They hailed a taxi. “Where are we going?” He asked as
he pul ed Rhys into the backseat after him.
“My flat,” Rhys blushed furiously and it made Michael
smirk at him. “I mean we don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Squeezing his hand lightly as the cab pul ed away from
the curb Michael said, “It’s fine, real y. I wouldn’t be here if I
didn’t want to be. Just relax.” His hand slid down to rest on
Rhys’s thigh as Rhys gave the address to the driver.
When they arrived at Rhys’s flat, Michael leaned casual y
against the wal as he watched Rhys fumble with his keys.
Standing there, Michael couldn’t stop himself from
chuckling softly because Rhys looked so damn cute when
he blushed. Michael sensed Rhys was in a hurry as if he
wanted to get him inside before any of the neighbours
noticed. And honestly, Michael didn’t mind that idea at al . If
no one saw him, then no one would be able to identify him
later in case things didn’t go as planned. Though he did feel
a little bit guilty because he planned to use Rhys so
cal ously when he knew things weren’t going to go
anywhere nearly as far as Rhys was hoping for. But he had
come too far to back out now. He could almost feel the
warm blood sliding down his throat with each swal ow. It
took al his wil power not to jump Rhys right then and there.
“Would you care for another drink?”
There was a slight tremble in his voice. Lust and hunger
hit him when Michael heard Rhys gasp as he stopped Rhys
from turning on the lights. Michael thought maybe Rhys had
never done this before, brought home another man. Maybe
not even a girl. They real y did have something in common.
“We don’t need them.” Michael brought his lips to a
finger width away from those of Rhys; he could taste Rhys’s
breath between them. He hesitated momentarily wondering
if he could actual y go through with it or just leave. Guilt
warred with his hunger. Was this real y the way to go?
Maybe Kerr was right and a quick and easy death was
better. Michael couldn’t believe he was actual y thinking
about it. Kerr’s way would never be right. His doubts were
pushed aside as Rhys closed the distance. Michael was
shocked Rhys’s lips were so warm and soft as they moved
over his. Michael resisted the urge to push him away as
Christian’s face flashed momentarily into his mind,
Christian’s eyes accusing and fil ed with hurt.
Tenderly, Michael’s fingers caressed Rhys’s throat as
Rhys began to unbutton his shirt. Was it bad that he was
just glad Rhys was more than a little drunk? Hopeful y he
would do what the last few people had, and wouldn’t
remember anything in the morning. Hopeful y he would pass
out before things got more intense, which Michael more
than likely would regret later. Blinking, Michael refocused;
this was not the time to start thinking.
It was then that Michael let his mouth wander along
Rhys’s jaw, nibbling gently before lowering his mouth to
Rhys’s neck. To his surprise, he realised this part, the
kissing, wasn’t as bad as he feared. It was kind of
enjoyable. Rhys had real y soft skin and it had such a nice
taste, no cologne just pure natural man. Michael heard
Rhys’s breath go ragged in his ear, and felt the flow of
blood pulsing beneath his skin. Winding his hands around
the back of Rhys’s head, and entwining his fingers in his
hair, he tried to ignore how guilty he was feeling as his body
began reacting to Rhys caressing him. Pul ing gently on
Rhys’s hair Michael broke the kiss and stared into Rhys’s
eyes.
Michael stepped away as Rhys undid his belt and jeans.
Rhys seemed confused until Michael spoke. “Are we going
to do this standing right here in your doorway for the whole
neighbourhood to see, or are you planning on taking me to
bed anytime soon?” Rhys slowly smiled as he took
Michael’s hand and led him through to the bedroom.
Michael didn’t complain as Rhys finished undressing him.
Seriously, he was kinda amused at how nervous Rhys real y
was. In his nervousness his fingers kept fumbling at what he
was doing. He lay on the bed as he watched Rhys strip and
join him, the blush had spread and now covered Rhys’s
whole body and Michael thought it looked beautiful. It struck
Michael as funny that he was lying naked in an almost–
stranger’s bed and he realised he was at a total loss. What
was he meant to do now? Because he knew he wasn’t
going to do what Rhys had brought him here for. How did
he let it get this far? He had two choices: stop or go on, and
he was too hungry to stop.
Decision made, Michael rol ed to face Rhys as they
started kissing again and was once again embarrassed as
his body responded to Rhys’s touch. Rhys’s hands felt nice
as the slowly caressed his sides. For a moment he
wondered if it would feel the same with Christian, but then
he banished the thought just as quickly as it came.
Christian had no place in this bed.
