by Noah Harris
“Don’t like that wine much, hm?” Guy asked. “You don’t have to drink it if you don’t like it.”
“Ah, yeah, sorry,” Barry said.
Barry placed the barely-touched glass back on the end table and sunk back into the couch, clearing his head. The more Barry looked at Guy the more his mind ran wild with thoughts of him. Something in him had sprung a leak and no matter how many times he plugged the source another hole would open up.
“You okay?” Guy asked.
“Yeah. Fine.”
“Is there something you want?”
Barry pictured Guy’s hands tracing over his cheeks and pulling him closer to his own face until their lips were pressed together. His mind raced to Guy’s fingers gripping his shirt and tearing it off, flinging it into the endless collection of oddities around the room. Barry’s body ached for some sort of touch but then Barry forced himself to stop. Barry felt trapped inside his own mind. He forced all the thoughts away. Guy continued to sit calmly in his seat as he sipped away at his wine.
“No, I’m good.”
“You know if there’s something you wanted, I’d be happy to oblige.”
“Yeah, I know,” Barry said, barely able to keep eye contact with him.
Guy gave a knowing smile as he held onto his glass, letting his finger race around the edge and making the glass ring out quietly. Barry swallowed a lump in his throat as he pushed back a curious thought about how soft Guy’s lips were or if they still tasted like wine.
“You sure you’re okay?” Guy asked. “You seem like something’s on your mind.”
“I’m good. Really.”
Guy leaned back as he slowly re-crossed his legs. Barry was drawn to them and wondered what they looked like beneath the black pants. His eyes scrolled up to Guy’s loins for a brief moment and added to the theories on how Guy looked naked.
Barry felt his heart race. Every part of him felt silently teased and tortured by his growing desire. He quietly kept it to himself. The more he pushed the thoughts aside the more potent they became. Everything inside him screamed out for action.
“Barry? What’s up?” Guy asked with a coy smile.
Guy rose to his feet and stretched in rhythm to the music playing softly overhead. His body grooved elegantly like a flowing river. His long fingers gripped the buttons on his shirt and quietly began to press them through the holes. He slowly undid each button as he stumbled into the kitchen again. He returned leaving behind a discarded shirt but with a tray of food in hand.
Barry quietly gawked as Guy strutted back in. His eyes ran up and down his chest excitedly. Guy had a narrow, yet muscular physique like that of a swimmer. Details of his defined core stood out against his skin and Barry could practically feel the muscles just by looking at them. Guy’s chest bore some light red hair hair, neatly trimmed and leading down his chest and onto his stomach.
“Sorry, you don’t mind do you? Getting kinda stuffy,” Guy said.
Before Barry could even answer Guy sat next to him. He displayed the food on the tray instructively as he showed off the variety of cheeses and small sausages. Barry could barely keep his attention on the food but instead continued stealing glances at Guy’s naked torso, now so close to him he would only have to reach out his hand to touch it.
“See, there’s a way to eat this. Goes great with wine by the way,” Guy said as he reached out for a sausage.
He gingerly held the small chunk of meat in between his fingers as he placed it between his lips and let it hang there. He inhaled it slowly without breaking eye contact with Barry. Barry couldn’t keep his eyes off him as he licked his lips ravenously.
“Here, you try. They’re really good.”
Barry silently obeyed his request as he instinctively grabbed a sausage and immediately ate it. Guy laughed and shook his head.
“Barry, if you do it like that, you’ll choke,” Guy said. “Here, let me show you.”
Guy held Barry’s hand, his warmth brushing against him as he guided the food sensually into Barry’s mouth. He firmly placed it on Barry’s tongue and instructed him to let it sit for a moment while he took in the flavor.
Barry sat with his mouth slightly ajar as he stared at Guy, lost in his comforting yet alluring demeanor. He felt his body tingle as his mind burst with all sorts of thoughts. He wanted the food to be something else.
“Oh, what are we doing?” Guy said. “We’re not even eating proper hor d’oeuvres. Ah, it’s okay. They’re still good by themselves. You alright there?”
