Saving Alexander (29 page)

“So where is Eric now?” Sage’s voice was deceptively quiet but he knew even as he said the words that he wasn’t averse to dishing out his own brand of justice to a man who violated the man he loved. He could think of a few choice things to do to the man himself involving floggers and whips.

“I suppose he’s still there, at Study in Scarlet. Please don’t go doing anything stupid. Stay away from him. It’s over now and I’m here with you again. That’s all that matters.”

Sage nodded slightly but he wasn’t entirely convinced he would do nothing about it.

“I don’t like the thought of you going away to the US now I’ve just got you back. Exactly how long will you be away?”

“Just for about ten days. It was going to be longer but the plans changed.”

Sage was relieved. “Is that it? From the way you were talking I thought it might be longer. I don’t like the idea of not being able to see you for even an hour, let alone ten days.” He frowned. “Alex, how are you coping now and how will you cope over there without your special sessions? Are you seeing anyone else now?” Sage dreaded the answer.

Alex shook his head as he smiled. “The therapy and hypnosis will help me through these next few weeks. I have to say it seems to be working.”

Sage was quiet. What he was about to say was something he really didn’t believe he would ever say to a man.

“Alex, I know you say you don’t want to drag me into your world. But I’ve been doing a lot of research into the whole S–and-M thing since I met you and I have to say it’s opened my eyes a lot. There are various levels, aren’t there, and you seem to have been able to reduce yours to this flogging. If you had someone who loved you—”

Alex pulled away from him, shaking his head violently. Sage held onto him tightly.

“Alex, let me finish. Please.” He swallowed. “This isn’t easy for me either, believe me.”

Alex raised his head, watching Sage’s face.

“If you had someone who loved you doing what you needed, rather than that someone who didn’t, would that help? Or is it the fact you have no emotional bond to the outside person that you need? It seems to me that some couples make this type of flogging part of their sex lives anyway so couldn’t we just do the same? I know there’s a big BDSM scene in the gay clubs, maybe, you know…”

His face flushed as he trailed off. He’d never offered this type of thing to anyone before and it didn’t seem that bad from what he’d seen on the internet. He’d try it if it helped Alex and kept him out of another man’s arms.

Who knows? I might like it.

Alex reached up, taking Sage’s face in his hands, kissing his chin, his lips, his cheeks and then finally his eyes. Then Alex spoke huskily. “Thank you for that. I know it must have taken a lot for you to make that offer so I’m not going to refuse it right now. We both need to process this and talk about it more when I get back from Boston. You are the best thing ever to happen to me and I love you madly. I’m so sorry I missed your birthday last week too. I didn’t think you’d appreciate a birthday card from me so I guess I’ll have to think of something else to give you.”

Sage kissed Alex again, weeks of pent-up frustration delivering itself in a kiss that seemed to go on forever. “What time do you leave tomorrow?” His voice was deep with desire.

“My flight’s at three o’clock,” Alex whispered against his mouth.

“Does that mean I can come back to your place after this bloody dinner tonight and we can talk more and I can make love to you before you leave me? I’m not sure I’ll cope otherwise.”

Alex chuckled. “I’d be very hurt if we didn’t go back to my place and make sweet, passionate love. It will be a late birthday present. I’m all packed anyway so there’s no need to get up too early.” He punched Sage’s arm hard and Sage winced.

“Just make sure you keep your hands off bloody sexy prissy Lance tonight,” Alex growled.

Sage laughed, loving the fact Alex was jealous. “I’m not into Lance. I only said that to make you jealous. He’s just my plus one tonight. And I’m going to make sure I get home to you as soon as humanly possible.” He shifted uncomfortably. “Actually though, on second thought, I seem to have this little problem at the moment and I can’t go out like this. Perhaps you should come back to my place first and help me get dressed?” He smiled lazily.

Alex looked at his watch. “Yes, I’ll come back to your place and help you get ‘dressed.’ I can’t have you going out in this state.” He brushed Sage’s groin with his hand, causing him to gasp. “And I seem to have the same problem.”

Sage opened the office door and together they walked out into the studio. It was fairly empty with only a few people still milling around. In the corner, Sage could see the rigid figure of Sarah Brose as she watched them emerge from Alex’s old office.

