Chapter Four
He wasn't kept waiting for long.
When he thought his legs would hold him up, Seb rolled off the bed to go and dispose of the condom. He looked down at Ruari, still lying face down on the bed. Jeez, that amazing ass. He might be sated, but he could still remember the exquisite, spine-tingling sensation of his cock buried to its hilt inside him. Now Seb hoped he was going to have that feeling reversed.
"Turn over. Let me see what I'm going to get." He laughed as Ruari groaned and rolled onto his back, his cock showing its intent. "Oh yes. He's still interested. Want to hold him, to let him know how much he is wanted?" Seb asked. Ruari's hands encircled his own cock. "Not too much," Seb warned. "All of that interest is for me."
Ruari nodded, eyeing Seb's nipples. He licked his lips in an exaggerated manner. Seb laughed; his nubs were hardened peaks. Jewelry encircled them, holding them out and begging for attention.
"Can I tongue them? Your nipples," Ruari asked. His hands kept his cock how he obviously knew Seb wanted it—hard, erect, and the tip glistening with the evidence of his arousal.
"Fuck, yes. Give me two minutes to get rid of this." Seb indicated the condom. "Hold the thought and your cock. I'll be right back."
He was better than his word.
Good. Ruari was just as he had left him. His hands lazily moved over his erect cock.
"So you take orders, love?"
"But of course." Ruari's eyelids fluttered as he spoke. "Sometimes. I'm doing as I'm told. For now."
Seb was conscious of his own cock swelling. Fuck. Already? Were these little shows of defiance what he needed? That was something to think about and explore later. But first, he held out his hand.
"Stand up." He watched as Ruari raised an eyebrow, then slowly and sinuously stood up in front of him. To Seb's delight, Ruari didn't move his hands away from his cock.
"Here." Seb caressed each of his nipples in turn. "Touch and taste. But don't move your hands away from your cock." Seb waited, wondering if Ruari would obey. He knew he was coming on strong for someone who insisted he wasn't a Dom. He wasn't. But as he said, he liked to be in charge. The thought that Ruari would challenge this at times made him tingle with excitement and anticipation.
But not this time. He saw the wicked glint in Ruari's eyes and savored it. He relished the first flick of a tongue over, around, and then through his nipple ring even more.
"More," Seb demanded. "Much more. Ah, that's so good. Do you know what that does to me? It sends shivers down my spine and makes every nerve ending supersensitive. Now do the same to the other one; set me on fire." With a sultry grin that made Seb salivate and want to demand to be fucked good and hard, Ruari did as he was bidden. He moved his hands to stroke Seb's arms. The hairs on them stood on end, but that wasn't what Seb needed. "No! Don't take your hands off your cock. Keep it hard for me."
His other nipple responded to the attention it now received. He checked Ruari's penis. It was more than ready. His arousal and his excitement heightened. "Balls, Ruari. Fucking well get ready to fuck, will you?"
“Will I ever… What the fu…" Ruari's tone had changed from loving to alert. The noise was immediate and deafening. "Shit, Seb. That's the fire alarm."
"What?" Seb's mind, fogged with desire, made his brain slow to assimilate what Ruari was saying.
"The fucking fire alarm. From the bar. Come on." Ruari grabbed a pair of sweatpants from a drawer and flung them at Seb before he pulled on another pair. "We need to get out of here. Find out what's happening. Christ, the bar won't even be closed yet." He turned to a cupboard and took out a couple of T-shirts. "Hurry."
Seb pulled on the sweats and grabbed the T-shirt Ruari held out to him. A rush of adrenaline took over his sluggish body. Feet partially in his trainers, he followed a similarly half-dressed Ruari out of the flat and down the stairs. As they jumped the last two stairs together, Ruari went to push the door intro the bar. Seb grabbed his arm and almost threw him through the opposite door that led directly outside.
"Are you fucking mad? " He had to shout to be heard above the deafening noise of the alarm "You don't go in, you idiot. You go out." Seb shut the door firmly behind them. "Which way?" Ruari was looking at him with murder in his eyes. "Ru, help me here. How do we get round to the front? Come on ." He slapped Ruari's arm. "Show me, now. "
"You bastard," Ruari shouted at him as he pushed Seb's arm away. "How dare you! How fucking dare you! That's my pub, my bar—shit, it's my life." Ruari's voice broke. "I need to be there. Seb, I need to be there."
"So, tell me how we get to the front." Seb's voice was harsh. He needed to get through to Ruari. He couldn't let his lover go into a potentially burning building. "We have to get to the front, Ru. I don't know the way. You need to show me."
