Til Darkness Falls, page 9
Brian sank his teeth into the blond’s neck, trying to make him stop before he lost it completely. All he got for his trouble was a lusty groan and the slow roll of his nipple between a dexterous finger and thumb. Brian rushed to clarify, his sanity hanging by a rapidly fraying thread. “Not until you’re inside me,” he whispered, feeling his face catch on fire. Brian could hardly believe what he’d just blurted out. Always somewhat shy about the whole business, he had never been overly vocal during moments of intimacy, not even with Dennis. But Alrick had broken down his inhibitions to the point where he was willing to say whatever he had to in order to get what he wanted. And what he wanted was the other man’s cock buried so deep inside of him that he could taste it.
Alrick pulled back just far enough so they could look each other in the eye. Silently, he asked if Brian was sure, warning him that this was his last chance to change his mind. Brian let his lips answer for him, leaning down until he could press them against the firm, tempting line of Alrick’s mouth. In a dizzying flash, he found himself on his back with his legs propped up on the taller man’s shoulders. He watched eagerly, licking his lips as Alrick ripped open one of the foil packets he had retrieved from his suitcase and rolled a condom down his length, making a lusciously decadent show of it. Brian felt his cock pulse as if it were the one being squeezed. Ice-blue eyes watched him in return, darkening as though the blond could see the desire coiling in his stomach.
The broad head of Alrick’s thick cock nudged against his well-oiled entrance. Brian instinctively grabbed hold of the other man’s forearms, relishing the powerful bunching of muscles as Alrick leaned over him, bracing himself on his hands. Brian turned his head and pressed his open mouth against one of those strong arms, sucking hungrily at the salty, pale skin. Somewhere above him, a voice growled in low, guttural German, and then Brian was shouting an epithet of his own as he was spitted like a willing sacrifice to some pagan god.
That first thrust of that beautiful cock went on and on, burning and stretching and filling him inch by glorious inch. Brian wondered if it would ever stop and prayed fervently that it never would. The friction was intense, the sense of fullness almost too much to bear. “Mein Gott!” Overwhelmed, Brian cried out in incoherent thanks to an entity he didn’t even believe in. Barely realizing what he’d said, his passion only spiked higher when the other man graced him with that killer smile.
“You know German?”
The other man’s amused delight caressed Brian’s ears as Alrick eased his cock out as deliberately as he’d entered. Brian shook his head both in answer and protest, flinging sweat over the duvet. “No, ngggh! I heard it in a movie.” He was becoming far too enamored of Alrick’s laugh. When had this thing between them moved so far beyond simple lust?
“That was very good. I shall have to teach you some more.”
Brian hoped he saved the lesson for later. There wasn’t room for anything in his head right then but how fucking amazing he felt. Alrick took advantage of his supine position and bent over, hitching Brian’s legs higher over his shoulders so that his next thrust went even deeper. Satisfaction gleamed from his dark blue eyes, and Brian closed his own in an attempt to shield himself from the blond’s intensity. He couldn’t, however, stifle the moan that fell from his lips as he arched his back in acknowledgement of a direct hit to his prostate. Adding “flexible” to his list of talents, Alrick bent down, his back curving into a long, graceful arc as he latched onto one of the puckered brown nubs rising from Brian’s chest.
Powerful hips worked in a steady, unrelenting rhythm, pulling the hard, throbbing length of flesh out of Brian’s clenching hole before thrusting it back in deeply. The slap of heavy balls against his ass kept time like an X-rated metronome, and for some demented reason, the edgy arpeggios of Beethoven’s Appasionata came into Brian’s head. He groaned, knowing that if he ever heard that song again, he would instantly get hard. Even so, he instinctively wrapped his legs around the blond’s waist, trying to draw him even deeper.
Alrick applied his tongue first to one nipple, then the other, long fingers ensuring that the neglected twin did not feel abandoned. Brian had never thought of his nipples as being overly sensitive, but as in so many things, Alrick had proven that he could teach Brian a thing or two about himself. The broad flat of the blond’s tongue swirled over the swollen nubs, twirling around and around before firm lips sucked hard at the tender peaks. A sharp nip made Brian yelp, and then Alrick started the process all over again, switching back and forth, all the while keeping up the long, steady thrusts of his hips.
