Afire: Entire Blinded Series (22 page)

Ryan closed his eyes and exhaled through pursed lips. His body went limp, refusing to support him, and he slumped to his knees, the dampness from the sand seeping through his jeans.

The tinkle of cuffs sounded sweet, but Lee's voice sounded sweeter as it whispered into his ear.

"You all right, mate? Fuck. You all right?"

Strong arms went around him, supporting his upper body as it teetered on falling sideways. He nodded, keeping his eyes closed for a few seconds longer. When his equilibrium had almost returned, he opened them to see the policemen hauling Harry to his feet, their voices a rumble. He couldn't differentiate what they said from the roaring sea behind him—both sounds merged—but he hoped they were reading Harry his rights. By fuck he hoped for that.

The cops marched Harry up the slope, and one called back, “Be with you in a second!” Ryan nodded, nausea settling in his gullet, and looked up at Lee, who had hunkered down beside him.

"Come on, up you get,” Lee said, helping Ryan to stand. He stared at him, face pinched and drawn. “Shits the life out of you when you see that gun, doesn't it?"

Ryan nodded again, the lump in his throat stopping him from answering. He hiked in a deep breath, leaning into Lee's chest and resting his forehead on the other's shoulder. Yes, it had shit the life out of him. And now he understood why Lee had changed since he'd been shot. Ryan's one glimpse at a terror just as big as he'd felt when he'd seen a similar gun pointed at Lee, had shown him that all the insignificant things he'd ever whinged at just weren't important. Not versus losing his life.

He should have known that already. Should have realised how precious life was well before now, but it took that gun barrel being aimed just then for him to fully understand. People hated him and Lee for what they were, and that was damn fine. But he was fucked if this lot were going to get away with keep on hating, keep on persecuting. This gang of freaks were going down.

He'd make sure of it.

Back in their hotel room, situated in an old Tudor-like house sitting on a cliff about a mile outside the village, Ryan nestled against Lee's side. They were fully clothed on top of the bed, having flopped there after coming back from the police station. The cops spoke to them as though fascinated that such a startling event had happened in their sleepy village, and Ryan supposed it
would
appear a drastic incident to those unused to such things. But Ryan and Lee originally hailed from a sterner place, growing up where someone being stabbed and mugged for a tenner made the news nightly. Although used to hearing about crimes like that, knowing they happened right on his doorstep ever since he could remember, Ryan wasn't best pleased at being involved in newsworthy situations. No. One thing to hear it on the radio or see it on the damn news, but being the star of the show was different altogether.

He stared at the ceiling of their semi-dark room, night arriving now. The time had passed so slowly at the police station, and if he'd guessed right, he was sure the police took their time so they could relish this bit of excitement. Lee's arm tightened around him, and Ryan hugged his lover closer, one arm draped across the other's stomach. They hadn't really spoken. Hadn't discussed what had happened on the beach beyond shaking their heads and muttering short sentences. Maybe it was time they did. Talked about Lee's shooting too. It would clear a shit load of worry off their shoulders and leave them with a clear head for the trial. A trial that would grow longer now, possibly be put back because of Harry bloody Burgent.

Ryan opened his mouth to speak but closed it again. If Lee hadn't spoken about it all up to now, did it mean he didn't want to? Couldn't? Could Ryan press him, demand they talk about it?

No, I can't. I wouldn't want to pressure him into something he doesn't want. We don't work like that. Never have, really.

"I fucking hate Harry right now,” Lee said, the rumble of his voice transferring through Ryan's cheek. “Those blokes. They're sick in the head. Always have been when you think back."

"I know.”
Keep talking, Lee.

"I mean, who the fuck do they think they are?” He huffed out a breath. “According to them, we're just a couple of queers, worth nothing, yet we're obviously worth something for them to keep on at us like this."

"Yup.”
More. Tell me more
.

"And I was thinking, you know. This shit we've been through, what we're going through, it's like something out of a damn film. I mean, what the fuck? Who the bloody hell goes around like they do, thinking they can get away with it? Shit!” He let out a wry laugh. “And what do we do when it's all over? When they're all locked up for a pissy amount of time? Move away? Start again, living in peace for a bit until they get out or Trevor sends some other bastard to find us?” He laughed again, louder this time, bordering on hysterics.

