bit on the androgynous side.

The window wound up and the jeep sped away, its tyres squealing.

“Fucking bastards!” Aaron yelled, waving his fist at the rapidly departing vehicle. “Hope your straight dicks drop off from dipping them in some diseased cunt!”

Just then he heard the hiss of air brakes from behind. He turned around, clenched fist morphing into friendly raised thumb. A huge black lorry was stopping. Aaron plastered on a smile, but held his hopes in check, just in case this was another bust.

The huge vehicle stopped and seconds later the passenger door opened. “Get in before the cops pick you up!” a guy wearing a baseball cap said before pulling his head back inside.

Not quite believing his luck, Aaron shrugged and started to clamber up the steps into the cab. “Thanks, mate. I was dying out there.”

The driver was big, like huge, flannel shirt covering wide shoulders and a full belly. And a faded pair of Wranglers did their best to contain a wide waist, fat thighs, and a large crotch bulge. Aaron was in lust!

“Hot!” Aaron whistled before he could stop himself.

“It’s the humidity,” the driver said. “Come on, close that door. I’m not supposed to stop on the on ramp.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, sorry.” Aaron pulled his holdall inside the cab and slammed the door.

“Sorry the A/C is busted,” the driver said, getting them underway. He took a meaty paw off the wheel for a second and pointed to an oscillating dashboard fan. “That ain’t up to much, but it’s better than being deafened by having the windows open.”

“No worries, mate,” Aaron said, unable to believe his luck at being picked up by this…god-like bear of a man.

“You’re a long way from home,” the man said once they’d reached the interstate proper and were cruising at a steady speed.

“Uh, yeah. But I’m going back there, home I mean. From Newark. How far can you take me?”

“All the way.”

Several delicious come-backs to that comment sprang to mind, but Aaron bit them back.

Before he could form a suitable response, the driver said, “Haven’t picked up an Aussie before.”

Aaron let out a groan. “I’m from London.” Just in case the guy didn’t know, he added, “That’s the capital of England.” Aaron realised he might be sounding ungrateful for the lift, so quickly made a joke. “This is, or was St Marys, Georgia and I was born near St Mary-Le-Bow. Didn’t realise St Mary got around so much.” At the man’s lack of comprehension, Aaron explained how a true cockney was born within the sound of Bow bells.

The man grunted, which Aaron took as understanding.

Aaron thought he better move to safer ground. “Sorry, forgive my rudeness. I’m Aaron, Aaron Jones.”

The driver then volunteered his name as Ben Knight.

“Pleased to meet you, Ben Knight.” Aaron would have shaken the man’s hand but they were on the wheel, so contented himself by patting the guy’s upper arm. And so what if he was copping a quick feel? He loved big arms, and in spite of the belly fat, Ben had decent biceps.

* * * *

“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. We’re here,” Ben said, shaking Aaron’s arm.

Aaron opened one eye and saw Ben leaning over him, within kissing distance. Stretching his arms, he asked, “You think I’m beautiful?”

Ben looked uncomfortable and started to withdraw.

Aaron sat up and put his hands on Ben’s shoulders. “I think you’re pretty bloody hot, too.” He levered himself up and kissed Ben squarely on the lips, disturbing the baseball cap.

Ben pulled back, straightened his hat, and said, “Knock that shit off!” Ben wiped his mouth and glanced out of the windscreen. “Someone could see.”

Aaron doubted it, they were pretty high up. But when he chanced a peek out of the window he saw another lorry parked to their right. Fortunately the cab appeared empty. “Sorry.” Aaron rubbed at his eyes. He was still exhausted. The heat didn’t help. “Where are we?”

Ben had resumed his seat. “North Carolina. We can get a shower here, then I’ll gas up the rig, see about getting the A/C looked at then we’ll eat.”

Aaron smelled his pits and wrinkled his nose. Then his stomach rumbled. Putting on a fake American accent, he said, “Sounds like a plan, good buddy.”

Ben got up and crawled between the seats, searching for something in what Aaron assumed was the sleeper compartment.

“You have a fine arse, mate.”

“Aaron!” Ben warned.

“Sorry.” He’d have to be more careful, Ben wasn’t used to this level of teasing. But Aaron was serious. Ben’s arse was big and wide and soft and just so strokeable.

Ben shot up and hit his head on something. “Ouch! Aaron, I mean it. Quit messing around. People can see.”

Aaron took Ben’s words to mean they could mess about when no one could see.

* * * *

“What?” Ben asked when Aaron pushed Ben’s shower cubicle door open just before Ben closed it.

Aaron grinned. No way was he showering alone, not when shortly there’d be a naked and wet trucker nearby for the perving on. Aaron was about to say as much when he remembered his promise to go softly with the gentle bear. Putting on what he hoped was an embarrassed expression, he said, “Don’t want to shower by myself, not with all these rough-looking trucker-types about.” Aaron hoped the statement would bring out Ben’s seemingly in-born protective instincts.

Ben rolled his eyes but opened the door wider to admit Aaron. Okay, Ben might not have believed him, but it got him what he wanted, so all was good.

“My big strong protector,” Aaron said, standing on tiptoe to peck Ben on the lips.

Ben took a step back and Aaron took a step forward. As they were in a relatively confined space, it didn’t take long before Ben ran out of room to escape.

“Relax, Big Ben,” Aaron whispered, running his hands down Ben’s chest. “No one can see us in here.” Aaron’s hands moved up to caress Ben’s wide shoulders.

Ben shook his head. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“Not when it comes to touching you. Come on, get this sexy shirt off so I can see the sexy body underneath.”

“Not sexy,” Ben whispered, removing Aaron’s hands from the front of his shirt. “And not so loud. Folks might not be able to see, but they can still hear.”

Aaron made a zipping motion across his lips but almost immediately broke his promise by letting out a low moan of admiration when he started to unbutton Ben’s shirt to reveal a rug of curly brown hair. “So soft,” he said, running his fingertips through Ben’s chest hair.

“I’m a freak.”

Aaron put a finger to Ben’s lips. “No talking, remember?” Plus Aaron couldn’t disagree more about Ben being a freak. “Now for your lower half.”

Aaron was something of an expert at getting into men’s trousers. He was on his knees, had Ben’s belt buckle released, waistband unbuttoned, and fly unzipped within a couple of seconds. He may not have beaten his personal record, but his actions were fast enough that he had his hand on the prize before Ben could tell him to stop.

“You are a big boy,” Aaron whispered before kissing the partially exposed head of Ben’s dick.

Ben jerked his hips backward, but as he’d already been backed into a corner, there wasn’t anywhere for him to go. “Knock it off!” he hissed.

“He talking to me or you?” Aaron whispered to Ben’s dick, which had started to stiffen. “Let’s ignore him, he’s a real killjoy, ain’t he?” Aaron licked the crown and then kissed it. “Can’t call you Little Ben because you aren’t little. I know, I’ll call you Ben Junior or B.J. for short. Get it?” He chuckled and kissed B.J.’s head once again.

“Aaron!” Ben said, trying to fend the man off.

Aaron let out a frustrated breath, sat back on his haunches, and looked up at Ben. “Okay, okay, I’ll behave.” Under his breath he muttered, “Like I said, killjoy.”

Aaron stood and rapidly stripped off his own clothes then let down his hair. Glancing over to see how Ben was doing, he saw that the man was standing stock still. However, B.J. was rising steadily. Ben must have realised what he was or wasn’t doing and quickly dropped his jeans and underpants to the tiled floor. He bent to pick his clothes up and put them in his duffle bag.

When Ben turned to enter the shower proper, it was Aaron’s turn to be frozen in place.

Ben’s arse had been magnificent clad in denim, out of it the two mounds of flesh were a work of art. Full, round, hairy, and totally lickable. Aaron snapped out of his trance long enough to realise Ben hadn’t taken off his cap.

Rather than say anything and risk upsetting Ben even further, Aaron reached up, snatched the cap from Ben’s head, and gasped.

Ben ducked his head, showing Aaron more of his head. It was completely free of hair. “Sorry,” Ben said quietly.

“Huh?” Then Aaron realised. Ben was embarrassed. Oh, hell, no! Aaron reached up to gently grasp the sides of Ben’s head and tilt it to his level to kiss it repeatedly. He followed this with tender caresses with his fingertips. “Totally hot,” he said quietly. “You’ve quite literally kept this under your hat.”

