Chapter 7

 

ABANDONING Ilsa and Casey to the party, Eli and Alec took a taxi home. On the way, they held hands, Eli absently stroking the back of Alec’s with his thumb. He kept smiling to himself, proud of the way Alec had come to the rescue, taking charge, and helping the panicked young waiter. He glanced over at his boyfriend, sitting silently next to him, apparently lost in thought, the streetlights periodically flashing across his face as they neared their destination.

“Did you have a good time tonight?” Eli asked.

“Hmm?”

“At the party… a good time?”

“Oh, yes,” Alec said, turning to look at him. “Yeah, sure.” He grinned and turned back to the window.

“You were wonderful with that waiter. He looked terrified.”

“Thanks.” Alec sighed and smiled weakly. “Some sort of panic attack.” He glanced at Eli. “I never did get it out of him… what was wrong, I mean.”

“At least you helped him calm down… and he seemed fine when he left with his mate.”

“Yeah.” Alec looked back out the window. “I just wish I knew what had set him off.” Eli squeezed his hand in reassurance. “I spoke to his friend, the other waiter, before they headed out, and he told me Michael was just returning after a leave of absence.”

“He’d been ill?”

“No… not physically. He wasn’t really clear.”

The taxi stopped in front of their house, and Eli paid the driver while Alec held the door for him. They headed up the walk together. The night was perfect—the sky clear and filled with stars, the breeze warm enough that a jacket was unnecessary—which was odd, considering the earlier storm. They’d left the lights on in the front hall, and a warm glow emanated from the windows, welcoming them home. While Alec busied himself with unlocking the door, Eli rested his cheek against Alec’s shoulder, sliding his hand under his jacket to caress his boyfriend’s back.

With all five of them living there, it was rare to come home to an empty house. But now that Lyle and Tony had their own place and Ilsa spent a lot of time at Casey’s flat—in fact, was probably planning to do so tonight—it would be happening more frequently. Eli wandered on toward his bedroom while Alec stopped at the hall table to look through the mail he’d avoided examining earlier.

“Hungry?” Eli asked.

“Hmm? No.” Alec didn’t raise his head, just focused on the mail. “I’m good, thanks.”

Eli watched Alec continue shuffling through the envelopes. “Me?” he said, pausing just at the entrance to his bedroom. “I’m staaahhhving.” He grinned at the effect this had as Alec’s hands froze, his head coming up and looking at Eli just as he vanished into the darkened room. He moved quickly behind his door and waited, laughing softly to himself.

“Eli?” Alec called, but he didn’t answer.

The hall light reached into his room a ways, and his weak, flickering bathroom light struggled to stay on, but other than that, the room was very dark. He waited, his heart beating a bit faster in anticipation. Come find me, love.

He thought he heard Alec approaching slowly. “Eli?” He was closer now, and Eli held his breath. “Where are you?” Alec stepped forward, his hands on the doorframe, prepared to flee, from what Eli could discern between the door hinges. Alec chuckled nervously. “I feel an ambush coming on.” He stepped into the room.

Eli slammed the door shut, and Alec whirled around, but Eli took advantage of the few seconds it would take for Alec’s eyes to adjust to even less light and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him, spinning him, and shoving him against the door.

“I thought you liked being ambushed,” Eli whispered, pressing against Alec and sliding his hands beneath Alec’s shirt to caress his chest. Alec moaned softly when Eli’s fingers skittered across his nipples and Eli’s mouth nipped and kissed Alec’s neck.

“Mr. Burke,” Alec panted, finding his lover’s mouth and tongue. It was Eli’s turn to moan, and Alec caught him by the front of his suit jacket and turned him, swiftly switching their positions and pressing him into the door. He winced when Alec pulled his hair to expose his neck, but he couldn’t deny that the action caused his cock to twitch and swell.

He loved this back and forth, this “who’s turning who on more” competition, and he loosened Alec’s belt to slide his hands down the back of his pants and grip Alec’s behind. Eli smiled as Alec grunted, pressing forward and trying to pin him in place, trying to keep him from escaping, but he wasn’t having it. Eli broke the kiss and shoved Alec away from him. He grabbed his cane, always at hand, and pointed the tip at Alec’s chest like a lion tamer with a chair, keeping his beautiful beast at bay.

