Aleksey groaned. A roving finger was all he’d been able to raise. Nothing else erect would be appearing that night. Ben leaned down, running his fingers into the longish blond strands, tugging them as he kissed him. He slid a hand between them and unfastened Aleksey jeans. ‘Turn over.’
‘I don’t think I—’
‘You don’t have to. I’m going solo.’
And he did. He turned him over, pulled down his jeans for access, and with almost no preparation except for swirling the tip of his cock around for a few moments, worked himself in. Aleksey pushed up onto folded arms, hanging his head, gritting his teeth until Ben got into his rhythm, and then there was nothing but the familiar sense of transgression, of just how powerful this was for him, allowing someone to so freely make use of his body for their own pleasure—not asking. Probably not taking no for a response if he did. It was always allowed. That’s just the way they were together.
Aleksey was slightly amused by the effort Ben actually had to put in at the end. He got there, but it was clearly very hard work. He didn’t point it out though. By his reckoning, it was Ben’s fifth round that day, which was pretty impressive for anyone on the wrong side of thirty-five. Ben sank down on top on him when he was done and his heart was pounding so fast Aleksey felt it like a small hammer against his bony frame. He turned his head to watch the flames and the next thing he knew there was a dawn chorus so loud and invasive that it was as if the entire birdlife of the tiny island was in the room with them.
Ben was still lying on him, his breath just stirring the hair on Aleksey’s neck. He wondered idly if this was it for him—permanently crippled by a night prone on a wooden floor with almost two hundred and fifty pounds on his back. Ack, maybe it would be good for spinal alignment. He smirked—always time for a swim in the pond if it wasn’t.
* * *
Chapter Seven
Aleksey wasn’t entirely sure which day their visitors would appear over the horizon. They were making their way slowly down the Cornish coast, apparently, little harbour by little harbour. And great adventures might be had along the way, so it was a little hard to give anestimated time of arrival.
He had received various updates throughout August, very formal and polite messages left on his phone. He pictured red telephone boxes on windswept headlands unused for decades now being put to use once more—old fingers carefully dialling, perhaps a bundle of fish and chips neatly stowed under one arm being kept for later. Only one of the expected arrivals updated him, obviously, but he wasn’t expecting any messages from the other. But the ones he got on behalf of them both assured him they would be there as promised the first week of September.
So, here he was, and there were only two days left and still Ben did not know.
Once they’d both swum and freshened up as best they could, Ben bundled up all the linen and clothes that needed washing for a trip to the laundrette in Tre Huw, and they set off for the, now, very familiar sail across the wide Atlantic sea channel to the biggest island of Scilly.
Their first stop, once they dropped off the laundry for a service wash, was to their favourite restaurant, where Ben ordered a full cooked breakfast and Aleksey some toast, and they sat on the patio by the harbour.
They both immediately dug out phones now they had service. After a few moments, Aleksey sensed himself under scrutiny so glanced up. ‘What?’
Ben only smiled and returned to his own study.
Aleksey huffed quietly. ‘I’m glad you find me so amusing.’
As Ben was tapping on his screen, he said, ‘Squeezy says the dogs are fine. Molly’s enjoying full days at school, especially eating lunch there. And Sarah has a boyfriend.’
Aleksey was about to reply, but they were interrupted by the food arriving, so he waited until they were alone together. Once more Ben was grinning at him, so, genuinely annoyed, he asked with some asperity, ‘What!’
Ben gave a little shrug. ‘Do you remember you once told me some bullshit about how nothing bad ever happens to me because I’m too beautiful to be real? It was one of your crappiest lines ever and you’re going to deny saying it, but you did.’
‘No, I do recall, actually. I think I was pointing out to you how spoiled and badly behaved you were but that you got away with everything because of…’ He waved vaguely at Ben’s face and started on a piece of toast. ‘Your point?’
‘Well, now it’s you.’ Ben began to tuck in happily, and around a mouthful of fried bread and sausage added, ‘Now everyone looks at you, and you don’t even notice it.Yourface pavesyourway.’
Unconsciously, Aleksey’s hand rose to his slightly depleted ear, but when he realised this he swore under his breath and began vicious spreading of butter and marmalade.
‘Mol Mol claims that Radulf told her that’s your first collar notch.’
‘Sarah’s boyfriend maybe?’
Ben chuckled. ‘Oh, yeah. Some guy in the church, obviously. We’ve met him—well I have. Daniel Kennedy?’
Aleksey began tapping his knife against his plate, thinking about this.
Ben suddenly stopped eating and glared at him. ‘Don’t you dare.’
‘What!’
‘You’re going to Peyton him. You’re going to ruin this for her somehow. You’ll claim he’s a—’
‘For fuck’s sake, Ben!’ It was so rare that he swore in genuine anger, that Ben swallowed and leaned back in his chair, his food now entirely forgotten. Aleksey calmed his voice. ‘I don’t care if he’s the Angel Gabriel; he’s going to be around Molly, isn’t he? He’s going to have access to Molly. Are you really so dumb that you don’t see an issue with this?’
