'Eew, daddy. That's gross. Stop kissing Matt.'
Matej reluctantly pulled his lips from Eric's glancing down at the huddled sleeping form on the sofa between them. Not sleeping after all, it seemed. Eric laughed softly, his breath warm on Matej's cheek.
'Hon, time for you to hit the bed. You know the drill. Brush your teeth and jump into your pyjama. I'll be up to tell you a good night story in..', Eric glanced at his wrist watch, 'exactly 5 minutes.'
Sarah dragged herself tiredly off the couch, pushing herself on her feet, yawning.
'I want Matt to tell me a story tonight.'
Matej looked up from the sofa, surprised. Eric smiled at him, grabbing his thigh, squeezing the solid muscle.
"I don't know any good stories, Sarah. I'm sure your dad can..', he murmured, looking to Eric for help, but he just grabbed a beer from the couch table and smiled innocently.
'She's yours, Matej. Have fun. She likes unicorns and princesses', he laughed.
'Unicorns!!', Sarah yelled, but slipped into a yawn once more.
'You can tell me what happened to the two princes who fell in love that dad told me about", she added, walking toward the corridor.
Matej looked inquiringly at his lover. Eric shrugged, raising the beer bottle to his lips.
'I wanted to explain to her why two guys... You know', he lifted his hand from the thigh and beckoned his fingers between himself and Matej. Two princes in love. Matej hated to admit how the gesture moved him. He shook his head, smiling, covering Eric's returned hand on his thigh with his before he got up to follow Sarah and think of a story for her. A story about what happened to the two princes in love. If only Matej knew that one already .
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Reconnect
Matej looked up from his seat near the reception area, acknowledging the increasing flow of parents arriving and students coming down from the upper floors to meet them. Glancing at his watch, he saw that school ended just a few minutes ago, leaving him two more hours to kill before calling it a day and heading out of the elite private school that employed his services since the terror attacks in Paris a few months earlier. He stood up and began walking around. He hadn't yet learned the faces of all the parents of the school's 500 students, so any visitor entering the building was a potential threat in his book. And besides, he wouldn't want to be caught sitting around, playing with his cell phone while he was hired to keep the school's students and staff safe. Nice joke. With him not wearing a weapon in school - thanks to the school owner's ridiculous preference - he could only hope never to run into an armed aggressor or else he'd be the first dead body in the building if someone drew a weapon and he had nothing but his massive built to put between these kids and a potential threat.
A sudden impact on his lower back had him whirl around, switching from complete boredom into fighting mode within a quarter of a second, getting a wider stance and raising his arms to meet the unexpected force hitting him from behind.
"Matt!"
Matej recognized the steel grip around his waist as the arms of a young girl from Grade 5, his friend Sarah.
"Jesus!", he drew in a breath, lowering himself to meet the girl at eye level. "How many times must I tell you not to sneak up on me. I have to assume it's bad people who do this. You're not bad people, right?", he said, grabbing her shoulder, trying to make her understand. Her eyes dancing mischievously instead.
"School's out!", she laughed, not acknowledging his reprimand.
"As it is each day at 3, hon", Matej said patiently, getting back up, looking around, scanning the many faces now entering and leaving the building. He hated this time of day. People walked in and out in a never-ending flow and he could just rely on the receptionist knowing whether anyone coming in was a stranger or a parent.
"Any plans for tonight, Sarah?", he asked the girl standing by his side, while his eyes jumped from face to face, trying to find something that might be off the mark. He wasn't in this line of work for nothing. He had a knack for reading people's intentions, which often helped him diffuse a situation before it even started, back when he was still bouncing at night clubs in Slovenia,
"Watching a movie with daddy!", she said and began to shriek when she spied someone - probably her father - in the bunch of people coming in. Matej's attention shifted immediately to a man with a weapon entering the building. He quickly walked towards him, finding himself slightly relieved when he recognized the man's Austrian police uniform - so not an obvious terrorist at least - and was surprised when the man turned his back to Matej, going down on his knees to catch a blond whirlwind in his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest.
Sarah's joyous squeal relaxed Matej. That was just the girl's dad. And a cop on top. Interesting. Matej continued to walk around the reception area, stepping aside when people went for the door, his eyes simultaneously scanning anyone who entered in between. The parents were supposed to carry ID cards and he sometimes stopped a few of them randomly, asking them to show their ID, but he could not do a thing if they didn't carry the card with them. They were rich businessmen and employees of international organisations. They dealt with many things in their busy lives, a top priority being that their kids were safe and protected, but they definitely did not care about carrying a school ID card with them for Matej's sake. He figured with the amount of money they paid for their children's education, they expected to be recognized by school staff upon entering the school. So he kept shut most of the time and was determined to get to know people as quickly as possible.
"Daddy, this is Matt, our bodyguard", Sarah said behind him, obviously trying to introduce him to her father. Matej turned around, looking at the impressive uniform on the tall man in front of him.
"I'm not a bodyguard, Sarah, I'm a security officer", he said patiently, before raising his arm toward the man in front of him.
"Hi, my name is Matej. Sarah's the only one who calls me Matt. Nice to meet you, Sir" He grabbed the man's outstretched hand and found himself looking into a pair of familiar brown eyes, pupils widening in surprise, the grip of the hands continuing a second longer than was strictly necessary.
The officer quickly shook off his surprise and left only Matej flustered and shocked, his mouth hanging open and eyes wide with terror.
"Eric? You're a...", Matej began, suddenly running out of words, feeling a flush of heat rise in his face.
"A cop?", the officer prompted, flashing white teeth in a well trained smile that told of how many times Eric had to put on a poker face in his line of work.
Matej swallowed, painfully aware that a group of Al-Kaeda terrorists could storm the building now and he wouldn't even notice, not with the man in front of him smiling like this, the peaked cap on his head covering the dark hair that Matej had liked so much.
"A... a dad", he finished, spluttering like a fool. He squared his shoulders and narrowed his stance, trying to get into a more impressive posture to impress the uniformed man in front of him.
"You two know each other?", Sarah inquired, looking curiously up, her gaze jumping from one man to the other. "He's my friend, dad."
Eric fished a coin out of his jacket and handed it to his daughter. "Would you get me a bottle of mineral water from the cantine, hon?"
He called her 'hon', just like Matej did when none of the girl's friends were nearby. Bad enough she was socializing with the brooding muscle man that most student steered clear off, except for a bunch of the testosterone fueled Grade 12 boys who asked him how he got so big. He tried not to disappoint them too much. Due to his lack of a social life, he practically lived in a gym. No wonder he got big.
Sarah stormed off and Matej wondered if she was even able to walk in a normal pace. Left alone with her father, he carefully raised his eyes to Eric's, afraid of what the man might say to him now.
The security guard in his daughter's school cruising at a gay sauna? Not the message he wanted to send to people at all. But then, the guy had been there himself. So who's throwing the first stone?
"You didn't have to run", Eric said calmly, his brown eyes never leaving Matej's, who couldn't hold his gaze longer than a few second, before glancing down at the man's badge and weapon holster.
Looking back up, he felt the need to make a statement.
"I don't usually do this. I was there because of the gym, but their gym is shit, man, and then I thought... I thought...", he started to fidget, hating himself for appearing like an insecure teenager when he had acted like a confident porn star during their first meeting. Pretense, he always knew that, but he didn't want Eric to find out the truth.
"Hey, hey", Eric stepped closer, moving to touch Matej's arm, but stopped, aware of the people around them. What a weird sight they were. A cop and a security guard staring at each other like long lost brothers meeting for the first time after many years apart. It was crazy.
"I've been there too. What should I say? I'm a cop and a dad. You think I'm proud of myself?", he laughed, the smile lighting up his face, crinkling his eyes.
"And Sarah's mother?" Matej couldn't help but ask.
"We're divorced. She's a department assistant at the UN in New York. Sarah stays with me to finish Elementary School", Eric explained calmly, tilting his head to check on the hallway behind Matej, searching for signs that his daughter was returning.
He lowered his head again, finding Matej's confused eyes. "You really didn't have to leave", he repeated. Looking at Eric's inviting smile, Matej didn't know what to say. You reminded me too much of a previous lover, was not exactly polite. And 'It was just a hook up' was a downright lie. Matej knew that much by now. He hadn't been able to get their kiss out of his head for days, wondering if Eric would be at the sauna again if he returned to look for him. He hoped that wasn't the case.
"I'm sorry I left so abruptly. I didn't mean to insult you. Cold feet, I guess...", he mumbled, hearing Sarah's soft but fast paced footsteps approach behind him.
She bumped into her father, gripping his leg. Eric took the mineral water bottle from her hand and unscrewed it, lifting it to his lips and gulping down the sparkling water. Matej watched his lips close around the bottle neck, suddenly feeling the familiar rush of heat in his face again, taking a step back to save himself from further embarrassment.
Eric lowered the bottle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes never leaving Matej.
"Hey, if you two know each other, why don't you come with us to the movie tonight? Karen says 'Zoomania' is really good", Sarah babbled excitedly.
Eric stroked her blonde hair back from her face and cradled her neck.
"Hon, I'm sure Matej has better things to do than watch a kid's movie tonight. But we're happy to have him if he wants to?" Brows rising in hopeful invitation, Matej felt himself cornered between the two pairs of brown eyes staring expectantly at him. Why hadn't he made the connection before? Standing right next to each other, it was obvious that they were father and daughter, judging from their eyes alone.
