"Excellent.” Gabriel grabbed my arm and tugged me into an alley between the apartment buildings. He pushed me against the wall, sending my brochures fluttering to the ground. “So, you won't mind if I do this,” he whispered, leaning in and capturing my lips in a kiss, tangling his hand in the hair at the back of my head.
He was right; I didn't mind. In fact, I realized it was something I wanted to do. I kissed him back, my body sandwiched between his and the wall. However, being outdoors made me nervous. “Ga-Gabriel,” I said once he released my mouth.
"Yes, Patrick?” He tilted his head and nibbled at my earlobe, his hand massaging my scalp.
I briefly thought about ignoring the tingles that surged through my body and making up an excuse to get away. Rationally, it would have made sense to do so. I barely knew the man, and I'd just spent the past couple days trying to chase away his business, after all. I was usually a rational man, but when I touched his shoulders and felt strong muscles under his clothing as I feebly tried to push him away, when I saw the way moonlight glinted off his hair, I finally admitted I would gladly go anywhere and do anything with this man.
All I could say was, “Not here."
"You're in luck,” Gabriel said, running a finger along my cheek and slowly pulling away. “I live nearby. As a matter of fact, this is my building.” He nodded toward the wall at my back.
"You were taking me home already, were you?” I had to laugh at how easily I'd fallen into his snare. Never mind that I'd wanted to. I could only hope that this trap would be a pleasant one. “Okay."
"Good.” Gabriel flashed his white smile and hurried me up to his apartment. “Please excuse the clutter,” he said, opening the door and ushering me inside. I stood in the entryway for a moment, gaping at the contents of the interior. It very much resembled his shop. Partially finished astrological charts, multiple decks of tarot cards, and books on the occult littered the tables. A crystal ball and statues of various gods and goddesses were displayed on shelves, and a ritual altar covered with candles, herbs, and incense stood against the far wall.
"So you don't just practice astrology? You're ... what do they call that religion? Wiccan? Wicca?"
"I'm more of an eclectic Pagan, but close enough."
"I ... I see.” I walked closer to the altar to get a better look. Gabriel was delusional in his beliefs for sure, but I couldn't deny that he—exactly the type of person I'd normally think of with disdain—had won me over. It had to be pheromones. Or his incredible blue eyes. Or that sort of cocky way he smiled.
That cocky smile appeared again. “Don't worry, I don't consort with the devil, and I won't try to convert you. But I'd like to show you just how satisfying being with a spiritualist can be.” He pressed his lips to mine again, kissing me gently at first, but with increased pressure as the moments passed.
I felt my knees buckle, but strong arms were wrapped around my waist, firmly holding me up. “I'm ... I'm definitely more relaxed now,” I said once we broke apart for air.
"I would say so,” Gabriel said with a chuckle. “But, I think I can help you become even more relaxed.” He pulled me further into the apartment.
I allowed myself to be led by the hand into the bedroom, where glow-in-the-dark stars and planets dotted the ceiling. The air smelled faintly of vanilla and cinnamon, likely from the candles and incenses on the nightstand.
His velvet voice whispered in my ear, “Why don't you take off your clothes and make yourself comfortable on the bed?"
"So we can jump right into things?” I felt my face getting hot.
"I can give you a massage.” Gabriel lit the candles, enhancing the sweet vanilla aroma in the room, and then opened the drawer of the nightstand and withdrew a plain wooden box. “You shouldn't be so impatient.” He set the box on the floor near the bed and took out a bottle of oil.
After a brief hesitation, I did as I was told. What person in their right mind would object to a free massage? Once I was naked and my clothes neatly folded and stacked on a nearby chair, I stretched out on the bed facedown, savoring the feeling of purple satin sheets against my skin. I turned my head and saw Gabriel rubbing oil on his hands as he examined my body with an approving smile.
"Very nice,” he said, settling down on the bed next to me.
I looked at Gabriel's still-clothed body. “I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here.” Being the only one naked made me feel a bit awkward and exposed.
"Well, you're the one getting the massage. And what did I just tell you about patience?” Gabriel teased, lightly swatting my bare ass.
