Page 14 of Now Comes the Dark

Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting

Roman couldn’t afford to go out two nights in a row, but when his flatmate Ashley suggested a few beers in the village, he jumped at the chance. Mallon had said he was leaving the next day, but there was a chance—a slim one—that he might be in one of the bars that evening. He had been noncommittal about seeing Roman again, but Roman was certain if Mallon saw him, he would not be able to resist.

Ashley had other ideas. “You can’t let what those bastards did to you last night scare you off. You need to get out as soon as possible and overcome your fear.”

Roman was not afraid. The men who had attacked him were opportunistic bullies. He had been in the wrong place at the wrong time when they’d come along. The stupid bastards had gotten more than they had reckoned for and would seek an easier target next time, he was sure of that. It was the hope of seeing Mallon that drew him back to the village, rather than a need to overcome any trauma relating to the assault.

He took time getting ready, lingering in the bathtub for an hour to ease the tenderness in his torso. His assailants had struck a couple of powerful blows before his hero had arrived, and Roman was starting to suffer the consequences. He put on a pair of his favourite boxer-briefs, the ones he saved for hook-ups when a good fuck was guaranteed. Mallon had seemed so into his arse last night, worshipping with his eyes and tongue. He wouldn’t be able to resist Roman in this pair of underpants. Fresh jeans and his favourite blue shirt completed the look. The weather had taken a cold turn, and he had to make a last-minute addition of a jacket before leaving the flat.

They took an Uber into the city centre, and Roman was disappointed when they ran into Ashley’s prick boyfriend Patrick in the first bar they visited.

“You didn’t tell me he was coming.”

“Why wouldn’t he be here? He is my boyfriend. It’s what couples do on Saturday nights,” Ashley said defensively. “They go out together.”

As long as that’s all they did. Ashey and Patrick had a habit of starting arguments and fights when they had both been drinking. They couldn’t seem to help themselves. With Patrick along, this would not be the fun evening Ashley had promised him.

If he found Mallon that wouldn’t matter. Roman would ditch them the first chance he got.

They started at The New Inn, which was far busier than when he had been here last night. While he waited for Ashley to order their drinks, he scanned the crowd in the bar and the terrace. The resident DJ played a selection of camp classics, though it was difficult to hear the songs over the loud conversations. How likely was he to find Mallon here? Not at all, after the French man’s comments on the quality of the drinks, but it did not keep him from looking. Roman was an optimist.

He spotted Cameron, the slutty twink who had sucked off Mallon at the club. He held court on the terrace with a group of his party friends, cackling as they smoked and vaped. Despite the cool night, he wore a skimpy white T-shirt and low-riding jeans that revealed the waist band of his jock and an inch of butt crack. Roman grimaced and wondered what Mallon had found so attractive about him. Not much, he reminded himself. After a toothy blow job, Mallon had ditched Cameron to seek him out instead. That’s all he needed to know. Still, Cameron was persistent. If he ran into Mallon tonight, he would take another shot.

“Who are you looking for?” Ashley asked when he brought their drinks over.Two beers. Far safer than the awful house spirits.

“I hoped I might see the guy from last night, to let him know what the police said today.”

“Didn’t you get his number? Text him.”

Roman shook his head. “He didn’t give it to me.”

“Probably married, then.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Rich businessman, away from home. It’s classic. He’ll have a wife and a couple of kids in France who have no idea he likes to stick it to other men.”

Roman hid his irritation. “Not all men are the same. He didn’t seem the type. Besides, no straight man could fuck another guy the way he fucked me.”

Ashley guffawed and rolled his eyes. “Did I say he was straight? Lots of men identify as bisexual these days. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a family tucked away.” He swigged his beer. “You were just an easy mouth and open hole for the night. Accept it and get over it.”

Roman bit his tongue. Just because Patrick couldn’t be faithful for more than a couple of weeks, it didn’t mean all menwere the same. Patrick treated Ashley like shit, and Roman was always there to support him afterwards. The least he could do now was return the favour.

From The New Inn they moved to Julie’s. To Roman’s relief, Patrick met up with one of his drug buddies and fell behind.

“What’s he taking now?” Roman asked as they hurried to the next venue. After the assault, he wasn’t keen to spend too much time on the streets.

“Nothing,” Ashley said. “That’s what he told me, anyway.”

“Don’t tell me you believe him?”

Ashley sighed. “Of course not. Just because I love him, it doesn’t make me an idiot. He’s still using steroids, though he doesn’t really count those. He classes them as supplements.”

“What else?”

“Judging by the look in his eyes tonight, he’s taken speed or coke already.”

Roman put an arm around Ashley’s shoulder. His friend had his faults, but he had always been very anti-drugs. He’d cut ties with previous mates in the past when their partying ways had gotten out of hand. Roman had never understood why he made exceptions for Patrick. It wasn’t like Patrick was even that hot. Roman found his ballooning biceps and bulging veins repulsive. Ashley had dated far sexier guys than him, men who were more worthy of his affection than that meathead.

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