Barry closed his mouth, frozen in place as he felt his heart racing faster and faster. His body ached as he packed away all the thoughts in his head. He felt like he couldn’t do anything right.
“Oh, Barry. Look at us,” Guy’s said. “This is kinda cozy.”
Guy stood up and began to walk away, probably in search of something else to bring to the table. Barry’s face flushed red with heat. He felt words were no longer capable of just being held in his mind.
“Guy?”
“Hm?” Guy asked.
“I…I want to…” Barry trailed off.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”
“Why are you teasing me?”
“Ah. Can’t get anything past you,” Guy chuckled. “You got me.”
“Are you just making fun of me? I—”
“Never.”
Barry felt himself shudder with anticipation. The beating in his chest continued to throb as he stared at Guy. Guy, meanwhile, remained as calm as before with a comforting smile on his lips.
“I want you to kiss me,” Barry said.
Guy seemed happy that Barry had asked. He approached Barry and placed his hands gently on Barry’s shoulders. He pulled Barry into him, letting one hand escape to cradle the back of Barry’s head as he closed in on his lips.
Barry went limp in Guy’s embrace as he let Guy hold him. He felt himself melt into him, letting himself lose just a little bit of control. Guy’s lips were warm and tingled against his own, breathing a spark of life into Barry. Barry’s arms quietly rose and wrapped around Guy’s waist, holding him closer until it felt like there was no space left between them.
Guy quietly pulled away, “Anything else?”
“That was nice.”
“Yeah.”
“I’d…I’d be okay with just that for a bit.”
Guy held Barry close to his bare chest and he fell back into the leather couch behind him. The two of them collapsed onto each other and let out a nervous laugh, the type normally reserved for new lovers. Guy lay on the couch as he pulled Barry into him again for another long kiss.
Guy’s nimble hands continued to hold onto Barry as they kissed. They let their tongues gently explore each other’s mouths. Barry felt a thrilling sensation as Guy’s hands placed themselves under Barry’s shirt and moved him with a rocking tempo, making Barry thrust just a little. The hands went lower from under Barry’s shirt and cupping his buttocks with a firm squeeze.
Barry leaned in closer to Guy, letting their bodies rest comfortably on each other. Guy’s lips moved to his earlobe and gently nibbled as his hands continued to grip Barry’s butt. He breathed warm air into his ear, sending erotic chills down Barry’s spine and causing him to become even more aroused.
“Barry,” he whispered in a dark voice. “Tell me. How long have you wanted this?”
“You’re a mind-reader,” Barry teased. “Can’t you just—”
“I wanna hear you say it.”
“I’ve wanted this for a long time,” Barry replied softly as Guy plunged his lips towards his neck and suckled.
Barry’s hands buried themselves in Guy’s hair as Guy kissed his sensitive throat. He held Barry closer as he wriggled in delight on top of him. Barry could feel himself harden behind his jeans and felt elated as he realised Guy was feeling the same thing.
Guy sat up and moved Barry with him. He held him strongly in his arms and carried him effortlessly to the bedroom. Barry tingled with e
xcitement as he was gently laid on the smooth sheets. Guy looked down at him.
Guy kissed his forehead and continued to move down to his lips, his throat, his chest and further still, until he reached the top of his jeans. Guy listened to Barry’s soft gasps as his fingers paused on the zipper.
“You’ve been through so much. Would you like me to make it better for you?” he asked as he looked up to Barry.
Barry felt himself pressing against his own pants and could barely squeak out a quiet, “Yes. Yes please.”
Guy enthusiastically undid Barry’s pants and revealed his manhood, throbbing with anticipation. His kissing resumed at Barry’s stomach and wandered down to his groin, kissing the tip softly and letting Barry cry out with an ecstatic moan.
Barry let Guy work on him, letting him show off his expert skills just to please him. Barry wanted to do something but Guy insisted on treating him for a bit. Barry bubbled with pleasure as Guy toyed with his body, his arousal even more evident until every part of Barry screamed out his need for more.
