RoadBlock Read online

  “A little personal?”

  “Well…I may have called her an evil cunt. Possibly.”

  Betony shook her head and clucked her tongue at him, but she was smiling. “Okay. You’re right. You didn’t start it. What are you going to do for work now?”

  “I was going to ask for my job back. Its actually not the first time the bitch has fired me. And if she says no, then I’ll look into the other gyms, I guess.”

  Calderon was just pleased that Wade had nothing standing in the way of him living with them for a short time. Dagger’s situation was more manageable if the rest of them were free. “So, Wade, can you call your mother?”

  “Oh right, sure!”

  Wade pulled his phone out and got up, pacing the living room as he spoke to his mother. From the comments they overheard, it was clear Wade hadn’t called his mom in a while. After he finished apologizing, and explaining the basics of the situation to her, he said, “Thanks, mom. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you, too,” and hung up.

  He looked at the others as he slipped the phone into his pocket. “Early afternoon. She gets home at two tomorrow, so anytime after that is good.”

  “Great.” Dagger was starting to get a little stressed about this whole thing. At first, the mystery of Calvin’s longevity charm and the possibility of some kind of adventure with Calderon was exciting. Now, he was panicking about having to take an unplanned vacation, and remembering the worried look on Cal’s face when he had said they needed to stay together, and the worried tone of his mother’s voice on the phone last night, was freaking him out. “Can we talk about all this, Cal? I’d like to know how serious this really is, and what else you know.”

  Calderon nodded. He hated that Dagger was nervous, and wished he could reassure him, but the only information he had was going to make things worse. “Let’s go sit in the living room, and we’ll all talk about it.”

  They cleared the dinner plates and sat around the living room. Betony nestled into an upholstered side chair, Wade and Dagger took opposite ends of the sofa, and Calderon stood, pacing in front of them.

  “I know this is serious, and there might be some danger. I know we need to stay together, or we won’t succeed. I think that something is going to happen in the next few days. I’m fairly sure, now, that there is more than just this particular coven at risk. We need to stop whatever the threat is here, or it will continue to destroy witches, moving from coven to coven until our people are decimated.”

  Dagger ran a hand through his short hair, ruffling it. “Listen, Cal, I don’t want to sound like a wimp or anything, but…I’m not exactly superhero material, you know? I fix computers, I surf, and I move small objects with my mind. That’s it. I’m not prepared to stop anything that might be capable of ‘decimation’! I think we might be screwed, here.”

  Calderon shook his head sharply. “No, Dagger, you can’t think like that. I don’t know why your skill is important to us, but it is. You don’t have to be a superhero. Together, we will be enough.” He sat next to Dagger and laid a hand on his knee. “We’ll be okay.”

  “You know that? Or are you just saying it to make me feel better?”

  “I’m almost sure of it.”

  Dagger huffed out a little half-laugh, and laid his head on Cal’s shoulder. Calderon wrapped his arm around Dagger, pulling him in closer and kissing his temple softly. Betony watched them with a small smile and very carefully avoided looking at Wade. “So, I guess we’ll find out more tomorrow, then.”

  Wade watched Dagger and Calderon with a touch of jealousy. He hadn’t had anyone in his life he could lean on like that for a long time. And never would he be able to show such vulnerability after knowing someone only a few days. But Dagger had always been open in a way that Wade never could be. It was one of the reasons Wade had always liked Dagger, and trusted him. If it wasn’t for that trust, and the unsettling attraction he felt for Betony, he would have bailed on this whole thing already.

  “Hey, guys? I’m pretty tired. Should I sleep in your old room, Dag?”

  “Sure. I guess we’ve all had a long day.” Dagger started to get up, and Calderon reached out instinctively, unwilling to break their embrace. He caught himself quickly, but not before Betony noticed the slip. She had seen her brother kissing Dagger before she went inside the previous night, and knew they must want to be together. Cal gave up a lot for her, always taking care of her, thinking of her needs first. He hadn’t had a boyfriend in a long time.

  “Hey…Wade? Maybe you could sleep here?” She cringed a little as she said it, knowing he might misinterpret her intentions.

  “Really?”

  “Well, yeah, I mean, I think Cal and Dagger would appreciate being together, and I know I can trust you, so…yeah, if its okay with Cal, I mean.”