"That's not helping me relax,” I grumbled, my face buried in the pillow. “And how do I know you're not just using the massage as an excuse to get me naked prematurely?"
Gabriel shrugged and grinned in response. “It seems that you have some psychic or intuitive abilities yourself."
"That's not helping either.” What did help me relax, however, were skilled fingers kneading tight muscles in my back, working out knots and tension. “Okay ... that's better,” Sighing contentedly, I felt those hands moving lower on my body to massage my buttocks, fingers wandering near the cleft between my cheeks just close enough to tease before moving up again. After several minutes, I felt more relaxed than I'd felt in a long time. “You're pretty good at that. You should go into massage therapy. At least it has some legitimacy."
"Thank you, but I'm picky about who I put my hands on. And I think you're ready.” Gabriel lightly tapped my shoulder and helped me sit back up, pulling me until I was between his legs, my bare back against his stomach. “Now, let's get your energy centered. Close your eyes."
I turned my head and raised an eyebrow. “May I ask why?” I was getting plenty horny just being pressed up against him, feeling his body heat mixing with mine. I didn't need some hokey meditation.
"Stubborn bull—just like your zodiac sign.” Gabriel leaned over the edge of the bed and opened the wooden box. “Since you don't seem to want to close them...” He fished out a thick length of black fabric and tied it over my eyes. “This should make it easier for you to focus."
I didn't resist. I'd always had a secret fantasy about being blindfolded during sex, but I never had the nerve to tell anyone. I wondered if he somehow knew that. “Focus on what?"
"On what you feel. To be honest—” He lowered his voice, murmuring into my ear, his breath hot. “An attractive naked man in a blindfold is a turn-on for me.” He pressed his groin into my back, and I felt the truth of his statement. I could have kicked myself for even entertaining the idea that he might have read my mind.
"What was that about being focused?” I felt my skin getting warmer, and feeling his warm, clothed body against my skin only served to raise my temperature further. My erection was growing, and there was absolutely nothing I could do to hide it. Not that there was any real reason to. “All right. You said deep breath.” I took a breath in then quickly let it out again.
"You need to breathe more from your diaphragm. Here.” Gabriel put his hands on my chest, near the sternum, his thumbs resting just below my nipples.
I inhaled, feeling the light pressure of Gabriel's hands moving with my breath. “Like that?"
"Better. Now, try not to pay attention to anything but your breathing."
"What's that supposed to do?"
"It'll help you open yourself up."
"To what?"
I could feel Gabriel's lips smiling against my bare neck. “You'll see.” His voice was low and his breath was hot, which did nothing to help me focus on my own breathing.
After I'd taken a few breaths and thought I was finally getting the hang of it, I felt his hands traveling up my chest. The touch was feather light and sent tingles radiating over my skin. I tried to continue with the breathing exercise, but the way my body involuntarily wriggled in Gabriel's arms made it difficult.
"Mmm ... sensitive,” Gabriel murmured, gently fingering the hard little peaks of my nipples. His hands wandered further downward.
"Y-yeah...” He seemed to be intentionally avoiding my cock but it didn't seem to matter. Every inch of my skin had become an erogenous zone. A soft gasp escaped me as my hips and belly were caressed.
His fingers slid just low enough to play with my curly dark hair. “You must have a lot of pent-up sexual energy,” Gabriel said. “I haven't even touched your chakras yet. When was the last time you had sex?"
"Ch-chakras,” I repeated with a hint of disdain. I'd heard of chakras and knew they were another silly New Age thing. Something about the energy of the body and the energy of the universe. “And it's none of your business."
My skin felt suddenly cooler as Gabriel moved away, and I worried briefly that I might have pissed him off. He nudged me to lie down on my back and positioned me with my legs spread and my rear at the edge of the bed.
"Feel that?” He kissed my perineum, massaging it with his tongue, making me shiver a little.
"Ahhh ... of ... of course I feel it."
"That's your root chakra.” Gabriel nipped the skin and replaced his tongue with his fingers, lightly rubbing the area. “It's one of your sexual energy centers."