Going to a movie? With Eric? And his daughter? Speaking of weird.
"I..., I really need to hit the gym tonight", he lied. He always hit the gym, but that was mostly because there was nothing else to do for him.
"You sure? I know Sarah would love you to join us. And so would I." That warm smile again.
Matej stood up straighter, glancing around, just to make sure he at least appeared to be doing his job here.
"Please, Matt. You absolutely have to join us! No isn't an option", Sarah begged, practically jumping up and down with excitement.
Matej held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"You are a pushy young lady, Sarah. Okay, if I have to I have to. I'll be happy to come along, if it really isn't an imposition?" A glance at Eric.
"Absolutely not. We'll be at the Haydn Cinema at 7 p.m. Wanna meet for dinner at say 6 p.m. at Prater Stern?" Eric smiled, his white teeth shining in his tanned face, cheeks dark with stubble, eyes sparkling with excitement, just like his daughter's.
"I'd love to", he responded shyly, stepping another step back to let them pass.
"Awesome! See ya later, Matt", Sarah yelled, dragging her dad behind her who saluted Matej playfully and disappeared among a bunch of parents and kids leaving the building through the wide glass door.
Was this a date? Matej raised his hand to his forehead, wondering how he had stumbled into this situation. Eric. His Eric. Sarah's father. What were the odds?
Better not to dwell on that. Matej returned to his usual position near the wall, scanning the decreasing flow of people coming and going, suddenly anxious for 5 p.m. to roll around. He needed to get ready. For a date.
A sudden impact on his lower back had him whirl around, switching from complete boredom into fighting mode within a quarter of a second, getting a wider stance and raising his arms to meet the unexpected force hitting him from behind.
"Matt!"
Matej recognized the steel grip around his waist as the arms of a young girl from Grade 5, his friend Sarah.
"Jesus!", he drew in a breath, lowering himself to meet the girl at eye level. "How many times must I tell you not to sneak up on me. I have to assume it's bad people who do this. You're not bad people, right?", he said, grabbing her shoulder, trying to make her understand. Her eyes dancing mischievously instead.
"School's out!", she laughed, not acknowledging his reprimand.
"As it is each day at 3, hon", Matej said patiently, getting back up, looking around, scanning the many faces now entering and leaving the building. He hated this time of day. People walked in and out in a never-ending flow and he could just rely on the receptionist knowing whether anyone coming in was a stranger or a parent.
"Any plans for tonight, Sarah?", he asked the girl standing by his side, while his eyes jumped from face to face, trying to find something that might be off the mark. He wasn't in this line of work for nothing. He had a knack for reading people's intentions, which often helped him diffuse a situation before it even started, back when he was still bouncing at night clubs in Slovenia,
"Watching a movie with daddy!", she said and began to shriek when she spied someone - probably her father - in the bunch of people coming in. Matej's attention shifted immediately to a man with a weapon entering the building. He quickly walked towards him, finding himself slightly relieved when he recognized the man's Austrian police uniform - so not an obvious terrorist at least - and was surprised when the man turned his back to Matej, going down on his knees to catch a blond whirlwind in his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest.
Sarah's joyous squeal relaxed Matej. That was just the girl's dad. And a cop on top. Interesting. Matej continued to walk around the reception area, stepping aside when people went for the door, his eyes simultaneously scanning anyone who entered in between. The parents were supposed to carry ID cards and he sometimes stopped a few of them randomly, asking them to show their ID, but he could not do a thing if they didn't carry the card with them. They were rich businessmen and employees of international organisations. They dealt with many things in their busy lives, a top priority being that their kids were safe and protected, but they definitely did not care about carrying a school ID card with them for Matej's sake. He figured with the amount of money they paid for their children's education, they expected to be recognized by school staff upon entering the school. So he kept shut most of the time and was determined to get to know people as quickly as possible.
"Daddy, this is Matt, our bodyguard", Sarah said behind him, obviously trying to introduce him to her father. Matej turned around, looking at the impressive uniform on the tall man in front of him.
"I'm not a bodyguard, Sarah, I'm a security officer", he said patiently, before raising his arm toward the man in front of him.
"Hi, my name is Matej. Sarah's the only one who calls me Matt. Nice to meet you, Sir" He grabbed the man's outstretched hand and found himself looking into a pair of familiar brown eyes, pupils widening in surprise, the grip of the hands continuing a second longer than was strictly necessary.
The officer quickly shook off his surprise and left only Matej flustered and shocked, his mouth hanging open and eyes wide with terror.
"Eric? You're a...", Matej began, suddenly running out of words, feeling a flush of heat rise in his face.
"A cop?", the officer prompted, flashing white teeth in a well trained smile that told of how many times Eric had to put on a poker face in his line of work.
Matej swallowed, painfully aware that a group of Al-Kaeda terrorists could storm the building now and he wouldn't even notice, not with the man in front of him smiling like this, the peaked cap on his head covering the dark hair that Matej had liked so much.
"A... a dad", he finished, spluttering like a fool. He squared his shoulders and narrowed his stance, trying to get into a more impressive posture to impress the uniformed man in front of him.
"You two know each other?", Sarah inquired, looking curiously up, her gaze jumping from one man to the other. "He's my friend, dad."
Eric fished a coin out of his jacket and handed it to his daughter. "Would you get me a bottle of mineral water from the cantine, hon?"
He called her 'hon', just like Matej did when none of the girl's friends were nearby. Bad enough she was socializing with the brooding muscle man that most student steered clear off, except for a bunch of the testosterone fueled Grade 12 boys who asked him how he got so big. He tried not to disappoint them too much. Due to his lack of a social life, he practically lived in a gym. No wonder he got big.
Sarah stormed off and Matej wondered if she was even able to walk in a normal pace. Left alone with her father, he carefully raised his eyes to Eric's, afraid of what the man might say to him now.
The security guard in his daughter's school cruising at a gay sauna? Not the message he wanted to send to people at all. But then, the guy had been there himself. So who's throwing the first stone?
"You didn't have to run", Eric said calmly, his brown eyes never leaving Matej's, who couldn't hold his gaze longer than a few second, before glancing down at the man's badge and weapon holster.
Looking back up, he felt the need to make a statement.
"I don't usually do this. I was there because of the gym, but their gym is shit, man, and then I thought... I thought...", he started to fidget, hating himself for appearing like an insecure teenager when he had acted like a confident porn star during their first meeting. Pretense, he always knew that, but he didn't want Eric to find out the truth.
"Hey, hey", Eric stepped closer, moving to touch Matej's arm, but stopped, aware of the people around them. What a weird sight they were. A cop and a security guard staring at each other like long lost brothers meeting for the first time after many years apart. It was crazy.
"I've been there too. What should I say? I'm a cop and a dad. You think I'm proud of myself?", he laughed, the smile lighting up his face, crinkling his eyes.
"And Sarah's mother?" Matej couldn't help but ask.
"We're divorced. She's a department assistant at the UN in New York. Sarah stays with me to finish Elementary School", Eric explained calmly, tilting his head to check on the hallway behind Matej, searching for signs that his daughter was returning.
He lowered his head again, finding Matej's confused eyes. "You really didn't have to leave", he repeated. Looking at Eric's inviting smile, Matej didn't know what to say. You reminded me too much of a previous lover, was not exactly polite. And 'It was just a hook up' was a downright lie. Matej knew that much by now. He hadn't been able to get their kiss out of his head for days, wondering if Eric would be at the sauna again if he returned to look for him. He hoped that wasn't the case.
"I'm sorry I left so abruptly. I didn't mean to insult you. Cold feet, I guess...", he mumbled, hearing Sarah's soft but fast paced footsteps approach behind him.
She bumped into her father, gripping his leg. Eric took the mineral water bottle from her hand and unscrewed it, lifting it to his lips and gulping down the sparkling water. Matej watched his lips close around the bottle neck, suddenly feeling the familiar rush of heat in his face again, taking a step back to save himself from further embarrassment.
Eric lowered the bottle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes never leaving Matej.
"Hey, if you two know each other, why don't you come with us to the movie tonight? Karen says 'Zoomania' is really good", Sarah babbled excitedly.
Eric stroked her blonde hair back from her face and cradled her neck.
"Hon, I'm sure Matej has better things to do than watch a kid's movie tonight. But we're happy to have him if he wants to?" Brows rising in hopeful invitation, Matej felt himself cornered between the two pairs of brown eyes staring expectantly at him. Why hadn't he made the connection before? Standing right next to each other, it was obvious that they were father and daughter, judging from their eyes alone.
Going to a movie? With Eric? And his daughter? Speaking of weird.
"I..., I really need to hit the gym tonight", he lied. He always hit the gym, but that was mostly because there was nothing else to do for him.
"You sure? I know Sarah would love you to join us. And so would I." That warm smile again.
Matej stood up straighter, glancing around, just to make sure he at least appeared to be doing his job here.
"Please, Matt. You absolutely have to join us! No isn't an option", Sarah begged, practically jumping up and down with excitement.
Matej held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"You are a pushy young lady, Sarah. Okay, if I have to I have to. I'll be happy to come along, if it really isn't an imposition?" A glance at Eric.
