Red Hot

by K. A. Merikan

  Jack put his hand over his face, his face slowly turning a bright shade of red. “Man, that’s a bit much…”

  Loki’s first reaction was to fantasize about pulling the icing over the tip of Jack’s nose, but in the end, he sucked it off himself. It was a deliciously smooth vanilla buttercream. “Nah, definitely not poisonous.”

  Jack passed him the knife. “Do the honors, birthday boy.”

  Loki started giggling like a schoolboy. “You told him it’s my birthday, didn’t you? Crazy bastard.”

  Jack pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. “Well, a birthday party’s on the list, so deal with it now.”

  Loki blinked with the knife hovering in the air. Jack had actually written down Loki’s bucket list? He blindly cut into the cake. Richard and he did celebrate Loki’s birthday, but it had always been at home, eating pizza in front of the television. While it was nice and all, it wasn’t really a party. This technically wasn’t either, but it was public, and Jack stepping out of his comfort zone for Loki was the most romantic gift he could ever receive.

  “Yeah, no one ever organized one for me, or I wasn’t allowed to.” Also, Loki didn’t really have any real friends to invite. He swallowed hard, watching Jack’s thick fingers grip the piece of paper tighter.

  “I didn’t want to wait with it God knows how long. You only live once, right?” Jack took a deep breath and leaned over to give Loki a chaste kiss on the lips. It was sweeter than any cake could possibly be.

  Loki closed his eyes, and his body turned into goo the moment Jack’s mouth met his. He could hardly breathe, warm and melting on the inside. “Yeah. You’re right. There’s no time to waste.” Yet the sudden rush to fulfill Loki’s list seemed suspicious, and Loki wasn’t sure if Jack decided to go for it was because of the failed ‘faith healing’, or if maybe, just maybe, it was that Jack wanted to fulfill point ten on the list…

  Loki burst out with laughter when he pulled out a slice of cake and it turned out to have rainbow-colored sponge inside.

  “Aww, how fitting!” He couldn’t stop grinning when he watched Jack go all fidgety and awkward in the cutest macho way possible. He leaned in for another kiss and quickly cut up a giant piece for his man.

  “Yeah, a gay cake.” Jack shook his head and dug in with a sour face. “It’s good though. An acquired taste.” He snorted, and Loki was pretty sure Jack wasn’t talking about the cake.

  Loki leaned against him and tasted the colorful sponge. It was delicious, but knowing it was such a thoughtful gift only made it seem tastier. “You’re amazing. I’m completely serious.”

  Jack stuffed his mouth full of cake and shrugged. “Oh, come on…” It was nice to see this shy side of him. It seemed so genuine. As if Jack didn’t have to put on a show of cockiness for Loki.

  “Don’t Oh, come on me,” chuckled Loki. He took one more forkful of the cake and hugged Jack, breathing in the scent of his T-shirt. “I’ve never been on a real date before, let alone a perfect one. You come into my life with all the good stuff.”

  “Yeah, guns, screams, and slaps.” Jack extended his arm behind Loki in a languid move, and Loki’s cock twitched when Jack ran his fingers over the shaved part of his head. “Why’d you never go on a date? You had to be desperate to put it on your bucket list.”

  Loki sighed, leaning into Jack. “If you just want sex, you can find it online, so when someone takes you out, it’s like they think you’re good enough for them to get to know you, or they like you more than all the other guys they fuck, and all that. I only had two boyfriends. The first let me stay at his, and it just turned into us being boyfriends. Richard let me stay at his place after I got out of the hospital and...” Loki stopped breathing. It was so fucking pathetic. “And then we started fucking, and all of a sudden we were boyfriends. None of them thought I was worth the effort of trying to win me over. Clearly, I wasn’t that hard to impress.”

  “I’ve never done this kinda thing either. I don’t really know how to talk to girls in the long run. You know what I mean? It’s all fine when we flirt and fuck, but then things get weird or awkward. I’d rather just fuck the girls and then go out with my boys. You’re… I guess you’re the best of both worlds.” Jack gave him a half smile and bit into more cake. “You’re so worth it.”

  Loki’s heart throbbed as he looked into Jack’s eyes. The world seemed to have stopped around them. “So are you. I really hope you’ll be happy after... you know.”

