Falling Bundle (11 page)

Arjen bit his lip, sparking hot desire in Max. Max dipped his head and captured that lip in his teeth before kissing him again. Arjen tried to clutch at him but Max still had his hands in a death grip, so Arjen could only make these helpless little sounds, lifting his hips into Max’s thrusts, trying to take Max deeper.

Oh, he was bad. He was testing Max’s control to the limit. Max was going to teach him who was in charge.

Max proceeded to claim him thoroughly, ruthlessly, holding him down the whole time. The intensity of Max’s hunger made it even more vivid, more real. He loved hearing Arjen’s cries getting higher and higher until finally Arjen tightened around him as he came. It was the sound of complete surrender.

Thank God Max was allowed to come now. Max started to pound him in earnest. He shifted Arjen beneath him to get him at the exact right angle to hammer him. He came in a powerful surge with Arjen’s gasps in his ears.

It was such an intense relief to finally let go. He could not believe the rush of coming inside him. Spilling his seed deep inside. Max groaned as he shuddered out his pleasure and collapsed on top of Arjen in complete, sticky satisfaction.

He was so dazed with the force of his climax that for a while he just lay there, still sheathed deep inside Arjen, both of them catching their breath. Finally he eased out. Arjen made a sound of protest.

Max wrapped himself protectively around him. That tender urge welled up inside him again, the one that used to terrify him in the days before he’d accepted that he was irrevocably in love with Arjen. Now it was an impulse he planned to indulge often. He soothed Arjen with little touches, running his fingers through his hair, stroking his face, whispering to him how smart he was, how sexy, how fun, how much Max loved him. He could have gone on in that vein forever. Just full to bursting with tenderness and affection.

Arjen sneaked in under his arm until he was tucked back warmly into the curve of his body. He gave a contented sigh. “That was nice.”

Max smiled. There was absolutely nothing in the world as magical as making Arjen happy.

After a pause, Max said, “I don’t have to leave now, do I?” The thought gave him a stab of anxiety. When they’d been fighting Arjen had always made him leave after sex. It had nearly ripped his heart out to be forced to abandon Arjen just when they were most warmly entwined, when Max most wanted to praise him, to soothe him and keep him close.

Arjen laughed. “What? No.” He reached up and linked his fingers at the nape of Max’s neck, smiling up at him. “I like it when you’re here. Stay tonight. At least.”

“I have work tomorrow morning.”

“We could have breakfast together.”

“I could come back after work.”

“Bring some things.”

Wow. Arjen wasn’t kidding about wanting Max to stay. Max grinned; he could think of nothing better.

Arjen turned shy, not quite meeting his eyes. “And maybe, you know, if you like it here, some day you might want to…”

Max took his chin in his fingers, dragging those dark eyes back to his. “Might want to what?”

“Move in?” Arjen ventured.

Max had to swallow hard. A sudden surge of emotion threatened to break over him. Because the first night they had ever spent together, when he had woken the next morning with Arjen in his arms, he had wanted that. He’d lain awake dreaming that one day Arjen might want to move in with him. A whole future of waking up to Arjen beside him. Warm nights and lazy mornings. Hot coffee and slow kissing.

“I’d—I’d like that.” Max cleared his throat.

“Some day.”

“My lease is up at the end of the month.”

“Okay,” Arjen said immediately.

They looked at each other and just laughed. Max smiled down at him, stupidly happy.

They must have spent the entire morning lazy in bed, passing hour after delightful hour together. Max indulged his every desire until he had very thoroughly reacquainted himself with the way Arjen clutched at him when he was desperate. He took Arjen again, slow and lazy, then a third time, dragging it out torturously while Arjen begged him for relief. Only when Arjen’s voice had worn hoarse and Max was so hard it hurt did Max finally allow them both to come. Arjen was so hot like that, wrapped around Max, taut and shuddering. Max buried his face in his shoulder and groaned as he took his pleasure.

Afterward even his normally insatiable Arjen was too exhausted to fuck again. Max decided to have mercy on him. He let Arjen catch his breath and recover from his daze; Arjen snuggled into him again, his cheek against Max’s chest. Max ran his fingers gently through his dark hair. “What would you like to do today?”

“Sleep.” Arjen’s eyes slid closed.

Max laughed. He must have really worn him out. Max gave him a gentle shake. “No more sleep.”

“Tired.”