"Absolutely not. We'll be at the Haydn Cinema at 7 p.m. Wanna meet for dinner at say 6 p.m. at Prater Stern?" Eric smiled, his white teeth shining in his tanned face, cheeks dark with stubble, eyes sparkling with excitement, just like his daughter's.
"I'd love to", he responded shyly, stepping another step back to let them pass.
"Awesome! See ya later, Matt", Sarah yelled, dragging her dad behind her who saluted Matej playfully and disappeared among a bunch of parents and kids leaving the building through the wide glass door.
Was this a date? Matej raised his hand to his forehead, wondering how he had stumbled into this situation. Eric. His Eric. Sarah's father. What were the odds?
Better not to dwell on that. Matej returned to his usual position near the wall, scanning the decreasing flow of people coming and going, suddenly anxious for 5 p.m. to roll around. He needed to get ready. For a date.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Encounter in the Dark
Walking into the establishment, Matej sensed immediately that something was off. The building had looked inconspicuously enough from the outside - a nice green wooden door in a beautifully ornamented wall on an old Viennese building next to a church - but the reception area led directly to a huge locker room with live porn show ads decorating the walls and condoms lying in a bowl for public use. Changing quickly into his gym shorts and muscle tee, Matej found the actual gym to be a rather small affair with only a few machines cramped into a tiny side room that seemed more like an excuse than an actual place to work out.
A gay gym his ass. The Gay Vienna app on his phone had clearly fucked up royally. No way was this ever meant to be a place to work out.
Stepping out of the gym room, Matej watched a bunch of naked guys with only white towels around their waists descend the stairs into a lower level to what Matej assumed would be the gym's sauna.
A spark of curiosity prompted him to walk towards the stair and look down into a black rounded staircase, with music drifting softly up to him.
An older guy emerging from the lockers glanced curiously at him, his eyes glued to the bulging pecs and biceps that his gym top revealed. He brushed Matej slightly when he stepped aside to let him enter the dark staircase, looking back up at Matej for a second, a clear invitation in his eyes.
Matej quickly turned around, walking back to the lockers. A gay cruising sauna. Of course. He felt so dumb. Of all the places to get a gay friendly work out, this was probably the last place on the list where Matej wanted to be tonight.
He didn't mind a little fun and entertainment with a nice guy from time to time, but that certainly didn't include strangers in some steam room, where not even names were exchanged.
Matej grabbed his gym bag, getting ready to leave, when he found himself rooted to the spot, looking back toward the hallway and the mysterious stairs. The thought of a whole bunch of horny guys just waiting for him down there allured him somehow. He knew he was handsome. His muscles were a chick magnet, although he appreciated the longing stares of handsome men much more, to be honest.
He hadn't had a date in forever and he hated the guilt ride of a quickie or a one night stand that left him alone and brooding in his tiny apartment. He would never have come here, had he known. But walk out? He had paid the 15 euros for the night, intending to get a hard workout done tonight. And his virtue be damned, a workout was what he'd gonna get. Slipping out of his shorts and tee, he grabbed a white towel from a pile in a corner and put it around his hips, the tissue only barely covering his huge muscled legs. He usually hated how everything was tiny on his massive frame, but no one would object tonight, that was for sure. He closed his locker, slipped the key inside the attached wristband and put it on his wrist.
Walking down the dark stairs he emerged in a softly lit maze. Looking right, Matej stared into a dark room that was actually so dark that he didn't even see how big the room was or if it was open on the other side or not. The security professional in him felt his hackles rise at the notion of being in this room with a bunch of strangers and God knew what kind of things. He remembered how his colleague Dean had once stepped onto a syringe in a room as dark as this one. Only he was wearing military books that simply crushed the needle under his feet. Matej looked down at his bare toes, determined NOT to walk into that dark room tonight.
Walking left, he entered a shower room. A couple of men stood under the spray, taking an actual shower - and doing nothing else, to Matej's surprise. He felt their heads turn when he entered the area, removing the towel and stepping under a free shower, soaping his body up. Glancing swiftly around, he found the other men stare openly at him, not even trying to disguise their hunger.
Matej finished his business quickly, rinsing his body and putting the towel back on, not even bothering to dry off. Rivulets of water ran down his chest and legs, chilling his heated skin. He left the showers and moved on to a small bar and a beautifully decorated lounging room. Huge colons and gay-themed wall paintings gave the room an ancient Greek atmosphere. Guys were sitting on tables, some in pairs, some alone, lifting their heads when they saw him walk in. Matej hated to be on the receiving end of their predatory stares and looked past the men, avoiding any eye contact as he walked through the room, aiming for another door at its end.
He felt a hand close around his biceps and turned to a handsome older man with glasses who had approached him from one of the tables.
'How much?', the man asked, smiling shily.
Matej drew his eyebrows together in confusion. 'How much for what?'
The man smiled at him a little wider now, his soft hands beginning to rub up and down his large arms.
'A blowjob, maybe? Or ...more?', he said.
Matej withdrew his hand quickly and looked down, excusing himself with a mumbled 'Sorry', walking on.
Shit. Did they take him for a rent boy? He felt a wave of disgust wash over him, almost breaking his mood.
He crossed the room in wide steps and left through a door to a small hallway that led to toilets - although Matej doubted they were actually used as such. Several guys were leaning against a wall outside of the bathroom and Matej noticed how a pair entered the toilet together. He looked at each of the remaining men and found their eyes lock with his immediately, except for one guy in a corner, who quickly looked down when he met Matej's stare. Matej glanced at the man's toned body and felt a pang of excitement pass through his body as he watched the dark nipples framed by a hairy chest, a delicious trail leading towards the v shaped center, covered by the white towel. He liked the man's swimmer's build, muscular, but slim, not massive and ripped like his own body.
He stared at the man's angular features, high cheekbones framing a straight nose, his eyes cast down on the floor, a stray lock of dark hair falling over his eyebrows. A few white strands showed near his temples, giving away that the man was clearly older than Matej.
He felt a rush of excitement in his stomach, a strange attraction he simply couldn't deny, pulling him closer to the only man who didn't try to catch his attention in the room.
The decision made, Matej walked over, ignoring everyone else and headed straight for his dark haired stranger.
The man's back pressed against the wall as he raised his eyes to meet Matej's, now standing directly in front of him. Matej raised his right arm placing his palm next to the man's head, supporting his body only inches from the stranger's face. Matej was amused when he saw the expressive brown eyes widen in surprise, a sigh escaping his lips, his breath peppermint. Matej stared at him like a predator about to devour a prey. No way was he gonna back out now, not with a guy as deliciously handsome and shy like this right there in front of him, cornered like a mouse by an intimidating tomcat.
Matej leaned in, whispering in the man's ear, making sure that his lips brushed slightly against his lobes. "Do you like what you see?"
Brown eyes cleared his throat, his restless eyes giving away the inner turmoil that left him out of words.
Matej leaned even closer. Both arms on the man's sides now. Thighs on thighs.
The man leveled his eyes to Matej's. Lips only inches apart. He felt his victory, when the man's lips quirked up. Matej flexed his muscles and lowered his right arm, reaching for the stranger's hand. The grip was warm and solid, albeit slightly slippery from sweat. He felt the hand tremble slightly in his big paw. No sense playing coy now. Matej placed the man's hand on his ass, as he ground his whole body against him.
"You like how I feel?", he whispered on the other's neck. Matej's cock hardened under the towel, feeling the other man's cock throb through the tissue separating them.
'I...'
The man leaned towards Matej, his lips closing in to meet Matej's, but he tilted his head to give the man access to his throat instead. Kisses were for lovers. This was sex.
Matej leaned forward, licking across the man's neck, the skin warm and salty under his tongue. Going lower, he enjoyed the rasp of chest hair on his lips. Dropping further on his knees, Matej sucked the left nipple into his mouth, worrying it with his tongue, before he continued south, following the furry trail to the tented towel. A soft tug and it dropped to the floor, the now freed cock jumping excitedly up, the blunt tip leaving a wet trail on Matej's cheek. His mouth watering with desire, Matej buried his nose in the trimmed hair on its base, his open mouth following the ridge of the swollen cock, before his lips parted wide to welcome the velvet head inside, lapping away beads of sweet precome that formed on his tongue. The warm liquid increased in volume with every swirl of Matej's tongue, dragging a loud moan out of his partner's body, as he slid the shaft deeper into his mouth, lips closing around the base, while the head brushed the back of his throat. Matej wasn't a passionate cocksucker, but he knew how to make a guy feel good, keeping his teeth away from the tender skin, while swirling his tongue around the sensitive head. His handsome stranger caressed his cheeks tenderly, his left arm touching the close cropped hair on his skull, urging Matej on to take his cock deeper. He finally did let the man go all the way, the hard shaft now slippery with saliva and precome, gliding into his throat. Matej tried not to choke on the intruding cock, releasing it a few times, coughing and spitting, before he got used to the long shaft closing his windpipe, letting the man fuck his throat slowly, until he was able to bury his nose deep into the silken hair, the throbbing cock logged deep in his abused throat. The man's moans grew more intense, as he fucked Matej's mouth slowly, the friction of the raw throat driving him insane with lust. Matej let the man tilt forward, supporting his weight on his broad shoulders, as the thrusts grew shorter and frantic. He held on tight to the man's furry thighs, strong muscles flexing with exertion under his touch.
