Til Darkness Falls, page 22
“Yeah. It’s been a bear of a week.”
“Well, we have a bit of a drive to reach the inn. Why don’t you get some rest? Do you mind if I put on some music?”
Something soft and instrumental filled the car. Brian felt himself relax into the seat. “Sounds like a plan.” He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them as a thought interrupted his attempt to nap. “You never told me what this inn is like or even where it is.”
Alrick smirked. “You didn’t look at the website I sent you?”
“I didn’t get a chance. I had some last minute stuff to wrap up at work and ran out of time, and I don’t have a computer at home.” Brian rolled his eyes when the blond sent him an amused glance. “Yeah, I know. I’m a dinosaur.”
“Hardly. There is nothing scaly about you.”
Brian’s breath hitched in his throat when a large hand came to rest on his thigh. He could feel the other man’s warmth even through the thick denim of his jeans. “That’s so not helping with the whole sleep thing.” A soft chuckle rose over the music as the hand gave him a final squeeze and a fond pat before returning to the gearshift. Brian tried not to feel disappointed. “So, about the inn—?”
“Oh, no.” Alrick shook his head. “Since you did not do your homework, I feel like remaining mysterious. We’ll be there soon enough, and you can see for yourself.”
Brian was already dozing, the classical music and drone of the car’s engine quickly lulling him to sleep. He thought he might have mumbled something in response, but he was gone before he could be sure.
“TIME to wake up, sleeping beauty.”
Something soft pressed against his forehead, and Brian struggled to open his eyes, blinking as the overhead light hit him. When his vision cleared, he was able to focus on Alrick, who hovered mere inches from his face, gazing down at him with vibrant blue eyes. That color, which should have been as cold as glacial ice, never failed to fill him with heat. Brian’s eyes drifted shut as the other man kissed him gently.
The kiss wasn’t urgent. It was slow and comfortable, like they had all the time in the world just to be close to each other. Brian raised his arms and wrapped them around the other man’s neck as a tongue licked at his lips, seeking entrance. Parting his lips in response, Brian leaned forward, trying to close the distance between them.
“Ow.” Brian glanced down ruefully as a hard stick dug into his side, and not in a good way.
Alrick chuckled, disappointment obvious in his tone. “Perhaps this isn’t the best place for this.” As though he couldn’t resist, he ducked his head and gave Brian one last kiss.
This one held far more heat than the last, and Brian groaned in protest when the taller man pulled away. He let out a loud, gusty breath as he flopped back against his seat. Making out in a car in the dark. Check. “All I need is a school ID and braces.”
“What was that?”
Alrick had opened his door and swung his long legs out of the car. Brian glanced over to see the other man looking back over his shoulder at him. Brian’s laugh was self-mocking as he shook his head and followed suit. “Never mind.”
It was eerily dark, the full moon hanging directly over their heads providing the only light. Not that there was much to see. They were clearly miles outside of the city. If he looked hard, Brian could discern the skeletal remains of winter-bare trees interspersed with a few spiky pines.
“Damn, it’s cold out here.” His breath rose into the air in a smoky plume.
“It’s always cooler away from the city. The asphalt and concrete hold heat. No so with grass and dirt.”
“Hmmm.” Brian heard something rustle in the darkness and peered into it, tried to see what it was. Nothing doing. A sound from over his head was far more familiar but no less unexpected. “Was that an owl?” A chuckle was his only answer. He shot Alrick a dirty look. “Hey, I’m a city boy. I’m not use to all of this nature stuff.”
“Then this will be a good experience for you. Come, grab your bag and we’ll go.”
Brian looked around as he complied. His eyes had begun to adjust to the dark, and he could tell they were in some sort of parking area. There were two other cars there but no signs of anything else. “So where’s this inn of yours?”
“Patience.” Alrick smiled at him as he retrieved his suitcase and shut the trunk. “We have to take a short walk through the woods. Do you think you can handle it, city boy?” The smile grew into a teasing grin.