So he should be. Max had fucked him often enough. “Some fresh air, that’s what you need.” Max ruffled his hair, still smiling. “Come on, get up. You can sleep later.” Max himself was bursting with energy. Such was the power of getting laid.

Arjen grumbled, but let himself be persuaded. Even sleepy and rumpled, sitting on the edge of a bed pulling his shoes on, Arjen was gorgeous. Max caught his face and kissed him soundly before letting him get back to tying his laces. Arjen fumbled the laces, which was gratifying. All confused from being kissed.

Outside the autumn was shading into reds and golds. It was a crisp day with a slight bite to the air. They went for a walk through the city, passing through the huge park with just a touch of mist still clinging on, through the shops with the first sparks of Christmas displays kindling in the brightly lit windows. Arjen slipped his warm hand into his and Max squeezed it. He loved the way Arjen smiled up at him.

They fetched up under the great tower of Bristol University, a warm gold in the pale sun. Max pressed Arjen gently into the stonework and kissed him lazily, one arm braced over his head so he could lean in. He kept kissing him until Arjen was holding onto Max’s t-shirt for balance, taking these shaky breaths, pressing tight into Max. Max couldn’t believe how lucky he was. “I love you,” Max whispered, and sneaked another kiss.

“You’re sure you want to move in?” Arjen looked up at him, his face full of hope.

“Are you kidding? Of course I want to.” For so long Max had hardly dared imagine moving in with Arjen; he’d feared that Arjen might never forgive him at all. Max couldn’t think of anything better than waking up to Arjen every morning.

“You might change your mind if you had to live with me every day.”

Max chuckled. “Oh, I see. You think I’ll get tired of you.”

“I’m very demanding.”

“You are?” Max grinned.

“Sometimes I demand coffee. Or icecream. Or coffee icecream. Sometimes in bed.”

Max began imagining licking it off him. His voice got deeper and rougher. “Do you demand sexual favours as well? Because I can do those.”

“All the time.” Arjen gave him a mischievous smile. “Especially in the mornings.”

Mmm. Mornings in bed. Max dipped his head, finding that cute earlobe that was perfect for nibbling on. Also for whispering sweet words against. “Arjen, if you think I will ever get tired of you, you’re so wrong.” He stroked back Arjen’s dark hair, trying to find the words to explain what was so clear to him. “I’ve never moved in with anybody before. Never wanted to. Because I’ve never been in love with anybody like I am with you. You think I’ll tire of you, but I won’t. You think I’ll get bored with you when we’re fighting over who does the washing up, but I won’t. You think I’ll leave you. But I won’t.” He pressed a kiss against Arjen’s temple, and felt Arjen shiver against him. “You make even the everyday stuff magic. You’re all I want. And moving in together will only make me want you more.”

Arjen said nothing. He was staring up at Max as if nothing else mattered in the world. As if nothing else even existed.

“Is that okay?” Max had never wanted anyone so much, and it occurred to him alarmingly that maybe you were supposed to play it cool when you were in love, like you didn’t care.

“That’s…” Arjen cleared his throat. “That’s okay.” He kept looking up at Max in that strange and wonderful way. Max couldn’t remember ever seeing that look on someone’s face before. “I just—I really like you. I always have. I just want you to be happy living with me. And never want to leave.”

Max’s heart cracked a little more. Poor Arjen was so afraid of him leaving again. “I’m so glad you gave me another chance.”

Arjen leaned into him, warm and his. “Me too.” He wound his fingers in Max’s coat, anchoring Max against him. He hesitated, hesitated some more, then finally got out the words. “I’m—I’m sorry about before. About being so mean to you the last few weeks. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s all right.” Max had deserved it.

“No, I mean it. I should have known that you were as scared as I was. I was just hurt.” Arjen’s voice tightened and he swallowed. “I’d never… never been with a man before, and when we slept together… I really trusted you. I thought you liked me. And when you kicked me out, I was crushed. I thought I’d done something wrong, I wasn’t good enough, like you said.”

Max remembered all too well what he’d said.
I’ve fucked you. We’re done. Out.

Never again. “I’m so sorry, Arjen.”

“I just didn’t want to trust you again. Didn’t want to like you. Didn’t want to miss you. I wanted you to know what it felt like to be unwanted. It felt bad.” Arjen wrapped his arms around Max’s neck. “I was always sad after you’d gone. I don’t want you to leave again.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I swear.” Max leaned his forehead against his. He was going to stay for as long as Arjen wanted him.

