EPILOGUE
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FIVE YEARS LATER
“Happy Halloween,” Raj called to the kids running down the path to leap into their parents’ cars. He rested the bowl on his hip and peered out to check on the rest of the neighborhood. “Looks like things are finally slowing down. And just in time.”
“How many are left?”
Holding the two full-bar Almond Joys in his hand, Raj turned from the dark into the light. “Just these.”
Adam swept forward, tugging one of the candy bars out of Raj’s hand. “So we should get another box or two next year.”
“Or you could get one of those fun-sized bags instead…”
“You’re such a Halloween scrooge,” Adam taunted. He was about to unwrap the last of the candy when his phone rang. “Duty calls.” After holding it up, he answered it while walking away. “Yes? Hello? I can’t hear you. What? What?”
Raj flipped off the porch light and checked on their display.
He loved this house. He should, it took them nearly two years to find it.
But with the wrap-around porch and huge front yard, it let the two of them go wild for Halloween.
They were quickly becoming the house to visit—even without the mythical full bars Adam got his way with every year.
It’s a good thing he’s cute.
Chuckling, Raj took one last check of the haunt. “I think one of the twelve-foot skeletons is stuck in the tree.”
“That Gertrude, she can’t stop fondling the foliage,” Adam said before he returned to his phone call. “No. I wasn’t talking to you. Yes. Okay.”
The door shut on another successful Halloween.
Raj took in a deep breath, and the weariness of the long season hit him all at once.
He stumbled to the couch and tucked under one of the blankets.
Black and white light bathed his face as the windmill went up in flames.
Tonight was great and all, but he was coming to look forward to November first more than Halloween.
That was the one day when there were no events, no customers, no guests, no mayors, and no sticky trick-or-treaters. He got Adam all to himself, and he intended to indulge for every single minute.
“Well…”
Raj smiled as Adam glided in. He dropped onto the couch, stretched his arm over Raj’s shoulders, and pulled him to his chest. Once Raj nestled on Adam—both of them below the blanket—he spoke, “That was the mayor with the news about the vote.”
“Who is it this time?”
Grinning ear to ear, Adam plucked the crown off of Raj’s head and placed it on his own. “Long live the king.”
“What? How dare you depose me!”
“Maybe you should have handed out full bars at your hotel, ex-King.” As he spoke, Adam ran his hand up Raj’s chest, playing with the tassels he’d sewn onto his costume.
After that first night at the masquerade, Adam had started up his sewing machine.
The costumes went to local plays in the beginning, but—over time—they started flying off the shelves.
He’d have both mask unveilings and costume reveal days at his shop.
Of course, he always made something extra special for that beloved hotelier up on the hill by the lake.
“Don’t get too cozy on that velvet cushion, my liege.” Raj turned to stare up into Adam’s pleased face. “I’m taking it from you next year.”
Adam bent closer until his lips nearly pressed against Raj’s. “That’s treason. Do you know what we do to treasonists around here?”
Gulping, Raj’s skin trembled as Adam’s gentle touches became deliberate stroking. He wound his fingers over the buttons, threatening to tear Raj’s shirt clean off. “Do you bind them on their hands and knees, blindfold them, then press their jaws open before slowly fucking their wet, hot mouths?”
A flush came over Adam that caught Raj by surprise.
“I was going to say they do the dishes, but I like the way you think, Mr. Treasonist. I’ll have to keep you in my bedchambers for a few seasons.
” Bending closer, Adam cupped his teeth around the edge of Raj’s ear.
A slow breath slipped free, and he circled his palm over Raj’s thigh.
“I’ll leave it up to you how tight the chains should be. ”
Just as Adam reached for Raj’s thickening cock, Raj kissed him. Hard. Wet. Pleading for everything Adam offered and more. Adam’s exploring hand slipped under Raj’s waistband, and his fingers glanced against the crown. All it took was that touch to cause a deep groan to erupt from Raj’s lips.
Adam caught him by the back of the head, holding him against his mouth as he reached lower to stroke from the base of his shaft up to the throbbing head.
“Tell me,” Adam ordered. He hooked his leg on the inside of Raj’s, then forced them wider apart.
It had the fortunate effect of tugging Raj’s pants down until half of his cock tasted that chilled October air.