The old battleaxe probably thinks I’ve been diddling her ‘precious.’
Sage thought
. Well let’s see how she likes the fact that I’m definitely going to be doing that in a short while and then again later.

He turned to Alex. “Shall we?” Alex took his arm and together they walked out into the cool of the evening.

Chapter 27

It was now over a week since Alex had left on his US tour and Sage was fed up. Although they texted and called each other every day and the phone sex was pretty hot, he was still missing him. Luckily he was coming home late tomorrow evening.

He sighed as he leaned back in the quiet of his bedroom at his apartment, regarding his laptop screen thoughtfully. He’d been doing a little bit of research on Eric “Man about Town” Rossi, as he liked to call himself. The man was arrogant enough to have his own website, for God’s sake, but he didn’t mention anything on there about his extracurricular activities raping defenceless men. Alex had told him about the lack of condom use and his re-taken test. Sage had wanted to punch something, preferably Eric’s nose. From the looks of it, he was a fairly successful businessman in the beauty products industry. That explained all the men and women currently draped over him on his latest photo shoot to promote some form of male vitamin supplement. Eric was currently at some charity event in central London. Sage wondered whether he should mosey on down there and have a word with the bastard.

He thought guiltily that Alex’s parting words on kissing him goodbye at Heathrow had been, “Sage, promise me you won’t try and talk to Eric or go and see him.” He had dutifully promised his boyfriend that without any intention of keeping his promise. Alex had also sent him a text a couple of nights ago reiterating his desire that he leave Eric alone. As much as Sage wanted to smash his fist into the man’s gleaming white teeth, he didn’t want to jeopardise anything he and Alex were trying to build back up or attract any publicity that may damage him. It was too risky and he was frustrated at having his hands tied like this. Sage was just too happy Alex was back with him and he wanted to make sure it lasted.

They’d also talked about Alex’s excursions to the new place where he’d found some release. Sage hadn’t liked it but at least he knew now that Alex had been careful while he was there and assured Sage he had nothing to worry about. The last thing either of them wanted was to go back to using condoms.

Sage sighed.

I suppose I’ll just have to bloody do as I’ve been told even though it goes against every impulse I have to beat the bastard to a pulp.

He looked up as Dan knocked on his bedroom door. “Sage, are you decent?”

“Well, I don’t know about decent, Dan, but I’m dressed at least.” Sage grinned at his friend as he came in, dressed in his tux. “You look very flash. This investment dinner must be something special to get you in a monkey suit.”

Dan grimaced. “Don’t rub it in. I know you’re used to wearing these things with your la-di-da film star lifestyle but for we plebs who aren’t in show business it’s a little uncomfortable.” Dan smiled at Sage and continued. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that you and Alex are back together. It means I don’t have this Neanderthal grunting around the apartment looking as if he’s going to club me any minute.”

“I only do that to my men,” Sage promised. “You were always safe on that score.” The two smiled at each other in affection.

“I’m off now, the limo’s here. Cherry’s already waiting downstairs. I’ve left some cold pizza in the kitchen in case you wanted it. I’ll see you when I get back. Stay out of mischief.”

He disappeared out the bedroom. Sage turned back to his investigating. Out of curiosity he googled the latest news on the recent incidents involving Dianna and Miles. The story of the newspaper clippings sent to Alex had remained out of the public eye, something for which Sage was very grateful. DS Doyle had kept his word on that one. The press coverage had died down but there were still reporters out there who were convinced something much more nefarious was afoot and beat the drum any chance they got. The infamous “
Double Exposure
Affair” was getting more readers than it would usually deserve. He for one was glad that there had been no more events. Whilst he wasn’t a great believer in coincidences, it looked like the
Double Exposure
Affair had been just that.

* * *

Sage picked Alex up at the airport the following evening. After making out on the airport concourse, amidst various camera flashes and grinning journalists, two hours later the couple were both seated side by side on the couch in Sage’s cottage. Alex had poured them each a glass of wine. He watched Sage as he sipped his drink. He’d relished every minute of the ride home, knowing that soon he’d be home with Sage.

“You are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, you know that?” He reached out, caressing Sage’s cheek. Sage held his breath as Alex traced his face. Alex ran his finger down the right side of Sage’s chin, kissing it gently. He moved over onto Sage’s lap, kneeling over him, facing him, seeing the rise and fall of Sage’s chest as he breathed deeply, his eyes dark with desire. He took the wine glass out of Sage’s hand and set it on the small table beside the couch. Alex was already rock hard. Sage was too, from the ridge beneath Alex’s backside.