“Started going bald when I was thirty. Tried a comb over but that looked stupid, as did a wig. So I shaved it all off.”

“And it really suits you.”

Ben shook his head, dislodging Aaron’s fingers.

Aaron took hold of Ben’s head once again and gently jerked it up and down to imitate a nod. And to reinforce his point, Aaron took Ben’s right hand and curled the fingers over his achingly hard dick.

For the first time since they met, Ben initiated a kiss. And what a hungry, devouring kiss it was. By the time their lips parted, Aaron was panting for breath. Barely had Aaron had time to fill his lungs before he was crushed to Ben’s naked chest. Despite both of them being hard, it didn’t seem to Aaron to be an erotic clench.

“Come on, Big Ben, let’s shower before they come in here wanting to know what’s up.” Aaron turned on the spray. Moments later he reached up to run a hand over Ben’s now wet scalp. “At least you don’t have to spend money on hair products.”

Ben chuckled. “There is that.”

They showered in almost complete silence, just content to touch and occasionally kiss. Ben insisted on washing Aaron’s hair, twice, and Aaron returned the favour by scrubbing Ben’s back.

After they dried off, Aaron got out his hairdryer, turned it on low, and aimed it at Ben’s chest.

“Quit it”! Ben said, trying to snatch the hairdryer.

But Aaron dodged out of the way and soon Ben gave in and permitted his chest hair to be blow-dried.

Turning off the machine, Aaron stood on tiptoe and kissed Ben’s pouty lips. “Do you know how sexy that look is?”

Ben shook his head.

“Well it is. Want to dry my hair now?” Normally Aaron hated people messing with his hair, but he knew how much Ben liked washing it, so thought he’d let the guy dry it, too.

Ben took the hairdryer and a brush Aaron gave him, and spent the best part of ten minutes on his task. When Aaron reached for a scrunchy to put up his hair, Ben took it and put it back in Aaron’s bag.

Aaron raised an eyebrow and Ben moved to stand in front of the bag, arms crossed over his chest, looking defiant. It was sexy as hell. Aaron could only assume Ben liked him with his hair down. He could live with that. He was all for making Ben happy.

Silently they dressed in clean clothes—a Florida Gators T-shirt for Aaron and a snug-fitting, western-style blue and white plaid shirt for Ben. Aaron thought the big trucker looked especially sexy in his new outfit.

Judging from the increased noise level coming from the corridor outside, the place was filling up. Ben pointed to himself then at the door. He then raised two fingers and pointed to Aaron, who nodded his understanding.

Ben unlocked and opened the door, closing it quickly behind him. Aaron quietly locked the door and prepared to wait.

“Hey, Benny!” a loud voice exclaimed. “God, man, you’re busting out of that shirt. If you get any fatter you’ll have to start ordering your clothes from Ringling Brothers.”

A few men laughed. Aaron frowned.

A different voice said, “When you walk backward, does your ass beep?”

“Fuck you,” Ben said, sounding dejected, although it was difficult to tell because his words were drowned out by loud laughter.

Aaron refused to listen to any more. He unbolted the door and steamed his way toward the group of four men who’d encircled Ben.

“Hey, who’s this?” one of the men asked.

Aaron went to stand next to Ben. He so wanted to hug the guy, but knew it wouldn’t be appropriate so put his hands on his hips and stared down who he thought was the ringleader. “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” At the man’s look of incomprehension, Aaron continued, “You’re hardly a beanpole. Tell me, does the gravity surrounding your beer belly bend light when you stand outside?”

This got a “Good one,” and an embarrassed chuckle from one of the others, however, the ringleader didn’t look pleased. “You little punk.” The man clenched his fists and took half a step forward.

“Chad, no.” Ben tried to move Aaron behind him, but Aaron wasn’t having any of it.

“Can’t you pick on someone your own size?” Aaron looked around, careful not to get Ben in his sights. “Oh, sorry, there isn’t anyone your size.”

“Come on, Chad, man, let’s shower,” the man standing next to Chad said, taking his arm.

Seeing Ben’s hands on Aaron trying to move him, Chad sneered. “You two fuck buddies or something?”

Before Aaron could come back with a witty comment, Ben said, “He’s a hitcher I picked up this afternoon.”

“So you ain’t fucked him yet?”

“Chad! That’s enough!” Ben was getting riled up. Aaron thought it was incredibly sexy.

But Chad wasn’t finished. “Though if he wants a real man—” He cupped his crotch. “—then he should come over to my rig tonight.”

This got a few hoots from the peanut gallery.

Aaron was about to throw a punch at the arsehole’s mouth, but decided words would be far more cutting. “And where will you be while this real man is in your rig?”

The crowd liked that, but Chad didn’t. “You fucking punk.” Chad fought to get free, but his buddy had a firm hold of him.

Ben had finally succeeded in getting Aaron behind him. Aaron rather liked being manhandled. Poking his head from around Ben, Aaron went in for one final salvo. “If you want a battle of wits with me, Chad, don’t come half armed.”

“Aaron, that’s enough!” Ben moved backward a few steps, putting distance between them and Chad and his cronies. Aaron then found himself in front of Ben, and being propelled down the hallway.

“Hey, Chad,” the man who’d gotten the joke about Chad’s belly proving Einstein’s general theory of relativity, said, “I think he just called you a halfwit.” The man laughed but Aaron didn’t hear any more because Ben had gotten them through a doorway.

Ben stopped and turned on Aaron. “Thanks a bunch.”

Aaron was surprised and hurt at Ben’s anger. He pulled himself up to his full five feet, seven inch height. “No one gets to make nasty comments about your weight.”

Seeming not to have heard, Ben continued, “I see those guys all the time. Now what’re they gonna…” he shook his head and seemed to collect himself. “Aaron, any one of them could have ripped you apart.”

“Yeah, right.” Aaron raised his fists and adopted a boxing stance. “I could have taken ‘em out if you’d have let me at ‘em.”

Ben failed to hide a smile. “Gonna start calling you Scrappy Doo.”

Aaron laughed. “I knew that DVD was yours.”

“Yeah, and I’d have got away with it if it wasn’t for you pesky kid.”

They were attracting attention, but Aaron didn’t care. He knew that he and Ben were cool again. That made him so happy.

“Restaurant’s over there.” Ben pointed. “You go sit down, give me your bag, and I’ll take it back to the rig. I’ll gas her up and see about getting the A/C charged.”

“No, I’ll go with you.”

“There’s no point in us both getting hot and sweaty.

There was a delicious come back to that, but Aaron thought he’d pressed his luck enough for right now. “I’ll still go with you.”

Ben shrugged. “I’ll still carry your bag.” He reached for it.

They’d had this discussion when leaving the lorry. Aaron was no weak, defenceless damsel. But this time he relented, knowing it would make Ben happy to get to do the alpha thing. So Aaron handed over his holdall and did his best to keep up with Ben’s long strides.

* * * *

Aaron was chatting about anything and everything that came to mind while Ben pumped diesel. Ben wasn’t responding. Even his usual bear grunts were absent.

“You okay?” Aaron finally asked.

Ben didn’t answer.

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you in front of your friends.”

“They aren’t my friends, just…” Ben shrugged. “Fellow truckers.”

“And if you ask me they’re all idiots. You could do a lot better.”

Ben shrugged again. “Not really.”

Aaron hated when Ben got so down on himself. “If their brains were gasoline, between them they wouldn’t have enough to power a piss-ant’s motorcycle halfway around the inside track of a Cheerio.”

Within the span of a couple of seconds, Ben’s face changed from confusion to recognition to happiness. Then he chuckled. “Where do you get these sayings?”

It was Aaron’s turn to shrug. He just had a quick mind and he enjoyed amusing himself and others whenever he got the chance.

Ben withdrew the nozzle and stood for a moment, huge hose in hand. Aaron’s mind instantly came up with a couple of sexually charged quips but he decided to keep them to himself. Ben was easily embarrassed by such talk and Aaron didn’t want to make the guy uncomfortable so soon after cheering him up.

* * * *

While the truck’s A/C was being worked on, the two men decided to go eat. Despite claims to the contrary, Mexican food in Britain just didn’t taste authentic. Ben had told him South of the Border was famous for its Mexican menu so Aaron chose tacos. From the first bite Aaron knew the reputation was deserved.