Staring into his eye, Adam licked his palm, then grabbed onto Raj’s cock and stroked him fast with purpose. Raj’s fingers dug into the nape of Adam’s neck. He struggled to think of anything beyond the hand on him and the heat building through his body.
“I…”
“Tell me!” Adam roared, taking him by the balls.
A single whimper slipped from Raj, and he smiled. “I love you.”
Panting, Adam crashed against Raj’s neck. His strokes softened like he intended to torture him all night. “I love you too, my hot, horny monster.”
Was he ever! He’d had to endure hours of Adam waltzing around in a tight crimson corset and a demon’s tail without being able to touch him. It was torture. Raj locked both of his hands to the back of Adam’s neck and tried to pull himself higher into the devil’s lap.
The doorbell chimed.
Adam’s jerking hand paused for a second.
“Ignore it,” Raj said. “The light’s off.”
“I thought I gave the commands around here,” Adam said with a deep chuckle.
“Mmm.” Raj was in a feisty mood. Even though he didn’t want to be anywhere else, he started to tease Adam. “You know, we could still make the masquerade.”
“That so?”
“Give you a chance to hobnob with all the big-wigs who voted for you.” Raj damn near whinnied as Adam stretched his pinkie back to circle Raj’s pucker.
“Will I still have your cock in my hand while trading a bon mot with—?”
The doorbell chimed again.
Adam flinched but didn’t give up. “—with the mayor?”
“Depends…” Raj grunted, fearing he was close to the end.
“On what?”
“On if you ever want to be king again.”
That thought paused Adam. His grip slackened, and Raj pouted at the loss. “You know.” He picked up the crown, twisting it so the light caught on the gold-painted plastic. With a grin, Adam tossed it to the side. “It’d be worth it.”
He lunged for Raj, his lips open.
The doorbell thundered through the house.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Adam sat up, annoyed beyond belief. “The light’s off. We’re out of candy!”
In response, the kids rang it again. Then they knocked.
Panting, Raj struggled to sit up when Adam leaped to his feet. “What are you doing?”
“Getting rid of them.” Adam fumed.
“Just ignore it,” Raj pleaded, but Adam marched for the door.
He had the choice of either hiding under the blanket or trying to force himself back into his pants.
Catching the vein throbbing in Adam’s neck, he chose the painful option and contorted to avoid the zipper.
“If you give in now, they’ll just keep—”
The doorbell cut him off.
Raj jerked his hand to it, but Adam shook it off. Tossing back his head like he was about to go full monarch on some candy-driven kids, Adam threw open the door.
Both of their jaws dropped.
Instead of a greedy child, or even a mischievous teenager, a man with a body thin as a broomstick and a burlap sack over his head stood on their porch.
His arms were outstretched like he hung on an invisible cross.
But what made the two of them start to shake was the black yarn mouth stitched into a smile.
“Stitches?” Adam quaked.
“That wasn’t there,” Raj insisted. The longer he looked, the more obvious it was that there couldn’t be anyone inside the scarecrow. The limbs were too thin, and there were no hands or feet. “How’s it even standing?”
A voice like the wind through a graveyard brushed past them. “Trick or treat?”
Adam and Raj clasped each other’s hands. It was Adam who took control first. “Hello, Stitches,” he said to the mysterious scarecrow. Raj nervously patted his thigh and felt a squish.
Without breaking eye to soulless-gap contact, Raj dug out his candy bar. “Here you go,” he said and reached out to hand it over. The scarecrow didn’t move. “Let me just tuck that in there for you.” Raj placed it in the front pocket of his overalls.
“From me as well,” Adam declared, handing over his final bar. He placed it next to Raj’s, then gave a quick tap. “For all you do for us.”
It had to be his imagination, but Raj would swear to his dying day that the black thread wove up to give the scarecrow a massive grin. “Goodbye, Stitches,” Raj said as he reached for the door.
Adam caught it. Just before it closed, he said, “Goodbye, Stitches,” as well.
With the solid hunk of wood between them, both men gasped. They looked at each other, goosebumps on their skin, and started to laugh. “That was one hell of a prank.”
“Those kids are getting good,” Adam said.
Pumped with endorphins from that fright, the men fell into each other’s arms. Adam took Raj’s cheek, and they both leaned closer for a kiss.
A voice that crackled like corn stalks in a midnight breeze cried out from beyond their door, “Happy Halloween.”