Cursing quietly, Billy stumbled over
the uneven cobbles of the Darker Quarter, regaining his balance
before bones connected with the unforgiving road. In its usual
disarray, it was the area the local government had chosen to forget
about, instead letting fall into ruin. Not even the City Guard dared
to walk its paths, choosing instead to let the local inhabitants deal
with any disputes.
Muttering to himself, Cedo could only
just make out the shadow of his mate ambling through the misty
streets. His fingers grazed a wall, trailing through grime and moss.
It almost felt as if it were alive, waiting to slither to life and
pull him to his doom.
“Billy!” His voice were muffled by
the mist. “Just where in Inferno are you taking me?”
Through the wisps of fog, Billy
chuckled, a low and husky sound. “You'll see when we get there.
Trust me, you're goin' to love it.”
“Well, how much farther do we have to
walk?”
“Not far. Just keep your 'and on the
wall an', when you feel an iron 'and twistin' out of it, we're
there.”
Shaking his head, Cedo did as he was
told, fingers trailing over the slick, mossy bricks. Unlike Billy, he
was not accustomed to the Darker Quarter and never felt completely
safe. Nothing had ever happened to him, but it was only a matter of
time before someone, or something, stole him away. He could almost
feel the eyes of his Master boring into him from the roofs above, the
demon of death come to claim him once more.
“Nearly there...” Billy's voice
tumbled off the brickwork.
Placing his hand flat to the wall, Cedo
felt the cool ironwork, dampened by the mist. His fingers slid over a
strong wrist and to a clasped hand. It held something in its metallic
grip. Peering through the murk, Cedo read the words of the plaque
that dangled from its fingers.
Welcome to Friendship House.
Members Only.
He arched an
eyebrow and glanced to the cloud of fog that wrapped around him. From
it, Billy emerged, his face lit by the gas lamp that swung above the
door of the tall house. A grin was etched into his face, his eyes
darkened by shadows.
“What is this
place?”
Billy did not say a
word, just took his hand and lead him up the steps.
The
door swung inwards as his mate knocked and they stepped into an unlit
hallway. A cloaked figure, the hood pulled up over their head, swept
towards them, a lamp gracefully held before them. Cedo felt his skin
prickle at the unusual atmosphere. Despite its size, the house was
strangely quiet. Yet there was a warmth to it that he could not
identify.
The figure swung
the hood from their head, revealing a tall, ghostly looking woman.
Her face was pale, her lips painted a deep red. One corner of her
mouth twitched upwards.
“Mr Burton,”
her voice was soft and lilting. “It is a long time since you last
graced my house with your presence. May I inquire as to your
absence.”
“I've been away,
fightin' the Dynastians. Took me a while to get back.”
“Ah.” She gave
a small nod. “I have heard that they are coming to our shores. And
whom, may I ask, is your friend?”
Billy's hand curled
around his wrist, drawing him closer. He could not take his eyes from
the woman. She was captivating in a strange way, unlike any he had
previously met.
“This is Cedo.
Nicked 'im for the night from 'is Master. Boy needs to get out more.”
She stepped to one
side and gestured towards a closed door. “Well, you know your way
around Mr Burton. You enjoy your evening.”
Strong fingers slid
from his wrist and to his hand. In the low light, Billy smiled at him
before leaning in, lips brushing his ear.
“You'll be fine.
Just follow me.”
The hallway was
narrow and claustrophobic and Cedo was when they stepped through the
door.
Beyond it was a
darkened room, a few candles dangling from a chandelier in the high
ceiling. As his eyes adjusted, Cedo noticed that the room was devoid
of furniture. Instead, it was filled with overstuffed cushions, upon
which several couples embraced. A chill ran through him as he watched
them writhe, limbs tangled together. Yet none of them turned to see
who had stepped through the door, in the same way that they were only
interested in their partner.
Grabbing his wrist,
Billy gently guided him to a corner, settling them both on the
cushions. Cedo could feel his heart racing, thundering against his
chest.
Leaning into Billy,
he whispered, “What is this place?”
A hand stroked over
his hair, twisting it around fingers before tucking it behind his
ear. “This is the friendship house,” he softly replied. “Just
relax, okay? All will be revealed.”
Gazing into a face
he could not read, Cedo allowed himself to be pulled upright. One arm
wrapped tightly around his waist while the other brushed hair from
his eyes. Trembling beneath the touches, he arched his back and
strained to press his lips to Billy's. Softly he sighed as they
kissed, lips barely touching, tips of tongues gently exploring. Jolts
of pleasure coursed through him, thingling over his skin and lighting
passionate fires. Never had he craved the touch of another so much.
Never had he wanted them to teach him as much as he did Billy.
The dark room
melted away, leaving them to wrap themselves in each other, the
cloying scent of incense mixing with the heavy scent of what was to
come. Still locked in the passionate embrace, they stretched over the
cushions, letting the deep ravines hide them from all who wanted to
pry into their private world. Their kisses became eager, lips
chapping, each gasping and sighing. Limbs wound around one another,
tugging on hair and sliding over the slender lines of their bodies.
Pulling away, Billy
relieved himself of his coat and, in the dim light, Cedo could make
out the lust that lay over his face. His mate had became serene,
movements slow and flowing as he encouraged Cedo from his patched and
aging frock coat. Tossing it to one side, Cedo returned to the warmth
of the cushions, his clothes becoming a burden. They clung to him
with a film of sweat, the heavy wishbone necklace weighing him down.
Now he was enslaved to another, eager to please the whims of both his
Master and Billy.