'I..., I can't...', the man moaned. Matej responded by grabbing his hard ass and shoving the man into his face burying his cock deeper into his throat, until a loud cry echoed through the room, shortly before Matej felt the hard shaft tremble and warm liquid shoot down his throat. Matej milked the throbbing cock with his throat, swallowing around the head, before he released it and tasted the warm semen on his tongue. Strands of saliva and cum hang from the pink head when he released it from his lips, one last swipe of his tongue cleaning it, the cock slowly softening while Matej rolled and caressed the man's empty balls in his large hands.
Matej fell back on his haunches, as the man collapsed on top of him, supporting him, letting his wide shoulders carry the exhausted man who grinned, panting. Matej felt proud having put the satisfied expression on the man's face.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, removing spit and cum from his lips, Matej got up fully, staring into the man's eyes, his own cock begging desperately for attention.
One of the men around them, watching, stepped closer, touching Matej's biceps, seeking to step in.
'I can take care of that..', the invader said pointing to Matej's rock hard cock jutting out of the small towel.
Matej threw him a sharp glance before fixing his eyes once more on his partner's.
'Back off. I'm his', he said, grabbing his man's ass and letting his fingers caress the muscled ass cheeks, finding the crack and the warm entrance in its midst.
The man squirmed in his touch, putting an arm around Matej's shoulder, pulling his head down to whisper in his ears.
'Please don't. Let's get someplace more private', he begged and pulled Matej along with him, through yet another dark corridor, until they reached a viewing room with a large screen and several raised benches, like a theatre, with porn being broadcast in a seemingly endless loop.
Settling down on the soft bench, which felt more like a mattress than an actual seat, the man pulled Matej towards him, lifting his leg over his own, cradling his large thighs in his lap and removing the white towel to watch the cock jump in front of him.
He looked up, searching Matej's eyes once more.
'May I...?', he asked tentatively.' Matej nodded, fascinated by the beautiful eyes that seemed to dance while the man's big hands closed around his shaft, eliciting a groan out of Matej's lips. Slow jerking motions made him lift his hips a little, gradually sliding more of his lower body into the man's lap, enjoying the sensation of warm hands on the most sensitive part of his body.
'You're so beautiful', the man whispered. Matej felt the welcome tingling in his groin and pulled the man closer by the shoulder, almost leaning in for a kiss, but changing the motion once again midway, leaning his forehead against the man's temple, his eyebrows caressing the man's own, who leaned into the touch, their heads close together, breaths mingling, lips close enough to kiss if they only moved an inch forward.
Matej's breath grew frantic as the man's hands sped up their task, one hand repeatedly jerking his cock from the root to the top, his thumb smearing the emerging precome around the head to increase the slippery effect, while his other kneaded his balls. Matej sensed the man's smile on his face when he felt his balls draw up and a few more jerks finally sent him over the edge, breathing into the man's mouth, his moan vibrating through their embraced bodies, when his cock finally spilled endless jets of come on the man's hand and Matej's smooth abs.
Fingers closing in around his now sensitive cock, the man milked the last drops out of him, staring at the white strands on his hand, fascinated. Matej looked at him, his breath finally winding down from the climax.
He watched the man lift his hand to his mouth, taking a tentative taste of Matej's come, which drove him wild with desire.
'Tastes like you', the man said, his eyes sparkling.
In response, Matej closed the last few inches separating them, his mouth now flush with the man's moist lips, Matej's tongue invading, searching, ravaging the willing mouth, finding his taste on the man's warm tongue. The frantic meeting of tongues suddenly slowed down to a more intimate kiss, lips closing, sealing their connection, turning the raw hunger into a tender gesture of affection. Matej pulled back slowly, intimidated by the sudden turn of things, but the man pulled his shaved head to his body and cradled him against the hollow of his throat, keeping him warm inside his arms.
Matej felt unwanted memories surface in his mind. A loving touch, a tender gesture shared in the dark. A deep loss in his heart, suddenly coming back to his mind.
'I'm Eric', the man said, his rumbling voice echoing through Matej, feeling the words on his face resting against the warm throat, just as he heard them.
He wanted to respond. Tell him his name. Ask him to see him again. But his fear cooled his heart as it always did when someone came too close too fast and Matej untangled himself from Eric's arms and got up.
'I gotta go', he said, not able to look into the man's eyes for another second. He didn't want to see disappointment in those warm brown eyes. Grabbing his towel and covering himself in one swift motion, he fled from the room, leaving Eric alone with the soft moans and whispers on the screen.
He practically ran through the many rooms in this unbelievable maze until he was back at his locker. Not bothering to put his security shirt back on, he just slipped inside his gym tee and shirts, grabbed his bag and left the establishment without sparing anyone a single glance. Finally closing the green door behind himself he dropped his bag and inhaled the cool night air deeply, a whiff of incense coloring the city smells of the night. He looked across the street at the old church building sitting there, like a silent reminder to all the sinners leaving the raunchy establishment. Matej buried his face in his hands, hating the sudden guilt that hit him now, as it always did when he gave in to his hunger. He felt the curious stares of several young men who entered the door while he still stood right next to it. Matej felt sick. He grabbed his gym back and ran down the street, no direction in mind. Just away from the place that made him feel so dirty, sinful and trying to forget the feeling of the handsome man in his arms and the tender warmth of their shared kiss. His huge feet hammering the pavement, he ran into the anonymity of the city, ignoring the trails of tears painting his flushed cheeks.
Tomorrow he would have forgotten about this incident and find a real place to work out. Tomorrow he wanted to feel normal again. As if that would ever happen...
A gay gym his ass. The Gay Vienna app on his phone had clearly fucked up royally. No way was this ever meant to be a place to work out.
Stepping out of the gym room, Matej watched a bunch of naked guys with only white towels around their waists descend the stairs into a lower level to what Matej assumed would be the gym's sauna.
A spark of curiosity prompted him to walk towards the stair and look down into a black rounded staircase, with music drifting softly up to him.
An older guy emerging from the lockers glanced curiously at him, his eyes glued to the bulging pecs and biceps that his gym top revealed. He brushed Matej slightly when he stepped aside to let him enter the dark staircase, looking back up at Matej for a second, a clear invitation in his eyes.
Matej quickly turned around, walking back to the lockers. A gay cruising sauna. Of course. He felt so dumb. Of all the places to get a gay friendly work out, this was probably the last place on the list where Matej wanted to be tonight.
He didn't mind a little fun and entertainment with a nice guy from time to time, but that certainly didn't include strangers in some steam room, where not even names were exchanged.
Matej grabbed his gym bag, getting ready to leave, when he found himself rooted to the spot, looking back toward the hallway and the mysterious stairs. The thought of a whole bunch of horny guys just waiting for him down there allured him somehow. He knew he was handsome. His muscles were a chick magnet, although he appreciated the longing stares of handsome men much more, to be honest.
He hadn't had a date in forever and he hated the guilt ride of a quickie or a one night stand that left him alone and brooding in his tiny apartment. He would never have come here, had he known. But walk out? He had paid the 15 euros for the night, intending to get a hard workout done tonight. And his virtue be damned, a workout was what he'd gonna get. Slipping out of his shorts and tee, he grabbed a white towel from a pile in a corner and put it around his hips, the tissue only barely covering his huge muscled legs. He usually hated how everything was tiny on his massive frame, but no one would object tonight, that was for sure. He closed his locker, slipped the key inside the attached wristband and put it on his wrist.
Walking down the dark stairs he emerged in a softly lit maze. Looking right, Matej stared into a dark room that was actually so dark that he didn't even see how big the room was or if it was open on the other side or not. The security professional in him felt his hackles rise at the notion of being in this room with a bunch of strangers and God knew what kind of things. He remembered how his colleague Dean had once stepped onto a syringe in a room as dark as this one. Only he was wearing military books that simply crushed the needle under his feet. Matej looked down at his bare toes, determined NOT to walk into that dark room tonight.
Walking left, he entered a shower room. A couple of men stood under the spray, taking an actual shower - and doing nothing else, to Matej's surprise. He felt their heads turn when he entered the area, removing the towel and stepping under a free shower, soaping his body up. Glancing swiftly around, he found the other men stare openly at him, not even trying to disguise their hunger.
Matej finished his business quickly, rinsing his body and putting the towel back on, not even bothering to dry off. Rivulets of water ran down his chest and legs, chilling his heated skin. He left the showers and moved on to a small bar and a beautifully decorated lounging room. Huge colons and gay-themed wall paintings gave the room an ancient Greek atmosphere. Guys were sitting on tables, some in pairs, some alone, lifting their heads when they saw him walk in. Matej hated to be on the receiving end of their predatory stares and looked past the men, avoiding any eye contact as he walked through the room, aiming for another door at its end.
He felt a hand close around his biceps and turned to a handsome older man with glasses who had approached him from one of the tables.
'How much?', the man asked, smiling shily.
Matej drew his eyebrows together in confusion. 'How much for what?'
The man smiled at him a little wider now, his soft hands beginning to rub up and down his large arms.
'A blowjob, maybe? Or ...more?', he said.
Matej withdrew his hand quickly and looked down, excusing himself with a mumbled 'Sorry', walking on.
Shit. Did they take him for a rent boy? He felt a wave of disgust wash over him, almost breaking his mood.