The two were sitting opposite each other in a booth next to a window. Aaron was just glad to be inside where it was cool. Ben’s happy mood of earlier had evaporated and he’d withdrawn into himself.

“Ben?”

The big man continued to absent-mindedly play with the lettuce on his plate. Ben had been insistent all he wanted was a plain garden salad.

“Ben.” Aaron lightly caressed the man’s left hand, which rested on the table.

Finally Ben looked up. “If you think Chad’s gut can bend light, what would mine do?”

Aaron wished he hadn’t said what he had to Chad, because Ben was larger than Chad. Speaking softly so they couldn’t be overheard, Aaron said, “Your big belly makes me hard.”

Ben grimaced and set down his fork.

Aaron grasped both of Ben’s hands. He guessed to the casual observer it would look like they were praying. “It makes me feel safe and protected when I’m snuggled up against it.”

There was a ghost of a smile on Ben’s lips, although it didn’t reach his eyes. Aaron determined to do some more convincing later that night when they were alone in the back of the cab.

* * * *

The cab was mercifully cool while Ben was sinfully hot and soft and sexy and…

“You comfortable?” Ben rumbled, running his fingers through Aaron’s long hair.

Aaron lay on top of Ben, his head resting on Ben’s broad naked chest, his right ear over Ben’s steadily beating heart. His left hand played in Ben’s thick carpet of chest hair while his right held Ben’s now-limp dick. Oh, yes, he was comfortable. And what was so amazing, almost unique, was that Aaron felt calm, too. Aaron’s life was always so busy, his analytical mind trying to solve several problems at the same time. But here, wrapped in Big Ben’s arms, the only thing on his mind was how long could they stay like this. Because it was just…perfect.

“Earth to Aaron?” Ben’s fingers in his hair slowed.

“Huh?” Aaron finally remembered the question Ben had asked. He also remembered that an episode of Scooby Doo was on the DVD player. “Shush, they’re about to unmask who’s responsible for scaring everyone away.” At least he assumed they were. He’d been too busy basking in the awesomeness that was Ben Knight to pay the TV much mind.

Ben snorted. “It’s the owner of the amusement arcade.”

Aaron smacked Ben’s right shoulder. “Don’t spoil it!”

Ben chuckled and rubbed Aaron’s back. “It’s always the owner of the amusement arcade.”

Aaron gave Ben’s dick a gentle tug, but it wasn’t interested in more sex, and, to be honest, neither was Aaron. And that was another first. Usually Aaron subscribed to the maxim of wham, bam, thank you, man, before moving on to the next Mr Right Now. But here, with Ben, it was…

“See? I told you it was the amusement arcade owner,” Ben said, accompanied by his stomach letting out a loud grumble.

Aaron rubbed Ben’s stomach. “Hungry?”

“It’ll pass.”

Aaron sighed and reluctantly sat up. “You hardly had anything at dinner.”

Ben shrugged and wouldn’t meet Aaron’s gaze.

“Come on, let’s go back and feed the bear properly.”

Ben didn’t move.

Aaron slid down Ben’s body until his face was level with the man’s complaining belly. “Oh, poor baby.” He kissed the furry flesh. “We can feed you healthy,” he remembered the menu in the restaurant, “relatively healthy food that will satisfy you for longer but won’t have too much fat or sugar. What do you say?” He kissed Ben’s belly again.

“Exactly, I look like I’m pregnant.”

“No you don’t.” Aaron rubbed Ben’s belly. “But, God if you were, what a story. You’d make a mint. Can I be your agent?”

“Very funny.” Ben shifted position. “And I don’t want to go back out in that heat.”

Aaron could tell Ben was weakening. “I’ll make it worth your while when we get back here.” He slid down further and kissed Ben’s dick, which twitched. “See, B.J.’s up for it.”

Ben snorted, sat up, and pulled Aaron into a hug. Kissing Aaron on the forehead, he said, “You’re something else.”

Precisely what, Aaron didn’t know, and was strangely shy about asking.

They began to straighten their clothing, Aaron unhappy to see Ben covering his belly by buttoning up his shirt.

“You’d be a lot cooler and look a lot hotter if you left this undone,” Aaron said, staying Ben’s hands.

“Don’t want everyone to lose their appetite by having to look at my fat, hairy gut.

Aaron shook his head, he wished Ben could see what he could see. One sexy as fuck, well-fed bear. But convincing the man otherwise would take way too long, and Ben’s stomach needed to be fed.

* * * *

“This will give me gas,” Ben grumbled, looking balefully down at his bowl of soup.

Aaron laughed. “No it won’t.”

“It’s a small cab and an even smaller bed.”

Aaron grinned. He knew that very well. There wasn’t much room on a twin mattress when you were sharing it with a three hundred pound bear. Ben had earlier offered to pull down the spare bunk bed, but Aaron swiftly rejected that idea. He wanted/needed up close with Ben. “It’ll be fine. Now, come on, eat it while it’s hot.”

Aaron was no expert in nutrition, but hopefully the protein from the strips of chicken, kidney beans, and corn would help keep Ben’s hunger in check.

Ben picked up his spoon and gingerly took his first taste. “This isn’t too bad,” he said, smiling over at Aaron through the steam rising from his bowl.

“That’ll be the cumin and the green chilies.” There were also red and green bell pepper.

“Don’t I get any bread with this?”

“Cutting down on the carbs, remember?” So as not to draw attention to himself, Aaron had ordered a small chicken salad. He planned on giving Ben half of it if the big man ate all the soup and still looked hungry.

Although the food was holding most of Ben’s attention, he brought up the subject, again, of Aaron paying for the meal.

“Like I said, you paid for the gas, uh, diesel to get me here.”

“And like I said, I was coming here anyway.”

“No talking with your mouth full.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Ben finished his soup and Aaron pushed across his own plate. “Don’t like the dressing,” he lied.

Turned out Ben wasn’t overly fond either, although it took him until the last bite to decide.

Then Ben’s eyes immediately fell upon the bowl of cut up fruit that Aaron had ordered for him. The waiter had looked somewhat bemused when Aaron had given precise instructions on how the fruit should be prepared.

“This is awesome,” Ben said, spoon digging deep into the bowl. “The honey and fruit juice makes all the difference.”

“I may not know a whole lot, but I do know that bears like honey.”

Ben grunted, shook his head, and carried on eating.

“Got the idea from of all things a western gay romance story.”

Ben raised an eyebrow but kept on shovelling.

“Yeah, I know?” In a curious echo of Aaron’s own situation, the chief protagonist in the story was British and was travelling around the States before flying home. However, unlike Aaron, that guy had picked up two cowboys and became their ranch cook and lover. Aaron couldn’t cook and thought one trucker bear dressed in a western shirt beat two cowboys any day.

“You don’t want dessert?” Ben asked, bowl less than half full now.

“I plan on eating my dessert back in the cab.” Aaron licked his lips suggestively.

Ben went an attractive shade of red, a slice of honey-glazed apple falling off his spoon. “Damn it!” Ben dropped his spoon and plucked the offending piece of fruit off his chest. “This was my last clean shirt,” he said, wiping at the sticky spot with his napkin.

“Told you you should have left it unbuttoned. Would have made for a quick, tasty, and enjoyable clean up.” Aaron licked his lips once again.

Ben’s blush returned. “Knock it off!”

* * * *

On the walk back to the truck, Aaron had pictured the scene—him, Ben, and the bunk, Aaron licking up honey that he’d drizzled on Ben’s hairy chest. He’d bought the honey from the gift store because the squeeze bottle was in the shape of a honey bear. The lighting would be low, there’d be something romantic on the DVD player, but neither of them would be watching it. Reality was somewhat different however. He had the bunk, the low lights, and the honey, but the movie, Paranormal Activity, was definitely not part of Aaron’s plans.

Things started off okay with the movie—flickering lights and doors creaking, but Aaron felt the tension increase when the demon started screeching. Aaron wasn’t some silly, weak damsel in need of protection, but he had to admit he felt a lot better when Ben wordlessly put an arm around his shoulders, pulled him close, and deposited a kiss to his cheek.

