Page 61 of Hansel and Gerhardt
“Yes!” Gerhardt yelled back cheerily, scrubbing away. “Yes, I want to stay! I’m so happy down here. Just look at my tiles! They’re shining!”
“They’re very nice,” Hansel said gently. Then to Herr Candy. “I understand. I will eat. As soon as I’m done.”
“Well then….” Lips grimacing right at the corner, he gave Hansel a final once over. “Off you go.”
Hansel made for the door, but was halted by Herr Candy’s voice. “Aren’t you going to get changed?”
Hansel looked first to Gerhardt, who looked up hopefully at Hansel, then he looked to Herr Candy for explanation.
“You’ll find something laid out on your bed.”
Gerhardt took his meaning faster than Hansel ever could have. He jumped up, he ran to Hansel, and breathlessly begged him, “Oh do, Hansel. Do get changed. Do! I want to see you!”
Even now, it hurt Hansel to deny Gerhardt. He tried his best to keep that smile on his face. “I’ll put it on as soon as I’m done. I wouldn’t like to make a mess of it.”
A Grave Declaration
Hansel’s muscles flexed in the morning light as he stabbed his shovel into the frigid ground. He was hot, his shirt was off, and Gerhardt positively devoured every inch of skin he could lick his eyes over.
Oh, how he wanted to be alone with him again.
Perhaps tonight.
Perhaps tonight Hansel wouldn’t be so guarded as he had been the night before.
Perhaps tonight wasthenight.
The cold air sliced into them both, but Gerhardt barely noticed it. He felt perfectly well. Because Hansel was beautiful in the dappled forest sunshine.
Hansel was tall and strong, and Gerhardt felt heart-poundingly proud of him.Hisbig, strong, beautiful man.
He wondered, if he were well fed again, could he snap a whole tree in half? Handsome Hansel. Gerhardt was sure he could. He could do anything.
If only he would eat.
If he would eat, then Herr Candy would be so pleased.
And what would he make for them then? What other delights did he have in store? Herr Candy said he was cooking up a special feast, the biggest one ever, and Gerhardt had a feeling they’d only barely scratched the surface of the man’s culinary abilities.
How happy they’d all be if Hansel would only eat.
Lovely Hansel in the dappled sunlight.
Only look at him digging his shovel into the dirt. Look at him etching out his perfect rectangle in the ground. What did Herr Candy want it for? It hardly mattered. He got to be out here, digging his own hole next to Hansel’s, the two of them, side by side.
But when would they take a break? Would Herr Candy mind if he had another of those golden orbs? What if he took one for Hansel? Surely that would be allowed. Because, oh, that raspberry filling, and the way it would glisten on Hansel’s lips when he—
“Gerhardt.” Hansel said the word so low, Gerhardt wondered if he’d meant to say anything at all, or was merely grunting over the hard work.
He paused, about to ask, but Hansel rasped more clearly, “Keep working. Act as though I’m not talking to you.”
Gerhardt dropped longing eyes over at him. “Why can’t I be seen talking to you? There’s nothing wrong with us talking.”
“Please, Gerhardt.”
“I want to kiss you.”
He loved the way he could make Hansel’s cheeks turn pink with just a word. How he’d loved the feeling of his body beneath him the night before.