Gently his head was
tilted and warm lips gently suckled his flesh, fingers creeping over
his chest. Sighing, Cedo dropped his hand to Billy's head, stroking
over thick waves of hair. Teeth nipped at his throat, marking and
bruising him, but he did not care. Billy could mark him all he
wanted. His only regret was that, come sunrise, the bruises would
barely be visible. Just as Erus had placed the necklace upon him,
Cedo longed for a more permanent symbol of Billy's affection.
In the darkness,
Billy began to pick at his shirt, carefully undoing the buttons
before exposing his chest. Taking deep, ragged breaths, Cedo could
only watch as his mate moved lower, lips and tongue tracing the lines
of his body. Hair settled over his skin, tongue lapping at his
collarbone. Stifling a groan, Cedo arched his back as a nipple was
sucked into the warm, welcoming mouth. A hot lust screamed through
him and he grasped at Billy, tugging his head up. Baring his teeth,
Cedo growled. Billy just chuckled and shook his head.
Lying over Cedo, he
kissed the marks on his throat. “Calm down. This ain't a race, you
know. Just lie back an' enjoy.”
The rough fabric of
his trousers only goaded his arousal, his cock painfully hard.
Groaning softly, he allowed Billy to continue his gentle kisses, his
flesh tingling beneath his lover's lips. Finally, just as he thought
the torture would carry on all night, Billy shifted and lay back
beside him, arms pulling Cedo back to him. Wrapping a leg around
Billy's waist, he hungrily kissed him, gasping and mewling as he
rubbed himself against his mate. In the same way that Billy had, Cedo
pushed him back until he was sprawled over the cushions, hair a stark
white against the darkness. His lips were parted, eyes staring up at
Cedo and he lifted his hands to stroke along his jaw. Closing his
eyes, Cedo leaned into the touch, feeling the roughly calloused
fingertips scratching at his skin.
“Kiss me,”
Billy hissed. “Kiss me like you mean it.”
Cedo felt himself
smile and lowered his head to nip at Billy's throat. Beneath his
lips, the supple flesh was sheened with a light film of salty sweat.
Hungrily he lapped at it, swallowing and savouring the taste of his
friend.
Wrapping his tongue
around the shell of Billy's ear, he whispered, “I always kiss you
like I mean it. Never have I not meant it.”
Trailing his tongue
along the strong jaw, he pressed his lips back to Billy's. Beneath
him, his mate groaned, hands coming up to hold his head just as Cedo
had held his. Straddling his lover's hips, he swayed, drunk on the
excitement that coursed through him. Leaning forward, he pressed
their still clothed erections together, snarling as Billy bucked
beneath him. It was an agony of the greatest kind and, as slow as the
coming of winter, he peeled away the thin material of Billy's shirt.
With his mouth watering, Cedo attacked the expanse of golden skin,
lips and tongue sucking and licking, taking in the swell of muscle
and the dip of his stomach. Touching the tip of his tongue to a
budded nipples, he gently pulled it into his mouth, sucking as he
listened to Billy groan. Teasing Billy's trousers down to his hips,
Cedo glanced up to him, his tongue tracing the line of his pelvis.
Above him, Billy
was sprawled over the makeshift bed, head back and hands bunched into
the satiny fabric. He groaned as Cedo nipped at his flesh, a hand
unwinding and guiding him back to lie beside him. One hand cradled
the back of his head, forcing Cedo to look into his shadowy eyes. A
howl ripped from his throat as the other was pushed into his
trousers, fingers wrapping around his cock. For a moment, they just
held him, tightening and loosening before slowly, teasingly beginning
to stroke.
Carefully he
followed, shivering as he wrapped his own fingers around Billy's
thick shaft. They stared at each other, hands mercilessly teasing the
other, saliva slicked skin sliding together. The pace picked up and
slowed down, breath coming in shaking pants as they rocked their hips
into the others hand. A rough thumb slid over the head of his cock,
smearing warm fluid along his shaft, making Cedo nearly cry. The
pleasure was building to a painful level, the need for release
threatening to choke him. But each time he felt he would come, Billy
cruelly stopped, kissing him as his hand hung limp around Cedo's
cock.
Mirroring his
lover's movements, he watched as Billy changed, face contorted before
relaxing only to spasm a moment later as he slowly began to stroke.
Sweeping his thumb over the slick head, he felt Billy buck into his
hand, murmuring a quiet plea for release.
Resting his head in
the crook of his lover's neck, Cedo whispered, “I shall give you
release if you give me the same.”
Beneath his
forehead, Cedo felt him nod. Pausing for what felt like an age, he
gently began to stroke, Billy's cock throbbing against his fingers.
Cedo could feel his own doing the same, Billy's fingers ghosting over
veins and warm flesh. Doing his best not to make a noise, he buried
his face in Billy's shoulder, quietly muttering and pleading.
It came in a flash,
his body shaking and the sticky warm soaking his stomach, just as
Billy came in his hand. They lay, hands still wrapped around the
other, their hips bucking as they spent themselves. Billy's lips were
pressed to his hair, muttering quiet words of thanks.
Regretfully he drew
his hand from Billy's clothing, looking at the pearlescent semen that
coated his fingers. Grinning, he wriggled from Billy's grip and sat
on his stomach, winding his tongue around his fingers. Deftly Cedo
cleaned them, delighting in the taste of his lover. Once he was
finished, Billy offered him his own soaked hand, letting Cedo taste
himself.
When he was done,
Billy laid his hands at Cedo's waist and pulled him down. “There
are more rooms. You want to go an' sample another?”
In the candlelight,
Cedo saw him wink. Glancing over his shoulder, Cedo saw another
closed door and smirk twisted his lips. Sliding from Billy's lap, he
swept up his coat and walked towards it.
~~~
Cedo and Billy feature in the Veetu Industries series. Book 1, Mars On The Rise, which is now available in ebook form from Torquere Press.
Print books are available from Amazon and The Book Depository.