  Calderon was blushing furiously, but he held his head up and answered, “Bet, only if you’re sure you’ll be okay.”

  “I’m sure. Wade will stay in your room, and he’ll be here to protect me if necessary.”

  Calderon nodded, then dragged a hand over his face, embarrassed that his sister had just set him up to sleep with Dagger. Dagger chuckled softly, not embarrassed at all. “Betony, that’s really thoughtful of you.”

  Wade rolled his eyes, “Okay, so now that we all know Dagger is getting laid tonight, I’m going to go grab my stuff and get some sleep.” He got up and walked past Cal, who was now slumped forward, his face buried in his hands. Wade patted his back in a congratulatory way as he passed him, and Calderon groaned.

  Once Wade returned with his bags Cal and Dagger said a quick goodbye, Cal’s face still burning.

  7.

  “I should have packed a few things.”

  “You don’t need anything, Cal. Relax.”

  Calderon closed his eyes and let Dagger hold him, trying to enjoy the moment and forget about his earlier embarrassment. Wade would probably be a big part of his life from now on, and there was no reason to be self-conscious in front of him.

  “I just can’t believe Betony said that.”

  “She was being nice. We’re adults, Cal, and we don’t need to be ashamed of anything. It’s all right, really.”

  “I know. You’re right.”

  “Good, so let’s focus on what’s important right now. I think I could use a shower. Want to take one with me?”

  Calderon smiled, his face warming in a different way. “Yes.”

  Dagger grabbed some towels and led Cal to his bathroom. He took off his shirt and tossed it into the hamper, following it quickly with his shorts and briefs. He turned around to find Calderon still fully dressed, staring at him with his mouth slightly open. “No clothes in the shower, Cal, come on.”

  Cal knew he should move, or answer, but the sight of Dagger had him paralyzed. He was a beautiful man, all lean golden muscle and long lines, and Cal swallowed hard and whispered, “You’re gorgeous,” without thinking. Dagger smiled and walked up to him, lifting Cal’s shirt over his head. “Thank you. Pants, now.” He gave Cal’s jeans a pointed look, and Cal removed them. Dagger snatched up the clothes and checked the tag on the pants, then nodded. “You can borrow a pair of mine tomorrow. You want me to throw these in the laundry?”

  “Uh, sure. Thanks.”

  Cal watched Dagger scoop up all their clothes and toss them into a straw hamper in the closet. His body was mesmerizing to Cal- the tan, the soft hair on his arms and chest bleached golden from the sun, the flash of pale skin that his bathing suit would cover. Then he was walking back towards Cal, a hungry look in his eyes. He dipped his mouth to Cal’s chest, licking a line down to his tight nipple and sucking it softly. Cal moaned his approval, and Dagger pressed their bodies together, moving up to take Cal’s mouth.

  Dagger broke the kiss before it could get too heated. Cal had him crazy with lust, but he wanted to go slow tonight. If he kept kissing him they’d probably end up fucking on the bathroom floor. He turned and started the water, climbing in when it was warm. Cal followed him, and f
or a few moments they just stared at each other, the water sluicing over their shoulders.

  The shower was small, and they had to stand so close their erections brushed together. Calderon closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. He really didn’t want to cum in the shower, especially after his ‘performance’ during their kiss the night before. Dagger was all business now, though, and quickly soaped himself thoroughly before moving on to Cal. Cal kept his eyes closed as Dagger washed him, and the sensation was unbelievably intimate.

  He’d had a few serious boyfriends, and a lot of casual ones, but he’d only shared a handful of showers, and never had anyone washed him this way. It wasn’t sexual at all, more like Dagger just really wanted to get the job done and move on to the bedroom, but the feeling of Dagger’s hands on him, rubbing gently, was most definitely sensual, and Calderon let himself enjoy it. Too soon he heard the dull thud of the soap bar landing in it’s dish, and felt the spray from the showerhead rinsing him off. When the water stopped he opened his eyes, and found Dagger’s face inches from his own, his hands braced on the wall on either side of Cal’s head.

  “Fuck, Cal, you are so hot,” Dagger leaned in for a quick kiss, and then pulled back, grasping Cal’s hand as he stepped out of the shower. They dried themselves quickly, and were still mostly damp when they tumbled into Dagger’s bed. For several feverish minutes they were a tangle of limbs. Groping, twisting, kissing roughly, until Dagger wrenched himself free, panting. “I want to go slow, Cal. I want to enjoy this.”

