20. Chapter 20

20

F or a whole week, Alfie managed to avoid Nate.

He got Glen to do the roll call on the top floor, and Nate didn't protest, he let Alfie have some space.

Escape. Nate was planning an escape.

Ryan was winding down his droning Monday handover, but before he clapped in a signal of finality, he stilled and wagged a finger. "Almost forgot. I want checks on Nate throughout the night."

Alfie's heart pounded beneath his ribs. He didn't trust himself to speak in case his voice trembled. Ryan knew about Nate's escape plan—he had to know, but did he know Alfie knew of it? He'd been vague, like he didn't know when it might happen or was deliberately keeping Alfie in the dark.

"Why's that?" Henry asked.

Ryan rubbed at the strip of facial hair on his chin. "Just a precaution. He got the news that Doris died this morning, and he's been in his cell since. Not eating, not speaking, just lying on his bed."

The air left Alfie's lungs in a rush, and he sagged forward. Any relief he felt was immediately crushed by guilt, then worry.

"You think he might try to top himself?" Marie asked, darting a look to Glen, who shrugged.

Ryan turned and stared out of the office window. "As I said, it's a precaution. I don't know what goes through his head, but she was all he had."

Henry wrinkled his nose and pulled an expression like he tasted something vile. "You wouldn't want to know what goes through his head. It can't be good. I reckon he's faking it, hoping we'll call a code eleven and open up his cell."

Alfie shook his head. "He's just lost someone he cares about. It's grief—"

"Animals like that don't grieve. They're opportunists."

Ryan squeezed the top of his nose. "Just in case, I want him checked every two hours."

"Well, if he does kill himself, I think we'll all sleep better at night," Henry muttered.

Alfie's shirt felt tight, and cold sweat gathered at the back of his neck. He dropped his gaze to the floor and forced a swallow. He couldn't think of anything worse than Nate dying. The thought made his blood cool and congeal in his veins and his throat constrict until he consciously had to breathe. He jolted to attention when Ryan clapped.

"That's it then. Have a good night." Ryan strolled out of the office with the rest of the day shift following in his wake.

Henry collapsed in his chair as soon as they had faded from view, and the twins tugged out their phones. Marie fluttered her eyelashes at Glen, but Glen's attention was locked on Alfie.

"You okay? You look a bit pale."

Alfie rolled his shoulders and blinked himself from his thoughts. "I didn't sleep that well."

"Coffee?" he asked.

Alfie nodded numbly, then slumped into the closest chair. He stared at the dark corner of the prison, picturing Nate unresponsive in the bed. His stomach dropped to his toes.

Much to Alfie's annoyance, Henry volunteered to check on Nate first. He tapped his foot to the floor as he waited for Henry to return.

His whole body felt jittery and on edge.

"Think that coffee's got to you," Marie mumbled.

Alfie flashed a look at her. "Just not feeling it."

Marie pressed her lips together into a sympathetic smile.

Henry staggered into the office, spluttering into his tissue, and sank back in his chair with a sigh.

Alfie flicked his chin out. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Did he respond?"

Henry retrieved his glasses from his pocket and slid them up his nose. "He grunted."

"You heard him grunt. You?"

"I'm not deaf. He's fine." Henry shuffled into his chair and tilted his head back.

Alfie's chest heaved with anger, and he averted his gaze. He didn't trust Henry.

He needed to make sure Nate was all right himself.

Ten minutes later, Henry was snoring softly, the twins had twitchy fingers, and Marie sat on the desk, opening and closing her legs seductively.

Alfie needed to get rid of them.

"What's your favourite brand of cigarettes?"

Ben and Dan's attention snapped to him.

"Camel," Dan said. "It's smooth and rich."

Ben shook his head. "I prefer Dunhill with its hint of sweetness."

Dan scrunched his face, then nodded. "It's good as a treat, but if you want a long-lasting hit of tobacco, then Camel."

"Not sure about that. Camel can be a bit dry," Ben muttered.

Dan scoffed and shook his head. "Dry?"

"Yeah, dry…"

Dan frowned, shuffled in his seat, then coughed. "All's quiet. Just going to head out for a smoke."

Ben nodded in agreement. "Yeah, me too."