Despite the continued solid, reassuring bulk that was Ben, Aaron was creeped the hell out when he saw the woman, Katie, stare for two hours at the sleeping Micah. Logically Aaron knew it was just a movie and he didn’t need to check that no one was watching them, but the impulse to flick his eyes to the right to make absolutely sure was almost overwhelming. But if he took his eyes off the screen, he might miss something important.

Aaron let out an involuntary shiver when, on the screen, the planchette on the Ouija board started to move on its own. Ben rubbed Aaron’s chest, which instantly calmed him. However, Aaron felt cold all over again when Micah sprinkled talcum powder in the hallway and bedroom to detect any alien footsteps.

In the still of the night, the characters heard a creaking noise that woke them. This was followed by a loud tapping which was so unexpected, near, and realistic, Aaron let out an unmanly squeal and hid behind Ben.

Through the pounding in his ears, Aaron heard the tapping again, followed by a voice asking, “Ben, you in there, man?”

The noise wasn’t from the TV. Aaron felt foolish and stupid and…

“Just a minute,” Ben called out, rubbing Aaron’s chest. Aaron was sure Ben could feel his rapidly beating heart. “It’s Seth, one of Chad’s buddies,” Ben said, his voice soft and low.

Aaron nodded his understanding and tried to calm himself. Why had he acted like such a girl?

“You okay?” Ben kissed Aaron’s cheek before rolling off the bunk and doing up the buttons of his shirt. Despite the adrenaline coursing through his body, Aaron still got turned on by the sight of a mostly naked bear attempting to dress.

Ben moved out of the sleeping compartment and drew the curtain closed behind him. Aaron then heard Ben open the driver’s door.

“Sorry, man, did I, uh—”

“What do you want, Seth?” Ben sounded so calm, masterful and self-assured…and really sexy.

Aaron found the remote and turned off the DVD.

“I, uh, came to say I was sorry for earlier, you know with Chad and the guys.”

“Yeah, well.” Ben’s tone held a touch more warmth.

“Look, man, Chad’s an ass, but he didn’t mean none of it. Not really. His girlfriend kicked him out last week and…Well, I got you these, as a, uh, peace offering.” There was the rustling of a paper bag.

“Doughnuts?”

“They’re the ones with the honey glaze that I know you like.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. First Seth, Chad and the others get on Ben’s case about being overweight then they give him sugary and fatty things. Still, Aaron had to admit, it was a nice gesture. And Ben seemed to think so, too.

“Uh, thanks. I’d invite you in, but, uh…”

Seth laughed. “It’s okay, man, I’ll let you and Brendan get back to, uh, whatever. By the way, you’ve got your shirt buttons in the wrong holes.”

Aaron stifled a laugh, not only at Seth getting his name wrong, but also the mental image of Ben improperly dressed.

“Shit!”

Seth laughed again. Despite himself, Aaron was beginning to like the guy. Although maybe Seth ought to be choosier about who he hung out with. But then wasn’t Ben sort of friends with Chad, too?

“Catch up with you next time, huh?” Seth said.

“Yeah, sure. Bye, and thanks.”

“You’re welcome. And take no notice of Chad. He’s an asshole.”

“Yeah.”

Ben shut and locked the door then parted the curtain. Aaron was out of bed to greet the man.

“That was Seth,” Ben said unnecessarily.

“Uh huh. What did you do with the doughnuts?”

Ben rolled his eyes. “Left them up front, out of temptation’s way.”

“And speaking of temptation.” Aaron couldn’t wait any longer to work on the buttons of Ben’s shirt.

“He, Seth I mean, is, uh, not so bad.”

“Yeah?” Aaron would rather concentrate on Ben and getting him naked than think about Seth.

“Seth was the thin one with the red hair and moustache that tried to hold Chad back. You remember?”

Aaron had Ben’s shirt undone and was sliding it off the man’s oh-so-wide shoulders. “So hot.”

“I suppose he is if you like that sort of thing.”

“Oh, I do.” Aaron ran his fingers through the lush carpet of chest hair. Then he remembered what Ben had said. “Huh? Who were you talking about?”

“Seth. Who did you think I meant?”

“You of course.” Aaron kissed Ben’s left nipple. “Although, I suppose Seth is kinda sexy. But he can’t hold a candle to my Big Ben.”

Ben shook his head. “Yeah, right.”

Aaron let out an exasperated huff of air. Just when he thought he’d built up the big guy’s confidence it sank again. Putting a hand behind Ben’s neck, Aaron pulled his head down for a kiss. “My big, brave, protective Ben.”

Ben made a dismissive grunt.

“Yes, you are.” Aaron kissed Ben’s beard. “Remember when we heard Seth tapping at the window and I thought it was the movie? What did you do?”

“What happened to the movie?”

“Got bored with it so turned it off,” Aaron lied. “And don’t change the subject.” Aaron kissed Ben’s neck and the hollow of his throat. “What you did, without even thinking about it, was push me under you.”

“Wonder I didn’t squash you.”

“Oh, Ben.” Aaron laid a trail of gentle soft kisses down the man’s chest. “You went into instant protect mode. Do you have any idea how hot that is?”

“It was only Seth.”

“You didn’t know that,” Aaron insisted, moving down to kiss Ben’s belly and lower to his navel. “And remember just after the shower? You put yourself between me and Chad and his goons.”

“That’s because you sassed them and I didn’t want any trouble.”

“Knight by name and knight by nature.”

Ben let out a dismissive snort, but Aaron had more important things to focus on. He’d reached Ben’s belt. Even though he’d mastered the art of undoing buckles and buttons with his teeth, it took too long, and Aaron was in a hurry. His fingers soon dealt with the fastenings and he was nuzzling in Ben’s pubes. Even though they’d showered earlier that afternoon, Ben’s natural bear musk had had a chance to build up again.

“What are you doing?” Ben asked.

As B.J. was still mostly flaccid, Aaron decided to swallow him whole. He’d show rather than tell Ben what he was up to. After all, actions spoke louder than words.

Ben let out a satisfied if surprised grunt. The man bear had quite an extensive non-verbal vocabulary. Aaron swallowed a few times, bringing forth more contented noises.

B.J. soon reached his full girth and Aaron found his oxygen supply cut off. Pulling back, Aaron took in some much-needed air before sliding back down on Ben’s pole, pressing his nose into the big man’s wiry pubes.

“Oh, God, Aaron,” Ben moaned and tenderly cradled Aaron’s head in his massive hands, his fingertips softly caressing the back of Aaron’s neck. Unconsciously, Ben was demonstrating that he was a gentle giant. “I don’t think I can go another round. I’ve cum three times already today.”

Aaron was determined to make it a fourth. And judging by the jerking tube of flesh in his mouth and throat, B.J. was of a similar mindset.

While he was down on his knees, Aaron decided to take the opportunity to do a bit more exploring. Ben’s body was like an adventure playground. Aaron began by fondling the big guy’s big nuts. This drew moans of approval from above. Ben’s low-hangers sure felt like they had another load in them. Like the rest of Ben, his nut sack was covered in soft brown fur. Aaron couldn’t understand why some guys felt it necessary to shave down there. He much preferred his men in their natural state. Aaron pulled back for some more air. Before going back down again, he took a moment to show some loving to Ben’s cock head by kissing it and working his tongue under the foreskin. He knew he was doing the right thing when he heard satisfied rumblings from Ben’s chest.

One of the first things Aaron had discovered about American men was how so many of them were circumcised. To him the lack of that bit of extra skin just seemed wrong. He was thankful no one had taken a knife to B.J.

Aaron rubbed his hands up and down Ben’s thick thighs. They were solid, strong. But then they had to be to carry around Ben’s big body. Hell, even his knees were sexy. Aaron had never thought himself a leg man before. But Ben’s had him adding them to his list of favourite male attributes.

Aaron’s questing hands moved on and soon found the two generous pillows of furry perfection that were Ben’s arse. Bubble butts were okay, but Aaron preferred something you could get your hands on and massage.

Inevitably Aaron’s fingers gravitated to Ben’s hairy arse crack. He circled a finger around Ben’s pucker, but it remained firmly closed, despite his best efforts to coax it open. He would have used spit to ease his way in, but his mouth was otherwise occupied with B.J. Out of the corner of his eye Aaron spotted the bottle of honey. It would be a bit kinky, probably kinkier than Ben was used to, but…It was there and Aaron couldn’t resist.

