Fumbling Towards Ecstasy: Chapter 31
The emotional catharsis had unleashed something in Mark and Sören, a hunger that was powerful even for them - too powerful to be ignored. From Wednesday night through Monday evening, Mark and Sören did little else but make love, sometimes taking breaks to sleep, eat, use the bathroom, take showers or cuddle in the hot tub together, stretch by walking along the beach. But they were insatiable for each other, losing themselves in sex for hours. Some of it a dreamy haze of sensual, slow, tender loving. Some of it fierce, aggressive, biting, scratching, pulling hair, fucking hard. They took turns inside each other. They tasted. Each time was different from the last, like the way a sunset painted the sky a different way each time, and just as beautiful. Just as perfect in its spontaneity.
No matter what else happened between them, Sören would cherish the memory of those days, always. He'd never had it better - it was almost terrifying, how hard Mark could make him come, and yet he needed more. Always more.
On Monday night as they snuggled in the afterglow, holding each other, legs entwined, just before Sören could doze off Mark patted him and said, "We don't have much time left on this place before we have to go back, you know."
"As you know..." Sören mumbled. He smiled, thinking of Dooku. Then he felt a sharp pang - he'd fallen out of touch again for these last few days. He'd been rather occupied. Even though Dooku would be seeing him soon enough, he needed to make sure to send an e-mail or something in the meantime.
"So, as much as I could very easily spend the rest of the week fucking your brains out..." Mark grinned as he traced Sören's smiling lips with his fingers, and gave a little groan as Sören wrapped his lips around Mark's fingers, sucking gently. "If there's anything you want to see or do while we're here, in the time we have left, now's the time for us to do that."
Sören stopped sucking Mark's fingers for a minute. "Right now?"
Mark rolled his eyes, laughing. "Not now, silly. But, you know, maybe tomorrow."
Sören nodded. Without hesitancy, he said, "Muir Woods," the forest clear as a photograph in his mind's eye.
"I was thinking that too." Mark skritched Sören's curls. "Which trail you want to go on? The long one again?"
"Já, let's do that." Sören couldn't resist. "I like the long ones."
It took Mark a moment, and he swatted Sören's ass, chuckling. "I bet you do."
_
It was an overcast and cool Tuesday morning, the kind that made Sören feel more sluggish than usual as he got in the car, almost regretting that he'd asked to go on the hike.
Sören was wearing long pants at Mark's insistence - khakis, today; even though Mark could heal him if he had another bout of poison oak, Mark didn't want to take that chance just the same.
There was something else Mark was having him wear today, too. Sören would normally be dozing off again in the car, but the gentle vibration of the car was creating the most interesting sensations with the plug in his ass. Mark had put the plug in Sören himself, teasing just a little by tonguing Sören's opening before the plug went in - not giving Sören a release. That would be later. Sören was already a little pent up again.
He was momentarily distracted by Mark stopping at a Starbucks drive-thru so Sören could have some coffee. That roused him to further wakefulness, which was just as well because once the drive became scenic, Sören didn't want to tear his eyes away. Even shrouded in mists and fog, it was a beautiful sight - perhaps moreso for the dramatic melancholy of it, as if the land knew they were leaving soon. Sören drank it in. He hoped he and Mark would come back here someday, perhaps for their anniversary...
...and he wondered if there would be a someday. And if he would want to come back here at all if Mark left.
Sören didn't like thinking about that. He didn't like doubting Mark, either, who he'd trusted, and who had been so careful with his heart. Nonetheless, Sören watched the view as if it would be his last time seeing it.
They had taken the Dipsea, Steep Ravine, and Matt Davis trail loop in bright sunshine, and now they were taking it in fog. The way from Stinson Beach into the forest reminded Sören of fairy tales, the feel of going from an idyllic comfortable life into someplace spooky, full of possible dangers as well as possible reward. And the misty forest looked even more enchanted than usual, so much so that they walked more slowly. Sören took more pictures, but even without having photos, he burned it into his memory. It was breathtaking. And not just the way it looked, but the intimate feeling between them as they took it all in together... as if Mother Nature herself had made them a place away from the chaos and pain of the world, where they could just be, their refuge, their sanctuary. Their paradise.