He crossed the room in wide steps and left through a door to a small hallway that led to toilets - although Matej doubted they were actually used as such. Several guys were leaning against a wall outside of the bathroom and Matej noticed how a pair entered the toilet together. He looked at each of the remaining men and found their eyes lock with his immediately, except for one guy in a corner, who quickly looked down when he met Matej's stare. Matej glanced at the man's toned body and felt a pang of excitement pass through his body as he watched the dark nipples framed by a hairy chest, a delicious trail leading towards the v shaped center, covered by the white towel. He liked the man's swimmer's build, muscular, but slim, not massive and ripped like his own body.
He stared at the man's angular features, high cheekbones framing a straight nose, his eyes cast down on the floor, a stray lock of dark hair falling over his eyebrows. A few white strands showed near his temples, giving away that the man was clearly older than Matej.
He felt a rush of excitement in his stomach, a strange attraction he simply couldn't deny, pulling him closer to the only man who didn't try to catch his attention in the room.
The decision made, Matej walked over, ignoring everyone else and headed straight for his dark haired stranger.
The man's back pressed against the wall as he raised his eyes to meet Matej's, now standing directly in front of him. Matej raised his right arm placing his palm next to the man's head, supporting his body only inches from the stranger's face. Matej was amused when he saw the expressive brown eyes widen in surprise, a sigh escaping his lips, his breath peppermint. Matej stared at him like a predator about to devour a prey. No way was he gonna back out now, not with a guy as deliciously handsome and shy like this right there in front of him, cornered like a mouse by an intimidating tomcat.
Matej leaned in, whispering in the man's ear, making sure that his lips brushed slightly against his lobes. "Do you like what you see?"
Brown eyes cleared his throat, his restless eyes giving away the inner turmoil that left him out of words.
Matej leaned even closer. Both arms on the man's sides now. Thighs on thighs.
The man leveled his eyes to Matej's. Lips only inches apart. He felt his victory, when the man's lips quirked up. Matej flexed his muscles and lowered his right arm, reaching for the stranger's hand. The grip was warm and solid, albeit slightly slippery from sweat. He felt the hand tremble slightly in his big paw. No sense playing coy now. Matej placed the man's hand on his ass, as he ground his whole body against him.
"You like how I feel?", he whispered on the other's neck. Matej's cock hardened under the towel, feeling the other man's cock throb through the tissue separating them.
'I...'
The man leaned towards Matej, his lips closing in to meet Matej's, but he tilted his head to give the man access to his throat instead. Kisses were for lovers. This was sex.
Matej leaned forward, licking across the man's neck, the skin warm and salty under his tongue. Going lower, he enjoyed the rasp of chest hair on his lips. Dropping further on his knees, Matej sucked the left nipple into his mouth, worrying it with his tongue, before he continued south, following the furry trail to the tented towel. A soft tug and it dropped to the floor, the now freed cock jumping excitedly up, the blunt tip leaving a wet trail on Matej's cheek. His mouth watering with desire, Matej buried his nose in the trimmed hair on its base, his open mouth following the ridge of the swollen cock, before his lips parted wide to welcome the velvet head inside, lapping away beads of sweet precome that formed on his tongue. The warm liquid increased in volume with every swirl of Matej's tongue, dragging a loud moan out of his partner's body, as he slid the shaft deeper into his mouth, lips closing around the base, while the head brushed the back of his throat. Matej wasn't a passionate cocksucker, but he knew how to make a guy feel good, keeping his teeth away from the tender skin, while swirling his tongue around the sensitive head. His handsome stranger caressed his cheeks tenderly, his left arm touching the close cropped hair on his skull, urging Matej on to take his cock deeper. He finally did let the man go all the way, the hard shaft now slippery with saliva and precome, gliding into his throat. Matej tried not to choke on the intruding cock, releasing it a few times, coughing and spitting, before he got used to the long shaft closing his windpipe, letting the man fuck his throat slowly, until he was able to bury his nose deep into the silken hair, the throbbing cock logged deep in his abused throat. The man's moans grew more intense, as he fucked Matej's mouth slowly, the friction of the raw throat driving him insane with lust. Matej let the man tilt forward, supporting his weight on his broad shoulders, as the thrusts grew shorter and frantic. He held on tight to the man's furry thighs, strong muscles flexing with exertion under his touch.
'I..., I can't...', the man moaned. Matej responded by grabbing his hard ass and shoving the man into his face burying his cock deeper into his throat, until a loud cry echoed through the room, shortly before Matej felt the hard shaft tremble and warm liquid shoot down his throat. Matej milked the throbbing cock with his throat, swallowing around the head, before he released it and tasted the warm semen on his tongue. Strands of saliva and cum hang from the pink head when he released it from his lips, one last swipe of his tongue cleaning it, the cock slowly softening while Matej rolled and caressed the man's empty balls in his large hands.
Matej fell back on his haunches, as the man collapsed on top of him, supporting him, letting his wide shoulders carry the exhausted man who grinned, panting. Matej felt proud having put the satisfied expression on the man's face.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, removing spit and cum from his lips, Matej got up fully, staring into the man's eyes, his own cock begging desperately for attention.
One of the men around them, watching, stepped closer, touching Matej's biceps, seeking to step in.
'I can take care of that..', the invader said pointing to Matej's rock hard cock jutting out of the small towel.
Matej threw him a sharp glance before fixing his eyes once more on his partner's.
'Back off. I'm his', he said, grabbing his man's ass and letting his fingers caress the muscled ass cheeks, finding the crack and the warm entrance in its midst.
The man squirmed in his touch, putting an arm around Matej's shoulder, pulling his head down to whisper in his ears.
'Please don't. Let's get someplace more private', he begged and pulled Matej along with him, through yet another dark corridor, until they reached a viewing room with a large screen and several raised benches, like a theatre, with porn being broadcast in a seemingly endless loop.
Settling down on the soft bench, which felt more like a mattress than an actual seat, the man pulled Matej towards him, lifting his leg over his own, cradling his large thighs in his lap and removing the white towel to watch the cock jump in front of him.
He looked up, searching Matej's eyes once more.
'May I...?', he asked tentatively.' Matej nodded, fascinated by the beautiful eyes that seemed to dance while the man's big hands closed around his shaft, eliciting a groan out of Matej's lips. Slow jerking motions made him lift his hips a little, gradually sliding more of his lower body into the man's lap, enjoying the sensation of warm hands on the most sensitive part of his body.
'You're so beautiful', the man whispered. Matej felt the welcome tingling in his groin and pulled the man closer by the shoulder, almost leaning in for a kiss, but changing the motion once again midway, leaning his forehead against the man's temple, his eyebrows caressing the man's own, who leaned into the touch, their heads close together, breaths mingling, lips close enough to kiss if they only moved an inch forward.
Matej's breath grew frantic as the man's hands sped up their task, one hand repeatedly jerking his cock from the root to the top, his thumb smearing the emerging precome around the head to increase the slippery effect, while his other kneaded his balls. Matej sensed the man's smile on his face when he felt his balls draw up and a few more jerks finally sent him over the edge, breathing into the man's mouth, his moan vibrating through their embraced bodies, when his cock finally spilled endless jets of come on the man's hand and Matej's smooth abs.
Fingers closing in around his now sensitive cock, the man milked the last drops out of him, staring at the white strands on his hand, fascinated. Matej looked at him, his breath finally winding down from the climax.
He watched the man lift his hand to his mouth, taking a tentative taste of Matej's come, which drove him wild with desire.
'Tastes like you', the man said, his eyes sparkling.
In response, Matej closed the last few inches separating them, his mouth now flush with the man's moist lips, Matej's tongue invading, searching, ravaging the willing mouth, finding his taste on the man's warm tongue. The frantic meeting of tongues suddenly slowed down to a more intimate kiss, lips closing, sealing their connection, turning the raw hunger into a tender gesture of affection. Matej pulled back slowly, intimidated by the sudden turn of things, but the man pulled his shaved head to his body and cradled him against the hollow of his throat, keeping him warm inside his arms.
Matej felt unwanted memories surface in his mind. A loving touch, a tender gesture shared in the dark. A deep loss in his heart, suddenly coming back to his mind.
'I'm Eric', the man said, his rumbling voice echoing through Matej, feeling the words on his face resting against the warm throat, just as he heard them.
He wanted to respond. Tell him his name. Ask him to see him again. But his fear cooled his heart as it always did when someone came too close too fast and Matej untangled himself from Eric's arms and got up.
'I gotta go', he said, not able to look into the man's eyes for another second. He didn't want to see disappointment in those warm brown eyes. Grabbing his towel and covering himself in one swift motion, he fled from the room, leaving Eric alone with the soft moans and whispers on the screen.
He practically ran through the many rooms in this unbelievable maze until he was back at his locker. Not bothering to put his security shirt back on, he just slipped inside his gym tee and shirts, grabbed his bag and left the establishment without sparing anyone a single glance. Finally closing the green door behind himself he dropped his bag and inhaled the cool night air deeply, a whiff of incense coloring the city smells of the night. He looked across the street at the old church building sitting there, like a silent reminder to all the sinners leaving the raunchy establishment. Matej buried his face in his hands, hating the sudden guilt that hit him now, as it always did when he gave in to his hunger. He felt the curious stares of several young men who entered the door while he still stood right next to it. Matej felt sick. He grabbed his gym back and ran down the street, no direction in mind. Just away from the place that made him feel so dirty, sinful and trying to forget the feeling of the handsome man in his arms and the tender warmth of their shared kiss. His huge feet hammering the pavement, he ran into the anonymity of the city, ignoring the trails of tears painting his flushed cheeks.