Brian clawed the pale expanse of Alrick’s back with his short nails, uncaring that he left parallel lines of red marks in his wake. There was nothing for him but the slow torment of Alrick’s tongue, the heady scent of arousal wafting up from the their heated skin, the fat head of the cock rubbing against his prostate as though there were no place else it would rather be. His own hardness was trapped between them, the joint planes of their stomachs massaging him as deftly and sweetly as a tight fist. A grunting, groaning moan cut through the panting and heavy breathing filling the room, and Brian had just enough remaining presence of mind to be mortified when he recognized the voice as his own.
“Don’t cover your mouth,” Alrick admonished when Brian slapped his hand over his face to muffle any more revealing noises. He took one of Brian’s hands in each of his, and entwining their fingers, he spread them wide to either side of Brian’s head. “I want to hear you moan and cry out to me. I want to hear you call my name when you let go.”
Brian realized after an experimental tug against the blond’s grip just how insanely strong Alrick was and that he’d never be able to free himself. Being restrained so securely made him feel helpless and exposed and protected and cherished, and… fuck! The confusion in his head, the throbbing in his cock, and the huge rod owning his ass flipped a switch somewhere deep inside. All the built up tension exploded out in a pulsating torrent, and he shouted the only word that held any meaning.
“Alrick!”
Brian’s throat strained with the force of his cry, the plea joined by a deep, animalistic growl as the other man found his own release. He clenched frantically at the hands grasping his, holding on desperately as his climax swept over him in an endless series of pounding waves. And as he floated at the apex of his release, incomprehensible yet somehow familiar words whispered in his ear.
Mery, stay with me.
RAHOTEP grunted in irritation as he woke to muffled sounds. His eyes blinking open reluctantly, he glanced toward the window, but it revealed only the velvet darkness of night. A soft murmur and a warm body drew his attention, and his arms tightened fondly about the lightly snoring boy tucked against his chest. He began to drift back to sleep, but the discordant noise continued, peaking his concern. Rahotep eased Tiye away as gently as he could before standing and reaching for a robe. The racket seemed to grow louder as he unbarred the door and opened it onto a nightmare.
Palace soldiers fought viciously against a ragged group of slaves. Blood streaked the stone floor, making the flagstone dangerous and slick. The slaves, armed as they were with machetes used for cutting wheat and pitchforks grabbed hastily from hay troughs, were no match for the trained men they faced. Several lightly clothed bodies fell to the ground before the soldiers’ coordinated defense. Shouting vicious curses, the remaining slaves took off down the hall with the soldiers in close pursuit.
Ice solidified into a ball in the prince’s gut as he stared at the chaotic scene. Rahotep looked around sharply, his body tensing as an approaching figure caught his eye. He relaxed with effort as he recognized the pale but determined face of his personal guard. “By the gods, what has happened here?” he demanded.
“Sire, the slaves… they are rebelling!”
The prince bared his teeth in frustration at the obvious statement. “Yes, I can see that. I am asking you why? What has happened to enrage them so?” He glanced in the direction of the retreating sounds of battle. His gaze narrowed suspiciously as the most likely cause tightened the knot in his belly. “Is this my father’s doing?”
“I do not know, my prince,” the soldier replied. “But some of the slaves were shouting about an attack on their village, saying that many were murdered on the pharaoh’s order! But I know of no such command!”
Rahotep shoved the man away and whirled back to his room only to be wrenched to a halt as he was confronted by Tiye’s frightened stare. Awakened by the fearsome din, the boy had abandoned the bed and was standing as near to the door as he dared, naked save for the sheet hastily wrapped about his waist.
“Is what he says true?” Tiye cried.
Sparing not even a moment to answer, the prince hurried to where his sword hung mounted on the wall. If the soldier had not been misled, then his father was in mortal peril. No matter the virulence of the conflict between them, Rahotep had no wish to see the pharaoh dead.
“Please!” Tiye begged, dogging his heels, his brown eyes a frenzy of dismay. “Was there an attack on the slaves’ village? My mother and brother are there!”