“What’re you doing?” Ben asked when a lubed finger breeched his opening.

Aaron had to admit honey didn’t make for ideal lube, although the squishy noises it made as Aaron moved a finger in and out were pretty amazing.

“Oh, God!” Ben jolted.

Aaron smiled around B.J.’s girth, he’d located Ben’s prostate and had given it a quick press.

“Aaron!” Ben yelled and immediately flooded Aaron’s mouth with cum.

Aaron patted Ben’s hip in congratulation. The big guy had managed a fourth time.

“God,” Ben panted. “I think…Oh, God.” Ben pulled out, spit and cum clinging to his dick and forming connecting ropes to Aaron’s mouth. “That was…I don’t know.” Ben lifted his baseball cap and wiped his bald head. “God!”

Aaron got to his feet, satisfied grin firmly in place. “Glad you liked.” He was going to go with, “All part of the service,” but Ben was special, better than most if not all the men Aaron had played with. Not that there were all that many.

“Come here.” Ben pulled him into a fierce bear hug that Aaron feared might result in a cracked rib or two. “Give me a minute to recover then I’ll return the favour. After that we’ll probably need another shower. I’m all sticky. Can’t imagine why.” Ben kissed the top of Aaron’s head. “Who knew you could use honey for lube.” He chuckled.

Ben unhooked the top bunk and lowered it into place. Ben picked Aaron up, kissed him, then with a gentleness that made Aaron’s heart melt, set him on the edge of the bunk, legs dangling over the side. Ben took a step back and just…stared at Aaron.

Aaron shivered at the attention. “What?”

Ben shook his head. “You’re something else, Aaron Jones. I…” Ben shook his head again. “Don’t know what you see in a fat guy like me but—”

“You’re hot, and protective and…”

Ben stepped forward and put a hand over Aaron’s mouth. “Just let me look at you.” He removed his hand and stepped back again. “Perfect. Just perfect.”

Aaron squirmed. He wasn’t used to this level of scrutiny. And the few men who looked at him like this only wanted one thing, to get into his trousers. But Aaron knew Ben was different. The man had already seen all of him and…Ben was just different, more honest, more real, more…

Ben moved forward again and took hold of Aaron’s ankles. Aaron feared…hoped Ben was going to lift them in the air so Ben could fuck him. But all Ben did was gently stroke the skin. “So soft,” he whispered.

With agonising slowness Ben worked his way up Aaron’s legs. It was almost as if the man were mapping Aaron’s body, mentally recording every curve, crease, and depression. Aaron wished Ben would move faster. His dick, straining his briefs, was aching to be touched. He reached forward to adjust himself.

“No.” Ben let go of Aaron’s legs and batted away the man’s hand. “I’ll get to it…eventually.” Ben’s grin was little short of evil.

“Why, you gonna tie me up?” Aaron teased.

Ben’s smile disappeared and was replaced with an expression of shock and discomfort.

“Sorry.” Aaron forgot his gentle Ben wouldn’t be into bondage.

Ben smiled and resumed his steady stroking of Aaron’s shins. Not wanting to upset Ben again, Aaron reached behind himself to clutch at the bare mattress.

What felt like several minutes later and Ben was only up to Aaron’s knees, Aaron let out a whimper. “Ben. I need, just need!”

Ben looked up at him, a tender, calm smile teasing at his full, plump lips. “Hang in there, Scrappy.”

Aaron let out a huff of air. Looking down at Ben, concentrating on his task, Aaron hit upon an idea. Whilst Ben had forbidden Aaron from touching himself, the man hadn’t said anything about touching Ben. Why couldn’t Aaron do some mapping of his own?

Aaron leaned forward and began to run his fingertips across the expanse of Ben’s shoulders. The big man shuddered, but didn’t otherwise object to Aaron’s ministrations.

Eventually Ben reached the tops of Aaron’s legs and grasped the hems of his boxers. Aaron raised up and Ben pulled the garment down and off. Freed from its cotton confinement, Aaron’s dick slapped his belly, leaving a smear of precum in its wake.

With extreme gentleness, Ben took hold of Aaron’s dick and…just held it.

Aaron was about to ask what was wrong when Ben whispered, “Perfect. Just like the rest of you.”

Aaron would have scoffed if anyone else had said that, but he knew Ben meant it. Aaron flushed and swallowed down his rising emotions.

Speaking more to Aaron’s dick than Aaron himself, Ben said, “I know I can’t do as good a job as you did, but I promise to do my best.”

Aaron nodded, even though Ben couldn’t see it. “I know. Thanks,” he croaked.

No, Ben was no expert cocksucker, but what he lacked in experience he more than made up for in commitment. It was almost like the big man was making love to Aaron via his dick.

Aaron’s hands, needing to return the favour somehow, lifted Ben’s ever-present baseball cap from his head and began to caress the smooth flesh. Although if he weren’t careful, the feel and the idea of caressing Ben’s head would have Aaron racing to the finish way too soon.

“Close,” Aaron said, lifting his hands from Ben’s head. Aaron needed to let the big man pull off if he didn’t want a mouthful of spunk.

But the warning only seemed to spur Ben on. He even added an extra bit of suction.

Aaron clamped his hands on Ben’s shoulders. “Oh…oh. Yes,” he whimpered, unconsciously closing his eyes at the overload of sensations.

Ben pulled back, kissed the sensitive tip of Aaron’s dick, then lifted Aaron off the bunk and into his arms for another all-consuming bear hug and kiss. “Thank you.”

Aaron was still riding the waves of pleasure and couldn’t understand why Ben was thanking him. Surely it should be the other way around.

* * * *

Ben was dreaming. He felt warmth, contentment, and something pleasant happening between his legs. He smiled. It was a very nice dream. Unusual because when he was on the road he didn’t sleep that good. The bed wasn’t quite long enough, and, no matter how far away from the main buildings he parked, he was always awakened by the noises of the other truckers going to or from their own rigs. And Ben had to keep half an ear out for people attempting to steal his cargo or siphon diesel from his tanks.

Ben shifted position and bumped against something warm and solid. It made a noise of surprise and Ben felt a sharp pain in his dick.

Then everything came back to him. “Aaron? What’re you doing down there?”

“If I have to tell you then I’ve been doing it wrong.” Aaron groused. “You kneed me in the stomach.”

“Sorry.” Ben reached down and pulled Aaron up until their faces were level. “Hello you.” Conscious of morning breath, Ben delivered a closed-mouth kiss to Aaron’s lips.

“Call that a good morning kiss?” Aaron, in typical Aaron fashion, sprang into action. His tongue parted Ben’s dry lips and swept around, seeming to make contact with everything it could reach in Ben’s mouth.

Pulling back, Ben could see a smirk on Aaron’s face. “Now, that’s a good morning kiss.”

Ben, not normally a morning person, at least not until after his second cup of strong coffee, found himself returning Aaron’s grin. “Might have to keep you around. Sure is great waking up to blowjobs and kisses.” Then Ben’s good mood evaporated. This would be the first and only time he’d be woken with such things. By that night they’d be in Newark and Aaron would be on a plane to England.

Aaron seemed unaware of Ben’s internal crisis because his happy expression remained undimmed. “I knew you knew what I was doing down there. Which reminds me, I need to get back to B.J.” Aaron slid down Ben’s chest, a trail of kisses marking his progress. “Now, big fella, where were we?” Aaron retracted Ben’s foreskin and licked the exposed head.

Ben glanced at the clock on the DVD player—9:23. “Fuck.” He should have been on the road hours ago.

“What?” Aaron asked.

“Uh, nothing.” Ben reached down and ruffled Aaron’s hair. God, the man’s long hair was just so…touchable. “Sorry for interrupting.”

Aaron smirked then resumed his amazing blowjob.

Aaron’s mouth was like a…velvet blender. Ben smiled, yeah, that was a good description.

Ben’s wandering attention finally returned to the clock. He realised he didn’t care that he was behind schedule. Nothing could be better than being blown by a hot twink. No, that was unfair. Aaron was more than a twink. He was a feisty little thing, and Ben just wanted to gather him up, wrap him in bubble wrap, keep him safe, and—Ben ran his fingers through Aaron’s hair—pet him every now and again.