Biting slowly so he didn’t frighten Rhys, Michael didn’t
want him to panic. At this stage he didn’t even think Rhys
had even realised he had been bitten. As he drank, Michael
felt his desire grow strong as Rhys’s hands wrapped
around his hardness and began to stroke him. The
sensation of Rhys’s unfamiliar touch was thril ing to him just
as much as it was shocking him. No one besides himself
had ever touched him— there—before. It felt so different
from using his own hand. Rhys’s hand began to move
faster, and Michael began to move his hips in time with the
strokes on his cock. Pleasure raced through him as he felt
his testicles begin to draw up tight to his body, and knew he
would not last much longer. With a low moan, Michael
pul ed back and stopped drinking the moment he felt his
orgasm racing through his body; it felt like everything was
burning up with his desire to release and then he felt Rhys
go limp in his arms. Fuck!
Everything felt sensitive as Michael groaned and slowly
came down from his high, his fingers absently running
through the cum covering both their stomachs. Most people
would think it was strange how he was stil a virgin at
twenty-two, but it was just he had never found the person he
wanted to give that part of himself to. His grandad had
drummed it into his head enough when he was younger that
his virginity was an important part of him. It was meant to be
saved for love, not lust. So Michael had held onto it waiting
for the right person to come along. It was funny how
Christian’s face immediately came to mind.
Lying there, Michael chuckled. At least Rhys would think
they had been intimate. Wel , Michael supposed he had left
enough evidence to support the fact. Studying Rhys’s
features as he waited to make sure his bite again
disappeared, and it did. Licking away the excess blood he
kissed Rhys tenderly. Somehow it seemed right, and real y
he just wanted to feel those lips again, though it wasn’t the
same as when he had been awake.
Sitting up and real y looking at Rhys’s naked body, he
realised it was so different from Christian’s, Michael
thought, as he ran his fingertips across Rhys’s chest. His
skin was so smooth and blemish free, he had a deep tan
and had no tan lines which made Michael smile again. He
felt a little confused as his hand drifted down and touched
Rhys’s partial y erect penis. It amazed him when it began
hardening as he stroked along its length. Michael caressed
him gently, and then slowly increased the pace. Moving
down the bed, he brought his face closer to Rhys’s
hardness and watched, fascinated, as his fingers moved up
and down on him.
He slowed his movements when he felt Rhys begin to
move his hips. It was like Rhys was trying to increase the
stroking again. Stil half out of it Rhys put his hand on the
back of Michael’s head, and pushed his face closer to the
action. Michael knew what he wanted, but wasn’t ready to
take the final step. Hearing a deep moan he could sense
Rhys was getting close and he moved his hand more
rapidly. Then he watched in wonder as Rhys’s body
convulsed with his release. Fascinated, Michael rubbed his
hand over Rhys’s abdomen, smearing the cum over his
skin. Bringing his hand to his nose, he inhaled the funky
aroma. Weirdly he found it intoxicating. His tongue darted
out and tasted just a little of the bitter fluid before he wiped
his hand off on the sheets, and stood, lingering only long
enough to make sure Rhys was once again ful y asleep.
Satisfied he had left Rhys sated, Michael showered
before he dressed and left the apartment. Now that his
hunger had been assuaged he could go home and crawl
into bed beside Christian, where he belonged. He
wondered if Christian would be happy to see him.
CHAPTER FOUR
Dreams suck, they really do.
Charm was sitting there in the semi-darkness when he
walked through the front door. Had she been waiting up for
him? She scared the bejesus out of him when she spoke
because her voice sounded very pissed off.
“Somebody’s been a very naughty boy,” were the first
words that greeted him as he arrived home and that simple
statement chil ed him to the bone. “You shouldn’t hurt the
one you love.” Her eyes changed then and held a
mischievous gleam. “You have quite broken his heart. You
are a naughty, naughty boy.”
“What the fuck? Seriously?” Michael tried to compose
himself.
“You love him, don’t deny it.” Her eyes blazed.
“I’m not in love with anybody,” Michael denied anyway as
he strode past her. He wasn’t real y sure if she had meant
Rhys or Christian, and it confused him. Bypassing his room
he headed straight for the narrow steps which led to the
attic. There he would find the quiet he needed to dissipate
the guilt he was now feeling, thanks to Charm and her
goading. Michael threw himself onto the bed and stared up
at the underside of the roof above him. He would get a few
hours sleep before doing anything. If he could just explain to
Christian then maybe he would understand. Until he could
tel Christian exactly what he had been doing he knew he
couldn’t go back to their bed.
§ § § §
Christian woke to the sound of movement above his
head. Who in the fricken hel would be moving around up in
the roof? Why would they even want to be in the attic?