Tugging his shirt free and unbuttoning it with one hand, Eli walked unsteadily toward Alec, backing him up against the bed, where his boyfriend stumbled backward and abruptly sat. He tossed the cane to the floor and straddled Alec’s lap, pinning his hands on either side of his head before leaning closer and capturing his mouth for a quick, teasing kiss.

“I win,” he growled.

“Mmm, you’re feeling froggy,” Alec said, licking Eli’s bottom lip before he was out of reach again. Eli knew Alec wanted nothing more than to touch him, therefore he refused to allow it. He knew that behavior—that dance—drove Alec crazy too.

“What’s froggy?”

Alec nodded. “Warm and fuzzy, sexy, amorous—”

“Listen to you and your vocab. How about horny?”

Alec laughed. “Yes… although I was going for something a bit less explicit.”

“Oh come, love. You know you want to fuck me.” Eli smiled wickedly, putting more pressure on Alec’s hands and keeping him from moving as he slowly rubbed his bottom against his boyfriend’s erection. “Say it,” Eli whispered against his ear.

Alec’s eyes fluttered closed, and he grinned stupidly. “I want to f-fuck you.”

Eli quickly tugged Alec’s shirt free of his jeans. Hands now loose, Alec went right for the bare torso he could glimpse through Eli’s open shirt. He ran his palms and fingers over his hard, flat abdomen and up, across his slightly hairy chest to pinch his nipples.

Eli twitched, and Alec sat up suddenly, kissing his neck and stripping the shirt and jacket off of his shoulders. Eli finished the job, shaking his clothes off his arms and onto the floor before forcing Alec back down.

“Am I going to have to tie you down?” he whispered, gripping Alec’s jacket, unceremoniously yanking it off the man, and tossing it next to his on the floor.

“Watch my buttons,” Alec warned.

“Yeah, I’ll watch your buttons!” Eli grabbed Alec’s shirt and tore it open.

Alec squeezed his eyes shut to the sound of many tiny, tinkling impacts as the scattered buttons hit the headboard, wall, and lamp, but he was grinning.

“Why are there so many clothes?” Eli asked, chuckling as he struggled to get them both undressed. He leaned in close, breathing heavily into Alec’s ear as he rubbed himself more urgently against him.

“If we d-don’t slow down, I’m going to come before I’m inside you!”

“Who says you’ll be inside me?” Eli reached down, finally freeing Alec’s cock and gripping it possessively.

Alec bucked off the bed to follow Eli’s hand. “You said s-so. Ughn…. You m-made me say I want to f-f—”

“I’ve changed my mind.” Eli grabbed Alec by the hair, kissing him until he was gasping.

“What’s gotten into you?” Alec asked.

“I loved watching you take charge at the party tonight,” Eli said. “You were brilliant!” He squeezed Alec’s cock again, and the man quivered, his eyes rolling back in his head. “And now I want to fuck you. I’ll get the lube.”

Alec stopped him. “What about your leg?”

Eli rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, Alec.”

But Alec sat up, grabbing him and flipping them on the bed so that Alec was on top.

“Hang on!” Eli said.

“Shhsh, trust me.”

Eli stilled his protests as Alec finished stripping and grabbed the lube from the bedside table. He dropped it on the bed and pulled Eli’s pants off. Alec straddled him and began stroking their cocks together. Eli grinned, his eyelids nearly closing as Alec leaned in for a kiss, smashing their cocks between their bodies. The feel of skin on skin, the scent of Alec, their tongues playing off one another, made Eli’s head swim, and he quivered delightedly.

During their months together, they had taken the time to get to know each other as lovers, learning what the other liked or didn’t like, experimenting with positions that took Eli’s damaged leg into account and might allow him to top when he got the urge. Eli heard the “pop” as the lube was opened, but he didn’t feel the coolness he expected—or where he expected. Alec broke the kiss, and Eli watched him prepare himself to be entered.

The light from the bathroom continued to flicker annoyingly, and Eli cursed silently, wishing he had paused to screw that bulb in tighter, or even replace it. This was a moment he definitely wanted to watch. He grinned, his cock throbbing, as Alec worked his fingers into himself.

He shoved aside his slight disappointment; this position ultimately still left Alec in the driver’s seat, just as Eli had been in charge in the tub earlier. Even so, he licked his lips, breathless, as Alec took hold of him, guided him into place, and slowly lowered himself onto Eli’s shaft.

