Chapter Fifteen

Ryan was winding down his droning Monday handover, but before he clapped in a signal of finality, he stilled and wagged a finger. “Almost forgot. I want checks on Nate throughout the night.”

Alfie’s heart galloped beneath his ribs. He didn’t trust himself to speak in case his voice tremored. Ryan knew about Nate’s escape plan, he had to know, but did he know Alfie knew of it?

“Why’s that?” Henry asked.

Ryan rubbed at his strip of facial hair. “Just a precaution. He got the news that dear old Doris died this morning, and he’s been in his cell since. Not eating, not speaking, just lying on his bed.”

The air left Alfie’s lungs in a rush, and he sagged forward. Any relief he felt was immediately crushed by guilt, then worry.

“You think he might try to top himself?” Marie asked, daring a look to Glen who shrugged.

Ryan turned and stared out the office window. “As I said, it’s a precaution. I don’t know what goes through his head.”

Henry wrinkled his nose and pulled an expression like he tasted something vile. “You wouldn’t want to know. It can’t be good. I recon he’s faking it, hoping we’ll call a code eleven and open up his cell.”

Alfie shook his head. “He’s just lost someone he cares about. It’s grief—”

“Animals like that don’t grieve. They’re opportunists.”

Ryan squeezed the top of his nose. “Just in case, I want him checked every two hours.”

“Well, if he does kill himself, I think we’ll all sleep better at night,” Henry muttered.

Alfie’s shirt felt tight and a cold sweat started in his armpits. He dropped his gaze to the floor and forced a swallow. He couldn’t think of anything worse than Nate dying. The thought made his blood cool and congeal in his veins, and his throat constrict until he consciously had to breathe. He jolted to attention when Ryan clapped.

“That’s it then. Have a good night.” Ryan strolled out the office with the rest of dayshift following in his wake.

Henry collapsed in his chair as soon as they had faded from view, and the twins tugged out their phones. Marie fluttered her eyelashes at Glen, but Glen’s attention locked on Alfie.

“You okay? You look a bit pale.”

Alfie rolled his shoulders and blinked himself from his thoughts. “I didn’t sleep that well.”

“Coffee?” he asked.

Alfie nodded numbly, then slumped into the closest chair. He stared at the dark corner of the prison, picturing Nate unresponsive in the bed. His stomach dropped to his toes, and his skin prickled.

Much to Alfie’s annoyance, Henry volunteered to check on Nate first. He tapped his foot to the floor as he waited for Henry to return. His whole body felt jittery and on edge.

“Think that coffee’s gotten to you,” Marie mumbled.

Alfie flashed a look at her. “Just not feeling it.”

Marie pressed her lips together in a sympathetic smile.

Henry staggered into the office, spluttering into his tissue, and sank back in his chair with a sigh.

Alfie flicked his chin out. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Did he respond?”

Henry retrieved his glasses from his pocket and slid them up his nose. “He grunted.”

“You heard him grunt. You?”

“I’m not deaf. He’s fine.” Henry shuffled back into his chair and tilted his head back.

Alfie’s chest heaved with anger, and he averted his gaze. He didn’t trust Henry. He needed to make sure Nate was all right himself.

Ten minutes later, Henry was snoring softly, the twins had twitchy fingers, and Marie sat on the desk opening and closing her legs seductively. Alfie needed to get rid of them.

“What’s your favorite brand of cigarettes?”

Ben and Dan’s attention snapped to him.

“Camel,” Dan said. “It’s smooth and rich.”

Ben shook his head. “I prefer Dunhill, hint of sweetness.”

Dan scrunched his face, then nodded. “It’s good as a treat, but if you want a long-lasting hit of tobacco, then Camel.”

“Not sure about that. Camel can be a bit dry,” Ben muttered.

Dan scoffed, and shook his head. “Dry?”

“Yeah, dry…”

Dan frowned, shuffled in his seat, then coughed. “Just gonna head out for a smoke.”

Ben nodded in agreement. “Yeah, me too.”

Two down, Alfie turned back to Marie and Glen, but he didn’t need to coax them into leaving. Marie was leading Glen out by the tie. She pressed her teeth into her bottom lip and beckoned with her chin for Glen to follow. He went like a love-struck puppy and didn’t appear to feel it when his hip clipped the door.

Alfie sprung up from his chair and waved his hand in front of Henry’s face. He continued to breathe softly, and there was no twitch to his frail skin.

Alfie grimaced as he opened the gate, praying no one would hear. His squeak-less shoes allowed him to sneak to the stairs, and he climbed up as carefully as possible. He couldn’t hear any movement in any of the cells, and he drifted past Queenie’s with a sympathetic smile.

Alfie kneeled and scrunched up his face as he slipped the key in the hatch to look. There was a clunk, and he waited for Nate to stir, to say something, but he didn’t. He lowered the hatch and stared into the dark room. The outside lights shone on the bed, and Alfie could see Nate’s bare back and a sheet barely covering his hip. He lay facing the wall, and Alfie couldn’t tell if his chest was moving. He was still, too still.

“Nate?” he whispered.