“You cut yourself shaving. You have a small scar here.” Alex teased, kissing the corner of his mouth. Sage’s breathing got deeper. Alex’s heart was pounding so fast he thought it might leap from his chest. He licked his lips, becoming more aroused every time he touched Sage. Sage leaned back, closing his eyes as Alex started to unbutton his shirt. Alex leaned forward to push Sage’s shirt off behind him and kiss his shoulder, trailing his tongue across the skin, up his neck to his throat.

“God, Alex, you’re driving me crazy,” Sage groaned, his left hand coming up to slip under Alex’s shirt, touching the warm skin below. Alex shivered at the touch. Alex ran his hands gently over Sage’s stomach. His hands slid over Sage’s nipples before he reached down, sucking them into his mouth, one by one. Sage gasped in pleasure. Alex grew impatient, reaching up to lift his shirt over his head, dropping it on the floor.

Sage was heady with his need to possess Alex. The past week had brought home just how much he missed this man in his life. He watched in anticipation as his lover removed his shirt, baring his battle-worn body, scars and all, to Sage, with what seemed like no fear. To Sage, Alex’s body was a tapestry of his life, showing the dark place he’d come from to where he was now. Which was here, with Sage, and he was damned if he’d let anyone take it away from him again. When Alex had finished devouring his nipples, he sat up, his lips wet with spit. Sage wanted to kiss them, taste his boyfriend in his mouth. He reached up, fingers touching Alex’s sculptured chest, the ridges of his stomach and the fine hair beneath his fingers. His senses swum with Alex’s heady scent of maleness and sex. Sage leaned forward, taking Alex’s lips in a kiss that made Alex moan as he pressed himself closer to Sage. Alex’s eager hands reached down, unzipping him then he reached in, grasping Sage gently.

Sage shifted as Alex softly caressed the tip of him with his thumb. “Jesus, I can’t stand any more of this. It’s been too long.”

Alex moved off him, slipping out of his trousers, standing naked before him. He tugged at Sage’s jeans and he lifted his backside as Alex pulled them down to the floor. Alex climbed back onto him, his mouth finding Sage’s as he straddled him. His hands reached down beside him, picking up the lube, opening it and sliding the vanilla-scented stickiness up and down Sage’s shaft. Sage moaned at the feel of Alex’s hands on his cock. Alex reached behind him, going up slightly on his knees, and Sage saw his fingers disappear into his crease, Alex’s eyes closing in pleasure at feeling his own fingers inside himself. By this time Sage was ready to blow. Anymore of this erotic foreplay and he’d be shooting his load and seeing stars.

“I need to be inside you,” he growled, gripping Alex’s hips and pulling him down. “That’s enough bloody foreplay. I want you, Alex.”

Alex took hold of the back of the couch, lowering himself onto Sage and both of them gasped as he took Sage inside him, murmuring words against his mouth as he rocked above him. “God, you feel so good. I missed your body so much, I missed
you
. I don’t ever want to go away again.”

Sage felt Alex’s heat and smoothness as his hips met his own movements and he thought he’d rather be nowhere else other than inside this man, with his mouth on his and his hands causing havoc to his body. They kissed, rocking for what seemed like hours, and he felt the bristle on Alex’s cheeks against his, heard his short, sharp breaths and the tiny mewls of pleasure he made. Sage knew he couldn’t last much longer. Alex’s cock was bobbing in front of him, looking ready to blow too, and Sage reached out a hand, using his guitar-strumming technique to touch his lover, playing his fingers up and down Alex’s dick with mastery. Alex gasped as Sage’s hands then cupped his balls, groaning and looking down at him with unfocused eyes, his lips wet from kissing. Sage felt his own orgasm building.

“Alex, babe, I am so ready,” Sage muttered. “Come with me, baby.” His fingers continued their strumming of Alex’s sticky, wet and heated erection and Alex cried out as he came, his muscles contracting around Sage’s very aroused cock, causing Sage to press back against the couch as he climaxed inside Alex. Alex’s come spattered their stomachs and Sage’s chest and hand. The two men collapsed together, Alex pushing Sage against the back of the couch as he pressed against him. Sage’s breathing was harsh.