Two down. Alfie turned back to Marie and Glen, but he didn't need to coax them into leaving. Marie was leading Glen out by the tie. She pressed her teeth into her bottom lip and beckoned with her chin for Glen to follow. He went like a love-struck puppy and didn't appear to feel it when his hip clipped the doorframe on his way out.

Alfie sprung up from his chair and waved his hand in front of Henry's face. He continued to breathe softly, and there was no twitch to his frail features.

Alfie grimaced as he opened the gate, praying no one would hear. His squeakless shoes allowed him to sneak to the stairs, and he climbed up as carefully as possible. He couldn't hear any movement in any of the cells, and he drifted past Queenie's with a wince.

Alfie knelt and scrunched up his face as he slipped the key in the hatch to look. There was a clunk, and he waited for Nate to stir, to say something, but he didn't.

Alfie lowered the hatch and stared into the dark cell. The outside lights shone on the bed, and Alfie could see Nate's bare back and a sheet barely covering his hip. He lay facing the wall, and Alfie couldn't tell if his chest was moving.

He was still, too still.

"Nate?" he whispered.

There was no answer, and Alfie bit down hard on his lip. He turned and peeked over the railing to the lobby, then stood and slotted his other key into the cell door. He twisted it slowly. Breathing heavier each second, he hesitated. Then he pushed on the door and slipped through the gap he'd made for himself. He waited for Nate to turn onto his back and look in his direction, but it didn't happen.

Alfie stepped carefully over to Nate's bed, overly aware of the sound of his feet and his staggered breathing, then shook Nate's shoulder, whispering his name.

Nate lurched into consciousness with a growl, and Alfie yelped, tumbling back. He landed on the floor with Nate on top of him. He fought, but Nate was heavier and easily stronger. Alfie squeaked when a hand tightened around his neck, and he slapped his palms onto Nate's bare chest.

The fierce expression on Nate's face froze, mid-growl.

Then he blinked.

Alfie's heart thundered, and his lungs ached from the weight crushing him.

Nate widened his eyes and loosened his grip around Alfie's throat. "What the hell are you doing?" he hissed.

Alfie rolled onto his side and rubbed his throat. "I was worried."

Nate gripped Alfie's elbow and helped him to his feet. He led him to the bed, and they sat side by side. The surprise on Nate's face would've been funny had Alfie not been gulping as quietly as he could for breath.

Nate rubbed soothing circles on his back while he got his breathing under control. The warmth of his palm soaked through Alfie's shirt, and he unconsciously leaned back into the touch.

"Why are you worried?"

"You've been in your cell all day. Doris, she's the only person you have on the outside."

Nate tapped him on the nose. "I have you, and you don't need to worry your pretty head over me."

Alfie turned his head like a scolded child.

Nate tutted and cupped his cheek. "Don't sulk, Freshman."

Alfie resisted, and Nate moved forward and rested his lips to the shell of his ear.

"You opened the door."

Alfie turned and stared slack-jawed at the new line he'd crossed. He'd pushed the door shut as he entered so if anyone looked up from the landing, they'd assume it was locked. The keys were heavy on Alfie's hip, but Nate didn't look at them once. His gaze was fixed on Alfie, and he rubbed his thumb against Alfie's bottom lip.

Alfie slacked his jaw, letting Nate part his lips to rub deeper.

Nate's thumb touched his tongue, and he touched back.

The outside lights shone on Nate's face, and Alfie sank into his eyes, allowed them to drown him. He didn't know who moved first, but suddenly the thumb had gone and their mouths clashed together with a hungered desperation, tongues swirling, teeth scraping on lips and noses whistling with the lack of air.

Alfie felt dizzy with need, and Nate drove forward with his tongue. Nate took over the kiss, decided the tempo and firmness, and Alfie clung on for the ride. The room shifted. Nate had shoved him down to the bed. His hands framed Alfie's face, holding him steady as he forcefully kissed Alfie into the mattress. The sensation, the taste, even the scent of Nate so close overwhelmed Alfie. It was too much, but at the same time not enough.

Nate pulled back, then lifted Alfie's legs onto the mattress so he was flat on the bed.

The tie was the first item of clothing Nate savagely attacked, with his teeth, then his crazed hands.

"If I could control myself, I'd tie your hands, but I don't want to wait. Next time, though."

Alfie shivered at the thought of a next time and nodded obediently.

Nate ducked down and pushed their lips together, lifting his mouth out of reach each time Alfie panted for more.

