Chapter 37
Gunner
Gunner stood behind the bar, sleeves rolled up, a toothpick dangling between his lips. “What’ll it be, pal?” he asked, in his thickest New York accent.
“What do you recommend, my good man?” Horatio hoisted his fine ass onto a bar stool, twirling an imaginary mustache.
“We have a barrel-aged whiskey that’s smoother than a freshly waxed taint.”
Horatio grinned. “I’ll take two.”
“Good choice.” Gunner poured twin shots and slid one to Horatio. “Slainte.”
“You’re Irish?”
“Half Irish. Half Norwegian. All ga-a-a-ay!” Gunner shook his ass.
They clinked glasses and knocked back the shots.
Earlier, the cockpit had cleared in a hurry. Snake carried Sugar off for “at least eight hours of sexual pleasure” and the remaining crew, plus Dagger, dragged Iggy to the spa for an impromptu makeover.
Which meant he had Horatio all to himself.
Gunner poured refills. “This reminds me of that Monotony video for ‘Last Call But I’m Not Leaving”. The bar scene was awesome. Didn’t the lead singer from Stoner Vision make a cameo appearance?”
“Yeah. Gabby Long. I wonder how he’s doing. That guy gave the best head.”
Gunner choked on his drink. “You and… Gabby Long?”
“Dude, Gabby did everybody. He had a bit part in ‘Under the Gun,’ too.”
“Oh, yeah. He was the guy in the hockey mask. All your videos were cool, but the clip for ‘Bored’ is my favorite.”
“Funny story behind that. I wanted to screw with my record label because they were dicks, so when the video director asked me for ideas, I said, ‘How about me sitting in a diner, smoking a cigarette for the whole track?’ Next thing I know, I’m winning an Em-TV award and being called an ‘existential genius.’”
“That video was hot. One night, I watched it twenty times in a row.” Gunner blushed.
Horatio came behind the bar and sidled up to Gunner. “Oh yeah? Did you jerk it?”
“I’ll never tell.”
Horatio put his hands on Gunner’s waist. “I want to watch you jerk off, Gun.” He rocked his bulge against his. “I want to see you make yourself come. I want to see you shoot a huge load of jizz all over your sexy body.”
“Uh, uh. No way.” He shook his head, face burning.
“All the dirty things we do, and you won’t play with yourself in front of me?”
“It’s just that I, um, usually do it by myself, so it feels kind of personal, I guess.”
Gunner knew his protest game was weak, especially when confronted by a seductive powerhouse like Horatio.
I should just whip my dick out right now.
“No pressure.” Horatio grazed his lips along one side of Gunner’s jaw. “You wanna watch me?”
“Of course. Who wouldn’t want to watch an existential genius masturbate?” He kissed the side of Horatio’s neck. “I can’t stop thinking about Gabby Long sucking you off. That visual is hotter than hell.”
“I used to have a video, but my phone got destroyed when I crossed over. Lots of memories gone in a blink.”
Gunner met his gaze. “Do you miss it? The lifestyle, I mean. Touring. Screaming fans. It must have been hard to leave all that behind.”
He sighed. “Being on the road got boring sometimes, but at least I knew who I was. Now? I’m supposed to murder someone. That’s my destiny?”
Horatio dropped his head against Gunner’s shoulder. The weight of his turmoil was soul-crushing. He tried to massage away the knots of tension in Horatio’s neck.
“The booze isn’t helping, is it? But I know what will.”
“I’m glad you know, because I don’t. Feels like nothing could help.”
“Trust me.”
Not whiskey. Not words. Horatio was starving for the sweet distraction of sex, and Gunner was ready to feed him, all night if necessary. He took his hand and led him downstairs.
“Are you trying to tell me I need to touch grass?”
“Among other things.” Gunner paused at the hatch. “Should we leave our clothes here?”
“Is that a dare?” Horatio asked, already pulling off his shirt. “I’m in, either way.”
Now naked, Gunner peeked inside a backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
“Lube?” Horatio grinned.
“Who am I to break the pirate code?”
The stars were lit candles flickering to infinity. Wildflowers rustled in the chilled breeze, startling the moths that flitted about. Holding hands, they strolled west until Gunner heard the sound of cascading water.
“I know where we’re going.” Horatio squeezed Gunner’s hand.
“That place we said would be a great spot to fuck in? Yup.”
They’d found it during the day while exploring Scuirius—a secluded rise, long and wide as a king mattress, cloaked in thick moss. Now, bathed in starlight, it could have been a secret sex den, waiting just for them.
The moss shimmered, lush enough to cradle two naked bodies. Tall flowering shrubs circled the space like velvet curtains. Overhead, a giant oak draped a canopy of shifting shadows, breaking the light into silvery shards across the stream.
