The Mechanics of Love, Part Three: Karl/Eric fic
Title: The Mechanics of Love, Part Three
Characters: Karl Urban/Eric Bana
Rating: PG-13 for this part
Beta: The always generous kitty_trio
Word Count: 2572 words this part
Disclaimer: Never happened; I make no money from this story
Summary: This is an AU set in NZ, with Eric aged about 25 and Karl about 21. They are both mechanics, working for a small outfit in West Auckland.
Author's Notes: I finally got my A into G and I bring you, before another year passes... Part Three!
Dedication: Continuing this one for lookingglassf1, who always wants more E/K. *smooches*
Part One
Part Two
"I'm sorry, Eric," Karl said, trying to meet Eric's eyes and failing, "I shouldn't have come out with you tonight. I didn't... I'm sorry."
Eric was still too stunned to speak, but suddenly he realised that Karl was stalking across the dark sand away from him.
"Karl; wait!" he called out when he finally regained the power of speech.
By now, Karl was several yards away and Eric found himself running to catch up with him. Karl didn't stop or even slow down as Eric puffed along behind him. Running out of breath, he wished he was more fit. He stopped, heaving and half doubled over for a moment.
He straightened up, gulping air and called out, risking it, "I'm gay too."
Karl paused for moment, so Eric knew he'd heard, but he carried on walking.
"Karl, for Christ's sake; stop! Don't bloody run off now!"
The darkness had almost swallowed Karl up, but finally, as Eric caught his breath and began moving, Karl stopped, turning around slowly, and waited for him.
"Are you serious?" Karl asked, looking at him curiously.
"Were you? Would I have said that if I wasn't?" Eric answered.
"No; no, you wouldn't." Karl shook his head and pushed his fists deep into his pockets as they fell into step. "My dad..." Karl muttered, but didn't go on.
"What... what about him?"
"He doesn't believe in homosexuality. And I'm not gay, I'm 'going through a phase', according to Mum. Dad wanted to bash the 'phase' out of me, but Mum... she stopped him. She said I'd get over it on my own. My last boyfriend was... well, he wasn't even really a boyfriend," Karl shrugged, and hunched more into himself, still walking.
"I understand all that well enough," Eric snorted, amazed at how similar it seemed to his own experience. "Pretty much how my parents saw it too. That's why I'm here, in New Zealand."
"Yeah?" Karl allowed him a surprised glance, "and did you 'get over it'? Move on to girls?"
Eric huffed. "Yeah, right. Why d'you think I was looking so panicked in the pub back there? Being gay isn't something you get over, Karl. It just is."
"Yeah, I know," Karl said wearily as they reached the car. "Be a lot bloody easier if it was. I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with... just everything, some days."
Eric unlocked the car and they got in. "Can't be that bad, surely?"
Karl looked at him sceptically. "You find it easy to admit to people and walk away without getting your face punched in?"
"You just admitted it to me and didn't get your face punched in," Eric pointed out, reversing the car out of the carpark and heading it towards the city.
"True, but... it's happened before."
Eric glanced at Karl, and then concentrated back on the road. "A lot?"
"No, after the first couple of times, I wasn't that willing to risk it."
Eric nodded, sympathising. "What made you risk it with me?"
"Not sure." Karl shrugged. "Just... a hunch, maybe?"
"Did you guess about me?"
"No, not at all. Fuck, I just thought... I guess I was just hoping 'cause I've been... never mind." He clammed up suddenly, like he was giving away too much.
"You've been what?" Eric asked, although he was beginning to wonder if they had even more in common than he'd thought. "Interested in me?"
Karl looked at him so suddenly then that Eric couldn't help but look back at him. Karl's eyes were dark and full of want. Want that Eric recognised only too well.
"I know how you feel," he admitted. Karl had taken a risk saying something to him; the least he deserved was some honesty in return.
"You mean..."
"Yeah," Eric nodded, "From the first day you arrived. I've been trying not to think about you for weeks. It's not working. I... I wasn't trying to ask you on a date when I asked you out tonight either. Just thought you needed a friend."
