Climb to the Top

By Mathis B Rogers

Country singer, Cliff Richmond is trying to make it in show biz when he is outed as not only being gay, but his lover, Preston Townsen, is a nude male model. Will the public let Cliff become the star he has always dreamed of becoming, will the homophobic rednecks kill him just because he's gay? Follow Cliff's journey to Country Music stardom in the redneck town of Timber Creek, Oklahoma. Cliff's Manager, Michael, sweeps him and his band off on a cross-country tour right into the heart of the Bible Belt, where the fans are few and far between.

This is Book 3 in the Shipwrecked/Climb to the Top Collection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mathis B Rogers
• Release date: Aug 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463856185

Mathis B Rogers

Mathis B. Rogers was born in Shamrock, Texas, and was raised all over the Texas Panhandle and South Plains of West Texas.He began writing when he was thirteen and while working the Night Audit (graveyard shift) for motels, he was able to be very prolific. Mathis enjoys writing and when someone asks him how to write, he replies, "It's just daydreaming and writing it down."

Book preview

Book 3

Climb to the Top

Mathis B. Rogers

© Copyright 1997-2018 Mathis B. Rogers

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Warning: If you are one of those who doesn’t believe in love at first sight, if you do not believe that someone can love someone so much that they have to hold hands or touch all the time while they’re together, if you think that telling someone I love you every fifteen minutes is mushy, then do not read this series.

This is Book 3 in the Shipwrecked/Climb to the Top Series.

While Kris and Brad are not in this story, the stories come together in Book 4.

You should read the stories in the order they were written.

Disclaimer: All of the characters and events, and most of the places, in these stories are fictitious and some of the locations actually wouldn’t work if they did exist. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. This series was written over a course of several years and the author hopes that you enjoy the collection.

You must be 18 or older to read these stories.

Since this is a series, you need to read them in the order listed.

The Books

Book 1: Shipwrecked—Kris Brown and his lover, Brad Peterson go for a ride on Brad's parent's new boat. Brad hasn't informed his family that he is gay, so Kris and Brad have to pretend to be just friends.

Book 2: Seashells—Sequel to Shipwrecked. Brad talks Kris's father, who is a helicopter pilot for Kilgore Search and Rescue, into flying the couple out to Kilgore Island to celebrate their second anniversary.

Book 3: Climb to The Top—Not related to Shipwrecked but becomes related in The Honeymoon. Country singer, Cliff Richmond is trying to make it in show biz when he is outed as not only being gay, but his lover, Preston Townsen, is a nude male model. Will the public let Cliff become the star he has always dreamed of becoming, will the homophobic rednecks kill him just because he's gay? Follow Cliff's journey to Country Music stardom in the redneck town of Timber Creek, Oklahoma. Cliff's Manager, Michael, sweeps him and his band off on a cross—country tour right into the heart of the Bible Belt, where the fans are few and far between.

Book 4: The Honeymoon—Sequel to Seashells and Climb to the Top. Gary Jones (from Climb to the Top) and his family visit his grandparents in Jefferson for Thanksgiving and afterwards, his cousin, Kris Brown and Kris’ lover, Brad Peterson, go to Redwood, Wyoming for their honeymoon.

Book 5: The Concert—Sequel to The Honeymoon. Chad, Brad and Kris go to Phoenix to visit the twin’s grandparents and to see a concert put on by Cliff and The Cowboys. Brad's grandparents don't know he's gay, so they have to play just friends again. However, Cliff has a problem with a radio reporter and accidentally drags Brad out of the closet. Will Brad leave Kris just because his grandparents don't approve?

Book 6: The Cruise—Cliff and Rex take their wedding cruise to Hawaii. Gary Jones flies to Jefferson for his grandparents’ 56th wedding anniversary.

Book 7: Rescue at Smuggler's Cove—When a storm hits Jefferson, the couple joins Kris' Dad in the helicopter and rush out to Smuggler's Cove for the rescue. They are surprised to discover who the victim is.

Book 8: Thunder in Paradise—Jefferson Bank and Trust has a new accounts manager. Just what hold does she have over Brad? In a tearful rage, will Kris take the promotion that he's offered with ICC, even though it requires him to go to Switzerland for three months?

Book 9: Family Reunion—The Petersons, and Kris, are joined by the Chestnuts as they take a plane to Miami, Florida for the Peterson Family Reunion. Upon returning to Jefferson, they help Garth move in with Dan and they celebrate Katherine Brown’s birthday.

Book 10: The Chronicles of Brad—As a special bonus, we revisit the series from Brad’s POV (Point of View). Find out how Brad felt when he first laid eyes on Kris, and other times when something happened during the series. Plus, he divulges other things that happened when Kris either wasn’t around or didn’t mention.

Chapter 1

Look, Victor, I said I’m not going to do it and that’s final. If they’re not happy with what I’ve been doing for them, then you can get someone else.

Calm down, Rex, Victor said. I understand how you feel, but the public wants to see you do it.

At six-foot three inches tall, Rex towered over the desk where Victor sat, but he placed his large hands on the desk and leaned across it, bringing his handsome face within an inch of Victor’s. I said, no, he said, firmly.

