by Susan Laine
“Now the saline solution touches the base but doesn’t leak out.” Sam brushed hair out of his eyes, revealing how nervous he really was by the beads of sweat on his forehead. “I doubt the smaller sparks are enough to activate the portal. I think it needs a bigger boost.”
Marcus agreed. “Yeah. Space travel can’t be very energy efficient or inexpensive.”
“I don’t think the lizzies cared about money or even had its equivalent. Nothing in our surroundings suggests they used currency of any kind. If they even created the portals. Which I personally don’t think they did.”
“We may never know.”
Marcus was surprised to find he actually wanted to know the story behind the lizzies, their culture, and their extended absence from the temple. But he had to accept that would never happen—unless they surprised him and dropped out of the sky within the next few hours before he and Sam escaped the exomoon.
“I guess.” Sam sounded glum about that. Even without the curiosity of a natural-born scientist, Marcus understood. “Now what?”
“What do you want to do?”
Before Marcus finished his sentence, Sam jumped him and kissed him silly.
How they got back to their room was mostly a mystery. Marcus’s memory was hazy at best. All he recalled with crystal clarity was that his hands were full of an eager and willing Sam, who clung to his body as if he were a vine hugging a tree trunk.
Their room was noisy with the whine and howl of the winds as they began to pick up speed. Marcus barely acknowledged their presence—until his skin tingled and grew hot each time a breeze touched him.
“What?” He tore his mouth away from Sam and brushed his skin. There was nothing there—no pollen, no dust, nothing. And yet the draft felt like… fire. More specifically, like sexually hot fire. The sensation seemed to focus precisely in his groin area. His cock ached. “Can you feel that?”
Sam nodded, his fingers dancing on his arms, face, and chest. He was frowning—like most of Sam’s expressions, Marcus found it cute and endearing—as he said, “You don’t think….” Sam blushed and left his sentence unfinished. Marcus had to prompt him with an impatient wave of hand. “You don’t think the winds might carry… pheromones or airborne aphrodisiacs or some such?”
“Uh….” Marcus had no answers. Erotic winds? Was that even a thing?
“We know next to nothing about this moon or how its atmosphere works,” Sam said in a hushed tone. “Maybe the winds cause, like… ecstasy or euphoria or arousal. It could be a normal meteorological phenomenon here.” Sam’s eyes grew glassy as his mind apparently drifted. “That could be another reason the lizzies chose this moon and this island as the base for their lovemaking cult.”
Marcus was stumped. All he cared about was that he was hard as rock and hot as molten lava, and they were wasting valuable erection time. So he kissed Sam silent and maneuvered them to the bed. He knelt on the stone surface, laid Sam down on his back, and rested on top of him. Their hands roamed and wandered wherever they could reach, grabbing and fondling shamelessly as their shared need grew exponentially.
Sam wound his limbs around Marcus’s body, pressed his heels against the small of Marcus’s back, and raked his hands through Marcus’s hair, his nails scraping skin. Marcus rubbed his hands along Sam’s outer thighs, loving the way Sam’s body wrapped around his, and purred in delight. Their lips fused, and their tongues entangled.
As they parted to breathe, Marcus dipped down to place an openmouthed kiss on Sam’s neck, sucking on the jugular until the skin was wet, red, and undoubtedly throbbing. Sam moaned, and his hips jerked.
Then Marcus kissed his way farther down Sam’s body, tonguing his nipples and biting them till they pulsed hotly against his tongue. Blindly he parted the flaps of Sam’s fly to expose his hard cock. There Marcus stopped, hesitating.
Sam rose onto his elbows. “What’s wrong? I’ve never been with anyone but you, so I’m clean, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but Sam wasn’t done. “Or are you worried about yourself?”
“No, I’m clean. I’ve been tested.”
“You have? When?”
“Two weeks ago, five days after I turned twenty.”
Sam’s eyes rounded into saucers. “Why? I mean, good.” Then he frowned. “If you’re clean and I’m clean, what’s wrong? Or… is it that you don’t want to… you know… blow me? You don’t have to do anything you don’t—”
“No, it’s not that,” Marcus hedged, glancing between Sam’s eyes and his ruddy dick. “You’re seventeen.”
