Tight, Dark Places

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Tight, Dark Places Copyright©2007 Bryn Colvin ISBN 978-1-60054-157-5 His and His Kisses Edition All rights reserved. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation. Published by loveyoudivine 2007 Find us on the World Wide Web at www.loveyoudivine.com

By Bryn Colvin

For Jonathan

The rope looked secure enough, and Tim supposed the climb before him wasn’t too bad. Still he hesitated, reluctant to make the assent. He’d never liked heights. However, the one thing he really didn’t want to do was make a total fool of himself in front of the two other PhD students, and their tutor. Dr. Rowan Cleeve had scrambled up without any assistance and tied the rope for the others to follow. It wasn’t a proper climbing rope. They had no hard hats, nothing to stop them slipping if they lost their grip. On the other hand, it was only about twelve feet. “Problems Tim?” Dr. Cleeve called down. “No,” Tim lied. He put his foot against the rock, gripped the rope and launched himself upwards. One of the things that had initially drawn this delicate, dark-haired young man into

Tight Dark Places the academic life was that he had no aptitude for sports and outdoors activities. Lab work suited him nicely, and he’d not really considered how this much field work would impact on him. His muscles complained bitterly as he tried to haul his modest weight up the incline. One slip, and he could fall and break a bone, he realised. Despite his anxieties, he reached the top unharmed. A strong hand pulled him up the final distance, and Tim arrived on a broad shelf next to smiling Dr. Rowan. The older man seemed entirely in his element. “Cheers,” Tim said. “Sophie, you next,” Rowan shouted down, shooting Tim an encouraging smile. “You’ll get used to ropes, and ladders, and caves in no time.” Tim smiled, nodded and silently disagreed with this. Why am I doing this? he asked himself yet again. Why? There are plenty of easier options. His tutor leaned over, offering Sophie a hand up the last stretch. As he leaned, his worn combat trousers moulded around his backside. Tim swallowed hard, aware that a fierce blush crept across his face. He knew why he’d signed up for this kind of study. Dr. Rowan Cleeve left him weak at the knees and foolishly giddy. In a moment of ill-considered enthusiasm, he had abandoned his previous study plans to work

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Tight Dark Places under this man. The notion of working closely under Dr. Rowan made him blush even harder. Right under him please. And really closely. Once all four of them were on the ledge, the space felt rather crowded and precarious to Tim. A metal grill protected the cave mouth behind them. Rowan produced a key, opening a door in the grill so that they could all squirm through. “When I first started recording these bats, it was just open and accessible. However, it is possible to access the main cave system from here, so making this particular way in inaccessible became one of the conditions on my studies. Of course, it makes life a lot quieter for the bats.” The tunnel started out narrow, but widened as it ploughed deeper into the rock. “In an ideal world, we’d have infra-red night vision goggles,” Dr. Rowan remarked. “As it is, we have to make do with torches. It’s often the case that you don’t have the equipment you need, much less the things you want.” Tim had been out on a few of these field trips already, carting tiny scales into loft spaces and old mines so that the baby bats could be properly weighed and measured. All they had to do was locate the colony and wait for twilight when the adults flew. Then they had a little time to collect data on the

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Tight Dark Places young, and ring them. Crouching in the darkness, the quartet listened to the rush of wings above them as the colony of horseshoe bats set out for the night. The rustling of leathery wings had an eerie quality to it. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over how cute they are,” Anna said as they set to work in the main cave. “They do have a certain charm, don’t they?” their tutor remarked. The baby bats had been left clinging to the rock face while their parents went out to feed. All a biology researcher had to do was unhook them, take their vital statistics and persuade them to reattach. “As you can see, I’ve already ringed this set, which speeds up our job today. It won’t be long before these little fellows are ready to fly out and catch their own moths.” Tim accepted a tiny, furry body from Rowan’s hands and carried it over to the temporary measuring station set up on the floor. He returned it to the wall just as the last baby in the colony went over to the scales. In the torchlight, Tim found it hard to judge distances and inadvertently brushed against the other man. The fleeting contact sent a shiver down his spine. Not that there could be anything done about it. Even in the unlikely circumstances of his crush being reciprocated, tutor

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Tight Dark Places pupil relationships were not a good idea. Tim couldn’t compromise his teacher by doing anything inappropriate. However much he wanted to. “Are we done here?” Sophie asked, breaking the line of Tim’s thoughts. “Pretty much. I just want to have a look round. We’re a male down. Most likely its dead, but I want to see if I can find the body,” Rowan explained. “I’ll help,” Tim offered. “We may as well go on out and get the kit down to the car then,” Anna suggested, already in the process of packing up. “Don’t drink all the coffee,” their tutor said, in a mockstern tone. Tim made his way round the edge of the cave, scrutinising the floor for signs of a tiny bat corpse. He heard Anna and Sophie chatting as they made their way out. Risking a sidelong glance, he saw the object of his desires stooped over, examining something on the cave floor. The man looked perfectly serene, his face partially illuminated in the torchlight, with striking shadows around his eyes and cheekbones. Tim sighed quietly to himself. “Found it?” “Looks that way. It’s been dead a few days.”