He straightened up and turned abruptly toward me. He stopped and looked at me for a moment. I melted under the gaze of those beautiful blue eyes. I was thankful the fire blazing in them wasn’t directed toward me. At two-hundred ten pounds of pure muscle, Rex Edwards was not someone you wanted mad at you. Let’s get out of here, Cliff, he said as I got to my feet. He placed his hand on my shoulder, spun me around and pushed me toward the door.

Dark gray clouds blew in on a cold north wind as Rex shoved the door open and we stepped out onto the sidewalk.

I’m so fucking pissed, Cliff, he opened the passenger door of his blue and silver Trans Am convertible for me. I can’t believe he asked me to do that.

I buckled my seatbelt and waited for him to get in the car but didn’t say anything.

Shit, he started the car. It looks like it’s going to snow.

It’s supposed to, I said.

He pulled out into the street and glanced over at me. You’re awful quiet, he said. Surely you don’t want me to do it, do you?

No. Of course not. Not without me anyway and you know I wouldn’t do it either.

Then what’s wrong, Cliff?

I sighed and looked out the window. Most of the leaves had already fallen off the trees. It had been a beautiful fall, but it was over. We were expecting our first snow that night. Rex pulled over to the side of the street, stopped the car and put it in park. He placed his warm strong hand over mine and I looked down at it.

Come on, Honey, he said, tenderly. What’s wrong?

I sighed and melted into those pools of blue. I couldn’t hide anything from him, and I couldn’t lie to him. Michael called this afternoon, I said, softly.

He shrugged. That’s normal. He’s your agent-slash-manager, it’s his job.

I took a deep breath, glanced out the window, then back at him. Someone leaked it to the press that I’m gay and my lover is a porn star.

He slapped the steering wheel. I ain’t no fucking porn star.

I know that, Sweetheart. You’re a model, but you do pose nude for magazines and other things.

And now that Victor wants me to do the fuck-flick, it would make it true if I did, he said.

Yes, it would.

He took a deep breath and looked out the driver’s window as a police car slowed to see if we were okay. We both smiled at the officer and waved. He drove on.

Well, I know one thing, Sweetheart, Rex said, gently rubbing my hand. I am not going to fuck anyone but you and we’re not going to do that in front of a camera.

I smiled and leaned over to kiss him. Neither am I. I love you.

I love you, too, Cliff. He put the car in gear, and we headed home.

There’s one more thing that Michael said that you need to know, I reluctantly added as he drove.

What’s that?

Michael scheduled a tour for me. I leave Friday. It’s a tri-state tour and I’ll be gone for a month.

The flames flickering in Rex’s eyes blazed brighter as he stabbed the button to open the gate to our three-bedroom brick home.

He thinks that if you stay here and I go on the road, the media will concentrate on the tour instead of my private life. Then when I get back, we can try to keep a low profile and get back together.

I see, he said as the gate closed behind us.

Makes me wonder if Victor is the shit-head who leaked that little tidbit of info to the press. He’s known all along that I won’t cheat on you. Maybe he thinks that if you have to leave me because of your career, then I’ll do the fuck-flick for him.

He steered the car into the garage, and I opened the car door. I hope he’s not that shallow.

He’ll do anything to turn a buck, Babe, Rex said, unlocking the utility room door. Even though he had parked in the garage and no one could get into the garage without the opener, we added to the security of the house by locking the garage door—just in case. I had too much musical equipment in one of the spare bedrooms to risk any one breaking in.

I guess so, I replied as Rex punched in the code for the security system.

What are you going to do, Babe? he asked, handing me his black leather jacket.

I hung it up in the hall closet with mine. I don’t know. I’ve done concerts out of town before, but never done a tour before. Part of me is excited, but the part of me that you hold in your heart doesn’t want to go.

I don’t want you to go, either, he replied. But I’m not going to stand in your way.

I followed him into the living room.

Are you going to use Garland’s bus again?

I sat on the plush blue-velvet couch and removed my shoes. Rex sat next to me and pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his strong chest and rubbed his leg. Yes. He bought it for us.

Good. I like that bus. But I am going to go check it out, myself this time. We don’t want it breaking down again. It didn’t make it back from Chesterville last month and I had to come get you, remember?

I know, Sweetheart. Gary checked it out last time before we left Chesterville. It was just the water pump. It wasn’t that big of a deal. But I appreciated you bringing the water pump and getting me. We didn’t have any other problems with it until then, either. I would appreciate you looking it over, though. I ran my hand up his stomach to his chest.

I’m sorry, Hon, he said, softly. I just don’t want to be without you for a full month. It’s bad enough when I have to go out on a shoot over a weekend and you can’t come with me. But for a whole month?

I know. I agree. I wish you could come along and be my bodyguard or something. But Michael thinks we should try to keep the public from seeing us together as much as possible until the media cools down. Also, since there’s a double in the bedroom that I’ll use, we wouldn’t be able to sleep together without the guys knowing. I don’t think you’d like sleeping in the bedroom with me sleeping on the couch in the living area, either. I know I wouldn’t.

