Page 40 of Epidermis

“I want to make you come again,” Jasper said raggedly, nuzzling Konrad’s throat, his teeth scraping against hot skin.

Konrad turned his face into Jasper’s hair with a trembling sigh. “I don’t think I can, darling.” His accent had gotten so thick it was hard to understand him.

“Let me try. Please.”

“As if I’d ever refuse you.”

Jasper smiled against his neck and gave a hard thrust to the spot that made Konrad’s legs shake on either side of him. He was covered in sweat, every breath creating a spike in his lungs—so much for outgrowing his asthma—but he kept pounding into Konrad, dancing on the edge of release himself. Not yet. Not when Konrad was starting to shiver against him, whispering foreign things under his breath in that perfectly wrecked voice. Jasper didn’t even have to free a hand to work Konrad’s cock, it just slid messily between them, pinned between their stomachs.

“That’s it, sweetheart,” Jasper said, rolling his hips to keep the exact angle that had Konrad making some noise for him.

Konrad got tight. The man did love his pet names.

Jasper was approaching the point where even slowing down didn’t bring him back from the edge. He was pretty sure that before long, just being inside Konrad would make him come, even if he didn’t move. It felt too good and he was getting too fucking turned on by Konrad’s voice. There was a harsh elegance to the way he spoke his native tongue that drove Jasper crazy.

He didn’t realize he’d opened his mouth against Konrad’s neck until he felt skin under his teeth. Jasper bit down on the side of his neck, losing the fight against his climax, feeling it rising up to engulf him with or without his agreement.

Konrad’s body locked up as Jasper bit him. “Jeg elsker dig,” Konrad gasped, low and harsh, like the words were tearing something out with them. Jasper couldn’t understand what he said, but if he were to repeat it in English, the closest he could get would be something to the effect of y’eye elks-uh die. He would butcher it if he tried to repeat it, but Konrad said it beautifully.

Jasper groaned loudly as he went over the edge, burying himself deep in Konrad’s constricting heat, both of them clinging to the other as they came. He thought he tasted blood, so he’d either bitten his tongue or he’d finally bitten Konrad hard enough to break skin. They were both panting for breath. Jasper stroked Konrad’s hair, unsure what words could possibly follow what had just occurred between them.

He finally lifted his head and looked down at Konrad, their skin painted the same shade of violet by the lights pouring through the window. A bruise darkened Konrad’s neck and he was beyond disheveled. Jasper’s stomach plummeted, remembering how sweetly Konrad had taken him for the first time. Jasper had tried to replicate it the best he could, but drawing blood wasn’t exactly sweet.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Jasper said, then laughed. It was an awkward, nervous laugh. “Are you… okay?”

“Elskede. Come here.”

Jasper wasn’t sure exactly what that entailed, so he pulled out gently, then let his head be drawn down to Konrad’s chest. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes as Konrad’s arms engulfed him. “I’m supposed to be the one taking care of you,” he whispered, fearing his voice would betray his emotion if he spoke any louder.

“You are. This is all I need.”

It was hard to believe that. He believed that Konrad believed it, but Jasper would make him change his mind. Not because he wanted to. He never did. He just knew when the flames died down, Konrad would see him, and then he would leave. Jasper closed his eyes, listening to Konrad’s heartbeat. They needed to shower, and they would, but first he was going to live in the warmth of this moment until it was smoke.

thirteen

They didn’t end up showering until the next morning. Konrad had woken up at some point, long enough to take Jasper’s glasses off and fold them on the nightstand. They didn’t have time to do anything fun in the shower since they were already late to get breakfast with Hiyori and the others before their flight, but it was still prolonged by kissing and laughing when Konrad used entirely too much shampoo in Jasper’s hair.

“Let me tell you a secret about curly hair. Use the bare minimum of shampoo, and a disgusting amount of conditioner,” Jasper said as they finally got out of the shower.

“Thank you for telling me. I’m very fond of your hair, I should know how to care for it.”

Jasper rolled his eyes, but it lost its effect because he was smiling. “I can care for it just fine.”

“And I can help.”

He humored Konrad by letting him put product in his hair, not having the heart to tell him he didn’t use enough to actually accomplish anything. Konrad clearly thought the shampoo rule applied to product and looked very pleased with himself. So Jasper thanked him through restrained laughter, resigned to the fact his hair would be unbearably fluffy when it dried.

Jasper didn’t want to hear the comments about the bite he’d left on Konrad’s neck, so he grabbed the scarf Konrad had given him and covered up the evidence. He’d get it back from him when they got home.

Home. Fuck. Anxiety tingled beneath Jasper’s skin.

Konrad double checked that they had everything, leaving Jasper to lean against the door, refusing to participate in being a functional adult until he’d had coffee. Jasper usually left at least one thing at a hotel. He always slept until right before checkout, so he just threw everything in his duffel bag and hoped for the best. Satisfied, Konrad grabbed the handle of his suitcase and nodded for Jasper to go ahead, giving the room one last look over his shoulder. He seemed reluctant to leave.

“Don’t look so sad,” Jasper said, holding the door for him. “I’m sure you’ve been on more memorable trips than this one.”

“I’m not so sure I agree.”

Jasper blushed as he hit the button for the elevator. They stood against the back wall, Jasper’s head on Konrad’s shoulder, his eyes closing for the short ride down to the lobby. He was just a very sleepy human first thing in the morning.