Ryan clutched him tighter, letting him laugh it the hell out. Whatever it took for his man to feel better. After a few seconds, Lee's laughter tapered off, his breaths coming short and sharp. Ryan listened to the sounds filtering from downstairs and outside. Pots and pans clattering, dinner dishes being put away. The creak of another resident walking the landing outside their room. Gulls squawking, snatching the last remnants of food from the beach, or maybe bread crusts from the kitchen here, before full darkness came and they nested wherever the hell they nested overnight. He wondered if they'd pecked at the ice cream cones yet.

His stomach rumbled, and he propped himself up on one elbow, staring at Lee in the gloom, trying to make out his features. “You hungry?"

Lee cleared his throat. “Yeah. You?"

"A bit."

"Want to go out and get something?” Lee ran the back of one finger down Ryan's cheek.

"Could do."

"What d'you fancy?"

"You, but fish and chips will do."

"Trying that romantic shit again, are we?"

"Trying and failing."

"Damn fucking right you failed.” Lee lifted his head, offering his lips.

Ryan bent his and brushed the other's mouth with a soft kiss. “But you wouldn't have it any other way, right?"

"Nope. I like laughing at your attempts. You might get it right one day. Shock the shit out of me if you did, though."

"Cheeky bastard.” Ryan got up and stretched beside the bed. “Come on then. If I can't have you, I want chips.” He reached toward the chair for his jacket.

Lee rolled across the bed and gripped Ryan's wrist, drawing him back onto the mattress. “Fuck the chips,” he said, pulling Ryan on top of him.

"Can't fuck chips.” Ryan tried to hide his smile.

"Then fuck me."

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Ryan crushed his lips against Lee's, clutching his man's head, fingers sinking into his hair. He held him rigid, a sudden need to fuck hard and fast taking over him. It was probably the fright he'd had, but Ryan just wanted a quick connection, a frantic coupling that erased everything but what they were doing for the time it took to do it. Lee clutched Ryan's ass as they kissed, pushing their erections together, and Ryan groaned deep in his throat. Lee wanted him just as much, then.

Ryan ground circles into Lee's pelvis, the friction of his jeans on his cock painful yet pleasurable at the same time. Wrenching his mouth away, he shifted to Lee's side and began taking off his lover's T-shirt, pushing it up his chest with jerky movements. He wanted Lee naked, them both naked, skin on skin. Lee took over undressing himself, and Ryan stripped out of his own clothing, tossing them wherever they fell. With them both naked, Ryan straddled Lee's legs, reaching beside him for the belt on Lee's jeans. He pulled it from the loopholes, staring down at Lee, asking the silent question of whether he wanted his usual favourite binding. Lee nodded, lifting his arms and positioning his wrists together. Ryan slid the belt around them, tying it tight and easing those wrists to the bed above Lee's head.

Staring down at him, Ryan took in the sight, lust swelling his cock further and making his balls ache. He had the urge to sink himself into Lee's ass, but they had yet to venture into the unknown. Neither of them knew whether they would like it, who would be a top or bottom, or whether they'd both enjoy it and pump the other's ass every time they fucked. They had no lube, nothing to help Ryan's cock slide into virgin territory, and the mood he was in, it probably wasn't a good idea to try it right now. He'd push inside too quickly.

Still, he needed tightness, and he whispered, “Suck me.” Not a question but an order, one he needed to give to make Lee understand how Ryan wanted it tonight.

Lee nodded, and Ryan scooted up Lee's body, each knee settled beside Lee's chest. His cock throbbed with the anticipation of what was to come, and he bit his bottom lip to hold off the burning sensation growing at his base. Reaching across, he grabbed his pillows and placed them on top of Lee's, elevating the other's head into a prime position for his mouth to take his cock. With Lee's arms stretched up like that, his wrists bound and fingers entwined, hands making a giant fist, Ryan almost lost it.

Ryan gripped the headboard and manoeuvred so the tip of his cock butted Lee's lips. “Suck me. Hard. Fuck, I need it hard."

Lee dashed his tongue out over his lips then opened his mouth. Ryan plunged inside, fucking that wet cavity. Lee created suction, pulling hard, and the tightness Ryan craved clamped around him. He looked down, watching his cock glide in and out of those lips that had kissed him and taken all his ills away. Romance fled out the window and wanton lust took its place. Driven by his desires, knowing by Lee closing his eyes to half mast that his lover enjoyed this as much as him, he fucked that mouth until red-hot tingles shot up his shaft and his balls throbbed.