No, I damn sure wouldn’t like that. And you’re right. It’s just that I have to sit around with a boner for so long in front of the camera, that I’m ready to get you to release it by the time I get home. Shit, the other day Victor wanted a shot of me squirting and I had to jerk off for the camera. I couldn’t even cum. Standing around in front of people all day has gotten so tedious that you’re the only one who can make me cum anymore. Luckily he doesn’t want cum shots very often.

I unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and smiled. I never had any trouble making him cum for me. You’d better not be letting anyone else try to get you to cum.

Don’t worry, Babe. Justin offered to help me, but I wouldn’t let him.

Have you considered that maybe you need to stop posing for a while?

His deep sexy chuckle echoed through the room. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? That way only you could see me nude.

I kissed him and smiled. I love you. I don’t care who sees you, as long as I am the only one who gets you.

He smiled and kissed me again. Shit, Honey, you’re making me horny, he whispered.

I can fix that. I unbuttoned his shirt and ran my hands through the soft, thick black hair on his muscular chest and stomach.

Mm, that feels good, Babe.

The phone rang the moment I unbuttoned his jeans.

Shit, he sighed. Who could that be?

I picked up the cordless that set on the end table and looked at the Caller-id display on the handset. Who else? I punched the ‘talk’ button and said, Yes, Michael?

What’d he say? Michael asked, hopefully.

As if he had a choice, I replied.

I know, Cliff, Michael said. I wouldn’t even consider it if your career wasn’t at stake. Look, you’ve got one album out. The only song on it we’ve released as a single is number forty on the charts. Twenty new artists came out in the past two months—you were number eighteen. Your competition is making it harder to push you than usual.

I sighed and glanced at Rex.

I hate to say this, Cliff, Michael continued, but the country music business still isn’t ready for a gay artist. If they find out you’re gay, we might as well pack it in. If you were doing pop or rock, we could probably get away with it, but not with country.

Michael had just reached through the phone and yanked my heart out of my chest. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. I see. So, since someone leaked it to the press that I am gay and have a porn star for a lover, then I might as well start packing.

Michael took a deep breath. Not yet, Cliff, he said, tenderly. I did find out that it was to a tabloid, not a real paper. I also got a copy of it. It’s got a photo of you and Rex—Preston— going in the back door of the Plaza. But, besides wearing a pair of leather pants and leather vest and holding the door open for you, there’s nothing to indicate that you are lovers or that you were doing anything out of the ordinary there. I think I can persuade everyone that he’s just your bodyguard and you were going in the back door to avoid a crowd at the front.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I will advise you, Cliff, Michael continued, whatever you do, don’t kiss him anywhere anyone can see you. Just because you can’t see anyone, that doesn’t mean they can’t see you with a high-powered lens.

Yes, Sir. I did kiss him in the car out on the street this afternoon.

Oh, shit. And you don’t know if anyone saw you or not, do you?

No. A police officer had just driven by, but we didn’t see anyone else around. But I wasn’t looking for anyone, either.

What were you doing at the Plaza when this was taken? he asked.

Stallion Studios rents the penthouse there for photo shoots. He would have been doing a shoot. Since he’s got to stay boned for so long, I go with him occasionally to keep him up.

You haven’t done anything with him in front of a camera, have you? he asked.

No. I don’t touch him while I’m there and I stay out from in front of the cameras, too. I also keep my clothes on. I just make facial expressions that make him horny. I do kiss him on the lips occasionally, though.

That’s good. Have you ever gone there for any other reason?

Nope. They do have a nice restaurant, but we’ve never eaten there together.

What time would this photo have been taken?

Probably around one.

Good. You have eaten there for lunch, now, he said. You and your bodyguard, Preston Townsend, had lunch at the Plaza that day.

Preston Townsend was the stage name that Rex used. Victor was the only person at Stallion Studios who knew his real name, and, except when they were alone or with me, he always called him Preston.

Okay. Sounds good to me, I replied. I decided not to mention what would happen if the tabloid asked the staff in the restaurant if they had seen us together.

I heard a page turn.

Uh oh. It looks like we do have another problem that might prevent me from getting away with that story, he said.

What’s that?

Here’s another photo on the next page of you on stage. Next to it, there’s a photo of Rex with his shirt off. He’s got his back turned a little bit to the camera and there’s a nice shot of his hip. It’s obvious by this photo he’s naked. I’ve seen this photo in the portfolio you showed me. I’ve also seen it on the Internet. It’s going to be difficult to fight this one, Cliff. However, this still does not prove you’re lovers, just that your bodyguard is a male model.

I walked over to the patio doors and looked out into the backyard as snow began to drift slowly to the ground.

Would that be so bad? I asked. I could just fire him and get on with my life.

True, but how would you explain it when you were seen in public with him later? Michael asked. ‘Cause I know that you’re not going to give Rex up for this. You’d be stupid to, Cliff. You love each other too much for that. Even if your relationship were just physical, I’d probably say you would be stupid to give up that big dick and body, too. But I know there’s more to your relationship than just sex.

That’s true, I agreed.

But, he continued, slyly.

But what? I asked, nervously, when he paused.

"What if we did convince the public that he was