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by Dawn Kimberly Johnson

Chapter 32

  AS THEY dropped off Eleanor at her posh Ritter Park home, Eli had expected further stalling tactics on her part. He believed she’d try just about anything to stop her son from being alone with him, where God knows what could happen. But he had been pleasantly surprised when she simply thanked Alec for the ride and then paused by Eli’s window to say good night and tell him how nice it was to meet him. After she’d gone inside, he turned to Alec, and they stared at each other in shock before sharing a smile and driving away.

  Alec took the long way round to the hotel, and Eli listened politely as he described his hometown. When they neared his old high school, Alec explained, “They made it into apartments for the elderly.” Eli strained to make out the pale, massive structure, and even in the failing light, he could see how elegant and beautiful it was, with matching staircases curving toward each other and creating an arch. “The city wanted to save the architecture.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Eli said as Alec pulled the car over and parked.

  Alec turned excitedly to face him. “It was even in a movie once—a horrid movie,” he said, closing his eyes, shaking his head, and smiling sadly, “but a movie nonetheless.” Eli smiled as Alec struggled between being thrilled and being disgusted. “It was called Teen-Age Strangler. Made back in 1964.” Alec gazed out the window at his old school. “It was on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000—”

  “That program that makes fun of bad movies?”

  Alec nodded and laughed. “In one of the scenes, I recognized my school. I just about choked on my pizza.”

  “So where’s the new school?” Eli asked.

  Alec grimaced. “The city consolidated Huntington High and Huntington East High years ago.” His expression told Eli a lot about how Alec felt about that decision. Alec sighed and pulled away from the curb. “Well… I’d better get you into bed—I mean… I mean… back to your hotel.”

  Eli smiled to himself, and they were soon parking in front of the Holiday Inn Express. Alec cut the engine, and they sat in silence for a few moments, both apparently unsure about what to do or say next. Eli sighed and took hold of the door handle, which prompted Alec to speak up.

  “How long will you be in town?”

  “I’m thinking about leaving tomorrow.”

  “Oh.”

  Eli looked at Alec. “Your stepfather is doing well, and you all seem fine. You have your family around you—they’re great, by the way—but there probably wasn’t any real need for me to come.”

  “I needed you.” Alec’s hand found Eli’s thigh. “I’m glad you came.”

  Eli looked at the hand and imagined it moving elsewhere on his body, remembered it moving elsewhere. “I… I was worried… about you. I had to see that you were okay.” Alec leaned over and kissed him gently, lingeringly, and Eli responded, leaning as close as he could in his awkward position. “I’m sorry, Alec. I’m sorry for so much.”

  “You don’t have—”

  Eli closed his eyes and held up a hand to silence him. “I do have to,” he said. He opened his eyes and held Alec’s gaze. “I’m sorry I lied to you about Dray, but mostly I’m sorry I’ve been so much work.”

  “I’m not going to say it’s been a cakewalk, Eli, but I believe you’re worth it.”

  Eli looked out his window at the welcoming lights of the hotel entrance. He sighed, not knowing how to go on. Luckily he didn’t have to as Alec reached over and gently ran his fingers over his hair, sending shivers through him.

  “I think I’m going to need time to get used to this hair,” Alec said, smiling. His hand continued to stroke Eli’s head. “Why’d you cut it?”

  Eli shrugged and looked at him. “It was one, quick, easy way to simplify my life a bit. I was always fussing with it, trying to get it to behave, so….” Alec couldn’t seem to stop rubbing his head, and Eli began to respond, his eyes growing dreamy. It had been about a week since their date, that fantastic night that ended so horribly the next day. He leaned into Alec’s hand, and then their lips met again. Beginning gently, the kiss soon became more demanding and desperate.

  “Do you remember the first time you put your hands on me, Eli?” Alec whispered.

  “Huh?” he uttered as he went for Alec’s earlobe, and his hands slid beneath Alec’s shirt. They continued kissing and groping for each other, fighting the steering wheel and console between them.

  “Remember?” Alec said. “We were in the backseat of Ilsa’s car?”