Everything Barry cried out in the midst of passion Guy was more than happy to comply with. He was an eager servant to Barry’s physical desires. Guy grew more excited not from physical contact but from the quiet moans. If it made Barry happy, Guy would do it and then some. He wanted to be the lover that would stay in Barry’s mind forever.
The two quivered in each other's arms on the bed. Barry nestled into Guy’s chest, face tickled by his wavy hair. He looked up to Guy with hopeful eyes.
“…Did…Did that just happen?” he asked.
“Oh yeah. I’d do it again, too.”
“…Me too.”
“Maybe in like an hour?” Guy asked with a seductive grin as he squeezed Barry tighter.
“I’d like that,” Barry replied as he nuzzled against Guy and gave in to his touch.
Barry lay against the bed, straddled beneath Guy as he pressed his mouth against his. He felt a sense of peace and desire that had felt dead for a while, come back to life in his arms. Everything around him felt comforting and inviting. Guy kissed him passionately and teased him while Barry thought to himself how wonderful it’d be if he never had to leave the bed.
Guy pulled away for a brief moment, his waves pouring past his face as he loomed over Barry. He gave a tender smile as he traced a finger across his lips.
“I’d like that, too,” Guy said.
The wind whistled past Xanathen as he spiraled through the air. Though his body looked nothing like his actual dragon form, he still felt as free as the winds that blew with him. He, with the illusion of Guy cloaked around him, flew towards the clan of dragons that had been etched into the depths of his mind.
He drew nearer and felt his heart grow heavy as he thought of the world he had left behind. The one thing he wished he could have taken with him was Barry. He winced as he thought of how cowardly his leaving was. He was a dragon, fearless enough to fly through the storms and face the elder dragons for him, but not brave enough to talk it out face to face with him.
No. I’d only end up making him more miserable, Xanathen thought. He deserves another human. It’ll be better this way.
The green land drew closer and Xanathen narrowed his wings into a graceful glide until he landed on the ground. He looked around him, surrounded by fantastical hills of viridian with faded altars and castles of stone.
Past the stone walls faces similar to his own began to shyly peek out to witness his arrival. Several long necks rose above the walls and from around the trees, looking down at him with trepidation. A flurry of trills filled the air as they exchanged looks, only to nudge each other to see who would approach Xanathen. He held his ground while trying his best to act as if he belonged here.
The other dragons approached him with elegant strides and began to nudge and push Xanathen up the steep hills, never giving a thought to stopping. Xanathen galloped ahead with excitement, letting the others push and nip at his heels. He would have to get used to this. Their playful bites almost hurt.
He stopped to stare in awe at the expansive plateau of stone and grass that sprawled before his eyes. Dragons grazed about, sunning themselves and biting carelessly at each other. They dominated the world around him. In the very center sat an enormous dragon surrounded by lots of smooth rocks that formed a target on the ground. The dragon lazily curled up against himself as he looked out over the world around him with a judgmental, weary eye. A large scar ran down the side of his face and over one glossy white eye. The details of the elder dragon grew more into focus as the other young dragons pushed Xanathen to stand in front of him with their insistent tails and persistent teeth.
Xanathen fell before the elder dragon with nervous eyes as the creature towered over him. The one good eye slowly looked over to him with an expectant look. He seemed like he had all the things in the world to say but couldn’t raise the energy to be bothered to say them. Xanathen felt a crushing sensation in his head and winced as words boomed in his mind.
“Khiisthrasen,” the elder’s old, fearless voice echoed in Xanathen’s head. “You have heeded my warning. It is excellent to see you listen for once.’
“Yes, I’m back. Good to see you, too, elder, I—” Xanathen grunted.
“You’ve spent far too much time prattling, already. You have returned,” the elder said.
The elder’s head slowly rose and engulfed Xanathen in his shadow. He turned his gaze to one of the many crevices in the stoney mountainside.
“Go now and see to your clutch,” the elder said. “By the code of our clan, your fate falls into Loualoua’s jurisdiction. Let us hope for your sake she is more merciful than I.”
