"So what next? The aquarium or would you like to check out the wheel?"
"I'm not sure Chase, I suppose we don't have to do everything today," I suggested.
"Okay, we can walk over and you can see the Seaplanes and the waterfront park or catch a bus, your choice."
"I'm good to walk, oh hey look, a Grumman Goose, those things are cool, do you know much about seaplanes, Chase?"
"Not a lot, I knew that was a Goose and they have a Widgeon as well. The guy that checks them between flights will talk for hours if you show the slightest interest."
"Maybe when we come back to try the wheel; this is a nice park, different though, most parks have grass and trees. Seattle seems to do different really well, I heard about one place called the Gas Works Park, is it still there?"
"Sure Étienne, it's a great place to watch the fireworks and just have a picnic."
"Do these stairs lead to the Aquarium?"
"Yes, just turn right at the bottom and there are signs for the Aquarium, Étienne."
"Jem."
"Jem?" Chase looked puzzled.
"You may call me Jem if it's easier for you, it's just my initials."
"Okay then, Jem."
Chase smiled a tender smile at me as we reached the bottom of the stairs.
The Aquarium was everything he promised and more, the viewing dome was unbelievable. The seals in particular were fun to watch as they swam and frolicked over the dome as if watching us instead of being watched by us.
The hit of the day was by far the Sea Otters, they are just as curious about the visitors as the humans are about them. They seem to live only to play and cuddle like perpetual children. Our trip was made better by the absence of school field trips and a low visitor turnout that day. We had been practically alone in the dome for quite a while.
One more pass by the Otters and we made our way back to the front lobby and collected my bundles.
The bus was more populated on the trip back to Spokane Street and we changed busses easily and rode on to the junction.
Chase looked exhausted and frankly it was more hill climbing than I had done in quite a while. As we left the bus, I noticed a Nissan sedan with a Lyft decal. I walked to the driver's door and put my hand lightly on the woman's wrist and asked if she was engaged or free to take us home.
"We usually don't do that but if it's nearby I'll make an exception," Linda explained.
"Thank you, my friend and I have been roaming the waterfront area and we're both a bit tired. We both live near Me-kwa-Mooks Park on Beach Drive, do you know it?"
"Sure boys, hop in, it won't take long."
"Thank you Ma'am," offered Chase.
"OMG I'm only twenty-three I'm not ready to be a Ma'am yet, call me Linda."
"Okay, thank you Linda," Chase conceded.
Linda headed out on Fauntleroy and turned on Othello, it wasn't long before we had pulled up in front of my house. I asked what I owed her and was surprised when she told me to skip it. "Just pass it along honey, you guys have a nice afternoon, I gotta go as I need to pick someone up just down the block on Shore Place." Linda chuckled.
"You can't see the street sign but it's right by that big ugly green box about three blocks down." Chase instructed.
"Thanks honey, I appreciate that, bye guys," She waved and was gone.
"Would you like to come in while I put my stuff away?" I asked.
"Um sure… is your brother home?"
"I don't see his pickup, he may have gone to shop for something or who knows, he gets a bug once in a while to just drive around."
I let us in and greeted Seneca flopping on the sofa next to Chase.
"Pretty cat, I didn't see much of him after you introduced us last time."
"He spends a lot of time lounging near Art, they really seem to have bonded nicely."
"Um… Jem? You spent a lot of money today, how did you get so much?"
"Oh that, well I sold a bunch of stuff I no longer use, my bike wasn't suited to this terrain and I never really liked playing video games. But a couple years ago, I was out in the tide pools near Summerland and found eight gold coins crusted together. The date on them was 1851 and we figured it was from a transport ship that went down near there. I dropped them on a rock and two of them broke free. I picked them up and put them in my bag and found my Dad."
"What did he say?"
"Well, did you find any pirate treasure or oysters with pearls in them?"
"When I told him what I found he had me show him exactly where and then took GPS coordinates of the spot. Then he took pictures and after that, we examined the two coins that had broken loose. When we got home, he called his lawyer and his lawyer called another lawyer. The coins were valued at ten thousand dollars each and I got to keep them. They were attributed to the Winfield Scott wreck which was carrying bullion and coins minted in San Francisco. Of course, there were attorney's fees but a guy contacted us and offered to pay me to show him exactly where I found them. He got a salvage license and was able to find a trail of coins from the tidal pools to the breakwater. The deal was he would pay me five percent of the first five hundred pounds that he found. Not by the ounce but by the actual value of the coins. He made out well, finding a little over three hundred pounds of coins. Most of them were in clumps a if they had been in bags which rotted away after the crate broke. My dad has the money invested and I kept a couple coins as keepsakes. My dad will bring them up when they make the move."
"That is so cool, what made you look at the clump and think it might be money?"
"It just looked weird and I thought it was some junk that somebody just dumped there; I was going to toss it in the trash until it broke."
"Our lawyer had to stop the newspaper from running my photo. A judge told them that as a minor child they would be endangering me by revealing my identity. They were pissed but they complied."
"So you can go to any college you want right?"
"I've been thinking about that. With Dad investing my money, it has grown to a point that I can pay for the tuition of several people and I might start a trust to do that. I can't imagine how I would ever use that much money."
"That is so cool, and so like you. I think you are just really wonderful." Chase gushed.