There was no answer, and Alfie bit down hard on his lip. He turned and peeked over the railing to the lobby, then stood and slipped his other key in the cell door. He twisted it slowly, breathing heavier each second he hesitated. Then he pushed on the door and slipped through the gap he made for himself. He waited for Nate to turn on to his back and look in his direction, but it didn’t happen.

Alfie trod carefully over to Nate’s bed, overly aware of the sound of his feet, and his staggered breathing, then shook Nate’s shoulder, whispering his name.

Nate lurched into consciousness with a growl, and Alfie yelped, tumbling back. He landed on the floor with Nate on top of him. He fought, but Nate was heavier and easily stronger. Alfie squeaked when a hand tightened around his neck, and he slapped his palms on to Nate’s bare chest. The fierce expression on Nate’s face froze, mid-growl, and then he blinked slowly.

Alfie’s heart thundered, and his lungs ached from the weight crushing him.

Nate widened his eyes and loosened his grip around Alfie’s throat. “What the hell are you doing?” he hissed.

Alfie rolled onto his side and rubbed at his throat. “I was worried.”

Nate gripped Alfie’s elbow and helped him to his feet. He led him to the bed, and they sat side by side. The surprise on Nate’s face would’ve been funny had Alfie not been gulping as quietly as he could for breath.

Nate rubbed soothing circles on his back while he got his breathing under control. The warmth of his palm soaked through Alfie’s shirt, and he unconsciously leaned back into the touch.

“Why you worried?”

“You’ve been in your cell all day. Doris, she’s the only person you have on the outside.”

Nate tapped him on the nose. “I have you, and you don’t need to worry your pretty head over me.”

Alfie turned his head like a scolded child.

Nate tutted and cupped his cheek. “Don’t sulk, Freshman.”

Alfie resisted, and Nate moved forward and rested his lips to the shell of his ear. “You opened the door.”

Alfie turned to the open cell, the escape right there for the taking. He didn’t even try to conceal the keys on his hip. Nate had proved he could take Alfie down with ease. There was no point fighting it if it was about to happen.

Nate didn’t look at the keys once. His gaze was fixed on Alfie, and he rubbed his thumb against Alfie’s bottom lip. He slacked his jaw, let Nate part his lips to rub harder on the rubbery flesh. Nate’s thumb touched his tongue, and he touched back.

The outside lights shone on Nate’s face, and Alfie sunk into his eyes, allowed them to drown him. He didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly the thumb had gone and their mouths clashed together with a hungered desperation, tongues swirling, teeth scraping on lips and noses whistling with the lack of air.

Alfie felt dizzy with need and Nate drove forward with his tongue. Nate took over the kiss, decided the tempo and firmness, and Alfie clung on for the ride. The room shifted. Nate had shoved him down to the bed. His hands framed Alfie’s face, holding him steady as he forcefully kissed Alfie into the mattress. The sensation, the taste, even the scent of Nate so closer overwhelmed Alfie. It was too much, but at the same time not enough. Nate pulled back, then lifted Alfie’s legs onto the mattress so he was flat on the bed.

The tie was the first item of clothing Nate savagely attacked, first with his teeth, and then his crazed hands.

“If I could control myself, I’d tie your hands, but I don’t want to wait. Next time though.”

Alfie shivered at the thought of a next time and nodded obediently.

Nate ducked down and pushed their lips together, lifting his mouth out of reach each time Alfie panted for more.

“You are something else, Freshman.” Nate leaned back and gripped the collar of Alfie’s shirt.

Alfie knew he was about to rip the clothing in two and quickly clamped his hands around Nate’s wrists. “Wait, you can’t.”

Nate huffed, then loosened his grip on the collar. He unbuttoned the shirt, grimacing each time his fingers slipped and the button refused him. Once the last button was free, Nate opened the shirt like wrapping paper on a present and licked his lips at the gift. Alfie leaned up, and Nate tugged the shirt away before throwing it to join the discarded tie.

Alfie lay back down with his hands awkwardly on his chest. They shielded part of him from Nate, the remaining reluctance of what they were about to do.

Nate drew his eyebrows together and studied him for a few moments. He gripped Alfie’s wrists gently, lifted them above his head, then pressed them down firmly in their new position. Nate raised his eyebrow and removed his hands, but the imprints of his fingers shackled Alfie’s wrists to the top of bed. Nate wanted him stretched out and bare, and Alfie wanted it too.

“Good, Freshman.”

His nipples stiffened in anticipation of a kiss.

Nate didn’t disappoint them. He dipped his mouth down, licking and sucking as if they were the only source of nourishment for his sex hungry body.

Alfie groaned, moaned, and panted into his bicep, shifting on mattress, not quite knowing what to do to buffer the onslaught of stimulus. He sunk his teeth in his arm to mask the pleasurable sounds and hoped the spark of pain would hold back the impending orgasm.

A warning rumble escaped Nate’s throat. He stopped caressing Alfie’s chest and tugged the sacrificial bicep free before kissing the indents. “No,” he whispered.

