Page 62 of The Other Side

Their foreheads touched first, both of them smiling before their lips met in a gentle, lingering kiss that tasted of cool river water and summer air. And when Drum’s lips left Osian’s mouth and he kissed down Osian’s body until he could wrap his lips around his cock, Drum thought maybe two minutes wouldn’t be long enough. He dropped down a little lower, pushed Osian’s legs apart and licked his balls.

“Gods!” Osian cried out as Drum took one ball into his mouth, sucked, at the same time, fisted his cock, dragging his hand from base to tip and back.

And when Osian cried out again, Drum put two fingers of his other hand into his mouth to shut him up. If they were heard, and reported, he’d lose his job. Technically, he was still on duty. Drum took him deeper into his mouth. He tasted of musk and the river, and Drum’s taste buds tingled. Osian was bucking up trying to get Drum to take more, gasping and groaning around Drum’s fingers. Drum was desperate to jack himself off, but more worried about Osian attracting attention with his cries if he took his fingers from his mouth. So he rubbed himself against Osian’s leg as he worked him faster, sucking harder, taking him deeper. Then Osian was coming, spurting into his mouth and Drum swallowed and swallowed.

His fingers slid from Osian’s mouth and dropped to his cock, only for Osian to push his hand aside and wrap his lips around him. Drum felt electrified. He was too far gone to hold back. Within moments, stars burst in his head, his hips arched and he exploded.

They lay wrapped together as their hearts calmed, cradled in the warmth of the afternoon and each other, and for a little while, the rest of the world seemed far away. Drum wanted to stay there forever but the sound of a dog barking had them reaching for their clothes. The first thing Drum did then was log off.

When they were dressed again, Osian took Drum’s hand.

“Let’s keep following the water for a little while,” Osian said. “See if you feel anything.”

They slipped back beneath the trees. The further they walked, the quieter the woods became. Even the birds seemed reluctant to break the silence.

“Why are we looking for another gate anyway?” Drum asked.

“Because it might be one Belem doesn’t know about.” Osian ducked beneath a low branch, then reached back to steady Drum. “If it is, it’s possible we could cross into Faeryland without anyone noticing for a while.”

“You want to go home.”

“It was your home too.” He smiled faintly. “You could see my parents again. My brothers.”

“But not stay.”

Osian caught a bramble before it snagged Drum’s shirt. He picked a ripe blackberry, rubbed it clean with his thumb, and held it to Drum’s lips.

“Not in that area,” he admitted. “Belem would find a way to remove you. Eventually.”

Drum swallowed the berry.

“But Faeryland is vast,” Osian continued. “There are places where no one rules in practice. Old places. Forgotten places. We could make a life somewhere beyond everyone’s reach.”

Doing what? How would they live? “What about staying here?”

Osian looked away. “I don’t know if I can. It’s forbidden.”

“I’m here.”

“You crossed before your magic had fully awakened. Before you got your wings.”

Drum sighed. “How could I have forgotten about wings. What are yours like?”

“They’re okay.”

Drum started to say something, then fell silent again. He was sure Osian’s wings were magnificent. They’d talked so much about the day their wings would emerge. But that day had never come for Drum. Osian didn’t want to upset him.

“I don’t believe I’d be allowed to stay here,” Osian said. “Someone would come looking for me.”

“Then we need to know what our choices actually are.”

Osian nodded.

For a while they walked in silence, listening to the water winding through the trees.

Then Drum slowed. “I feel strange.”

Osian stopped immediately and caught Drum’s hand. “What kind of strange?”