He had to look at the road just then or he'd have turned to make out Karl's expression, but the darkness was swallowing up the sides of the road and he didn't dare.
"I could use one, yeah. Most of my old ones abandoned me once they knew. Fucking narrow-minded bogans. You can be anything out here: a drug dealer, pimp, thief, fucking anything. Except queer."
"You... you said a dangerous driving conviction was why you can't drive; that have anything to do with any of that?"
"Yeah. Bastards tried to run me off the damned road one night after they caught me kissing some guy. Fucking... their word against mine when the cops appeared. 'Course I took the bloody heat. Fuckin' wankers. And he just... he wasn't willing to... the guy; he just left. Got the hell out when it hit the fan. Who could blame him, really? Those assholes would have fucking crucified him. They were bad enough with me, and I used to be their damned mate."
The vehemence in Karl's voice startled Eric, but he could certainly understand it.
"You liked him a lot, huh?"
"Yeah, I did. He wasn't from around here though; wasn't about to stick around. And I couldn't go anywhere right then. Not with Mum and Dad... they need my wages to keep things going. Anyway, hardly matters now. He's long gone."
There was silence for a while, and Eric chewed his lip, thinking things through. They could... it seemed weird to think of it as 'dating' but it could happen; could be real now. There was nothing stopping them, really. Karl was no wimp and he wasn't exactly a light-weight either; if anyone caused them any hassles they could stand up to them together. But Eric was still reluctant to 'come out' properly, considering all it entailed in the life they were leading.
Mechanics didn't fuck other guys; they were rough, tough, rugby-loving, beer-swilling women-lovers. Kevin and John were evidence enough of that. What would those two say if they knew about him and Karl? He could just imagine the snide remarks -and worse - and he had little doubt that even Steve would look at them sideways.
"If we started seeing each other..." he began slowly, licking his lips and flicking the quickest look at Karl before gripping the steering wheel harder and bringing his attention back to the road, "we'd have to be careful. Couldn't tell anyone at work, right?"
Karl didn't answer immediately, and at first Eric thought he either hadn't heard or wasn't interested, but another swift look revealed a very amused smile directed his way.
"What?" he asked, flicking on the indicator as they reached the turn-off for their suburb.
"Seeing each other?" Karl repeated, straightening up and repeating the words once again.
"You don't want to?"
"Well, I'm not rightly sure, Mr Bana; this is all so sudden," Karl fluttered in a fake female southern American accent.
"Fuck off," Eric said good-naturedly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Of course I want to, you idiot. And I wouldn't tell that lot if you held me at gunpoint. It's between us; that's all. Not fucking letting anyone know."
"Good," Eric grinned, "and if you call me Mr Bana again, I'll start calling you Scarlet, you daft bugger!"
Karl laughed, and fluttered his eyelashes as Eric grinned at him in the dim rays cast by the streetlights as they passed.
"Come back to my place?" Eric asked then, surprising himself. It'd been ages since he'd taken anyone there.
"I don't put out on a first date," Karl said, deadpan.
Eric spared him a look once more, but there was amusement flickering in the dark eyes. "Who says I want you to?" he scoffed.
"Some men aren't interested," Karl found his Scarlet voice again, "if a lady won't play."
"You're no lady!"
"Why, Mr Bana, I believe you just insulted me."
"Fuck, you're strange, Karl," Eric laughed, unsure what to make of this enigmatic young man. He'd never been like this at the workshop, and Eric hoped he hadn't just met West Auckland's hairiest cross-dresser. He wasn't into men in dresses.
"Never claimed to be normal," Karl grinned as they pulled up outside Eric's place.
"Shit," Eric let out in a low voice, seeing the lights on inside, "My flatmates are home. Or at least one of them. Shit." He was nervous as hell suddenly, and not sure how to deal with either Craig or Carmen.
"What, you're scared I'm gonna queen it up in there? Don't worry, Eric; I know how to behave."