Tiye’s desperation tore at him, and Rahotep forced himself to pause as he rushed toward the hall. He turned towards his small lover, taking a deep breath to calm himself before tracing a gentle finger over the boy’s cheek. “I am not certain exactly what has happened, but I am going to my father now to see if I can make some sense of this insanity.” He turned to go but stopped when Tiye came immediately after him. “No, I want you to stay here, safe and out of harm’s way.”
Rahotep leaned down and pressed a kiss to the boy’s furrowed brow. “I will come back for you as soon as I can. Now,” he ordered, “bar the door behind me!”
BRIAN awoke to find himself trapped beneath something large and warm that smelled really good. Alrick. After leading Brian to that first orgasm that had ripped him apart, the blond had spent the long night coaxing out another, then another, until all Brian could do was collapse into a boneless, satisfied heap. Even half asleep, Brian could feel his cheeks warm at the memory.
Now, consciousness was slow to return, but eventually Brian was lucid enough to realize that he was still clinging to the blond’s long, muscularly lean form. Forcing his eyes open a crack, he glanced toward the window. The sky was noticeably lighter, so he knew he’d managed several hours of sleep. Still, he felt completely wrung out, his skin sticky from the droplets of creamy heat that had cooled against his skin.
Brian tried to stretch his tired body, but the weight pressing him into the mattress hampered his attempt. As though alerted by his movements, searching fingers reached out to gently stroke his side, and something soft and wet caressed his neck, sending tingles from wherever it touched straight down to his toes. Exhausted though he was, Brian marveled as his body reacted with impossible swiftness to the firm thigh that slipped between his legs to rub maddeningly against his rapidly swelling arousal. He groaned heavily, his head pressing back into the pillow as his hips moved in an instinctive attempt to increase the sensation.
Well, fuck me.
Brian didn’t realize that he had spoken out loud until he heard and felt Alrick’s rumbling laugh vibrate against him. He kept his next bout of swearing to himself as his toes curled and his cock tried to react to the German’s ridiculously sexy voice.
“If you care to stay for a few more hours, I will be more than happy to oblige.”
Temptation. It wasn’t called sweet for nothing. Brian actually spent nearly a full minute considering the offer before reality reared its pushy head.
“No, I have to go to work. After I go home and change clothes.”
“Maybe you should just bring some here. Simply for your convenience, of course.”
The hint was hardly subtle. A frisson of anxiety wiping out the last of his lethargy, Brian opened his eyes and looked up at the blond. He narrowed his gaze suspiciously, not trusting that innocent smile one little bit. In lieu of giving an answer, Brian turned his attention to trying to free himself from the other man’s embrace. What had he been sleeping with, a damned octopus? It took some doing, not at all helped by Alrick’s deliberate attempts to change his mind. Swatting away the hand reaching unerringly for his spent cock, Brian finally managed to move out from under his living blanket.
Deciding to behave for a moment, Alrick propped himself up on one elbow and watched as Brian sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The German never touched him, but Brian swore he could feel the slow caress of the other man’s gaze over his back. Seriously irritated at how easily Alrick could make him blush, Brian pushed himself off of the bed defiantly, giving his appreciative audience an eyeful. His moment of brashness proved temporary as the nerves he’d so conveniently forgotten last night returned in full force. He couldn’t bring himself to meet the hooded gaze watching him so closely.
“Will you at least stay for breakfast?”
Haven’t you already had it? Brian winced at the ungracious thought, wondering when he had turned into such a pissy little bitch. “No thanks. I appreciate it, but I think, no, I’m definitely running late.” A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand had him fumbling for his pants. Getting into work late was the last thing he wanted to do. No point in giving Preston any more excuses to ride him. Turning back toward the bed as he zipped and buttoned his pants, Brian felt his resolve slip somewhat when Alrick treated him to a mighty stretch, the reach of his arms spanning the width of the king-sized bed. The sheet covering his flat stomach slipped downward until Brian could see the hint of a blond thatch just a shade darker than the hair on the other man’s head.
