Domenico ripped the packaging with his teeth and grunted happily when he finally managed to make the U-turn by going back and forth on the narrow road. With one cookie in his mouth, he hummed some melody. Assaulting Mark in order to prove a point didn’t seem like a big deal to him.
“I’m always hungry…” Mark muttered in order to say something. He grabbed a cookie as well and started munching on it. He felt elated and miserable all at the same time.
Domenico glanced back at him, and something in his gaze changed, just before he smiled. “Seth doesn’t get it. Whenever we eat out, he’s always taking those tiny desserts, and he can make a bowl of delicious pasta and not eat it in one go.”
Mark dared to smile back. “It’s funny that he’s the pudgy one.”
Domenico sighed. “Don’t tell him that. He used to be very lean, but then he had the accident, and he hasn’t gotten back to the way he was yet. But even then, he was always the one who’d rather eat a tuna sandwich than one with Nutella.”
Mark raised his eyebrows. “What? That makes no sense. Nutella and peanut butter are like the Holy Grail of all spreads.”
Domenico let out a groan that reminded Mark of a bear. “I loved this spread with marshmallow and caramel, but with real bread, not some cotton-like toast. They had it in Italy years ago. I was so pissed off when they stopped making it. Fuckers.”
Mark nodded at this true understanding. “I love French pastries, like they have in cafés and stuff. If you come at closing time, they will sometimes give them out for free.” Though Mark doubted someone with a wad of money to throw around cared for free pastry. A wad of cash that Dom didn’t ask to get back for that matter. “Does Seth bake too?”
“He’s the god of baking!” Domenico winced like a needy puppy as he drove into the asphalt road. “I mean... his lemon cupcakes are unreal.”
Mark smiled. “Maybe it’s for the better that he doesn’t have any place to bake in that shack.”
“Why? You’d fucking love them.”
“‘Cause I might just fall in love if he fed me that stuff every day.” Mark snorted.
Domenico shrugged. “Yeah, well, that wouldn’t work out for you. But what is a broken heart when you can eat homemade lasagna? Peperonata with chargrilled chicken?”
Mark could already imagine all that food even if he had no idea what a peperonata was. “So he cooks, and what do you do?”
Domenico chewed on his lip, and he slowed down when they approached the bright site of a diner on the side of the road. Mark had eaten there once, and they had amazing breakfasts.
“I can tell you, I suppose. No one would believe you anyway,” said Dom, driving into the parking lot and stopping the car in front of the building. “What do you think I do?”
Mark raised his eyebrows. “You are either a vigilante superhero, or you make lamps out of human skin.”
Domenico barked out a laugh and slowly combed his fingers through his hair. “No. I used to be in special forces,” he said and jumped out of the car.
Mark stalled for a moment. That made some sense. The way Domenico used a gun, the way he pacified two bikers on their own turf… Mark followed Dom out of the car with questions buzzing in his skull. “For Italy?” he uttered.
Domenico nodded and locked the truck. They walked into the diner, which looked so standard Mark automatically made his way to the booths at the back, where he usually sat, while Domenico stopped at the counter, glancing at the pies on offer.
Mark was busier eying the clientele around. He’d usually look for a paying hookup in a place like this, and once he caught himself surveying the room, an overpowering feeling of shame settled in his chest when he realized that it was the first thing he looked around for. So instead, he glanced at the group of teenagers not far away. Old guys were easy to hook, but would a normal guy his age ever actually like him? A glass wall stood tall between him and the group of high school kids. He would never fit in with them. They seemed so normal drinking their floats and eating waffles. He on the other hand was with a guy who not long ago had made him suck a gun. Talk about different circumstances.
When Mark was walking past the group, a dot of bright blond sucked in all his attention. As if sensing something, the guy looked up, and his blue eyes briefly met Mark’s before he got distracted by a friend.
Mark was sure the blond hair was dyed, but he didn’t care either way. He liked the guy’s piercings and his undercut. Not that it mattered. He sat down in the empty booth at the back and settled for ogling. At least he was wearing a cheap-but-new top instead of a Seth-sized T-shirt.