"No, no, it's not that," Eric said, shaking his head. "I just... I don't bring people home much. They don't... well, I've never actually told them I'm gay. I've had... you're not the first guy, but... sorry, I'm nervous; can you tell?"
"It's okay, Eric. We don't have to strip naked in front of them and start going at it. Don't even have to say anything; I'm just a mate from work, right?"
"Yeah, yeah; you're right. Sorry."
They exchanged smiles and finally headed indoors; Eric carefully moving past Carmen's friendly cat on the doorstep, and unlocking the front door. The cat raced in first and he could hear Craig say to it, "Hello, Chekov, how's the nightlife? Find any pretty girl kitties out there?"
Eric nervously stepped into the lounge, ushering Karl in past him. "Hey Craig; this is Karl from work. Uh, my work."
"Hi," Craig said easily enough, getting up to shake hands with Karl; rather more formally than needed, Eric thought. "So, 'Karl from Eric's work', how's your night been? Eric get you pissed?" He offered what looked like a casual glance at Karl as he sat down and indicated Karl should take a seat too. "There's more beer in the fridge if you might need him softened up enough for anything else."
Eric nearly swallowed his own tongue at that. "Pardon?" he choked.
Craig laughed, looking more than a little confused. "You all right, mate? I said there's beer in the fridge, and some ice cream I softened up before, if you want anything else."
"Oh, right, right, ta," Eric said and looked at Karl for help. "You want another beer or... anything?"
Karl was trying to stifle his amusement. Whether he'd misheard as Eric had or not, he was brimming with held-back laughter at Eric's expense now. "No, no, I'm fine," he said, shaking his head.
"Think I'll just get a beer then," Eric almost gritted out, disappearing into the kitchen. He'd let Craig give Karl the third degree like he usually did to anyone brought to the house; it would serve Karl right.
When he returned - after taking several calming gulps from the can - Karl was nodding his head and listening intently to Craig's convoluted explanation of what Eric could only assume was the plot of the movie he was watching.
"Utter crap of course," Craig ended, eyeing Eric, "but I can't help myself when left alone of a Friday night." He waggled his eyebrows at Eric and smiled at Karl like he couldn't wait to hear more about their relationship.
"Yeah, know the feeling," Karl smiled, "I watch far too much crap myself. Don't get out a lot."
"Oh, that's too bad," Craig said, "You should. You'd knock 'em dead, I bet."
Karl huffed and exchanged a look with Eric, who said nothing so far. "I've had enough fighting," Karl muttered, "Rather stay in, generally."
Craig frowned at the odd look on Karl's face and glanced at Eric. "I should head for bed, anyway. It's getting late."
He yawned, and Eric could swear it was put on. Did he suspect?
"Okay, boys; have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't! Uh, that probably leaves you a lot of scope..." He stood up and winked at Karl before disappearing out the door of the living room.
"Are you sure he doesn't know?" Karl asked softly, one eyebrow raised in query.
"Uh, no, not... no," Eric said, "He's just... like that with everyone." God, he hoped Craig didn't know, anyway.
The front door clicked open in the hallway and they heard Craig say, "Chekov, why on earth can't you get Scotty to beam you down? It's not my job to see you off every time you want to visit Uhura in the night."
"Chekov's the cat, right?" Karl asked, one lip quirked in amusement.
"Yeah, he's Carmen's. She's a real trekkie... trekker?"
"Whatever," Karl said, "Seems like Craig is too."
"Yeah, a bit. They're kinda nuts, but... they're good flatmates."
Karl smirked and tapped his fingers on the armrest of the couch, watching the TV absently. Eric took another swig of beer and watched Karl for a minute. There were some more door sounds in the hallway and then it was quiet again.
"What did you think he said before?" Karl said after a moment or two longer, swivelling his gorgeous hazel eyes to focus on Eric still watching him.
"Uh... nothing; doesn't matter," Eric said, blushing and gulping from the can again.