Gunner’s mouth went dry. He pictured Horatio sprawled there, skin glistening, muscles clenching as he writhed under Gunner’s touch. He could already imagine the sounds—the way Horatio moaned, the way he cursed when he was close.
Gunner set the backpack down. “On the bed. Face up.” He loved the way Horatio froze in surprise. “I’m going to take good care of you, but I’m in charge.”
“Yes, sir.” Horatio lay on his back, arms outstretched. “Come here.”
“Shh.” He knelt at Horatio’s feet, took his ankles, and gently spread them wide. Keeping eye contact, he crawled up between Horatio’s legs.
“You look sexy in the moonlight.” Gunner nuzzled Horatio’s sac and gently sucked each testicle. “Taste sexy, too.”
“I want to get my mouth on you.” Eyes wide and pleading. Breathless. Needy. Gunner got off on seeing this side of him.
“Shush. All I want to hear from you is moaning.” He ran his tongue up Horatio’s shaft. “I’m going to make you come. Over and over until you can’t take anymore.” He dragged his piercing across the crown, teasing the slit, tasting his precum.
Horatio’s moans were a hard rock melody. Gunner took the big cock as deep as he dared, sliding his lips up and down the length while massaging his taint. Slowing the pace, savoring Horatio’s pleasure, he teased and sucked until his mouth overflowed.
“Baby.” Horatio played with Gunner’s hair. “That was amazing.”
“I’m just getting started.”
Gunner climbed on top—lips seeking Horatio’s—kissing as if he could erase everything: prophecies, kings, destinies. Drunk on the moment, he nudged Horatio onto his stomach.
“I’m going to eat you alive.”
Small bites on each ass cheek, just hard enough to startle. Gunner spread him open—hands firm, mouth soft—using the flat of his tongue to massage between.
“Ah!” Horatio laughed. “Your piercing tickles.”
Gunner snickered. “That’s why I got it.” He dipped his fingers in the stream and dribbled icy water down Horatio’s crack, making him flinch and sigh as he lapped it away.
“You’re killing me in the best way.”
More chilled water. More rimming. Horatio mewled and pushed back.
“Do you want my tongue inside?” Gunner whispered. “Would that make you come? I want you to come for me.”
Horatio answered by getting on his knees. The sight of his perfect ass in the air was almost too much—but he stayed in control—using his tongue to please Horatio the way he craved.
“Holy-fucking-jesus,” Horatio rasped.
Gunner knew exactly what he was doing. Topping Horatio in the softest way possible, every lick and stroke smoothing jangled nerves until his tight muscles untwined.
Horatio growled low and shuddered in climax.
That’s it. Melt for me.
“I love getting you off.” He rested his head on the small of Horatio’s back. “Are you ready for more? I am.”
Chin pressed against his forearm, Horatio’s muttered response dripped with satisfaction.
Gunner dove back in, greedy for more. He understood why Horatio loved rimming—nothing else drew out such giddy sex sounds: quick gasps, high-pitched yips, breathless keening—the music of sex.
And Horatio was a maestro.
He nipped each side of that sculpted butt before asking Horatio to roll over. While he was distracted, Gunner took the lube from the backpack and laid it on the moss. Eager to make Horatio absolutely crazy, he sucked one nipple to hardness while he pinched the other.
Horatio’s breath hitched. “Baby… yes.”
He bit the nipple he’d sucked and soothed it with a kiss. Letting Horatio’s response guide him, he worked over each one until his moans grew ragged.
“Ready for me to fuck you?” Gunner nipped his chin. “I kind of want to own you right now. To make you mine.”
His answer came as a desperate whimper.
“That’s what I hoped you’d say.”
Horatio lay still, eyes dark, bottom lip glistening, so beautiful in his surrender. Gunner teased him with slick fingers, getting him ready—driving him crazy.
“Gunner, please.” His voice was raspy and tight. “Fuck me.”
“I’m not sure you’re ready.”
Tongue kisses. Starlight on skin. Plaintive begging.
Gunner finally gave in.
“Want me on top?”
“Yeah. Put all your weight on me.”
Being inside Horatio was like being home, but he forced the thought down. The connection felt too big, too impossible—and probably one-sided. There was no way Horatio felt this too. Like fate itself had brought them together.
“You feel so good.” He measured each thrust, trying to match the cadence of their combined heartbeats. “Almost too good.”
Horatio pulled his knees back further. “Kiss me.”
They kissed sweetly but fucked maniacally. Gunner switched up his angle, hoping to hit Horatio’s target, feeling victorious when he did.
“There. Right there,” Horatio murmured against Gunner’s mouth. “Don’t… stop.”
Their moans shook the treetops and probably reached the moon.
Pure, lustful, made better because it was just the two of them.
Gunner loved group sex. Craved it, even.