Sweat dripped down his temples, and his ass cheeks clenched every time he pushed inside. Lee sucked harder—God did he suck harder—and his breaths shunted out of his nose, the whisper of them cooling Ryan's damp cock each time he pulled back.

"You like that?” Ryan panted out, driving his cock deep so it touched the back of Lee's throat.

Lee nodded, sucked harder.

"Yeah. You. Fucking. Like. That.” Ryan groaned, gripped the headboard tighter, nails scraping against the wood. “You gonna come? You gonna come hard and fast like me?"

Lee nodded again, the sound of his moan loud, the rumble of it seeping into Ryan's cock. Lee's eyes opened and closed languidly, and he moved beneath Ryan, writhing, clearly needing friction on his cock.

"You want me to suck you? Want me to suck you until you come?” Ryan pumped on, struggling to hold back his orgasm.

At Lee's third nod, Ryan pulled out and quickly changed position, his lips at Lee's cock. He sunk his lover's erection deep into his mouth at the same time he lowered his shaft between Lee's lips. It was too much, too much to handle, and he savoured the sensation of Lee sucking, reminding him of the first time they'd fucked like this, when he'd arrived in Biddingford to bring Lee some news. Lee had his wrists tied with a belt then too, and fuck had Ryan loved every minute of it.

Raw passion gripped him, and he dragged his mouth up and down Lee's length, his tongue flat against it. The vein in Lee's cock pulsed, flickered beneath Ryan's touch, and Ryan worked harder, faster, showing Lee how he wanted his own cock treated. The heady scent of sex filled the room, adding to Ryan's excitement. He pictured Lee's bound wrists, his fingers squeezing in that big fist, and he lost control. A muffled grunt left him as his cum spewed into Lee's mouth, and he sucked on, tasting Lee's pre-cum a second before his man's ejaculation filled Ryan's mouth. Ryan swallowed, then his mouth filled again, his own second ejaculation jetting out of him so fast it hurt.

He slowed, waiting for more from Lee, which came in three smaller bursts. Ryan expelled a third, the ache and sensations in his cock bringing on a whimper. He released his suction on Lee, lifting his head to give his lover one last pull before licking the tip clean. Ryan eased himself out of Lee's mouth, his cock and balls on fire, and settled himself beside him. They kissed, tasting themselves, Ryan cocooned in Lee's arms. He draped one leg over his lover's, bringing him closer, his still-pulsing cock pressed to the side of Lee's thigh.

Breaking the kiss, Ryan laid his head on Lee's shoulder, and together they rested in silence as they came down from their high, only moving when hunger pains growled inside them.

They made it to the fish and chip shop much later, just before closing time. Sitting outside on a wooden bench behind the guardrail at the sandy part of the beach, Ryan popped chips into his mouth, savouring the salt and vinegar coating them. You couldn't beat fish and chips from beside the sea. Restaurants inland just didn't get it right; their food didn't taste the same.

"Fucking gorgeous,” he mumbled around a mouth full of chips.

"Why thanks. Nice of you to say so.” Lee's chip paper rustled.

Ryan turned to look at him. “I meant the sodding chips."

"Aww, and there was me thinking you meant me.” He lifted a chip and put it in his mouth.

"I...you
know
I think that way about you. I don't need to say it.” Ryan broke his piece of fish in half and bit into the crispy batter on one end. He'd play Lee at his own bloody game.

"I know. Just kidding.” He chuckled, as if he'd thought of something amusing, then said soberly, “Oi, you. So, does that mean you've given up on trying the sweet talk?"

"Yep. It isn't your thing. Isn't our thing. You said so. We know it."

"And... Hang on a minute! You cheeky shit! If you don't need to say it, is that you telling me we're well and truly like them old gits who stop trying?"

Ryan swallowed and kept a straight face. “Something like that. You don't see couples who've been together a long time spouting endearments and shit like that, do you? They just know how the other feels without having to say."

"Yeah, but...” Lee held a chip halfway to his mouth and stared at Ryan. “That means..."

Ryan couldn't contain his laughter. “Ah, so
you
want romance too then, yeah?"