"The good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired." Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Brandon stood at the bedroom door looking at the sleeping boy sprawled out in his guest room. The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains and pooled around the boy's torso. It didn't take the eye of a photographer to appreciate the scene; the boy had such natural beauty.

After last night's conversation he felt like they had an understanding. Sex would only complicate the relationship. Alan had more urgent needs and Brandon knew he would gladly work things out and nurture this young man.

Not that the boy wasn't desirable, he was about the most desirable creature that had ever presented itself in this life. Having such a temptation so close at hand was going to be hard, especially since all he would have to do was nod and the boy would jump in his bed. God, his simple life had taken such a complicated turn in the blink of an eye.

It was too soon to speak of love, but he knew those feelings were beginning to creep into his head. Alan was quite a find, a rare and wonderful gem. He was unpolished and yet willing to learn, Brandon had seen that in their talk last night about photography.

The urgency of getting back to work on the book had come across and Alan had some surprising answers.

"A lot of young kids don't see their best friends except at school. If you ever rode a school bus you'd know why. It took me almost two hours to get to school each morning and there were only thirty kids on my bus. I bet we traveled fifty miles just to pick up everyone."

"I've seen the kids standing at the end of a driveway waiting for the bus," Brandon said. "Living out in the county must seem pretty isolated for a lot of kids."

"Yeah, the nearest boy my age was five miles away but we didn't like each other," Alan said. "I'm sure that's why a lot of kids played sports; it was something to do after school besides go home alone."

"And what about on weekends?" Brandon asked.

"Saturdays I had chores and on Sunday we all went to church in the morning ... everyone did that. Once I got my driver's license I could use the truck to run to the store or something and occasionally I could get out to a movie." Alan had smiled at this point. "I saw a lot of guys out with their girlfriends on nights like that. But I wasn't ever gonna be one of them."

"I just can't get enough material together if all I do is keep taking these random photos," Brandon said.

"Church, sports activities ... um, the county fair ... yeah, that would be a good place to find kids. I didn't ask ... what ages are you looking for?" Alan asked.

"Age doesn't really matter," Brandon said. "It's the image that counts. I don't think kids under four or five are really aware of a close tie to someone else. Once that awareness happens then strong friendships are forged ... I don't know, Alan ... it's almost something you can see in their eyes when they look at one another."

"So you want to see some sign of affection between them, I get that," Alan said.

"Yes, but not like the love you see between a boy and his girlfriend ... it's something deeper. I don't want to take photos of some guy making out with his girl, that borders on the sexual and that's not what I want. I just think if we can figure out where kids come together with their friends it will increase the chances of finding good material."

And from that discussion came the list of places, activities and events they needed to look for. A newspaper would help them find a lot of the sites, the internet would locate others. It would mean a lot of traveling around, but then good photography had always been about being in the right place at the right time.

Brandon knew he had always felt the flow of life change when he looked through the lens; it was like being in that one moment and nothing else mattered. Timing had brought Alan into his life; there was no other explanation for it.

The boy looked so peaceful in sleep, belying the recent turmoil in his life. Brandon was still in awe of the last twenty-four hours.

The revelation about Billy had come tumbling out of Alan last night in his need to purge himself of the thoughts. It had been hard to listen to the facts and not feel incredibly sad. The boy's father had done all the wrong things, but then the man was product of his own warped religious feelings. He didn't deserve to have a son this ... this wonderful.

He could stand here for hours and gaze at the boy; the feelings were so new and exciting every time he thought about what they could mean to one another. Sixteen months and the boy would be legal, could he hold out? That was a long time to put off the feelings he knew they both shared ... a very long time.

Brandon walked over and sat down on the bed at Alan's feet. He longed to touch, to caress that lean body, but it would not serve that higher purpose. Alan was lying on his stomach and that meant he was probably hard as a rock like most boys were in the morning. It would be a bad thing to call attention to it; the boy might take it the wrong way. Fortunately the sheet covered that portion of his body so Brandon laid a hand on Alan's foot and gave it a shake.

