Page 79 of The Quarterlands (Dark Water #4)

Joe kissed and teased him for a long time, until there were no coherent thoughts left in his brain.

Dimly, he was aware of a cool, lubed finger pressing inside his relaxed hole, and then another.

He wriggled down, trying to impale himself impatiently on those fingers, but Joe stopped, tapping his thigh.

“Wait for it,” he ordered, with another of those wicked grins.

Alex let out a sound halfway between a laugh and a groan. “You bastard!”

“Yup.” Joe continued finger fucking him slowly, taking his time, while gently stroking his nipples and occasionally flicking a tongue over his cock until it was, once again, hard and straining.

“Please, please, please…” Alex whimpered mindlessly, until finally Joe took pity on him and settled between his open legs. His big, be autiful cock was hard and glistening as he pressed slowly into Alex’s waiting body.

God, he was so ready! He screamed in pleasure as Joe pushed into him, all the way, loving the sensation of fullness as he took Joe’s cock inside him.

Joe leaned down and trailed his mouth over his chest, teasing at his nipples, allowing his weight to settle inside him, and then he shifted, making Alex moan.

He gazed up, grinning stupidly, as Joe moved his hips back then pushed forward, brushing his prostate and sending him high into the stratosphere.

Joe sped up, moving his hips faster and faster.

He looked like some gorgeous Viking warrior, with his muscular arms and broad chest. His normally neat blond hair was tousled, and if Alex had never seen him like this, he’d never have believed that the man in all those buttoned up suits and sharply pressed shirts could be so completely feral in bed.

Joe fucked him like a piston, and Alex loved every second of the wild ride.

He wanted it to last forever, to relish the sensation of Joe being inside him until the end of time.

He was slick with sweat, his cock was leaking, and he was lost to the world.

There was just him and Joe, joined together in this one last intense night before it was all over.

He came in a haze, watching as Joe threw back his head and roared out his own climax. Joe stayed there for a long time, panting, then withdrew and sank down next to him.

They were both exhausted, but neither of them wanted the night to end. Joe wrapped his arms around him and held him tight, kissing the back of his neck, one hand trailing over his body, stroking him gently.

They dozed for a long while, bodies pressed tightly together, trying desperately to hold onto every last precious second, and then they began again.

Alex lost track of the time. Everything was just disjointed moments now.

One moment he was on his front, screaming as Joe rimmed him again, and the next Joe had pulled him onto his lap and was holding him in place while he thrust up into him like an animal.

It was wild, unrestrained, raw, and full of passion.

Alex was glad that Joe was in control, and he didn’t have to think. He loved how big Joe was, how he could throw him around the bed, guide him into position, hold him up and hold him down, and all the while play those insanely sweet tunes on his body.

They dozed, and fucked, and kissed, and cuddled, needing to be as close as humanly possible for this one final night, before it all went to hell.

As the pale light of dawn crept around the side of the curtains, they simply held each other. There was nothing left to say. They’d said it all with their bodies.

Eventually, Joe pulled away with a reluctant sigh and reached out his hand, wordlessly, to Alex.

They walked to the bathroom hand in hand and took one final shower together, taking it in turns to soap each other as they’d done that first night they’d made love.

They still didn’t say a word; they just kissed and caressed.

Then, finally, it was over. They shared one last deep kiss under the spray of the shower, water streaming over them, tongues pressed deep in each other’s mouths, and then they drew apart.

Alex returned to the spare room to shave, brush his teeth, and dress. He took his time, his stomach full of butterflies as he pulled on his smartest suit and tie to face his fate in court.

When he was done, he stood in front of the mirror and smiled at his reflection. He looked immaculate, without a hair out of place – a trick he’d learned from Joe, the poor Quarterlands kid who’d learned how to armour up to face the world.

Joe was waiting for him downstairs, looking as perfectly groomed as Alex, in a maroon herringbone three-piece.

“Ready?” Joe held out his hand to take his suitcase.

“As I’ll ever be.” It felt strange to be talking again after the silent passion of the past few hours.

“I have a gift for you.” Joe handed him a rectangular package, wrapped in brown paper and string. With a questioning glance, Alex tore through the wrapping, and then smiled, his eyes filling with tears.

It was the picture of Solange. But not the crumpled version that had been folded and stuffed behind Halo of Fire . This picture was brand new, digitally rendered to look sharp and clean, and it had been professionally framed .