There weren't many other hikers on the trail this morning - Sören hadn't seen other people in at least a half-hour. That was good, as Sören didn't want their peace disturbed. They saw more deer this time, like the deer somehow knew there were fewer people today. No matter how many times Sören saw deer, it still delighted him, fighting back a squeak, feeling the smile light up his face, clapping like an excited little kid. Mark loved his reactions, grinning at him, reaching out to touch him. The exuberance came before the hushed awe, watching the deer before they moved on, so graceful.
"I wonder what it would be like to be a deer," Sören said after they'd paused for their fourth deer sighting of the hike, walking on.
"Always on the run from being hunted." Mark frowned.
Which isn't too different from your existence now. Sören's heart caught in his throat, and he grabbed Mark, hugging him tight. "I know, elskan," Sören husked, tears burning his eyes. Mark sighed, and they held each other in a fierce grip for a moment, rocking together, before pulling apart. "I'll do what I can, now, to protect you."
Mark laughed and patted Sören's head. "You're so cute."
Sören scowled. "I know I don't look tough, but if anyone messes with you I will fuck them up."
"My little kitten has claws." Mark kissed the tip of Sören's nose. He hugged Sören again. "But it means a lot, Sören, that you feel that way."
"I love you, Mark. I would die for you." Their eyes met. "I would kill for you, if I had to."
Mark looked down, then away, and Sören saw the haunted look on his face, as if he was no longer looking at the forest around him but something very far away. "I hope and pray it never comes to that, Sören." He took Sören's hand and led him along the trail.
"But no, seriously..." Sören went back to thinking about the deer, needing a distraction from the feelings - needing to distract both of them. "Being a deer for a day would be fun. Prancing around the forest..." Sören grinned. "Let's be deer, Mark." He knew that wasn't possible, of course, but it was fun to think about.
"I'd still panic every time I saw people."
"OK, so not full deer then. Like... centaurs."
"Centaurs are half-horse, Sören."
"Right. Well... being a centaur would be fun too. I think I'd make a good centaur." Sören thought of his brother's theory of alternate universes and the ways they might differ, and Sören mused aloud, "I wonder if there's an alternate universe where I'm a centaur."
Mark chuckled. "Sören... you are so weird."
"Takk."
Mark tousled his curls. "Don't ever change."
They kept hiking. At last they got to the 10-foot ladder next to the waterfall. Sören paused in his tracks. Mark paused with him, and put a hand on the small of Sören's back.
"Remember you did fine the last time," Mark assured him. "I've got you, I won't let you fall."
"It's not that," Sören said. The swirling mists over the waterfall, the way the falls were more full today with the touch of dampness in the air... Sören's breath caught. He snapped some photos, and then, on an impulse, he kicked off his Doc Martens boots and began to undress.
"Sören?" Mark raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
"Baking a cake." Sören grinned and wiggled his butt. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
When Sören was completely naked he made his way over to the pool, dipping a toe inside, then his foot. He hoped that it was safe to go in, that there wasn't some bacteria, or something living in the water that wanted to nibble on him. But he was too caught up in the moment, deciding he'd take his chances. He waded in the pool, gasping a little at the shock of the cold, and then he got under the waterfall. It was like taking a cold shower, but not as unpleasant as a cold shower usually was. It was crisp, refreshing. While he'd mostly rejected religion, he had a better appreciation now for the symbolism of water baptism, washing away sins, a form of rebirth. Invigorated by the cold water rushing over him, Sören was forced out of his head with all the angst and brooding and doubt, at least for a little while. Here, in this place of perfect beauty, he felt at one with nature. A part of the land, the earth... the cycles of his life like the cycles of the earth. After winter, he was in bloom now, coming alive again.
Mark was watching him, looking at Sören like he was the only thing in the world that existed. And then Mark laughed, and got undressed too. Just before Mark stepped into the pool, he let his glamour go. Sören's breath caught at the sight of Mark's hair down to his thighs, the aura of silver, like the mist surrounding them but brighter - brighter for it being an overcast day, with the forest being dark and shadowed.