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Tight Dark Places “What do you think caused it?” “Most likely something’s happened to its mother, and it’s just starved to death. When they’re this small, it doesn’t take much.” “Would it be worth me exploring where and how the bats feed, or look at insect availability out in the gorge?” “That could be a useful line to….” Rowan broke off midsentence. A low rumbling sound made Tim start and tense. “What the hell was that?” “I have no idea. We should be leaving anyway. The bats will be back soon, and we don’t want to disturb them.” Torchlight showed them the way along the narrow tunnel. Where there had previously been a way out, now only a pile of rocks showed in the narrow beam of light. “Oh shit,” Tim said, thinking that maybe this was just a horrible nightmare. How could the entrance have collapsed? “Sophie! Anna! Can you hear me?” No voices came from beyond the rock. “Now what?” Tim asked nervously. “We have to try and clear some of this, or the adults won’t be able to get back in.” Rowan set to work at once, clambering up onto the pile of

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Tight Dark Places loose stone and pulling it away. Even though they were in some danger themselves, his bat obsession seemed more important to him than anything else. “That might not be safe. What if it brings more down?” Tim asked. Rowan said nothing to this, but kept working. After a moment’s indecision, Tim set his fears aside and went in to help. If they could clear the grill, it would be easy enough to get out. The air seemed hot and close, as though the oxygen supply was dwindling. Tim felt fairly sure he was just imagining things. Even so, when he pulled away a small boulder and fresh air rushed through the gap, he felt a rush of relief. Bringing his torch up, he saw the dull gleam of the grill. “I’ve got it,” he called out. “We’re through.” After that, the work became easier and before long they had cleared a decent sized gap along the top of the grill. “Will the bats recognise this as their cave?” Tim asked. “We can but hope. Can you see any sign of the girls?” Tim peered out, unable to see anything much. “Sophie? Anna?” “Tim?” came a voice from somewhere below him. “Are you two okay?” “Yes,” he shouted back. “You?”

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Tight Dark Places “A bit bruised and shaken, but no damage done. We were most of the way back to the car,” Anna shouted back. “What happened?” “A rock fall from further up.” “So it’s across the outside of the grill?” “Mostly, yes.” “Can you clear it?” “I don’t think we could even get up there. It’s a total mess down here.” A lone bat flew in through the small opening. Tim dropped down so as not to get in its way. “There’s good news and bad news,” he said, scrabbling back to where Rowan was resting. “The bats are coming back through, and the girls are okay.” “And the bad news?” “The rock fall’s mostly on the outside of the grill. They can’t help us.” Rowan scrambled up the remaining rocks and peered out into the night. “Go back to the car. Phone the police and explain what’s happened.” Tim assumed one of the girls had responded, but he couldn’t hear what had been said.

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Tight Dark Places “We can walk out of here,” Rowan announced. “It might take a while, but it’s the best solution.” He slid back down to Tim. “Of course. You said these caves connect with the other ones, we can get out that way.” “It’s got to be easier than trying to get out this way. A shame though. I started with this colony during my doctorate. I won’t be able to study them anymore.” There were several passageways leading from the caves. Rowan set off at a reasonable pace, and Tim trusted his tutor knew where they were going. Feeling cautious about their resources, he switched his own torch off, even though it meant he could see almost nothing. After what felt like an age of walking, Rowan stopped so abruptly that Tim crashed into him, knocking both of them off balance. Pressed tight against his tutor’s lean body, it took a real act of will from Tim to even try and move. Had he been less worried about their circumstances, he might have lingered, enjoying the heat of proximity. “Sorry.” “Are you okay, Tim?” “No damage done. What’s the problem?” “Dead end. We’ll have to double back and try a different way.”

