CHAPTER 7
Matthew
“So you’re telling me you think this thing is…a monster, quite frankly?”
Me and Jack were both sat on my bed in the inn, and commander Roberts was sitting across from us on Jack’s, all three of us nursing cups of coffee .
“Yeah, Jack.” The man sighed “there are…legends. They may be true”.
“This is ridiculous.”
“You’ll find that a lot of things are.”
“And you’re assuming this based on…what, exactly?”
“You’re just gonna have to trust commander Zerrudo on this one” He sighed.
Jack scrunched up my nose “no, I won’t. This is stupidity.”
“It’s folklore, okay? Yes, we still need to look into it, but-“
“That’s ridiculous.” Jack repeated.
“Two survivors both claimed that it was some kind of mix between a human and an animal, with long claws and mottled skin and glowing eyes. They said it smelt like decay, that it was on fire, and they called it a Fleshbinder or something. I…we don’t have anything else to go off, Jack.
So I’m gonna need you to trust me. Plus, if it were just any killer they wouldn’t be taking the time to skin the victims.”
He snorted “alright, fine.”
Commander Roberts looked at me, who’d remained silent up to this point.
“You trust me?” He asked.
I nodded once, hesitantly. I was still harbouring my resentment towards him for making me come.
“Good lad.” He stood up.
As soon as the commander had left, Jack flopped backwards onto the bed and rolled his eyes “ever heard bullshit like that?”
I shrugged “let them figure it out.” I sighed “your headache better? From the ship?”
Jack scoffed “not…quite.”
“Jack…”
“I’ll be fine. I-“
He was interrupted by an insistent knock on the door.
I looked at him and he gestured for me to open it.
I flipped him off and undid the latch, taking half a step backwards when I saw who was standing on the other side.
Theo and Stryker, side by side, only Stryker was grinning whilst Theo…
had the face of someone who had been brought against his free will.
Aka scowling. It made a fond smile begin to creep onto my own face despite how irritating he was.
“Hey, how can I help you?” I mumbled, brows furrowing.
“We’re going down drinking tonight with the others. Wondering if you wanted to come.” Stryker replied.
Jack popped up beside me and smirked back “oh, you know it. Matt, you down?”
I took a sip out of my mug, keeping my eyes trained on Theo. He’d done a whole analyse of me with those piercing blue orbs, which was when I noticed that the only thing I was wearing were a pair of sweatpants which sat dangerously low on my hips.
He was checking me out. Again. It made me feel oddly satisfied.
Theo hastily adverted his gaze when he noticed my attention.
“Nah.” I shook my head “I think I’ll pass.”
“Awe, Matt, don’t be like that.” Jack whined. I raised an eyebrow “nope.”
“He’s not much of a party animal.” Jack sighed, looking at Stryker and shaking his head in evident disapproval. I knew he disapproved, which was all the more reason to not go.
I scoffed. I wasn’t, anyway. I didn’t smoke, drinks mostly tasted like shit, and the warmth of my bed was a lot more welcoming than anything else.
“Damn right. Have fun though.” I went back to perch on the edge of my bed.
“When?” I heard Jack ask.
“In an hour, tops.”
“Great.”
Theo and Stryker were back knocking at our door precisely an hour later.
Jack, his head stuck into his pillow, groaned at me to make them shut up. I had to feel my way to the door with how dark the room was.
“Tell you what.” I hissed when I swung it open and faced the other two “Jack’s not going anywhere tonight. I, however, am.”
Theo frowned in confusion “what?”
“Migraine. He’s in a bit of a bad mood so it’s best not to stick around.”
“Shouldn’t someone stay with him though?” Stryker asked sceptically.
I barked out a laugh that didn’t carry any amusement “usually I do, but not when he’s pissed. He’ll have your head and you’ll get nowhere.”
It was true. It had started a little over half an hour ago and he’d been snarling at every little thing I did ever since.
I stepped away from the doorframe and into the corridor “anything you need before I go, Jack?” I called.
The dark figure on the bed replied with surprising vigour considering the state he was in “I’ll tell you what I need, Matt.” Jack snarled “I need my fucking medication for my fucking headache! If you can’t do that for me, get OUT!”
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots and trying to communicate with my eyes that he was being a pain in my ass.