Tomorrow he would have forgotten about this incident and find a real place to work out. Tomorrow he wanted to feel normal again. As if that would ever happen...
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sam Collins - Chapter 5
Sam could see the light behind his closed eyes and winced when the feeling of being run over by a truck hit him. Where the hell was he?
"This morning, the Army Intelligence base in Kentucky reported several Plague-related incidents in Clarksville. A Special Unit has cleared the area in the meantime. However, the current line of the barrier needs to be shifted west once again, leaving only Arkansas and Missouri unaffected from the spread of the Lyssa-V1 strain that originated in North Carolina. The western strain Lyssa-G1, the first outburst of the Plague in the US, has reached Texas in August, as previously reported. Further spreads of this strain have not yet been reported.
The police are instructing residents in Arkansas and Missouri to beware of possible refugees from Kentucky who might accidentally spread the virus further."
The radio was turned down and Sam opened his eyes, slowly adjusting them to the bright morning light. He was in a bed overlooking a big room that served as kitchen, bed and living room in one. A broad shouldered blonde guy with a short crew cut was making coffee on the counter by the window. The morning light put him in a soft haze .
Sam touched his head, groaning from the effort. The stranger turned around.
Sam touched his head, groaning from the effort. The stranger turned around.
"Good morning. How do you feel?" He walked over to the bed and placed a cup of coffee on the bed side table.
Crap. Who was the guy?
Crap. Who was the guy?
"Terrible. Feel like I've drowned in booze. Is this your place?" The stranger nodded. Sam watched the worried expression on the man's face. He was handsome, reminded him of his training supervisor at the Academy. The one he had a secret crush on back then. He looked at the coffee cup next to him.
"Who are you? Have we...?" Sam was surprised when the man backed away from him.
"Hell no!" The shocked expression on his face spoke volumes.
"Gosh, was I that drunk?" He tried to laugh, wincing when his head ache made the effort impossible.
"You were drugged last night! I'm Paul, remember?"
The memories almost blinded Sam. The bar. The married bartender. That disgusting asshole who made him drink that shit that knocked him out. He tried to forget what had happened then.
The memories almost blinded Sam. The bar. The married bartender. That disgusting asshole who made him drink that shit that knocked him out. He tried to forget what had happened then.
"You're the the bartender. The one with the ring on his finger", he rasped.
"I guess I am", Paul said, concern written all over his face.
"Where's your partner? I didn't mean to cause you trouble." Sam tried to get up, suddenly feeling a hand on his chest pushing him back down.
"You shouldn't get up too quickly." Sam looked at the lines of worry in Paul's handsome face, brown eyes framed by thick brows as blond as his hair.
Sam rested his head back on the pillow. Paul handed him the coffee cup and strode across the room looking out of the window from behind the curtain.
Sam rested his head back on the pillow. Paul handed him the coffee cup and strode across the room looking out of the window from behind the curtain.
"He's dead", he said.
"Huh?"
"Jason. My partner. He died two years ago." Paul turned his head to look at Sam.
"I'm... I'm sorry", he muttered, a surprised look on his face.
"Are you worried?", Paul looked out of the window again, not addressing Sam's painful expression of sympathy.
"Worried?", he asked uncertainly.
"About the Plague coming closer to Arkansas", Paul explained looking back at Sam.
Had there been one moment in the last five years when Sam had not been concerned about the spread of the virus? It had cost him his love, his career and almost his life. But did it trouble him right now? Seems like he had enough other things to worry about.
"Nothing I can do about it anymore", he replied, settling back against the cushion. Paul frowned at this.
"You were involved? In the Army, I mean." He walked back to the bed, sitting down at the foot of it.
Sam studied his face, taking in the blonde stubble on Paul's chin, giving him a rugged look. He sighed and nodded.
Sam studied his face, taking in the blonde stubble on Paul's chin, giving him a rugged look. He sighed and nodded.
"I had just finished the Academy in West Point, starting my first commission in Germany when it all began" Sam's gaze drifted off, memories flooding back as he spoke.
"The TV in the barracks was on and we were watching a football game when they suddenly interrupted the broadcast to show a newsflash. It was about an incident in Fort Bragg. Someone was found dead with terrible bite marks and blood all over his body just outside the Airbase. Apparently, the body was highly contagious with some unknown disease that spread quickly among the staff of the base. It had also reached civil residents in the area surrounding the base and anyone who tried to examine them got infected instantly." Sam paused, taking in a breath.
"It seemed like an act of terrorism or something, right here in the US. We applied for instant relocation. By the time we got back to the US, the Plague had already led to ten thousands of victims. I was selected to serve in the Army's first Special Unit."
Paul looked at him with worried eyes.
"So you killed all these people, just like the Army did in Clarksville." It wasn't a question, Sam realized.
"We got trained in bio warfare and were instructed to eliminate any infected carrier that crossed our path. I killed more than two thousand humans in the course of five years." Why was he telling him all this? Did Sam feel the need to confess, all of a sudden? Paul watched him with cold eyes.
"What about you? What's your story?", Sam asked, silently wondering, if Paul contemplated to kick him out after this revelation. Paul hesitated, clearly digesting what he had just head.
"I was in the Antilope Valley when it all first began", he said eventually.
"You're Air Force?", Sam interrupted, interest visible in his eyes. Paul did have the look of an ex-Air Force man, but he wouldn't have believed it to be true. All he lacked were aviator sunglasses.
"I was. Used to work as an instructor in the Test Pilot School we ran there. When the first wave of the Plague began, funds were relocated to Special Units and the Pilot School was among the first facilities that were shut down. We were given the choice to enter a Special Unit and start killing virus carriers - or we were asked to leave... Guess what I chose."
Sam looked down. He never felt ashamed for his choices. Looking back, though, he knew that there could have been other alternatives for him. Had he and Sean left the Army before it was too late, he might be happily settled down with him, instead of waking up in a stranger's bed after one
hell of a night.
hell of a night.
"I went back to L.A. With the economy going to hell thanks to the Plague and no family left, I soon used up all my savings and ended on the street", Paul continued.
"And then I did what any gay man in my situation and with my background would do in Hollywood", Paul stated, his voice gone quiet.
Sam had no clue what he was referring to.
"You wrote a screen play?", he guessed. Paul almost laughed out loud.
"No, dumbass! I did porn."
Sam felt the color rise in his face. He was such a fool. Paul didn't seem to be phased, though.
Sam felt the color rise in his face. He was such a fool. Paul didn't seem to be phased, though.
"Anyway, it paid off real well. And I met a guy on one of the sets there. Jason. He was something." Paul looked out of the window again before he continued.
"When the Plague hit L.A., we packed our stuff and left before it was too late. We moved here, because Jason's family used to live here. When we arrived, the house was empty, his family gone to the East. They probably died of the Plague there, we never heard of them again."
Sam swallowed hard.
Sam swallowed hard.
"What happened to Jason?"
Paul sighed and looked back at Sam.
Paul sighed and looked back at Sam.
"He wasn't healthy. He used to take meds in L.A. but when our income dropped, we could no longer afford them."
Sam didn't know what to say. It must have cost Paul more than courage to help him last night. And Sam had just been a bitch and wanted to leave the hospital.
"You need these meds too? Is that why you wanted me to take them?"
"You remember? Yes, I didn't want you to go through this on top of what happened." Paul's eyes
dropped to the floor.
dropped to the floor.
"I will get tested. Maybe he was clean." Sam wasn't sure he could believe his own voice. "So, you're sick too?"
Paul's expression was illegible.
Paul's expression was illegible.
"I don't have any symptoms. Never got tested, though. Still, the Plague is what concerns me more, to be honest. I hope you're not thinking of shooting me already?" He winked, but now it was Sam's turn to be annoyed.
"I'm not a murderer. If we hadn't intervened, the Plague would have snowballed all over the states." At least that's what their superiors had said all those years. Looking back at how many people died from his hands, he wondered if they had been wrong all along.
"Seems like it already does, Sam."
Anger flared within Sam. He ignored Paul's sad eyes when he scrambled out of the bed and got up shakily.
Anger flared within Sam. He ignored Paul's sad eyes when he scrambled out of the bed and got up shakily.
"I should go." Sam felt the blood drop from his head and his knees turned to pudding. Paul's arms were around his body before his face connected to the linoleum floor.
"You're going nowhere. Not until you feel better." He lifted Sam back onto the bed. The sickening pain in Sam's head lessened a bit and he was able to see things clearly again. Paul went to the counter and fetched a plate with a bagel on it, dropping it next to the coffee cup on Sam's bedside table.
"Help yourself when you feel hungry. I'm gonna take a nap. Just wake me if you need anything."
Paul dropped on the queen sized bed next to Sam, crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes.
Paul dropped on the queen sized bed next to Sam, crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes.
