Sören and Mark rose with the alarm, grumbling and groaning. Mark leaned to turn off the alarm and then they shared a kiss. Before they could get too hot and bothered, Mark got out of the bed and began to get dressed, and when Sören flopped over, groaning again, wanting just a little more sleep, Mark threw a pillow at him.
Mark had saved two granola bars from the box he'd bought at the store some grocery runs back, which were on the kitchen countertop now, and he slid one at Sören as he took his morning meds, standing in the kitchen in a T-shirt and boxer-briefs. "I know you're not a morning person but eat that anyway, since we've got a long day ahead of us."
Sören did as he was told. As he nibbled he watched Mark looking out the sliding glass door at the sea, a wistful look in his eyes. "You want to take one last walk on the beach before we get out of here?"
Mark nodded. "I was going to suggest that." He looked back over at Sören and managed a smile. "But first... let's make the bed, do a last once-over of the house, and get our stuff in the car." His eyes raked Sören up and down, and he smirked. "You should get some clothes on, too."
"Aww man, and here I was planning on sitting in the passenger seat in my underwear," Sören teased.
After Sören finished taking his meds, he and Mark went to the bedroom and Sören slipped the med minder into his satchel. Mark continued to watch the sea from the sliding glass door in his bedroom, though he stole glances at Sören as Sören changed into a fresh pair of boxer-briefs and a dark blue T-shirt, then jean shorts. He and Mark made the bed together and then Sören put his final set of dirty clothes in a mesh bag to add to his luggage. He brought his socks out to the living room, where he'd be putting on his socks and Doc Martens after the last beach walk, wanting to be barefoot in the sand.
Sören and Mark brushed their teeth, with Sören making faces in the mirror, and then they brought their luggage and boxes out to Mark's Jaguar. Mark's musical instruments went last, placed just so in the trunk. But the very last thing was a small box still inside the house as yet - their lube and toys, which they'd kept out on the bedtable even though they tried to go to bed at a decent hour last night and were behaving themselves this morning. They hadn't gone back for that yet, and Sören wondered about it as they loaded up the car.
Sören was barefoot on the pavement and he took a moment to go barefoot in the patch of grass outside the beach house too, wanting to feel the earth, the dew, of this place one last time.
They did a walkthrough of the house, making sure that everything looked reasonably neat and tidy, leaving the place as they found it. When Mark and Sören decided it was acceptable, they headed out onto the deck hand-in-hand, and into the sand.
It was an overcast morning, the sky dark and dramatic, with golden light piercing silver clouds, making golden sparkles on the water. As they walked along the shore at low tide, Sören watched the play of light and darkness, the light on the water. He finally decided to stop and take a few photos, not simply because it was their last few moments there and Sören was a bit sentimental about that in the place where they'd fallen in love and made love for the first time, but also because there was a wild melancholy to the sky and sea today and that felt right too. Sören had a lump in his throat, almost wishing they could stay here forever. But they had lives to get back to in Oregon. And if they were going to make this work, they had go to back to their real lives, and perform the trial there. The sky's darkness mirrored their uncertainty, and the light the bit of hope they had, that it would work out, somehow.
Low tide became high tide. Sören let the Pacific Ocean wash over his feet, gasping at the shock of the cold water, but it felt invigorating, and just what he needed to help him continue to wake up this morning. As the water rolled back, Sören wondered again about the Silmarils. Watching Mark watch the sea, hair astir in the breeze, Sören knew Mark was thinking about the Silmarils too.
Sören did something he hadn't done in a long time. He pulled his wallet out of his jean shorts, and went into the section he kept for coins. He took out a penny as the sea rolled over his feet again. When the ocean started to slide away once more, Sören tossed the penny into the water, watching it skip before sinking in.
Mark looked at him then. "It's, ah, something I do," Sören said. "Before starting new chapters of my life. Before I started med school I threw a coin in the Goðafoss, and when I left Iceland for Canada I threw a coin in the Goðafoss, and a month or so after I left Seth I threw a pebble at Cannon Beach. I guess you could say I do it for luck or whatever, even though I'm not superstitious."
Mark nodded. "The last time I tossed an object in the sea, well." He looked down.
Sören took Mark's hand. "This is a new chapter in both our lives. If we're both going to work on healing together, maybe you can get the Silmaril back, já?"
Mark sighed. "I think that's a lost cause."
"No." Sören shook his head, feeling a sudden flare of anger again. It wasn't really about the Silmarils, but Mark just resigning himself in general. "It's not." Sören set his jaw. "And you're not."