  Eli paused, allowing both of them to catch their breath. “Y-yes, I… I remember. Why?” Alec smiled and glanced to the backseat and then back at Eli, who laughed, “Alec, we’re not a couple of teenagers.”

  “Come on,” Alec pleaded, flashing a wicked grin.

  Eli glanced nervously at the hotel and then through each window of the car. “What if… someone sees us?”

  “I’m willing to take that risk.”

  “And what, precisely, are the sodomy laws in this state?”

  “Repealed in the 1970s.” Alec wriggled his eyebrows at him enticingly.

  Eli grinned, and they quickly exited the car—Alec pausing only to hit the button on his door that unlocked all the other doors—then scrambled into the backseat, both breathless, turned on, and nervous. However, as Alec pulled Eli to him, guiding him to straddle his lap, Eli became a bit more than nervous.

  Between hungry kisses and frantic rubbing, he experienced flashes of breath-stopping terror. The memory of his lover’s murder kept coming to him—chilling him despite the lust-fueled fever he was in. He tried to shake it off, tried to forget that they had only been walking together, chatting, and holding hands when they were cornered. What would happen if he and Alec were discovered engaged in window-steaming sex?

  Alec soon had Eli’s shirt undone, and when his lips closed over Eli’s right nipple, all Eli’s ghostly memories fled the car. He tangled his hands in Alec’s hair and pressed himself against his mouth. Alec seemed to accept his mission, because Eli could feel him smile against his chest before his tongue and teeth went to work. Eli whimpered as a shiver ran through him. Alec’s fingers found Eli’s belt buckle, quickly undoing it, and then performing the same action on his jeans. When Alec’s hand found him hot and hard, Eli jerked forward gasping Alec’s name before bending to take his lips.

  “I remember, Eli,” Alec whispered between kisses. “I remember your lips and teeth on my ear.”

  “What did I say?”

  “You… you said I smelled good.”

  “Mmm-hm, you still do,” Eli said with a smile. “I remember you trying to fend me off. You should know that only served to excite me more.”

  Alec chuckled, took Eli in hand, and began stroking him. “Come for me, baby,” he hissed. Eli trembled as Alec’s hand moved on him, wrapping his arms around him, pressing Alec’s mouth against his collarbone. His hand tugged Alec’s hair, and then he playfully bit his ear, causing him to cry out.

  “Yes,” Eli whispered. “Yes, Alec.” He was so close, so ready to let loose—then the parking lot lights came on, illuminating the inside of the car and the two of them.

  They froze for mere seconds before leaping away from each other and laughing hysterically as they frantically put themselves away and straightened their clothes. Moments later, red-faced and breathless, they strolled through the doors of the hotel and headed for the elevators.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Burke?” the front desk clerk called, appearing out of nowhere.

  Eli stopped and turned slowly, trying to keep his face calm and disinterested. “Yes?” he said as he motioned for Alec to continue to the elevator.

  The clerk turned and pulled a note from beneath the counter. “I have a message for you,” he said, sliding the paper across to Eli.

  “Thank you.”

  “Have a good night, sir.”

  Eli nodded and joined Alec on the waiting elevator.

  WHEN the door to the room clicked shut, Alec locked it and approached Eli, who was standing in the midd
le of the room staring down at the note in his hand. He gasped when Alec’s arms wrapped around him.

  “Now, where were we?” Alec nibbled his neck as he reached around and began loosening Eli’s jeans again, trying to get at him. But Eli squirmed free.

  “I just need to call Casey,” he said, smiling and holding up a finger as he turned and backed away. “One moment.”

  “Is everything okay?” he asked as Eli whipped out his cell and turned it on.

  “She just asked that I call her as soon as possible.” Eli sat on one of the beds and waited as the phone rang, glancing at the clock on the bedside table. Alec stood by, looking down at Eli, at his features, and mulling over the haircut and how it set off his eyes so well.

  “Hello. Casey… Sorry it’s so late. Yeah, he’s fine….” He looked up at Alec. “She says ‘hi’.”

  He smiled and joined Eli on the bed, gently squeezing his boyfriend’s leg as he listened to Eli’s side of the conversation and watched his changing expression. Alec grinned when Eli gently readjusted himself to accommodate his stirring erection.

