Tipped Scales

Chapter 3

Chapter 3Seth had been right about needing to rest. By the time Sean got home he was about ready to collapse, and he tossed his collection of office s**t on the dining table, leaving it for future-him to deal with.

Bring me back anything live and delicious? asked Chip from their vivarium. The corn snake had been ravenous recently, and Sean had found several sheds from them. They appeared to be going through some kind of growth spurt, although he suspected it was embarrassing since they hadn’t mentioned it.

“The coffee mold is all yours,” said Sean, then, at the disapproving hissing in his mind, “Tomorrow. I’ll get you something tomorrow. You just got fed two days ago.”

I learned a lot of insults from that awful mate of yours. I’ll let you hear some.

Sean grabbed a beer and went out to his backyard. Thankfully, Chip didn’t care to project their thoughts that far and he had some time to himself.

The yard was boring, mostly just lawn he hadn’t really got around to mowing yet. First thing on his list tomorrow. After the office crap on his table. He had a tiny, uneven brick patio that really should be torn up and redone. He sat at the old deck table, opened his beer, had a sip. The air was cool with a breeze, and he had remembered to put out bird seed, so he spent the time watching the few varieties of feathered creatures visit. He avoided thinking about dinner. Now that he’d stopped moving he really felt the weariness.

Sean checked his phone for texts from Dane. The Decrypter had spent the last few nights somewhere else—either at his filthy apartment or in the Lair underneath his coffee shop—and now that Sean was on summer vacation he could turn more attention to Dane.

Nothing. Sean stood and got himself another beer. He cracked it, standing, and turned to get a complete view of the yard. He didn’t like maintenance—mowing was more than enough work, as far as he was concerned—but that didn’t leave many options. He had no clue what to do with it, so he’d probably put off doing anything for another year.

The door slid open behind him and he felt Dane’s presence with whatever witch instinct he had. Sean found, as the weeks passed, the closer he felt to someone, the easier they were to sense. Chip he felt moderately well. Dane, though—well, Sean doubted the Decrypter could get within fifty feet of him without notice.

Dane came up behind Sean and wrapped his arms around him. Sean leaned back against him, easing into the embrace, stress fading when Dane kissed his jaw.

“Hey, thanks,” said Dane, and took the beer out of Sean’s hand. He had a drink, then gestured to the yard with the can. “Pretty friggin’ boring back here, professor.”

“You’re pissed,” said Sean. He didn’t know how he knew. Something in Dane’s voice, maybe, or the sharpness of his gesture. Sean could just sense it.

“And you’re leaning your entire weight on me. Are you tired, or just old?”

“f**k you,” said Sean, and grabbed his beer back. He knew Dane brought up his age to get a rise out of him, but he was in no mood for it after everything else today. When he tried to move away Dane held him back, pressed his lips to the back of Sean’s neck.

Sean let him. He liked the touch too much, but he was still annoyed enough to sigh.

“I’ve had a day.”

“You have no f*****g clue,” muttered Dane against Sean’s neck. His hand pawed at Sean’s crotch. “Interested in getting the frustration out?”

“We’re outside,” said Sean, and had a drink of the beer. But Dane didn’t let up, and his mouth on Sean’s neck, his hand rubbing Sean’s c**k through his pants, was causing Sean’s body to respond. “You’re serious.”

Dane undid the button on Sean’s pants, slid his hand in. The other tugged Sean’s shirt out and snaked its way across Sean’s abdomen, up his side. Dane leaned to the side a little for better access, ran his hand down the boxers covering Sean’s steadily rising c**k.

“The neighbors,” said Sean. He couldn’t believe he was standing here letting Dane stroke him in public. He was forty f*****g years old and he was standing in his backyard in broad daylight with another man’s hand down his pants. In his boxers, Dane’s hand touching him lightly, Dane’s thumb circling the head of his c**k.

“Probably aren’t looking.” Dane took hold of Sean’s c**k, completely erect now. “You’re fully clothed.” He began stroking Sean. “Lean back. Enjoy yourself.”

“Damn it, Dane…” Sean scanned the neighboring backyards for any sign of life, but all he saw was more birds, a squirrel. He knew he should tell Dane to stop, should be responsible and get them back inside for this, but he thrilled at it. Having to get off before anybody noticed was exciting in a way he wanted to enjoy. So he leaned back and enjoyed himself as Dane ground his crotch against Sean’s ass.

Dane’s other hand disappeared but Sean didn’t care. He was getting close, and his heart was pumping so hard it practically wanted to jump out of his chest. He could feel himself tensing, needing, and then the buildup broke and he was exploding into Dane’s hand, into his boxers. The thrill spiked and began to fade. Dane pulled his hand out of Sean’s pants, but when Sean tried to move forward, Dane’s other hand grabbed him again, pulled him close.

“Are you…?” began Sean as Dane kept grinding against him, hand in his own pants.