Mark looked up and their eyes met, and Mark opened his mouth like he was going to say something, then closed his mouth as if he thought better of it. Sören noticed that just as he opened his mouth, the glamour also left his eyes for just a few seconds, the unearthly beautiful labradorescence taking Sören's breath away.
When they got back in the house, Mark took the towel he hadn't packed yet, and as Sören wiped his feet Mark walked down the hall to the bedroom. When Sören's socks and Doc Martens were on, Sören saw Mark come back with the box of their toys and lube.
"You're not fully dressed yet," Mark said, and set the box down on the coffee table, then took out the buttplug.
Sören grinned and dropped trou. He turned around, giving Mark a sassy butt wiggle. Mark rubbed Sören's ass before he slapped it, and then Sören felt Mark get down on his knees behind him. Sören let out a cry as he felt Mark's tongue slip inside him, lashing away. "Oh, fuck," Sören moaned, leaning on the arm of the couch to support himself, knees buckling. "You fucking tease..."
"Mmmmmmmm." Mark licked around the rim of Sören's opening a few times then pushed his tongue back in, licking more slowly and deliberately. He rubbed Sören's ass again and slapped it, hard. When he spat into Sören's ass, Sören almost came from that. Sören let out a frustrated howl as Mark slipped two lube-coated fingers inside him, fucking himself on Mark's fingers, and then Sören cried out again when the plug went inside.
"There," Mark said, standing up, pulling up Sören's underwear and jean shorts. "That's part one."
He turned Sören around, and Sören's eyes lit up as Mark took out the black leather collar with the O-ring, put it around Sören's neck. "That's part two." Mark took Sören's chin in his hand and skritched his beard like Sören was a cat, before smiling and grabbing the box of toys.
Mark didn't put Sören on the leash right away, but he took out the leash from the box and the vibrator, keeping the rest of the items in the box in a place in the trunk where they could be easily retrieved.
The heat of the moment faded as Mark and Sören stood together outside the beach house, looking at it one last time - Sören took a photo - before walking to the car. They got in, and Mark started the car. Sören thought about looking back over his shoulder, but he didn't, not wanting to cry. Feeling a bit stupid for being this sentimental, and yet he was that way all the same.
They pulled out onto the road in silence, and Mark continued the drive in silence. First they hit a drive-thru Starbucks for coffee, then a few blocks later they got to the office of the agent who had arranged everything. Mark took their house keys and put them in a drop box in front of the office, and then he got back in the car and finally there was music, as they got onto the highway.
Mark had on the classic rock station, which would be in range for a little while yet. "Boys of Summer" by Don Henley was on, but instead of singing along they just listened. Sören had chills - the song was way too appropriate for how he felt right now.
Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer's out of reach
Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I'm driving by your house
Though I know you're not home
But I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how you made me crazy?
Remember how I made you scream
Now I don't understand what happened to our love
But babe, I'm gonna get you back
I'm gonna show you what I'm made of
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
I see you walking real slow and you're smilin' at everyone
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
Out on the road today, I saw a DEADHEAD sticker on a Cadillac
A little voice inside my head said, "Don't look back. You can never look back"
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin' in the sun
You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
When the song was over, Mark took Sören's hand. Sören could tell from the haunted look in Mark's eyes and the tight, sad smile that he was just as sad about the enchanted summer ending, just as nervous about what lay ahead. Sören gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"I love you," Sören husked.
"I love you," Mark said.
Their eyes held, and then after the radio call sign announcement there was an acoustic guitar opening - vaguely familiar to Sören, something he didn't fully recognize at first, and then he did, eyes widening. After the drum hit he turned the radio way up, giggling as he sang along with Rod Stewart.
Wake up Maggie I think I got something to say to you
Mark narrowed his eyes.
It's late September and I really should be back at school
I know I keep you amused but I feel I'm being used
Oh Maggie I couldn't have tried any more
You lured me away from home just to save you from being alone
You stole my heart and that's what really hurt
"Hells, Sören."
Sören laughed harder as he continued singing along.
The morning sun when it's in your face really shows your age
But that don't worry me none in my eyes you're everything
I laughed at all of your jokes my love you didn't need to coax
Oh, Maggie I couldn't have tried any more
You lured me away from home, just to save you from being alone
You stole my soul and that's a pain I can do without
"HELLS." Mark glared, eyebrows furrowing.
All I needed was a friend to lend a guiding hand
But you turned into a lover and
mother what a lover, you wore me out
All you did was wreck my bed
and in the morning kick me in the head
Oh Maggie I couldn't have tried anymore
You lured me away from home 'cause you didn't want to be alone
You stole my heart I couldn't leave you if I tried
"HELLS, SÖREN."