Sam watched his profile, studying the square jaw and blonde stubble on his cheeks. Paul must have been about ten years older than Sam. But he still had the fit body of a trained military man which was displayed nicely in the muscle shirt he was wearing. Sam closed his eyes and tried to rest, but the
memories of the previous night haunted him. Maybe it served him right, though. If the Plague was meant to erase mankind for good, all Sam had done was kill a countless number of frightened innocents. He was never haunted by their faces or their screams. He didn't even want to contemplate what that might say about him as a human being.
memories of the previous night haunted him. Maybe it served him right, though. If the Plague was meant to erase mankind for good, all Sam had done was kill a countless number of frightened innocents. He was never haunted by their faces or their screams. He didn't even want to contemplate what that might say about him as a human being.
There was one face, however, that he could not forget. And he never would.
It was the only one he had truly loved.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Sam Collins - Chapter 4
The night didn't seem to end.
Paul rinsed a few glasses and threw a glance at his watch. Only 9.30. Seven hours to go.
The couple he had watched make out at the counter had left half an hour ago. At least someone was having fun tonight.
He couldn't believe Soldier Boy had followed the gross hairy guy into the darkroom. He'd have thought a guy like him had standards. Paul suddenly felt old and dated. Maybe he shouldn't feel bitter and just take the next best guy to bed and finally allow himself some fun.
Speaking of fun, Gross Hairy Guy must have had plenty, judging from the smile on his face. Paul watched the man emerge from behind the veil to the dark rooms. He grabbed a jacket from his corner seat and left without so much as glance back at Paul.
The remaining glasses on the counter were the only task that distracted him from the veil, waiting for Handsome to emerge with a similar smirk on his face.
What was taking him so long? Cleaning up? God, Paul hoped not.
Still, after five minutes and no more dirty glasses in front of him, he frowned and ignored Kyle, the 60 year old alcoholic who was around almost every weekday, silently staring at the counter and only raising a finger every now and then to order the next drink. Paul had often wondered if the man was gay at all or if it was just the cheap booze that lured him in. Anyway, what was the young guy doing in there so long?
He dropped his towel and walked over to the curtain.
"You okay in there?" He felt the urge to knock, but the cloth hanging from the ceiling didn't seem to support that idea. No response.
Damn, the last thing he wanted was to walk in on some private moment, but something felt wrong.
Paul opened the veil and stepped inside, the darkness almost swallowing him until his eyes adjusted to the soft beam from the blackened neon light in the corner. He almost stumbled over the body lying on the floor. Shit.
"Hey! Son, what's wrong?" He crouched down and grabbed the guy's wrist. His pulse was slow.
Paul grabbed his cell in the back pocket of his pants and dialed 911. The line was out of service. A common occurrence these days.
He would have to take him to the hospital himself. Paul suddenly realized that the guy's pants were down. Oh God.
"Can you hear me? Say something, man!" He grabbed the guy's arms and noticed the man's feeble attempt to free himself from Paul's grip.
"Lemme go, please, lemme go...", he whispered.
Paul yanked his pants up and lifted him off the floor. He wasn't light, but Paul managed to carry him out of the darkroom and into the main bar area, seating him on a cushioned bench in the corner.
He took the guy's chin in his hands and stared into his eyes. The pupils were dilated. Paul knew the signs of a drugged person too well, unfortunately.
"What's your name?", he said softly.
Soldier Boy sure had beautiful eyes. The bewildered expression on his face made him look so much younger than before when he had scowled at Paul.
"Sam", he whispered, his eyes jumping back and forth between Paul and the floor.
"My name is Paul. I am going to take you to a hospital. You need to help me a bit. Is that okay?"
Sam seemed to understand what he said. He nodded slightly, while Paul held his hand flat against Sam's chest to keep him from toppling over. How was he supposed to get him to his car? The drive to the hospital wouldn't be difficult at all, but reaching the car seemed impossible to accomplish.
Paul rinsed a few glasses and threw a glance at his watch. Only 9.30. Seven hours to go.
The couple he had watched make out at the counter had left half an hour ago. At least someone was having fun tonight.
He couldn't believe Soldier Boy had followed the gross hairy guy into the darkroom. He'd have thought a guy like him had standards. Paul suddenly felt old and dated. Maybe he shouldn't feel bitter and just take the next best guy to bed and finally allow himself some fun.
Speaking of fun, Gross Hairy Guy must have had plenty, judging from the smile on his face. Paul watched the man emerge from behind the veil to the dark rooms. He grabbed a jacket from his corner seat and left without so much as glance back at Paul.
The remaining glasses on the counter were the only task that distracted him from the veil, waiting for Handsome to emerge with a similar smirk on his face.
What was taking him so long? Cleaning up? God, Paul hoped not.
Still, after five minutes and no more dirty glasses in front of him, he frowned and ignored Kyle, the 60 year old alcoholic who was around almost every weekday, silently staring at the counter and only raising a finger every now and then to order the next drink. Paul had often wondered if the man was gay at all or if it was just the cheap booze that lured him in. Anyway, what was the young guy doing in there so long?
He dropped his towel and walked over to the curtain.
"You okay in there?" He felt the urge to knock, but the cloth hanging from the ceiling didn't seem to support that idea. No response.
Damn, the last thing he wanted was to walk in on some private moment, but something felt wrong.
Paul opened the veil and stepped inside, the darkness almost swallowing him until his eyes adjusted to the soft beam from the blackened neon light in the corner. He almost stumbled over the body lying on the floor. Shit.
"Hey! Son, what's wrong?" He crouched down and grabbed the guy's wrist. His pulse was slow.
Paul grabbed his cell in the back pocket of his pants and dialed 911. The line was out of service. A common occurrence these days.
He would have to take him to the hospital himself. Paul suddenly realized that the guy's pants were down. Oh God.
"Can you hear me? Say something, man!" He grabbed the guy's arms and noticed the man's feeble attempt to free himself from Paul's grip.
"Lemme go, please, lemme go...", he whispered.
Paul yanked his pants up and lifted him off the floor. He wasn't light, but Paul managed to carry him out of the darkroom and into the main bar area, seating him on a cushioned bench in the corner.
He took the guy's chin in his hands and stared into his eyes. The pupils were dilated. Paul knew the signs of a drugged person too well, unfortunately.
"What's your name?", he said softly.
Soldier Boy sure had beautiful eyes. The bewildered expression on his face made him look so much younger than before when he had scowled at Paul.
"Sam", he whispered, his eyes jumping back and forth between Paul and the floor.
"My name is Paul. I am going to take you to a hospital. You need to help me a bit. Is that okay?"
Sam seemed to understand what he said. He nodded slightly, while Paul held his hand flat against Sam's chest to keep him from toppling over. How was he supposed to get him to his car? The drive to the hospital wouldn't be difficult at all, but reaching the car seemed impossible to accomplish.
"Man, you gotta help me a bit." Paul supported his upper body with his
hands and lifted him carefully to his feet. Sam weighed heavily in his arms. His
feet were unable to support his body and Paul almost tripped over a chair trying
to reach the door. An additional pair of hands suddenly appeared on Sam's other
side and held him up. Paul stared into the sad eyes of their unexpected ally.
"Thanks Kyle, I owe you one."
Together they managed to carry Sam to Paul's car. He jogged back for a
moment to lock up the bar and thanked Kyle once more, who was already on his way
to wherever he spent the night.
The ride to the Baptist Medical Center only took a few minutes, thanks to
the reduced traffic at this time of night. The nurse at the reception was a hard-boiled elderly lady who had clearly
seen worse things than a half-naked drunk guy being carried in by a bar tender - of all people. Paul was aware that he was still wearing the muscle shirt with
the ManHole's embarrassingly explicit logo. He didn't even want to contemplate what the
nurse might think about that.
"Write down the name and insurance details and take a
seat in the waiting area, a doctor will be with you as soon as possible." She
seemed to be stifling a yawn.
Paul practically threw the papers back at her, Sam still weighing heavily
on his side.
"I don't know his full name. I just found him unconscious. Someone needs to
help him now!"
She scowled at him, but noticed the relentless expression on his face and finally gave in. She directed them to a room with an empty bed. An
old man lay coughing in the other bed by the window and gave them a quick look
over before he turned his head toward the window.
"A doctor will be here soon. Please don't disturb the other patients." The
lady walked away and Paul did his best to lower his companion carefully on the white sheets of the hospital bed. Sam groaned. His fingers found Paul's hand and rested
there, holding him feebly.
Paul sat down on the foot of the bed and stared at the young man. He'd seen some shit in his time, but it sure hurt to see a young guy wasting himself away with alcohol and mindless sex in seedy darkrooms. It didn't take
a rape to make this life a complete misery.
Sam must have fallen asleep. His breathing was slow and his eyes were
closed. Paul slowly pulled on the metal chain around his neck and revealed the dog
tag that had slipped underneath the shirt.
"Sam Collins", he read out to himself. A security number was on there
as well. The lady at the front desk probably loved soldiers for this. But who knew if it was still valid? Sam didn't look like an active
solider. But what did he know? He had just met the guy.
"Thanks for helping me out." The quiet voice startled Paul and he dropped
the tag on Sam's chest. His eyes were open again, staring at Paul's hands.
"A doctor should be here soon. Shall I get you something?" Paul tried to
sound comforting, but Sam grabbed his shirt fiercely.
"Don't leave", he whispered, blue eyes big and pleading.
Paul put his hands on Sam's fingers and released his grip.
"Relax. I'm staying. What about your family? Shall I call anyone?"
He shook his head slightly. A pained expression darkened his features. The dark stubble on Sam's face stood out on the pale skin.