“Wait, what—”
Xanathen’s words fell short as the other dragons tore him away from the elder and towards the hole that he had been pointed to. If Xanathen dropped his illusion it would be obvious how much younger and smaller he was compared to them. He wanted the biting and pushing to stop and he felt the temptation to fight back. But, even though he had beaten an elder dragon before he knew he wouldn’t be able to beat a horde. He obliged and followed their directions. They pushed and commanded him further up a slope of stone to a lonely hole in the side of the hill. They were guarding him with their lives, making sure ‘Khiisthrasen’ wouldn’t get away again.
Xanathen reached the edge of the cave and they gave one last push to send him barreling deep into the cavern until he could no longer see the sun. He investigated the darkness of the cave as best as he could. It was simple and cold. Small drips of water fell onto his snout. There were no carvings depicting the glory of his kind. Only the occasional clawmark. It must have been as barren as it was when it was formed. He felt a cold, lonely chill run down his spine as he continued to look around until a luminescent pair of white eyes glowered back at him.
“So! You’ve finally come back!” a feminine voice growled bitterly.
From the shadows appeared a fellow dragon, Loualoua. Though she seemed thinner than Xanathen she obviously wasn’t afraid of him at all. The way she glared specifically at his throat he felt he should actually be afraid of her. She rose up from her spot on a matted mound of grass with a sickening crack from all the joints in her body. She rose to her feet and nodded instantly to a collection of light gray eggs that sat snuggled together in a bunch under her belly. Xanathen blinked curiously until she gnashed her teeth at him furiously. She pushed him to the clutch of eggs and forcefully sat him down on the nest, but gently enough to ensure their safety.
“Wait a minute, I—” Xanathen started.
“No, you wait a minute!” She snarled back. “You’ve been all talk for the past several centuries, now it’s my turn! You start a clutch with me and leave me behind like this? How could you? You’re a shame to this entire clan. I see how it is. You lay with me and wait 50 years for the eggs to finally hatch. Do none of the work and take all the credit? If it weren’t for the kindness of the rest of our clan I would’ve starved to death in here! You damn layabout. I
don’t know why the elder sent you to investigate the humans. You’re a disgrace!”
Her head rocked back and forth vigorously. All of her was in frenzied motion at once. Her body was worn away with atrophy but she was driven by decades of rage. Her jaws continued to reach out and graze against Xanathen’s scales. Her ferocity made Xanathen tremble but the thought that scared him most was the realization that she was holding herself back. He didn’t dare think about how this would end if Loualoua had no restraint.
“Lucky for both of us the eggs haven’t hatched yet,” Loualoua snarled. She turned her back to Xanathen. “So bond with ’em. It’s about damn time. I’m going to get out of here and get some hunting done. If you do a good job, maybe, just maybe I’ll bring something back for you that isn’t a nip to the throat.”
“But—”
“Don’t you Loualoua me,” she interrupted. He hadn’t intended to say what she thought. Apparently this was a frequent thing with Khiisthrasen. “Keep them warm and don’t you dare move an inch.”
With loud stomps Loualoua made for the exit. He could practically hear the cracking of the bones in her wings as she spread herself and took off into the sky. Xanathen blinked cautiously and began to move towards the exit, but was forced to stay inside by the growling maws of fellow dragons watching the entrance. He slunk back and lay gingerly atop the strange, round eggs.
For a few weeks Xanathen sat on the eggs, albeit impatiently. His stomach growled and was fed only by the occasional morsel of wild game tossed through the opening to the cave. He sat in the belly of the cavern in an eerie silence. His only company was the furious thoughts in his head and the muffled cooing and growling that came from under his stomach.
When the eggs began to tremble on their own they filled the cave with the sound of claws scratching against the eggshells. They shook underneath him until tiny claws met his soft underbelly. He looked and was greeted by a dozen wide, white eyes and hungry mewling.
They quickly latched onto him affectionately and came to depend on him completely. The world around them was bright and new. It was a land they were desperate to explore but he caught on fast that their weak bodies and limited knowledge only sent them bounding off into danger. Xanathen would have to wrangle them back into the cave to prevent them from falling and to keep them from hurting themselves on the rocks that lay strewn about everywhere. Their bodies had barely grown scales and their wings just lay limp at their sides.