Sören was laughing too hard to finish the song. As it wound to a close, Sören choked out, "Your face. Oh god, Mark... or should I say... Maggie..."
"Sören, I swear to god -"
"Oh my god, Mark." Sören doubled over, wheezing. "I'd say I'm sorry but that's... it's so perfect. That's our song."
"It is not our song."
"YES. YES IT IS." Sören laughed so hard he started snorting, and then he noticed that got Mark not able to hide his own laughter anymore, though Mark was still trying to glare... and failing.
"Sören, I'd ask what am I going to do with you, but you'd likely have... a lot of suggestions."
And then "Maggie May" was followed up by "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith, just as Mark was taking a sip of coffee. He ended up spitting, and Sören shrieked with laughter.
"Too bad the dildo's in the trunk," Sören said.
Mark had to pull over, laughing too hard. He leaned on Sören, burying his face in Sören's shoulder, shaking.
"You know, you've ruined this song for me," Mark said when he calmed down.
"I bet I've ruined you for... a lot of things." Sören waggled his eyebrows.
Mark turned pink at that, and managed a little nod and a sheepish grin as they got back on the road. Mark turned the radio off. "We're going to lose range soon anyway, so it's time for playlists."
Mark and Sören both had collections on mp3, and they started off with one of Sören's collections, which was all R&B and hip-hop. Mark didn't care for rap, but he tolerated The Weeknd and Pharrell, and seemed to appreciate Jamiroquai.
"Though, this puts me in the mood for the stuff they were inspired by," Mark said.
Sören nodded. "I could go for that."
Mark had a playlist that surprised Sören, of classic soul. Stevie Wonder's "For the City" seemed appropriate as they left San Francisco. The sun began to come out as they merged onto I-80 E towards Sacramento, coinciding with "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", which Mark sang to Sören.
You are the sunshine of my life
That's why I'll always be around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart
I feel like this is the beginning,
Though I've loved you for a million years,
And if I thought our love was ending,
I'd find myself drowning in my own tears
You are the sunshine of my life,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart
You must have known that I was lonely,
Because you came to my rescue,
And I know that this must be heaven,
How could so much love be inside of you?
You are the sunshine of my life, yeah,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart
Love has joined us,
Love has joined us
Sören got teared up. He was glad the song was followed by "I Wish", something more upbeat, so he wouldn't fall apart.
There were a few more Stevie Wonder songs and then the playlist started a round of Michael Jackson. "Speed Demon" played as they continued down I-80, and then "Smooth Criminal". Sören did what he hadn't done since his days in Toronto, an impression of Michael Jackson with intentionally mangled lyrics.
Wizzawazza wanna dildo
bingabadda fuck you Bilbo
shibbashadda wazza sushi
wanna douchey, yes a donkey
Mark facepalmed, shaking with silent laughter. "Sören, that's not how it goes."
"It's how it goes now." Sören grabbed himself. "HOOOOOOO!"
Later, Mark began singing along:
I'm gonna make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see their needs?
Sören fought back a smirk. Kids without enough to eat. I gave you plenty to "eat", in another life.
A summer's disregard
A broken bottle top
And a one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind you know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know
Sören sang along with Mark on the chorus.
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
Then, smiling at each other, Sören and Mark imitated Michael Jackson with gratuitous cries of "hee-hee", "sha-mon", and "HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!", grabbing themselves. "OW!" Sören howled, and Mark lost it.
"I needed that," Mark said, patting Sören when they calmed down.
"Me too." Sören kissed Mark's cheek.
Mark changed the music then, putting on a collection of Metallica. They were on I-505 N now, and Sören began to see signs for Sacramento, Davis, and... Yolo.
"OH MY GOD, THERE'S A TOWN CALLED YOLO?" Sören screamed. He took out his cell phone and snapped photos, not able to believe it.
"Oh god." Mark facepalmed. "You are such a millennial."
"There should be a town called Swag nearby," Sören said. "That isn't right, having Yolo without Swag."
"Sören..."
That was nothing, however, when they were farther out onto I-5, going past Chico, and Sören saw signs for Corning, which made him double-take. "Does that say Coming?"
"No, Sören, that's Corning."
It was, indeed, Corning, not Coming, but Sören was still in hysterics anyway. "I want a town called Coming. I can be mayor," Sören said.
"Jesus Christ, Sören."
The hysterics started again when they saw signs for Hooker, California.