"Alan ... time to wake up if you want some breakfast."

The boy stirred, his mind returning from the depths. His eyes opened ... curiosity and bit of concern on his face ... then his mind remembered where he was.

"Morning," Alan said.

It was left unsaid, but Brandon was right, the boy couldn't roll over without revealing his erection.

"Why don't you shower and come on out for something to eat. We have some stops to make today and I need to find you a dentist," Brandon said.

Alan smiled and nodded. Brandon stood up, and then on impulse he leaned down and kissed the boy on the cheek. He saw Alan squirm and almost laughed aloud. Yeah, the boy needed to shower and relieve that pressure between his legs.

Brandon walked back out to the kitchen and refreshed his coffee cup. If only every morning could be this nice, and then he heard the water running in the bathroom. OK, he'd never seen the goods Alan packed, but boys that age always had a solid piece of equipment.

He would have to be sure Alan had every opportunity to masturbate privately; their joint sanity would probably depend on the boy relieving that urge. Hell, he would end up doing the same thing ... they both knew it. But it wouldn't have to last forever ... just sixteen months.

And what if Alan finds someone appropriate, someone like himself? It would be hard to stand by and watch the boy fall for another, dashing all the dreams he was sure to develop in the next year or so. But it would only happen if Alan felt comfortable being gay...and if he did it would be because he felt secure and loved. There was no down side to that; it was what he needed to give the boy.

Twenty minutes later Alan joined him in the kitchen. Yes, he had that flushed look, the situation had been relieved.

"You said we had stops ... where are we going?" Alan asked.

"You need clothes, shoes, toilet articles ... we have to go shopping," Brandon said.

"That's a lot of money you're talking about ...I can't let you spend that kind of cash on me."

Brandon got up and poured himself another coffee, stopping to get a glass of milk for Alan. He sat the glass in front of the boy and reached around to give the boy a hug. It was probably a safe thing to do now that the tension had been eased from the boy's body.

"I have to take care of you, sweetie. You're my responsibility now so don't fret about the money, we'll make tons of it together."

Alan leaned back against his chest and the moment in time seemed to freeze. It was broken when Brandon heard the boy sob. He leaned over and saw the line of tears coursing down Alan's face.

"Oh sweetie, don't cry ... you're safe now, no one is going to take you away from me."

Alan turned his head and then his body, standing to grasp Brandon in a fierce hug. His sobs became louder and his body shook. It was hard to feel all that pain coming out of the boy, but it had to happen. Brandon stroked the boy's head and neck, inhaling the scent of all that freshly washed skin. Eventually Alan settled down, and he felt the arms around his waist relax.

"I'm sorry," Alan said in a whisper, "I don't know why I did that."

"This is all so new to us both, sweetie. We have to give it time to settle in. You have to give yourself a chance to come to terms with your new life."

Alan rubbed his face against Brandon's shirt before looking up. From inches away he could see the eyes staring up at him and something seemed incredibly warm in the boy's gaze.

"I ... I prayed for you last night," Alan said. "I gave thanks to God that he brought you into my life."

He prayed for me? That's sweet ... it seems like something the boy would do. Brandon didn't believe in prayer, never did, but he couldn't tell Alan that. There was no God out there listening to humanity recite useless pleas for help or vapid sentences of praise. But Alan still believed after all he'd been through ... Brandon found that amazing. No, it would not do to say anything negative ... it's all the boy had left from his old life.

"Thank you," Brandon said. "I think that's incredibly sweet."

Alan smiled and then leaned up for a kiss. Their lips met for a few seconds and then Brandon pulled back. It was all he would allow ... it was all he dared allow. Now it was back down to the business of their day. He let the boy go and they sat back down across the table from one another.

"Do you know the name of your dentist?" Brandon asked.

"Um ... yeah, Dr. Taylor. You think we should go back to him? That's kinda far away," Alan said.

"Will he be willing to take them off or do you think he'll want to fix what's broken? Do you want them off now?"