The faint light from the bathroom inexplicably stopped flickering and fell on them. And mesmerized, Eli could see the benefits: Alec’s head tilting, eyes closing, and mouth opening slightly, making the loveliest O with his lips. He’d never been comfortable with Alec watching him too closely when they were together—at first because of his scars, but now for other reasons—and he found it hard to believe he looked like this to Alec. I can’t be this beautiful.

Alec was hot and tight—so tight—Eli fought the urge to speed things along, not wanting to hurt him. He was patient and soon found himself buried in his lover to the hilt. He offered up his palms so Alec could balance properly. Concentrating on the other’s breathing, they matched their rhythms, the two of them fucking almost silently as they gradually increased their speed.

A sliver of moonlight peeked through the window nearest the bed, revealing a fine sheen of sweat on Alec’s skin, and Eli bit his lip to keep from reacting to the sight of him gasping and moaning above him. His hair hung limply, sticking to his forehead. The image of him, the feel of being inside him, the scent of his sweaty skin, and the soft sounds escaping his lips all conspired against Eli successfully keeping this up much longer. He suddenly freed one of his hands from Alec and reached for his lover’s cock.

Alec’s head jerked forward, and their pace increased until they were panting each other’s names. Thanks to Eli’s efforts, Alec came first and came hard, spurting over Eli’s hand, arm, and chest. Before the tension left Alec’s body, Eli stiffened beneath him, and he spilled himself inside his boyfriend. Alec collapsed on top of him, and Eli barked in surprise as the air left his lungs in a rush.

“Oops.” Alec smiled and nuzzled Eli’s neck. “Mmm… feels like you’ve been wanting to do that for a while.”

“I love being inside you,” Eli whispered, grabbing a fistful of Alec’s hair and tugging a bit, “but you cheated.”

“Huh?”

“You topped from the bottom, love.”

Alec laughed. “Oh… sorry. Not what you had in mind, huh?”

“It was lovely.” They kissed, and Eli patted his behind. “We should clean up.” He wiggled, grimacing at the stickiness on his chest that would soon bond to Alec’s if they didn’t wipe it away.

“I got it,” Alec said, kissing him and hopping up, heading for the bathroom. Eli stretched and sighed as he heard the water come on briefly. But then he heard the vanity being opened and Alec knocking about.

He sat up on his elbows. “What are you doing?” He didn’t get a verbal answer, but after a few more moments, the light went out in the bathroom, then returned bright, strong, and steady. He smiled and flopped back down on the bed. Alec joined him seconds later with two warm washcloths, and they began cleaning up.

Eli could see Alec had something to say. “What is it?”

“I am sorry, Eli. I just thought your leg might—”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve been working out.” Eli winked. “I’ll have ya yet.” Alec grinned nervously.

They finished, and Alec balled up Eli’s cloth with his and, rising up on his knees, threw them all the way into the bathroom, where they smacked against the back wall and dropped directly into the clothes hamper. “Aw! I’m awesome!” He fell back down next to Eli, who embraced him.

“Yes, you are,” Eli whispered, kissing him softly and smiling. Alec snuggled in close to him, and Eli pulled the covers over them.

They lay in silence for a good while, Eli absently stroking Alec’s hair as he rested his head on Eli’s shoulder. He tightened his arms around Alec, and his boyfriend responded in kind, the heat from his body radiating down Eli’s side where they made contact. Eli wriggled his toes, which only reached to Alec’s ankles, and giggled.

Alec grinned, craning his neck slightly. “What?”

“I feel so short next to you.”

“I’ve only got you by a couple of inches, babe,” Alec said, settling back into his spot and kissing Eli’s neck. “You’re perfect.”

Eli frowned. Not hardly, love. He changed the subject. “You were great tonight.”

Alec yawned. “Thanks. You’re quite the ride yourself.”

Eli laughed. “I meant at the party!” He continued laughing.

“Oh.”

He couldn’t see it, but Eli was sure Alec was blushing.

“I’m glad you were able to calm… Micheal…?”

“Um, yeah, but his friend said Mickey.”

“Well, you were brilliant… very sexy.”

“I wish he’d told me the problem,” Alec said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “But he wouldn’t or couldn’t articulate it.”