They took a rest stop in Redding, California, even though they were just over an hour from Weed - it was that last hour that was the hardest to get through. Sören was grateful for the opportunity to stretch his legs and visit the bathroom, knowing that his bladder would probably be screaming "are we there yet?" in that last hour.
And it was that last hour and twenty minutes that Mark didn't want to rush. That part of the highway took them into the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It was an incredibly scenic drive, with evergreens on either side of the road and Mt. Shasta up in the distance. Sören's breath was taken away, and Mark smiled too, the same peace in his eyes that he'd shown in Muir Woods.
"This is why I didn't fly down," Mark said.
Sören nodded. "I took the train because I don't like flying. I mean, I have flown - it's how I've gotten to and from Iceland, after all - but I get anxious on planes."
Mark patted Sören. "There are some places I want to take you, besides Iceland to meet your family. Like, I have a house in Torcello, in Italy, I think you'd like going there."
"Ooh." Sören liked the sound of that - as well as the promise it held for the future. "That sounds nice."
"I'd help you manage on the flight." Mark leaned closer and whispered, "We can join the Mile High Club."
"What's that?"
Mark raised an eyebrow. "You... you don't know? With all of your experience?"
Sören shook his head.
"Sex on a plane."
Sören threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, wow." He grinned at Mark. "You've never..."
"I don't get around much, Sören. Like I told you when this happened, it's been years. But I've, you know, heard things. Read things. And that's something we can try, sometime."
"Mmmmm, yes." Sören sighed, and forced himself to look at the scenery again - not that his arm needed to be twisted on that, it was exquisite. "I'm glad you drove. This is amazing."
Just before their stop in Weed, they got a good look at the dark mountain of Black Butte - once again, sending Sören into hysterics. "It's the biggest, blackest butt," Sören said.
Sören had to take some photos of the highway signs for Weed - including making Mark pull over so he could take a selfie at the city limit. He immediately sent the selfie in an attachment to Dooku.
Five minutes later he got a text back, simply: Oh dear.
Sören snorted. "Oh, Nico," he said aloud.
Mark raised an eyebrow. "You sent that to Professor Dooku?"
Sören nodded.
Mark also nodded. "So... tomorrow night I'm giving you the night off, once we're back in Oregon, since we probably need to take care of some stuff around our respective houses with having been away all summer..."
"That's fair," Sören said. He'd miss spending Saturday night with Mark after having gotten used to sleeping with him these last few weeks, but they also had agreed they weren't living together right now and if Sören was still going to make time for Dooku and have some personal time, they would have to have the occasional night off before they started living together, if they ever did. "I'm seeing Nico on Sunday, since, you know, I haven't seen him since June."
Mark nodded again. "I can come get you on Sunday night, if you want?"
"Please. Even with it being one night off, I'll be pent up." Sören realized how desperate that sounded, shameless, but that was what Mark did to him. The purring of the engine was making him conscious of the buttplug again.
"Same," Mark said, turning pink. "And I'll miss, you know... just holding you. Feeling you next to me." Mark reached to stroke Sören's face, which made Sören smile, his own cheeks flushing. "But... it'll be OK. It'll give us an appetite."
"Mmmm."
"And we'll make sure to make tonight really count."
"Sounds like you have plans."
Mark said nothing, only grinned. "Dinner first."
They went to a steakhouse in Weed. Sören felt a little self-conscious, both at the price of the menu, and getting a few disapproving glances. They were in a small, rural town, so perhaps it was to be expected that even in 2017 not everyone would be so accepting of two men who were obviously a couple quietly having dinner together, but it made Sören feel bristly anyway. Enough that it put him in a "freak the mundanes" sort of mood, wanting to grab Mark and kiss him - wild fantasies of Mark taking him on the table, fucking him in front of everyone, the sheer hotness of it turning uptight straight men into horny gay animals, mauling each other - and he had to behave himself. But Mark seemed to know what was on Sören's mind, playing footsie with him under the table. And when Mark ordered a simple dessert of fresh fruit and cream, Sören found it even harder to behave. They made a display of feeding each other pieces of cream-dipped fruit, sucking each other's fingers, not caring what people thought. By the time they left the restaurant Sören wanted to pull Mark down into the grass with him right there.
When they arrived at the hotel where they'd be spending the night, Mark finally took the leash that he'd had within reach at the driver's seat but hadn't used yet, and clipped it through the O-ring on Sören's collar. He slipped the vibrator into his pocket. They took their overnight bags from the trunk - Mark shoved the box of toys and lube in his - and marched into the hotel, with Mark walking Sören on the leash.
