Gremlins are Malfunctioning

by Susan Lain

  Alek opened and closed his mouth, his mind blank. "They're not?"

  "No." Eliot sighed deep, his gaze wandering about the room, not stopping anywhere. "It's funny how you've come to the conclusion that being human is all about reading people right. In reality, people misread things all the freaking time, and they're still human."

  For the first time ever, Alek had to pause to consider what he was being told. If Eliot was correct, then Alek had turned himself into a social hermit for no real reason. That was a disconcerting notion and a tough pill to swallow.

  "You compartmentalize," Eliot continued, and Alek focused on his message. "Considering your job, that can be a good thing. But you might've taken it too far."

  Alek frowned. He wasn't sure he understood. How could one be too effective in one's job?

  "Everything is connected, you see," Eliot explained patiently. "You love animals, dogs and mythkin. That means the ability to love humans is in there too. You can trust scientific facts, until they're proven incorrect, after which you revise your knowledge. That means you can trust people too. Sure, facts can be wrong and people can fail you. But caring and trusting are a part of being a human. Which you of all people should understand since you already know that."

  Alek blinked in confusion. "I do?"

  Eliot smirked. "You practice BDSM. You could have basic casual sex, no strings attached, no feelings to muddy the waters. But instead you are part of a community of like minds. A human community. And each of your past and future lovers, the ones you let in, are cared for and trusted because without those things you couldn't play. You do care and you do trust. Perhaps it's time you took those lessons out of the bedroom and into the big wide world."

  If Alek hadn't been sitting, his knees would have given out and he'd have planted his ass on the floor. His hands shook so bad he had to put the knife and fork down, the china clattering. His forehead felt feverish, sweltering under his fingertips.

  How come he'd never made the connection between how he behaved in the bedroom with his sexual partners and how he could act with other people elsewhere? Alek knew how to read the signs of pleasure and pain from a sexual partner, the tiny cues from a sub that told him how to proceed. Why had he never thought one emotion was in actuality very much like another?

  Eliot squeezed Alek's hand. "You trusted me and cared for me in bed. Can you do that out of bed? Because I think you can."

  Alek squeezed back, his hands still trembling. "Your accusation at the Arrington estate was right, Eliot. I said I barely knew you. You said I knew you well enough to fuck you. They really aren't different, are they? They could be…but they aren't. Not with you and me."

  At first Eliot didn't react. Alek began to wonder if he ever would. Now that Alek looked at Eliot again, he saw reservation and doubt there. Was Eliot appeased or would he continue to hold onto his distrust? For their sake, Alek hoped for the former.

  Finally, after an uncomfortable and lengthy pause of dead air, Eliot smiled, relief evident in his eyes. "No, not with us." Then he leaned in and kissed Alek on the lips. A mere brush of skin, the gesture seemed more soothing than sensual. "Thank you for telling me why you kept the secret. How you feel like you're not one of us sometimes. You may not believe this, but we all feel that way at times. Then we shrug it off and rejoin humanity."

  Alek blinked back tears welling in his eyes. His heart skipped a beat. "I…I'll try." When Eliot nodded back with a smile, Alek added with a sigh, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It was difficult. I felt…conflicted."

  Eliot waved a hand about, dismissing him. "Forget it. I forgive you. Just don't keep things from me again. At least not the big stuff."

  Alek chuckled, relaxing. "I can do that." They kept holding hands, their fingers moving a bit every now and then. After a while Alek couldn't hold back any longer. "Will you stay and spend the night with me?"

  Eliot's soft smile widened into a wolfish grin, and a wicked jade spark ignited in his eyes. "Thought you'd never ask."

  *~*~*

  Placing his trust in Eliot was nothing compared to kissing Eliot. With the tip of his tongue, Alek teased the seam of Eliot's lips till he opened with a sigh. Alek stole his way in and entangled their tongues. He shared Eliot's breath and licked his flavor. Then Alek tilted his head and deepened the kiss, causing Eliot to moan.

  Alek ambled forward, holding Eliot in his arms, and Eliot stumbled backward, heading into the bedroom. The puppies barked as the two men passed them. Eliot laughed against Alek's mouth.

  Alek rolled his eyes, pushed Eliot into the bedroom, checked that all six dogs were present and accounted for and then closed the sliding door to keep them out. "Sorry, babies. Later."