Sam groaned. “Oh Jesus, not this again. Are you fucking serious?” He locked gazes with Marcus. “I’m not a naïve virgin, okay? I know what I want. And it’s not like I’m in any hurry to shove my ass in your groin and order you to stuff my bare boy hole full with your magnificent member.”
“What the fuck? Jesus Christ, Sam!” Marcus shook his head. “Boy hole? Oh my God.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Since when have you become so squeamish? We’ve had sex before.”
“Yeah, but… not like this.” Marcus sighed, feeling heat suffuse his cheeks. “I do want to, believe me. But—”
“But nothing,” Sam cut in sharply, his eyes flashing. “Physically, chronologically, and biologically we may be two or so years apart. But when it comes to mental stuff, faculties and maturity, we’re on the same level, okay? Neither of us is confused about who we are at heart, which is gay guys who want each other.”
Marcus closed his eyes, praying for patience. “I get all that, but—”
“We live in Montana, where the age of consent is sixteen years,” Sam interjected again, his frustration and vexation clearly rising. “I’m old enough, and I’m fucking consenting. Period.” Sam’s lips formed a thin line of determination. “Now get down there and suck me off.”
At that point Marcus had to concede to the fact that he wasn’t going to win this argument. So he pulled Sam’s jeans down to midthigh, gripped the base of Sam’s prick, and brought the head to his mouth. Sam moaned, dropping back to lie on the stone bed. Marcus sucked on the tip, licked around the mushroom-shaped head, flicked his tongue underneath the cap, and then stuck his tongue into the slit. Sam jolted, bucked his hips, and whimpered, fisting the winter coat under his body.
Marcus grinned around his mouthful. Green light given.
Chapter 13
IF THEY were going to die, Sam’s sole prayer was that their demise wouldn’t take place until he’d spilled his seed in Marcus’s mouth. That perfect mouth on his cock, hot and wet, sublime suction sending frissons of pleasure through his body.
So this is what guys rave about. Okay, I finally get it. Fucking brilliant.
His senses on overload and his sexual appetite on overdrive, Sam felt like he’d come apart at the seams. His most sensitive organ trapped between Marcus’s lips was too much. How could a guy last more than ten seconds? On the receiving end blew his mind. None of his sex fantasies came close to comparing with this heavenly delight.
Marcus sucked and licked around the head, flicking his tongue seemingly everywhere at once. Then he brought his hand into the mix, fisting Sam’s dick and pumping almost too hard for him to bear. And even then Marcus wasn’t done, for he took Sam’s balls in his other hand, rolling them around against his palm, tugging ever so lightly.
Sam moaned. His body trembled and jolted on its own. Cascades of passion flowed in him, pushing him toward the crest of the tidal wave of desire.
Marcus ran the flat of his tongue from base to the tip of Sam’s shaft, licking the length like it was his favorite lollipop. Once Sam’s prick dripped with saliva, Marcus jerked it with a fierce hold, sucking on the cockhead hard.
Sam lost it. His balls pulled up, his cock felt like it was about to rocket right off, and his body burned within. Crying out, he arched his back and shot come by the bucketloads into Marcus’s mouth. Marcus hummed and drank greedily, lewd slurping sounds echoing from the stone wal
ls. He didn’t stop until Sam felt like he’d been wrung dry and licked clean.
“Oh… my… God,” Sam whispered in a voice that was hoarse from shouting.
Marcus chuckled, wiping his hands on his pants. “How kind of you, bae. Feel free to worship me and my magic cock.”
Sam raised himself up on shaky elbows. “S-sorry. Lost myself there for a sec. Come here and I’ll—”
“Touch me and you’ll get a handful or mouthful of cooling come.” Marcus sported a wide grin of satisfaction and a flushed face. He’d obviously pleasured himself while giving Sam a blow job. Did the guy have an invisible magical third hand tucked in there somewhere, or what?
“You…. But I wanted to….” Sam went silent, disappointed at not getting the chance to give Marcus the same sweet delight he’d given Sam. That was definitely an experience he had his heart set on having as soon as humanly possible.