"It's just a ... bunch of nerves. Sending signals to my brain."
He removed his fingers. “Turn over onto your stomach."
I complied, and then felt his tongue start to move across my skin again. It explored deeper this time, running around the rim of my entrance. His fingers spread me just enough for the slick muscle to push inside.
"Mmmm.” I stretched out, delighting in the wet sensation. It was an act that my previous lover had refused to do. When I started to quiver, Gabriel pulled away and gave my rear a pat.
Even if I didn't already have a good idea what was coming, I didn't need my eyes to figure it out. I could hear the rumple of clothes hitting the floor, followed by the tearing of a wrapper, and the soft clicking noise of a rubber being unrolled over hard flesh. Fingers generously added some cool, slippery lubricant to the area already wet with saliva.
The bed creaked as Gabriel positioned himself behind me. “Ready?” he asked softly, slipping an arm under my waist to raise me up onto all fours.
I felt a little nervous, as I always was with a new partner. You never knew what somebody was going to be like once the hormones took over. So far, Gabriel had been quite gentle. I took a deep breath—from the diaphragm, like he showed me—and said, “Ready."
Something small pushed inside me, so he was obviously starting with a finger. “Since you wouldn't confirm nor deny my guess that it's been awhile for you, I figured I'd better play it safe. Get you reacquainted with the feeling.” His other hand rubbed my lower back.
"Th-thank you. It's been almost two years.” I finally admitted it, though I wasn't sure why I confessed. Probably because of his consideration.
"Then it's no wonder you're so responsive.” He inserted a second digit and pushed them both deeper, moving them around inside me until I moaned. “That's your sacral chakra, by the way. The other one related to sex."
"It's called a prostate,” I said between deep breaths.
He rubbed it a few more times, and then removed his fingers. “And your sacral chakra is in the vicinity of your prostate, smart ass.” The phrase was spoken in an affectionate tone, but his actions gave me no time to respond. The words had barely left his mouth when he swiftly penetrated me with his cock. He started with only the head, and after giving me a moment to adjust, pushed the rest inside.
My eyes watered a little behind the blindfold, as I was definitely tight from my two years of celibacy. However, my body handled it just fine, quickly remembering how good it felt to be filled. I pushed back against him to let him know I was ready for movement.
Gabriel obliged, thrusting slow and deep. It felt nice, but my body yearned for more. I started moving my body back and forth to speed things up, but strong hands on my hips stopped me. “Save your strength,” he said. “I'll let you control the pace shortly, but for now, let me."
He continued moving in slow motion. I noticed that he seemed to move in time to his breathing—I could hear him inhaling deeply as he pulled out, and exhaling as he pushed back in. I tried following his lead and breathed along with him. He was much more skilled than I was; my breathing couldn't quite keep pace with his.
Clutching at the sheets, I dropped my head onto the pillow, using it to stifle my groans. The slowness was a sweet agony that I simply wasn't accustomed to. All my previous lovers had preferred faster thrusts. That's not to say I couldn't see myself finding satisfaction in a leisurely pace at some point, but at the moment it was driving me crazy. Of course, that was probably the idea.
I don't know how much time had passed when I felt a hand on my shoulder. “I'll stop torturing you now,” Even though I couldn't see him, I could hear the smile in his voice, but instead of speeding up as I expected, he pulled out completely. “Don't worry, I'm not done with you yet,” he said in response to my whine. “Sit up for a second with your legs under you."
I complied and immediately found myself pulled into his lap, my back to his front again. He adjusted my position and guided me to sit down on his cock, filling me once more. “You can control the pace this way.” His hands slid up and down my body a few times, finally settling in my groin area. “And ... I can more easily do this,” he murmured as his fingers wrapped around my neglected erection.
"Aahhh...” I sighed, using my legs to move my body up and down, angling myself so my prostate got the best stimulation. Gabriel's hand gently squeezed and pumped me with each motion. His other hand alternated between stroking my scrotum and playing with my nipples, his fingertips caressing my body as they traveled. His breath tickled the hairs on the back of my neck, sending goose bumps down my spine. It was my first time having sex in that position, and I could definitely see the appeal. Very sensual.