The siren of the fire engine could be heard easily over the clamor of the alarm. It seemed to motivate Ruari. He grabbed Seb’s shoulder to steady them both. "Are you okay with this? Being seen with me, dressed like this, doesn't leave much to the imagination."
"Bollocks to that."
That brought a brief smile to Ruari's face as he led the way along the street and around the corner to the front of the pub.
The noise of the alarm stopped as they pushed their way through the crowd milling around outside the doors until Ruari saw Dan.
"Dan?"
Dan turned, and his relief at seeing them was evident in the expression on his face.
"Thank fuck you two are here. Hey, Jonno. Everyone's out," he called to a fireman who nodded as he went back inside.
"What happened?" Seb watched as Ruari addressed his bar manager. Dan shrugged.
"Fuck me, Red. No one can smoke inside anymore, and there was nothing being cooked. Hell, I'd just called last orders and we were starting to sweep the punters out. Then that bloody noise started. So, I got everyone out. Hoped like hell you'd noticed it and waited for the brigade. Saw you both and said a prayer to whichever gods look after us. Hold on. Here comes the high heid yin. " In his worry, correct language escaped him, and he reverted to the slang of his teen years to describe the fire chief. Dan nodded in the direction of a tall, silver-haired man in a fireman's uniform, his helmet in his hand.
"Red?"
Seb was interested to see the man knew his lover by his nickname.
"Uncle Stu. D'you know what happened?"
Uncle Stu? Dan must have seen Seb's confusion. "His dad's brother," he muttered. Seb nodded his thanks and listened to what the older man was saying.
"Someone is messing with you, Red. I've contacted the police. They already had a car on the way, but this is definitely iffy. Someone had tampered with a smoke alarm in the lady’s loo. There was a note taped to the wall. It's still there ‘til the police see it." As he spoke, a police car drew up.
"Hamish." Seb caught the hint of relief in Ruari's voice. Another relative? They seem to be everywhere.
The sergeant got out of the car and smiled his greetings to Ruari before turning to the fireman.
"Right, then. It's all safe for people to collect their belongings but not to go along the corridor to the toilets. P.C. Gillon will escort people in and out. Ruari, is there anywhere we can talk?"
"The office," Ruari said. Seb noted the pleading look Ruari gave him and moved closer. There was no way on earth he was leaving his lover to face this alone, position in the community or not. Though it was doubtful anyone would recognize the usually sartorially elegant dominie. Not as the casually dressed scruff with a five o'clock shadow standing outside a gay bar after midnight.
He took hold of Ruari's hand and squeezed as they all moved inside. Behind them he could hear the P.C. beginning to sort out who needed to go where for what. Following the others, he found himself in a reasonably sized office, just big enough for the four of them to sit comfortably. He noticed Ruari waved the policeman to the chair behind the desk as he chose to sit next to Seb. Seb put his arm around him. "Okay?" he asked softly. "Hold up."
Ruari leaned his head against Seb for a brief moment.
"Yeah, I guess."
Behind them, the door opened, and a man in a crumpled jacket and jeans entered. "Damn it, Red," he said. "I thought all this shit was over and done with." He waved a plastic bag with a piece of paper in it.
"What shit?" Seb asked.
The man looked at him.
"And you are, sir?" he asked. His voice was none too polite. Seb noticed Ruari bristle and squeezed his arm in a warning gesture.
"I'm Sebastian Keo. Mr. McGregor's partner. And you?"
"Partner, eh? Since when?"
"Since none of your business," Seb said. "Sufficient to say that is who I am. Before you ask, I am also dominie at the high school. I live in Borderers Cottage on Mill Street when I'm not here." Okay, pushing it a bit, but judging by Ruari's indrawn breath, it was a well-appreciated push. "And you still haven't identified yourself."
The man let his breath out on a sigh. "About time you got yourself a man, Red," he said. He held his hand out as Ruari, Hamish, and Dan laughed. "I'm Struan Struthers. My dad is the fireman you were talking to earlier. This reprobate is my cousin."
"Fuck. Are you related to everyone in authority round here?" Seb asked. He winked to show he wasn't really bothered.
Ruari laughed, albeit a bit shakily. "Well, it seems so. Now you and I are a couple."
Seb roared as the others chuckled. "Way to go, Ru. Way to go." Uncaring, Seb kissed Ruari, noticing with pleasure how intensely the kiss returned. They reluctantly moved apart to a very artificial cough from Hamish. "And Dan?" he asked. "Where do you fit in? Cousin? Uncle?"
"Nah, friend of Hamish. Special friend." Dan laughed at Seb's bemused expression. "So, I guess still sort of keeping everything in the family."