“So tempted to whip it out and jizz all over your pants from behind,” said Dane.

“Outside. We’re still outside.”

“You cover me.”

“Dane—”

“Too late,” said Dane, and clutched Sean closer as he came.

Sean was aroused, even if it was too soon to be ready again. He felt Dane’s breath as he came, hard against his back even with a shirt on. While Dane composed himself Sean pulled up his half-unzipped fly and redid the button, cringing at the feel of his messed pants against his skin.

“Hah,” breathed Dane, and squeezed Sean’s ass.

At some point Sean had set his beer down on the table. He sat awkwardly, had a drink from it. Dane fixed his jeans and joined him, grabbed the can when Sean set it back down.

“What the hell was that?” Sean could barely believe he’d just done that.

“Letting off steam.” Dane had a gulp of the beer. “Wasn’t the greatest orgasm, but it was damned fun.”

“I’m uncomfortable and we’re sharing the same beer.”

“Not anymore,” said Dane, and finished it off. He stood. “You probably want out of those shitty professor clothes.”

Sean followed him back inside and up to his bedroom to change. Dane dug through the duffel bag he’d brought over a week ago, swearing at his lack of clothing.

“If you bothered to do laundry you wouldn’t have to steal my pants,” said Sean as Dane went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of Sean’s boxers. “And throw me a pair.”

Dane did so and ducked into the bathroom. When he emerged he was scowling.

“That’s where my friggin’ toothbrush went.” He wrapped it in the boxers he’d just changed out of and threw it in the duffel bag.

Sean realized he’d long ago gotten over Dane’s unhygienic tendencies when he worried more about Dane leaving than that he apparently hadn’t been brushing his teeth since the last time he’d been here.

“You going somewhere?”

“Yeah, my shitty day’s not over yet,” said Dane, then glanced up. “Hell, professor, I’m not leaving you or any s**t like that, don’t look like I just told you your dog died.”

“I thought I had it bad having to pull an arrow out of Seth Smith.”

Dane’s face flashed disapproval. He didn’t like Sean having a working relationship with a Lithe Fellow, even if he had stopped complaining about it. Sean watched him grab his bedside bottle of whiskey and add it to his bag.

“Still got you beat. Let’s get some food and b***h about it. I gotta be at Big Frank’s house by seven and he’s threatening to make me a dinner smoothie.”

Sean blinked, not sure what to do with any of that.

“Uh…okay.”

They drove separately, Sean disappointed the whole way. He’d been looking forward to sharing some time and space with Dane again and now he’d be sleeping in his bed alone. He was also pissy about the way Dane hinted at what he was doing but didn’t outright say, more so when they were seated and ordered and Dane asked Sean to speak first.

“You could’ve frickin’ left him like that,” said Dane the moment Sean was finished relating what had happened earlier.

“Apart from that being a really shitty thing to do, a murder like that would be big news.”

“Nah, the Grand Old Association would sweep it under the rug.” Dane had a drink of his beer. “You’re too kind-hearted, professor. Damn, it’s f****d up—I think I actually like it in you. Who the hell wants to turn into Simmonds?”

“It’s your turn,” said Sean as their food arrived.

“The Lithe Fellow’s not the only one with an attempted murder problem. Someone’s been trying to kill Big Frank.”

“The smoothie guy?” Sean was very confused.

“Yeah, guess he was in the Order sometime. JavaLynne called an emergency meeting of every Order member in the area. Turns out they’ve been shaving us down, used to be more of us, but now it’s just me. And f*****g Simmonds.”

Dane explained why he was spending the night away but it didn’t much matter to Sean why he was gone. He’d been looking forward to less nonsense after classes were over. He and Dane rarely got to take things slow.

“How long?” he asked after Dane told the waiter to bring separate checks.

“No friggin’ clue. Until we figure out who’s trying to kill the furry bastard.”

“Do you have to stay at his house?”

“What, worried I’ll f**k him?” asked Dane. He sounded pissed more than joking.

“No, I—if you just had to sit outside and watch the place, I could come with you.”

“Look, I’ll text you the address. Don’t show up or any crap like that, but you’ll know where I’m at. That help?”

Sean blinked at him, surprised. Dane didn’t normally show this level of concern for what would make Sean comfortable with a situation, and more than that, he tended to bristle at anyone trying to keep tabs on him. Sean knew it had something to do with Dane’s parents, and usually he didn’t mind waiting for Dane to come back from wherever he was. Sean himself liked to move freely. Yet tonight he was on edge.

“Yeah, and thanks. Not sure what my problem is.”

“You just pulled an arrow out of some asshole’s chest and I’m telling you I have to babysit a man with a target on him. You’re creeped out, professor. I promise not to get myself killed.”

Sean wasn’t happy to see Dane drive away when they were finished, but he knew he was so exhausted he’d sleep anyway.