"It's been two years already, I think it's time to lose them. It was my mother's idea anyway, my teeth were never very crooked or anything really bad. But my Pa never took me back to him after she died, he didn't really care."

"When's the last time you saw a doctor? I mean someone that might give you a physical?" Brandon asked.

"Ah ... maybe when I was eleven or twelve." Alan began to blush. "I was just starting puberty I remember, it was embarrassing."

Brandon laughed. "All boys feel like that, its normal."

"Yeah, well he touched me down there ... feeling up my balls and such, it was weird. You know I popped a woody. He said I was fine."

"OK, well sometime in the next few months I think we ought to have you checked out again ... especially after that incident with Billy. I have to ask, Alan ... did he use a condom?"

"Uh ... I don't remember ... I don't think so. You think I caught something from him?"

"I just think it's better to be safe and get you checked out. There's a free clinic over in Raleigh ... I just don't know what they're going say when they examine you," Brandon said. "I'm pretty sure they can tell if you've been sexually active."

Alan looked surprised and then he frowned. "They can tell if something went up my butt you mean. I don't want to have to explain that. Can't you just look for me?"

"Me? I wouldn't have the foggiest idea what I was looking at," Brandon said.

"But you might be able to see if there is still any damage, then we'll know what a doctor might say. Please?"

"Um, that's pretty intimate, Alan. I'm not qualified to pass any judgment other than to say you have a nice ass."

Alan smiled. "Nice ass, huh? You've never even seen it."

Brandon could only smile. "Well if it's anything like the rest of you I'm sure it's very nice."

"Will you look ... please? I don't want you to think I'm teasing you; we talked about that last night. This is ... is more scientific ... right? Anyway, you have an eye for detail, you'll know if something looks wrong."

Brandon shrugged. "I suppose ... when do you want to do it?"

Alan stood up and began to untie the strings of the sweatpants he was wearing. Brandon sighed ... steeling himself not to overreact. Damn, and after all that careful planning to avoid feeling sexual towards the boy, he was about to see everything.

Alan pushed down the sweatpants and his boxers, but he was still facing Brandon.

"You might as well see the works and we can get that over with," Alan said.

And there it was, the boy's cock and balls exposed right there out in the open. Brandon stared, hoping his feelings weren't showing on his face. Sixteen, huh? The kid had a huge endowment for someone so young ... what did they feed these boys down here? It was such a cliche about country boys ... but damn, it was true.

Alan was circumcised and maybe it was the earlier self manipulation but his cock hung softly for a good six inches over a heavy set of balls. The sperm makers were huge, bigger than golf balls and still quite hairless ... lucky bastard. His body had little hair except for a fine line from his pubes upwards to his belly button.

"OK, turn around," Brandon managed to say with an even voice.

Alan turned around and placed his hands on his butt cheeks, spreading them open. A few straggly hairs were beginning to grow back there, but Brandon was focused on the skin around the boy's anus. There were a few lighter lines of skin that could be scar tissue left over from the rape, but no overt damage was apparent.

"See anything?" Alan asked from his crouching position.

"A few lines ... maybe scars that healed, I'm not sure," Brandon replied. "Did you get any treatment after the rape?"

"Nope, I put some antibiotic cream on my ass hole for a few weeks, that's all."

OK, the view was spectacular, but it had to end before Brandon began to feel uncomfortable. His earlier assessment had been correct; the boy had a great ass.

"All right, I've seen enough ... you can pack it up," Brandon said.

Alan managed to stand up, turning his body sideways before pulling up his pants. It was long enough for Brandon to glimpse the boy's hardening cock. Damn, it would be eight inches if he became erect. Alan adjusted himself a little, fully aware that Brandon had seen him becoming aroused.

Alan smiled and quickly sat down. "Thought I took care of that in the shower, sorry."

"That's OK, you're all boy," Brandon said. "I don't think the scarring is an issue that might alarm a doctor. We'll just tell him you're becoming sexually active and therefore the exam seemed to be the right thing to do. That probably means you'll get a lecture on safe sex, but then that's not a bad thing to endure."