Stryker leaned against the doorframe, an amused smile gracing his features “listen.” He glanced at me and Theo, speaking in a low voice “I’ll stay with him while you go drinking, okay?”
“No.” I shook my head, wanting to shake him for how tapped in the head he must be to volunteer for that “no, Stryker, trust me-“
“I can deal with it.”
“You don’t know Jack.” I shook my head again, eyes widening as I tried to get my message across “certainly not pissed Jack with a headache. You don’t wanna deal with it-“
“Matthew.” Stryker shrugged “it’s fine.”
“He won’t want anyone with him.”
“Matthew.” Stryker repeated “have a little faith in me, yeah? Go.”
Theo glanced at me uncertainly “I’m supposed to go alone with him?”
It stung a little. I snorted to disguise it. Stryker rolled his eyes, then disappeared into the room and shut the door.
I distinctly heard Jack snapping “what are you doing here?”
“Well, he’s just signed his death warrant.” I remarked.
Theo glanced at me, paying no regard to what I’d just said “what do you do for fun then? Do you even drink?”
“I…not really.”
“Great.”
I’d had enough of being snapped at for no reason for one day. Narrowing my eyes, I scoffed. “Okay, listen, nobody said I have to bloody stick with you down there. I have my own mates, you’re the new one, for all I care just piss off.”
“Fine. I will piss off!”
“How many are you on? Twelve?” I snorted as I appeared beside Theo at the bar.
I’d tried to stay away and pay him no mind, but it was hard to not think about the boy when he was about the only person you could hear cackling on his stool. His behaviour was getting concerning.
Theo scowled, taking another shot “thhhought ya said ya’d leave me ‘lone.” The slur in his voice was so obvious I had to fight back a laugh.
“I was leaving you alone.” I pointed out with a raised eyebrow “but then I saw you all by yourself getting wasted and I started feeling real sorry for you.”
Theo shoved me away.
“I’m havin’ plenny of fun, me and m’ drinks. Jus’…piss off.”
“Yeah.” I scoffed “drunk within the first two hours. I think Stryker should have come after all. What are they, anyway?”
“Stuff.”
“Twelve of stuff and you were having straight vodka shots before? Jeez, no wonder you’re wasted.”
I felt a little disgusted. It all tasted terrible.
“Wha’, you be’n watching me? An’ whas wrong wiv ya? Can’t han’le li’l booze?”
“One drink’s more than enough, thanks. Stryker’s gonna kill me if I bring you back like this.”
Theo laughed loudly “he won’t-“ hiccup “le’ me tell ya, he won’t give a rat’s arse-“
“He will when Johnathan has his head about letting you drink this much. You’re his…never mind. Whatever. I’m taking you back upstairs, this was a stupid idea and you clearly aren’t smart enough to cut back on the drinking when we’re working.”
“No” Theo slurred, turning back to the bar whilst shaking off my grip on his arm “another shot”
“Theo-“
The bartender looked at us, then seemed to decide it was none of his business, pouring the shot and sliding it over. I snatched it before Theo could, glaring at him “enough.”
“‘M’ fine, need-“
“You need to go upstairs and-“
He snorted hard, attempting to grab at the shot in my grasp without success.
I sighed “do I need to drag Stryker down here?”
“Nuh uh”
“I think I do”
“Screw you”
“Danes, you’ve drunk enough to get yourself into a state like this, and you’ll sure as hell regret it tomorrow. Please-“
“Wan’ another-“
“Forget it”
“But-“
“You shouldn't even be in here, you’re sixteen, I’m surprised this dude is even-“
“Didn’t ask”
“He should have”
“Well he di’nt” then he began scanning the place
“What now?”
“Needa distraction”
“You're not hooking up with anyone tonight. You’re going upstairs” I gave a frustrated sigh.
“I’m not putting up with this.” I muttered, trying to sound harsh “up. Now.” I grabbed him by the arm and began dragging him towards the stairs as he tried to fight my hold, not caring that we were making a scene.
He eventually decided to give up squirming, seeing that it was a lost cause and allowing me to drag him along.
He leaned into me and I had to put an arm around his waist to hold him up, hand brushing his side where his shirt had ridden up slightly. I felt Theo shiver at the touch.
When I began unlocking his room door he startled into awareness.
“Stryker’s not-?”
“I know.” I muttered. I dragged Theo to the bedroom and shut the door.
“Come on. Bed.”