"Right. So now we've explained our convoluted family tree, can you tell us what's in that envelope you're cuddling so protectively?" Ruari asked. Seb's heart went out to him. All he wanted to do was kiss the hurt away. Instead, he glanced at Dan. Drinks? he mouthed.
Dan nodded and stood up. He walked to a cupboard at the side of the room and looked inside. "Who wants a dram?" he asked. "Red, your usual?"
"What? Oh yeah, thanks."
"What's his usual?" Seb asked as the policemen accepted a dram.
"Rum." Dan chuckled as he added Coke to the glass and handed it to Ruari.
Seb wasn't sure if his head was alright. "Rum? For a guy they call Red. Priceless."
Ruari dug him in the ribs. "Heard them all, Dom." He paused, his smile wicked, before adding, "…inie."
Seb spluttered, relieved at the way the tension in the atmosphere was less than few moments before. "I'll have the same but with soda please."
"You sure?" Ruari asked. "Have a dram if you want. I can't drink whisky."
"Rum's fine, thanks." He accepted the glass from Dan before whispering in Ruari's ear. "Because, how can I drink you, if I've something that may harm you on my lips?"
It was Ruari's turn to splutter.
"This envelope," Struan spoke as he sipped his whisky. "Joking aside, Ruari. It needs addressing. So have a wee look and tell me what you think."
He passed over the plastic bag to Ruari, who put it on the desk, to allow Seb and Dan to see the contents.
"Shit."
"Fuck."
"Bastards."
Three voices, differently expressed similar sentiments.
Seb spoke first. "Who the fuck writes shit like this? 'You are evil and corrupting our youth,' " he read. " 'Beware. Retribution will follow.' What is this crap all about? Who in their right mind believes shit like this?"
"Good question," Struan answered soberly. "We don't know. There was a lot of opposition when the pub opened and it got known as a gay pub. But the pub is not exclusive to gays and doesn't discriminate against anyone. Out of all the bars in town, it's the pub least likely to have trouble. As you know, once you'd been open a while, things went quiet. Now someone or several someones are trying to make trouble again. Why? That's for me to try and find out. How? That's for us to ensure it doesn't happen." He took a deep breath. "And don't argue until you hear me out, Red. Is there anywhere else you can stop for a while? I know"—Struan held his hand up to stop Ruari from butting in—"We don't want you here at night for a while, Red. I'm sure I don't need to explain why."
"We'll stop at my house," Seb said firmly before Ruari could speak. "That's that solved. Can we go up and get any stuff that's needed?"
"You mean like car keys, house keys, clothes?" Ruari whispered in his ear, and he laughed softly. "Condoms, toys?" He raised his voice. "I do need to get a few things. I'll take Seb, and we'll leave the door open. I promise we'll be less than five minutes."
Struan nodded. "Okay. Hamish, check the door to the street is locked, and P.C. Gillon has the bar area covered. And you two? Make sure it’s only five minutes. No more."
They nodded as they followed Hamish out of the room. Seb thought they were acting like a pair of naughty schoolboys and said so as they hurriedly gathered up his clothes and put them in a suitcase with Ruari's stuff.
"Condoms," Seb said firmly. "For fuck's sake, don't forget condoms and gel."
"Right." He did as requested and zipped the case closed. "All done. Let's go down before someone comes to see if we're coming or not. And then they'd see at this moment it's sadly not."
Seb choked.
Ruari chuckled. Who would have guessed they could have so much fun with innuendo?
"You two ready?" a voice echoed up the stairwell.
"Struan, guardian of our er souls," Ruari said, resigned, as he took hold of Seb's hand. "Seriously, Seb. Are you sure you're okay with me staying with you? I mean, we still don't know each other that well."
Seb raised both eyebrows and smirked.
"What? You'd rather go to a hotel than have all the comforts of home?" Seb hit him lightly on the shoulder. "Spa bath, super king bed, my body?"
"Well, when you put it like that." Ruari turned one hand palm up in a yes, please give it to me gesture.
"Yeah, no contest, I hope."
"Yup, no contest." Ruari laughed as they went down the stairs to where the two policemen were waiting.
"Ruari," Struan spoke somberly. "I've got to ask this. Do you think Miriam has a hand in this?"
Ruari could see the thoughts spinning around Seb's mind. Shit, he really hadn't wanted to go down that road just yet.
"Tell you later," Ruari muttered before speaking out loud to Struan. "The last I was told, she was in Greece. And shacked up with a Greek bloke she'd known since she was a kid. So, I don't think so."
"D'you have an address, then?" Struan was persistent. "We need to be sure."
