Nischal [leopard spots 9] (11 page)

The hill country was pretty even in the dark. The headlights and occasional street light showed the sides of the hills the interstate had been cut through in places. They also showed all the deer that seemed determined to express their suicidal tendencies. Preston just missed hitting two of them not more than a mile apart.

“There’s easier ways to get us dinner,” Nischal said after the third time Preston had to brake and swerve to avoid taking out a Bambi lookalike. “Like a drive-thru, maybe.”

Preston considered flipping Nischal off but didn’t want to risk offending the man. He didn’t really know Nischal, after all. “Let me know if you see a sign for something you want. There’s not a lot of options until we go through somewhere like Ozona. Even then our choices are limited. Still, it’s better than gas station food.”

“I don’t care as long as we can eat soon. I’m starving.”

Preston remembered how thin Nischal was, and knew the words weren’t much of an exaggeration. “How’s Sabin?”

“Still sleeping. I don’t doubt that he’s worn out.” Nischal finally climbed into the front passenger seat and grinned at him. Preston saw that he’d got dressed again, which was disappointing but probably for the best. “If it weren’t for you, I’d probably want to sleep for a month. Being drugged as we were for so long doesn’t lend itself to a true, restful sleep.”

Preston pretended to consider this as he hummed tunelessly. “Well, maybe I should just make sure you get plenty of sleep, then—”

“I don’t think so,” Nischal interrupted, reaching right across and palming Preston’s package. “You promised to teach me many, many dirty things.”

“Yeah,” Preston gritted out, trying not to be distracted by his burgeoning erection. More deer shone in the headlights, their eyes bright and eerie. At least those ones had the decency to remain on the roadside and munch on the grass or whatever it was they were chewing. “Shouldn’t they be scared of cars?”

Nischal gave Preston’s junk a squeeze. “They’re used to them. Are you trying to ignore me?”

“I couldn’t even if I did try,” Preston muttered. “I just don’t want to have a wreck, and I swear these damn deer are either suicidal, adrenaline junkies or they’re involved in some kind of conspiracy to off humans. Sheesh, I’ve almost seen as many dead deer as live ones, too.”

“It’s the time of year, and the drought,” Nischal told him, letting off teasing his cock. “They have little water and food in their normal habitats. Or, as you have divined, they are out to contribute to solving the overpopulation of humans on the planet.”

“I think it’s definitely that last one,” Preston said as he blasted the horn at one deer that was looking like it was going to dart in front of him. The damned critter didn’t even move. Preston zipped into the left-hand lane. “I need a tank if I’m going to drive this way often.”

“Are you planning on coming back to the area?”

“Never.” Preston pointed to a blue sign. “See anything on there you wanna eat?”

Nischal grunted and a strange silence stretched between them as Preston signalled to take the next exit. He pulled over into the right lane again. The speed limit for the exit ramp was forty-five. Preston snorted. How was anyone supposed to drop down from going eighty or so to that?

Nischal turned to look at him and Preston had a glimpse of his serious expression before looking at the road again as he took the exit.

“I can’t read or write.”

That confession got Preston’s full attention and he slowed the Murano down to a crawl so he could look at Nischal. “What—”

“When would we have learned?” Nischal asked, but his embarrassment was clear in the way his face turned darker. Preston could see the change since there were plenty of street lights lining the access road. Nischal averted his face. “We were leopard more than human growing up, and I told you, we were isolated.”

But Nischal was ashamed, that was obvious in his gruff voice and in the way he’d pulled away, leaning against his door.

“It’s okay.” Preston nodded when Nischal finally looked at him. “It is. Lots of people can’t read or write, and they learn. You’re smart, and I don’t know Sabin, obviously, but I bet he’s sharp, too, and y’all can learn anything you want to. I’ll help, if you’ll let me.”

Nischal didn’t answer, and Preston realised he’d completely stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road. Thankfully no one had come along and rear-ended him. “Can you grab a blanket out of the back to cover Sabin with? I don’t want to freak out the drive-thru worker or anyone else while we’re stopped. The windows are tinted, but better safe than sorry.”

“Yeah.” Nischal crawled into the back seat again.

Preston waited until he took his seat up front then he drove on over to the McDonald’s and got in the drive-thru line. “Do you want beef, chicken, fish or salad? Ice cream, shake, soda?”