"You are something else, Freshman." Nate leaned back and gripped the collar of Alfie's shirt.

Alfie knew he was about to rip the clothing in two and quickly clamped his hands around Nate's wrists. "Wait. You can't."

Nate huffed, then loosened his grip on the collar. He unbuttoned the shirt, face pulling in a snarl each time his fingers slipped and the button refused him. Once the last button was free, Nate opened the shirt like wrapping paper on a present and licked his lips at the gift. Alfie leaned up, and Nate tugged the shirt away before throwing it to join the discarded tie.

Alfie lay back down with his hands awkwardly on his chest.

Nate drew his eyebrows together and studied him for a few moments. He gripped Alfie's wrists gently, lifted them above his head, then pressed them down firmly in their new position. Nate raised his eyebrow and removed his hands, but the imprints of his fingers shackled Alfie's wrists to the top of the bed.

"The bar," Nate breathed. "Grab the bar."

Alfie took the bar of the metal bedframe into his hands.

Nate wanted him stretched out and bare, and Alfie wanted it too.

"Good, Freshman."

His nipples stiffened in anticipation of a kiss.

Nate didn't disappoint them. He dipped his mouth down, licking and sucking as if they were the only source of nourishment for his sex-hungry body.

Alfie groaned, moaned, and panted into his bicep, shifting on the mattress, not quite knowing what to do to buffer the onslaught of sensation. He sank his teeth in his arm to mask the pleasurable sounds and hoped the spark of pain would hold back the impending orgasm.

A warning rumble escaped Nate's throat. He stopped caressing Alfie's chest and tugged the sacrificial bicep free before kissing the indents. "No," he whispered.

Alfie drew his eyebrows together and pressed his lips into a line. He puffed air in and out his nose, too afraid he would call out for Nate if he breathed through his mouth. They had to be quiet, but his body buzzed with the urge to moan and groan, to whimper in surrender.

Nate removed Alfie's shoes, lowering each one gently to the floor. He turned his attention to Alfie's belt, then tugged the tight trousers and pants halfway down Alfie's thighs.

Alfie knew he was sticky, and the cool air of the cell made him shiver.

Nate smirked before opening his mouth wide and accepting Alfie's straining erection.

Alfie's needy cock was finally encased in warmth and wetness, and he shivered uncontrollably. Nate hadn't gagged him, but he hummed as if he had, trying so hard to be quiet. He pressed his lips together until they ached, and he squeezed his eyes shut to regain some semblance of control.

Nate slid his tongue on the underside of Alfie's sensitive cock, tracing the lines torturously slowly. He savoured Alfie, mapped his cock carefully until every millimetre of tight skin was buzzing on the attention.

Alfie curled his toes until they cramped, but the slight discomfort wasn't enough to stop him bordering the edge.

Nate lowered his mouth to drive Alfie's cock deep in wet heat before pulling back with a long-drawn suck and a hum that vibrated through him.

Alfie wasn't going to last. Nate smirked around his cock like he knew it too. Alfie rubbed the back of his head helplessly against the pillow and clenched his stomach muscles. Three bobs of Nate's tormenting blow job, three twists of his nipple, and Alfie flung his head back until he felt the springs of the thin mattress digging into him.

He lifted his hips.

Nate grabbed his arse and held him there, slipping his mouth all the way down to the base as Alfie's climax hit. Alfie sunk his teeth into his bicep again. He had to, or he would've screamed loud enough to wake Henry, let alone the prisoners in the surrounding cells.

Nate held him still while accepting the steady flow of come, and Alfie was so deep in his throat he felt him swallow four distinct times. Alfie's eyes were firmly shut, but moisture trickled through his lids at the intensity of the orgasm.

Nate lowered Alfie's hips back to the mattress, then crawled up his body, kissing all he could until he got to Alfie's numb face, still buried in his arm.

Alfie stopped biting and panted for breath. Nate sucked his slacked lips, then pushed his tongue into Alfie's mouth, letting him taste himself. He pulled back a minute later with a dirty sound of suction and hummed to himself. The predatory smile was back, and the crinkled eyes too. "I'm going to fuck you now. Been dying to since I first saw you."

Alfie's eyes fluttered, and he nodded as best he could with his head on the pillow.

Nate knelt and stretched his arm to the small bedside cabinet. The drawer squeaked, and they both froze. No one stirred in the cell next to them, and a relieved breath escaped Nate.