  Eliot giggled. "If they didn't have such an affinity for my toes, we could let them in."

  Alek snorted. "No, we couldn't. Staying on the floor is not their thing. They'd conquer the bed like an occupying force. We'd be the ones who'd end up sleeping on the floor."

  Eliot laughed louder. Alek closed the gap between them and fused their mouths together in a sublime kiss. Eliot clutched at Alek's shoulders, then inched his hands higher to Alek's nape and his hair, threading his fingers through the black strands. Alek molded their bodies together, the fit divine, and slipped his hands beneath Eliot's shirt to caress his bare back.

  Eliot shivered. "Mmm, yes…"

  Alek kissed his way past Eliot's cheek down to his neck, licked along the column of flesh, and sucked up marks, ensuring they could be hidden under the collar in broad daylight. It was the considerate thing to do. Eliot tasted and smelled good, with hints of soap and woodsy aftershave.

  They slowly undressed each other. Buttons popped open, fabric shifted aside, skin exposed naked and warm. When they were plastered together, nude from lips to hips, Alek rocked back and forth, sliding his erection alongside Eliot's.

  "Sex or a scene? Or a bit of both?" Alek murmured against Eliot's cheek.

  Eliot smiled; Alek felt the movement under his lips. "A bit of both, like last time."

  "Good." Alek pulled back to meet Eliot's gaze. "How would you feel about…ice?"

  Eliot grinned. "I've broken the ice with you tonight, haven't I?"

  Alek couldn't help but laugh at the perfectly timed joke. Eliot laughed too, then kissed Alek again, ravenous and eager this time, his tongue delving, his teeth nipping, his suction ferocious. Alek appreciated all of it.

  What he really wanted, however, was a taste of Eliot's dick.

  Gently Alek pushed Eliot back, earning a vicious glare. Alek offered a lopsided smile, fell to his knees, gripped the base of Eliot's prick, and brought the tip into his mouth. He sucked on the head, licked around the smooth, spongy shape, and lapped up the sweet juices forming at the slit.

  Eliot whimpered and jolted, his hips jerking forward. Alek held onto Eliot's hips and kept him still. It had been a while since Alek had last given a blowjob if he didn't count their hurried swap this morning. But like riding a bike, he hadn't forgotten the sensual art. He wetted and sucked in a little more with each dip down till the cockhead tickled the back of his mouth.

  Alek could deep-throat but rarely liked to. With Eliot, though, he felt ready and willing, so he gulped Eliot down to the hilt and then swallowed around his mouthful.

  "Oh sweet Jesus, yes." The last syllable of Eliot's hushed cry stretched on into a moan.

  Alek reached around Eliot to cup and fondle his butt cheeks, the firm round globes cool at first but soon heating up. A part of Alek wouldn't have minded for Eliot to come in his mouth. But he also knew it wouldn't be enough for either of them.

  Alek withdrew, dragging Eliot's cock slowly out of his mouth and teasing him to the very last second. He stood, another scowl as his reward.

  "On the bed, Eliot. On your back this time." Alek waved a hand toward the bed.

  Eliot gave him a dirty look but obeyed, settling on the bed spread-eagle. Alek watched him for a moment, simply admiring the view. He wanted to take a picture so he could relive this
scene in his hours alone later. But he refrained. Eliot might have disapproved.

  Alek positioned himself on his knees beside Eliot, snatched the leather handcuffs from the wooden poles of the headboard, and attached them to Eliot's wrists.

  "Too tight?" he asked but Eliot shook his head, his expression serene. Alek still had to be sure. "I remember your safe words. Want to use them now?" Eliot smiled and shook his head again. Alek nodded his understanding. Then it was time to play. "Last time I spanked you for being chatty and a brat. How would you feel about nipple clamps and a flogger?"

  Eliot gulped visibly, his eyelashes fluttering. His chest heaved more rapidly. But his skin turned ruddy and his cock jumped against his lower abdomen, leaking translucent droplets. Finally Eliot nodded, if a bit slowly.

  Slipping out through the sliding door into the kitchen, Alek was careful not to let the pups in. He knew they wouldn't like sleeping elsewhere for a second night. He considered letting them in after he and Eliot had finished.

