Gunther was dragged up the stairs by a shaking, trembling Casper. Casper had to stop to push up his glasses and wipe away his tears so he could see, and then continue. Gunther was following him up, his expression dazed and confused and Kellen had a feeling that he would have followed him up even if they weren’t holding hands.
Kellen turned his gaze to his Esper. Rhys still had his hands raised, and Kellen watched as his throat worked when Kellen leveled him with his gaze. He looked worried, concerned, and Brent’s gaze behind his shoulders told Kellen that he would have his back to try and catch the S Class Esper if he tried to flee.
Kellen slowly untangled himself from the blanket, Charlie making sure he was stable enough to get to his feet before he made his way slowly towards Rhys. Rhys looked more and more nervous as Kellen continued to say nothing. When Kellen stopped before Rhys, his arms laying flat by his sides, Rhys looked like he was in pain.
"Kellen, just yell at me or something. You look like you want to." Rhys whispered, but Kellen remained quiet for a little bit longer as he looked over Rhys again now that he was closer. He was in a bad state, but not as bad of a state as he thought. That didn’t mean Kellen was happy.
He eventually raised his hand, and Rhys stared at it, unsure what he wanted. Kellen sighed, frustrated that he wasn’t able to understand what Kellen wanted.
"Give me your hand, Rhys." Rhys slammed his hand into Kellen’s a second later, no hesitation.
"Of course." He agreed readily, clearly knowing that he fucked up, even if he wasn’t sure where he had fucked up. Kellen turned his gaze to Brent, who set his jaw.
"We’re going to his apartment so I can speak to him." Kellen told Brent. Brent, the bouncer effectively, nodded and moved to the side, opening the door.
"I’ll come knocking when Taylor is finished with Gunther." Brent told him, and Kellen nodded. He had no plans to take him up to the bedroom or anything silly like that. He didn’t even think he knew where Rhys’ bedroom was in his apartment. He just wanted a private moment with him.
Rhys let Kellen drag him around, even opening up the apartment next door and letting Kellen drag him towards the couch where Rhys had kissed him the first time. Kellen pushed him down onto the couch, Rhys falling as Kellen stood over him.
Rhys was watching him, his gaze concerned as he stared at the expressionless face of Kellen.
"Fix your clothes." Kellen ordered, and between one second and the next, Rhys’ outfit was fully prepared. Kellen’s expression shifted, a frown marring his face as he stared down at the other man before he sighed. Kellen ran his hand through his hair, his movements jerky and Rhys cleared his throat.
"Just...Just yell at me. Please. This is killing me, Kellen. You look...you look really upset." Rhys told him. Kellen, not answering him, crawled onto his lap, surprising Rhys. Rhys’ hands, his knuckles and fingers bruised and torn, slid to his waist. Kellen’s lips trembled as he watched him do so, the torn skin making his stomach drop to his feet.
Kellen reached out, wrapping his hands around the back of Rhys’ neck, his gaze determined.
"I’m guiding you first. Keep count." Kellen warned, before he lips touched Rhys’. Rhys jerked at the sudden feeling of Kellen’s lips and guiding power flowing into him, but the man was smart and didn’t protest, or reject Kellen.
They had done this a few more times since they had suggested that they guide like this a bit more, so Kellen wasn’t as intoxicated from the feeling. Or, at least he had a little bit more control compared to the first few times.
Rhys felt turbulent inside, his ocean vicious, the waves swallowing him as he tried to guide. It was difficult, and Kellen was sure that his own emotions played into this as well. He did his best to temper the seas inside of him, knowing that Rhys’ tongue was in his mouth, the kiss deep and dangerous in a completely different way. Kellen could feel his body responding to the stimulus of this action, but he was ignoring it for now.
Too much needed to happen before Kellen could do anything about that.
Rhys’ gentle pull away, his lips, bruised and split, kissed Kellen’s cheeks, taking him out of the guiding session, coaxing him into other things, but Kellen’s grip on Rhys’ neck tightened, and using his strength, he pulled the man’s head back.
Rhys’ expression was shocked as Kellen panted, his cock hard while he sat in his lap, and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. Rhys had foolishly thought that he was in the clear because Kellen had sat in his lap and guided him with kisses. Forgetting that Kellen was a man of efficiency first, emotions later.
Things had been a little different since Kellen had arrived at the Guild, so Rhys had probably forgotten. Kellen, however, was shaking. Now that he knew that Rhys was safe in one regard, everything was coming to a boiling point.
"Captain Thatcher." Kellen said, and Rhys snapped to attention, the colour fading from his face as he met the crying face of his Guide. Kellen didn’t let the tears stop him from speaking, forging ahead as they streamed down his face. "Why the fuck did you have to make it so real?" Kellen demanded, his voice relatively even considering the emotions that were tearing through him.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: (BL) Hunting The Field Guide