Chapter Eleven

Dominic didn’t hear from Arnie at all on Monday or Tuesday, despite sending him a couple of friendly text messages. He couldn’t understand the silent treatment. It had seemed to go so well on Sunday—they’d done everything but set a date and time for going out together. Then nothing. What had happened to switch Arnie from hot to cold?

Gabriel? He appeared an obvious answer, and hardly a surprise if it turned Arnie off. Few guys would be pleased to learn they were getting an old friend’s sloppy seconds. Without being callous, it was no easy thing convincing Arnie that Gabriel meant nothing to him. He wondered if they’d spoken to each other, if Gabriel had warned Arnie to back off.

Funny how Gabriel had only mentioned Arnie once, the last time they’d slept together. Nothing he’d said convinced Dominic they were lifelong friends. Quite the opposite. Gabriel was dismissive of Arnie, bitchy even.

But he’d certainly been pissed off when they had spoken on Sunday. Angry enough to stick the knife in? He hoped not, but the idea, once in his mind, wouldn’t quit. How well did he know Gabriel, anyway? He could be capable of anything. He was an occasional bedfellow. Dominic’s knowledge of him went no deeper than that. Maybe Gabriel wouldn’t think twice about sabotaging things between him and Arnie.

Only there isn’t anything to sabotage. Yet.

His fears were proved unfounded on Wednesday when Jacob brought Brandy back from his early morning walk into town.

“Have you heard about Arnie?” Jacob asked, standing by the kitchen door.

“No,” he said, failing hide his concern.

“It seems the clifftop attacker paid him a visit.”

“What?” The alarm was completely genuine. “Is he all right? When did this happen?”

“Sunday night. After the fair. He’s okay, I think. A bit spooked. Who wouldn’t be? Apparently, they’ve got footage of this man on CCTV.”

“Do they know who it is? Have they picked him up?”

“No. He was in disguise. Kept his face covered.”

“Shit.” No wonder Arnie had been indifferent to his text messages. He had much bigger problems than romance. “Is Arnie all right? Have they have threatened him?”

“No. By the sound of things, this person may have been casing the house. He ran up to the woods when Arnie returned and startled him. As you can imagine, it gave him a fright, especially when he’s got the boy at home. From what I hear, he’s thinking about cutting their holiday short and heading back to London. Can’t say I’d blame him if they did.”

“No,” Dominic said. “Neither would I.”

Safety had to be the priority, especially with a young son, but the idea of Arnie leaving town, of not seeing him again, gripped Dominic somewhere deep inside, twisting his guts and squeezing hard. His breathing became shallow as panic set in.

When Jacob left, he tried to work. It was no good. He couldn’t concentrate on his characters or plot or the world he was trying to create. All he could think about was Arnie. His emotions were a confusion of fear, loss, anger and desperation. The attacker—the potential killer—had tracked him down, had found out where he was living. What kind of sick fucker would do that?

The kind that attacks random strangers.

What the hell was their intention now?

Who knows what goes on in a mind like that?

Dominic could take no more. He picked up the phone.

Arnie answered straight away. “Hi.”

Hearing his voice was a relief. Until that moment, Dominic hadn’t known how much he wanted to hear it. “Are you okay? I heard what happened.”

“Yes. Sorry I didn’t call you. It’s been intense.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m just happy to know you’re all right.”

There was a second of hesitation until Arnie said, “I’m glad you called. I’d love to see you.”

“Anytime.”

Another pause. “Can you come over? Now?”

He didn’t have to think about his answer. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

 

* * * *

 

Dominic had passed Cliff House countless times in the last five years, by foot and car. He’d never given it much thought. It was one of those places that had always been there. The kind of place local people paid no attention to, while tourists paused to admire its historic beauty.

When he pressed the intercom, the electric gate swung softly open and he pulled through into the private car park. The gate closed behind him. He couldn’t think of a safer, more secure place in the whole town, and yet the thought of Arnie and AJ alone up here, so far from their closest neighbor, was an uneasy one.

Arnie appeared from around the back of the house, dressed in a nautical-looking blue-and-white-striped T-shirt with pale blue shorts that showed off his tanned, muscular limbs.

As Dominic approached him to say hello, Arnie flung his arms around him and pulled him into a firm embrace. Dominic accepted the contact willingly, wrapping his own arms around Arnie’s back and shoulders. They stayed like that, not moving, the sides of their heads touching.

“Thanks for coming,” Arnie murmured. “It’s so good to see you.”

“I would have come sooner. As soon as I heard the news, I called.”

