Embracing a new life

Chapter 6: A nice evening

Their rooms always felt so deserted when Andreji was not around. River stood alone in the library, buttoning his shirt. Andreji was on one of his business trips – ever since he had a fledgling, he usually waited until two or three hunting jobs had accumulated before he went abroad to fulfil them and use the opportunity to deliver the wrought iron work he had been commissioned to fabricate or repair. River had an appointment with one of his new donors in two hours.

He was a little nervous – it was the first time that Andreji was not even anywhere near to call in case something went wrong –, but in the end he was certain he would manage alright. This was not his first time of doing this on his own, after all.

He drank a glass of warm water; then he set off. He had something to fetch before his appointment.

River sat in the living room of a woman that Andreji had introduced him to. The sun was setting. He felt a little strange with the toys lying around. Her children were with their grandmother when she sold her blood to have a bit of extra-money. She had asked him to stay a bit, saying she would feel more comfortable if she got to know him a little better, so they were sitting on the sofa, playing jackstraws, and talking while her blood slowly entered his blood circuit.

River’s mobile rang. “Yeah?”

“Hey. How is your evening so far?” a male voice that River recognised immediately asked.

“Fine. Why?”

“Well, I am on my way home, and I thought we could spend the rest of the night together, watch a movie or whatever comes to your mind…,” Andreji suggested.

“You’re on your way home, at this time of day?” River enquired sceptically.

An indulgent sigh. “I would have been home yesterday if it had not been for the hail. I am resting rather uncomfortably about a hundred kilometres from you and was hoping for something more comfortable once I am out of here. So, what do you say?”

“Well, since you’re literally begging…,” River teased him. “But you have to help me cart something into that hole you still force me to live in first.”

“What is this sullenness?” Andreji asked alert.

“Just kidding,” River avoided an answer.

Two hours later, River was kneeling on the floor in front of their fireplace and screwing together the separate parts of the small table he had bought. In the background, he heard Andreji clean the bathroom. It did not take him long until the piece of furniture was erect and he could place his new, large monitor on it.

In the last weeks, River had taken up his old hobby again. Well, it had been more than a hobby once. River’s mother had been a porcelain painter before she had grown ill, and he himself had inherited her talent in arts. He had participated in courses for young, upcoming artists and had applied for a special arts school. But then his mother’s health had worsened and he had chosen to stay at her side. His dream had had to wait. In the end, he had not had the chance or the patience to pursue it after his mother had passed away.

Now, River had started practicing digital painting, and he had discovered that it felt very natural to him. Every time he tried something new, he was surprised by the outcome. As soon as there had finally been internet access available in their rooms, he had set up accounts at several art websites, and these days, River had his first commissions already. He was also planning to apply for jobs from book publishers and the like that needed illustrations, cover art and similar things, yet in order to be able to work properly, he had needed proper work space and a larger monitor. The display of his laptop had driven him mad and had made his eyes hurt.

The good thing about this job was that River could do it wherever he was. If Andreji suddenly chose to move to Nordkapp (the most northern town in Scandinavia) or whatever crossed his mind, he would still be able to deliver. With the amount of money that was needed to sate his hunger these days, River would not earn enough to be independent from Andreji, but it was at least a contribution, and it gave him something to focus on, a task. It boosted his self-confidence.

He heard the new light switch in the bathroom. There had come a vampire from Manchester who had specialised on electrical installation at the end of February, and now the oil lamps that had been used for illumination so far were discarded.

Andreji took a seat on their new couch that River had insisted on. If he had to live here, he at least wanted the place to offer some comfort. He had also picked rugs and lamps that made the place a little lighter and warmer. Andreji had given him leave to do what he wanted as if he did not care about his surroundings, but River could see that his lover approved of the changes.

“So, what have you got?” Andreji asked in reference to their planned movie evening.

River handed him the two DVD’s that he had brought from the video rental shop. He proceeded with connecting the monitor to his laptop. “I’ve finished two more commissions,” he told his lover offhandedly. “And I’ve received another request.”

Andreji nodded absent-mindedly. “How much do you take?”

River shrugged. “Depends on the amount of time it takes. A quick sketch of two or three hours like this one” – he opened the file of a male portrait – “for private use is twenty pounds. The more details, the more complicated the pose, the more it will cost.”

Andreji eyed the picture. “It is not very realistic…”

“No,” River fended him off immediately, “the commissioner wanted it in manga style. It’s in fashion these days. Took me some tries until I managed it, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s much easier and faster done than realistic art. It’s good that I was asked to do it this way; now I’ve got a proof for others that I can do different styles.”

Andreji raised an eyebrow and nodded indifferently. He handed River one of the DVD and leaned back, tapping with his hand on the place next to him.

The younger man started the movie and joined him. Elongate fingers combed affectionately through his thick, blond hair as he rested his head on his master’s shoulder. River relaxed and completely forgot all his little worries while they sat there and stared onto the screen. The fingers moved lightly over his ear.

The movie went on. River’s scalp prickled comfortably under Andreji’s touch.

Some time later, Andreji’s fingers caressed the side and the nape of his neck; then they brushed ever so slightly over River’s cheeks, his lips, and his throat.

River breathed deeply, barely able to follow the course of the movie any longer. Unconsciously, he stroked Andreji’s knee with his own hand. He lifted his head and nibbled at Andreji’s jawline.

Now, those taunting fingers were slipping beneath the fabric of River’s top and drawing slow circles on his chest. Their tips were cool. River shuddered in delight. He caught Andreji’s lips and relished in the feel of firm, warm, soft flesh meeting his.

River climbed on Andreji’s lap, towering over the other man, his loins pressing against his lover’s upper belly. Soon, his top was gone, and his bottom was thoroughly massaged through his thin trousers. ‘Accidentally’ Andreji’s fingers would graze sensitive areas every now and again, making River squirm under his touch.

“Undress,” Andreji eventually whispered into River’s ear and pushed him gently off his lap. He went over to the table and shut the laptop.

It took only seconds for his fledgling to stand utterly naked in the room. The taller man calmly undid his shirt and eyed the man in front of him. “What a sight to behold,” he said gently as he moved the back of his middle finger over River’s chest. There was also a trace of mock in his voice. Andreji knew all too well that River was a little insecure in such situations.

His hand arrived at the plain below River’s navel. His thumb brushed over River’s hardened glans. The young man’s breath hitched slightly; he was aroused and nervous, his gaze shuttling between Andreji’s face and his own erect member that seemed to be the centre of attention right now.

Slowly, with the hint of a mischievous smile tugging at the ends of his mouth, Andreji started moving three of his fingers up and down on River’s shaft. River gave himself up to the sensation after a moment, seeking hold on Andreji’s strong shoulders and closing his eyes.

It was so like Andreji – touching him ever so lightly as if to torture him with unsatisfied need.

Andreji leaned close to his ear. “Guess what is hidden in my pants.” That was a clear prompt for River to get a little more active, of course.

Yet River knew how to tease, too. “Hm,” he mused, “You are hiding something from me? And here I thought lovers weren’t supposed to have secrets from each other…”

Andreji chuckled dangerously. “We are getting cheeky?” Abruptly, he let go of River and made to pick up his shirt. “In that case…”

A second later, he found a man in all his masculine arousal firmly pressed against his back, one arm holding tightly on to his chest, the other slipping beneath the waistband of his trousers.

“And such a big secret it is…” River pressed his burning lips against Andreji’s neck, standing on tiptoes to reach it properly.

“I could have sworn I had shown it to you before…”

Both men smirked.