Page 5 of Fleshbound
Quiet settled into the room. Quill closed his eyes and tried to relax. Minutes passed and he felt himself floating closer to the abyss.
“I noticed how ye held yer breath as ye read ma escapades. Ye liked ma tales, I can tell.”
Quill growled. “Didn’t you just say you were glad I listened to Perry, and that I needed to sleep?”
“Aye.”
“Then why are you still talking to me? I can’t sleep when you’re talking.”
“I just got out o that book after three hundred years an ye expect me tae stay quiet now? It's hard enough lyin in this bit without jumpin yer bones.”
Quill rolled over violently, tangling himself in the sheets. He finally got himself free and lifted to one arm. “Jumping my bones?Are you mad?”
“Well, Iama man who's no had sex for nigh on three centuries. I'd say madness an lust are near aboot the same thing.”
Quill waved his hand toward the door, his body suddenly tightening in places he wished it wouldn’t. Yes, madness and lust clearly did go hand-in-hand. “Then go sate your needs elsewhere so I can sleep. There’s someone out there who would be…” He looked over Corven. “Into that.”
Corven smiled, his eyes coiling with red fire. He cuddled closer to Quill.“Elsewhere?But I like it here in yer bit just the same.”
“I’m not having…relations… with you,” Quill said, pushing Corven away with the heel of his hand. All while wanting to pull the man closer and kiss those glorious lips.
“An when was the last time ye had a good, rough fuck? I'd say ye're in as bad a shape as I am.”
Quill’s face heated even more, which seemed impossible. “When I do—or don’t—have a good, rough….” He closed his mouth and shook his head, unable to repeat the word. “Is none of your business.”
“Ye know ma tale an I know yours. I was knockin aboot up there in yer noggin while ye were readin mine. It's been almostthree years since anyone has touched ye. An even then, it was a spirit ye conjured for the task.”
Quill’s mouth dropped open, his face aflame. “I haveneverconjured a spirit for carnal relations!”
He had.
He’d been so incredibly lonely and there had been no one to sate his need. He was a bookish nerd. Invisible to those he wanted to be visible to. So he’d done the unthinkable.
“So ye say, but we both know better.”
Quill pulled the sheet higher, toward his neck, feeling ashamed the man had seen the wicked desires in his mind. He’d not given anyone, spirit or otherwise, the right to dig around in there.
An odd look crossed Corven’s face. “Look. Ye're dreaming, laddie. I'm no really here. Ye're asleep in yer bit, all alone.”
Quill searched Corven’s face.
“Ye read until the wee hours an drifted off tae sleep. Ma book lay open in yer lap right now as ye snore away.”
Quill lowered the sheet. “I don’t snore.”
Corven snorted. “Aye, laddie. Ye do. Enough tae break ma eardrums here an there.”
Quill narrowed his eyes.
“Why dinnae we get ye all comfortable an let ye drift off now?” Corven asked. “I promise tae be quiet... if ye sleep in ma arms.”
“Sleep in your arms? Whatever for?”
“Just… give me that,” Corven said. “Tis a dream’s request. Aye?”
Quill searched his face a few seconds before nodding. Just a dream, hmm?
Corven straightened the bedding around Quill and urged him down. He laid beside Quill and opened his arms, dragging him into the crook.