"I suspect you thought he said something about softening me up, didn't you?" Karl laughed softly, the sound deep and sexy.
"Umm..."
"You did, didn't you?" Karl pushed, getting up and approaching Eric's seat. "I don't need any softening up, you know. I like being tough and..." he leaned in over Eric, much closer than he'd expected, "Unpredictable."
He moved away again as abruptly as he'd leaned in, and Eric's heart bounced madly inside him. He was disappointed that Karl hadn't kissed him. Karl prowled around the room, looking at photographs and knick-knacks on the shelves for a few minutes. Eric couldn't say anything.
"You wanna sleep with me?" Karl suddenly asked, turning to face him.
"Uh... now?" The shock must have been written all over his face. He really hadn't expected that; not after his comment about 'not putting out' earlier. Somehow Eric had assumed Karl meant it, even if it had sounded sort of like a joke.
"No, in September... say the 9th?" Karl asked, pretending to consult a diary.
"Is everything like this with you, Karl? 'Cause I dunno when to take you seriously; you do realise that, don't you?"
"Stand up."
Eric frowned, but obliged, unsure what Karl had in mind now.
"Eric, if you don't show me the inside of your goddamned bedroom right now, I'm gonna fucking rape you out here, where your flatmates can catch us."
Karl's voice was low. So low that anyone outside the room wouldn't have heard it, but the tone was such that it sent shivers right through Eric; shivers that were not unpleasant.
"If you mean that, then you better come with me," Eric replied, stepping closer to Karl.
Karl nodded once, and pulled Eric into his arms, kissing his lips with total abandon. Eric returned the kiss eagerly, opening his mouth and allowing the heated wet strength of Karl's tongue inside. Their breath mingled and tongues collided, hands searching hard muscle and gripping each other tight.
Finally, they had to move apart to breathe, and they stood there a moment, staring at each other with lust-darkened eyes. Then Eric blinked and moved, rapidly turning off the TV and dragging Karl by the hand out the door and down the hall.
If they were going to do this, he wasn't waiting any longer.
~//~//~
Part Four
Columbia Dating
Characters: Karl Urban/Eric Bana
Rating: PG-13 for this part
Beta: The always generous kitty_trio
Word Count: 2572 words this part
Disclaimer: Never happened; I make no money from this story
Summary: This is an AU set in NZ, with Eric aged about 25 and Karl about 21. They are both mechanics, working for a small outfit in West Auckland.
Author's Notes: I finally got my A into G and I bring you, before another year passes... Part Three!
Dedication: Continuing this one for lookingglassf1, who always wants more E/K. *smooches*
Part One
Part Two
"I'm sorry, Eric," Karl said, trying to meet Eric's eyes and failing, "I shouldn't have come out with you tonight. I didn't... I'm sorry."
Eric was still too stunned to speak, but suddenly he realised that Karl was stalking across the dark sand away from him.
"Karl; wait!" he called out when he finally regained the power of speech.
By now, Karl was several yards away and Eric found himself running to catch up with him. Karl didn't stop or even slow down as Eric puffed along behind him. Running out of breath, he wished he was more fit. He stopped, heaving and half doubled over for a moment.
He straightened up, gulping air and called out, risking it, "I'm gay too."
Karl paused for moment, so Eric knew he'd heard, but he carried on walking.
"Karl, for Christ's sake; stop! Don't bloody run off now!"
The darkness had almost swallowed Karl up, but finally, as Eric caught his breath and began moving, Karl stopped, turning around slowly, and waited for him.
"Are you serious?" Karl asked, looking at him curiously.
"Were you? Would I have said that if I wasn't?" Eric answered.
"No; no, you wouldn't." Karl shook his head and pushed his fists deep into his pockets as they fell into step. "My dad..." Karl muttered, but didn't go on.
"What... what about him?"
"He doesn't believe in homosexuality. And I'm not gay, I'm 'going through a phase', according to Mum. Dad wanted to bash the 'phase' out of me, but Mum... she stopped him. She said I'd get over it on my own. My last boyfriend was... well, he wasn't even really a boyfriend," Karl shrugged, and hunched more into himself, still walking.