I pulled him into me and kissed him and he kissed back greedily. We settled back in the leather sofa and it wasn't long before we were asleep. I woke with Chase's arms around my neck and a blanket draped over both of us. I shook Chase gently and looked at the time on the cable box. I checked my phone and it was correct. Chase's phone rang and jolted us both.
"Hi Dad, I'm sorry I didn't check in. I'm at Étienne's house, we fell asleep on the sofa. We walked a lot today and were pretty tired."
Chase listened for a bit, "I don't know, I'll ask; my dad wants to know if you have room for me to stayover? Carter is staying at Auggie's and Dad has been invited to dinner by friends."
"Absolutely, I've already checked with Art and he said any time I want I can invite a guest."
"That's a yes Dad, I have my key so I'll be over later to get what I need." More listening ensued; "I will, I love you too and Étienne says hi."
A pause and then, "Bye Dad, have a nice night out."
Chase turned and grinned at me, "I'm all yours for the evening, if you want me that is."
I grinned back raising my eyebrows.
"Oh good, you guys are awake," Art chided. "I'm going out with a woman from the UW Library and I will be late or even stay downtown if the opportunity presents. Shoot me a text if there's any trouble and I'll see you later or in the morning."
"Okay Art, thanks for the heads up and thanks for the blanket also," replied.
"You guys looked tired and a little cold, nice boots by the way, nineteenth century?" He enquired.
"Early twentieth or late nineteenth, the man in the shop couldn't say for sure." I answered.
"Nice, well you guys have a good evening and please feed Seneca when he decides he's ready." Art requested.
"I will, have a good time, um, Chase is staying over, his dad is out with friends as well." I informed him.
"Great, I'm glad you'll have some company, I'm off." Art closed the door behind him and moments later, I heard his pickup start.
"Can I offer you the first shower?" I asked.
"Can't we go together?" Chase pleaded.
"When you see the shower you'll understand why that won't work. I have a larger one in my room in the house but there's nothing in there, we'd have to carry everything down and bring it back." I explained.
"Okay, let's go get my stuff and then I can clean up, I don't want to put on the same undies after my shower."
"Well, I suppose you'll need them in the morning, grab something to lounge around in like sweats or something." I suggested.
We were back in my room in a very short time, and I pointed Chase to the bathroom. There's no tub just a small shower, I don't know how Art manages but it's not big enough for two.
Chase stripped off everything but his pretty purple briefs, he was exquisite to observe. Not overly muscular but well defined and had a pleasing shape. Chase looked back at me over his shoulder and slid his shorts down and flipped them at me with his foot and giggled.
I went back and sat on my bed and thought for a while. Although I have memories of past lives, I am essentially a child and have emotions and misgivings like any other boy my age. I just lack the hang ups about straight or gay sex that many boys have to deal with. I stood and removed my clothes, all of them. Seneca jumped up and sprawled across my bed, he's a large cat and takes up a lot of real estate. I knelt beside the bed and gave him the belly rub that he was demanding until he hugged my hand. Woe be unto anyone that continues to rub after he hugs. The next warning involves claws and teeth.
Chase walked in while I was standing and he was radiant, the shower had restored him and his expression said a great deal about what might happen that evening. He dropped his towel and spun around inviting me to gaze at his beauty, which of course I did.
"Chase, you look good naked, do you feel better?"
"Much, your water is so nice and hot and you must have a big water heater, I hope I left you enough hot water."
"Not a problem, we have tankless water heaters so infinite hot water and long showers are okay."
"Maybe tomorrow you'll show me which room will be yours. Um… do you really think I look good naked?" Chase blushed.
"Are you kidding, you are hot and I love that little pot, it's so sexy." My words had the effect of causing Chase's penis to rise and swell to full extension. He put his hand over it and blushed again. "Let me get my shower and we'll discuss what's next okay?"
Chase's eyes were bright and wide open and he nodded happily and smiled sweetly. By the time I reached the bathroom door I was fully aroused myself. In the shower, I recounted his beauty and sweetness and that did nothing to relieve the straining erection between my legs. I calmed myself and got control and it waned to a plump state and I was able to wash myself and finish my shower.
"So, have you ever done anything with another boy? I mean… you know, sexy? Chase asked shyly.
"Yes, a few times, there were the Bishop brothers, Jim, Joe and John. They were triplets. They were really pretty, like girls, and they had these green eyes and red hair. They were really nice and they invited me for a weekend. They had a pool and we had lots of fun. They gave me quite an education between the three of them.
"So, how about you, what have you done sex wise?" I asked.
"Nothing like that, just some messing around with some guys from school and a boy in the next block, but he moved last year." Chase answered, still trying to get his mind around what I told him."
After a few moments, I dropped my towel and pulled Chase to me. He melted into me and I felt his naked back and butt, kneading and stroking as I went. Our erections mashed together and it was electric.
"Do you want to try a few things Chase?"
"I think so, can I stop if I don't like it?" He asked tentatively.
"Of course, I would never force you to do anything, I love you. And we don't have to do anything."
"I've never felt like this before, with my friends it was just messing around, this feels so different and so nice. I love you Étienne."
I love you too, Chase,and I'm so glad that you love me. Let's take it slow and only do what you are comfortable with, okay?"