Page 58 of Hansel and Gerhardt
Hansel let out a soft groan at his delicious touch, which muted whatever surprise he might have been about to express at the suggestion.
Yes, Gerhardt was more worldly than Hansel. A good deal more so, by the sounds of it. That idea hadn’t occurred to him, not once ever, but if that’s what he wanted, who was Hansel to disappoint him?
But was it really what he wanted?
He was Gerhardt in every breath and movement. He was Gerhardt in every kiss and look. Hansel didn’t doubt him.
But… something nagged away in the back of his mind. Something small but incessant, beneath the raging desire.
Hansel let out a quiet cry when Gerhardt’s hand slipped beneath his breeches, but, hard as it was, he begged of him, “Stop. Stop a moment. Come here.”
Gerhardt’s whine tried Hansel’s self-restraint, but he came all the same, compliant, down onto Hansel’s wide chest, where he leaned his head on one arm, awaiting Hansel’s words with a small pout.
Hansel looked at him a moment. He never thought he would experience love like he felt just then. He had never known such a feeling existed. That alluring face was everything. He swept a lock of hair back from his temple. “I want you to know how precious you are to me. I want you to know I would love to… do… what you just said.”
The smile came back, his head dipped, and he dropped tiny, very-nearly irresistible kisses along Hansel’s jawline. “I want you, Hansel. I want you now.”
“As soon as we get to the tower.”
Gerhardt’s forehead dropped to his shoulder, and he let out a groan of frustration. “The tower? I can’t wait until the tower.”
Hansel laughed at his sweet petulance. “What is all this? You were as desperate to escape to the city as I was.”
“That’s before I had you in my bed,” Gerhardt threw back, snuggling into his neck. “I just want you to feel as good as you make me feel.”
He stretched an arm long across Hansel’s chest, past his shoulder, a movement Hansel took as a caress… until he heard the small sound of Gerhardt’s finger sliding down the wall.
His head snapped up, and there was the line on the hard candy, the trail Gerhardt’s fingertip had left. He looked back just in time to catch Gerhardt’s finger at his lips. The gesture wasn’t violent. It was every bit as soft and seductive as every other movement since Hansel had set foot in Gerhardt’s room.
Caught in the act, Gerhardt pressed his pretty lips. “It will make it all better. One taste, and everything will be so wonderful.”
Hansel’s heart slowed. A chill shrouded him, head to toe.
He was so close.
There in his very arms.
Yet he wasn’t there at all.
“I really thought it was you,” Hansel whispered. “This whole time. I thought it was you.”
“Hansel, it is.” Gerhardt leaned in to kiss him, but Hansel pushed him off and sat up.
There wasn’t a thing he could trust in that house. Not even himself. Tears tried to force their way out, but Hansel closed his eyes against the sting. “I would have done it. I would have stayed here. I would have spent the night with you.”
“But I want you to.” Beloved fingers pulling at Hansel’s neck. “That’s all I want.”
“You don’t know what you want. But I’m glad you said it to me. Because I’m the one person in this world who will never take advantage of you.” He shot out a hand and swiped the dusted sugar from Gerhardt’s fingertip, then he clasped his hand and pulled him to his feet. He strode to the dresser and shoved it back, eliciting a loud screech across the floorboard. He reached for the door handle.
His hand met a flat surface.
Before his eyes, what had been a door clouded, congealed, and became part of the pale blue wall. A puff of sugar billowed into the air as it coated itself.
Hopelessly, Hansel turned to the window. But it was already gone, all illumination gone with it.
The two of them were in a box, in the pitch black dark, not even moonlight there to bear witness to Hansel’s breakdown.
It was a gutting, a crumpling, a crushing understanding that he was beaten. That this house was inescapable. That whatever fate Herr Candy had ordained for them both, there was no way out of it now.
