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Extract From Deadlines:
They sobered, gazing at each other silently. Joseph didn’t release his hold on Michael though it was no longer a restraining hold, not as such. He kissed him.
Closing his eyes Michael blissfully concentrated on the taste, the scent, and the texture of the kiss. He tried to free his arms so he could put them around Joseph and take control of some of the action, but he wasn’t allowed to. The kiss was broken and he was drawn to his feet. He stood passively, as his shirt was unbuttoned and slipped from his shoulders.
Dropping the shirt onto the floor Joseph stroked Michael’s arms, admiring him. His body, though still slender was beginning to define itself, losing some of the androgynous qualities usually associated with adolescence. His skin was lovely, soft, smooth and as lustrously creamy as a south sea pearl. Apart from a net of fine blond curls that clustered his neat ball sack, his body had no hair to speak of. “Stop,” he stayed Michael’s hands, holding them prisoner, as they reached to undo the buttons on his shirt.
Michael’s breath quickened as he was turned around and the nape of his neck was hard kissed, teeth nipping pleasurably at the skin. It quickened still further when his arms were drawn behind him and bound at the wrist with Joseph’s silk tie. “Joss,” he whispered, suddenly a little uncertain, “what are you doing?”
“Shush, it’s alright,” Joseph spoke softly, “trust me. Close your eyes. Don’t open them again until I give you permission and speak no words, will you do that for me?”
Michael nodded eagerly, excited by this new innovation, his pulse beat building as the remainder of his clothing was slowly removed. It was the strangest feeling to be standing naked in front of someone who was fully clothed. Effectively blind and with his wrists bound behind him, he felt powerless, exposed, frighteningly vulnerable, and something else. Something he couldn’t quite name, because it was at odds with the other feelings, their antonym. He was powerless and yet empowered at the same time. His nerves increased in sensitivity, so much so that when light fingers began to stroke his chest, tweaking and playing with the tiny silver bar bells that pierced his nipples he felt as if electrical impulses were darting deliciously through him. He pressed his teeth to his lower lip to stop a small moan escaping as a hand applied gossamer spanks to his bottom making the skin tingle and thrill.
Joseph smiled. There was no doubting Michael’s arousal now. It stood out proudly.
Michael felt light headed with sensation. There wasn’t an inch of him that hadn’t been stroked, touched, caressed and kissed. He’d been taken to the brink of orgasm several times, only to have Joseph stop at the crucial moment. He wanted to speak his lover’s name, but wasn’t allowed to. He wanted to look at his face, but wasn’t allowed to. He wanted to put his arms around him, to touch him, but he couldn’t. All he could do was wait for it to be decided when and how his release would come. He had no say in the matter. Then, just as he thought his excitement was finally going to be given full reign, all contact was withdrawn and Joseph moved right away from him. Michael gave an angry little whimper of frustration, fighting a strong instinct to open his eyes and locate where he was.
“I’m going to leave the room,” Joseph began to unbutton his shirt. “You’re going to stand absolutely still, in silence, with your eyes closed to wait my return. Is that clearly understood?”
Michael nodded, alert to the change from request to command. The sense of empowerment that he’d experienced vanished as soon as Joseph left the room. Without him being there it couldn’t exist, it had no validity. All that was left was a sense of vulnerability and Michael didn’t like it. He strained his ears, listening for sounds of a return. The urge to open his eyes was so potent it was making him perspire, but he refused to give into it. Joseph had both asked him and told him not to. He wasn’t sure whether he was complying with the request or the command, or both simultaneously? Relief and a renewed excitement washed over him as he sensed Joseph re-enter the room. The excitement accelerated as arms came around him and he realised that he and Joseph now...
copyrighted material Fabian Black 2009.
New Short Story: Pascal's Boys
extract...
Tom brewed fresh coffee, listening out for footsteps descending the stairs. They came at last and he poured the hot dark liquid into two mugs, adding cream and sugar to one and leaving the other black. He looked up as the doctor, and family friend, entered the kitchen waiting until he’d sat down before asking, “how is he today, Ian?” The reply was not what he wanted to hear.