Brian stuck out his tongue and struck out on the path he could see leading from the lot. Laughter rang out behind him, and he shook his head as a surge of warmth chased away the cold. Alrick drew even with him, his long legs easily erasing Brian’s head start. Dead leaves crunched under their feet as they walked. Brian winced, wishing he’d brought a hat as his ears began to ache from the chill.
“It’s almost spring, but looks like winter isn’t giving up just yet. Are you sure we’ll be able to spend any time outdoors while we’re here?”
“Would you mind if we didn’t?”
Brian felt a tingle in his lower belly at the suggestive tone. “No,” he answered honestly. The other man grinned at his directness. “But since we’re here, wherever here is, it’d be nice if we could take full advantage of our time here.”
“Then you’re in luck. I checked the weather report before I came to pick you up. It’s supposed to be lovely this weekend.”
“Seriously? But it’s March!”
Alrick smiled at him. “Trust me, Liebling. We will have a wonderful time.”
“What does that mean?”
“What, Liebling?”
Brian nodded. The tingling in his belly grew worse when the blond merely quirked his lips in a sexy grin in lieu of answering.
As Alrick had promised, they’d been walking for less than five minutes when the trees suddenly fell away as they came into a clearing. The area was almost bright due to the lights blazing from the building in the center of a dark ring of trees.
“Whoa.”
“It’s nice, ja?”
Even in the darkness Brian could see that the inn exuded a sort of quaintness that placed it a cut above some plain old motel. The first floor was skirted by a wrap-around porch, and several long benches and chairs provided places for guests to sit and enjoy the fresh air. Curved balustrades formed the porch railing, breaking only where a set of steps led up to the porch from the cobblestone walkway. Bay windows fronted the first level of the converted house, shaded by the porch roof that swept up to the second level. Three stories above the ground, more bay windows indicated that there were at least six rooms available for rent. The three rooms on the upper floor had dormer extensions that continued the bay window theme all the way to the top of the inn.
Brian followed Alrick as they headed up the steps and across the porch. A bundle of dried herbs wrapped around a bell hung on the front door, and they bounced with a soft tinkle as the blond pushed it open. The entry hall was crammed full of china cabinets filled with curios and dishes, a theme that carried through into the sitting room they passed through as they walked further into the converted home. Knick-knacks covered every available surface, and pictures and portraits from a bygone era created a wallpaper effect. The sitting room was situated with sofas and overstuffed chairs, while another room held a piano and more upholstered armchairs. Through an opening toward the back of the house, they could see a dining room featuring a beautiful fireplace and a long table of gleaming, well-polished cherry wood. Delicious smells wafted from the dining room, and as they moved through it, they could see that the door to the homey kitchen, which was set conveniently off of the dining room, was open. Several platters of food were set out on a sideboard and lightly draped with linen cloths to allow guests access to late night snacking.
The reception area was situated toward the back of the house. The woman at the front desk looked like somebody’s grandmother, her blue eyes faded yet twinkling, her full cheeks rosy, and her silver hair tightly curled to within an inch of its life.
“Welcome to O’Malley’s Folly. I’m Mrs. O’Malley. How can I help you boys?”
“Why do you call it a folly?” Brian asked. “It’s a lovely place.”
The woman’s hearty laugh was slightly raspy as though her throat suffered from a lifetime of producing the boisterous sound. “Oh, aren’t you a dear? It was my husband who came up with the idea for this inn, and in the beginning, it was a complete disaster. So it seemed fitting.”
“The name’s Ritter. I have a reservation.”
Brian watched the innkeeper uneasily as Alrick gave her his information. He wondered what she would think about two obviously unrelated men checking in together. But the smiling woman didn’t bat an eye.
“You boys are in luck! One of the top floor rooms is available. Those have much higher ceilings, perfect for tall lads such as yourselves.”
With that, she handed Alrick a double set of keys and waved them on their way. Brian glanced at her over his shoulder as he followed Alrick to the wooden staircase, but all he received in return was a friendly wink. Blushing, he smiled at her in return before joining Alrick, who had already disappeared up the stairs.
