Ethan
By the time we dropped my mom off at the hotel, the trick or treaters were beginning to thin out.
It seemed that despite the event being cancelled by the city, nobody was listening.
Then again, what could they do? It wasn’t like Portland had enough police to keep the entire city in their homes for the night.
The curfew, however, seemed to be working in at least some capacity.
The drive back to Calder’s house was quiet, his hand gently resting on my thigh as he drove.
I stared out the window, watching as the few remaining costumed figures moved like ghosts through the dim streets.
Calder's hand was warm on my thigh, anchoring me to reality when my thoughts threatened to spiral.
"Your mom is nice," he said finally, breaking the silence. "I see where you get your smile from."
"Yeah," I agreed, feeling a pang of guilt for not telling her the truth. "She likes you too. I could tell."
Calder's thumb traced small circles against my jeans. "I'm glad. Though that warning at the end was pretty intense."
"That's just Mom being Mom," I said with a small laugh. "She's always been protective. After my dad died, it was just the two of us against the world for a long time."
We pulled into Calder's driveway, the house dark except for the porch light we'd left on. As he killed the engine, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease slightly. Here, with him, I felt safe despite everything.
"Are you doing okay?" he asked, his eyes catching the streetlight as he turned toward me.
I shrugged. "As okay as I can be, I guess. It was good seeing Mom, but I kept thinking about that... thing out there. What if it followed us? What if it knows about her now?"
"Hey," Calder said, his hand moving to grip the back of my neck gently. "I told you, we're going to protect her. And you. Trust me on this."
His touch sent warmth down my spine, calming the anxiety that had been building all evening. I leaned into his hand, craving the connection, the reassurance that I wasn't alone in this anymore.
"I'm just on edge," I admitted. "And I can't stop thinking about the research. All those years of work, just... gone."
Calder's expression flickered with something I couldn't quite read. Was it guilt? Regret? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Let's go inside," he said, releasing me to exit the car. "I think we could both use some time to relax."
The house was cool and quiet as we entered. Calder moved through the darkness with surprising ease, turning on lights as he went. I followed him to the kitchen, watching as he rolled his shoulders, tension evident in every movement.
"Want a drink?" he asked, pulling a bottle of whiskey from a cabinet.
"God, yes," I replied, sinking onto one of the barstools at the counter.
He poured two glasses, sliding one toward me before taking a long sip from his own. The amber liquid burned pleasantly as it went down, warming me from the inside.
"Your shoulders look tight," Calder observed, setting his glass down. "Turn around."
I raised an eyebrow but did as he asked, swiveling on the stool so my back was to him.
His hands landed on my shoulders, strong fingers digging into my flesh.
I gasped as his fingers found a particularly tight knot between my shoulder blades.
His touch was firm but gentle, working the tension from muscles I hadn't even realized were aching.
"Jesus," I breathed, my head dropping forward as he continued the massage. "That feels amazing."
"You're carrying a lot of stress," Calder murmured, his thumbs pressing into the base of my neck. "Just relax and let me take care of you."
The whiskey and Calder's skilled hands were quickly dismantling the anxiety that had built up throughout the evening.
I closed my eyes, surrendering to the sensation as he worked his way across my shoulders and down my spine.
Each press of his fingers seemed to find exactly the right spot, as if he could sense where the tension was worst.
"How are you so good at this?" I asked, my voice slightly slurred from relaxation and alcohol.
I felt him lean closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Just another one of my many talents."
His lips brushed against the sensitive skin just below my ear, and I shivered despite the warmth spreading through me. The massage was shifting into something else entirely, his hands now more caressing than therapeutic.
"Calder," I whispered, leaning back against him.
His arms wrapped around me from behind, one hand splayed across my chest while the other traveled lower, teasing at the waistband of my jeans. The solid heat of him pressed against my back was intoxicating.
"Let me help you forget," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that I could feel vibrating through his chest. "Just for tonight."
I turned my head, seeking his mouth with mine. The kiss was hungry, desperate, both of us seeking comfort in the connection. His stubble scratched pleasantly against my skin as his tongue slid against mine, tasting of whiskey and desire.
"Yes," I breathed against his lips. "Make me forget everything but you."
In one swift movement, Calder turned me around on the stool so I was facing him. His eyes were dark with want, that hint of gold more pronounced than ever. He stepped between my legs, hands gripping my thighs as he pulled me against him.
"I can do that," he growled, claiming my mouth again in a kiss that left me breathless.
My hands found their way under his shirt, tracing the hard planes of his abs, feeling the heat of his skin beneath my fingertips. He was so warm, always so impossibly warm. I tugged at his shirt impatiently until he broke the kiss long enough to pull it over his head.
The sight of him never failed to take my breath away. All lean muscle and smooth skin, marred only by a few scars that I longed to know the stories behind. I leaned forward, pressing my lips to a thin white line just above his heart.
"Bedroom," he said, his voice strained. "Now."