"I got raped ... that's the only sex I've ever had. Billy stuck his cock in my mouth but not for long," Alan said.

"Don't feel bad, lots of boys don't have sex until later in life. I think it's just better to wait until you find the right guy."

Alan smiled and Brandon knew what he was about to say. "I have found the right guy. I just don't know if I can wait until I'm eighteen."

Brandon could only admire the patience this boy was willing to endure, but then they were both in the same boat. "We'll survive this, Alan. I'm willing to wait if you are."

Alan grinned. "Yeah, we'll just have to take a lot of showers."

They both laughed and the moment passed. The nearest major shopping mall was twenty miles away, and that's where they headed after cleaning up from breakfast. Alan looked a little overwhelmed when they pulled into the parking lot. The JC Penny store was right there and Brandon felt comfortable with that.

There were lots of kids at the mall, many of them dressed out like peacocks to show off their parent's money. One look at Alan in the drab T-shirt and sweatpants made Brandon want to deck the boy out to the fullest. Even in hand-me-down clothes, Alan was still the best looking thing in sight.

Alan seemed to favor the work ethic clothing, probably because that's all he wore on the farm. Brandon allowed him a few pairs of pants and shirts in that department, but then he led the boy off to the young men's clothing.

It was fun to watch the boy gaze at styles and makes he'd only seen in magazines. Brandon managed to get several Polo shirts, some name brand jeans and a jacket for the boy. The whole time he saw Alan look at the price tags and shake his head, but that was not his concern.

"Don't worry about the price; I just want you to look good."

"But this stuff is too expensive, maybe we should go to Wal-Mart," Alan said.

"You can spend your money at Wal-Mart, I'm spending mine right here," Brandon said.

Socks, underwear, T-shirts...and all the rest came to about three hundred dollars, and then they went for shoes. Alan chose conservative, but Brandon saw him looking at the Nike and that's what he bought. It was quite a load of stuff to carry back to the truck.

"I don't know how I can ever repay you," Alan said, the worry evident in his voice.

"You won't have to, I get to write it all off on my taxes ... modeling outfits," Brandon said.

"You want me to be a model?"

"When you're comfortable with the idea ... yes. I might be able to get you some work if we did a portfolio," Brandon replied.

"Models make good money I bet. Then I could pay you back for ... for everything you've done," Alan said.

"I get my payback every time you smile, that's all you need to know."

On the way out of the mall they passed a professional office park and the sign for a dental office caught Brandon's attention.

"You know, I haven't had time to find a dentist since I moved down here ... do you feel comfortable going in there?"

Alan shrugged. "Don't suppose it matters, but how do you know if they're any good?"

"Anyone who can afford an office in that place must be fairly good; it's not like brain surgery."

Brandon pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine. "OK, what are we gonna tell them?"

"Oh yeah, you don't look old enough to be my dad ... no gray hairs," Alan laughed.

"Then let's just say you are my nephew ... um, down for a visit and your braces need work. How's that for an easy lie?"

"Will he take them off?"

"We might have to make an appointment and come back, but let's go see," Brandon suggested.

The receptionist was pleasant and when Brandon said the boy was having pain with his braces while down here on vacation she immediately looked at the doctor's schedule.

"I can slide him into the schedule at two o'clock," She said.

"Two will be fine," Brandon said.

"What are we gonna do for three hours?" Alan asked.

"Let's finish our shopping and get some lunch," Brandon suggested.

They went to the Walgreen's for the toilet articles. The boy needed his own shampoo and conditioner. His hair was starting to look dry and he probably should get it cut, but then Brandon favored longer hair ... it would have to be Alan's decision. They went to the S & B cafeteria for lunch.

By two they were back at the dentist's office and on first sight Brandon decided he liked the guy. They shook hands and Alan insisted that Brandon be present when the doctor examined him, the man had no problems with that.