“He’s getting weaker,” Ian put his bag on the kitchen table, “I don’t think it will be long now, a week, maybe two, not much more than that.” He touched a kind hand to Tom’s stricken face, “let me arrange for a Macmillan nurse to come in and help you care for him? You look tired. You need a break. These past months have been hard for you.”
“No,” Tom shook his head, “I’ll care for him. Adam helps and now he’s finished classes for the summer I’ll at least be able to spend more time at the garden centre.”
“How are the renovations progressing?” Ian sat down and picked up the mug of creamy coffee.
“Slowly, they’re behind schedule, which is why I’ll be glad to get over there more often to chivvy the workmen along. I was hoping that Pascal would…” he picked up a spoon, stirring his coffee, concentrating on the dark whirlpool it made in the liquid.
“He’s excited about the expansion, Tom, he was talking about it this morning and bragging about what a fine place it’s going to be. He can see it all in his mind’s eye. It’s enough for him. It gives him great pleasure to know that you love the place as much as he does and that you’ll keep it going.”
Tom nodded, “did he show you the plans again?”
“He did indeed, I got the usual guided tour. It’s a wonder they aren’t worn out.” Ian sipped at his coffee and then asked, “where is Adam by the way, don’t say he’s still in bed?”
“No, he’s gone to help some friends clear their student flat and then he’s giving them a lift home.”
“Pascal’s death will hit him hard. I don’t think he’s really accepted how ill he is.”
“I’ll look after him.”
“You should have made him stick it out in London. It would have helped him to be more independent and grow up a bit.”
“We encouraged him to stay, to give it a chance, but he couldn’t cope. He hated the university and he hated the speed of the city. He felt lost there; he just wanted to come home. The world and its wonders aren’t for everyone, Ian. This is where he’s happy. He’s enjoying his course at the local university, and as for growing up he’ll do it in his own time. We all mature at different rates.”
“I suppose so. He’s only got another year left hasn’t he, what does he plan to do when he’s finished?”
“He hasn’t thought that far ahead. You know Adam. He lives in the moment. He wanted to study literature, so he’s studying literature. Some days he wants to be a poet and others a gardener, like Pascal and I, and sometimes, “Tom gave a smile that lit up his solemn face, “all he wants to do is lie on the grass and watch the clouds shift and change.”
“He’s a dreamer and you indulge him, in fact you spoil him, just like Pascal has always indulged and spoiled him.”
“Pascal has always known when to stop indulging, and so do I, so stop your nagging.”
“If you say so.” Ian patted Tom’s shoulder. “Will you move back into the house, after Pascal’s death?”
“Perhaps, if Adam wants me to.”
“Pascal has divided his estate equally between the two of you, it will be as much your property as his.”
“This is Adam’s home, his safe place. I won’t ever violate that. If he wants me to share it, he will ask me.”
“It was your safe place too, Tom, don’t forget that. Does Pascal know that things have cooled between you and Adam?”
“He’s noticed, but he isn’t worried, and neither am I.” Tom’s attractive smile made another appearance, “I love Adam and I believe he loves me. He’s just not ready to make a full commitment yet. He’s enjoying discovering his physical self. I did the same at his age, and I bet you did too.”
“True, though in my day it was much more difficult to discover your physical self, with anyone, let alone someone of the same sex. Being gay was an arrestable offence.”
“Things have moved on, thank God, though a few steps further wouldn’t hurt.”
Ian nodded acknowledgement. Sipping his coffee he gazed through the kitchen window, catching the scent of jasmine and roses, listening to the drone of bees and the occasional high-pitched scream of a swift on the wing. Summer was in youthful bloom, full of heat and promise. The promise was false, autumn would come, and then, inevitably, winter. Summer had to be enjoyed for all it was worth. He glanced at Tom, feeling a surge of affection. He had grown into a good man, a little too serious perhaps, but kind and hardworking. It was because of Tom that he and Pascal had become friends.
copyrighted material Fabian Black 2009
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