  Calderon nodded, scooting up the bed to lay his head back on the pillow. Dagger followed, kneeling between Cal’s legs and running his hands up and down his chest, before leaning down and kissing Cal slowly. The kiss was gentle and sweet, and so different from the hard and sloppy kisses they’d just shared that Cal’s stomach fluttered. Dagger groaned and dragged his hand down Cal’s body, pausing at his hip, then reaching back to cup his ass. He reached under and pulled Cal’s leg up, resting it over his own hip. Without any lube he wouldn’t be able to penetrate, but he played his fingers over Cal’s ass anyway.

  Their kiss grew more intense, Cal sucking at Dagger’s lips, thrusting his tongue inside. And Cal’s hips were rocking, pressing against Dagger’s fingers. Dagger smiled. This might be all the ‘slow’ they could handle, for now. He broke their kiss and reached over Cal, grabbing a condom and the bottle of lube. He rolled the condom over himself first, then slicked himself and his fingers.

  Cal watched Dagger prepare to fuck him with nervous anticipation. He always knew how sex would go, always used his foresight to determine if someone would be a good sexual match for him, and could usually be more aggressive, knowing that his partner would respond as expected. But now, with Dagger, he was completely in the dark. This might be great, or awful, and he had no idea. Even realizing Dagger would top was a little bit of a surprise. Cal loved bottoming, but he could go either way. Usually he just knew what was right, he’d never had to read those kinds of signs from anyone before.

  But then Dagger’s finger was pressing into him, and all the worry and uncertainty melted away, his whole world narrowed down to that finger, that thrusting, and the beautiful golden body on top of him. Soon the one finger was two, and then Dagger was lifting his hips, pressing his stiff cock against Cal’s entrance. He slid in, and Cal moaned at the intrusion. It seemed to take forever for Dagger to slide in fully, and Cal kept his eyes on Dagger’s face the entire time, studying the little expressions of bliss he found there.

  Dagger thrust in and out slowly, wanting so badly to make this last. He avoided looking at Cal’s body, knowing the sight of it would send him over the edge, and instead he laid down, resting his head near Cal’s as he continued to thrust slowly.

  “Fuck, Cal, you feel so good. I want to do this all night.” Cal managed a weak whimper in response, and Dagger kissed his neck. Cal threw his hands around Dagger, kneading his back, and tilted his hips up to meet Dagger’s thrusts. “Aahh, Calderon, you’re going to make me lose it, baby.”

  Dagger rested all his weight on his left elbow, and snaked his right hand between them, finding Cal’s cock hard and dripping. When he grasped it Cal moaned in pleasure, and Dagger couldn’t hold his slow pace any longer. He stroked Cal towards release, matching the rhythm of his thrusts, gradually increasing his speed, and soon felt him tense up as his seed coated their bodies. Cal was quiet, had been almost silent for most of their lovemaking, but as he came he slowly groaned, “Dagger,” his voice a grateful whimper, and hearing that brought Dagger’s own orgasm crashing down. He was not nearly as reserved as Cal, instead shouting, “Yes, Cal! Oooohh, Cal, Fuck yes,” as he rode out the waves of pleasure.

  8.

  They lay together quietly then, Dagger snuggling into Calderon’s body, and soon they were both asleep. Dagger dreamed of walking alone through a thick forest, calling out for Cal and Wade and Betony, tears streaming down his cheeks. In the dream the forest was frightening to him, and every sound increased his panic. When he woke he was pressed firmly into Calderon, and Cal’s arms were holding him tightly. The moon shone into his bedroom, and he twisted in Cal’s arms, wanting to see his face.

  The movement woke Cal, but Dagger caught a glimpse of his pinched expression before it faded. Dagger wondered if they had shared a similar dream. “Cal. I’m worried.”

  “I know. Me too.” He pulled Dagger closer, and laid kisses over his cheek and down his neck, knowing there was nothing he could do or say to make things better but wanting to reassure him anyway.

  Dagger arched into him, wanting more, needing to erase the feelings of fear and isolation his dream had left in him. “I need you. Please, Cal.”