"Even if they did hear, there's no way I'm stopping now."

He pulled out a small tub of Vaseline and struggled with the lid. His angry expression intensified until Alfie lifted his hand to take it. He opened it with ease and smirked at Nate narrowing his eyes.

"I'm going to wipe that look off your face."

He slathered his cock in Vaseline, and Alfie leaned up to watch. Nate's cock was huge and intimidatingly thick. Alfie widened his eyes, and his lips popped open.

Nate chuckled. "Turning you on?"

Alfie's mouth had gone dry, and he forced himself to swallow. "It's not going to fit."

"Aww, more sweet words from my Freshman." Nate stopped stroking himself and shoved his sticky hand at Alfie's chest. He flopped back onto the bed, but it wasn't enough for Nate. He gripped Alfie's wrists and pressed them to the top of the bed. Alfie took hold of the bedframe. "Keep them there."

Alfie nodded and shut his eyes, anticipating discomfort. He never liked the first few thrusts. It was an internal battle to relax his untrusting body, and that fight of mind over body resulted in pain, in rawness, that he had to overcome to get to pleasure.

The battle didn't happen with Nate, or if it did, it was over before he even breached with his fingers.

Alfie kept his fingers curled around the metal bar above his head and leaned back to expose his throat. It was more intimate than kissing on the lips. And Nate made the best of the surrender, nipping gently with his teeth and sucking softly on the delicate skin. He used his fingers, pushing them in and out, not giving Alfie a moment to think. He distracted him with slow kisses with lots of tongue.

The pain of the first push barely registered. Nate paused to kiss Alfie dizzy before deepening his thrust. Any uncomfortable stretch was swiftly blocked by Nate's lips. He kissed thoroughly, until there was no room for doubt or fear.

Then the kisses weren't gentle anymore.

They were primal, months of build-up pouring out of them.

Alfie took what Nate gave him with a gasp and a pant. He removed a hand from the bedframe and clutched Nate's muscular back, holding on while he was thrust into the mattress.

Nate growled, leaned back, and found Alfie's disobedient hand. He tightened his hand around Alfie's wrists and pinned it above his head. He didn't release it but held on tighter as he thrusted harder and faster. There was distance between them, but they joined where it mattered. Nate controlled Alfie in the way he wanted, kept him still and secure while rolling his hips and awaiting the reaction with a smug smile.

"My Freshman loves being fucked."

Alfie closed his eyes, parted his lips and felt himself being owned, felt himself being claimed and wanted by Nate.

Even with his eyes closed, he grew dizzy, fuzzy around the edge of consciousness. The black of his eyelids wasn't scary, it was welcoming, and he zoned out until he was unaware of himself, could only feel an addictive tingle but couldn't equate it to a body part. All of him felt good, emotionally and physically, and he welcomed the abyss, smiled fondly and asked it to take him.

"I'm going to come inside you."

Alfie nodded desperately.

Nate swallowed. "For the first time—"

"Yes, please, yes," Alfie chanted, but Nate wasn't done.

"For the first time," Nate said. "But not for the last. You hear me, Alfie , not for the last."

"Nate—"

"But you've got to do something for me first."

Alfie whimpered, forcing his eyes open. He pleaded with Nate. "What?"

Nate didn't falter in his thrusts; he slammed against Alfie's prostate as he forced Alfie's disobedient hand back to the bed frame. Alfie clutched on.

"You're going to come again," Nate said, grabbing the back of Alfie's knees and pushing, bending them. "You're going to come again because I'm telling you to. Because I know how close you are."

He folded Alfie, exposing him, looking down at where his cock slipped in and out. His breath hitched, and he wiped his sweaty brow on his shoulder. "Fuck, you're gorgeous like this."

Alfie whined lowly.

"But you'd look even better covered in your cum," Nate said, finding the right angle to set Alfie off.

His cum hit his chest before the orgasm registered, slapping against his skin as he lost himself.

Nate leaned down to swallow Alfie's cry, smothering it with wet kisses as his hips stuttered and jerked before he exploded as deep as he could inside Alfie's body.

He let go of Alfie's knees and pressed himself flush against Alfie. His huge body covered him, and even though Alfie's chest glistened with cum and Nate's weight made it difficult to breathe, he shut his eyes and drifted.