A guy in a white robe walked in on them holding hands. The doctor frowned and glanced briefly at Sam.
"This is a hospital. not a place to sleep off your hangover", he remarked coldly.
Paul held his stare.
"Doc, he's no alcoholic!" Paul hoped it was true. He didn't know the man at all. "He was drugged and..." Sam's hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.
"Don't. I'm fine", he said stubbornly.
"No, you're not!" Paul knelt down next to Sam, so the doctor wouldn't hear him whisper. "You could have been exposed to all kinds of STDs. You need to take the meds just to be sure." The urgency in his voice surprised Paul. What was this guy to him?
"I couldn't afford it. I'm not insured." Damn, Paul hated to be right. "Paul, I want to go home."
His lip was trembling. It was obvious Sam wasn't used to being weak and vulnerable and it scared the hell out of him.
Paul exchanged a glance with the annoyed doctor waiting for them to make up their minds.
"If you don't need a medical opinion, feel free to check out again." He didn't even bother to nod at them, turned around and left.
"That was extremely unwise, Sam." Paul wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Where's home?"
Sam laughed, an act that caused him visible pain.
"It was just a saying. I haven't found it since I left ten years ago", he replied.
"You're not from Arkadelphia then?"
"I am. But things changed since I left and I can't go back now." He cleared his throat and tried to get up, legs and arms shaking from the effort.
Paul thought of Jason and how tragically his life had been turned around the last time he helped a guy he was slowly falling for. Oh well.
"You're coming with me."
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Sam Collins - Chapter 3
Damn wise guy.
Sam almost stumbled over a chair when he tried to get away from the jerk behind the bar. Instead of taking him up on his offer, he had waved a wedding band at his face. A wedding band. In a fucking gay bar.
Did he think he was some green kid who didn't know how to play the game? Sam was fucking 27 years old, a Captain of the US Army for Christ's sake! Okay, make that he was a Captain. What was he now? A pathetic fool trying to get laid in some hillbilly's excuse of a gay bar in fucking Arkadelphia.
"Fancy a drink, pretty boy?" An older guy stared at him from a dark corner. All Sam could see were sparkling eyes framed by dark hair, a dark beard and lots of dark chest hair peeking out of a white muscle shirt. If only the shirt did cover muscles. That guy sure had seen better days. Sam was down, but not desperate. Maybe he should come back another time, hoping for a more appealing crowd. He thought of his lonely apartment and felt a wave of disappointment wash over him before he addressed the stranger.
"Thanks, but no thanks." He grabbed the back of a nearby chair, missing it by an inch and almost staggered to the floor.
"Easy big guy. You sure look like you need one of those. It'll clear your head." The dark stranger slid the glass in Sam's direction.
"I said no." He turned and headed for the exit.
"Thought so. I knew you wouldn't touch it. Not man enough for something harder than a Mai Tai, huh?" Sam could hear the derision in the guy's voice.
He usually wasn't easy to provoke - that probably came with the military routine and had saved him lots of troubles in his past. But tonight he was way past any mental barriers.
"You know what?", he said and took a seat on the table facing Beard Guy. "Fuck. You." Sam took the glass and downed it in one sip, knocking the glass loudly back on the table.
"Didn't think you had it in you", the stranger said. "Guess I was wrong." He flashed yellow teeth underneath his dark beard.
Sam stared at him with cold eyes.
"Thanks for the freebie." He lifted himself from the chair and continued to the exit. Where was his damn jacket? He hoped he hadn't left it at the counter. No way was he gonna go back to Mr Happily-Married.
He looked at his hands, strangely noticing how they didn't feel like his own hands anymore. More like someone else's hands. Now wasn't that weird?
A nagging thought in the back of his mind reminded him of his training in bio warfare back when he entered the Special Unit. What did they say about psychoactive drugs? He couldn't remember.
"Lost your way, pretty boy?" Somewhere far away, someone hooked his arm in his and directed him somewhere. Sam couldn't help but trod along, not realizing what was going on. He just saw the world getting darker. Was he falling asleep or just walking into the dark? Who was with him? Someone touched him. He felt a hard surface underneath his back.
Sam's hands tried to get a grip on whoever was manhandling him, but all he could manage was tugging slightly at the other man's clothes. What was going on?
"...so pretty. And so well hung. Guess I'm getting lucky tonight......" The faceless voice scared Sam. For a moment, he lost his usual confidence and started to cry out, but he only heard a soft groan escape his lips.
"No, please. Let me go, please, please, no, no...", he whispered, more to himself, tears running down his face.
The sudden pain almost blinded him in the darkness. As numb as his arms and legs felt, the sudden agony was more than he could bear. What kind of drug was this shit? Couldn't he at least pass out instead of lying here like a living corpse?
The rush of memories that flooded his mind was even worse now that he couldn't go anywhere to escape his emotions.
Sean. Innocent, handsome Sean. He remembered the brown eyes that used to stare at him lovingly in Sam's bed, making him open up more than any words ever could. The things they told each other in those nights. Things they could never share with anyone else. Things that shouldn't be said between soldiers. But Sean was all he had. No life to come back home to, no family happily waiting for him somewhere. All he had was a mother who still cried over her late husband, a mother who would probably never accept Sam the way he was. And a sister who didn't really know him at all, a child's face watching him accusingly the day he left for the Academy. Would she ever forgive him for leaving her behind? Would she accept him the way he was?
The pain of losing the people he had loved was overwhelming. But it was the physical pain he was feeling right now that caused Sam's world to vanish in a cloud of darkness.
Sam Collins - Chapter 2
A drop of sweat ran down the side of Paul's face. He wiped it away with the back of his hand at stared at the two strangers in front of him, flirting away on the other side of the bar. They looked young, maybe about 25 - and were obviously undressing each other with their eyes.
Wasn't that sweet? He'd probably sigh and reminisce about his own teenage years, if it wasn't for the uncomfortably damp atmosphere of The ManHole and the pot-bellied trucker staring at him with hungry eyes from a dark corner across the room. Paul clenched his jaw muscles and looked down at the beer tap in front of him. Time to flash his commitment ring again, he thought to himself and flexed his finger, the small metal glinting dimly in the muffled light of his counter.
The ManHole. What a dump. Should have been named 'ManHole No. 734'. Paul was sure he had come across lots of gay bars with that name during his time in Cali. Seeing one in Arkansas, deep in the Bible Belt was something else, though. He wouldn't have expected it back when he got here with Jason to escape the Plague. Damn, was that only three years ago? Seemed like a lifetime.
Oh well, life had other ideas. And here he was, serving beer and California style cocktails to closeted middle class husbands and eager, inexperienced students, who were out, but not as proud as Paul had seem them back in L.A. Anyway, it was quite an explosive combination sometimes. More often than not he had to settle a dispute between an older guy and his young lover, just because daddy didn't want to leave his wife and elope with Boy Toy.
He shook his head slightly and took a clean cloth to wipe the surface of the bar, removing crumbs of peanuts. Someone sat down on the stool before him.
"Vodka, double."
Paul took a brief look at the newcomer. He was handsome for sure. Slipping out of his leather jacket, the guy revealed a bulging biceps underneath a skin-tight muscle shirt, clearly intending to find a hook-up for the night. Paul's ringed finger started to itch, as usual, reminding him that he was too old to be playing this game with the youngsters. He took a bottle and started pouring the drink.
"Vodka, it is.", he said and placed the glass on the counter. Gosh, the guy had blue eyes. Not blue, like the sky, but rather like a field of ice on a sunny winter's day. Paul would have laughed about this corny mental image, but his mind was elsewhere, staring at the man's chest. A flash of light had caught his eye.
"Thanks." The guy took a sip, gulping down the alcohol as if it were water and caught Paul's stare, squinting his eyes angrily - probably the result of having had too much alcohol before even entering the door.
"What are ya staring at?", he growled.
"Why so serious, soldier? Let me guess, an Army man?" Paul winked at the silver ID tag that hung on a chain around the guy's neck.
"Is that your come on line?" Paul was glad he got a smile from that handsome face. The man's eyes lingered on his for a second too long. Who was he kidding? This was a gay bar. Of course people hit on the bartender.
"Nah. Just me being curious." Paul flashed a friendly smile at him, but the guy's eyes dropped on the counter.
"Ain't none of your damn business. Any chance you wanna have some fun tonight? It's not exactly crowded in here."
Ouch, that hurt. Paul liked the guy, but didn't want to be a stand-in for a potentially better hook-up who just wasn't here tonight. Even though this particular guy sure had something pleasurably familiar on him, Paul lifted his hand and watched the guy's face fall, when he saw the golden ring glinting on his finger. He couldn't help but notice the smile on the two youngsters nearby watching the scene unfold before them.
"Sorry, dude, but I'm faithful to my man." Paul flashed his most charming smile. He knew people usually didn't get mad at him that way. Not so Wonderboy, though.
"Suit yourself!" He pushed the empty glass over the smooth surface of the counter and watched as Paul had to drop his hand to catch it before it fell of the edge. He left the bar and staggered across the room.
"Why don't you go home, son? Maybe another night you'll come sober and get lucky." Paul tried to speak quietly, but he was sure everyone in the room had heard him. Handsome just raised his middle finger.
"Fuck off!"
Fine. Another one biting the bullet. Just what Paul needed tonight.
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