“Okay.” Arjen let go a long breath.

They ended up sitting on a bench high in Brandon Park watching the sunny city, fingers intertwined. The sky overhead gleamed the colour of pale glass. Gulls wheeled and shrieked overhead. A leaf drifted down from trees painted in fiery colours that whispered and sighed around them. Away on the horizon the stark Victorian outline of the Clifton Suspension Bridge crossed the deep Avon Gorge with its darkly forested banks. The whole of Bristol glittered beneath them, laid out shining in the autumn sun.

Listening to the sweep and cry of the gulls, the wind beginning to pick up and chill him, Arjen warm at his side, Max felt a deep sense of contentment sweep over him. For the first time in his life, he was utterly calm.

Finally at peace.

“Max?” Arjen sounded a little breathless.

“Mmm?”

“If we went on holiday…” Arjen’s breath caught as Max rubbed that sweet spot inside him with his finger, making him squirm, spread open under Max’s hands on the soft double bed. Max teased him slowly, ruthlessly, enjoying the shudder that ran through him. Arjen had to clear his throat before he could speak again. “What would you like to do?”

Max nipped the inside of his thigh and made him jump. Arjen tasted good there, hot and salty, all lean muscle. “Anything at all?” Max took a moment to think, which was challenging with Arjen shifting impatiently under him, clearly wanting that finger again. Rain drummed against the window. “I’d like to spend it like this. Relaxing. Together.” He liked that thought. Spending days, even weeks with Arjen, with no job to worry about, no bills, nothing except making Arjen happy.

“This is very—ah!—very relaxing.” Arjen’s voice got tauter as Max resumed playing with him. He was an irresistible sight in the soft silver light that fell from the window overhead. His slim body was spread wide, his dark hair finger-rumpled, his eyes heavy as he bit his lip in that maddeningly sexy way. So tight and hot around Max’s finger. When Max rubbed his sweet spot again he couldn’t stifle a moan.

“Somewhere hot,” Max suggested. “Maybe with a pool.”

“A private pool, I’m thinking.” Arjen’s smile gleamed.

“Yep. Otherwise we’re going to get arrested.” Max hadn’t been able to keep his hands off Arjen since the moment he met him; he wasn’t going to start now. Not when he was just getting used to having Arjen in his bed every night.

“When would you like to go?”

Max paused. “Are you serious?” He’d thought they were just fantasising. It was all right for Arjen, as a solicitor he must be loaded, but Max barely scraped by with his low-paid job; there was no way he could afford a foreign holiday. “I don’t know. That’s a lot of money.”

“We could afford it,” Arjen ventured. “We’re together. We earn more than enough between us. So why not enjoy it?”

Max’s frown deepened. He liked to be very much in charge in relationships; he decided everything from how many nights he slept here at Arjen’s house to how long he was going to make Arjen squirm before allowing him to come. It did not sit well with him to let Arjen make the phone calls and write the cheques for holidays. Plus Arjen liked it better when Max kept control.

Arjen fidgeted under him, his hands clenching then relaxing as he made himself stay still. It must be driving him crazy that Max kept stopping fingering him just when he was getting close to the edge. His body was delightfully taut, the beginnings of a tremble in his parted thighs. Max pushed his knees up and apart to open him further; Arjen shuddered, but drew his feet up under him, giving Max permission to do what he liked.

Maybe Max could let him pay for this holiday without giving up too much of the power in their relationship. After all, every time Max bedded him would remind him who was in charge. Max would just have to spend more time putting him in his place. Which was on his back with his legs spread.

Sounded fun. Max had always liked a challenge. He grinned. “Let’s do it.” Arjen brightened, and Max smiled down at him. “I can repay you in other ways.” He addressed himself to the much more pressing matter of driving Arjen crazy.

Once every slow stroke of his fingers had Arjen clutching at the bed covers, gasping for breath, Max slid back up his body and started to push inside him. Arjen threw his head back with a groan as Max sank slowly into him. The hot grip of his body was delicious; it gave Max such an intense satisfaction to be buried inside him. Max dipped his head and kissed him as he rocked into him steadily. “You’re mine,” Max whispered against his mouth. “All mine.”