  Jack turned away and curled his shoulders. “Don’t talk shit like that. One day at a time.”

  Loki hugged Jack tighter. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so grim on my birthday, right? I’m messing it all up,” he whispered, unwillingly thinking back to the disgusting ordeal with the doctor. As much as he had denied it, the moment he was on that table, he did hope that maybe there was the slightest chance for him. That maybe he could stay with Jack and be the boyfriend Jack deserved. It had been all false hopes.

  “Yes, you are. Let’s get back to your wishes. ‘Be famous’ is first. I thought I’d get your photo on milk cartons but that seems kinda shit.” Jack sighed and seemed really troubled with this petty issue.

  Loki laughed out loud and ate more cake. “It is pretty shitty. Don’t worry about it. I know I’m never gonna be famous. That’s a really stupid item.”

  “Why’d you even put it on there then?”

  Loki exhaled and slowly entwined his fingers with Jack’s. “I didn’t know any better. And now that we’re together, that fame thing seems so fucking unimportant. I’d much rather be your boyfriend than be famous.”

  “Oh, yeah? You’d learn to cook? So I can cross out the famous bit?”

  “If that’s what it takes, I’ll watch all the tutorials on YouTube.” Loki nudged Jack’s side and drank some more of his shake. “Cross out the bastard.”

  “What’s ‘love tattoos’ then?” Jack read the last item on Loki’s bucket list. “Is it what you got on your back?”

  Loki swallowed hard, staring at Jack with a strange yet not unpleasant sensation spreading through his chest. “You want to get a love tattoo?”

  “Is it about getting matching ink?”

  Loki squeezed Jack’s hand. “What I have on my back is a love tattoo, but it can also just be matching tattoos, or just tattoos that work well together.” He swallowed his nervousness. The last thing he wanted was for Jack to have a permanent mark, a remembrance of a dead lover that he didn’t even really plan in the first place. “What do you think? Do you even... want to?”

  Jack’s big hand covered Loki’s and stroked it gently. “I’ve got a design in mind.”

  Chapter 28

  The day with Loki had been a whirlwind of new experiences. Not always comfortable, but rewarding all in all. Red Jack had chilled out about the public displays of affection as soon as they were far away from their town. To think that he’d fucked girls in public yet found it so nerve-wracking to hold Loki’s hand. In the end, he decided he wouldn’t be a pussy and just did what he wanted. It felt as liberating as being painfully hard and finally pulling your cock out.

  Loki’s smile had grown by the minute, like he had all the time in the world to just enjoy stuff, as if he weren’t dying, as if he weren’t with a guy who’d treated him like shit when they first met, as if his life had always been this carefree. He squeezed Red Jack’s hand with pride, and never hesitated with little tender gestures that made Red Jack’s skin tingle with warmth. Loki was proud to be out with him, and it wasn’t because of Red Jack’s patches.

  They walked through a park and had some frozen yoghurt while lounging on a shadowed bench, and they even made out a bit, pulling away like teenagers every time someone walked past their little hideout behind the bushes.

  Red Jack did get himself a ‘love tattoo’. Just four letters. Loki’s name in a hidden spot - on the inside of his bottom lip. The bloody thing was swollen, but considering he could be dead in about twenty-four hours, Red Jack couldn’t care less. He wanted Loki t
o fulfill as much of his bucket list as possible. He’d make sure Monster got rid of the three guys left on Loki’s kill-list, and that would be that. Loki wouldn’t know about the matter with the police. It shouldn’t overshadow what was possibly their last day together.

  They ate great takeout burgers while staring at the darkening skyline over LA, but when night had completely settled, they drove back home. Red Jack already knew he’d advise Loki to take as much cash as he could. He’d tell him the password to the safe. With the money Red Jack had gathered, Loki would at least live the rest of his life in comfort.

  And then there was the question of the last item on Loki’s bucket list. Red Jack couldn’t stop pondering on it as they walked up the few steps to his beach house. It wasn’t like he’d never thought of getting fucked—his imagination was vivid enough—but he had no idea how it would feel, and he’d freaked out last time Loki tried to just slide his dick in. He leaned against the wall next to the door and licked the inside of his tattooed lip. His mouth tasted of copper, but the ache in his flesh was oddly arousing when he thought of what had caused it.