Their room reflected the antique store vibe of the rest of the house, but there was plenty of space for them to set out their own personal items. The bathroom, located down the hall, was communal for everyone on that floor. But the best part of their room, in his opinion, was the single queen-sized bed that ensured they would have to get as cozy as possible to both fit on it.
“So what do you think?”
Brian could hear the slight wariness in the other man’s voice as he waited for Brian’s approval. He didn’t hesitate to reassure him. “It’s fantastic. I’m glad I didn’t see what it was like beforehand. It was a really nice surprise.” Brian stepped closer to the blond and gave him a peck on his lips. “Thanks for bringing me here.” He felt his stomach flip when that smile he loved so much beamed down at him.
“I know that it’s a bit cold out, but do you want to look around the grounds some before we turn in? If we stay close to the inn, we should be able to see well enough.”
Although Brian relished the thought of walking arm-in-arm with Alrick under the moonlight, he could see the tiredness in the other man’s face. “Nah, you drove while I slept. Why don’t we just call it a night? We have almost two days to freeze our asses off.”
Alrick chucked. “Ye of little faith. I tell you, it will be very pleasant this weekend.”
“Uh huh. I’ll believe it when I’m not cold.”
Working around each other like they’d been doing so for years, they arranged their luggage and took turns using the shower situated in the claw foot bathtub. Of course, when Alrick returned to their room wearing nothing but a towel low around his hips, sleep became the last thing on Brian’s mind. The blond was running another towel over his hair to remove excess water, and some of it had fallen onto his bare skin to cling in tempting droplets. Brian touched his tongue to his lips with the urge to lick them away.
He tried to hide his sudden arousal, but as always, Alrick read him like an open book. The corner of Alrick’s mouth quirked up as his eyes darkened several shades. Brian was wearing only pajama bottoms, and when his nipples began to harden beneath the other man’s caressing gaze, the other man honed in on them, his smile growing.
“Hmmm, maybe I’m not so sleepy after all.”
Brian looked from one side of the room to the other, wondering just how thin the walls were and whether there was anyone else staying on their floor. Alrick closed the space between them until they were pressed chest-to-chest, leaning in until their lips were almost touching. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you don’t scream the place down.”
The tongue that swept into Brian’s mouth silenced his indignant protest. Eyes fluttering closed, Brian forgot about anything that didn’t have to do with the man taking ownership of his mouth. He hadn’t slept with that many guys, but he could say with unequivocal certainty that Alrick was the best kisser he’d ever known. All of those trite clichés about the earth moving, stars sparkling, knees turning to jelly, damn if they weren’t all true.
Brian moaned deeply as his cock went from zero to aching in an instant. Alrick groaned his approval when Brian pushed his hips forward so that his arousal met the intriguing bulge beneath the white towel wrapped around the blond’s hips. Long arms encircled Brian’s waist, and large hands palmed his ass greedily, pulling his hips even farther forward. They rubbed against each other instinctively, and the towel quickly succumbed to the shifting friction, falling into a forgotten pile on the floor.
The heat between them rose as the thin fabric of Brian’s pajamas became the only barrier between them. Brian slid his hands around Alrick’s sides, enjoying the firm bunching and smoothing as Alrick’s muscles shifted beneath his shower-warmed skin. He traced up the taller man’s broad back, his fingers curling unconsciously as damp heat teased his sensitive palms. Alrick sighed into his mouth as his nails raked gently over the pale surface. Brian came up for air for a brief moment to make his wishes known.
“My pants… off! ” He pushed his tongue deep into Alrick’s mouth in gratitude as the hands cupping his ass shifted to delve beneath the soft fabric of his pajamas. It was amazing how quickly he’d become so thoroughly addicted to the other man’s taste. Their tongues wrestled, seeking mutual satisfaction rather than dominance, but the contact was broken when Brian’s head dropped back as Alrick squeezed the warm, soft globes in his hands.