“You’re here now—that’s what matters most. This place has been crazy. The police, my parents, my sister. This morning is the first time I’ve had to myself all week.”

“Where is everyone now?”

“My folks have taken AJ and his cousins out for the day. They’ve driven up to Berwick. They want me to go with them, but I just needed a few hours to myself. At least I thought I did until you called.”

They stood for a few moments longer. Holding Arnie felt so good. Not in a sexual way, though the attraction Dominic felt for him was undeniable. It was more than that, better. There was nothing uncomfortable about the embrace. The opposite was true. Even though Arnie was a few inches taller than him and Dominic had to stretch to make contact, it was perfect.

“Let’s go inside,” Arnie said at last.

Dominic walked at his side, around the back of the house, to a patio where French doors led to an open-plan kitchen and living area. He lingered for a moment on the terrace, checking out the garden and the height of the wall that surrounded it. Though it would not be easy to climb, a seasoned criminal would have no trouble getting over. Once they did, there were a lot of potential hiding places in the well-established shrubbery and foliage of the garden.

Cliff House was not as safe as his first impression had suggested.

The interior was a surprise. Dominic expected it to have been completely modernized, in the way of most redeveloped old properties. Whoever had been responsible for the overhaul of the house had done so with complete sympathy for the age and style of the original, with lots of natural wood and traditional features. Dominic had done most of the work on his own house himself, besides a couple of electrical jobs he’d had to contract out. It was clear to his experienced eye that they had done the refurbishment of this place to the highest standards.

And although it was only a rental, the house seemed perfectly suited to Arnie. It was handsome, smart, old-fashioned and current all at once.

He liked it a lot.

Dominic closed and locked the French windows behind them.

“That’s okay,” Arnie said. “You can leave them open.”

Dominic shook his head in admonishment. “Security, remember. Take nothing for granted.”

Arnie nodded grimly. “You’d think the message would have sunk in by now, huh?”

“Don’t ever be too careful. Your circumstances right now, they demand utmost caution.”

“Duly noted.” He laughed softly and smacked his own wrist. “How about a drink? I’ve got juice, lemonade. Beer and wine if you want something stronger.”

“A Diet Coke would be nice, if you have it. Otherwise water is fine.”

Arnie took two large glasses from one of the cupboards and drew ice from the refrigerator. Dominic perched on a chair at the end of the breakfast bar and watched him as he opened a two-liter bottle of Diet Coke and poured. He loved looking at him and watching the way he moved. Arnie had kicked off his sandals at the door and walked around the kitchen in bare feet, reminding Dominic of a sexy deckhand in his shorts and T-shirt combo. His skin was darker than when they’d first met, its golden tones evidence of the outstanding weather they’d enjoyed this last week. Even the pale blond hairs on his legs seemed to have caught the sun.

It was Arnie’s eyes that betrayed the strain he was under. There was a slight puffiness in the skin beneath them, and dark shadows evidenced a clear lack of sleep.

He approached the counter with their drinks and sat on the end, at an angle to Dominic.

“Thanks,” Dominic said, taking a sip, watching all the while.

“Thanks again for coming,” Arnie said. “You have no idea how much it means to me, seeing you today.” He sighed. “On Monday morning, I was all set to pack our things and head back to London. I’d had enough. It seems this fucker wants to play games. Dangerous games.”

“No one would blame you if you left,” Dominic said. “Most folk would be gone by now. Especially with a child in the house.”

“That’s it. Even now that I’ve decided to stay a little longer, I’ll suddenly catch myself and wonder what the hell I’m playing at. I can’t take chances with my son. The safest thing to do is get out. But then I get angry. Nyemouth is also my home. More so than anywhere else, and I won’t be driven away by some random nutcase. I want AJ to know his grandparents, his aunt and his cousins. He’s got lots of friends in London, but it’s not the same as family. Tara’s side don’t bother with him, so it’s doubly important that he has a connection here. If we leave now, it might damage that forever.”

As he spoke, Dominic saw a vulnerability to Arnie that was all new. He was a conflicted man, struggling to give his son the love and family he deserved while weighing up their safety. Dominic had no attachment to his own family. His mother was still alive. His brothers lived abroad. He had a minor interest in their lives and occasionally caught up on what they were doing via social media, but there was no real love there. Not like the love Arnie had for his son and his parents. Dominic’s indifference to his family only made him appreciate what Arnie was trying to do even more.

“What have the police done?” he asked.