"I understand all that well enough," Eric snorted, amazed at how similar it seemed to his own experience. "Pretty much how my parents saw it too. That's why I'm here, in New Zealand."
"Yeah?" Karl allowed him a surprised glance, "and did you 'get over it'? Move on to girls?"
Eric huffed. "Yeah, right. Why d'you think I was looking so panicked in the pub back there? Being gay isn't something you get over, Karl. It just is."
"Yeah, I know," Karl said wearily as they reached the car. "Be a lot bloody easier if it was. I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with... just everything, some days."
Eric unlocked the car and they got in. "Can't be that bad, surely?"
Karl looked at him sceptically. "You find it easy to admit to people and walk away without getting your face punched in?"
"You just admitted it to me and didn't get your face punched in," Eric pointed out, reversing the car out of the carpark and heading it towards the city.
"True, but... it's happened before."
Eric glanced at Karl, and then concentrated back on the road. "A lot?"
"No, after the first couple of times, I wasn't that willing to risk it."
Eric nodded, sympathising. "What made you risk it with me?"
"Not sure." Karl shrugged. "Just... a hunch, maybe?"
"Did you guess about me?"
"No, not at all. Fuck, I just thought... I guess I was just hoping 'cause I've been... never mind." He clammed up suddenly, like he was giving away too much.
"You've been what?" Eric asked, although he was beginning to wonder if they had even more in common than he'd thought. "Interested in me?"
Karl looked at him so suddenly then that Eric couldn't help but look back at him. Karl's eyes were dark and full of want. Want that Eric recognised only too well.
"I know how you feel," he admitted. Karl had taken a risk saying something to him; the least he deserved was some honesty in return.
"You mean..."
"Yeah," Eric nodded, "From the first day you arrived. I've been trying not to think about you for weeks. It's not working. I... I wasn't trying to ask you on a date when I asked you out tonight either. Just thought you needed a friend."
He had to look at the road just then or he'd have turned to make out Karl's expression, but the darkness was swallowing up the sides of the road and he didn't dare.
"I could use one, yeah. Most of my old ones abandoned me once they knew. Fucking narrow-minded bogans. You can be anything out here: a drug dealer, pimp, thief, fucking anything. Except queer."
"You... you said a dangerous driving conviction was why you can't drive; that have anything to do with any of that?"
"Yeah. Bastards tried to run me off the damned road one night after they caught me kissing some guy. Fucking... their word against mine when the cops appeared. 'Course I took the bloody heat. Fuckin' wankers. And he just... he wasn't willing to... the guy; he just left. Got the hell out when it hit the fan. Who could blame him, really? Those assholes would have fucking crucified him. They were bad enough with me, and I used to be their damned mate."
The vehemence in Karl's voice startled Eric, but he could certainly understand it.
"You liked him a lot, huh?"
"Yeah, I did. He wasn't from around here though; wasn't about to stick around. And I couldn't go anywhere right then. Not with Mum and Dad... they need my wages to keep things going. Anyway, hardly matters now. He's long gone."
There was silence for a while, and Eric chewed his lip, thinking things through. They could... it seemed weird to think of it as 'dating' but it could happen; could be real now. There was nothing stopping them, really. Karl was no wimp and he wasn't exactly a light-weight either; if anyone caused them any hassles they could stand up to them together. But Eric was still reluctant to 'come out' properly, considering all it entailed in the life they were leading.
Mechanics didn't fuck other guys; they were rough, tough, rugby-loving, beer-swilling women-lovers. Kevin and John were evidence enough of that. What would those two say if they knew about him and Karl? He could just imagine the snide remarks -and worse - and he had little doubt that even Steve would look at them sideways.
"If we started seeing each other..." he began slowly, licking his lips and flicking the quickest look at Karl before gripping the steering wheel harder and bringing his attention back to the road, "we'd have to be careful. Couldn't tell anyone at work, right?"