Marcus rested a hand on Sam’s exposed thigh, squeezing softly. “I know, my love. But I couldn’t wait. Was so thirsty for you. Besides, there’s always tomorrow.”
Sam was touched by Marcus’s optimism. He needed some of that. He inched his way to Marcus, slid into his lap, and embraced him with all of himself. He never wanted to let go. They both reeked of fresh sweat and spunk, but Sam didn’t care. It was them, locked together tight in a cocoon of privacy, proof of their love sinking in through their senses.
His perfect boyfriend hugged him back, buried his face in Sam’s hair, and whispered sweet nothings in his ear. Except coming from him, they meant everything. Slowly they came down from the heights of climax and relaxed in each other’s arms.
“AS MUCH as I love smelling like you, I’m glad we took a shower.” Sam stretched and yawned. They’d returned to their quarters after washing up under the waterfall. He got dressed in his dirty, damp jeans since they couldn’t afford to waste time if and when another storm brewed.
“Amen, brother.”
Marcus packed their winter clothes and their unpacked gear, like the towel, in Sam’s backpack so they’d be ready when the time came. Since most of Sam’s stuff had never left the bag, the job was quickly done. He tossed a protein bar to Sam and took one for himself.
“Eat up, my brave hero. We’re gonna need all our strength when the time comes.”
Sam didn’t argue. He tore off the wrapping and took a hearty bite, munching slowly, savoring the familiar taste. “These the last ones?”
“Yeah.” Marcus sat down next to him on the stone bed. With the winter coats packed, the seating was less than comfortable. But it was stable, and by then they were well acquainted with it. “You think we’ll have to wait long?”
Sam shrugged, partially afraid to voice his fears. “I don’t know. Last time it was night when the storm came. Maybe they only occur at night. Sun’s influence on weather is strong.”
Marcus said nothing but continued to chew on his meal, occasionally taking a sip from the refilled water bottle. Sam leaned into him, making the best of his meager nourishment. They ate in silence.
“You know,” Sam wondered out loud, gazing up at the ceiling, “it’s kind of curious they don’t have a hole in the roof or even an open-air structure since rain affected them so. If the point of this place was to get aroused and have sex, why block out the wet element that seemed to give them so much joy and pleasure? Not that I’m complaining or anything.”
Marcus shrugged, munched on his small meal, and swallowed before commenting, “It’d be interesting to find out. But I doubt we ever will. Kind of sad.”
Through the gaps in the stone wall, they could see the sun going down, the sky turning a burnt orange. They couldn’t clearly see if the cloud cover increased as night approached, but Sam dared to hope.
“Will things be different between us if we get back home?” Sam asked quietly.
“When we get home,” Marcus corrected him. “And yes, they will. You promised that you’d stop running.” He planted a kiss over Sam’s temple. “I don’t know if you plan on coming out, but I do wanna date you. We can do it in secret if you want. Under the radar, you know. But you’re my bae, got it?”
Despite their dire circumstances, Sam had never felt happier. Marcus loved him. Sam was his boyfriend. “Yeah. I am yours.” He cuddled against Marcus, lifting Marcus’s arm over his shoulder so he could get tucked beneath it. “As for coming out… I don’t know yet. Haven’t had much time to think about that kind of stuff. Even before we came here.”
“I understand.” Marcus leaned into Sam too, resting his head on Sam’s. “I just said it ’cause sometimes it’s easier to come out if you’re not doing it alone, you know. If you’ve got someone special at your side.”
“Thanks.” Sam was grateful. Marcus’s support meant the world to him. Here, in their own island paradise of sorts, it was easy to grow closer, physically and emotionally. No one here to interrupt them or invade their privacy. Back home was another matter entirely.
“Just giving you food for thought,” Marcus added. “Reminding you you’re not alone.”
Sam smiled, though Marcus couldn’t see it. “You think Simon’s gonna freak out when you start dating me?”
His big brother’s reaction worried Sam more than he cared to admit out loud. What if Simon forced Marcus to choose between them? Or what if he broke with Marcus for good and ended their friendship altogether? It would be Sam’s fault, and he wasn’t sure if he could handle it.