Alfie drew his eyebrows together and pressed his lips in a line. He puffed air in and out his nose, too afraid he would call out for Nate if he breathed through his mouth. They had to be quiet, but his body buzzed with the urge to moan and groan, to wail in surrender.

Nate attacked Alfie’s belt, then tugged the tight trousers and pants half way down Alfie’s thighs. He knew he was sticky, and the cool air of the cell made him shiver.

Nate smirked before opening his mouth wide and accepting Alfie’s straining erection.

Alfie’s needing cock was finally encased in warmth and wetness, and he shivered uncontrollably. Nate hadn’t gagged him, but he hummed as if he had, trying so hard to be quiet. He pressed his lips together until they ached, and he squeezed his eyes shut to get back some semblance of control.

Nate slid his tongue on the underside of Alfie’s sensitive cock, tracing the lines torturously slow. He savored Alfie, mapped his cock carefully until every millimeter of tight skin was buzzing on attention.

Alfie curled his toes and fingers until they cramped, but the slight discomfort wasn’t enough to stop him bordering the edge.

Nate lowered his mouth to drive Alfie’s cock deep in wet heat before pulling back with a long-drawn suck and a hum of appreciation.

He wasn’t going to last. Nate smirked around his cock like he knew it too. Alfie rubbed his head helplessly against the pillow and clenched his stomach muscles. Three bobs of Nate’s tormenting blow job, three twists of his nipple, and Alfie flung his head back until he felt the springs of the mattress and lifted his hips high.

Nate grabbed his ass and held him there.

He held his breath and listened to the rampant sound of his heart drumming in his ears.

Nate held him still as he accepted the steady flow of come, and Alfie was so deep in his throat, he felt him swallow four distinct times. His eyes were firmly shut, but moisture trickled through his lids at the intensity of the orgasm.

Nate lowered Alfie’s hips back to the mattress, then crawled up his body, kissing all he could until he got to Alfie’s numb lips. Alfie released them with a wet gasp, and Nate wasted no time sucking them and pushing the remains of Alfie’s release into his mouth for a taste. Nate pulled back with a dirty sound of suction and hummed to himself. The predatory smile was back, and the crinkled eyes. “I’m gonna fuck you now. Been dying to since I saw you.”

Alfie’s eyes fluttered, and he nodded as best he could with his head on the pillow.

Nate kneeled and stretched his arm to the small bedside cabinet. The drawer squeaked, and they both froze. No one stirred in the cell next to them, and a relieved breath escaped Nate.

“Even if they did hear, there’s no way I’m stopping now.”

He pulled back a small tub of Vaseline and struggled with the lid. The angry expression intensified, until Alfie lifted his hand to take it. He opened it with ease and smirked at Nate narrowing his eyes.

“I’m gonna wipe that look off your face.”

He slathered his cock in Vaseline, and Alfie leaned up to watch. Nate’s cock was huge, and intimidatingly thick. Alfie widened his eyes, and his lips popped open.

Nate chuckled. “Turning you on?”

Alfie’s mouth had gone dry, and he forced himself to swallow. “It’s not gonna fit.”

“Aww, more sweet words from my Freshman.” Nate stopped stroking himself and shoved his sticky hand on Alfie’s chest. He flopped back to the bed, but it wasn’t enough for Nate. He gripped Alfie’s wrists and pressed them to the top of the pillow. “Keep ‘em there.”

Alfie nodded and shut his eyes, anticipating discomfort. He never liked the first few thrusts. It was an internal battle to relax his untrusting body and that fight of mind over body resulted in pain, in rawness, that he had to overcome to get to pleasure.

The battle didn’t happen with Nate, or if it did, it was over before he even breached with his fingers. Nate was on his side in the fight, and he relaxed any nerves by kissing deeply and running his hands over Alfie’s shuddering flesh.

Alfie kept his hands locked together above his head, but he leaned back to expose his throat. It was more intimate than kissing on the lips. And Nate made the best of the surrender, nipping gently with his teeth and sucking softly on the delicate flesh.

The pain of the first push barely resisted. Nate paused to kiss Alfie dizzy, before deepening his thrust. Any uncomfortable stretch was swiftly blocked by Nate’s lips. He kissed thoroughly, until there was no room for doubt or fear, and then the kisses weren’t needed.

Alfie took what Nate gave him with a gasp and a pant. He moved his hands from the pillow, and clutched Nate’s muscular back, holding on while he was thrusted into the mattress.

Nate growled, leaned back, and found Alfie’s disobedient hands. He tightened his hands around Alfie’s wrists and pinned them above his head. He didn’t release them, but held them tight as he thrusted harder and faster. There was distance between them, but they joined where it mattered. Nate controlled Alfie in the way he wanted, kept him still and secured while simultaneously releasing him.

Alfie closed his eyes, parted his lips, and felt himself being owned, felt himself being claimed and wanted by Nate.

Even with his eyes closed he grew dizzy, fuzzy around the edge of consciousness. The black of his eyelids wasn’t scary, it was welcoming, and he zoned out until he was unaware of himself, could only feel an addictive tingle but couldn’t equate it to a body part. All of him felt good, emotionally and physically, and he welcomed the abyss, smiled fondly and asked it to take him.