  But instead of opening to him, Calderon rose up, and guided Dagger down onto his stomach. Cal kissed the back of his neck, his shoulders, and traveled down the curve of his back, kissing and sucking along Dagger’s hip, and ending with a soft bite on his ass cheek. Cal lifted Dagger’s hips, dragging him back and up, exposing him fully, and Dagger let out a startled moan.

  He felt Cal reach over for the lube, heard the tear of a condom wrapper, and felt the press of Cal’s slick fingers against his entrance. Strong hands on his hips guided him back further, and then Cal’s long fingers breached him slowly, gently, and Dagger sighed in pleasure. His thighs rested atop Cal’s thighs, and he could feel Cal’s stiff cock bobbing under his balls. Then Cal straightened up, and Dagger felt the tip of him at his hole, pressing in.

  The first stroke was slow, and Cal stopped once inside, letting Dagger adjust to the fullness. A low moan from Dagger gave Cal permission to continue, and he slammed into him, harder and faster than Dagger expected. Dagger gasped, but Cal continued his punishing rhythm, pounding Dagger into the mattress.

  Every hard stroke hit Dagger’s spot, and he reached down to touch himself knowing he would come quickly. He shouted incoherently as his orgasm rocked him, and still Cal slammed into him, over and over, multiplying the sensations until it was almost too much. Finally Cal reached his own release, and slumped over Dagger, exhausted.

  When they caught their breath Dagger snuggled into Cal again, and Cal wrapped him in his arms.

  “Shit, Cal. I wasn’t expecting that.”

  Cal’s breath caught and guilt filled him. “Was I too rough? Did I hurt you?”

  “No, no. It was great, I just didn’t expect it.” Dagger saw the worry on Cal’s face and kissed his wrinkled brow. “I loved it, man, come on, you have to know that. I just didn’t think you’d be…like that. It was…really good.”

  Cal smiled and nuzzled into Dagger’s neck. “I’m glad you liked it. It’s hard for me to know what to do with you, without my foresight. I just don’t know how anything will go, or what you want.”

  Dagger burst out laughing at that, and Cal looked at him, surprised. “What?”

  “Cal. That’s how sex is for me, and for most people, every time.”

  Cal smiled and held Dagger close again. That would probably be ho
w sex would be for him every time now, too. He knew Dagger was his.

  Dagger liked the way Cal had just fucked him, but there was a desperation to it, something needy and anxious. He was almost sure he knew the reason. “What did you dream about?”

  “You were lost, in the ocean. You swam down to get something from the seafloor, and we were waiting for you, but you didn’t come back. There was nothing I could do, you had to get out on your own. I was so afraid, but I couldn’t get to you.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What did you dream?”

  “I was lost in the woods. I couldn’t find you, and I was afraid.”

  “Don’t go to work today. Call out sick, please?”

  “Okay, yeah.”

  They rested more easily then, and slept until the sun had warmed Dagger’s bedroom. When they woke, they showered quickly and dressed, Cal borrowing a pair of shorts. Dagger’s t-shirts were too small for Cal, though, so he had to walk around shirtless until they went next door, a situation which made Dagger question the necessity of going next door at all.

  Just before they walked out, Dagger held out a hand to stop Cal, and wrapped his arms around him. “Hey, you have any idea what we’re in for today?”

  “Not really.”

  “Cal. I know you’re nervous. If you knew anything, you’d tell me, right?”

  Cal held Dagger’s face in his hands and kissed him. He wished this whole thing was over, wished he at least could tell how long they had until anything happened. “I am nervous. I just found you, and I’m afraid of losing you, or putting you in danger. But I don’t know anything more than what I’ve told you. We need to do a few things today, and then I think I’ll know more. Promise you’ll stay with me, no matter what?”

  “I’ll stay with you.” He gave Cal a soft kiss in return. “Okay, let’s go.”

  They found Betony and Wade in the kitchen, Wade sitting at the table sipping coffee and flipping idly through a magazine while Betony toasted bagels and slathered them with cream cheese. Once Cal found a shirt they all sat down and ate together. Calderon looked at his sister curiously, wondering how her night with Wade had gone. She seemed calm and happy, though, so Cal assumed Wade had stayed in his room sleeping after they left. Wade looked good today, alert and strong, a far cry from the way they’d found him yesterday, and it reassured Cal to see that. He thought they might need to rely on Wade’s physical strength at some point, and hoped he’d stay in top form.