  “What?!” Eli exclaimed, and Alec’s hand paused on its trip up Eli’s thigh. “Of course we didn’t forget!” Eli covered the receiver and looked at Alec. “We forgot about Ilsa’s surprise party,” he whispered.

  Alec’s eyes widened as he sighed and fell back on the bed.

  “Sorry?” Eli resumed listening to Casey. “Oh, yeah, definitely. We’ll be there.” Eli glanced at him again. “Or, at least, I’ll be there for sure. I’ll have to check with Alec.” He listened again. “Take care, love.”

  Eli ended the call and promptly stretched his body out on top of Alec’s. They both sighed into each other, and Alec’s hands cupped Eli’s bottom, kneading possessively.

  “What’s the verdict?” he asked.

  “I need to leave in the morning,” Eli said softly. Alec looked away from him in an attempt to hide his disappointment. “I’d like to get back early enough to be of some help. Casey’s working later at the hospital than she’d planned—somebody’s ill—but Tony and Lyle are taking up most of the slack.”

  He smiled at Eli, stroking his face. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Your family—”

  “I’ll catch a later flight. I’ll make sure to check in on Levi and tell them all goodbye.” He kissed Eli. “I’ll be right behind you,” he said softly before suddenly flipping Eli and pinning him to the bed. In a flash, his hands were under Eli’s shirt, stroking his warm skin, and his lips were on Eli’s mouth, searching for his tongue.

  “Hang on! Alec, I think we should talk about Dray.”

  Alec groaned, rose up, and stared at Eli. “What the hell for?”

  Eli propped himself up on his elbows. “I know you had him over to your place.” Alec just stared at him until Eli averted his gaze. “Tony ran into him on his way up. Said he had a bottle of wine and a… a self-satisfied air about him.”

  “Let me explain.”

  Once again Eli squirmed free of Alec, much to his disappointment. “Look, I know I have absolutely no right to have any feelings about this whatsoever—”

  “Yet, you do,” Alec said, grinning slightly.

  Eli got off the bed, grabbed his cane, and walked across the room, putting a bit more distance between them. “After what I did… to Bennett and… and after what I’ve done to you.”

  “To me?”

  “Since we’ve been apart, I’ve been thinking,” Eli said, beginning to speak more rapidly, “thinking about all you’ve done for me, all you continue to try to do for me. And I realized I haven’t been there for you like I should be.”

  “Eli—”

  “You know how I was when we met.” His gaze flicked to Alec and away again. “And then when we got together… Alec, it was great. I thought I could move on, move forward with you, but the longer we were together and the happier I became—”

  “The more guilty you felt about cheating.”

  “I didn’t think I deserved to be happy.” Eli ran his hand over his head and appeared quietly surprised not to find more hair there. “I lashed out at Dray. I lashed out at you for talking to Dray. And the entire time….” He shrugged and sighed. “I was just angry at myself for what happened with Dray.”

  Eli turned his back to him and leaned on the dresser. To Alec he looked like he was examining the striking contrast between the dark wood and his pale hands.

  “I want you, but I know you deserve better,” he whispered. He looked in the mirror above the dresser, meeting Alec’s eyes over his shoulder. “I don’t know what to do.”

  Alec was off the bed and closing the distance between them before Eli could say anything more. He spun Eli around to face him, pinning his arms to his sides.

  “Leave off!” Eli struggled but couldn’t free himself.

  “Eli… Eli, stop it! Listen to me.” Alec looked into his eyes until Eli stilled himself. “I have something to ask you.”

  ELI could feel the heat of Alec’s body passing through his cotton shirt. He smelled his skin—that chocolate-vanilla-sandalwoody bodywash he used—a scent that never failed to comfort him. And he felt Alec’s muscles working as he held him in place. His eyes fluttered closed from the sensations washing over him. His mind spun with the thoughts and images dancing behind his eyes.

  “I can’t think clearly with you pressed up against me like this. C-couldn’t you have asked me from where you were?”