Domenico walked up to the booth and sat with his back to the window, taking the menu in hand. “Not hungry?” he asked, pushing one of the other menus at Mark, who got a bit distracted by the pretty blond biting on his lip piercing.
“Yeah, yeah, food.” Mark looked into the menu. Now that the prospect of eating was so close, his stomach seemed to try to suck itself in out of hunger. “Would you teach me some special forces moves?”
“Sure. It was pretty pathetic that you couldn’t fight off that biker. He was horny and distracted.”
Mark frowned at him. “What? He was so much bigger than me. You’re so unfair.”
Domenico shrugged, going through the menu with ease despite still talking sense. “It’s not about the size. Once you know the right spots to hit, as long as you’re not blocked, the guy’s going down, no matter how big he is.”
Mark pondered that for a moment. He’d love to know those spots. “Maybe if I learned, I could become a bodyguard in the future or something.”
Domenico chuckled. “You’d have to get bigger for that job. Size is good for intimidating people, and your face’s just too nice,” he said. Mark wanted to protest, but the tired waitress chose that moment to fill their presence with too much perfume and questions. She was very helpful and nice though, so they soon ordered a whole mountain of food.
“So, to sum it up, you think I’m pretty but stupid. I don’t have an education, and I don’t have skills. What do you suggest I do, Mr. Special Forces?” Mark slurped his shake as soon as the waitress brought it.
Domenico sighed and picked up his sparkling water. He also asked to get his pie as a starter, and in retrospect, Mark was sorry he hadn’t done the same as he watched Domenico dig in.
“Some jobs are unglamourous, but they’re honest, and if you work hard, you can climb up the ladder. That’s what I did,” said Dom.
Mark sighed, unhappy about the prospect. “What if you never climb up and you’re just stuck at the bottom of the pile forever?”
Domenico sucked on the fork, looking at Mark across the table. “Look. I know I said you’re stupid, but you’re not. You’re sixteen. You’re trying to get by, but you chose the wrong way to go about it. You’re damaging... your future. You have no idea how hard it could be to climb out of an arrangement with someone who holds power over you,” said Domenico slowly as he ate the pie. “The world’s not kind to young boys like you.”
Mark held his milkshake closer. It felt strange to have Domenico talk to him so seriously. Like he really cared. He swallowed, all of a sudden overwhelmed by the need to voice his worries. “That’s why I’m not sure about Fred. I mean, he seems really nice, but I can’t help thinking that there could be something else for me out there.”
Domenico’s eyes narrowed. “Good. I think you’re right to be worried. You’re underage, and he’s asking you to come over from across the country to meet him. It stinks.”
“But he didn’t say anything about sex or nothing like that. He said he’d help me find a job, and we’d see what happens. No pressure.”
Domenico smirked. “But you don’t believe him. He might be honest, or he might be one of those creeps who will start out giving you a back rub after a hard day. Trust me, there are shitloads of creeps out there.”
Mark sighed and went quiet when the waitress brought their food. Dom was right. Mark wasn’t sure about Fred, yet at the moment
, the guy seemed his best bet. “I’m pretty sure he wants to fuck me. Most older guys do. I know how to navigate it. He seems like a really nice guy, so at least he’s not scary. He sent me a photo from a barbecue last Sunday. Wanna see? He drank juice instead of beer.”
Domenico smiled. “I think even if you want to meet him, maybe you should cleanse your palate with someone young and pretty? I think you have a fan at that table over there.”
Mark looked over to where Dom indicated and instantly got that rush of excitement followed by heat all over his neck when he caught the blond’s gaze for a split second. He squirmed in his seat so hard he curled his toes.
“No… I—um…”
Domenico laughed and ate his pie. “No? I bet you your ass he does. He would suck your cock so hard.”
Mark bit his lip and kicked Dom’s foot under the table. “Don’t say that. I bet he’s nothing like that.”
“Come on, Mark, look at him. He’s hooking you. You’ve had plenty of sex in your life already, so how can you not see that?”
Mark leaned closer and started munching on the fries. “But not with guys like him.”
Dom ate some of his hot dog, licking mustard off his lips. “What do you mean?” he asked with his mouth full.