“Talk to Tony or Lyle. Maybe you can track him down through the staffing company they used.”

Alec yawned again. “Yeah, I could do that.”

Eli tightened his grip on Alec again, and in his sleep, Alec responded again in kind.

 

 

THE sun smacked Alec in the face. He woke to find it spilling across the bed but mostly on his side of it. He stretched and yawned noisily, cutting it short when he became aware of a weight tucked against his side. Eli liked sleeping closer to the wall, boxed in, and since he was now on Alec’s left side, he’d apparently crawled across him at some point during the night to reach his favorite spot. He suspected Eli somehow felt safer that way. Alec looked down to see him curled up near his abdomen, his mouth at Alec’s ribs, making his skin tingle with each exhalation. Eli had also kicked his covers off and lay naked beside him. Probably a nightmare. His left arm lay across Alec’s middle, and his right arm rested under his chin like a cat’s paw. Alec reached down and stroked Eli’s mop of dark brown hair, causing him to stir.

“Mmm… morning,” Eli moaned as he slid upward to reach Alec’s lips. He started to kiss him but stopped himself. “Or maybe I should say ‘morning breath’.” He chuckled. “Sorry.”

“You apologize too much. Come here.” They kissed for a long time, Eli stretching out on top of him, their hands coming together. Alec looked at how their fingers mated, fingertip to fingertip. “Eli?”

“Yes?”

“Why did you bother learning ASL when you took your gap year?”

“Mmm.” Eli kissed and sucked on Alec’s earlobe, and Alec shivered happily. “I already knew BSL from living with my auntie.” He rose up briefly to look at Alec. “I told you she was deaf, didn’t I? She’s how I got interested in interpreting.” He kissed Alec’s cheek and the corner of his mouth. “But I figured ASL would make me more useful.” He smiled brightly and gazed into his boyfriend’s eyes. “You Yanks have an awful habit of finding your way over here, you know?” Alec laughed, and they began kissing again. Eli paused again, looking at him. “You want to practice the alphabet?” he asked.

Alec smiled. “How do you manage to make that sound sexy?”

Eli laughed. “I don’t know, but you’ll need both hands for BSL.” He dove back in to kiss and bite Alec’s neck.

Alec sighed and grinned. “I would love to, but I’ve got an early class.”

Eli sighed. “Very well.” He rolled off Alec, flopping onto his back next to him.

Alec tilted his head as if he were listening for something or someone. “I wonder if Ilsa is up yet.” He sniffed the air for the aroma of brewing coffee or frying sausage.

“Why?”

“Because I have to get to my room to shower and get some fresh clothes, and I’d rather not startle her with my manliness.”

Eli laughed out loud. “It’s not like it would be the first time.” Alec started to get out of bed, but Eli quickly climbed over him and, grabbing his cane, padded across the floor toward the bathroom. Alec smiled, watching Eli absently scratching his beautiful bottom as he went.

He got up and began collecting his clothes from the floor. “That’s my point. I’d like to avoid doing that again.” He knelt on the floor and fished his boxer briefs from under the bed. He heard Eli say something and raised his head. “What?”

Eli flushed the toilet and turned on the shower. Then he poked his head out the bathroom door. “I said, how do you propose to remedy it?” He vanished again.

Alec got up only to drop on the bed to slip his pants on. “We could get our own place… like Tony and Lyle… maybe even in the same building. Dra—uh, I’m told there will be units opening up there in a month or two, maybe sooner.” He looked at the bathroom door, expecting to see Eli reappear, but he didn’t. Must be in the shower already.

Alec held the front of his slacks together and gathered up his shoes and remaining items. He struggled to open the door without dropping anything and slowly poked his head out. He scanned the hall, listening for sounds from the kitchen, before exiting Eli’s room and dashing up the stairs like “the other man” trying to avoid being caught by a jealous lover.

On the second floor landing, he slammed his toe so hard at the start of the next set of stairs that he saw stars and lost his breath for a moment. After he recovered, he continued—much more slowly and limping a bit. Having their own place where they could truly live together, could share a bedroom and home, was becoming a more appealing idea to him by the second.

Eli, however, remained frozen on the other side of his bathroom door. Alec’s suggestion echoed in his head as his shower grew cooler. It had never occurred to him to leave this house. Apparently… it had occurred to Alec.