“I asked Gideon for a fresh copy and had it printed up properly,” Joe said. “And I checked with Byrne; you’re allowed to take a few personal items, so you can keep it with you. You aren’t a felon any more, Alex. You’ve worked out your sentence. That changes how you must be treated.”

“Thank you.” Alex hugged the photo to his chest, beaming. “It’s what I need to see me through.”

“And you have your mum’s scarf, too?”

“It’s in my suitcase.”

“Then you’re all set.” Joe placed his hands on his shoulders. “Whatever happens, I’m so bloody proud of you, Alex.”

“Thank you. I have something for you, too.” Alex handed him his little silver box. Joe flicked the lid open to reveal the two dark chocolates nestled within. “One last time,” Alex said softly. “You’ll have to remember to fill it yourself from now on.”

“I will, but it won’t be the same,” Joe said with a tight, sad smile. “Nothing will be the same without you.”

“You’ll be okay. Remember that promise you made me – that you won’t be alone? Now, I know that keeping promises isn’t your strong suit, but I expect you to keep that one, okay?”

Joe gave a strangled little chuckle at that.

“You have friends, Joe, tons of them,” Alex told him sternly. “Far more than I’ve ever had. Let them in. Let them take care of you.”

“I will – that’s a promise I will keep.” Joe pulled him in for one last hug, and then all that was left was for Alex to depart this house that had been his home and sanctuary for over a year and to face his future with grace.

“Want to drive?” Joe held up the biokey to the duck he’d bought for Alex. “One last time. In case you’re not allowed after today?”

“Yes.” Alex took the biokey and they set off. “Talking of one last time. Shall we hear what they’re saying about us?”

He turned on the radio, and they were greeted by the excitable tones of Amanda and the more measured interjections of Alan.

“So, today is the day Alexander Lytton appears before the IS judge,” Alan said. “What are we expecting, Amanda?”

“Well, I have some huge gossip for you,” Amanda chirped. “We’ve heard that someone very impressive and unexpected has bid on Alex’s contract.”

“Oh! Who can it be? Do tell.”

Alex glanced at Joe, who looked back, startled. “Any ideas?” Alex asked.

“Nope.” Joe shrugged.

“Impressive and unexpected? Aren’t I the lucky one?” Alex muttered.

“So, this certain someone has just signed a three-picture deal in the UK and is intending to be based here for the next five years. It’s only Hudson Brink!”

Alex pulled over for a second and rested his head on the steering wheel. “Oh, dear God, no.”

“Word from the courtroom is that Hud has just arrived, along with the other bidders, to find out if he’s been successful.”

“Well, he certainly has the money for it,” Alan commented cheerfully.

“Hudson Brink? I can’t stand the guy,” Alex said in despair.

“Money might not be as important as you’d think,” Amanda continued. “The court has already made it clear that they’re only accepting the price Alex was bought for originally.”

“Which is still a small fortune,” Alan pointed out.

“Sure, but they’ve been very clear the success of the bid will rest on the whole application.”

“After the mess the IS agency is in right now, I’d imagine the government will want to get this right,” Alan reasoned. “So, Hudson Brink would be an excellent choice. He’s a major movie star and I’m sure he’ll show Alex the high life. Lots of fun, parties, and premieres.”

“Oh, yes,” enthused Amanda. “I can’t think of a better choice for poor Alex. Hud will be the perfect new houder for him. Here’s what Hud had to say when we spoke to him earlier.”

“Hey, I met Lytton once, and I liked him. I’m relocating here for a few years, and I love your quaint little IS system. I figure I can give him a good home.”

“I’m not a bloody dog,” Alex spluttered.

“I’ve never had an IS, but I like the liveries you have and all the ID tags and all,” Hud continued. “Listen, that kid could do a lot worse than end up with me.”

“Come on,” Joe told him, squeezing his shoulder. “It’s not a done deal yet.”

“No,” Alex said shakily. “It’ll be fine. Hud is a shit, but he knows the world will be watching how he treats me. I’m sure it’ll be okay.”

He took a few deep breaths, then continued driving. Another houder and another chapter in his life of servitude, only this time with no mission to sustain him, and no hope at the end of it. He was dreading it.

The IS court was in the same building where he’d first been sentenced and, much to his surprise, the same judge was presiding. Beside him, Joe kept fiddling with his cufflinks, clearly just as anxious as he was, but Alex was grateful for his solid, reassuring presence.