Shades Of Blue

53. Bliss

*WARNING FOR SEX*

Benjie

December

Age 20

He studied the older man as they ventured down the path. Vlad's stride was long and self-assured, leaving Benjie all the more reminded of his old love. The hidden path led to an arched bridge overlooking a man-made waterfall that fed into a river beneath the bridge. The hotel ballroom was snuggled up to the waterfall for the best view. Inside was a lively wedding reception. Perhaps that was where Jake had run off to.

Vlad and Benjie watched the waterfall together in the dark, letting fluffy snowflakes accumulate on the tops of their heads and their shoulders. They didn't speak. There was no need. The sound of the water rushing over the cliff was the most relaxing sound Benjie had ever heard.

Silently, they continued their journey on the snow laden path through the woods until they reached Vlad's cabin. He let Benjie step inside first as he kicked the snow off of his dress shoes. The cabin was freezing, colder than it had been outside. Vlad shivered as he flipped on a couple of lamps before throwing some logs into the fireplace. He used the book of matches provided by the hotel and, after making sure the chimney was open, lit a cozy fire. He turned the dial on the thermostat, turning on the electric heating to quickly eat the frosty temperature away. "Sorry about the cold," Vlad said. "I was at the wedding. I thought I left the heat on, but..." He fiddled with the thermostat in aggravation. "I think it's buggered."

"Buggered?"

"Fucked," Vlad clarified. When the wood had dawned a healthy flame in the fireplace, Vlad headed into the small kitchen. "Beer?" he offered once again.

Removing his coat, Benjie tried to take in his surroundings. "Uh. Yeah. Thanks."

The cabin was so cozy it seemed unreal. This was out of a movie or a Christmas special. All it needed was a tree. The fire crackled and warmed the cabin, casting flickering shadows around the front room. Benjie could literally feel his heart get lighter. He loved the smell of the wood burning, reminding him of Christmases lifetimes ago. Along the wall opposite the couch was a massive mirror that made that cabin seem larger than it was, casting conflicting shadows from the fire around the room.

Vlad drank a glass of whiskey and sat down on the rustic couch, handing Benjie a bottle of beer. "How old are you?"

Benjie sat next to him with uncertainty, wondering if he should claim to be older. "20."

Vlad chuckled heartily. "You're just a kid." He placed a hand on Benjie's thigh for a moment. "I mean that in the best way. I envy your youth."

Chewing his lip, Benjie tried to think of something clever or mature to say. Something that would impress. When Vlad removed his hand from Benjie's thigh, Benjie wanted to ask for it back. There was a warmth to Vlad that he desperately needed. He wanted Vlad to hold him, to touch his face with his large hands. He wanted to beg for those hands, to suck those fingers, to have Vlad's hands all over his body.

"You're quiet," Vlad observed, his tone soothing to Benjie's ear.

"Sorry," he said before taking a gulp of beer.

"Don't apologize," Vlad urged. "What are you so deep in thought about?" He grinned before imitating the worried expression on Benjie's face.

With a smile, he shrugged. "I dunno. What are you thinking about?"

Vlad mulled it over. "I was wondering something."

"Wondering what?"

Vlad took the beer bottle from Benjie's hand and placed it, along with his own drink onto the wooden coffee table. He rested an arm on the back of the couch, his hand inches from Benjie's cheek. "Can I kiss you?"

Vehemently, Benjie nodded, nearly topping it off with a "please." The mystery pill was in full swing and Vlad's face melded with the memory of Neel.

Vlad's lips met Benjie's with ferocity and suddenly, the world was alive with bliss and euphoria. His rough beard scraped against Benjie's clean-shaven face, hurting in just the right way. He loved men with beards.

He had to guess that Jake had given him a strong dose of MDMA mixed with something Benjie wasn't familiar with. It didn't matter anymore. Benjie knew, sober or not, he would still be unbuckling Vlad's belt. The pill just made it better, warping Vlad's handsome face just enough so that Benjie was kissing Neel. Perfectly imperfect Neel.

As the night wore on, Benjie couldn't think, only feel as Vlad worshiped his body with his hands, his tongue, his cock. Benjie found that he had no control over censoring himself. His moans were uninhibited and shameless as he begged for more. When he looked at the mirrored wall, he noticed that Vlad was looking into the mirror as well. 

"Watching yourself?" Benjie joked.

"No," Vlad breathed as they swiveled between fucking and making love. "I'm watching you watch me."