Dinner at the Maxsons was noisier than Clay had expected. The dining table was being extended to fit them all, but it was still no use as everyone found themselves eating, uncomfortably squashed together. Clay had Sam by his left side, which he was thankful for, and Greta by his right. Sam's father had come down and sat close to Rhea, barely talking at all but appeared to be listening to the buzz of conversation accompanied by clattering of spoons against plates as they ate. At least Clay now knew where Sam got his handsome features from, but he didn't particularly find Troy Maxson fascinating. The only exchange Clay had with him was to pass the salt, and that was it.

Sam's sister Aria was different and jolly throughout, seated opposite Clay. She'd extended her hand for a handshake when he was introduced, grinning broadly at him with obvious interest. She'd made him feel less awkward with her friendly chatter about school. She was a pure art student taking Literature, Government, and History and was thinking about applying to be an actress in university.

“Don't you worry about me Mom. I won't be like one of those nude girls on screen because I'll choose my roles carefully. Also, if any shady director tries to take advantage of me, I've got two brothers to deal with them.”

“So, you've finally agreed that you'd be nothing without us?” John grinned. “I thought big girls handled their problems themselves?”

“Not in this case. Protecting me is your responsibility.”

“Whoever made up that rule.”

The food was wonderful. Rhea was obviously used to cooking for huge appetites so there was an enormous joint of steaming chicken, soup, piles of gooseberry puddings, and a bowl of muffins she'd baked earlier for dessert. Clay was stuffed up and politely declined dessert, but when Rhea returned from the kitchen with a large freshly baked banana pie, he couldn't refuse.

Once the meal was over, they all helped out with clearing the table. Rhea was cajoled to take a deserved rest, exempted from the cleaning together with Greta who had to feed the baby again. He'd been sleeping peacefully all through dinner but was now wide awake bawling his eyes out.

John took charge of the dishwasher while Greta got busy clearing the table and loading in the plates. Clay washed the pots and pans, Aria dried, and Sam helped put everything away.

The kitchen was a relatively small space and difficult for five people to work in but with all hands on deck, they were through soon.

Afterwards, they all plopped down on the couch and watched a documentary while drinking large cups of wine.

Squeezed between Sam and John, Clay was hyper aware of the heat and hardness of Sam's thighs against his. When he felt Sam's fingers move up his thighs, Clay's heart fluttered in excitement and his cock throbbed. He took a cautious glance around to make sure no one was looking. Sam smiled when his hand finally touched Clay's bulge and he squeezed lightly, never taking his hands off. Clay felt nervous, thinking that everyone's attention must be focused on them, but when he risked a glance around once more, no one hardly noticed what Sam was up to. Clay looked back at Sam and smiled.

"Alright! I think we better get going. It's getting dark." John stood up carefully with Alex, the toddler, in his arms. “We'd better get home and tuck him in before he wakes and begins a circus all night."

"Yes, it's way past bedtime now. Take care." Rhea smiled fondly as Alex squirmed in John's arm, whining and rubbing his eyes.

Sam squeezed Clay's bulge once more then retrieved his hand. “I think we'll be off too. We are going for a snack, right Clay?”

It was the first time Sam was mentioning this but it didn't take a soothsayer to know that Sam had a plan; a drastic one at that. And as every one of his plans often resulted in moans and orgasms, Clay wasn't up for complaints. "Oh yeah."

Sam and Clay left at the same time with John and his family, waiting outside by the porch steps as Rhea hugged Sam, standing on tiptoe as Sam bent his tall frame to meet her. Then she stepped forward too and hugged Clay quickly but strongly too.

“It was so nice having you around Clay. I hope we see you around someday."

Clay smiled humbly, touched. "Me too. Thanks for dinner again ma'am. It was fantastic."

Dusk approached faster as they walked back through the streets toward the town centre. The sky turned darker with their hasty footsteps and it looked like it might rain later. There weren't many people lurking around but they walked past the occasional dog walkers and a few teenagers.

"So, are we really going for a snack?" Clay asked, reached behind to smack Sam's arse.

"It can be arranged if you want" Sam replied. "But in case you didn't get the hint, it was an excuse to get you all to myself because I wasn't going to whisk you off upstairs for a quick lesson. Everyone would suspect, and that won't portray a good image of our relationship."

"Smart arse much?" Clay laughed. "But I'm up for a quick lesson, and I'm too full of your mom's dinner for an additional snack anyway."

They linked their arms again and though Clay kept his eyes up ahead; he couldn't stop the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. Sam squeezed his fingers. "Hope you're cool with this?"

"Yeah." Clay squeezed back. It felt more than okay and definitely, more than friends.