But sex with Horatio was beyond the scope of mere pleasure.
Something mankind hadn’t created a word for yet.
Squeezed between muscular thighs, he fell into euphoria and took Horatio along with him.
They caught their breath while bathed in sound. The melodic trill of nightbirds, the rustling of dragon’s wings. Chirping frogs and crickets—the forest was alive and so were they.
“This place is magic,” Horatio said.
Gunner had never felt this floaty after an orgasm. If Horatio wasn’t holding him so tight, he may have levitated past the treetops. He kissed Horatio’s chin.
“Did I do okay for you?”
“Are you kidding? That was so fucking hot. I thought I was going to spontaneously combust for real.”
Gunner rubbed his thumb across Horatio’s cheek, suddenly fragile as his words sunk in.
Then the dam broke wide open.
“Oh my god, Horatio.” Tears fell, and he let them. “I’m so glad you didn’t. That night, after you disappeared into smoke. I had to bring you back. Do you understand? I had to. You saved me once, and I just fucking had to.”
The story poured out of him. How he’d been sleeping at a friend’s house the night of the fire.
His home—his family—replaced by a pile of ashes that he frantically scooped into an envelope until he found a safer place.
Thinking his uncle’s house would be a refuge, but realizing he was just a burden, alone and unwanted.
“Baby, no.” Horatio held him tight. “I’m so sorry.”
“It got… bad. The darkness ate through me. One night, I filled the bathtub and found a razor blade. I had my earbuds in. You were singing ‘Fighter’, and I knew you wrote that out of grief.” He choked back a sob.
“That song always spoke to me, but in that moment, I really heard you. And it made me want to… stay.”
Horatio stroked his hair, crying softly with him.
Throat tight, he struggled to finish, but no matter how impossible the truth sounded, Horatio needed to know why he did what he did.
“Then, after the show, everyone thought you were dead. Except me. I could still feel you somehow. That’s why I kept working on the machine, because I knew you were lost, and you needed me to find you.”
“I did need you, and you came through, baby. You found me.” He pressed his face into Gunner’s neck. “The second I met you, I knew. And I wanted to say it—ached to say it—but I was scared and stupid.” He dragged his lips across Gunner’s scar. “Even after I almost lost you, I still couldn’t say it.”
He stared into Horatio’s eyes, waiting.
“Even now, when it’s so obvious that… ” He trailed off, as if lost.
“Couldn’t say what, Horatio?”
“That I felt connected to you the moment I looked into your big eyes.” He smiled through tears. “And I knew I loved you right then.”
The ground tilted. Warmth raced through Gunner’s veins.
“You love me?”
“I’m crazy in love with you, Gun. I know it’s probably too soon, and you don’t have to say it back, but,” he sucked in a breath, “you’re it for me.”
Gunner felt his entire body light up from the inside out. “It can’t be too soon, because I’m so fucking in love with you. Hard in love. Like, it kind of hurts.”
The relief in Horatio’s eyes almost broke him. Was he actually afraid he wouldn’t love him back? Gunner kissed every inch of him he could reach, hoping to tattoo his love onto Horatio’s skin, so it would sink in deep enough to convince him it was genuine.
“I was afraid to say it, too. Tonight, I just tried to show you.”
Horatio smiled. “You did. I felt it. You made me feel… like you really do love me.”
“How could I not? You’re everything.”
Eyes wide, he stared at Gunner like he was a miracle.
“I think you’re my soulmate.” Horatio huffed a laugh through tears. “Which I never even believed in, but it seems like even the universe wants us together.”
“Can’t argue with cosmic forces, right?”
“Baby, you are so screwed. I’ve been holding back. Prepare yourself, because now that it’s out, I’ll never shut up about it.”
Happiness bubbled up from Gunner’s core and spread over every inch of him. He dissolved into giggles, the kind that come after crying too hard—laughing until he shook.
“I think I’m drunk.” He sat up, resting his ass on Horatio’s thighs. “I love you.” He threw his head back and shouted, “I fucking love you!” A few birds startled, chirping in protest as they took flight. “Sorry, guys.”
Horatio pulled him down against his chest. “I’m glad Meridian yanked me off stage that night because he brought me to you.”
They stayed still for a long time, tangled in each other’s limbs. Gunner was on the verge of dozing off when Horatio’s lips brushed his ear.
“Fuck me again,” he whispered.
Gunner laughed into his neck. “You’re impossible.”
“Please.”
“Anything for you.” Gunner slid in deep and rocked him hard.
He gripped Gunner’s hair. “Want to know when I knew for sure?” He panted. “When I sang for you—the way you looked at me.” A quick breath. “Like you saw me. Really saw me.” A moan. “I fell so hard… I thought you heard me shatter.”
In that moment, Gunner shattered, too.