Theo stared at me for a long moment. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow, trying to show him that I wasn’t messing around.
“You’re sooo hot.” Theo said.
That took me off guard “I- what?”
“You’re hot.” He repeated.
He was drunk. He was drunk and-
I almost yelped in surprise when Theo grabbed the front of my shirt and began walking me backwards towards the wall.
“So bossy…an’ boring.”
“I know.” I answered, voice sounding hoarse to my own ears.
“Stuck…up. Frus...tratin’” Theo pulled a face. He had me pressed against the wall now. I'd let him do that.
I hummed in agreement.
Theo leaned in closer, our noses nearly touching. His mouth moved to the other side of my face, lips grazing my jaw and cheek.
“You know…you’re just…really…annoying.”
Theo moved his mouth right over mine.
I didn’t move. Couldn’t. The effect this boy had on me was insane.
He was insane. Our breathing was in sync.
Theo was standing so close to me that I could feel the rise and fall of his chest against my own.
My gaze flickered down to his lips then back to his eyes, longing filling me.
But that wasn’t possible. We couldn’t do anything.
“You’re drunk.” I croaked “you don’t-“
Theo cut me off, lowering his mouth onto mine, his hands still gripping the front of my shirt like he would lose his balance if he let go. He probably would.
The kiss was slow at first, mainly because I was so shocked and taken off guard, but then I responded, moving my lips with Theo’s. My breath hitched as he bit down on my bottom lip, then soothed it with his kiss.
I had my hands low on his waist, gripping him tightly, pulling his hips against my own.
I brought one hand to the side of his neck whilst the other was moving down his chest. It travelled lower and lower until my fingers brushed the front of his jeans.
He gasped into my mouth. I took my lips off Theo’s and brought them down on his neck.
His breaths were getting heavy as I sucked on his skin and moved my hand over the front of his pants.
In turn, he let his hands roam my body, up my shirt to caress my back, and to the front to rub his hand down my smooth, toned abdomen.
His touch sent little jolts through my body. I yearned for more.
Theo’s hands went lower, to the top of my pants, before he made it to the button of my jeans.
He unbuttoned them slowly, popping the button before slowly lowering the zipper on my jeans.
I sucked hard on his neck, rejoicing when it caused Theo to let out a loud moan. He sounded so good when he did that.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked against his skin. I had a voice in the back of my head that kept reminding me that Theo was drunk.
He didn't answer. Instead, he lowered himself to his knees in front of me, grasping my pants and boxers.
It didn’t take long for us to make it to Theo’s the bed. Or I hoped it was Theo’s, because if Stryker found out it was his…
My rough hands moved up and down Theo’s skin, up his back then down to his waist. I gripped Theo’s waist tightly, pulling him closer so that our stomachs pressed together as my mouth laid open over the skin of his neck, biting and sucking.
The teen threw his head back, exposing more of his neck to me, and let out a long groan of pleasure. I’d do anything to keep him making those noises.
I was relentless, moving my mouth up his neck, to the centre of his throat, and up his jaw. I brought my rough fingers of my left hand down to Theo’s hip, then to the side of his leg dangerously close to his back side.
Theo hissed when I bit down harshly on the skin between his shoulder and neck.
"F... fuck," he cursed, running his hand through his hair. "You like doing that, don't you?" He asked, voice strained, as soon as he’d managed to gather his bearings.
I bit down on the skin again, then moved my tongue over it. "Yeah," I responded shamelessly, letting out a shuddered breath, moving my lips up his jaw, but never meeting his mouth. Theo moved, trying to connect our lips, but I held his head in place.
I shook my head.
"Not yet."
Theo groaned.
I chuckled and continued on his neck. I brought my hand down his stomach, to Theo’s front.
“Matthew," he moaned. "Matt."
I pulled away from him briefly to look at his face. He was staring at me intensely, his pupils, that had already been dilated from the alcohol, blown wide.
"I want you," Theo said, staring right into my eyes. "I want..."
I brought my mouth back to his neck, peppering it with kisses.
"What do you want?" I asked him, mouth against his skin.
"I want you to..." He paused. "Fuck me."
I hummed, pleased with the answer, and kissed down his chest and to his stomach, then kissed Theo’s inner thighs. I looked up at him, making eye contact the whole time my lips were on his skin. I had a feeling we were going to regret this in the morning.