“Beef,” Nischal answered, licking his lips afterwards. “Lots of beef. Water to drink, please.”

“Do you care what’s on it besides the meat?”

“I wouldn’t know what I’d like, honestly. We didn’t eat at places like this, ever,” Nischal said, waving a hand at the sign.

“Okay then, we’ll try half of them with mustard and half with mayo. You’ll surely like ’em one way or the other.”

Preston ordered a dozen of the biggest burgers they offered. He got a few waters for Nischal and Sabin should he wake up, and coffee for himself. Maybe a shake, too, for his throat.

“I’d also like a large chocolate shake, and two large orders of fries,” he added. “With plenty of salt, pepper and ketchup, please.”

He listened as his total was given over the speaker then he pulled up to the first window and paid the bill. Nischal remained quiet, except for the occasional rumble of his stomach.

“Thanks,” Preston told the peppy young lady handing him the bags of food. “Appreciate it.”

“Y’all enjoy,” she replied.

Preston handed the last of the bags to Nischal. “I’m going to gas the car up then eat a couple of burgers before we get back on the road. You go ahead and dig in.”

Nischal tore open a bag and unwrapped a burger. Preston saw him take a huge bite. The moan that the man made sounded so sexual that Preston wanted to park the Murano and jump Nischal’s bones.

Nischal was too thin, though, and Preston could control his hormones. Besides, there was the matter of Sabin in the back seat. It’d be too weird to have sex while Nischal’s brother snoozed away or, worse, watched.

“S’good,” Nischal muttered around a mouthful of food.

“Try the French fries,” Preston suggested. “Salt them if you want. Pepper ’em, too. There’s ketchup—” He shut up. Nischal was scarfing down the fries like they were ambrosia. They kind of were, in Preston’s opinion, when the fries were hot and fresh.

He parked beside a gas pump. “I’ll be right back. If you need to use the restroom, now’s your chance.”

Nischal didn’t answer as he shoved more fries in his mouth. Preston chuckled and unfastened his seatbelt. He might have just created a McDonald’s addict.

The gas pump was one of the annoyingly slow kinds that kept clicking off. By the time he’d filled up his tank, he was tired of slapping away June bugs and mosquitoes. He took his receipt from the machine and got back in the car. “I hate bugs.”

“They don’t taste near as good as this stuff,” Nischal said.

Preston didn’t think he was joking, and the idea that Nischal had at some time been hungry enough to eat any kind of bug was heartbreaking.

“Here.” Nischal stuck a burger in front of his face. “We might need more. I don’t think there’s going to be any left for Sabin.”

Preston was pleased at having given Nischal such an enjoyable meal—even if Nischal
had
eaten all four boxes of fries! “Yeah, we’ll go back through the line.” He wasn’t missing out on Mickey D’s fries.

They drove until Preston was bleary-eyed and in danger of nodding off. “Gotta find somewhere to stop. Why the fuck aren’t we out of Texas yet? Why is this state so big? It should be three states, at least.”

Nischal snorted. “Suraj brought us in from Louisiana. I think it’s shorter if you go out that way.”

“I didn’t know if I should try to get us back to Arkansas or not.” Preston saw a sign for El Paso.
Less than a hundred miles to go.
“I mean, I just don’t know where to go, really. I don’t have an apartment anymore, or a job. I’ve been living on my savings and a small inheritance from my grandma. The FBI people know I’m from Arkansas. What if they find out about you, and what you are? What if they come looking for me or—”

“Won’t you want them to find you? In case they find your brother?” Nischal asked.

“They have my cellphone number.” Preston sighed. “I’m too tired to figure this out. I need sleep, and maybe that’ll help make things clearer.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to have some sort of plan,” Nischal said.

Preston didn’t argue. He was dangerously exhausted.

He took the very next exit that had a sign up for lodging. Tomorrow, they’d get out of Texas and find a place to stay for a while.

* * * *

Preston awoke to the most amazing sensation of his balls being suckled. It felt so damned good he forgot about the ache in his throat. “Ah, gawwwwwd…”

He stretched his arms over his head and spread his legs eagerly. However long he’d slept, it’d been enough. He felt a hell of a lot better than he had when he’d collapsed into the bed earlier.

Then he remembered that he and Nischal weren’t alone.

