Page 19 of The Attercop

What will Declan reveal today?

The anticipation of Declan’s response to his shrink’s question sent a thrill down The Attercop’s spine. The silence was finally broken by a sigh. The Attercop pictured Declan, sitting wherehehad sat less than a week ago. Declan’s palms would have been sweaty and his armpits would likely have been soaked. The Attercop had no doubt that Declan being asked to open up emotionally would create discomfort. He revelled in the thought of Declan being forced to reveal his personal secrets.

“Uh…what can I say. He’s smart—you know, book-smart. He’s not tainted, unlike so many guys I’ve known. He was so nervous when we first met, and terrified of screwing up. But somehow, he has more strength than I ever imagined.”

“What do you mean?” Michael asked.

“Well, for instance, there was an awards ceremony where I got a medal for service to the LGBTQ+ community. I had to give a speech and I was scared shitless,” Declan replied.

“You face people with guns, don’t you?” Michael interjected. “You’ve never said that you felt scared when that happens.”

Declan laughed. “Maybe if someone in the audience had been pointing a gun at me it would have been different. But, speaking in public isn’t my thing.”

“So what happened?”

“Charlie happened. He told me what to say. And he was standing there, right in front of me as I was speaking. I just stared at him and told him the story. It was as if no one else was in the room.”

Oh, puke, The Attercop thought.

“It sounds like Charlie is starting to have a deep effect on you,” Michael said.

“It’s like he…feeds me strength.”

“That’s interesting,” Michael continued.

There was a lengthy silence on the recording.

Declan cleared his throat. “I think I’m becoming less self-reliant.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Michael asked.

“It makes me feel uncomfortable,” Declan replied.

Michael continued. “And how long have you felt this way?”

“Well…I think it began when Charlie came to work with me. I feel like I don’t know who I am anymore because…I think I might be falling in love with him.”

The Attercop stood up and turned off the recording. He knocked back the remains of his coffee, then pitched the cup at the wall, where it shattered. This version of Declan Hunt did not play into his fantasies.

“Charlie Watts—you’ve taken my wild beast and tamed him. You’ve pulled out his teeth and claws and turned him from a circus animal that roars and struts, into a kitten that bats you with its fluffy paws.”

It was time to push Declan a little further. Time to bring back Declan’s fire and rage. Time to show Declan how vulnerable he truly was. Once everything was in place, The Attercop would enact the most important part of his plan and Declan would be his.

Chapter Eleven

Charlie woke. The clock said eight-fifteen. He was having trouble breathing. Declan’s massive right arm was draped across his torso, pulling Charlie tightly against his chest. The man’s pelvis was pressed hard against Charlie’s bare buttocks.

He loved to be wrapped in Declan’s arms. He’d read that in a growing relationship sexual desire was what bound a couple together until a deeper emotional bond had formed and Declan’s body certainly aroused sexual desire. If Declan had been around in da Vinci’s time, he would have been the model for his Vitruvian Man. No—if Declan had been the model, the drawing of the Vitruvian Man would have been hotter. His body wasn’t just sexy, itwassex. And to have full reign over his every orifice, every limb—for Declan to actuallywantCharlie to dominate him—well, those feelings would keep Charlie interested in him even if the emotional bonding took an eternity to form.

Charlie tried to lift Declan’s arm without waking the sleeping giant, but it proved to be more than he could accomplish. He carefully began to slide his body down the immobile mass of Declan’s all-encasing flesh. Luckily, whenever Declan snuggled up to him, Charlie always ended up sweating and the sweat helped to lubricate their bodies. He successfully managed to wriggle himself down to the point where his head slipped under Declan’s arms.

“No,” Declan whined. “I’m not done snuggling yet.” He twisted around and pulled Charlie back into a hug.

“Okay,” Charlie said. “You asked for it.”

He reached down and grabbed Declan’s hard cock.

Declan giggled. Charlie had long ago learned that Declan’s dick was the one part of his body that was ticklish.