One look and the man said what was on his mind. "The braces look like they're about ready to come off your teeth, when was the last time you went in for a check up?"

"Been six months almost, right before my mother got sick," Alan said.

"Hmm, well your bite seems fine ... I bet you'd like to have them off, " the man said.

"Yes sir ... that would be awesome."

The doctor chuckled. "Had enough suffering I take it. Well you'll have a nice smile when they come off, the girls will go crazy."

Brandon watched the progress as the doctor clipped away the wires and used pliers to remove each band. This was followed by a through cleaning and a lot of rinsing, and then it was done.

"Wow, my teeth seem so small," Alan said. He turned to look at Brandon and smiled.

"Nice," Brandon said, feeling his heart beat a little faster. God, Alan was a knockout before this, now he was stunning. He couldn't wait to turn his camera on the boy.

Brandon thanked the dentist and they headed for home. He could see Alan running his tongue around in his mouth, the feeling new and exciting.

"Feel better?" Brandon asked.

"Oh yeah, it feel's awesome. Now I can brush and floss all I want. It was so hard to keep my teeth clean with those damn things on. You like my smile?"

"On a scale of one to ten ... I give it a nine," Brandon said. "Of course your ass is a ten and we'll never do better than that."

Alan laughed. "I knew you wanted to see my ass."

"With that smile I could sell a million pictures of you so you better take care of it," Brandon said. "One of these days we'll talk about your ass, OK?"

"Would I make a good porn star?"

"Oh Lord, why do you want to know that?"

"I dunno, you know a lot about that area of photography ... just wondering. I've never see any porno films," Alan admitted.

"Porno is a far cry from modeling, and I am not going to be the one to show you any so forget it. Film stars are actors, even porn is about acting ... none of them really enjoy the sex."

"So you have seen them being made, did you make any yourself?"

"No, I only shot some stills on the set. Look, I'll tell you about it but don't think its going to be some sexy turn on, it wasn't like that at all ... it was kind of gross," Brandon said.

Brandon drove on in silence, gathering his thoughts. "OK, let's start with something sexual you know about ... masturbation. You get aroused from some random thought in your head; your body responds with a raging erection ... like you did this morning.

A quick look over at Alan who looked a little startled. "Oh ... you knew about that?"

"As I said before, you're perfectly normal in the hormones department, every teenager probably wakes up the same way. So you take your erection into the shower and you take care of it. Part of that involves fantasy, your mind feeds you erotic thoughts and your hand does the physical part ... you reach orgasm.

"In a porn film they work hard to feed you that fantasy, a constant stream of erotic thought played out by actors. What you have in the shower is a private ongoing stream of fantasy that allows you to be stimulated out of your mind ... and you ejaculate. On a film set there is no privacy whatsoever and a million distractions.

"Imagine yourself trying to masturbate with an audience of twenty or so people moving around, guys with microphones and lights, cameras rolling, a director telling you what you're doing is all wrong and that you need to move this arm or that leg ... it's hectic. Could you focus on having an orgasm like that? I think not."

"But why do they do it like that?" Alan asked.

"It's all about money, sweetie. All those people cost thousands of dollars an hour, and with fewer people the whole thing starts to look like a home movie instead of something professional. Imagine trying to be sexy in that situation, some guys can't even keep it up and have to be helped to maintain an erection."

"Wow ... no, you don't have to tell me how that's done. But I guess the final product is what counts, there are lots of porn movies out there. Does it take a long time for them to complete a film?"

"Yes, sometimes weeks for a good one. In the shower, if you get the right stimulation going it might take a few minutes to get off. On a film set guys are all different. If they can't get off then they try again later, the film gets spliced together so a viewer will never know. Some guys can't hold back, they get there too fast and that's filmed as well. Those moments become the end of the film and then they have to go back and fill in the middle at a later time."

"You mean they wait around until the guys can start again?"

"Yeah, and some guys make several films in the same day. Do want to hear any more?" Brandon asked.

"Nope, you made your point, I'll stick with modeling."

On to Chapter Four

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