Page 37 of Artifacts

“Call this hurt?” Darrell stripped off his long-sleeved tee and twisted a little to show Aldric the redness on his upper chest that spread to his side. Aldric should have been concerned, but when he reached out to touch, his fingers soon left the bruising spot and crept up to Darrell’s nipples. When he reached them, he feathered a thumb over one.

Darrell’s face cracked into a grin. “I thought you were going to hold an ice pack to me. But maybe I should check you’re not hurt. A thorough examination?”

“How? I mean yes.” He couldn’t stop toying with Darrell’s nipple, now drawing his thumbnail across it. Darrell shivered.

“Maybe here’s not the best place.”

Aldric knew that. He was under no illusions that his apartment was conducive to spontaneous sex in the living room. There was no wide, inviting couch and the carpet was threadbare. He dropped his hand.

“So, the bedroom?” Darrell prompted, curling his hand around Aldric’s hip, then cupping his ass on the way.

This is better, Darrell thought, taking the lead again. His ribs were tender and would be sore for days, but he was fine. He’d power through. He’d done so through worse. Darrell didn’t need someone worrying over him and taking care of him—babying me.Aldric washisbabe, not the other way around. It was fine for Aldric—timid, fluffy-haired Aldric—to be hesitant and unsure, needing support and guidance, reassurance and softness, but not him.

Inside Aldric’s small bedroom, Darrell made a quick scan of the contents, glad there was a double bed. And Aldric had mentioned a patio, which, from the position of the building, must face the small park over the back.Hmm.Privacy outdoors could be fun. He switched off the overhead light and turned on the small lamp next to the bed, pleased with the intimate glow it gave off.

“C’mere, gorgeous,” he ordered, pulling Aldric in to nuzzle his neck, then trailing his lips over his jawline before laying a long, deep kiss on him. “Wanna see a really sexy man?” He turned Aldric to face the long strip of mirror propped against the wall.

A pretty pink blush spread over Aldric’s face. His eyes were huge and luminous in the mirror’s reflection. “W-what are you doing?”

“Showing you.” He reached around Aldric to unbutton his shirt. Darrell pushed it open, then caressed his chest. “Nice,” he whispered into Aldric’s ear, seeing his knees buckle. “Ever considered a piercing?” He pinched both nipples hard between forefingers and thumbs as he spoke.

Aldric moaned, a long, low sound of need. He panted for a moment before answering. “There was a guy in high school. Had a nipple ring in one and a bar in the other. He was a rebel. I liked the look. Wanted…”

“His style or him?” Darrell asked. Close to Aldric, he felt more than saw the shrug he gave and squeezed his nipples to go along with it.

“Both.” Aldric gasped but gave no sign that he wanted Darrell to stop.

Interesting.Darrell tugged then twisted. “And?”

Aldric shuddered from head to toe. “Oh…oh…that feels so…mmmm.”

“The guy?” Darrell asked, enjoying the way his lover was unraveling. “Tell me.”

Aldric gulped and took a shaky breath. “I tried, but it didn’t work out.”

His fingers still tormenting Aldric’s swelling nubs of flesh, Darrell could tell Aldric didn’t mean he’d tried a homemade piercing. “With the guy.”

“For prom.”

“Ooh.” Darrell winced for Aldric. He’d get the full story later, although he could guess that it had gone so badly that Aldric hadn’t tried or maybe hadn’tdaredto date guys again. At the moment, he had other things to do. He smoothed his hands down to unbutton Aldric’s fly and unzip his pants, smiling when he felt Aldric’s growing hardness under his palm. “His loss. My gain,” he assured Aldric. And he meant it.

He let Aldric’s cock spring free, wrapping his hand around the stiff flesh. “You’ve got a nice size dick on you. It filled my mouth well.” He’d deduced before that Aldric liked dirty talk. Pre-cum was already slicking the head of his cock, making it easier to work him. “You liked me blowing you, huh?” Aldric’s frantic nod nearly smacked his head into Darrell’s forehead, like he’d done to the creep earlier. “Taking you deep, feeling you thrusting in my throat, got me hard. One day soon, I’d love you to really fuck my face. Hold my head and just fuck me until you scream and come down my throat.”

Aldric’s guttural moan filled the small room.

“Wanna see what you look like with your dick down my throat?” Darrell continued, relentless, indicating the mirror. Before Aldric could stammer out a reply, Darrell was on his knees in front of him, sliding his lips from the tip of his shaft to the base in a smooth, practiced glide that tore a moan from deep inside Aldric. He pulsed in Darrell’s mouth and more pre-cum leak from his slit, the taste making Darrell’s cock as hard as his nightstick.

“No. Stop.” Aldric shifted his hips and pulled free. “You—you’re always doing that. I want to. To you.” He heaved in a breath. “I want to suck your cock. Please.”

Chapter Sixteen

Darrell had never had anybody beg to suck him off before. To have Aldric do so now turned him on unbearably. “Undress me,” he said, moving so Aldric had room. Aldric’s eyes went wide, and his fingers fumbled a little as he took Darrell up on his invitation, but he got the first couple of fly buttons to his fly undone.

“Not used to these,” he confessed, tugging at the lower ones.

“It’s easier without a huge erection in the way,” Darrell agreed. “But then, that’s your fault. And we’re stuck in a loop here. The more you get your hands on me there, the more I’m raring to go, giving you less room to work.”

“Sorry!” Aldric yanked a little hard, rocking Darrell on his feet.

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