Mark gave his name at the desk, explaining he had a reservation, and the receptionist looked it up on the computer, confirming. As the receptionist grabbed the keys for the room, Mark said, "I hope you allow pets here."
Sören almost howled at that.
The receptionist looked at Sören on the leash, and the look of mischief on Mark's face, and said nothing, only raising an eyebrow as she handed over the keys. "Have fun," she said.
Mark slapped Sören's ass as they walked off.
As soon as they got in the hotel room they began kissing and undressing each other. Mark led Sören to the bed on the leash, and Sören instinctively got on all fours. Mark pulled the plug out of Sören's ass, and tied the leash to the bed. Sören whined, wiggling his ass to tease Mark back, watching helplessly as Mark opened the overnight bag and began rummaging around for the box of toys and lube. He got up on the bed with the lube, glass dildo, and the vibrator, and got on his knees in front of Sören. Mark grabbed Sören's curls, pulling him down towards his hard cock, already slick with dripping precum, looking delicious.
Sören took Mark's cock into his mouth, fitting in as much as he could, bobbing his head, going to town, sucking hungrily. Mark groaned, pulling the leash with one hand, pulling Sören's curls with the other. Sören made slurping noises as he sucked away, greedy for it, hard and fast. When he swallowed Mark down to the hilt, deep-throating him, Mark cried out, and the way he trembled and gasped for breath made Sören smile around the cock in his mouth, reveling in the sweet power of undoing his mate. And the sweet surrender of being so needy for this, so wanton, after months of cold disinterest with Seth's abuse. He was alive again, on fire again, and it felt good. He loved being slutty like this, feasting on Mark's cock, feasting on life once more.
"Oh god, Sören." Mark shivered. "Oh, fuck." His eyes rolled and he closed them, letting out a deep groan.
Sören took Mark's cock out of his mouth and licked the head, the frenulum, up and down the shaft before focusing on the head and frenulum again, reaching to play with the shaft as he sucked. He tapped the head against his tongue, making a trail with the dripping precum, before sucking the head back into his mouth, swirling his tongue as he sucked, kissing it.
Mark took the glass dildo and began toying Sören's ass with it as Sören sucked. Sören moaned around the cock in his mouth, fucking himself on the dildo. "Such a good boy," Mark whispered, tugging on the leash with the other hand. "So good at this..."
"I love doing this to you," Sören rasped, before taking Mark's cock back in his mouth, slurping on it noisily, devouring. Mark groaned, grunted, gently thrusting into Sören's mouth, working the dildo in him harder.
Again, Mark tied the leash to the bed, so the hand not working the dildo could grab Sören's hair. Sören loved that, sucking even harder and faster.
When Mark let go of Sören's hair, Sören whimpered with protest. His eyes widened as he saw the vibrator in Mark's hand. He screamed around the cock in his mouth, his own cock throbbing, leaping as Mark turned the vibrator on and began to rub the vibrator against Sören's pierced nipples, while continuing to push the dildo in and out of Sören with the other hand. Sören got right on that edge, close to coming.
But not yet. Mark kept him on that edge, rubbing Sören's nipples with the vibrator, Sören sucking his cock in time with the thrusts of the dildo inside him. Then Mark slid the vibrator down to Sören's cock, rubbing it around the head, and up and down over the frenulum. The vibrator on his frenulum drove Sören wild, bucking feverishly against the dildo. Sören pleaded with his eyes, desperate to come. Mark slowed down the dildo, a wicked look in his eyes.
Two could play the teasing game. Sören took Mark's cock out of his mouth and started licking it again, this time slowly, deliberately. Mark gave a deep grunt of frustration and Sören flashed him a grin before his tongue licked even slower.
Mark teased right back. He took the dildo out of Sören's ass altogether and replaced it with the vibrator, pushing it in and out slowly. Sören whined, and Mark slapped Sören's ass with his free hand. Then he shoved his cock back in Sören's mouth and began fucking Sören's mouth, slapping Sören's ass as he teased with the vibrator. Sören loved it, his body shaking, cock twinging, jolting, grabbing at Mark's flood of hair in his frenzy.
At last Mark relented. He took his cock out of Sören's mouth and came around the other side of him, fucking him from behind, while he used the vibrator on Sören's frenulum again. Sören loved being taken like this, leash tied to the bed. His hips rocked back at Mark, fucking himself on Mark's cock, rubbing desperately against the vibrator on his own cock. "Oh shit, oh god," Sören cried out. "Fuck me, Mark, fuck me, fuck me..."