“Yes.” Arjen arched wonderfully under him, his arms coming up around Max’s neck. Rain surged against the window, drowning out their ragged breaths.

Arjen began to pant, clutching at him, lifting his body into Max’s thrusts. Max turned his face into his shoulder and growled as he fought for control. He wanted to drag this out as long as possible, get Arjen clawing at him, frantic with his need for release. But it was impossible to hold out that long. The second Arjen clenched around him, tipping over the edge, Max lost it. He could only grip tight and push deep as he shuddered out his release.

They lay twined together in the warm sheets for some time afterward, catching their breath. Max pressed a kiss to Arjen’s bare shoulder, savouring his closeness, his clear satisfaction. Arjen snuggled closer, and murmured, “South of France?”

“Wherever you want.” Max smiled against his throat. He would follow Arjen anywhere.

If Max had realised Arjen would get so excited, he would have suggested a holiday months ago. Arjen spent the whole day happily making a list of holiday stuff to think about. He looked so damn cute when he was deep in thought biting the end of a pencil that Max couldn’t resist him. “You’re adorable.” Max ruffled his hair.

Arjen pushed his hand away playfully. “You’re making fun of me.”

“Always.” Max stretched out in a leather recliner and tugged Arjen into his lap. Arjen sank into him easily, leaning into him, fingers curling in Max’s shirt. His warm weight was familiar. Reassuring. Home.

Max spent all his time here now. They had practically been living together for weeks. They were just waiting for Max’s current tenancy to end so he could officially move all his gear into Arjen’s house.

“I’ve just never, you know. Been on holiday with my partner before.” Arjen smiled up at him, half shy.

“We’d better make it memorable then.” Max winked.

Arjen leaned in to kiss him. Max loved the way he smiled when he did it, his mouth curving against his.

They ended up in Bristol Airport. Max attempted to hide the fact that he’d never been on a plane before, but eventually he had to give up and confess that he didn’t know one end of a plane from another. Arjen was the one who laughed this time. He pushed Max with his shoulder, his smile deepening. “Lucky you have me to look after you.”

“If you keep smiling at me like that, we’re going to miss our flight.” Max hooked two fingers in his belt loop and tugged him closer, not caring about the crowded concourse, the announcements ringing out, the people pushing past with luggage. He drew Arjen tight against him and slipped his hand daringly into Arjen’s back pocket, palming his ass. Arjen caught his breath. “We’ll miss it,” Max whispered into his ear, “because I will drag you into the first unattended corner we find and fuck you senseless. Get up into you where you’re all slippery and wanting. Keep my hand over your mouth so you can’t scream.”

Arjen made a stifled sound and leaned into Max hard, clearly wanting that. Max bit his earlobe, making him squeak, squeezed his ass then let him go, flustered and rumpled. “So behave.”

They nearly did miss their flight. They were the last to take their seats in the tiny plane under the disapproving stares of the flight attendants. Max slipped Arjen into the window seat and took the outer seat next to him, guarding him. Arjen was immediately entranced by their view of the gleaming wing of the plane with its flats and slaps or whatever they were called. “Slats and flaps,” Arjen told him. “Pay attention, Max.”

Max did not have to put up with that kind of cheek from Arjen. He bided his time for revenge until the plane was in the air, then casually draped his jacket over their laps, covering them completely. Under the jacket he squeezed Arjen’s thigh. “You’re in trouble now, sweetling.”

Arjen jumped. The hot muscle of his thigh tensed beneath Max’s fingers. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” Max ran a hand up his thigh and cupped his crotch.

“Max!” Arjen froze in his seat, clearly not sure whether to stop him.

Max rubbed his palm over his crotch, leaned into him, stroking him slowly, and whispered in his ear, “I’m going to spend the next two weeks fucking you over and over. You’re going to be begging me not to torture you any more. By the time I’m done with you you won’t even be able to move without thinking of me in your ass.”

Arjen shifted, biting his lip, the colour rising in his face. He was getting hard under Max’s hand. “You shouldn’t…”

“I think I should, sweetheart. I think I should fuck you in the mornings when you’re sleepy. Have you in my lap squirming around on my cock before I let you get up. Keep you on your back for hours at night. I’ll plough your ass while your legs are wrapped around me. You know, I think I should fuck your mouth while you’re on your knees for me. You like that. Don’t you?”

Arjen went crimson. Max took him firmly by the chin so he couldn’t look away, enjoying his wide dark eyes, and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Don’t you?”