“Sabin’s in the bathroom, flopped in the tub.” Nischal raised his head up and beamed a wicked grin Preston’s way. “He’s respecting our privacy.”

Preston wanted to ask if Sabin had shifted but Nischal dipped his head back down and sucked Preston’s whole sac into his hot mouth.

“Ungh.” He gulped and closed his eyes as he dug his heels into the mattress.

Nischal hummed and Preston just about curled up into a ball as pleasure shot from his groin to his extremities. For a man who hadn’t had any sexual experience until he’d met Preston, Nischal was quite skilled with his mouth. He used his tongue and just the right amount of suction to have Preston’s toes curling as he struggled to keep from coming just from having his nuts loved on.

Nischal released his sac and laved beneath it.

“Oh,” Preston got out before his breath was stolen by the sensation of Nischal sucking on that delicate skin.

Then Nischal slipped his hands under Preston’s ass and parted his cheeks. At the same time his digits brushed over Preston’s hole, the wet slide of Nischal’s tongue over that delicate skin registered as well.

Preston started babbling, gibbering like a mad man speaking his own language. He grabbed at the blankets, then he grabbed at his legs and pulled them up in a moment of brilliance. The move opened his ass to Nischal, and presented it for easier rimming.

Nischal chuckled, his breath warm over Preston’s saliva-slicked hole. Nischal went after his pucker like it was one of the burgers or fries Nischal had devoured the night before.

Preston was quickly lost in the ecstasy of having his ass eaten out so enthusiastically. When Nischal pushed two fingers into him, Preston yelped and grabbed at his dick. He had to squeeze the base tight to keep from coming, but he managed to hold back, just barely.

“Fuck me,” he begged. “Fuck me or I’m gonna come without your dick in me.”

Nischal flipped him so fast Preston’s head spun. Nischal kept his fingers in Preston’s ass while doing it, too, which told Preston that Nischal was incredibly strong, flipping Preston with just one hand.

Then Nischal pulled Preston’s hips up, getting his ass in the air and ready to be thoroughly fucked. Preston couldn’t wait. “Hurry up!”

“Patience,” Nischal retorted. He added a stinging slap to Preston’s ass.

“Oh my God,” Preston whined, shaking his butt.

Nischal smacked him a few more times, then he pushed a third digit into Preston’s hole. “We never bought lube, but the hotel has this lotion…”

Preston moaned at the way his hole was stretched. It’d been a long time since he’d been that full.

“We don’t need condoms,” Nischal said, “Do you believe me?”

Preston froze mid moan. Did he believe Nischal? Instincts he was only beginning to get used to encouraged him to reach through their link. Nischal opened his mind unhesitatingly. Preston didn’t know what he was doing, but whatever he’d intended, it wasn’t to get barraged with memories and images like he did then. In seconds, he saw so much, felt so much of Nischal’s life, his past and even his hopes.

And he knew how much Nischal wanted him, how much he meant what he said. Nischal believed what he’d been told—he had no reason to ever think his mother in particular would have lied to him about transferring diseases even if he’d wondered about Kapuk’s sanity.

“Okay,” Preston said, his voice raspy still with sleep and need. His throat was tender, but not horribly so. Afraid it might give Nischal pause in fucking him, Preston pulled his mind back from Nischal’s some. That didn’t seem entirely fair, though, so he sought to keep the pathway between them open in their mental link. “I trust you. You believe your mother, and she wouldn’t have lied.”

“Even with that, Preston, I am a virgin, or was until you,” Nischal reminded him. “I wouldn’t have anything to give you—any diseases, I mean—even if it were possible to do so.”

Preston pushed up on one hand from where he’d had his head pillowed on his forearms. He peered over his shoulder at Nischal. “But I could give you something, and that is a responsibility I wouldn’t shirk. I’d insist on protecting you if I didn’t think you were telling the truth, and if I didn’t know for a fact that I am clean. I’ve been tested and tested, and I’ve never bare-backed with anyone, not even my first boyfriend, and we were both virgins.”

“Why not with him?”

Preston tried to shrug, which didn’t work so well in his current position. “Figured we should begin as we meant to carry on. Good thing, too, because Robbie sure turned into a cock slut.”

Nischal growled then wiggled his fingers in Preston’s ass. “He was a fool for cheating.”

“We were both young,” Preston said around a gasp. “Not even eighteen when we split up.”