Mark slapped Sören's ass. "The entire hotel is going to hear you, slut."
"Yes, good." Sören let out a primal growl that sounded inhuman, his hips slapping back at Mark's even harder. "Fuck me, fuck me, fuckmefuckmeFUCKME."
Mark made a growl of his own, fucking Sören harder, the slap of their flesh almost as loud as the sound of their voices. Mark let out a cry as he pounded into Sören faster, and Sören cried out as he took every punishing thrust.
"Yes, yes, more, more," Sören begged.
"So loud." Mark gave a deep groan.
"I want. Everyone. To hear us. Fuck." Sören grabbed the headboard, rocking back at Mark as hard as he could, reveling in the obscene slapping sound of their hips, Mark's balls slapping against his. "Fuck me. Take me. Breed me. I want you so fucking bad... I need you... I need this..."
"Oh god, Sören." Mark grabbed Sören's hair again.
The vibrator left Sören's cock and began to tease his nipples once more, and Sören screamed. He loved to be teased like this. The vibrator went back and forth between his nipples and then it was on his cock and Sören was so close. So close... "More, more, more, MORE..." Sören gave a wordless cry.
Mark fucked him even harder and soon Sören's panting, breathy moans of "more, more" trailed off as he couldn't make words at all, only screams, accompanied by Mark's growls and grunts as he took what was his, and took it hard. Sören was starting to sweat. Mark wasn't kidding about wanting tonight to count. He was already being worked hard, and they had only just begun.
The delicious rubbing on the sweet spot inside him and the vibrator on the sweet spot on his cock sent Sören into a powerful climax, and a loud one. A few seconds later Mark was screaming too as he erupted deep inside him, and the feel of Mark coming in him made Sören shatter, shooting off another load, his fingers and toes curling involuntarily.
Mark managed to untie the leash from the bed as he lay on top of Sören's back, little kisses over his shoulder. Sören watched the leash wrap around Mark's hand, and he found that comforting.
Eventually they ended up on their sides, legs entwined. Mark continued holding Sören as he recharged - he normally didn't need so much time but that orgasm had been intense. Finally, with Mark kissing him, Sören's cock woke up again. And now Mark rolled onto his back, grabbing Sören's hips. "Ride me, baby," he husked.
Sören straddled him and sank down. He rode slowly at first, both of them moaning at the sweet teasing of it. Mark's hands slid over his damp flesh, caressing, loving. Sören's hands explored Mark, loving him right back.
When the vibrator was on his nipples again, Sören rode harder, and harder still when Mark rubbed the vibrator on Sören's frenulum. When Mark leaned up to lick and suckle Sören's nipples, that was it. Sören bucked like he was riding a bull, bed slamming against the wall, crying out at the top of his lungs. He didn't care if all of Weed, California heard him. Set Weed ablaze with our fire.
Sören had another mind-blowing orgasm, with Mark following a few thrusts later. They held each other, giggling in the euphoria of their release, kissing, then raining kisses over each other's faces. They tangled together, snuggling, petting, perfectly cozy.
Their bodies hungered for more a little while later, and now it was Sören's turn to take Mark. Some payback was in order, Mark laying on his back and Sören slow-fucking him, the vibrator playing on the slit of Mark's cock and the frenulum, rubbing up and down. Sören went slowly inside him, rubbing the vibrator on Mark's cock as long as he could stand it. When Sören sped up a little, he took the vibrator off Mark's cock and teased his nipples with it, vibrating one then the other, leaning down and licking and suckling the one he'd just finished using the vibrator on as he rubbed the vibrator on the other. Mark reached down to stroke himself and Sören smacked his hand away, grinning as Mark howled with frustration.
Sören worked the vibrator on Mark's cock again as he sped up some more, enjoying the way Mark rolled his hips back at him, desperate for Sören's piercing on his prostate. Sören continued to lick, suck and nibble Mark's nipples, which got him hot enough to go faster inside him, and faster still, until he was pounding away, his heat fueled by the way Mark grabbed him, crying out at the top of his lungs again and again. He loved being with another screamer. Like father, like son, he thought to himself, and that thought didn't turn him off at all but made him fuck even harder and faster, sweeter for the sin.
Before Mark could come, Sören slowed down again, the vibrator on Mark's nipples as Sören licked and kissed and sucked and nibbled Mark's neck and shoulder. "So beautiful," Sören whispered. "I want to savor you."
"Oh god, Sören." Mark shuddered. "I love you..."
"I love you, elskan."