  Loki grinned, joining him at the door. He bit his lip and playfully nudged Red Jack’s foot with his own. “What are you waiting for? Hesitant about the last item on my bucket list?” he asked as if he’d read Red Jack’s mind, but with the way the day unravelled, it was hardly a surprise.

  “I mean… It’s a date. You gotta invite me in if you wanna fuck.” Red Jack gave Loki his cockiest grin, but nerves were eating him up. His stomach plummeted when Loki’s face softened, all cheekiness gone.

  “Do you wanna fuck?”

  “I’m always ready to fuck.” Red Jack laughed it off and looked at Loki’s feet.

  Loki stayed silent for a few seconds, his toes moving in his trainers. “So... that was a really good date.”

  “Oh, man… ‘Good’? You’re fucking hard to please.” Red Jack got the courage to look into the eyes of the guy who was about to fuck him. Because Red Jack would let him, he already knew as much.

  Loki rolled his eyes, grinning so wide it could possibly hurt his jaw. “Yeah, I am a bit of a diva.”

  “So are you gonna invite me in, or is all I’m getting a goodnight kiss?”

  Loki looked down, pretending to be shy at the doorstep. “I don’t know, you’re such a big guy. Who knows what you’re gonna do if I let you in. There are no neighbors around,” he teased.

  Red Jack was all too eager to play along. “You’d just have to trust me.” He walked up to Loki and pushed up his jaw to get a kiss. Loki slouched against the wall and closed his eyes as his hand found Red Jack’s.

  “That’s one hell of an argument,” he whispered, all warm and pliant. “You won’t tell anyone, big guy?”

  “No, whatever happens will be our secret.” The sensitivity in Red Jack’s lip only heightened the pleasure of the kiss, even more so when Loki’s smooth, clever tongue pushed its way between Red Jack’s gums and the newly tattooed flesh. The hit of pleasure was so intense, Red Jack felt ghost fingers pull on his cock. He pushed Loki against the wall and slowly rubbed against him with his whole body.

  Loki uttered a moan and slid his hands to Red Jack’s ass, pulling him forward. The air around them was charged with electricity when Loki tugged on Red Jack’s beard with his teeth. “Yeah.”

  “Is that an invitation?” Red Jack ground against Loki in a slow rhythm.

  Loki gasped, and his head fell back, cheeks reddening in the soft light above the door. “Who am I kidding? I’d probably let you fuck me against this wall in broad daylight.”

  Red Jack grinned and fished out his keys. “So easy.”

  Loki hugged Red Jack and lapped at the side of his neck. “I am a bit of a slut.”

  “I wouldn’t have you any other way.” Red Jack opened the door, feeling lightheaded from the happiness flooding his body. He didn’t want to think about tomorrow. All he wanted now was Loki in his arms, in every position possible.

  Loki laughed and pulled Red Jack inside as soon as it opened. They stumbled into the dark living room, and if Red Jack hadn’t held Loki up, he’d probably have fallen over. Their bodies fit together so perfectly Red Jack could hardly believe it.

  “I thought we’d go somewhere more private,” Red Jack whispered as he locked the door behind them.

  “Yeah? Where?” asked Loki, pushing his body hard against Red Jack’s. His breath trembled where it touched Red Jack’s skin, heavy with excitement.

  “I have a secret room.” Red Jack slid his hand under Loki’s T-shirt and onto the back that held his name.

  Loki groaned and pulled his teeth over the naked skin of Red Jack’s arm. “Show me everything.”

  “You’re not afraid of my secret room?” Red Jack grabbed Loki’s hand and pulled him along. If he was about to get fucked, he wanted to be sure there would be no one disturbing them.

  “What do you keep there? All your dead boyfriends?” asked Loki, squeezing his hand.

  “Now that you know, you can never leave.” Red Jack wiggled his eyebrows and led Loki to the laundry room.

  “Wait, you’ve been living in my house all along?” chuckled Loki, hugging Red Jack in the thick darkness of the windowless space.

  “I only came out at night to drill your tight ass.” Red Jack bit back a smile and leaned down to pull back the rug.

  Loki leaned down and nuzzled his face against Red Jack’s shoulder. The wooden floor squeaked when he kneeled down to join Red Jack. “Bastard.”

