Life in the Land Read Online Free Page B

way over to the bar. The blond watched him approach, his head cocked to one side and his expression switched from curious to interested when he realized Robert was heading in his direction.
    “Can I buy you a drink?” asked Robert. He leaned closer to be heard over the music and catch a whiff of an earthy cologne that delighted his senses.
    “I’ll have a beer,” he replied, holding up the nearly empty bottle he had in his hand.
    Robert ordered the drinks at the bar, receiving two bottles, his change, and a knowing smirk from the barman.
    “The name’s Robert. You?”
    “Ian,” he replied, accepting one of the bottles and saluting Robert before taking a drink. “Y’know, I’m not one for small talk, and you don’t strike me as Mr. Happy Ever After.”
    As much as he hated small talk, Robert had always found it necessary if he wanted his cock sucked, so Ian’s reply was a refreshing surprise. “You don’t know that. I could be after the one.”
    Ian laughed. “Are you?”
    “No.”
    “Thought not. Listen, I want to get off and go home. If we’re on the same page, it’s either the back alley or the toilets. Which do you prefer?”
    Robert gaped slightly at Ian’s abruptness, but he couldn’t argue with his logic. “Back alley.”
    “Good choice. The toilets in this place can get a bit ripe.”
    Ian took his hand and led him to a door in the corner, a fire exit to the right of the bar. Ian must know the club better than he did, thought Robert as they emerged into an alley lit only by a single security light over the door.
    In the shadows Robert smashed his mouth against Ian’s, the kiss hungrily returned amidst a taste of beer and lust. His back hit the brickwork, and his cock hardened as a hand cupped him through his jeans.
    “Fuck,” moaned Ian. “I’m gonna love having you in my mouth.”
    Ian dropped to his knees and freed him from his boxer briefs before rolling a condom over Robert’s already aching cock. Ian really loved to suck cock, thought Robert as Ian took him into his mouth, engulfing him in a delicious wet heat. It had been a long time since someone had been so enthusiastic, with a tongue that stroked him in a perfect way to complement the suction. His head rolled back as Ian hummed and massaged his balls, the dark and dirty alley forgotten amidst the pleasure coursing through him.
    A horrendous bang—a mix of a thunderclap and a lorry crash—shook him out of his bliss. But it was nothing compared to the explosion that ripped through the air, making the ground shake and Ian dive to the ground, lying flat on his belly with his hands over his head. Robert saw a blaze of color at the mouth of the alley.
    He pulled off the condom and threw it to the floor. After tucking himself back into his trousers, he helped Ian to his feet. “You all right?”
    “Yeah. I think so. What the fuck is going on?”
    “I’m gonna see what happened. Can you call the emergency services?”
    Ian nodded dumbly, and Robert, with an apologetic smile, raced toward the noise of squealing tires and chaos.
    The street was ablaze with flames licking up the side of the club. Men streamed into the road and away from the stifling heat and choking smoke. A van was lodged in the plate glass of the club’s window and, if it weren’t for the gaping hole in its side, Robert may have thought it was an accident it had ended up where it had.
    There were a number of injured men lying curled up on the damp road. One man sat up, cradling his shaven head as blood poured from a gash across his temple; another howled in pain, clutching at the compound fracture of his arm. The bones had torn through his elaborate tattoos, which were barely visible, mired in blood. A friend was at his side, paralyzed with his inability to help.
    Desperate cries came from a second-story window, where three men screamed for assistance in escaping the flames that licked around the window frame. Sirens wailed in the distance; the emergency services