What if Simon couldn’t handle his baby brother’s sexuality at all?
Marcus let out a sigh, a touch of sadness in his tone. “To be honest, I don’t really care what he thinks. I’m not giving you up. I love the big guy, don’t get me wrong, but… I love you more. Way more. You’re the one I’ve been dreaming of for years. You’re my bae.”
Ridiculously happy, Sam couldn’t have stopped his grin to save his life. Although to be fair, the feeling was a confused mix of joy and relief. Perhaps Marcus was onto something, that it really was easier to take those baby steps out of the closet with someone who loved you the way you truly were at heart.
That, however, meant Sam should love Marcus the same way, care for the person he was inside. Despite their stay in close quarters of late, Sam had a lot of questions.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, okay?” Sam took a breath to calm himself. “Why do you pretend to be dumber than you are?”
Much to Sam’s surprise, Marcus chuckled. “People see things in terms of roles and stereotypes. I’m a jock. All brawn, no brains.”
“I get that. College. Blending in. But that’s not an answer. Like, I know you read.”
“Yeah, I do. There’s even books I really like. But I’m mildly dyslexic, so it’s never an easy task for me to undertake.”
Sam pulled away to stare at his boyfriend in shock. How could he not have known this before now? “You’re dyslexic? Does Simon know?”
“Yeah, he does. Apart from him, my parents, my English teacher, and now you, no one else knows. It’s not something I like to talk about.”
“Why? Do you think it makes you look weak?” Sam immediately regretted asking the question. Shame overwhelmed him. Was he this shallow?
“No. I’m not embarrassed. I was born this way. Just like I was born being attracted to both sexes. It’s normal for me. I can’t say why I don’t wanna talk about it. ’Cause it’s private? It’s not like I’d hate or dread people finding out.” He shrugged. “Just one of those things, I guess.”
“Yeah.” Sam didn’t know what else to say. “I’m not judging you or anything. I’m into books and reading, but—”
“I know, chipmunk. I know.” Marcus smiled at him, drew him closer, and kissed him on the lips, his touch warm and soft, less erotic and more comforting. “We’re a dating couple, bae, not doppelgangers. If we were the same in every aspect, I sure as fuck wouldn’t be making out with you.”
Sam laughed and returned to his previous position, snuggled under Marcus’s arm. “For sure.” He sighed then. “I’m ju
st… worried we’re too different.”
“How? And more importantly, does it matter we’re not the same?”
“We have comics and music in common. But what else?”
Marcus leaned in and whispered in Sam’s ear, “Hot naked gay sex?”
Sam blushed. “A-apart from that. Dirty dawg.”
“Well, thanks to an awesome source of information—Simon—I happen to know we’re both into finger foods. You like veggie pizza and my fave is BBQ pizza.”
Sam didn’t have to say anything. He already knew that. He’d kept a close eye on his crush whenever Marcus was at their house. Which was often because Marcus and Simon were best buddies. Not that Sam had been spying or anything. He’d just… watched him surreptitiously. That wasn’t stalking. That was admiring a perfect specimen of masculinity.
“Your silence speaks volumes,” Marcus said, laughing. “But seriously, Sammy, what do our differences matter if we love, care for, and trust each other?”
That reply stumped Sam. Marcus could be wise when he wanted to. He was right too. Sam was clutching at straws due to his doubts about whether they could continue like this when they got back home. He hoped for the best but prepared for the worst. His cynicism talking.
“I’m not leaving you, Sammy.” Marcus tilted Sam’s face up with a hand under his jaw. “Now that I finally have you, you’re mine, and I’m keeping you. So stop listening to whatever those voices inside your head are telling you. ’Cause I can practically hear them. I know you so well, and I know you’re scared. But the way I feel about you and the way I want to be with you… those are things you never need to worry about.”
Sam turned around and straddled Marcus’s thighs, sitting on his lap. “Thank you. You always know exactly what to say.” He kissed his first real boyfriend even though neither of them had cleaned their teeth with anything other than water during their shower. If Marcus didn’t mind Sam’s bad breath, he wouldn’t either.
