Robert and Jamie's relationship grew that autumn after the rekindling of their friendship at Robert's new apartment. They decided to try to build something deeper. The sex remained wonderful.
There were plenty of challenges -- Robert was thirty-two, Jamie was twenty-one; one was black, one white; and one a dedicated professional and the other a free spirit. On the other hand, each had a sexual trait that the other needed -- one was dominant and the other submissive.
Robert's career in the Navy was the major issue that kept them from living together. It was 1978 and if he showed any hint of homosexuality he would be drummed out of the military.
That meant Robert couldn't visit Jamie at the Surging Rainbow, the gay bookstore where the youth worked, nor could they go to gay bars together. Robert was hesitant to meet Jamie's friends or visit his apartment.
Robert was even cautious about being seen at a straight restaurant with Jamie.
How does a well-built single black man with a business-like demeanor explain to a Navy colleague why he was eating dinner with Jamie, a 21-year-old good-looking, hell, outright pretty, slim white guy wearing tight jeans and a puka necklace.
Robert could say that Jamie was the son of an old commander and was thinking about joining the service. But many would be suspicious seeing such a pair together in the segregated DC of 1978.
Jamie continued his workouts at the 7th Street YMCA. One evening he was relaxing after a two-mile swim and ran into Ty, a Navy friend of Robert's. Ty was a good-looking, 30-something slim black guy who was more open about his homosexuality than Robert.
The Navy boarded Ty at the Y while he took a course on military technology. He used the gym, but he was most interested in cruising the sauna looking for action.
That was one reason Jamie had joined the Y - to cruise for hot brothers that needed a white boy's mouth. Indeed, Jamie had given Ty a blowjob there about three months previously, before he met Robert.
Ty was alone and naked in the sauna, sitting on his towel when Jamie walked in. He gave the boy a once over and enjoyed his hairless swimmer's body, brown feathered hair over expressive blue eyes, and friendly smile.
He also knew that Robert had gone to bed with the kid, but he wasn't sure if anything had developed from that. Robert didn't share a lot about his love life.
Jamie sat down and spread his legs, giving Ty a flash of his cock. Ty wasn't sure if Jamie recognized him.
"Good heat, huh?" Ty asked.
"Yea, this is a great sauna," said Jamie. He looked at the caramel-colored Black man, thought he looked familiar but couldn't recall from where.
"Yea, it gets hot in here, that's the way I like it," said Ty, who inadvertently/on purpose brushed his cock. Jamie saw it was starting to get hard. It looked good. An uncut black cock about six inches soft in the humid air. That's when it hit the youth. He had sucked that cock right there just a few months ago.
"I think we've met before," Jamie laughed.
"I wasn't sure if you remembered me," said Ty, smiling.
"I remember you very well. You came about a gallon. It was pretty hot," said Jamie. "Do you always come that much?"
Ty smiled and moved closer to the boy. "Only when I'm with a really sexy guy," Ty said as he touched Jamie's shoulder.
"I'm flattered but today I'm just here for the heat, I'm pretty worn out," said Jamie. "I'll take off if someone else comes in that you're interested in."
Ty took the opportunity to chat up the golden youth.
"I've got an idea for you," said Ty. "We're having a party here, you ought to come. The Y isn't putting it on. Some friends and I are doing it. We're inviting guys like you. It's going to be pretty wild."
"The Y doesn't allow cruising and naked parties," said Jamie. "They frown on any homo stuff going on."
Ty explained that he and two friends were renting the gym and locker room for a private party. No one else would be allowed in. They were inviting a select group of men, black, white, and other. Guests would be invited to show up in the locker room around eight. They would have about two hours to enjoy each other.
Jamie was interested. It sounded horny. And the party could get Robert out. Jamie and Ty exchanged phone numbers.
Jamie called Robert that night with the idea. He mentioned that Ty was involved, giving Robert an excuse to back out if he didn't want to associate with his campy friend. Robert's attitude was completely opposite.
"That dog, I should have known he'd do something like this," said Robert. "It sounds like an orgy for crying out loud. Let me think about it."
Robert called Ty right after hanging up. He pretended he heard about it from a third friend, but Ty put it together that Jamie and Robert were closer than the big man let on.
"It's going to be great; we've got about 20 of the hottest men coming," said Ty. "It's a real mix, we have brothers, white guys and even some Chinese, well, Chinese American, guys from Chinatown down the street. You should come."
"What about guys from our tech class? Any of them?" asked Robert.
"No, man, they've all gone back to wherever they came from," said Ty.
Ty explained that he was charging tops like Robert a fee for the party to pay for renting the gym. The tops could bring one or more bottoms and Ty and his friends were inviting a choice group of sexy guys looking for studs like Robert.
That cinched it. Robert said he'd bring Jamie and pay the fee.