But I was already unbuckling his belt, my fingers working the leather free as my mouth found his again. I wanted him now, right here.
"Can't wait," I murmured against his lips, pulling his belt through the loops.
Calder groaned, his hands sliding under my thighs to lift me off the stool. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me, my back hitting the wall beside the refrigerator with enough force to knock the breath from my lungs.
"Fuck…" he growled, his voice barely human as his teeth grazed my neck.
My head fell back against the wall, giving him better access as his lips and tongue danced against mine.
His hands were everywhere, tearing at my clothes with an urgency that matched my own.
My shirt was halfway up my chest, his mouth hot on the newly exposed skin when I felt his hands at my jeans, popping the button and dragging down the zipper.
"God, yes," I gasped as his palm pressed against my erection through my boxers.
He set me down just long enough to strip my jeans and underwear from my legs, leaving me exposed and aching for him. His own pants followed quickly, kicked aside as he lifted me again, my back pressed against the cool wall.
The contrast of the cold surface against my back and Calder's burning hot skin against my front was exquisite. I clung to his shoulders, feeling the muscles bunch and flex beneath my fingers as he positioned himself between my legs.
"Look at me," he commanded, his voice rough with desire.
I opened my eyes to find his staring into mine, that golden glow more intense than I'd ever seen it. Something primal and possessive lived in that gaze, something that should have frightened me but only excited me more.
"I want to watch your face while I'm inside you," he said, his words sending a shiver down my spine.
"Then do it," I challenged, digging my heels into the small of his back. “Fuck me, Calder.”
He reached between us, his fingers slick with something—when had he grabbed lube?—as he prepared me with quick, efficient strokes. I was still loose from our activities the night before, my body welcoming the intrusion of his fingers.
Then the blunt head of his cock was pressing against me, stretching me open as he pushed inside with agonizing slowness. I gasped, my fingers digging into his shoulders hard enough to leave marks.
"Fuck," I breathed as he filled me completely, my body adjusting to his considerable girth.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice strained with the effort of holding still.
"Better than okay," I assured him, rolling my hips to take him deeper. "Now fuck me."
Calder didn't need to be told twice. He pulled back and thrust forward, setting a pace that had me seeing stars. Each powerful thrust drove me higher up the wall, the angle allowing him to hit that perfect spot inside me with unerring accuracy.
I moaned, unable to contain the sounds of pleasure as Calder drove into me relentlessly.
My back scraped against the wall with each thrust, the slight pain only adding to the overwhelming sensations coursing through my body.
His hands gripped my thighs so tightly I knew there would be bruises tomorrow, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
"Harder," I pleaded, my voice barely recognizable to my own ears. "God, Calder, please..."
He growled in response, a sound so primal it sent shivers down my spine. His pace increased, each thrust more powerful than the last. I clung to his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin as I fought to keep myself grounded in the face of such intense pleasure.
"Mine," he whispered against my ear, his breath hot and ragged. "Tell me you're mine, Ethan."
"I’m yours," I gasped as he hit that perfect spot again. "Always."
My cock was trapped between our bodies, the friction of his abs against it providing just enough stimulation to drive me wild. I could feel my orgasm building, that familiar tightening at the base of my spine spreading outward like wildfire.
Calder seemed to sense how close I was. One hand released my thigh to wrap around my length, stroking in time with his thrusts. The dual sensation was too much.
"I'm going to—" I didn't get to finish my sentence before pleasure exploded through me. My vision went white at the edges as I came hard between us, my body clenching around him.
Calder's rhythm faltered as my muscles squeezed his cock. With a final, powerful thrust, he buried himself deep inside me and came with a roar that sounded almost inhuman. I felt the hot pulse of his cum filling me, his body shuddering against mine.
For long moments, we stayed like that, panting and trembling in the aftermath. His forehead rested against mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. I could feel his heart hammering against his ribs, matching the frantic pace of my own.
"Holy shit," I finally managed, my voice hoarse.
Calder chuckled, the sound vibrating through both our bodies. "Yeah. S-Sorry that was so fast."
“Don’t apologize,” I replied, kissing him deeply. “I love a quickie.”
Slowly, carefully, he lowered my feet to the floor, keeping his arms around me when my legs threatened to give out. I leaned against him, grateful for his support as the post-orgasmic haze began to clear from my mind.
"I think I need another shower," I mumbled against his chest, feeling the sticky evidence of our passion cooling between us.
"Mmm," he hummed, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my back. "Join me?"
I looked up at him, surprised to see that despite what we'd just done, desire still smoldered in his eyes. "You're insatiable," I accused with a smile.
"Only with you," he replied, smiling back. “Besides, I enjoy fucking in the shower. It’s fun.”
“You just like it because the water makes a bunch of sloppy noises.”
His grin widened. “Maybe a little. Besides, you always ride my cock better on the second round.”
It shouldn’t have made me melt, but it did. “Fine,” I grumbled. “Let’s go fuck in the shower I guess.”