"No, I fucking don't." Ruari was indignant, and his voice rose. He was getting fed up with the interrogation. "What the hell do you take me for? I only know that because one of the girls we were at uni with bumped into her and Facebooked me to tell me."
"But you'll have her name, then? That friend. And her address?"
Ruari held his temper with difficulty. His skin prickled, and he did his best to keep his tone even. "Suki Armond. She lives somewhere in London. I'll check FB later if Seb has the Net?" Seb nodded. "I'll ring you, 'kay?" He looked at Struan.
"As soon as you can please," Ruari was told.
He nodded and waited until the door was opened. A thought struck him. "Shit, we're going to have to walk. We've both had a drink. It's miles." Ruari sounded like a spoiled brat, and he knew it, but fuck it, he was tired, weary, and fed up.
"Nope, look." Seb pointed to a car pulled up outside the pub, its engine ticking over quietly. "Hamish arranged for a taxi. Reliable and able to keep shtum, he said."
Ruari looked closely at the black cab and laughed. "Oh yeah. Jamie McDougal, our local poacher, moonlighting as a taxi driver. Now then, Jamie." He climbed in and closed his eyes as Seb gave his address.
"Well now, Red. That's a bit of a kerfuffle, is it not?" Jamie asked him as he drove away. Ruari nodded, too weary and upset to talk about it anymore.
His body swayed as the car rounded a corner. Seb's arm felt reassuring across his shoulder as he anchored him close. The protective gesture comforted him and he experienced a sensation of being safe and wanted. However, his mind whirled. Surely Miriam has nothing to do with it? No that was over and done with. It had been for years. So, what the hell was going on?
"We're here." Seb's voice penetrated his subconscious. Ruari opened his eyes to see the vehicle had stopped outside a long, low building with a welcoming light on over the door. Ruari followed Seb out of the taxi, stumbling a little. He appreciated Seb’s steadying hand as they walked toward that light. He waited while Seb unlocked the door and then followed him inside. He was almost too tired to take in his surroundings. Almost but not quite. Seb ushered him into a functional but cozy kitchen, his hands tracing relaxing circles on Ruari's back. If Ruari had been a cat, he'd be purring.
"Food," Seb said. "I don't know about you, but it seems a hell of a long time since we ate." He opened the fridge door and looked inside. Ruari swayed on his feet. Now that he was away from the pub, reaction was setting in. He began to sweat and shake. He wasn't so far gone that he didn't recognize the signs of shock.
Seb pushed Ruari into a handy chair. "Bit low,” he observed, “But probably the best for ease and comfort. Put your head between your legs if you reckon you might faint. I'd put you on the floor so if you do go, you don't have far to fall except I’m not sure I’d be able to get you up again. Okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." Was that silly quavery voice really him? He cleared his throat. "Yes, thanks," he said. He was determined to sound at least half with it. He sat and looked around. The view was totally different at this level. For one thing it gave him a great view of Seb’s crotch. Am I hungry? Yeah, but not for food. "I want you," he said.
"What?" Seb's head peered out from behind the fridge door.
"I'm not hungry for food. I'm fucking hungry for you. To fuck you so you have no doubt it's me inside you. That's what will feed me. Cure my hunger. Just that knowledge of you surrounding me."
Seb leisurely closed the fridge door and walked around the table to stand in front of him, his eyes bright. "Well, then," Seb said slowly. "Let's get started.” Ruari felt himself being drawn to his feet. Seb's tongue slipped unerringly into his mouth, and he had his tongue stud nipped. His tiredness melted away as if by magic,
"Where?" Ruari pulled his mouth away long enough to ask. "Show me." He walked backward along a corridor, watching as Seb snagged the case they had filled in his flat and brought it with them.
"Here." Seb's voice was hoarse. Ruari found himself in a large bedroom. Fuck me, this bed is big. Seb hadn't lied; the bed was at least six feet wide. The ornately carved headboard conjured up all sort of interesting ideas. Through a door, Ruari was fairly sure he could see the spa bath Seb had mentioned earlier. It looked huge.
Seb noticed his glance.
"Evidently it's big enough for three, although there's only ever been me in it so far. I'm looking forward to seeing how we, er, use it."
Ruari laughed. The first genuine stress-free laugh he'd managed for a while. "Oh, so am I," he almost purred. "After."
"After?"
"After I've fucked you. And watched you come, by your own hands, while I fill and fondle every last inch of you."
"You're on," Seb said huskily.
"Not yet, I'm not. But very, very soon."
"So, what are you waiting for? For fuck's sake, Ru, I'm waiting."