“Yes.” Arjen nuzzled into his fingers.

He was irresistible. Max ran a thumb gently along his lower lip, and Arjen took it into his mouth. The heat of his mouth, the flick of his tongue got Max instantly hard; if they hadn’t been surrounded by passengers Max would have made Arjen go down on him there and then. Max kept his voice low and intimate, for Arjen alone. “I brought all your toys so I can play with you, Arjen. Get you handcuffed to my bed, stuffed full of a dildo. You can beg nice and loudly then. We’re staying way out in the countryside. Nobody will hear you.” Arjen stifled a whimper. Max squeezed him through the front of his trousers. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you. Being spread wide for me. Filled.”

“Yes.” Arjen hid his face in Max’s shoulder so nobody else could see his burning embarrassment.

Max kissed his hair. “I’m going to take good care of you. I’ll fuck you into oblivion. Then get you nice and relaxed. Then fuck you again.”

Arjen just groaned. Max smiled wickedly, and took his hand back. “How long is this flight again?”

The sun was sinking into a sea of red by the time they got off the plane, navigated through the airport, and drove miles down tiny winding roads into the depths of the countryside as dusk drew in around them. Finally they crunched up a gravel drive and drew in at a quiet little villa with a slate roof. Some kind of climbing plant wound its way up a trellis around the front door in an arch. Its flowers nodded their sleepy heads, dusting them with petals as they dragged in their luggage.

The inside was delightfully cool after the sticky heat of the day. It was made of stone and echoes, with exposed beams overhead and a hearth big enough to climb into. Somebody had thoughtfully left them a bottle of wine and two glasses. Arjen turned the bottle on the wooden table so he could study the label.

Max had been resisting his hunger for him for so many hours that one look at Arjen snapped his self-control. He took Arjen by the back of the neck. “Bend over, sweetling.”

Arjen shivered once, hard, and let Max bend him over. He was so fucking hot. Max leaned into him, grinding against his ass with a growl. “You can open the wine after I’m done with you.” He kept Arjen pinned against the table, gripping him by the back of the neck, as he ripped down his trousers exactly like he’d been fantasising for hours. He should take the time to prepare Arjen properly, but he was so on edge that he only pushed a couple of slick fingers into him; Arjen contracted so hard around his fingers with such a sweet moan that Max couldn’t wait any longer, he’d come before he even got inside him. Max gripped him tight as he started to press home.

Arjen squirmed under him, a whimper caught in his throat. He tried to spread his legs wider for Max, but his trousers were tangled around his knees. He could only take what Max was giving him.

Max sheathed himself in that tight body with a groan of satisfaction. He had been denying himself for so long that it was twice as intense as normal. He shuddered with the urge to bite down, mark him with his teeth, remind him who he belonged to. “All right?” Max’s voice came out strained. “Not hurting you?”

Arjen just panted, trapped under his weight. He was an open invitation. Max drew out, then slammed in again. Out, then in. Out, then in. Arjen trembled under him, working one hand under himself to stroke his own cock. Max adjusted his angle slightly and Arjen cried out, his body tightening sweetly. “Come when you’re ready,” Max told him in a rough voice, and focused on pounding him into the table.

One more hard thrust and Arjen gasped, clenching up, his body arching and flexing as he came. Max gave in to the urge to bite down as he spilled himself deep inside his body; the knowledge that he was leaving a mark filled him with intense satisfaction.

Afterward those fierce feelings were spent and Max only wanted to be gentle with him. He eased out of him, cleaned him up and settled him into a chair. Arjen seemed dazed with the force of his climax; Arjen tugged him closer and leaned into his side. He was particularly cuddly after sex. Max poured them both a glass of wine and kissed the top of his head as he gave Arjen his glass. “Welcome to France.”

Arjen captured Max’s hand and turned his cheek into his palm, his eyes already sliding shut. He must be tired. “I like it here already.”

Max looked down at his beloved, warm with satisfaction. “Me too.”

The first day of their holiday dawned bright gold with sunshine that poured in through the leaf-fringed windows. They breakfasted on the deck outside, looking out over miles of green countryside melting into a haze in the distance. The utter silence was so different from what Max normally considered a holiday, namely an opportunity to drink and get laid, and yet as Max tore off another piece of crusty bread and buttered it, something inside him settled into place. Peace.