* * * *

Blowjobs received and given, the two lay contentedly on top of the sheets snuggling. It was little short of perfect. But alas Ben’s stomach took that moment to remind him it needed filling. His mind instantly flashed to the glazed doughnuts in the front of the cab but he bet Aaron would object if he suggested eating those as they weren’t exactly healthy. Breakfast in bed wouldn’t work anyway because his bladder was telling him it needed emptying. And that meant getting dressed. “Fuck!”

“Huh?” Aaron lifted his head and looked down at Ben.

“As you would say, I need the loo.” Ben had some plastic piss bottles he would normally use in such circumstances, but he didn’t want to come across as crude in front of Aaron.

“Ah, you can speak proper English then. I’m pleased I’m having a positive effect on you”

“Yeah, right.” Ben rolled his eyes.

Aaron levered himself up, climbed over Ben, and got off the bunk. “Been fixin’ to use the john myself.”

“Ah, you can speak proper English. Glad I’m having a good effect on you.”

“Piss off.” Aaron raised a finger.

Ben eased himself off the bunk, doing so a lot less gracefully than Aaron had. “We might as well take a shower while we’re using the bathrooms,” he said, sniffing his right pit.

“Oh, cool. Wet naked Ben!” Aaron said, leaping at Ben, his hands seemingly everywhere at once.

“Knock it off,” Ben said, fending him off. “You see enough of my naked lard ass.”

“But this’ll be wet and naked bear ass.”

Ben opened the drawer under the bunk. “What to wear.”

Aaron leaned in and rifled through the drawer’s contents.” “You should put on these shorts. It’s too hot for anything else.”

Ben agreed and accepted the Wrangler cut-offs.

“And, oh, my!” Aaron pulled out a denim vest that Ben had forgotten he’d put in there. “You have to wear this. It’d be sooo hot!” Aaron was beginning to sound like the stereotypical twink Ben had refused to label him as earlier.

“Don’t think I have a clean tee.”

“No, no. Just this.” Aaron held it out. “Trust me, you’ll have half the women and about a quarter of the men drooling over you.”

“And the other half and three quarters throwing up at the sight of all this flab.” Ben slapped his belly.

“They’ll get a thump in the gob if they say anything.” Aaron stood, hands on hips, determined look on his face.

Ben’s bladder was sending out more urgent messages. “Okay, Scrappy, calm down.” Given how late in the morning it was, Chad, Seth, and the others would be long gone. Oh, why the hell not! Ben thought, deciding to live dangerously for once. And it’d please Aaron, too. He accepted the vest and put it on.

“Yes!” Aaron pumped his fist in the air. “Hot!” He dressed in rapid style and fished for his phone. “Want a picture of you in that sexy clobber.”

Ben shook his head and slid into his boots. “Come on, let’s go.”

But Aaron was determined. He shot out of the cab and stood in the parking lot, phone held up to his face. “Slowly,” he encouraged. “No, no, put those shades on.”

Ben rolled his eyes again but went back into the cab for the dark glasses. The sun had kinda been in his eyes anyway.

“Great!” Aaron said when Ben stood on the running board. “Look all mean and butch.”

Ben took a look around to see if anyone was watching. Fortunately the rig hid them from view.

“Beat your chest so you look all caveman.”

“Aaron! Knock it off!” Ben turned around and climbed down the steps. Okay, so what if he descended a bit slower than usual and put more of a wiggle in his ass?

“So hot!” Aaron groaned.

Something occurred to him then. Ben turned around and regarded Aaron, phone still held in front of his face. “How come it isn’t making that clicking noise? Haven’t you been taking pictures?” It’d be a relief if Aaron hadn’t.

Aaron lowered the phone. “Uh, I was shooting a movie actually.”

“What?”

“Didn’t think you’d mind. And…” In a much quieter voice he added, “and I thought it’d give me something to remember you by.”

Checking again that no one could see, Ben slung an arm around the smaller man’s shoulders and gave him a one-armed hug.

“If you say no then I won’t, but can I share the video with Tammy? She’d love it and be sooo jealous.”

Ben smiled and shook his head. “Okay, so long as neither of you put it on the Internet. I don’t want folks to know I beat my chest like a caveman on film.”

“But you didn’t.”

“But I will.” Ben grinned, removed his arm from Aaron’s shoulders, then took a couple of steps backward. Aaron raised the phone and Ben pounded his bare chest, letting out what he hoped was a suitably masculine roar.

* * * *

Back on the road after a healthier breakfast than he would have ordinarily eaten, Ben began to brood. By the end of the day he’d be saying goodbye to Aaron, and would no doubt never see the guy again. Aaron was fun, funny and…fuckable. Although by some unspoken agreement they hadn’t gone that far. Was Ben beginning to regret that? He didn’t have any condoms, so unless Aaron did, it wouldn’t have happened anyway.

No, Ben ultimately decided, he didn’t regret not fucking Aaron. It would have somehow cheapened what they had. What did they have? Sure, the snuggling in bed the previous night had been good…hell, it had been great. Ben couldn’t remember connecting with another person so quickly and completely.

In total contrast to Ben’s subdued mood, Aaron was almost bouncing off the sides of the cab, even more excited than usual. Ben imagined it was the prospect of going home. In-between sending frequent texts on his phone, presumably to his friend, Aaron had kept up a steady chatter, Ben grunting when a response seemed required. Thankfully Aaron didn’t appear to notice that Ben wasn’t fully engaged in their conversation.

“Is it okay if I turn on the radio?”

“Sure.” Ben shrugged. “I also got some books on CDs if you want to listen to one of those.” He pointed behind his seat. “They’re in a box back there.”

Sometimes listening to an audiobook helped the miles go by, and more than once Ben had put one on in the evenings. It reminded him of when he was a child and his Gran would read to him before he went to sleep.

“Really?” Aaron leapt out of his seat. “What sorts of books you got? Horny truckers picking up young innocent virgin hitchhikers and having their wicked ways with them?”

Ben snorted. “Not exactly.” He preferred a good mystery or police procedural. A couple times he’d thought about getting a gay romance but always changed his mind. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it’d be too distracting or remind him of what he didn’t have.

Aaron went in back and Ben could hear him searching. He seemed to be there a long time.

“I don’t have that many books to choose from,” Ben eventually called out. “There’s the latest Lee Child. Haven’t listened to that yet.”

Aaron came back from behind the curtain, packet of CDs in one hand, plastic piss bottle in the other. “Is this what I think it is?”

Ben glanced to his right. “Yep, that’s an audiobook.”

“Sarky sod. I meant this bottle. Do you use it to pee in?”

“Yeah, when I’m behind schedule and I don’t want to stop for a bathroom break.” Ben could almost hear the wheels turning in Aaron’s kinky mind. “And, no, I’m not going to show you.”

“Not even if I hold it?”

Ben wondered what Aaron was offering to hold, but didn’t want to know. “No.”

“It’d be so hot.”

“Not happening.”

“Spoil sport.” Aaron waited a couple heartbeats then said, “You should have said you had these things then we could have used them this morning and then maybe eaten those doughnuts for breakfast. That way I could have had more snuggle time with my big teddy bear.”

Ben grunted his agreement.

“But then we wouldn’t have had breakfast in the restaurant and we wouldn’t have seen those people looking and wanting you and—”

Ben snorted. “Knock it off.”

“It’s true. That group of frat boys were so checking you out.”

“Were not.”

“Were too,” Aaron insisted, dropping bottle and CD case on his seat before moving behind Ben. “But my silent glare of ‘hands off! This bear is mine,’ got them to change their minds.” Aaron stroked down Ben’s naked chest, causing the big man to shudder.

“Quit it. I’m driving. And they so weren’t checking me out. They left within a couple minutes of us arriving.”

Aaron removed Ben’s cap, kissed the top of his head, then put the cap back in place. “Only because I’d warned them off. Didn’t you see how they left half their breakfasts?”

“Okay, Scrappy, if you want to think it was you and your death glare that sent them running rather than the breakfast burritos, then I’ll go along with it.”

“Puppy power!”

“Yeah, right.” Ben smiled. He was feeling better. How was Aaron able to do that so easily?

Aaron wrapped his arms around Ben’s shoulders and gave him a quick hug. “Glad you see things my way. See how much easier it is when you do?”