"All things come to those who wait," Ruari said. His tone sounded teasing and contained no lingering effects of his earlier shock. His skin still prickled, but this was pinpricks of anticipation. "So come on, let's come. Strip for me."
"That's my line," Seb said. His voice showed no surprise.
"Yours, mine, ours," Ruari said. He pulled the T-shirt over his head. "Now you." He watched as Seb did the same, and he was able to again see those turn-on nipple rings. He moaned deep in his throat and listened with pleasure to Seb's reciprocating growl, a ripple of awareness feathering over his skin.
"Sweats." Seb suited his actions to his words and was soon standing naked in front of Ruari. His eyes remained glued to Ruari's crotch. Ruari's cock swelled in anticipation of that heavy gaze. He put his hands to the waistband of his own sweats and moved it lower.
"More." The command came out softly spoken but definite.
Ruari dipped his head in acknowledgement and lifted the material over his cock and below his piercing. Seb swallowed, and again the action had Ruari's body clenching in arousal, and his precum gathered.
"Shit, Ru. That silver circle I can see on the top of your cock is such a fucking turn-on, I can tell you," Seb said. "I'm about coming, thinking of how you're going to feel in me."
The heartfelt sounding words were enough to make Ruari smirk. "Not too long to wait now." He reached into the case to grab condoms and gel. "Lie on your back. Hold on to the headboard."
Seb's eyes flared, and he did as he was asked. Ruari kicked his sweats away as Seb settled himself. He knew there was no way he could take it slow. Seeing Seb laying there with his arms above his head, his long, lean body stretched out for him to look his fill, made his already stiff cock quiver with anticipation.
"Use one hand to stroke yourself please, while I get us ready." Ruari made sure his voice held a command not a plea. "Keep the other one above your head. It's so bloody good to see you stretched like that."
Again, to his surprise, Seb did as he was asked. He didn't kid himself it would always be so. Swiftly, he sheathed himself, being careful not to catch the condom on his piercing before gelling his fingers and the condom. He could sense Seb's gaze on him.
"Lift your legs." He tried hard to sound in control.
Seb looked at him, considering it seemed.
"Please, my love, lift your legs onto my shoulders so I can prepare that sweet ass for me." Damn, that wasn't very decisive .
He was just about to speak again when Seb nodded and moved his legs one by one. Achingly slow.
"Prick teaser." He laughed. Finally, he was able to put one, then two, and finally three, gel-slicked fingers inside Seb's ass as he gently stretched and filled him.
"That's good," Seb said. His words were chopped off, and his voice sounded agonized. "More than good."
"Oh, there's more to come." Ruari assured him as his fingers played inside Seb's ass. "Lots more. I'm going to make you beg and scream, Seb, all for us. Just for us."
"Then for fuck's sake, I'm begging now. Let it come." Seb groaned. "Let us come. I need your cock in me. I'm ready. Now. Now, Ru. Please. This is me, begging."
Ruari discerned the heat and strength around his fingers before he moved them out of Seb's ass. He circled the hole with the tip of his cock, then slowly entered a tiny way and waited. The ring of muscles holding him in place and waiting to be breached were tight. The thought of pushing past them into paradise was so stimulating he bit his lips with the effort to be patient.
"Fuck yes, Ru," Seb panted. "Now. Fuck me now."
"My pleasure." Gritting his teeth to make sure he didn't push in full throttle and fuck Seb's brains out, he gradually began to fill his lover.
"More, Ru. I need all of you." His voice was tortured. “Like now.”
He looked down into Seb's eyes; they were almost black with desire.
"Oh, fuck Yes." All of Ruari's good intentions to take things slowly were forgotten. He surged into Seb. He buried his cock in Seb's ass as far as it could go. He heard his own voice, sounding exultant as great swathes of desire rolled over him. The passion surrounded him, and Ruari saw an explosion of color as his mind blanked everything except the sensation of Seb's hot tight ass holding him.
"Fuck, Seb. Fuck yourself. Yeah, that's it. Oh yes. Let me see you come all over your body. Yeah, like that." As Seb's hands pumped himself, Ruari moved faster and, although it seemed impossible, deeper.
He could see Seb was about ready to come. Ruari was aware of his own climax building and, "Yes. Fuck it. Yes, yes, oh jeez. Shit." He surged into Seb and felt himself come. Wave upon wave of pleasure swept through him, engulfing him to the exclusion of anything else.
He held himself rigid and put his hands tightly on to Seb's legs to hold him firmly where he was. Then he watched as with a final hard stroke, Seb came with a shout to rival the one he had just uttered.
As they came back to earth, Seb reached up and caressed his cheek. "Ru, who is Miriam?" This was the question he had been dreading to hear.