  Alek fetched a tiny metal bucket, meant for champagne, and filled it with ice.

  "Mmm, this should be interesting," he murmured to himself as he headed back through the door, mindful of the dogs not getting in. He set the bucket on the bedside table and stopped again to admire his handiwork, Eliot laid out on the bed like a sensual smorgasbord.

  Alek hurried to his closet, his stiff dick bopping and his balls jiggling between his legs, and then he inspected the contents. He opened the lid of the midnight-blue box on a shelf and took out what he needed. Returning to the bed, he allowed Eliot to see what he was holding. BDSM was all about openness and honesty.

  "Now I want you stay absolutely still while I put these on," Alek commanded as he knelt on the bed beside Eliot, showing him the nipple clamps. Eliot watched the metal clasps, eyes wide and dark, lips parted to pant.

  Grinning, Alek bent down and took Eliot's right nipple into his mouth. He sucked and licked around it till it formed an aroused, heated peak. He let his fingers continue the sweet torment as he repeated his actions on Eliot's left nipple.

  All the while Eliot whimpered and shivered but clearly tried his best not to move.

  "Well done," Alek praised Eliot for his obedience. "I'm impressed."

  He attached the clamps onto Eliot's nipples. They turned even redder with the pressure. Alek knew from experience that touching them in this state would be extreme, a mere brush feeling like a slap.

  "Have you ever had this done to you before?" Alek asked, shifting back to his feet to bring a tube of lube, several condoms, and the flogger to the bed too.

  "Y-yes." Eliot's breathy voice spoke of both control and loss of control. Alek appreciated the duality.

  "Did you like it?"

  "Y-yes. Not every time but…mostly."

  Alek wondered what the story was behind the curious statement. Perhaps one day he would find out. He caught the light chain attached to the clamps and pulled on them gently. "Too much?"

  Eliot gasped, his back arching as he tried to alleviate the tightening pressure by getting up and closer to the chain Alek was holding. "N-no."

  Alek mused how long it would take for Eliot to call him Sir. He realized he really liked the prospect. Alek just wasn't sure if that was feasible. He didn't know much about Eliot's life. One thing was certain, though, and that was that Eliot wouldn't have been there with Alek if he'd been involved with someone else.

  "Like before, my sweet Eliot, I want to hear you when my flogger kisses your skin."

  Alek raised the leather flogger for Eliot to see. It was for beginners but packed a sting.

  Eliot blinked and looked up. His gaze had already turned a bit glassy, as if he was losing himself in the blissful headspace subs could reach if treated right. "Y-yes…" The pregnant pause at the end sounded an awful lot like he was holding back saying Sir.

  Alek felt his chest tightening at the possibility. "Ready?"

  When Eliot merely stared back at him, Alek struck. Multiple leather strands, with rounded tips, landed on Eliot's belly with a little thud. Alek started out soft, ensuring only the last few inches of the falls hit Eliot, twirling his wrist only. He liked using the flogger with new subs; but he loved using his hand with lovers like Eliot. It felt more intimate.

  "Too much?" Alek asked, more familiar with flogging the back than the front.

  "No. Perfect." Eliot licked his lips and closed his eyes. A relaxed expression took over his features.

  Alek flogged Eliot's belly, thighs, and upper arms ever so slightly. The leather left behind marks, pink welts that showed an impact but didn't break the skin. Alek wasn't about to turn Eliot around to whack his back. The flogger was nothing more than an appetizer, soon to be discarded in favor of other pursuits.

  Eliot kept sighing and mewling, one right after the other, an exchange of inarticulate cries that spoke of passion and delight. His skin flushed, pearls of sweat popping up here and there, his muscles quivering.

  Once Alek had finished a round, so to speak, he hung the flogger on the small hook on the wall. He leaned in to study the red stripes on Eliot's skin. With his fingertips, he felt the heat they emanated. No lasting damage, Alek noted with pleasure.

  He rose, gripped the flogger for the last time and applied it over Eliot's clamped nipples. Alek kept his hits really light, the ends barely brushing Eliot. But judging from the hushed sobs and the occasional sharper grunt, Eliot was losing his mind.

  Alek observed Eliot's pretty prick change shade from pink to darker rosiness. Crystalline beads of precome fell onto his belly in a constant drip.