After a few moments, I noticed that the volume of my moans had steadily increased. I heard Gabriel as well, his sounds of pleasure blending with mine. As we both got louder, he tightened his grip on my erection and started to pump at a faster rate. His wandering hand focused more on my balls and perineum, and after just a few more moments, I was blessedly brought over the edge. I gripped his thighs and cried out his name, my legs quivering, body arching back as my seed exploded all over his hand. Drained, my head fell back against his shoulder.
"Have any energy left?” he asked with a soft chuckle, brushing my sweaty hair off my face with his dry hand.
I nodded and started moving again, even though my legs felt quite weak. I dealt with it though; after the orgasm he'd just given me, I wanted to make sure he was equally satisfied. He helped as well as the position allowed, pushing up into me with a steady rhythm. Twisting a bit, I was able to reach a hand behind me and brush the skin of his finally bare chest. He'd apparently been close already; only a few moments had passed when I heard him groan and felt his body tense. He held me tight, sucking on the back of my neck as he climaxed. Once finished, he pulled me backward onto the bed, his spent cock slipping out of me as we hit the sheets. We both gasped for air.
Gabriel untied the blindfold and let it drop to the floor. “Was that your first time with a ‘weirdo’ like me?"
I blinked while my eyes got used to seeing again, then gazed upon his naked body for the first time. It was as nice as I'd expected, with just the right amount of firm muscle underneath his skin. He even looked good with the mystical-looking sun and moon tattoos on his shoulders and the astrological sign on his chest. A pair of waves—Aquarius, maybe?
"Yes, it was,” I said, smiling.
He lightly gripped my chin and examined my face. “You should really smile more often. Don't get me wrong; you look good even when you're scowling, but you're damned hot right now."
"Thanks.” My cheeks felt a little warm, but the smile remained. “I definitely want to see you again."
He looked at me affectionately and kissed me, his tongue pushing past my lips to spar with my own. “The feeling's mutual,�
�� he said once he pulled away.
"You know ... l don't get it, though."
"Get what?"
"Us. How we could have ended up here. Together. We have almost nothing in common, yet we clicked."
"I guess it's like matter and anti-matter. When it comes together—” He clapped his hands together. “Boom. And you have to admit that the sex was pretty damn explosive. In more ways than one."
"That it was.” Now it was my turn to wear a cocky grin. “But when matter and anti-matter come together, they annihilate each other."
"Oh. Yeah. So not a good comparison.” Gabriel laughed sheepishly.
I played with a strand of blond hair. “You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say you put a spell on me."
He took my free hand and brought it to his lips. “Who says I didn't?” he asked, giving me a sly look.
I rolled my eyes. “Because there's no such thing as magic. It's all nonsense."
"Says you.” He pulled me close. “Magic comes in many different forms, you know."
As I rested my head on his chest and felt his fingers stroking my neck, I started to think maybe he was right.
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The Hideaway
by David Wesley
The sign coming into Bleeker proclaimed it ‘America's Friendliest Little Town,’ but I knew better. I had been back in town more than four years, knew just about every one of Bleeker's five hundred citizens, and couldn't claim a friend among them.
Sure, some folks acted friendly. What would you expect? I owned the only damn bar in town. But they gave me a wide berth; I was suspicious, after all. I had moved to New Orleans when I turned eighteen and lived a wild life for most of a decade, the townsfolk believed, until my dad got sick, Katrina struck, and it was convenient to return home. At least a dozen people told me I was so lucky I had somewhere to go to after my home was destroyed when the levees failed. Lucky, my ass, I thought, and about as convenient as hell.
Still, I was grateful that I had time to reconcile with my dad, Big Sam, while I helped out in The Hideaway. The awe and love I'd once felt for Dad returned, and Big Sam came to accept me in those eighteen months of terrible decline. He shriveled to a dry shell but still worked in his dark, smoky bar until just five days before he was taken in his sleep.
Like Magnets, We Attract Page 11