“Someone came the other day and downloaded the CCTV footage for the whole of last week. They want to check for any earlier visits from the stalker. That’s what I’ve started calling him—the stalker.”

“It fits. That’s what he is. Though ‘sick bastard’ works too.”

“For sure. Anyway, I haven’t heard whether they’ve found anything. There are meant to be frequent police patrols going past the house. If there are, I haven’t spotted them, but then again, I haven’t been glued to the window watching for them either. I’m trying to keep things as normal as possible for AJ’s sake. That’s the main reason I didn’t want to go with them today. I needed some time away from him, just to drop the mask of normality for a couple of hours.”

Dominic put his hand on Arnie’s forearm. “What can I do?”

For a moment Arnie looked overwhelmed by the question and his eyes glistened with moisture. “Just this,” he said at last. “Your being here is a massive help.”

“I want to do more,” he said. “If the police won’t look after your security, let me. I can be a night watchman. I’ll be awake while the two of you sleep. Check the perimeter, watch the cameras. If that crazy bastard is dumb enough to drop by again, he’ll be sorry to find me home.”

“I’m sure he would. But you can’t do that.”

“I mean it. It’s not right, the police leaving you here without protection.”

“They advised me not to be alone.”

“See. Then let me stay. You’ll never find a better bodyguard. Or more qualified,” he added with a cheeky grin to lighten the mood.

Arnie laughed. “I appreciate it, but I can’t let you put yourself out like that. Besides, my parents have offered to move in too. I told them no.”

“Your dad is a great guy, but at his age, I think you’ll be the one protecting him.”

Arnie moved his hand and put it on top of Dominic’s. “Thank you, but no thanks.”

“If you change your mind, the offer stands.”

“I won’t,” Arnie said. “But there is one thing I do want from you.”

Before Dominic could question what, Arnie came in for a kiss, pressing his lips against Dominic’s. The move was unexpected and completely wanted. His wide lips covered Dominic’s, and when his tongue moved into his mouth, Dominic yielded, accepting it willingly. All of his senses became heightened as he experienced Arnie with every part of his body. He wrapped his hand around the back of Arnie’s head, feeling the softness of his hair, and drew him deeper into the kiss. Their lips were silky together, while the stubble on their faces rasped as they rubbed against each other. Arnie smelled fresh and clean, with a slight spicy essence coming from his cologne.

“I needed that,” Arnie said, breaking the contact, his forehead pressed against Dominic’s. “You have no idea how badly.”

Dominic breathed heavily, his hand still on the back of Arnie’s head. “You’d better believe I do.”

They rose to their feet, coming together, their arms wrapped around each other. The kisses were deeper now, full of passion. Dominic couldn’t believe the height of arousal Arnie took him to. He held him and noted the breadth and strength of his body. He put his hands on Arnie’s hips, drawing him tight, feeling the hot swelling in his shorts. Arnie was a big man, and everything appeared to be in perfect proportion.

Dominic wondered whether he could take it and batted away the concern in an instant. He would take it whatever.

Arnie grabbed the bottom of Dominic’s polo shirt and hauled it up. He raised his arms, allowing Arnie to strip him. Arnie looked down at him appraisingly.

“Wow,” he said, running his hand over Dominic’s muscular chest, snaking his fingers through the dark hair. “You’re even hotter than I imagined.”

Dominic shuddered as Arnie drew a circle around his left nipple. Both nipples were hard. He gently tweaked the swollen nub and tugged. Dominic gasped in pleasure. Then Arnie’s hands were at the waist of his shorts, unfastening his belt.

“I want to see all of you,” Arnie said.

Dominic gave no resistance. Arnie undid his fly and his shorts fell to his ankles. Dominic kicked off his shoes and stepped out of the shorts. Arnie ran his hands along Dominic’s torso, across the furry plane of his belly, around his hips, to his back, down to this arse. He took his butt in a two-handed grip and squeezed the firm muscle.

“I wanted to grab your arse the first time I saw you,” Arnie said, brushing his lips across Dominic’s face.

“Be my guest,” he said breathlessly. “Do whatever you want.”

Arnie grasped and kneaded. Dominic raised onto his toes, giving him freer access. He felt the heat of Arnie’s bare hand slipping down the rear of his boxer-briefs, cupping his cheeks, his fingertips curling into the crack. The pressure of Arnie’s erection against his belly was immense.

Arnie shoved Dominic’s underwear to the floor. He stepped out of them and kicked them away. Now he was naked, while Arnie remained fully clothed. Arnie stepped back to admire his body.