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Tight Dark Places Tim’s stomach knotted in fear. “I thought you knew the way out.” “Not a clue. I know there is a way, stands to reason we’ll find it eventually.” In that moment, Tim became acutely aware of the weight of rock over his head. Another rock fall could cut them off entirely, leaving them to die from asphyxiation. For a moment he thought he might be sick, but managed to fight the panicked nausea down. “Are you okay?” Rowan’s voice sounded full of concern. “Give me a minute. I’ll be fine.” Strong fingers closed around Tim’s arm, steadying him. Despite the morale blow of discovering they were lost, Dr. Cleeve still had the knack for making him feel safe. Tim wanted to lean his head against those strong shoulders for a few moments. While his heart drummed wildly, he, he fought down the impulse, but it didn’t last. Turning in the confined space, Tim leaned against his tutor, and the panic in him eased a little. “You’re rattled,” Rowan observed. “Sorry.” “Not a problem. I’d rather know. If you’re going to panic, advanced warning would help. Seriously, I don’t want you

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Tight Dark Places losing your nerve. If this does get difficult, that won’t help at all. You have to trust me, and you have to be honest with me. I can get us out of here, so long as you stay calm.” “You don’t seem too worried,” Tim said. “I’ve been in plenty of worse scrapes than this. I’ve been stuck potholing a couple of times, and believe me this is a walk in a park compared to being in a hole slightly smaller than you are.” “What happened?” “I survived, but one of them I was in water, so it was pretty hairy for a while.” “You like caves and underground stuff then?” “I like a challenge. Come on; let’s see if we can get moving.” As they walked, Rowan quizzed Tim about his life, his childhood, friends, undergraduate work, ambitions, love life even. After a while, Tim guessed this might be a ploy to try and keep his mind off things, but he didn’t mind because it was working well enough. Not that he had a fantastically exciting life story to tell, but he did his best to make it sound interesting. “There’s a slight draft this way, which bodes well,” Rowan announced. Their tunnel began to climb steeply, the floor a mass of

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Tight Dark Places loose stone. Tim’s trainers slipped out from beneath him. He dropped to his hands and knees. “Problems?” “Slipped,” Tim said, aware that he was shaking. Torchlight temporarily blinded him as Rowan slid down to rejoin him. “You don’t really have the footwear for this,” he said. “Take my hand. Use your other hand if you need to keep your balance. Don’t think about it, just go.” Despite his shaking legs, Tim managed to stagger up the incline. Rowan’s grip remained firm, keeping him steady when he lost his footing. “How’re you doing?” Rowan asked cautiously when they got to the top. “A bit light headed. Low blood sugar I guess. I’m not used to this much activity.” Rowan rummaged through his backpack and pressed a small, hard lump of something into Tim’s hand. “Kendal mint cake.” Tim accepted the sugary lump gratefully, sucking on it, his mouth alive to the taste of mint as the sweetness of it revived him. “Thanks.”

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Tight Dark Places “Ready to go on?” “I guess.” For a while, their path seemed easy enough, but the tunnel they’d been following opened out into a vast cave. The low ceiling seemed to press down on Tim, reminding him of the tons of rock and earth over his head. He pushed the unwelcome thought away. As Rowan’s torchlight flickered over the space, Tim realised they had found a large body of water. Rowan turned to look at him. “Wait here. I’ll see if I can get across. The water must have got in here from somewhere, so there’s a good chance we’ll find a way out on the other side. Hopefully it won’t be too wet. I’ll come back for you.” Tim wanted to protest that he could go too, but the sight of that dark water, depth unknown, pressed beneath a low ceiling, filled him with fear. He didn’t think he could get across not knowing what waited on the other side. “Have a rest. I’ll be as quick as I can.” Tim found a flat-ish patch of stone to sit on and tried to ease his weary muscles. He watched as Rowan strode out into the dark water, going up to his knees almost immediately. The man remained visible as a silhouette, the cave around him partially illuminated by the bobbing torchlight. For a while,

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Tight Dark Places the relief of sitting kept him from darker thoughts, but as the light vanished from sight, fear returned. What if Rowan can’t find a way out? What if he has an accident and gets hurt, or dies even? Tim knew he had no chance of rescuing his tutor in such an eventuality, and doubted he could get out of the caves alive without the more experienced man’s help. After a while, the silence became oppressive, pressing in too much. Having spent too long already straining his eyes against the return of Rowan’s light, he had to do something to relieve the nothingness around him. Tim hummed, his voice quavering and uncertain, but better than the alternative. He didn’t really know any songs, just odd choruses, fragments of things he’d learned at school. Although he wasn’t making much noise, his broken singing reverberated around the cave, creating strange echoes and resonances. He quite liked the effect, and playing with his voice helped distract him. He realised it was a bit like how bats must experience the world, knowing it through the echoes of their own cries. Not knowing how to interpret the reverberations, he couldn’t tell if one sound meant a way out, or anything else. He heard something moving through the water. Tim fumbled for his torch and directed it towards the sound, gasping with relief as the beam illuminated Rowan’s form. “Don’t waste it. I can get to you.”