  “No.” Alec loosened his grip and slowly turned Eli to face the mirror. “I didn’t think you’d stand still for it.” Eli opened his eyes and saw their reflection staring back at him: Alec holding him from behind and resting his chin on his shoulder, his cheek against Eli’s. “What do you see?” Alec asked. Eli stiffened and tried to pull free of him, but Alec held tight, and he eventually stopped struggling but averted his eyes. “Tell me,” Alec urged.

  Eli looked into the mirror again. “I see you.”

  Alec grinned. “What about the man I’m holding in my arms? What do you see when you look at him?”

  “This is ridiculous!” Eli tried in vain to break free again.

  “Possibly, but I’m not releasing you until you answer me—and honestly.”

  He reluctantly focused again on the mirror. He stared at himself for several moments and sighed. “I see a cheat and a liar. I see… damage.” Eli looked away.

  Alec frowned slightly but didn’t release him. “I see a strong, intelligent, handsome man with a beautiful spirit, a great sense of humor, and the loveliest eyes I’ve ever seen.”

  Eli smiled hesitantly. “I’m not surprised that’s who you see when you look at yourself.”

  Alec chuckled, and Eli joined him. “Thank you, but you know who I’m talking about.” As their laughter faded, Alec became serious again. “I see the man I love.” The pleasant grin on Eli’s face faltered, and he tensed. “I love you, all of you—the wonderful and the damaged, the compassionate and the heartbroken, your silence and your chaos.”

  Alec pressed him forward into the dresser as his fingers slid beneath Eli’s shirt and up along his back, stripping it off over his head and tossing it to the floor. Then Alec’s hands caressed the back of Eli’s neck, sliding into his hair and causing him to shiver. Eli watched their reflection as he leaned his head to give Alec better access to his neck. He moaned, feeling himself grow harder as Alec kissed and nibbled at him, all the while grinding his own erection against him from behind.

  “I didn’t sleep with Dray,” Alec panted between kisses.

  “No?” Eli asked, pressing backward as Alec began undoing Eli’s jeans again. He unceremoniously shoved Eli’s pants and briefs to his ankles, and then he roughly bent him over the dresser. Eli’s cane hit the floor as he took himself in hand, making sure nothing of import got caught or squashed in the coming frenzy. Alec peeled off his shirt and shoved his jeans just to his thighs.

  “No,” Alec assured him as he yanked open a small, top drawer on his right, discovering a smal
l complimentary first-aid kid. “If Tony could have seen Dray storming out of our building, he would have known he hadn’t gotten what he’d come for.” Alec popped open the kit one-handed and, after rummaging through it briefly, produced a tube of Vaseline lip balm. He smiled and held it up so Eli could see in the mirror. “It’s got aloe.”

  “Brilliant,” Eli moaned. His gut tightened with need, and he pressed backward even harder against Alec’s cock. He ached to have Alec inside him, but he waited patiently as Alec prepared himself. Eli tensed involuntarily when he felt Alec spread him, his slick fingers playing against his opening. When two fingers breached him, Eli’s entire body spasmed, and he grunted, gripping the dresser to steady himself.

  “Sorry.”

  “No… no w-worries,” Eli said, breathing heavily, struggling to relax enough to accommodate.

  ALEC looked at their reflection, and his dick twitched at the aching, lustful grin on Eli’s face. He worked his fingers within Eli, watching Eli’s reflection buck and squirm in response. Then he removed his fingers and spread Eli, positioning his cock at his opening and slowly sliding into him. Eli groaned, and his right leg buckled, but Alec’s arm quickly encircled his waist, holding him fast and upright as he began rocking into him.

  “I’ve got you,” Alec whispered.

  Alec was thankful the mirror was mounted on the wall above the long, low dresser rather than attached to it. Otherwise Eli’s moaning would be punctuated by a rhythmic thumping against the wall, and they might expect a call from the front desk about complaining neighbors. As it was, there were only Eli’s ever-vocal responses as the top of the dresser became slick with his sweat.

  “Ahh-Alec…,” Eli moaned. “F-fuck meee.”

  Alec slowed and, several times, pulled almost free of Eli before slowly pushing back in, thus drawing out the sensations for both of them. This soon had Eli whimpering, and Alec was unsure of how much longer he could last, so he changed his angle a bit, gripping Eli around his chest, pulling him up and back, against his own chest.