Karl didn't answer immediately, and at first Eric thought he either hadn't heard or wasn't interested, but another swift look revealed a very amused smile directed his way.
"What?" he asked, flicking on the indicator as they reached the turn-off for their suburb.
"Seeing each other?" Karl repeated, straightening up and repeating the words once again.
"You don't want to?"
"Well, I'm not rightly sure, Mr Bana; this is all so sudden," Karl fluttered in a fake female southern American accent.
"Fuck off," Eric said good-naturedly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Of course I want to, you idiot. And I wouldn't tell that lot if you held me at gunpoint. It's between us; that's all. Not fucking letting anyone know."
"Good," Eric grinned, "and if you call me Mr Bana again, I'll start calling you Scarlet, you daft bugger!"
Karl laughed, and fluttered his eyelashes as Eric grinned at him in the dim rays cast by the streetlights as they passed.
"Come back to my place?" Eric asked then, surprising himself. It'd been ages since he'd taken anyone there.
"I don't put out on a first date," Karl said, deadpan.
Eric spared him a look once more, but there was amusement flickering in the dark eyes. "Who says I want you to?" he scoffed.
"Some men aren't interested," Karl found his Scarlet voice again, "if a lady won't play."
"You're no lady!"
"Why, Mr Bana, I believe you just insulted me."
"Fuck, you're strange, Karl," Eric laughed, unsure what to make of this enigmatic young man. He'd never been like this at the workshop, and Eric hoped he hadn't just met West Auckland's hairiest cross-dresser. He wasn't into men in dresses.
"Never claimed to be normal," Karl grinned as they pulled up outside Eric's place.
"Shit," Eric let out in a low voice, seeing the lights on inside, "My flatmates are home. Or at least one of them. Shit." He was nervous as hell suddenly, and not sure how to deal with either Craig or Carmen.
"What, you're scared I'm gonna queen it up in there? Don't worry, Eric; I know how to behave."
"No, no, it's not that," Eric said, shaking his head. "I just... I don't bring people home much. They don't... well, I've never actually told them I'm gay. I've had... you're not the first guy, but... sorry, I'm nervous; can you tell?"
"It's okay, Eric. We don't have to strip naked in front of them and start going at it. Don't even have to say anything; I'm just a mate from work, right?"
"Yeah, yeah; you're right. Sorry."
They exchanged smiles and finally headed indoors; Eric carefully moving past Carmen's friendly cat on the doorstep, and unlocking the front door. The cat raced in first and he could hear Craig say to it, "Hello, Chekov, how's the nightlife? Find any pretty girl kitties out there?"
Eric nervously stepped into the lounge, ushering Karl in past him. "Hey Craig; this is Karl from work. Uh, my work."
"Hi," Craig said easily enough, getting up to shake hands with Karl; rather more formally than needed, Eric thought. "So, 'Karl from Eric's work', how's your night been? Eric get you pissed?" He offered what looked like a casual glance at Karl as he sat down and indicated Karl should take a seat too. "There's more beer in the fridge if you might need him softened up enough for anything else."
Eric nearly swallowed his own tongue at that. "Pardon?" he choked.
Craig laughed, looking more than a little confused. "You all right, mate? I said there's beer in the fridge, and some ice cream I softened up before, if you want anything else."
"Oh, right, right, ta," Eric said and looked at Karl for help. "You want another beer or... anything?"
Karl was trying to stifle his amusement. Whether he'd misheard as Eric had or not, he was brimming with held-back laughter at Eric's expense now. "No, no, I'm fine," he said, shaking his head.
"Think I'll just get a beer then," Eric almost gritted out, disappearing into the kitchen. He'd let Craig give Karl the third degree like he usually did to anyone brought to the house; it would serve Karl right.
When he returned - after taking several calming gulps from the can - Karl was nodding his head and listening intently to Craig's convoluted explanation of what Eric could only assume was the plot of the movie he was watching.