He sped up for the finish when their mouths met, kissing each other like they were trying to eat each other alive, and Mark's nails raked him. Sören stopped using the vibrator altogether and took Mark's cock in his hand, stroking him in the same furious, savage rhythm of his thrusts. When Mark came, shouting as his seed spilled over Sören's chest - hitting Sören's own nipples, driving him crazy - Sören took one, two, three last thrusts and then he was done, coming so hard it felt like he was being ripped apart.
They lay there, dazed, and then the bliss of the afterglow was as lovely as anything. A literal afterglow - Mark's aura was brighter. The silver starlight wove over Sören and he felt himself drifting off, perfectly at peace.
Some time later, he stirred, his cock ready for more at the feel of Mark against him. And Mark was just as ready as he was, cock rubbing cock.
Yes, they were definitely making tonight count.
_
They slept in the next day, but Mark wasn't annoyed by that, a shit-eating grin on his face as they went out to the car. Mark was also walking funny. They both were.
They got back on the highway, turning into Yreka. Mark had on some 80s music now.
Holding back the years
Chance for me to escape from all I've known
Holding back the tears
Cause nothing here has grown
I've wasted all my tears
Wasted all those years
And nothing had the chance to be good
Nothing ever could yeah, oh
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on
So tight
It wasn't far from Yreka to the border of Oregon, and Sören and Mark both cheered as they saw the WELCOME TO OREGON sign.
But they had another four-plus hours ahead of them, a sunny afternoon through the middle of nowhere. After an hour of 80s music, Sören put on his industrial collection, the wild, lonely forest of southern Oregon rolling by to the sounds of Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Filter, Ministry, and Device, which was a bit unsettling, making Sören feel like he was in some sort of post-apocalyptic movie.
Mark seemed unsettled by it too, and finally Sören changed the music, putting on his collection of old school goth, which was only slightly better. However, the forest up I-5 with the melancholy, atmospheric music of Joy Division, The Cure, Depeche Mode, and Siouxsie was fitting. And moreso when they reached the part of the playlist where Cocteau Twins started, as they got closer to Eugene, the home stretch before Corvallis. Sören smiled at the shimmering guitars and ethereal vocals, Liz Fraser's glossolalia mirroring his own wonder-beyond-words at the home he'd claimed for himself.
Once again, they took their rest stop an hour away from the destination. It was late enough to have dinner, so once they hit Eugene, Mark pulled over and checked the Internet on his phone so see what was good, and then set a GPS course for a restaurant they mutually agreed on, wanting Middle Eastern food. They ordered the same thing - kebabs and hummus. In contrast with Weed, nobody in Eugene seemed to really care that they were a gay couple, and Sören saw what he thought was a few gay and lesbian couples in the restaurant, including a lesbian couple sitting near them who were also obvious Pagans, overflowing with crystals and amulets. Sören recognized Norse runes on one of them and smiled.
"Hokey religions," Mark said under his breath before taking a bite of pita with hummus.
Sören nodded. "At least they don't look like racists. That's a real problem with, you know, people who are interested in my heritage, in this country." Sören made a face. "I've never understood that. People are people. We're all human. And my people eat fermented shark and sheep's head willingly, that is the opposite of whatever the fuck a master race is."
Mark laughed so hard he needed water. "I love you, you know."
Sören beamed. He loved making Mark laugh. "I love you too."
The drive from Eugene to Corvallis was nice and relaxing, though Sören was glad to be back just the same, feeling a bit tired - last night had worn him out, never mind being on the road for hours. Once they reached Corvallis they weren't quite done. As they crossed the city limit, Mark looked at the clock and then at Sören. "You need to go grocery shopping or anything? I know you usually get Dooku to help you with that, but..."
"But it's late and I don't want to drag him out at this hour. He totally would, because he's like that." Sören shook his head, marveling that he had such a loyal, devoted friend, especially when they had gotten off so much on the wrong foot at first. "I'd feel bad, though. I'm gonna call him when I get in, if he doesn't already notice I'm back, but I don't want him to have to run out this late."
"Yeah, I understand, hence why I offered."
Mark's car was full enough with their stuff that Sören couldn't get too crazy at the store, nor did he feel like spending a lot of time in the store with a huge amount of items. He needed just enough to get him through Sunday and probably also Monday and Tuesday, though he knew Dooku was taking him out to eat tomorrow and he'd be seeing Mark on Sunday night. "We doing your place tomorrow night?" Sören asked at the checkout.
Mark nodded. "I'll pick you up around 7?"
"That's perfect."
At Sören's house, Mark helped him carry in the groceries and then his luggage and boxes. It felt so strange to be coming back to his house after two months away, like he was in a new place even though he'd been living in this place for two years.
