Page 40 of Earth-Bound

I relaxed into the chestnut behind me, my hand still on Joe’s head and my manhood still in his mouth. He became still and then slowly withdrew, letting my length fall from his lips. He kept his head bowed, pressing his forehead to my thigh, and I only just found the strength to stroke my fingers through his hair, trying to tell him without words that I’d never been so happy, that the joy of having him for my mate was beyond anything I’d ever wished for.

We stayed like that for a long time, until Joe stood and tucked his spent manhood back in, and did the same for me. He touched me tenderly and, as we silently buttoned up again, Iwondered if he knew we were mates. I longed to tell him but I didn’t quite dare. He’d nearly touched the unnatural spells hung in Mulgrave’s basement, and he had no aptitude for witchcraft. A part of me shrank from telling him what I was. I needed to be sure he’d accept me. Because there was one thing I knew, and it was that I’d never be able to let Joe go now. I wouldn’t survive it.

Chapter 18: Joe

So that was twice now I’d come like a teenager from just touching Terrund. Seriously, it was embarrassing.

I don’t even know why he affected me so much. He was hot, sure, but that was no reason for me to spontaneously shoot my load when I touched him.

At least this time, I’d had the sense to get my dick out first. I’d shot all over the ground between Terrund’s legs, which was better than jizzing myself and having to walk all the way back to my camper van with sticky come inside my boxers.

Seriously, though, Terrund had been so hot. He was like a dream come true. I’d called him my fantasy man, almost as a joke because I’d thought I’d imagined him, but every time I saw him, I just saw more and more stark beauty in him. He was too attractive. It was distracting. It was unnerving. And it was really, really arousing.

Feeling him come into my mouth, tasting him, feeling the way his fingers tightened in my hair as he came and the sounds that poured out of him when he was turned on… I hadn’t stood a chance. I’d come before I could even touch myself to the fucking fantasy playing out before me.

I hadn’t even known what to do afterwards. I wasn’t sure what this was.

Perhaps I was emotionally immature but I’d never had a relationship. I was on the move too much. So sex was all I’d had. Well, Terrund and I had had sex. It was hot. Done.

Only… I didn’t want it to be done.

I hadn’t known what to do, though, so I’d just started working again. My mind had been too mixed-up for me to say anything useful so I’d said nothing. And Terrund had stayed where he was, leaning against the tree and watching me.

I guess he didn’t mind me having a mini freak-out, though, because, at last, he said, “I need to go. Will I see you at the Honey Pot later?”

I nodded. Fuck, I wished I wasn’t so pathetically eager to spend time with him but, who was I kidding? I was.

He gave me a soft smile and even walked right over to me. I paused, straightening, and Terrund pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

It was heart-breaking in its perfection.

I’d never been kissed that way before. It was just a little peck on the lips, gentle and affectionate and promising more later, all at once.

By the time I’d collected my wits and was ready to speak, Terrund had gone.

At least I’d get to see him again soon.

I was working at the edge of the field, chopping back the brambles that were growing over the path, when I saw a little group of people walking along it. I stopped and kicked the fallen branches to the side so they could pass.

When they got nearer, I saw that it was Randall and two strangers. He gave me a smile and said, “Hi Joe. This is Anthony Beckinsale and Cuthbert Hoskins. They’re here to, um, clear out the house. This is Joe Mackie.”

I smiled at the couple. They were holding hands and their bodies were so different and yet fitted together perfectly. Anthony was tall and slim, handsome and dignified, with dark skin and large, nearly-black eyes. Cuthbert, on the other hand, was average height and chubby, pale-skinned and light-eyed, with a cute round face and the most adorable dimples, which he flashed when he smiled back at me.

“Hey,” I said. I didn’t offer my hand to shake. People generally didn’t like to touch the gardener. These two looked far too clean for it. In fact, they looked like they’d never done a day’s physical labour in their lives, which was unexpected. “Do you own a removal company or something?”

They blinked at me in surprise. Anthony began to stutter, “Well, you see, it’s more that, well, I’m not sure—”

Randall butted in, saving him. I don’t know what the guy’s problem was, but I hadn’t meant to upset him.

“They’re going to take a look and see what needs to be done.”

“Ok.”

Randall sounded sure, and it wasn’t my business. I just didn’t like the thought of those poor, dead animals hanging upon display like that. Whoever had lived in that house before was a proper sicko.

Cuthbert entered the conversation. He looked up at his boyfriend with undisguised pride and said, as though it were the sexiest thing in the world, “Anthony’s the world’s leading expert. He’ll know exactly what it all is.”

I wasn’t sure what he was on about. “All what? Are you a building surveyor?”

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