Page 36 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

Elliot placed his hand on top of Alexander’s and squeezed, hoping the look of overwhelming appreciation was clear in his eyes. Alexander settled in next to Elliot again, pulling him close, then stared at the purple light shining through his skin. “I just need to press the purple one?”

“Yeah. You have to push down a bit, but not too hard.”

Alexander nodded and brought his hand to Elliot’s arm, looking up and saying, “Night-night to you, too, Elliot. I can’t wait to see you in the morning.”

Elliot nibbled his lip and nodded. “Me too. Night-night, Alexander.”

As Elliot’s cycle of stasis took effect, his mind wandered through his memories like a film. Visions of Alexander spreading sunblock on Elliot’s bare skin. The joy on his face when they shared their first kiss. Master Jared Price lying down. Mrs. Peppercorn giving him the warmest of hugs. Red liquid spreading across marble.

He didn’t know what the images of Jared or the red marble were all about, but they made him feel extremely uncomfortable. There was still some cake frosting in the places the memories should have been, and for once, he wasn’t sad to have lost part of his history, because whatever that memory was, Elliot knew he wouldn’t like it. He wouldn’t ever want to revisit it.

The next morning, when Elliot woke, he was pressed firmly against Alexander. Their arms and legs were tangled, and they clung to each other like someone lost at sea might cling to their life preserver. He studied Alexander’s face, wanting to memorize every square centimeter of the man, just in case he wound up back with Jared once all was said and done.

Elliot couldn’t think of a worse fate than losing what little sense of freedom he finally felt. He wouldn’t. If worse came to worst, he would do whatever it took to avoid returning to Jared Price.

Alexander looked so wonderfully peaceful while he slept, so for the next hour, whenever memories of Jared Price threatened to rear their horrible heads, Elliot used the sight of Alexander’s face as a touchstone of sorts. Something tangible to hold on to when reality felt like it was fading. He needed something more, but he didn’t know what. Something to cling to. Something to wrap himself up in.

He startled when Alexander released the hold he had on Elliot and rolled onto his back, steadily snoring. After a few moments spent staring at his bare shoulders above the covers, Elliot glanced down to see a tent formed in Alexander’s lap. By the look of it, it didn’t seem much larger than it had while flaccid, but that was just fine. Jared had an unnecessarily lengthy penis, and all it ever provided Elliot was pain and an unspoken promise that he would never be free from the pain it inflicted.

The funny thing was, when Elliot was with Jared, he’d never once felt true sexual arousal. Sure, he played the part, and he played it well, but that was all it had ever been. An act. A pretense of premarital bliss, all the while hating every second and every single inch of it. Mother always told Elliot and his brothers that intimate relations were the cornerstone to a happy marriage, but he was never sexually satisfied by Jared. Maybe that’s why everything always hurt so much. Maybe the fact that Elliot had never been brought to the brink of sexual release was part of the reason his home life was so unhappy. He had never ejaculated before, and by the look in Jared’s eyes every time he found his release, it looked to be a very fun experience.

Alexander would expect intimate relations. If Elliot stayed, Alexander would require sexual release. Strangely enough, ElliotwantedAlexander to find his release. More than that, Elliot wanted to be his release’s source.

Alexander told Elliot they could move at his pace. Lying in bed with a man he’d grown quite fond of, Elliot wanted to pick up the pace and get the ball rolling, as they say. He slid a hand beneath the covers, then over Alexander’s thigh. He paused, letting his fingers linger against his warm skin.

“Alexander?” he whispered.

Alexander’s snores turned into a snort and he slowly blinked his eyes, still narrow from sleep. “Elliot?”

“I’m sorry to wake you, it’s just, there was something I wanted to do, and I didn’t want to do it without your consent.”

Alexander stared down at the empty space between them, and their limbs that were no longer tangled together. “Why’d you move, baby?” His voice was soft and filled with raspy affection. A stark contrast to the way Jared behaved each time he woke. With Jared, it was always screams and shouts aplenty. With Alexander, it was sleepy eyes that overflowed with adoration. Alexander fixed a frown on his face, but Elliot was ninety-nine percent sure it was simply an act. “I miss my cuddle buddy.”

Elliot inched his hand further across Alexander’s thigh, and warmth spread through his chest when he watched Alexander’s eyes bulge, finally realizing where Elliot’s other hand had gone.

“May I touch you?”

Alexander stared dazedly for a moment before slowly nodding. “You’re sure? You don’t have to. I can wait. I promise, I don’t mind, baby.”

“I like when you call me that. Baby.”

Alexander’s lip tugged into a smile. “Then I’ll have to start saying it more often.”

“Promise?”

Alexander nodded. “I swear, baby.” With his promise given, Alexander reached for the cover and slowly pushed it away, revealing his nude form. The night before, Elliot saw Alexander’s penis, but it hadn’t been hard. Fully erect, it took Elliot’s breath away. He stared at it for a while, memorizing the sight of the man he cared for. Despite Alexander’s assurance he was a grower, not a shower, his penis hadn’t seemed to gain much length when fully erect. He was maybe a bit over five inches. A perfectly average penis for a perfectly above average man.

Elliot wrapped his hand around the shaft and slowly stroked up and down. He maneuvered himself between Alexander’s legs, resting on his hands and knees so he could get a better look.

“It’s so perfect,” Elliot said, awestruck at the bead of pre-cum pearling at the tip. He looked up at Alexander with pleading eyes. “May I have that? I want to taste you. To take part of you into me. Please?” The moment Alexander gave an approving nod, he leaned closer, pressing a kiss to the crease of Alexander’s shaft and balls. His scent was all man; musky and sweet at the same time. Elliot wanted more. He needed to show Alexander just how much he cared for him and his penis. Their eyes remained locked as Elliot left a trail of gentle kisses up Alexander’s shaft. Taking it into his hand, Elliot positioned Alexander’s cock in front of his lips and puckered, kissing the underside of his head, causing the pearl of pre-cum to grow larger. It was bound to spill soon, so Elliot flashed Alexander a pleading glance. With Alexander’s nod of approval, Elliot stuck out his tongue and licked the head clean, letting Alexander’s flavor settle on his tongue.

Elliot moaned, because it was sweet and salty, and just so positively Alexander.

“Jesus,” Alexander breathed.

Elliot dragged Alexander’s cock back and forth against his lips, a method he mastered years ago. He was hoping to show Alexander what a good boy he could be. He needed Alexander to know how much he appreciated everything he did for Elliot. It was his way of showing Alexander what was on offer, should they pursue a romantic entanglement.

He parted his lips and slowly welcomed Alexander into his mouth. The cry that left the man was one of the most beautiful sounds he’d ever heard. It was wild and wonderful and ever so ungentlemanly. A stark contrast to the man he presented to the world.

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