“Yes, dear.”

“God, you’re so hot in that waistcoat and shorts. Your big beefy legs working the pedals and your big beefy arms turning the wheel. Can I feel your biceps while you change lanes or something?”

Was Aaron grinding his crotch into the back of the seat? “Sit down. Do you want me to be in a wreck?”

Aaron snickered. “Do I want you to be erect?”

“Aaron! Knock it off.”

Aaron silently retook his seat. Although it didn’t take him long before he returned to a previous topic. “And if we hadn’t have left the rig this morning, then I wouldn’t have gone to the gift store and seen Little Ben.” He reached down and picked up a foot long teddy bear and hugged it to his chest.

Ben rolled his eyes. Amazingly the bear had been dressed in denim shorts and vest with a T-shirt saying “You Never Had It So Good, South Of the Border.”

When Aaron had got back to the cab, he’d stripped the bear of the tee and put the vest back on, saying, “There, he looks like you.”

Ben had snorted but inwardly was very touched. He had to blink rapidly when Aaron had added that he was going to call the bear Little Ben and that the bear would remind Aaron of Ben when he was back home.

“You gonna start the audiobook or what?” Ben asked, not wanting to dwell on the thought of Aaron leaving.

Aaron popped the first disc into the player and for the next couple of hours they listened to the latest adventures of Jack Reacher.

Every so often Aaron would chip in with how the lead character reminded him of Ben. Each time Ben told him to knock it off.

“I’m serious. Tom Cruise was so miscast in the film. They needed a big sexy dude in the part. And I know which big sexy dude would be so right for it.”

“Yeah, right.” Ben saw road signs advertising a rest stop up ahead. He looked at the clock on the dash. “Wanna stop for lunch?”

“Yeah. Let’s eat those doughnuts in the cab. That way I can spend more time snuggling with my big sexy bear and trying to convince him that he needs to head west so Hollywood can discover him.”

Ben let out an amused grunt, eased off on the gas, and flipped up his turn signal.

* * * *

After they’d eaten and snuggled, thankfully Aaron not mentioning Hollywood again, they left the cab because Aaron said he needed to visit the convenience/gift store. Ben went along because he needed the bathroom. Aaron had covered Ben’s chest with honey then licked it up. But despite Aaron’s best efforts, Ben still felt sticky. Aaron asked Ben to wait outside the store, he wouldn’t be long. Through the window Ben saw Aaron first pick up a large packet of wet wipes then walk over to the small selection of DVD’s. Ben was curious and a bit worried what Aaron would get, but it wasn’t likely he’d be able to find anything too hard core in such a place.

“Bathroom now?” Ben asked, wondering what movie Aaron had picked.

“Sure.”

Instead of heading for the row of sinks, Aaron hustled Ben into the handicapped stall where Aaron showed Ben that wet wipes were a lot more fun than soap and water. Plus they had a certain amount of privacy.

On the walk back to the rig, chest cleaned up and balls drained, Ben’s happy mood had a bucket of ice water thrown over it when Aaron asked how long it would take them to get to Newark.

With an effort, Ben put aside his feelings and did some quick calculations. “About six hours or so if there’s no major hold ups.”

Aaron remained silent until Ben had climbed into his seat. “Are you in any hurry to get your load of wood to Maine?”

Ben thought about it for a moment. He might get a bonus and a better chance at another load if he were a day earlier than scheduled, but decided to answer with, “No, not really.”

Aaron bit his lip and for the first time Ben could remember, looked unsure. “I, uh, have an open ticket and there might not be any seats left on tonight’s flight, so, uh, would it be all right if we parked up somewhere before Newark and spent the night there?”

Ben was so choked with emotion he couldn’t speak.

Ben twisted in his seat, grabbed a surprised Aaron, and hauled the guy onto his lap. Ben crushed Aaron to him, holding the man for all he was worth.

“Hey, Englishman turning blue here.”

“Sorry.” Ben loosened his grip, but wasn’t willing to let go completely.

Aaron worked an arm free and stroked Ben’s cheek. “You okay?”

Ben nodded. He was very okay. He sought Aaron’s lips and kissed them. “You’re something else, Aaron Jones,” he said, tightening his hug once again.

“So are you, Ben Knight. Couldn’t miss the chance to spend another night snuggling with my favourite bear and watching something…suitable on the DVD.”

Ben nuzzled Aaron’s neck. He’d totally forgotten about the movie. “What did you pick?”

Aaron cupped Ben’s face. “You’ll just have to wait and see. Now, come on, let me go so we can get back on the road.”

Ben let Aaron loose, but not until he’d kissed the man several more times.

* * * *

Ben readily agreed to Aaron’s suggestion of getting Chinese takeout and eating it in the cab.

To Ben’s surprise and delight, Aaron settled himself in Ben’s lap. He then began to pick up shrimp, strips of beef, chicken, and various vegetables with chopsticks before feeding them to Ben.

Ben, never able to get to grips, literally and figuratively, with the oriental way of eating, fed Aaron with a fork. Although it wasn’t long before both men discarded utensils in favour of fingers. This resulted in licking said fingers once the food had been consumed. Aaron justified their actions by saying they were cleaning up as they went along.

Ben was mostly relieved Aaron chose to eat the food out of the containers and not off Ben’s chest.

Aaron grinned. “You don’t get off that lightly. I picked up a bag of grapes and sliced apple. Wonder where I can hide them so my hungry bear can find and eat them?”

* * * *

Ben didn’t want to go to sleep. The day had been too perfect for it to end. He lay in the bunk, Aaron snuggled up to him, the man’s arms and legs wrapped around Ben so tightly, Ben couldn’t move without disturbing Aaron. But the only moving Ben wanted to do was braid Aaron’s hair. He wished he could reach Aaron’s scrunchy because as soon as he let go, the hair unravelled. Although that was no hardship because Ben could start braiding all over again.

Ben smiled as he remembered Aaron’s antics during dessert, which they’d opted to eat in the bunk. Who knew the human body provided so many places to hide food? They probably used up more energy retrieving the pieces of fruit than was in the stuff itself. But maybe that had been part of Aaron’s plan. If so, it was a good one.

After dinner came the DVD that Aaron had been so secretive about. Ben had laughed when The Yogi Bear Show started playing. Aaron had explained that like Yogi, Ben was smarter than the average bear.

“You want me to start calling you Boo-Boo?” Ben asked, kissing along Aaron’s shoulder.

Aaron shivered. “You can call me anything you want so long as you never stop doing that.”

Ben’s kisses reached Aaron’s ear, which he bit lightly. “Nope, you’ll always be Scrappy to me.”

“Puppy power,” Aaron said through a yawn.

They settled down to watch the show, but before the first episode had finished, Aaron had fallen asleep and Ben had shut off the disc, content to just hold Aaron and play with his hair.

* * * *

Ben woke before Aaron, a fact for which he was grateful. It gave him a chance to hold the man and just savour the experience. He couldn’t remember the last time a bed partner had stayed the night. It must have been even longer since a person had shared his bed for two consecutive nights. In fact, had it ever happened? Ben didn’t want to think about that. Aaron was here now, and Ben would cherish every second.

“What time is it?” a sleepy Aaron asked.

Ben glanced over at the DVD player. “Just after nine-thirty.” Ben dipped his head and kissed Aaron’s forehead. “You seemed to sleep well.”

“I did.” Aaron yawned and untangled himself to stretch. “But then I had a life-size teddy bear to snuggle up to.” He rolled on top of Ben and dropped a series of kisses around the man’s face, culminating in one long, tongue-filled smooch to Ben’s mouth. “Have I said how hot you are in the morning?”

Ben grunted. Aaron said some weird shit.

“It’s true. You look all sleep tousled and your voice.” Aaron shuddered. “It’s all scratchy and sultry and—”

“You’re silly.” Ben wrapped his arms around Aaron and held him close. If only they could stay like this forever.

“You hungry?” Aaron eventually asked.

“Nope, not really.” The thought of having to say goodbye to Aaron had robbed Ben of his appetite.

“Me neither. But I suppose we should eat something.” Aaron kissed Ben’s shoulder. “But maybe later.” Aaron tightened his hold around Ben and didn’t seem to want to let go.

Ben was okay with that. He rubbed Aaron’s back then played some more with the man’s hair.