  "How do you feel, Eliot?" Alek asked, hanging the flogger away for tonight.

  Eliot's jaw trembled. Tears ran down his cheeks. His hands were clenched. He appeared strained and on the verge of collapse. Alek didn't stop, however, because this was the state of near-bliss that subs craved.

  "You have to answer me, Eliot. With your words," Alek demanded, his tone deepening to a harsher one.

  Eliot responded beautifully to the voice of a Dom. "G-good. Oh, so good."

  First Alek unclasped the nipple clamps. Leaving them on for too long would restrict blood flow too much and cause serious injury. Eliot wept, releasing long drawn-out breaths of relief. Alek worried he'd hurt Eliot but the smile that slowly formed on Eliot's full lips reassured him.

  Time for the ice, Alek concluded.

  After reaching inside the bucket, Alek produced a cube of ice that began to melt against his hot, sweaty palm. This sort of teasing tested even his limits. The yearning to be inside Eliot grew.

  With cautious touches, he glided the ice cube over Eliot's belly which had rosy striations courtesy of the flogger. Eliot flinched and released a muffled moan. He tried to suck in his breath to escape the ice. Alek smiled and did it again, swiping tiny circles around Eliot's navel and across the silky expanse.

  "God, first fire, then ice. Feels amazing." Eliot's hushed, awed tone sent frissons of pleasure coursing through Alek's body. His need expanded, nearly brimming over his patience.

  "You are a bonfire, Eliot," Alek crooned, sliding the ice on Eliot's areolas, around the nubs of tender flesh, cooling him down. Soon the red peaks turned pink and lost their undoubtedly aching rigidity. "No amount of ice can temper your flame. I know I couldn't. For which I'm overjoyed."

  Eliot chuckled breathlessly, locking gazes with Alek. "You are? It's sometimes so hard to tell with you. You can't read people; well, I can't read you."

  Alek's eyebrows rose to his hairline. Alek hadn't expected that. The thought that he could mystify Eliot shocked him to the core. "I'm a simple man."

  Eliot burst out in a short, disbelieving laugh. "You? No, you're complex and cryptic. But I think you're a good man." He let out a small sigh of satisfaction. "And I believe I'll eventually be able to trust you again—in and out of the bedroom."

  Beyond even the reliance Eliot showed Alek right then, allowing himself to be tied up and dominated, Eliot's words imbued Alek with confidence that th
eir relationship was well on the way to being mended. Time would tell. For the first time since he'd been punched at the Arrington estate, Alek dared to feel hopeful.

  When his heart sang a song too, Alek began to grasp that perhaps Eliot was tearing down more of Alek's defensive walls than anyone ever had. That both frightened and elated Alek.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  "I want to be inside you," Alek growled. "Is that okay?"

  Eliot chuckled. "Yes, silly."

  Alek reconsidered whipping up the riding crop to wipe that smug smirk from Eliot's lips. In the end, though, he forewent any further plans of punishment. He craved Eliot too much.

  Lathering his fingers with lube, Alek tested Eliot's small hole. It fluttered against his touch but soon yielded, letting Alek in. Eliot grunted and his body shuddered. Alek made swift progress. He opened Eliot up, widening his channel with two and then three fingers. He probed as deep as he could go. Eliot's channel undulated around him, the squeeze almost unbearable.

  "Please, Alek, I can't wait any longer." Eliot's strained voice complemented the way his hips shimmied back and forth, trying to get closer to Alek's fingers.

  "I'm here for you," Alek assured him.

  He replaced his fingers with his cock and pushed in steadily.

  Eliot grunted and rocked back. Alek felt like a fist had enclosed around his shaft, trying to squeeze the life out of him.

  "You're so tight," Alek whispered, inching forward as best he could without hurting Eliot.

  Eliot barked out a laugh. "Guess you didn't fuck me good last night then."

  Alek gasped. The challenge in Eliot's voice irked him—and turned him on. "I'll show you how good I can fuck," he promised with a growl—while landing a slap on Eliot's thigh.

  Eliot just chuckled and squirmed. "Give me more, hot stuff."

  "That's cold," Alek admonished. "You daring me when I'm—" Alek thrust in the last few inches, causing Eliot to cry out and jolt. "—giving you what you want." Buried inside a loving body made Alek heady. "Giving you what you need."