Devotion (boyxboy)

Chapter 17

Dinner with my parents is always an interesting event!  They can be so lively and animated at times.  Keaton loves them.  I find him so relaxed around them and that makes me feel really good.

We, all four of us, are chatting away about absolute nonsense and I think to myself, the most important people in my life are in this room.  I clear my throat as I really want to broach the subject of my pen name identity.

"Mum, da I was hoping to get your opinion on something.", I say to them both.  My mum lifts her eyebrows inquisitively at me and my father stares directly at me waiting.  "I want to know your feelings on the possibility of revealing myself to my fans?"

I am quite surprised that it is my father who voices his concerns as he is a very observant but quiet man.  "Balin, I don't want you to reveal yourself at this time.  I want you to wait for awhile."  "Why dad, are you ashamed of me?", I ask in a hurt filled voice and he responds, "Ofcourse not.  Don't be daft.  I was out there and it is utter madness this release of your book today.  It is all over the news. Besides, your so young and you are experiencing your first love.  I want you to enjoy your life unhindered by the insanity that fame can sometimes cause."  "Really?", I ask and then mum responds, "Sweetheart you really don't understand do you!", and Keaton answers, "No, he really does not understand the scope of it all.  If my opinion matters, then my hope is that you wait and let this all die down and when they least expect, hit your fans with your true identity and the rest, as they say, shall be history."

We all look over at my love and I say to him, "Without insult being intended towards my parents, Keaton, yours is the opinion which matters most to me and I think you are absolutely right.  When the occasion reveals itself, I will reveal myself."

He gives me this adoring smile and finally we begin to enjoy the holidays and all the festivities that go with.

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After a much lengthy goodbye to my parents and an absolute demand from my father that he take very great care of me, Keaton and I are on our way back to school.

The holidays were amazing and my extended family fell into the trap of enchantment that is Keaton when he commands the attention of a room.  B. Dale has been the number one subject in all news outlets as apparently my latest creation set new records and caused some issues as well.

For example, Christmas morning it was reported that the servers for on-line ordering in major companies went down as people attempted to buy my books or pre-order copies as the printed books all sold out within the first hour after it's release.

That knowledge alone overwhelmed me and has made me a bit weary of revealing myself.  Also, the reviews are so positive.  One reporter stated that although he is quite straight, reading Devotion showed him that regardless of a persons sexual orientation, we all feel the same things.  He felt intune with the author and found the story so profoundly similar to his heart that he sang my praises and grew a pair, his words not mine, and finally approached the love of his life.  I am assuming it went very well.

My publisher and I spoke in great length on this subject and he has revealed that with the sale of Devotion, he can pretty much retire.  I would not have put much thought to that in the past but with these recent events I am now inclined to believe him.  I may have to sit down and really take a look at just how much wealth I have trully amassed.  He also has given me his opinion on my anonymity and stated that it is too soon for me to reveal myself.

So it would seem that everyone is in agreement and for now, I shall remain B. Dale. I have more pressing matters to deal with anyway since it seems to me as though every moment I spend intimately with Keaton brings me to the conclusion that my body cannot be trully sated.  I feel as though I need something on a much deeper level.

Don't get me wrong, he is my everything but he and I both know that the final step must be taken in order to trully be fulfilled and become one in not just heart and soul but body as well.  Having Keaton by my side and everyone accepting us was so freeing for me.  He says that I am starting to emerge from my shell of shyness.

It is all Keatons' doing.  Once our relationship was out there, he refused to accept any negativity towards himself, me or us.  He lost a couple of mates along the way but those that really counted are still here and I am glad to call them my friends as well.

There were so many things that I never thought I would have but are now possible with Keatons' love.  So here we are just a day shy of the Love Holiday and I want to give him something so special that no other gift will compare.  I am so nervous about this.  I know that deep down inside I am ready.  Lord knows Keaton is.  I can feel it everytime we stop before things get too out of hand.

Since I decided to take brief break from writing, I have thought of nothing else.  It has consumed me to the point of frustration.  I want to completely give of myself to Keaton and I hope that all of my plans go well.  Tomorrow will be the day that the fruits of all of my labors shall be reaped in abundance. Tomorrow shall be the day that my life changes forever...