When checking on his new pet, he saw that Michael stil
hadn’t returned home. He tried not to think about what
Michael was probably doing right about now with the nasty
arsed guy from the nightclub. Honestly he was stil a little
angry and more than a little hurt how Michael hadn’t chosen
him to be gay with. A shiver raced through him as it struck
him that maybe the presence they al felt the other day had
returned. Getting up, he headed for the attic to investigate.
Man, he hated cramped spaces. Cringing inwardly, he
made his way through the jumbled mess. Hoping like hel
he found nothing.
Christian stopped when he found Michael lying half-
naked on an old bed total y engrossed in what he was
looking at. His gaze landed on Michael’s shirt where it lay in
a heap on the floor with his shoes and socks. His jeans
were stil on but had been unbuttoned and unzipped enough
so he could see Michael’s red undies. Michael was holding
an old photograph in his hand. It was as if Michael hadn’t
even heard him approaching, and if he had he pretended
not to notice, which pissed him off a tad more.
Irritated at Michael’s apparent rudeness he had to fight
the urge to stamp his foot in frustration but knew he would
probably only end up hurting his bare foot. With his luck he
would cut it on something nasty.
“What are you doing?” Christian final y asked when
Michael stil didn’t acknowledge him. It took al his strength
not to snap and launch himself at Michael demanding
answers of Michael’s behaviour from earlier in the night and
demanding to find out what the hel he had gotten up to with
the stupid hooker boy.
photo and spoke. “Not much.”
Lust hit Michael as he looked Christian up and down
where he stood in just boxer briefs which left nothing to the
imagination. A smile pul ed at the corner of his mouth as he
final y admitted to himself Christian real y did have a nice
body, scars and al . He real y was beautiful. Christian
seemed to be slightly uncomfortable and maybe a little
cranky standing there under his gaze. Michael wondered
what he was thinking. What was it that made Christian’s
pale skin flush with colour?
When he reached the foot of the bed, Christian stared at
him. His arms folded across his chest in irritation — or so
Michael thought — when he spoke. “Why are you up here?”
Moving over a fraction Michael patted the bed. “Just
curious I guess. Needed time to think. Hiding from Charm.
Take your pick.” He smirked as Christian crawled onto the
bed and sat beside him.
“Who’s the photo of?” Christian asked as he reached for
the picture.
“Sebastian Proctulay.” Michael held the photo up so
Christian could see it. “I don’t know who he is I just found it
in this journal,” Michael pointed to where the book lay on a
box beside them.
“Runic,” Christian said thoughtful y as he flicked through
the book, randomly stopping at one page or another.
Leaning in, Michael watched as Christian’s slender
fingers traced across the lines of the page.
“You
can read what it says?” Michael asked with interest,
pointing toward the page, which caused his arm to rub up
against Christian’s. Christian shivered before he answered
and Michael loved knowing he had such an effect on him.
Was Christian trying to calm himself studying the journal? “I
don’t real y understand it. Runic is written backward, from
right to left. I can’t remember al of it but some of the
symbols are familiar. See that one?” Christian pointed to
one of the markings. “It is the symbol for the word ‘and’,” he
pointed to another one, “and this one is the word ‘the’. Give
me time and I could probably work it out.” Christian put the
journal back on the box. “Why do you want to read it?”
With a yawn, Michael laid the photo on the journal, and
then scrubbed at his face with his hands as he did. “Just
curious I guess.”
“Tired?” Christian gently brushed Michael’s hair out of
his eyes before he started to get up.
“Mmm,” Michael reached out and placed his hand on
Christian’s chest to stop him from leaving. “Stay with me.”
Michael didn’t say any more as he closed his eyes, not
letting go. Slowly Christian spread out on the bed beside
him. Strangely he was feeling both nervous and happy al at
the same time. Because Michael stil smel ed like Michael.
There were only slight traces of the nasty arsed hooker boy
on him. It was almost as if Michael had read his mind when
he final y did speak.
“I didn’t fuck him.”
Christian breathed a huge sigh of relief. Michael
wrapped his arm further around him and laid his head on
the pil ow so that it was close to his. Snuggling closer,
Christian couldn’t help but breathe him in. So many things
in his life were changing; one change being that Michael’s
scent had quite rapidly become a soothing balm to his soul.
When Michael was near, Christian thought everything was
final y right in his world. His fingers lightly traced over
Michael’s scar.
He got the feeling that Charm was smiling from where
she lay in the darkness of her room. Even though Christian
knew Charm was probably asleep and dreaming he got the
feeling he had somehow entered her dreams when pictures
of Michael and him lying amid the chaos of the attic fil ed
her head.
A picture of another time opens the doorways in your