Page 13 of Siren in Love
It’s because he’s smiling.That’s what makes me happy.
Any other day, such a realization might have scared Mike, but tonight, with Corvin’s hand warming in his, it didn’t.
8
Mike
NewElvenswood’sresidentsgenerallydivided the town into two major areas.The first was spread out on the hills to the northeast, and therefore known as Hillside, the Hills, or Upside, and next to it was the southwest, the Valley.
Corvin lived in the Valley.They got there just after nine; early in the evening.I wish we weren’t here yet,Mike thought as the car stopped.Corvin’s hand was still in his and, exhausted as he was, Corvin was leaning against Mike, his head on Mike’s shoulder.In Mike’s book, that was bliss.
Mike got out of the car with Corvin, and Corvin didn’t complain.Making sure Corvin got home okay was something Mike wanted, no,neededto do.I’ll just make sure he’s resting.And that he has everything he needs.And that he knows when to take his pills.
“You’re still here, huh,” Corvin said as they walked toward his apartment building.It was older, with oval windows in what Mike thought was the stairwell, likely tall ceilings inside, and a large willow tree out front.
“I’m still here.Is that… That’s okay, right?”
Corvin fished his keys from his inside pocket.“I guess.I mean, yes.It’s okay.”
“Good.”
Corvin let them into the echoey hallway.As a child, Mike would’ve whistled or hummed to enjoy the sound bouncing off the walls, but these days, he’d mostly embraced the gravitas of age, meaning he just let out one long, admiring whistle.
“Nice place.”
“Thanks.No elevator though.”Corvin pointed at the stairs.“And I’m on the top floor.”
“Need to lean on me?”
Corvin snorted.“You wish.”
“Yup, I do.”
Corvin, one hand on the banister, looked at Mike with eyes that seemed to say,so do I.At least, that was Mike’s hope.He followed Corvin skyward, one step after another.
“So this is me,” Corvin said as he walked into his place, leaving the door open in unspoken invitation.Mike followed, taking in the apartment, which became visible to him in degrees as Corvin switched on the lights.
The studio’s white walls were broken up by dark brown timber, giving away the age of the building, which had been clearly updated not too long ago.The kitchen was to the left of the entrance, separated from a round table by a breakfast counter.The table was half covered in books.Books, in fact, dominated the place.Bookshelves bordered the small couch and low coffee table behind the dining table, and behind that, a larger bookshelf half hid an unmade bed.
Against the opposite wall sat a small desk, neat in a way Mike could appreciate and framed by two more bookshelves.At the far end, a door led to what Mike assumed was the bathroom.Hmm.Does he have shelves in there as well?No, probably not.The humidity can’t be good for the paper.
“You read a lot,” Mike said.
Corvin snorted.“I’m a librarian, Mike, so guilty as charged.Would you like anything to drink?I definitely still have some tequila I stole from the last holiday party.”
Corvin looked at Mike.A shyness he hadn’t shown before had crept into his posture and his voice, but beyond that shyness, Mike still heard something like a half-formed, unvoiced plea.Only thing is, I’m not sure what he’s asking.I don’t know what this gorgeous man wants from me.
Mike walked toward Corvin slowly, placing his hands on Corvin’s hips.“Did you just admit to committing a crime, Corvin?”Mike let his own desire seep into the words, hoping Corvin could hear it.
“I thought you were my lawyer.You’re bound by confidentiality, aren’t you?”Corvin looked up at Mike, his cheeks rosy, before he let his head drop and his eyes fall shut.His dark lashes were striking, like perfect inky brush strokes.
“Normally, I’d have to report a crime.But I’ll lie for you.”
Corvin swayed and shivered, and Mike couldn’t help but tighten his grip on Corvin’s hips.He breathed out a sigh, and Mike heard the want in it.A moment later, Corvin shuffled forward, resting his head against Mike’s chest, allowing Mike to savor the feeling of it.Mike could see the bandage secured by Corvin’s own hair, and he carefully ran his finger down Corvin’s neck, the soft skin there too tempting to resist.
“We could fuck,” Corvin said.
Mike’s cock twitched at the casual suggestion, and oh sweet gods, did he ever want the human.He wanted to hold him close, sing him first to ecstasy, then to sleep.