Alrick took Brian’s bottom lip between his teeth, nibbling and sucking on the plump flesh as the front of Brian’s pajama bottoms drew damp with the evidence of his growing excitement. Brian barely registered the hazy sensation of moving backwards, his sense of balance a mess due to the lack of blood in his brain. The backs of his legs hit something, and the room suddenly tilted. Letting out a startled oomph, Brian found himself lying face up on the mattress, staring up at the ceiling.
He threw Alrick a narrow-eyed glare as the German stood by his legs, gloriously naked save for the pleased smirk on his lips. “That was smooth, you bastard.”
“I thought so.”
The blond reached down and hooked his fingers in the waistband of Brian’s pajamas. He tugged them down slowly, baring his lower body inch by inch, the slightly cool air raising gooseflesh on his skin as it was revealed. Brian felt like he was being peeled like a banana, especially since Alrick looked like he dearly wanted to eat him up. The chill in the room succumbed readily to the scorching heat of the blond’s gaze as it inched downward, following the path of the pajamas. Dark blue eyes caressed the length of his cock, and when it was finally clear of the sliding fabric, it sprang upwards to flop eagerly against his belly.
Brian groaned, mortified as the swollen brown tip leaked against his stomach. He turned his face into the covers, managing to hide only one burning cheek from the other man’s scrutiny.
“Do you know how much it turns me on when you act shy like this?”
Brian opened his mouth to express his skepticism at the silly comment, but whatever snarky response he’d been preparing was forgotten when a hot tongue licked at the moisture on his belly. Brian felt the remainder of his blood rush south as Alrick lapped up the little pool that had spilled from his throbbing cock. The sight nearly short-circuited his brain.
“Fuck—”
“Mmm, yes. Very soon.”
Brian wasn’t sure whether the other man’s growl was a promise or a threat, but either way it went straight to where he hurt the most. Heedless of his plaintive moans, Alrick ignored Brian’s weeping arousal and shifted upward along his stomach, running his tongue along the lightly furred area around Brian’s navel. He dipped his tongue into the indentation, taking a moment to swirl it around as he lingered.
Brian’s hips jerked off the bed as the sensation ran through him like an electrical shock. “Ahh, Alrick, come on, man!”
“You Americans are so impatient. You want everything now.” Warm puffs blew against Brian’s skin as the German continued to lick his way upward as he spoke. “Wouldn’t you rather I took my time and gave you all the pleasure you could ever want? Hmmm?”
Brian grunted as Alrick bit at the flesh covering his ribs. Firm lips fastened around the spot a moment later and sucked at the small hurt. “I might be dead later.” A low chuckle stroked Brian’s ears as Alrick ran his hands slowly up along his heaving sides. He swore that he could hear the other man’s accent in his laugh. It was sexy as hell.
“Is that so? Then perhaps I should do this before you expire.”
“No, not there! Unghh!” Brian had never thought that his nipples were particularly sensitive, but apparently he just hadn’t met the right guy. The blond took his time, circling the brown nub with the tip of his tongue until the areola puckered and Brian was squirming against the bed.
Alrick raised his head for a moment to study his handiwork. “Yes, that’s very nice.”
Brian expected him to give his other nipple the same treatment, but clearly Alrick wasn’t finished torturing him just yet. The broad surface of the other man’s tongue massaged the sensitive peak with wet, obscene circles. Around and around it went until Brian could feel a trail of saliva running down his side. And still the maddening caress continued, the rough surface of the blond’s tongue stimulating him until he swore he could feel it in his toenails. His cock was leaking like crazy, bouncing against his stomach as he panted. His legs moved helplessly against the bed, making a wreck of the sheets as he spread them apart in a wordless demand. Alrick fitted himself between them, the hard plane of his stomach rubbing against the tight balls and aching hardness nestled there.
“Nnnngg! For the love of… shit!” Brian grabbed at the other man’s head, not sure whether it was to hold him in place or to push him away. Holy fuck, I can’t believe I’m going to come from this!
Light began to flash behind his eyes, heralding his climax, when Alrick finally took pity on him. His hooded blue gaze was so dark his eyes appeared black. His lower lip glistened with wetness, his chest moving rapidly as though he too were fighting for control.