“Like… that young. And normal looking. He’s probably gonna get grounded tomorrow for being out on a school night. Me? No one cares if I live or die.”
Domenico’s mouth stretched around an especially big piece of food, but his eyes remained on Mark, burning holes in his skin until he swallowed and could speak again. “Surely, you’ve had sex with other boys before...”
Suddenly, Mark felt like even more of a loser. “Yeah, yeah…” he muttered and looked away quickly to spare himself the judgment in Dom’s eyes.
“No—” Domenico shook Mark’s shoulder. Of course, a guy that used to be in special forces would spot a blatant lie like that. “Seriously? Never had sex with a guy your age?”
Mark ran his fingers through his hair. “That kind of guys aren’t out to buy sex, they didn’t hang out where I did, or didn’t like me. I’ve got a bruise on my face. I look like I’d cause him trouble.”
Domenico smiled and shook his head, patting Mark’s back. “Oh, no. Listen. To him, you look like a bad boy. You are exciting and different. You are cool. Not controlled by parents, hanging out with your older brother at the diner.”
Mark straightened up slightly, encouraged by Dom’s words. He always thought it would have been nice to have siblings. An older brother who would look out for him. Or even a younger one whom Mark would support and never let anyone touch. He gave the blond another glance, a longer one this time, and he caught the guy staring as well. This time he dared to smile at him, and the way the guy’s pale face went red just before he quickly turned around had butterflies erupt in Mark’s stomach.
Domenico smirked. “I think you should finish your food soon and make use of those condoms I bought you.”
Mark got to his burger in a flash. He’d need the calories in case he did manage to score. “I think he’s really hot,” he whispered between one bite and another.
Domenico drank some water and smiled lazily. “Just remember to ask him if he wants it. You know, enthusiastic consent.”
With the idea of fucking the blond firmly planted in Mark’s head, he nodded at Dom. “He’s gonna consent so hard.”
Domenico discreetly looked at the table from behind his hair. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he will,” he said and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small packet. Lube. “Just in case.”
Mark was getting horny just thinking about it, so he ate faster. “Can we do it in your pickup?”
Domenico laughed. “In front of the diner? Think.”
Mark took his time chewing. He wouldn’t risk actually fucking in the diner toilet. But maybe a blow job? Where could they possibly go though? “Maybe he has a car.” His dick made a little twitch when the blond winked at him.
Domenico shrugged and pushed the car keys toward Mark. It was the sound of victory. “If you do use my car, go into the road leading to our shack. Police won’t look there. And pick me up within one hour. I need to see Seth at the hospital.”
Mark put the keys in his pocket. Fuck! He’d also get to pretend he had a car. This was his night. “Thank you so much,” he said and licked his fingers before getting up. It was time to bring his flirting A-game.
Domenico nodded and leaned back like some kind of Godfather. “Make me proud.”
There was nothing in the world Mark wanted more.
Domenico sat down at the windowsill and looked out into the parking lot. They were in the biggest hospital in the area, so there was plenty of traffic outside. He was happy Seth would finally be going home with him and that the alligator bite hadn’t left him with infection or worse. According to the doctors, Seth would limp for a bit, but everything should go back to normal with time. Domenico brought Seth some much-needed shaving supplies to celebrate his release. Now that they had settled the problem that was eating at their relationship for the last few months, Seth was happy with the idea of getting rid of the beard. Domenico doubted anyone in the rural areas of the South could ever recognize them anyway, and he was looking forward to seeing his man’s face again.
Seth was already dressed when Domenico came to the private hospital room that ate their savings at an alarming speed. But even the scent of disinfectant wouldn’t put Dom off Seth. Months of frustration were not settled with one fuck, yet the circumstances never seemed to be right. He missed having personal space, a room, a bed, even a kitchen counter that was just theirs.
“Ready?” Domenico slowly opened the leather bag he kept his shaving supplies in. He pulled out the leather strop and his straight razor, smiling up at Seth, who looked much healthier than he did just a few days ago. Color was back in his cheeks, and his eyes shone as he approached Dom.