Mark joined him under the waterfall, wrapped his arms around him. They kissed, and despite the cold water raining over them their cocks hardened, rubbing together as they kissed and their hands began to roam. Sören played with Mark's hair, ran his hands over the strong biceps, the veined arms, the defined pecs and the washboard stomach, gripped and squeezed the firm ass. Mark's fingers brushed the petal-soft skin of Sören's body, traced the flames going up one arm to his shoulder, the ocean waves on the other. Traced the phoenix and waterbird on his back as if from memory. Walked down Sören's spine, brushed the crack of his ass, smiling as Sören jolted, shivering.
"I love you." Mark kissed Sören's neck, licked it, kissed and licked and nibbled his shoulder. "I love you. So much."
"I love you, Mark." Sören looked into his eyes, the beautiful silver eyes with the touch of iridescence like the little rainbows shining in the misty forest. "You are magnificent. So magnificent, so beautiful, like you belong here, in this place."
Mark took Sören's face in his hands. "I belong with you, Sören." He kissed Sören hungrily.
Sören returned the kiss with all the fire that was in them. He reached to take their hard cocks in his fist, stroking slowly, both of them groaning into the kiss. Mark's hand covered and guided his, with Mark's other hand playing over Sören's chest, teasing the nipple rings.
"Make love with me here," Sören whispered. "Here. Now."
Mark led him out of the waterfall, out of the pool. He stopped at their pile of clothing, and Sören cackled as he watched Mark retrieve a travel-size tube of lubricant and a handkerchief.
"Have lube, will travel," Mark said.
Even though they hadn't seen any hikers for awhile, they still went a few meters away, slightly off the trail - not too far, enough for the waterfall to still be in sight. But far enough for the redwoods and ferns to provide them with a little bit of cover. Sören turned around and Mark pulled the plug out of his ass, groaning at the pop it made when it came out. He rubbed Sören's ass for a few seconds, then slapped it. He wrapped the plug in the handkerchief.
Then he turned Sören around and kissed him. Their cocks slid together again, and they were pulling each other down into the grass, the moss, the dirt, the ferns. The darkness of the forest floor, and Mark's light, washing over them. Gently setting the handkerchief down beside them, keeping the plug safe, Mark lay on his back, looking up at Sören with love in his eyes, and he moaned as Sören poured lube over his cock. Sören straddled Mark's hips and Mark took his hands as Sören sank down slowly. Though he had been open from wearing the plug, and there was plenty of lube on Mark's cock, and he'd done little else but fuck the last few days, Mark was always a tight fit, so long and thick, the biggest cock he'd had. Sören gasped at the feel of being stretched, and then sighed when Mark bottomed out in him, all the way inside.
For a few minutes Sören rode him slowly, his hands sliding over Mark's damp flesh, Mark's hands wandering over him. Lost in each other's bodies, each other's eyes. The pleasure of Mark's cock rubbing slowly against his prostate made Sören cry to the heavens, voice ringing out in the forest. Mark's voice echoed with his, deeper moans. And the occasional shuddery sigh, before Mark gave him a lazy smile, eyes seductive, fingers exploring, teasing.
And then the call of the wild took over and they were like animals rutting on the ground, Sören feverishly bouncing on Mark's cock, his cries even louder, howling, Mark shouting out with him. Mark grabbed Sören's hips, and Sören held onto him white-knuckled, hips rocking as hard as they could, the rhythm of Mark inside him sending him right to that edge. Sören stayed there, going deeper, deeper into pleasure, passion. He had been at one with nature under the waterfall and it was even moreso here, fucking in the dirt, the moss, life feeding on life, fierce, savage, hungry.
When they came together it was the little death, Sören collapsing into Mark's arms, passing out for a moment as his orgasm spun him into blinding light, and deep darkness, melting peace. He came to a few minutes later with Mark holding him, reborn in the light of Mark's eyes. And now Mark was slipping out of him and had the lube again.
"Take me," Mark rasped.
Sören readied him with his fingers, kissing him passionately. Kissing Mark all over, from his jaw down his neck over his shoulders to his nipples, his chest, his stomach, and back up. Spending time teasing his nipples into aching peaks, loving the way Mark writhed beneath him, the look of desperation on his face, the way he moaned.