* * * *

Eventually they got out of bed. Ben dressed in the same clothes as the day before. This was partially because he had very few other clean clothes, but mostly because his shorts and vest seemed to turn Aaron on for some odd reason. Aaron himself found a creased but clean powder blue T-shirt in the bottom of his bag. Putting it on, Ben saw how the garment clung to Aaron’s thin frame. He just had to reach out and touch.

“You like?” Aaron asked, spreading his arms.

Ben nodded. “But you’d look good in anything.”

That earned Ben another kiss. In the past 48 hours Ben had kissed and been kissed more than in the rest of his life. He didn’t want to think how, in a couple of short hours, the drought would resume.

Aaron broke their kiss. “Come on, let’s go use the bathroom then get something to eat.”

“Okay.” Ben didn’t bother to hide his lack of enthusiasm. He drew little comfort from the fact that Aaron didn’t seem his usual bouncy self either.

Breakfast was brief, neither man cleaning their plates. Aaron spent most of his time texting on his phone, Ben mostly stared out of the window. Could he ask Aaron to stay with him, if only for a short while? He often drove the I-95 route so he could drop Aaron at the airport anytime they…Ben shook his head. This was stupid thinking. Aaron had a home and parents and friends to get back to.

Aaron must have been able to pick up some on Ben’s thoughts because later, as they drove ever closer to Newark, the man began to tell Ben a little of his life back in England. Ben didn’t think he’d like the UK. London sounded way too crowded and closed in.

“Mum says she’s kept my room just as I left it.”

Ben grunted to show he heard, although didn’t have any other comment to make.

“I was sure my little sister would have claimed my room. It’s bigger than hers. You have any siblings? But you’d have to if you have nephews who’d watch those Scooby Doo discs.”

It took Ben a couple of seconds to realise Aaron had asked him a question. It was odd how they’d been together for about forty-eight hours but hadn’t discussed their families much. “I have a younger brother called Bill. He and his—”

“Bill and Ben. The Flower Pot Men.”

“Huh?”

“British kids’ television show. Sorry, you were saying about your brother?”

“Uh, right.” Ben shook his head. “My brother Bill, his wife, and their two boys live in the other half of my duplex.”

“I imagined you living all wild and rustic in a log cabin in the woods.”

“Uh, no.” Ben paused, then admitted that there was a wood a couple blocks from his house.

No matter how much Ben eased off on the gas, the signs for Newark and Liberty International Airport kept on coming, telling him, as if he needed to be reminded, that they were getting ever closer to where they’d have to say goodbye. Ben thought again about asking…begging Aaron to stay with him, but no. It wouldn’t be right. Aaron could do anything with a computer or any bit of technology for that matter. Once when Ben had commented on how much time Aaron spent on his cell and how his own was giving him fits, Aaron asked if he could take a look at it. Ben handed it over and within a couple of minutes the thing was working better than ever. Aaron said he’d put his number in Ben’s phone and put Ben’s in his so they could stay in touch. But what could an overweight trucker with too many miles on the clock, and who had barely graduated high school, offer a vibrant and vivacious man like Aaron? Ben surprised himself by using such words. Maybe some of Aaron’s brains had rubbed off on him.

Ben swallowed. The exit ramp was coming up. “I’ll, uh, pull in here and gas up the rig. You’ll be able to get a shuttle to the airport from here.”

“Okay,” Aaron said quietly. Ben could barely hear him above the noise of the road, the engine, and the blood pounding in his ears.

Pulling up at the gas station, Ben pointed out the windshield. “The stop for the shuttle’s over there.”

“Right.”

Neither of them moved. The silence in the cab was deafening. Ben sighed and undid his seatbelt, hoping Aaron would fling himself on Ben and ask to stay with him.

Aaron released his seatbelt but remained in his seat. “Guess this is it then.”

Ben grunted past the huge lump that had lodged itself in his throat. He stared at the top of his steering wheel.

“Thank you. For everything.” Aaron’s left hand reached over the console and squeezed Ben’s right hand. “I’ll call you to let you know I got home safe.”

Ben swallowed then nodded his head, his eyes tracing the cracks in the plastic of the steering wheel.

“Won’t ever forget you.”

“Me either.” Ben wanted to squeeze Aaron’s hand, pull the younger man onto his lap, and never let go. But Ben just sat there immobile and Aaron withdrew his hand.

Ben’s gaze remained fixed on the steering wheel. He couldn’t watch Aaron leave.

Aaron sighed. “Goodbye, Ben.”

“Bye,” Ben croaked.

Ben heard Aaron open his door, pick up his bag, then close the door softly again.

Squeezing his eyes shut and fighting down his emotions—he was a grown man after all—Ben let out a breath through his mouth and then slowly breathed in through his nose. He did this several more times, but it didn’t help much.

Ben slowly hauled his fat ass out of the cab, determinedly not looking over at the shuttle pick up point. He concentrated on following the familiar ritual of pumping diesel. Despite the heat and humidity Ben felt chilled. He was being pathetic. He needed to move on and get back into his old routine. He’d go home to Maine, drop off his load, speak to his brother, play with his young nephews, then…Letting out a steady, calming breath, Ben secured the fuel cap, returned the hose to the pump, and, squaring his shoulders, trudged over to the office to pay.

Ben emerged from the air-conditioned building a few minutes later and slipped his shades back on. Keeping his head down, he crossed the forecourt, moisture running down his face and stinging his eyes. “Damn this fucking heat,” he sniffed.

Ben climbed the steps and re-entered his cab, wiped his eyes, blew his nose, and reached for his paperwork. But no matter how hard he tried to focus on his task, images of Aaron’s happy face, sounds of his excited chatter, and feel of his smaller body snuggling itself against Ben, kept intruding. After the third time of entering his mileage in the wrong column, Ben threw the clipboard to the floorboard. “Oh, for fuck’s sake!” he growled. “If you want him, then be a fucking man and go get him and convince him to stay!”

Ben felt energized, empowered at finally making a decision. Reaching for the door handle, he glanced through the windshield at the shuttle pick up point. No one was there. Aaron had gone.

Ben’s hand moved from the door handle to his chest which ached, felt empty. He closed his eyes. He was too late. It had to be a sign that he and Aaron weren’t to be. He was stupid to think they ever could have been.

The snick of the catch and the squeak of the hinges on the driver’s door made Ben jump and snap open his eyes. He looked and couldn’t believe what he saw.

Aaron launched himself into Ben’s lap and slid his arms under Ben’s vest. Ben leaned forward and Aaron’s hands moved to caress Ben’s back. Automatically Ben’s arms encircled the smaller man, who was shaking. Instantly the empty hollowness at Ben’s core was filled.

“I was standing at the bus stop texting Tammy when she called me,” Aaron said quietly into the side of Ben’s neck. “She ripped me a new one before firing off a bunch of questions. You remember me telling you she asks a lot of questions?”

Ben nodded, not trusting his voice.

“She asked if leaving you had been the hardest thing I’d ever done and if it felt like my right arm had been ripped off. Then she asked if I felt like I’d known you my whole life and if I wanted to know you for the rest of my life.” Aaron sniffed. “I answered yes to every question.

Feeling some of his earlier determination return, Ben shifted Aaron’s position so he could look the man in the eye. “Will you come back home to Maine with me and maybe we could try—”

“Yes.”

Ben pulled Aaron in for a tight hug. He couldn’t believe it. Aaron was back and wanted to stay. “Thank you,” he whispered into Aaron’s hair.

They stayed snuggled together for several long seconds, Ben listening to Aaron breathe. With the engine and A/C switched off the cab was heating up. Somewhere in the back of his mind Ben knew he should move the rig, but…not just yet.

“How long will it take us to get to Maine?” Aaron eventually asked.

Ben nuzzled Aaron’s ear. “About ten hours of solid driving depending on traffic.”

“Will you drive all that today?”

He’d been planning on it, but now had Aaron to consider. “What do you want to do?”

Aaron sighed. “Don’t mind as long as I’m with you.”

“Me, too.” Ben kissed Aaron’s ear. “I didn’t hear a weather forecast. But it’s likely there won’t be a heat wave up in Maine, so…”

Aaron sat back and rubbed Ben’s naked chest. “There’ll always be a heat wave wherever my hot bear is.”