After everything was inside, Mark lingered. Sören thought about giving him the tour but he knew they were taking the night off and the longer Mark stayed, the more tempting it was going to be to have Mark sleep over.
Sören also realized, as he walked from the living room into the kitchen, that he felt very weird about Mark sleeping over here. He was happy to sleep at Mark's place, but... Seth had been here. Seth had, at one point, been living here - forced his way in. Sören figured he could revisit the issue of Mark sleeping over when he wasn't brain fuzzy from being on the road all day, but right now it just felt bad, even if Mark wanted to.
But while Mark was here for a few minutes, Sören walked him over to the pot plants, which sure enough, had been thriving under Dooku's care. And then Sören saw a little gift had been left for him at the plants - a note that said "welcome home" in perfect, elegant cursive on gilt-edged parchment and a bag of the peppermints that Dooku knew Sören liked, tied up with a gold bow.
Sören wanted to go over there and hug him. But it was late.
"Your plants look good," Mark said. Then he noticed the other plants Sören had - succulents, in ceramic bowls, that required less care than his pot plants, though Dooku had been giving those care as needed as well. "Wow, you really like cacti." He ran his finger along the edge of a bowl. "That's gorgeous, did you make that?"
Sören nodded.
"God, you're talented." Then Mark leered at him. "In many ways."
"Já, you better get out of here before I don't let you leave."
At the door they hugged and kissed. They pulled apart reluctantly, then Mark grabbed him, slammed him against the wall and kissed him again.
Breathless, Sören stroked Mark's hair, his face. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Now get out." Sören gave him a playful swat.
"Feisty. I like that." Mark chuckled as he opened the door.
Mark gave a little wave over his shoulder as he walked off, and Sören sighed as he watched Mark walk away.
Sören went to the bathroom, and then he set to work putting the groceries away. He had a lot to unpack from his luggage and the boxes, and he wasn't going to do all that tonight, only taking out what he needed. That included his stuffed animals, as he needed them to sleep.
The house seemed really empty now, so Sören put on the stereo, and as he poured himself a glass of juice he decided to call Dooku.
Dooku answered on the first ring. "Hello, Sören."
"I'm back."
"I saw."
"As you know..."
"Yes." Dooku chuckled. "How was your trip, dear?"
"Long."
"Have you eaten?"
Sören thought of how hungry he was for Mark's cock last night. "Já, we got dinner in Eugene on the way back. This really good Lebanese place. We should go there sometime, actually!"
"Yes, that sounds good. Well, if you hadn't eaten yet, I was going to tell you to walk over and I'd heat you up my leftovers from this evening..."
"Awww, Nico, you're a... what do the Americans say? A peach. Well, fuzzier than a peach, I suppose." Sören laughed to himself, thinking of Dooku's beard... which led to thinking about chest hair. The thought of Dooku shirtless... Sören shivered. He smacked that thought away, not wanting his lingering horniness to send him down dangerous paths with his best friend. "No, I'm good for tonight."
"All right. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
"Yes. Ah... where are we going?"
"I was going to take you to Salty's on the Columbia up in Portland, to say welcome home."
"Oh, Nico." They had been there a couple times before, the first time being when Sören was staying with him following the accident in December. It was upmarket, and Dooku always insisted on paying there. "All right, if you must." He didn't want to take advantage of Dooku's generosity.
"I must. So yes... some time on the Portland Waterfront, and a meal there?"
"Sounds good to me. Twelve noon pickup? I need to sleep in." Sören couldn't remember if they'd already decided on a pickup time, but he'd worn himself out last night and typically after travel he needed extra sleep anyway.
"Yes. Sleep well, Sören. I'm glad you're back."
Sören couldn't resist. "Hi Glad You're Back -"
Beep-boop.
Sören laughed to himself as the call ended. He knew Dooku well enough to know the annoyance was mostly feigned, and sure enough, when Sören passed by his kitchen window and saw Dooku in his own kitchen, Dooku paused at the window, smiled and waved. Sören waved back. Already, the house felt less empty.
Sören showered, brushed his teeth, took his night meds, and put on a T-shirt and boxer-briefs to sleep. He unpacked a little of his art supplies before his night meds kicked in, and it didn't take long for him to fall asleep once he hit the pillows. In the middle of the night he cried out for Mark, and reached for Bláberja, which now reminded him as much of Mark as it did his own mamma, and strangely enough also had Mark's scent, which Sören breathed deep until it relaxed him and put him back to sleep.