AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We went camping once,” said Clint, his heart slowing as he thought about the trip that was still ingrained in his memory. The flames called him in deeper as they spread to a larger log and Scotland took a step back as the warmth grew stronger.
“There were six of us—all couples.” He licked his lips. “The others went to go swim at a little lake that was close to our campsite. We were tucked out of the way in a spot that looked like someone had hacked it out of the forest with an ax alone. The nights were terrible.” He rolled his shoulders. His back had ached for a week after sleeping on the ground when their air mattress decided to deflate on the first night. He’d been too cheap to go get a new one, even though Ross had had ample money.
“We were out of the house—where I was usually Dominant—but Ross grabbed me by the wrist when I wasn’t expecting it, shoving me against a tree.” He looked to his wrists where he could almost see the rope that had bound him in place, wrapped around the trunk completely naked. “The bark hurt the most. I hadn’t expected that. It tore at my chest and scratched up my cheek.” His cock had been in even worse shape when he’d tried humping as Ross had squeezed his ass before spanking him a few times.
“He had something in his hands. I didn’t even know what it was until I felt the wetness on my back and caught the smell of it.” His mouth flooded with saliva. It was just like smoke curling from the pit, only brighter—sharper.
“I didn’t know what he was using for fuel then, but I recognized the smell deep down. We’d talked about fire play before, but I’d never thought it was something Ross would do to me. It was so dangerous.” He curled around himself, reaching for his back.
“The first letter was an ‘S’. I remember thinking he was drawing a snake before he lit it. I wish I could have seen what it looked like as it burned so hot I thought I’d be scarred forever before he smothered it with a fireproof blanket.” He leaned back against the chair, sweeping one hand over his groin. He was rock hard. “The second letter hurt so much more. It was an ‘L’ and he made it big enough that the bottom was just above my ass. When he lit it, I screamed, but not for long.”
“Did he gag you?”
Clint started at Scotland’s voice. He’d been so lost that he hardly remembered where he was.
He shook his head. “No. He choked me out.”
Dragging his nails over the tops of his thighs, he let out a shudder. “He lit the ‘U’ when I woke up. I came as he smothered the ‘T’ and pushed me against the tree, making me hurt.”
“Holy fuck.” Scotland was flushed as he dragged a hand through his hair, his eyes dark in the light of the fire.
“Our friends saw me when they came back from the swim—still naked with letters burned into my skin like sunburn. I didn’t think I would ever come down from that high.” He chuckled, grinning.
“The drop sucked, though. Ross did everything he could, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile for two weeks. It took me a month to convince him to do it again.”
Leaning forward, he raised his hand toward the flames, waving his fingers as the heat singed his nerves. “That’s why I don’t like fire. Because I know I’ll never get to have it again—not in the way I want, at least. It took that from me. I won’t let it take anything else.”
“I’m sorry,” said Scotland, standing from his chair and heaving the bucket of water off the ground with a grunt. “I’ll put it out.”
No, no, no. It had barely begun, and the flames seemed so trapped within the circle, far from whipping out of control like he’d expected. Not yet.
“Wait.” Clint bit his lip, sawing it between his teeth. “You promised me a s’more. I’ve been good, right?”
* * * *
Scotland
He was going to die a happy man with a hard cock, blue balls and a broken heart. Friends. I can do this. He’d fucked up in the tattoo parlor, and in the grocery store, too, but it wasn’t going to happen again. Hell, that sucks.
He’d been pissy after a long day and a no-show, so when he’d spotted Clint by the fire pit again, he’d had enough. He grabbed the closest lighters at hand with every intention of starting a bonfire. What are friends for?
I’m done. He bit his tongue until he tasted blood. He was a bit of an asshole, so what? Belittling someone’s trauma like that was one of the biggest dick moves he’d ever pulled. But he’d fucking tried.
He’d tried the sexy way and the conditioning way where he’d set fake flickering candles at the dinner table each night. Clint would always look at them before turning them off without comment.
He couldn’t have expected Clint’s reaction as soon as the flames caught. He’d been ready for fear or another breakdown. Hell, maybe that was what he’d been hoping for in his own fucked-up way.
“I think maybe you should go back to Unkinked,” Scotland bit out, resting his elbows on his knees to shield his groin from view. He had to get Clint away before he spiraled any deeper into whatever was going on. Scotland had pushed people before, but he’d never been such an outright asshole.
Clint snapped his gaze up, scrunching his forehead in confusion. The s’mores were forgotten between them, the chocolate-covered cookies probably getting soft from the heat of being too close to the fire. But Scotland refused to move back when Clint was pressed as close as he could without actually getting burned, leaning forward in his chair and completely entranced.
“Why?” Clint clutched at the armrest of his lounger. From his position, Scotland could see everything from the bulge in his pants to the peaks of his nipples through his shirt. He’d been turned on since the flame had licked the first curled edge of the paper.
Dragging his gaze away, he looked to the field. The donkeys had retreated to the far side to lounge in the shelter of tall grass, and they probably wouldn’t move much for the rest of the night. “I’m not sure if this was the best idea, after all.” He shrugged, rubbing his hand over his face. “I thought I could help—even if it was just a bit—but I’ve fucked up so many times.” The sex, the Dominance and now the fire… Their time together hadn’t been some of his finest, even if it was worth cherishing.
“What are you talking about?” Clint scratched his chin. “I didn’t think I’d last an hour out here, especially with you. No offense.”
Scotland rolled his eyes. It was hard to let that slide off, especially when he couldn’t quite name how much Clint had come to mean to him.