"Let's do this." Seth took a deep breath. “I’m just worried how the scar looks. Don’t cut into it, because it seems to be this raised lump.”
Domenico stretched the belt and slowly slid the steel razor back and forth. “Yeah? Does it hurt?” he asked slowly, putting aside the razor after a few strokes. He got up and reached for Seth’s face. He was now beginning to think that Seth not wanting to give head because of the scar ‘still healing’ was yet more bullshit he’d been fed, even if he tried not to be angry about it.
“A bit… I guess it’s slightly tender.” Seth looked at his feet and hooked his thumbs in the back pockets of his jeans.
Domenico got up and walked up to him, quickly pushing Seth’s face up by the furry chin. The brown, warm eyes pulled Domenico into their endless wells, and for a moment he was just staring, overcome by a shiver he couldn’t control. “Look, I didn’t tell you, but I did the test.”
Seth blinked a few times, but then nervously found Dom’s hand. “Oh. Those tests. And what do they say?”
Domenico chuckled and pushed his fingers into Seth’s beard, then farther, to curl around his warm ear. “That you can safely use my razor.”
Seth exhaled so hard his breath tickled Dom’s wrist, and he pulled Dom into a hug so strong it could crack ribs. “You lucky fucker. I was so scared. Only you get to fuck half of Grindr and not catch an STD.” He petted Dom’s hair and kissed his ear, with his heart pounding against Dom’s.
Domenico frowned. He had caught some STDs on the way. But he’d never gotten one that wasn’t treatable. He supposed that did make him lucky. “What’s Grindr?”
Seth stalled, but then snorted. “It’s a hookup app. Something you will never need.” The way Seth licked the side of Dom’s ear sent shivers down Dom’s body.
Domenico chuckled and pulled Seth closer, letting his eyes shut. “I suppose not. I’m more of a hands-on type of guy.”
“As in, you see a guy you like, you put your hands on him?” Seth asked, and Domenico could hear the smile in his voice. As much as he’d avoided testing, it was a relief to know that he and S
eth were clean.
Domenico grinned and grabbed all the shaving supplies, pulling Seth to the bathroom. “Pretty much. I grab them. They want me. And then I fuck them.”
“And that’s what you’ve been doing when I was stranded here the last few days?” Seth’s hands kept roaming all over Dom’s back as they entered the small bathroom.
Domenico smiled and made the lock sound especially loud as he turned the key. He pushed his nose into Seth’s sweet-smelling beard and closed his eyes. “Securing the house. Did some repairs. Mark helped me a lot.”
“You did repairs?” Seth snorted, but finally wasn’t resisting when Dom gave him a kiss. Just as the doctor predicted, the limp wasn’t very pronounced either, which Dom was relieved to see.
“Why, am I not manly enough?” asked Domenico, pushing Seth against the sink.
Seth laughed and put his arms around Dom’s neck. “Nah, you were just never good at that DIY stuff. Unless we’re talking about constructing a weapon out of a toothbrush and a CD.”
Domenico laughed and pulled out the newest addition to his grooming kit—one he intended to dispose of in the nearest trash can. A beard trimmer. “Throw in a shoelace, and I’m good to go.”
Seth eyed the trimmer like he wasn’t yet sure if he wanted to take the plunge. “What can I help with? My hand gets better every day. I need to use it so it gets better. I could fix something on the roof, see if there’s any electricity cables that got disconnected…”
“No.” Domenico shook his head and put his hand on Seth’s throat, focusing on the Adam’s apple moving beneath the middle of his palm. He switched on the trimmer, and a buzzing sound filled the small room, echoed by blue tiles. “You’re hurt, and you’re not climbing anywhere.”
Seth sighed but gave up and let the trimming commence. Dom enjoyed Seth’s stubble, but the whole beard thing was getting out of hand. He’d bear with it if need be, but Seth didn’t seem to have that much of an issue with letting it go. The facial hair was a disguise in Seth’s mind, but Dom knew it wouldn’t matter much. Just like wearing glasses wouldn’t help much if they actually met Frederico or someone who knew them well.
Guns n' Boys: Swamp Blood (Book 3) (gay dark mafia erotic romance) Page 16