"Utter crap of course," Craig ended, eyeing Eric, "but I can't help myself when left alone of a Friday night." He waggled his eyebrows at Eric and smiled at Karl like he couldn't wait to hear more about their relationship.
"Yeah, know the feeling," Karl smiled, "I watch far too much crap myself. Don't get out a lot."
"Oh, that's too bad," Craig said, "You should. You'd knock 'em dead, I bet."
Karl huffed and exchanged a look with Eric, who said nothing so far. "I've had enough fighting," Karl muttered, "Rather stay in, generally."
Craig frowned at the odd look on Karl's face and glanced at Eric. "I should head for bed, anyway. It's getting late."
He yawned, and Eric could swear it was put on. Did he suspect?
"Okay, boys; have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't! Uh, that probably leaves you a lot of scope..." He stood up and winked at Karl before disappearing out the door of the living room.
"Are you sure he doesn't know?" Karl asked softly, one eyebrow raised in query.
"Uh, no, not... no," Eric said, "He's just... like that with everyone." God, he hoped Craig didn't know, anyway.
The front door clicked open in the hallway and they heard Craig say, "Chekov, why on earth can't you get Scotty to beam you down? It's not my job to see you off every time you want to visit Uhura in the night."
"Chekov's the cat, right?" Karl asked, one lip quirked in amusement.
"Yeah, he's Carmen's. She's a real trekkie... trekker?"
"Whatever," Karl said, "Seems like Craig is too."
"Yeah, a bit. They're kinda nuts, but... they're good flatmates."
Karl smirked and tapped his fingers on the armrest of the couch, watching the TV absently. Eric took another swig of beer and watched Karl for a minute. There were some more door sounds in the hallway and then it was quiet again.
"What did you think he said before?" Karl said after a moment or two longer, swivelling his gorgeous hazel eyes to focus on Eric still watching him.
"Uh... nothing; doesn't matter," Eric said, blushing and gulping from the can again.
"I suspect you thought he said something about softening me up, didn't you?" Karl laughed softly, the sound deep and sexy.
"Umm..."
"You did, didn't you?" Karl pushed, getting up and approaching Eric's seat. "I don't need any softening up, you know. I like being tough and..." he leaned in over Eric, much closer than he'd expected, "Unpredictable."
He moved away again as abruptly as he'd leaned in, and Eric's heart bounced madly inside him. He was disappointed that Karl hadn't kissed him. Karl prowled around the room, looking at photographs and knick-knacks on the shelves for a few minutes. Eric couldn't say anything.
"You wanna sleep with me?" Karl suddenly asked, turning to face him.
"Uh... now?" The shock must have been written all over his face. He really hadn't expected that; not after his comment about 'not putting out' earlier. Somehow Eric had assumed Karl meant it, even if it had sounded sort of like a joke.
"No, in September... say the 9th?" Karl asked, pretending to consult a diary.
"Is everything like this with you, Karl? 'Cause I dunno when to take you seriously; you do realise that, don't you?"
"Stand up."
Eric frowned, but obliged, unsure what Karl had in mind now.
"Eric, if you don't show me the inside of your goddamned bedroom right now, I'm gonna fucking rape you out here, where your flatmates can catch us."
Karl's voice was low. So low that anyone outside the room wouldn't have heard it, but the tone was such that it sent shivers right through Eric; shivers that were not unpleasant.
"If you mean that, then you better come with me," Eric replied, stepping closer to Karl.
Karl nodded once, and pulled Eric into his arms, kissing his lips with total abandon. Eric returned the kiss eagerly, opening his mouth and allowing the heated wet strength of Karl's tongue inside. Their breath mingled and tongues collided, hands searching hard muscle and gripping each other tight.
Finally, they had to move apart to breathe, and they stood there a moment, staring at each other with lust-darkened eyes. Then Eric blinked and moved, rapidly turning off the TV and dragging Karl by the hand out the door and down the hall.
If they were going to do this, he wasn't waiting any longer.
~//~//~
Part Four
Columbia Dating