“Perfect,” he said, stroking the length of Dominic’s hard cock with a light hand, going all the way down the shaft to cup his smooth balls.

Dominic had no issues with body hair—he liked men to be men—but it required a degree of grooming in the groin. He kept his pubes neatly trimmed and scrotum smooth. Arnie held the hairless sac in the palm of his hand and lifted his balls, exploring with tenderness. His cock seemed harder than ever, the head extending through his foreskin. Arnie drew his fingers back along the shaft before taking it in a firm grip. He squeezed. Dominic juddered and watched clear fluid leak from the end of his cock.

He grabbed Arnie’s wrist. “You need to take it easy,” he said. “You’ve got me too turned on.”

Arnie silenced him with a kiss, returning both hands to his arse. He spread Dominic’s cheeks. Dominic shuddered afresh as Arnie ran his fingertip along the seam and gently circled his hole.

“Do you bottom?” Arnie asked, still kissing him.

“For the right guy,” Dominic replied, pressing his body against the bulge in Arnie’s shorts. “And you are the right guy.”

Arnie grinned. “Give me a minute to get a condom.”

“There’s one in my wallet. In my shorts.”

Dominic retrieved the rubber and a sachet of lube and allowed Arnie to lead him naked to the wooden dining table. He hitched his butt onto the edge of the table and lay back, pulling his thighs into his chest, high and wide. Dominic hadn’t been lying. He almost never offered himself up like this, and certainly not on the first encounter. With Arnie, he wanted to tear up the rule book. To cast aside every macho inhibition.

He wanted to be filled by Arnie.

Dominic wanted to be fucked.

Arnie pulled off his T-shirt. Looking up, Dominic did a quick appraisal of his body. His chest and torso were toned, but not overly so. His belly was flat and sexy, without the definition of a six-pack. The perfect package was covered in honey-colored hair.

Arnie slipped off his shorts and briefs.

“Oh my God,” Dominic said, catching sight of his big, uncut cock. “That’s huge.”

“Still want to go through with this?” Arnie said, the condom wrapper unopened his hand.

“Fuck yes. Get it in me.”

Arnie put on the rubber and coated the full length in lube. He emptied the remainder of the sachet into Dominic’s crack and fingered it into his hole. Dominic was tight. He drew a deep breath and willed his body to relax.

You can do this. You’d better fucking do this.

His head shot up from the table as Arnie pushed against the resistance of his opening.

“Okay?” Arnie asked, pausing.

Dominic breathed deeply and gripped the edge of the table. He nodded. “Keep going.”

He felt himself stretch, opening wider and wider, being filled in a way that seemed impossible. Arnie took his time, letting him adjust before pushing more of his cock inside.

Fuck, that’s big.

Dominic laughed. Nervous. Delighted.

Arnie’s hips pressed against his upturned butt. He was in. All the way.

Dominic exhaled. It took some getting used to, the utter fullness of having Arnie inside him.

Arnie put his hands on Dominic’s thighs, holding him still. “Okay?”

He nodded. “I’m good.”

Arnie made love to him long and slow. He seemed to appreciate Dominic’s inexperience and watched him closely, gauging each move on Dominic’s reaction. Gradually Dominic’s body adjusted to the massive intrusion. He relaxed and allowed his thighs to spread wider. He savored the exquisite friction as Arnie thrust into him and withdrew. Dominic ran his tongue along his mouth, tasting sweat on his top lip. His skin was slick and droplets ran across his brow. His mind seemed hazy.

Arnie’s cock hit a spot inside him. Each inward movement nudged his prostate, firing bolts of pleasure all through him.

Oh God. Why had he resisted this for so long? Though he loved shoving his cock into a nice arse, the satisfaction of being on the receiving end was infinitely greater.

But it had never been like this before. He was sure of it. His experiences were not extensive, but no other man had stimulated him to this degree.

Because they were the wrong men.

It was Arnie doing this to him. No one else. No one could induce such a reaction.

And it got better. Whatever was happening to his prostate, the sensations only increased, driving him crazy.

He barely knew where he was when Arnie wrapped his fist around his cock. A gentle squeeze. A slight jerk. That was all it took. Dominic went off in his hand and it seemed without end. He blew a huge white geyser, squirting over his own face. It was across his brow, in his hair. Subsequent spurts splattered hot and wet over his chest and belly. He hadn’t seen so much cum since he was seventeen.

Paroxysms of pleasure gripped his entire body and wouldn’t let go.

Arnie had given him the kind of orgasm he hadn’t believed existed until now.