Damn, he was actually drooling. Again. Brian turned away out of self-preservation and hunted up his socks.
“If I let you go now, do you promise to return?”
A biting comment about no one letting him do anything died a swift death. It wasn’t like he wanted to go. But he couldn’t just blow off work to lie in bed all day having mind-blowing sex. Brian shook his head sharply as he remembered just how incredible the previous night had been. No fantasy he’d ever had even came close to what Alrick had made him feel. Throwing on his shirt, Brian bent to pull on his socks as he looked around for his shoes and tie.
“Yeah, I promise.” He didn’t look back around, not at all trusting the strength of his will power. Shoes located, Brian stepped into them. He spied his tie lying near the door to the living room and headed toward it.
“Wait for a moment. Let me give you my mobile number.”
Brian turned around cautiously, but Alrick pulled the sheet with him as he sat up. Just great, he groused silently. Of course the other man was completely aware that the mere sight of him made Brian weak in the knees. Pressing his lips together in annoyance with himself as much as with the blond, Brian waited as Alrick scribbled down his number on the complementary hotel stationary.
“I will likely be very busy working on a new article tonight, but if all goes well, I should be available tomorrow evening.” He tore off the top sheet of paper and held it out toward Brian. Brian tried not to let his gaze linger on the smooth motion of the blond’s muscles beneath his fair skin. “Please call me before you come so that I will be sure not to miss you.”
“Sure.” Pocketing the note, Brian glanced at the German. His heart started to beat a little faster when the other man smiled at him.
Fuck.
“Auf Wiedersehen.”
Yes, it was indeed difficult to walk with a hard on. Brian shuffled as fast as he could toward the door, scooping up his abandoned tie along the way.
Chapter 4
BRIAN knew he could have saved time by taking a shower in Alrick’s room instead of waiting until he got home, but he wasn’t stupid. The other man probably would have joined him, which would have led to lots of other things, and he would soon find himself looking for a new job. Trying not to think about how shabby and lonely his apartment looked after the decadent elegance of Alrick’s hotel room, Brian washed up quickly and threw on some clothes before heading back out.
He’d only gone a few blocks when his cell rang with the annoying, generic tune that had been programmed in at the factory. Swearing to himself that he would get around to changing the irritating song, Brian fumbled for his phone while trying not to crash his car. He spared a quick glance at the screen and saw his partner’s name.
“What’s up, Angie?”
“Well, good morning, Sunshine! Aren’t we bubbly and late this morning? Had a good night, did we?”
Brian clenched his jaw. Didn’t he already have a mother? “Sorry I’m late. I’m in the car, on my way right now.”
“Don’t bother coming to the station. The bitch queen dropped another body on my desk this morning as soon as I walked in. Meet me at Sixteenth and Porter.”
Fantastic. Brian groaned. “Alright, I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“See ya, kiddo.”
Pulling a U-turn in the middle of the street, Brian hit the flashing lights and siren built into his car. The boys in development had been really proud of the design, as it allowed an unmarked car to stay unmarked until the alerts were necessary. Still, Brian regretted not having one of those stupid Keystone Cop lights to put on the roof just a little bit.
“OUR sniper friend has been busy again.”
Angela spoke to him over her shoulder, giving him a minute to collect himself as he caught his first sight of the new body. Brian was surprised when he realized he was perfectly fine. For once, Dennis’s face wasn’t coming out to haunt him. Not taking the time to consider what that might mean, Brian stopped at his partner’s side and watched with her as a man from Forensics took photos of the victim.
A uniformed patrolman had happened to see a freaked-out junkie running from the building early that morning. The officer was a rookie, which explained why he was in a neighborhood his fellows usually shunned. Otherwise, it might have been weeks before anyone stumbled across the victim. The junkie had found him in a burned-out building that had long ago been scheduled for demolition and then forgotten. The building sat in the heart of the slums that huddled in the dead center of town. Once, it had been a thriving neighborhood, but after years of rising crime and drug dealers deciding it was perfect for doing business, the area was nothing but a neglected shell of its former self. Adding to its woes, a few years ago a mysterious fire had wiped out all but a few of the habitable residences on this block.