  “You say that now, but you love it.” Red Jack found Loki’s lips in the darkness and delved in for a quick, sloppy kiss.

  “I must, if I’m not running yet.” Loki suckled on Red Jack’s tongue and picked up the trapdoor. Cool air brushed their hands from the room downstairs.

  Red Jack quickly went down the ladder and turned on the light to see Loki’s face, which smiled at him from the hole above.

  Loki turned around and climbed into the basement. “Wow, that’s something!” he said, looking around the empty walls.

  “You sure you’re not afraid I’ll lock you here?” Red Jack smirked as he went up to close the trapdoor. The basement wasn’t pretty, but it would definitely do for peace and quiet. It held some non-perishable food, there was a restroom they could use, a TV and sound system, and Red Jack had even changed the sheets on the mattress after the last person to be kept here left. Funnily enough, it had been Monster, after he’d been accused of ratting on the club.

  Loki shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

  Red Jack walked over to Loki and hugged him from behind. He didn’t feel threatened anymore. He was sure Loki would make the fucking good-ish for him. He could be a really gentle guy when he wasn’t busy making holes in Red Jack’s stomach.

  Loki relaxed into the embrace and covered Red Jack’s hands with his. His hair smelled of all the sweet treats they had that day, and the naked skin on the side of Loki’s head drew Red Jack in for kisses.

  “You ready for something special?” Red Jack licked Loki above the ear.

  “You’re spoiling me today.” Loki turned back his head and rested it on Red Jack’s shoulder.

  “Gotta live life to the fullest, right?” Red Jack pulled away and headed for the toilet where he had stored something that had been stuck with him for all too long. He took a deep breath and walked up to the toilet. The cistern had a secret waterproof compartment where Red Jack kept some money and coke, but the secret stash he was looking for was even higher, inside the ventilation shaft. Red Jack stepped on the toilet and unscrewed the ventilation cover. He pushed his fingers inside and pressed on the right wall. With a bit of pressure, it gave, revealing a secret compartment where, among other things, Red Jack kept what he had left of Keith—the cash he had on him during the fatal run, expired coke, and a bloodied knuckle duster.

  The harsh scream of a guitar solo tore through the silence and galloped along with the drums. Loki must have switched it on at full volume. Thankfully, soon the sou
nd subdued so that they could actually hear one another. “Why do you have this place?”

  “It came with the house.” Red Jack pulled off his jacket and threw it to the cement floor as he came back.

  “Yeah? Do you sometimes hide here playing video games so that no one bothers you?” asked Loki, stirring his hips to the rhythm.

  It was hard for Red Jack to focus on the question when all he could think of was that he was gonna get fucked soon. “I used to grow a bit of weed here, but it died. Not much green fingers on me.” Red Jack pulled a wad of cash out of the bag. Keith’s botched delivery.

  Loki reddened, and then burst out laughing. “You’re the first person I know who let their weed die.” But before Red Jack could get angry at the mocking, Loki pulled off his T-shirt, displaying all his beautiful muscles, with perky dark nipples and a shadow of hair on the lower part of his stomach.

  “Now that’s more like it. I was getting fucking bored with this chit-chat. I mean, are we gonna fuck, or what? Wait, let me get the bed ready.” Red Jack laughed and took the rubber band off the money. He took a deep breath. It was time to let go. He scattered the bills over the dirty mattress on the floor, and it almost seemed like they were falling in slow motion, and just watching them made Red Jack’s heart beat faster.

  Loki stalled as the green notes glided through the air. Most of them landed on the bedding, covering it with a layer of paper. “Whoa,” Loki uttered eventually, his eyes rising to meet Red Jack’s. “That’s no Monopoly cash, is it?”

  Red Jack gave him a self-satisfied smirk. “What do you think? It’s… cash I took off Keith when he got shot. Kinda never wanted to spend it.”

  Loki drew in a sharp breath and pushed his hands into his pockets. A shadow of uncertainty flashed through his face. “Is everything okay?”

  Red Jack groaned and looked back at him. “You’ll get to fuck me on a bed of money. What is your problem?”

  Loki’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he walked up to Red Jack, grabbing his hand. “It’s just... that stuff’s so important to you. Why today?”