Page 31 of He is Poison
Domenico’s stomach sank.“Do not fucking dare to touch my gun suitcase,” he said through clenched teeth.This was unbelievable. “Especially my second Beretta.”
“Okay, okay.” Seth puthis hands up defensively, as they walked up the old, creaking stairs. “You werethe one saying I should do it.”
“You’re a Villani, Iassumed you are familiar with it.” Domenico dragged his hand down his face inresignation. “I will have to teach you. Well, do some exercise then, I’m surethat’s something you can do.”
“Are you my personaltrainer now as well? I’m in shape.” Seth frowned at him over his shoulder andlet out a deep breath when they reached the attic door.
“There’s no such thingas too much exercise,” Dom told him as he opened the door. “Besides, you wantedsomething to do, I’m just coming up with useful ideas.”
Seth took off his jacketas soon as he entered. “I could go to the cinema. It’s on the corner.” Helooked out the window.
Domenico shook his head.“Were you even listening to me? You are not to leave this place.”
“Just get me the bookthen.” Seth sat down on the bed, negative attitude oozing out of his ears.
Domenico leaned againstthe door frame. “Fantasy, that’s the one with dragons and imps?” he asked, notimpressed with Seth’s taste in literature.
“Yeah, vampires,werewolves and stuff. I’ll take urban fantasy as well.” He lay on the bed, hisstomach peeking out between his T-shirt and pants.
“Is that imps anddragons in New York City, or some shit like that?” Domenico couldn’t help butlet his gaze linger on that strip of flesh.
Seth closed his eyes andsmiled slightly. “Yeah, ‘shit like that’. And zombies, I like zombies.”
Domenico dragged hisfoot over the floor, watching Seth’s chest and stomach rise and fall, buteventually left, shutting the door without a word.
Chapter 6
Seth spent his afternoonnapping and wandering around the tiny attic. The sorry excuse for a kitchenwasn’t making him optimistic, but he figured that if they went shopping thenext day, he could cook a few things if he was inventive. It was a challenge hecould deal with. Seth browsed his memory and his recipe book, considering whatsimple but satisfying food he could make. He was sure it would lift his spiritsafter the nasty morning with Dom. He sort of thought he’d be treated betterafter sex, that they reached some sort of understanding last night. But thathad turned out to be all smoke and mirrors in the morning. In a way, Seth hadonly himself to blame. He should have known better than to give himself up tosomeone like Domenico Acerbi. The guy couldn’t possibly have normal feelings.Everything with him was about power, and Seth couldn’t help feeling utterlyfucked. The slight pain lingering in his ass was only reminding Seth of itevery now and then.
At least washing again,this time in privacy, was a lot less embarrassing than with Dom watching him.Bottoming was easier at night, when no one would see. The passion of the nightbefore was like a wet dream. Seth had allowed himself to get seduced,forgetting he’d have to wake up to the reality of what they had done. Somethingwas off, and he couldn’t exactly pinpoint what. He never thought less of Peter,or any other guy who bottomed a lot, but in his culture, in the Family, it wasalways considered the most shameful thing one could do. Being gay was badenough, but being gay and passive was inexcusable. The part of him that hadlived in the US for five years and listened to Placebo couldn’t care less, butthe part of him that was trying to establish himself as a strong opponent toDomenico Acerbi was ashamed.
Seth had let himself getswallowed up by Dom’s touch and smell, and his nimble fingers. He should havebeen more cautious. Just because Dom seemed to know exactly what he was doingat all times didn’t mean Seth should agree to everything. By the time Seth hadhad any time to think whether he wanted to have sex or not, Dom was already ontop of him, pressing their cocks together. Seth would lie to himself if hetried to pretend he fought Dom with all his strength, there was so much hecould have done if he really wanted to. Yet being mocked for liking it in themorning left a sour taste of shame in his mouth.
It was already gettingdark, the buildings across the street gray on the background of a fiercely pinksky when the sound of a key turning in the lock broke the silence of the tinyapartment. Seth posed on the windowsill with a cigarette in hand, trying toachieve the nonchalant look of someone with no care in the world.
Domenico walked incarrying a plain black plastic bag packed with something chunky and heavy. Hewas smoking as well, and he squinted at Seth before he even shut the door.“Hope you haven’t touched the guns,” he said, moving the cigarette across hislips without using his fingers.
“Why would I?” Seth rolledhis eyes, swearing at his insides for going all butterflies on him.
“Good.” Domenico walkedup to the table and placed the bag on top of it. Only then did Seth feel thewarmth radiating from it, along with a sharp, slightly bitter aroma that madehis hair bristle. “Unpack the food, I need to change.” Dom dropped the trenchcoat over the backrest of the second chair.
Seth took a deep breathand squinted at the boxes as if they were the enemy. He jumped off thewindowsill and came over to inspect what was already starting to make him gag.“The fuck is this?” he groaned and opened the box just to check if it was infact tikka masala. Memories of never ending darkness flowed right back at himand toppled over in a wave of nausea. Even the sight of Domenico dropping hisunderwear wasn’t enough to stop him from gagging.
“Food, obviously.”
“Why didn’t you ask meif I want a freaking curry, huh? I hate it! Why are you fucking naked?” Sethspread his arms to the sides, once again, lost.
Domenico frowned, butwalked up to him, still in his birthday suit, gorgeous as a wild cat. “I got afucking tikka. It’s mild.”
“Eat it yourself then,I’m not hungry.” Seth was getting so agitated by the smell alone, he couldn’tfind a place for himself in the room. The slanted ceiling wasn’t helping,limiting the space even further. He was trapped.
Domenico rolled his eyesand parked his bare ass in the chair, pulling out one of the Styrofoam boxes.He opened the lid, and the vaporized smell of spices went up into the air,clinging to every surface around them. “Just eat your rice.”
“Do you usually eatnaked?” Seth moved to the door, wondering if Dom would chase him naked if hetried to flee.
“Dinners.”
Seth cringed, watchingDomenico shovel the spicy sauce and meat with their only fork. “Can you not doit with me in the room?” Seth took deep breaths and sat down on the bed out oflack of a better place.