A Night With No Stars

XIII. Vanilla Sky

Aleks didn't want to get back to reality, even though he was half-awake already. He tried to grasp the last of his dream, but it was already gone; all that was left was a strong, piercing longing and frustration. He couldn't remember what he'd dreamed about, but—

"Who the fuck is Maks?"

—but apparently Maks had been there. He opened his eyes abruptly, and the first thing he saw was a grimace. They were lying face-to-face, and Wincent's arm was still embracing him loosely in an almost tender way, though his expression was anything but tender.

Aleks rubbed his eyes sleepily to buy himself some time. "Maks?" he repeated, deciding that playing dumb was the best strategy. "Why? Was I talking about him in my sleep?" He forced a snicker and shook his head. "I don't know where that came from. It's this guy that—"

"Cut the bullshit," Wincent barked sharply. "I remember him. We've met. He was looking for you at the stadium a while ago."

"You've met?" Aleks echoed without thinking, feeling his eyes widening. What? When? When had that happened, and why had he been unaware of it?

"Yeah. He seemed very concerned that you weren't answering his calls," Wincent sneered. "You're fucking him?" he asked, cutting right to the chase.

Aleks was too surprised to react at first. "What? No!" he huffed after a short hesitation, making sure to look affronted. "Of course n—"

"Yeah? That's why you're moaning his name in your sleep, because you're not fucking him?" Wincent sat up, putting his huge hand on Aleks' shoulder and pressing him to the mattress. He hadn't grabbed him all that hard, but Aleks still felt a little trapped. "Look, I know you think I'm an idiot, but I'm not stupid enough to buy it."

"I don't think you're an..." Aleks started, but broke off, deciding he wasn't going to explain himself. "Let me go," he asked quietly.

"Just don't insult my intelligence, and if you're fucking him, then at least admit it."

"Wincent, please, let me go," Aleks repeated, trying to sound mollifying.

"Shut up," Wincent hissed.

Aleks was so startled that he reflexively listened, because he'd never snapped at him like that before.

"I should have fucking seen this coming—that as soon as some pretty boy shows up, you will be after him in a heartbeat. I don't know why I even—"

"Wincent, it hurts," Aleks whispered in a strangled voice, more panicked with every second because his hand had moved a few inches and was now resting on his neck. Aleks swallowed loudly.

"—thought that you might be different; you're just as whorish as everybody else, and you will always be looking for someone better," he growled, looking close to losing it.

Aleks grabbed his hand with both of his, futilely trying to pull it away from his throat. He couldn't remember ever feeling so physically weak.

"What? You don't like it, baby?" Wincent taunted, squinting his eyes furiously.

He loosened his grip a little when he heard Aleks spluttering. It was reassuring that he still had some self-control and wasn't planning on doing any real harm. Aleks inhaled desperately.

"What is it? You don't seem to mind when you're choking on my dick. You probably don't mind choking on his either. And now you're suddenly not into it? What's that about?" He scoffed and, to Aleks' relief, removed his hand from the crucial point on his neck. He put it on his face this time, so small in comparison that he managed to cup both his cheeks. "You said you like it like that."