I spent the next several days trying to figure out how to repay Duncan. I had to. The encounter in my shower had touched me more deeply than I had imagined. While it was totally comfortable and even seemed natural at the time, there was no mistaking the sexual element that had been involved. It also struck me that both of us had seemed completely in touch with the other. There hadn't been any coaxing or pressure needed for either of us. It was as if we had known what the other was going to do. For my part, I welcomed it. Though I had always considered myself straight, I wasn't afraid of being naked or even sexual with another guy. So if this was the way our friendship was going to go, I was ready for it. And so, I spent a lot of time wondering what I might do with Duncan that would leave him feeling the way I had felt when I stepped out of the shower that Saturday.
I got the opportunity to try the next weekend. We had gone out for a long bike ride Friday afternoon, and another one Saturday morning. When we pulled up to my house on our bikes, Duncan let out a big sigh.
"Man, I'm beat. That was a great ride. Let's kick back and watch a game. I need a little rest."
'Perfect.' I thought. 'This is going to work out just like I had hoped.'
"I have another idea."
He looked at me a little warily.
"Don't worry. You'll like it." I looked him straight in the eye. "I trusted you last weekend. You get to trust me this weekend." He got the message.
We put our bikes away and headed into the house.
"Take a shower and then join me in the master bedroom."
He headed into the guest bathroom and I hurried upstairs to get ready. Thinking this might happen, I had already set out most of what I wanted that morning before going on the bike ride. I took a quick rinse shower too, and then waited for Duncan to arrive.
He came up the stairs a few minutes later, a big towel wrapped low around his waist.
"You're sore and tired. I'd like to give you a massage, if that's ok with you."
He gave me a small smile which said it was definitely ok. "What do you want me to do?"
I motioned him toward the bed. I had spread an enormous towel out and had a large bottle of massage oil sitting on a table. My room has dark carpet and the furnishings are also dark. I had pulled the drapes and the room was cast in warm shadows.
"You won't need this," I said, pulling his towel off as he walked by. He looked down at the black spandex boxer briefs I was wearing.
"Neither will you." He hooked a finger in the low slung waistband and snapped them gently. "If I'm naked, so are you." He looked me straight in the eye as I took them off.
Again, that feeling of comfort and trust came over me. Here was Duncan, my best friend, standing naked in front of me. And yet, it didn't feel awkward or forced. There was a great sense of liberation, knowing that we could be totally open and free with each other.
I put my hand on his shoulder and guided him to the bed, having him lay face down with his arms straight out to his sides and his legs spread. I stood there for a moment, admiring his lean, strong form.