At last Sören pushed into him, slowly. Began to thrust, slowly. Mark gasped and cried out when the bead in the ring of Sören's piercing started to rub against that sweet spot inside him. "Oh, god, Sören..." Mark shuddered. "Yes..."
"Oh, Mark." Sören shivered too, and let out a deep groan. Mark felt so good wrapped around him, silken heat kissing his cock again and again. It took him every bit of his restraint not to pound into him right there. Not yet.
They took their time, slow and sensual, kissing, caressing. Kissing and kissing, looking into each other's eyes between kisses, stroking each other's faces, their hair, breathing each other's breath. For all of the intimacy they'd shared before, the feeling of rightness each time, it had never been closer than this, more right than this. For a moment it seemed as if the song of their cries, the dance of their bodies, was weaving this piece of paradise into being. Of course that was ridiculous, it had existed long before they got here - but it felt that way. Like the raw, primal force of creation in them both was enchanting the world. Two halves of a greater whole.
"Love you," Sören whispered between kisses.
"Love. You." Mark kissed him harder, deeper than before.
Mark took his hands, and it was then that Sören began to drive into him, letting him have it, holding nothing back. Soon one of Mark's legs was on Sören's shoulder as he hammered away, balls slapping Mark's ass. Mark was even more of a screamer than Sören was, and Sören loved it, loved it, Mark's wild cries bringing out the beast in him.
"Oh, fuck, Sören, that's so good..." Mark's nails dug into him. He grit his teeth and let out a little scream with his teeth clenched, before a shuddery gasp. "That ring. Oh, god, that ring."
"Gonna make you come so. Fucking. Hard. For me," Sören growled, slamming into him as hard and fast as he could go, the friction and tightness around his cock almost too delicious to bear.
When Mark climaxed, shooting all over Sören with a strangled sob, Sören gave in two thrusts later, screaming in Icelandic as he let go. And in Mark's arms once again, he still couldn't find his English, heart pounding like a war drum, the forest spinning, Mark's silver aura seeming brighter, the entire forest sparkling, dew like diamonds.
"Söngvarinn minn. Lagið mitt. Ástin mín. Andardráttur minn, líf mitt."
Mark stroked Sören's cheek, tears in his eyes, a heartbreaking smile. "Loginn minn. Eldurinn minn." A soft kiss. "Kveðja, nú og alltaf."
Sören laughed, tears coming to his own eyes. He found his English again. "I still can't believe you can speak Icelandic. And so well."
"One of my superpowers." Mark gave a sheepish grin. "And it's a beautiful language, Sören."
"It's a beautiful country. You should see it with me sometime."
Mark's eyes were sad. Sören's heart sank, knowing he'd hit a nerve, not really understanding how. But before he could wonder about it, Mark grabbed him and kissed him. "I have the aurora right here in my arms," Mark husked.
"You know, flattery will get you everywhere," Sören said, grinning, poking the tip of Mark's nose before kissing it.
"I hope so. Especially if 'everywhere' means down your pants." Mark winked, and kissed the tip of Sören's nose in return.'
"I think you've already gotten there and have been there for some time. Never left, really." Sören cackled. "You could even say my butt is your new home."
Mark facepalmed, and his laughter rang out. "Wow, Sören, that's sweet and so..." He made a vague hand gesture. "So you."
"Home is where the butt is," Sören said.
"You know what? You're a fucking dork." Mark kissed him.
"This is completely new and shocking information."
"You know what else is shocking?" Mark's eyes flashed. "I want to go again."
Sören grabbed Mark and rolled onto his back, giggling as the grass and ferns tickled him. "We could just stay here," Sören sighed, looking up and up and up at the redwoods.
"We can't stay here forever, but we can stay awhile longer. So long as you'll be in a condition to finish the rest of the trail."
"I think I can manage that, probably."
Mark started kissing his way down. "Good." He tugged one of Sören's nipple rings with his teeth. "It feels so right to love you out here like this, beautiful as you are."
"You're beautiful." Once again, tears misted Sören's eyes. "All of you. Everything."
Mark planted a kiss over Sören's heart.
chapter 32 | return to Under The Rose | return to index