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Tight Dark Places Moments later, Rowan squelched onto the rocky side of the underground pool. “There’s a way through,” he said. His mentor sounded exhausted. “You’re going to have to get very wet I’m afraid, and the water’s freezing cold. It’s not going to pleasant, I won’t lie to you, but if you trust me, I can get us out of here.” “I trust you,” Tim said. “Come on then. Let’s do it. Take my hand. We can’t afford to be separated.” Holding Rowan’s hand, Tim felt a lot braver. They walked together down to the edge of the water. The coldness of it hit Tim like a blow, and he felt his feet going numb inside his trainers. The liquid seemed barely above freezing. As they walked, the height of the water rose, chilling Tim horribly. “What’s the risk of hypothermia in these conditions?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. “Significant. It’s important to keep moving.” The cold exhausted Tim. It took all of his attention to put one foot in front of the other as they struggled on in the darkness. The constant pressure of Rowan’s hand around his kept him going. “Here we are,” Rowan said, his voice muted.

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Tight Dark Places “Where?” “From here, the ceiling gets lower and the water gets deeper. I know you’re shorter than me but I think you can do it.” “Oh shit!” Tim whimpered. “Listen to me, you can do this, just do whatever I tell you, understand?” “Yes.” “Here we go then.” As Rowan had warned, the water rose rapidly, until it came up to Tim’s chest. With his free hand, he reached upwards and found the ceiling a few inches above his head. He wished he hadn’t. The air felt thick and close. The water grew deeper with every step, freezing his body and making every advance difficult. Soon he had to make an effort to tilt his head back so he could breathe. Pushing against the water and struggling with the bitter cold became harder all the time. He wanted to stop, or go back, but Rowan tugged him onwards. “Take a deep breath, and whatever happens, don’t let go of my hand,” Rowan whispered. Tim did as he was told, gasping down a big lungful as they left the air behind and plunged into the black water. He felt rock scraping his face and arms. Panic took him. He wanted to scream against this hideous confinement, trapped

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Tight Dark Places in rock and water. Death seemed inevitable. His lungs burned and ached, until he had no choice but to release the breath. Water pressed around his face, and Tim wondered how long he could fight the need to breathe. Blood red lights danced before his closed eyes. Rowan’s hand slipped from his grasp, and he thought he must be lost. His fingers touched the rocky bottom of the pool. Tim pushed his head up, knowing if he didn’t find air he was done for. His head broke through the water, and he sucked in a deep breath, hardly able to believe he’d made it. “Rowan?” There was only silence. Tim fumbled for his torch and flicked it on. They were in a new cave, and he could see something that looked like an information board. They had made it through to the safety of the tourist area! His flashlight picked up a shape in the water a little way in front of him. “Rowan!” Adrenaline coursed through him, driving off the cold and the exhaustion. He staggered forward a few paces, grabbing his mentor’s slumped body and pulling him clear of the water. The man seemed to be breathing, but he didn’t respond to Tim’s attempts at rousing him. Having made that horrendous journey through the waterlogged caves three times, he had

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Tight Dark Places finally succumbed to the cold. While Tim’s area of expertise lay in mammalian studies, he knew enough human biology to be quite sure the man was in serious danger. He had no idea how long he had to get Rowan warm however, or what the likelihood of his own body giving out might be. Unable to lift Rowan, Tim held his tutor under the arms and dragged him backwards along the smooth pathway used by the paying tourists. His arm muscles screamed resentment, but he did not allow himself to stop. At last, with an aching back and a spinning head, he came to an area that appeared to be a gift shop. There were some fabric decorations on the wall that looked a lot like tapestries. Tim lowered Rowan to the floor, then tore down these large pieces of material. They weren’t terribly heavy. Tearing off his clothes as fast as he could, Tim stripped naked. Free from the weight of chilled and sodden fabric, he felt a little better almost at once. Without hesitation, he performed the same service for Rowan. The man’s skin felt terribly cold and his breathing came so lightly that for a few horrible moments, Tim thought he might have been too slow after all. Shared body heat and dry cloth might save them both. Tim tried not to think about what he was doing as he pulled his naked, frozen tutor close. Wrapping them both up in the

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Tight Dark Places swathes of cloth proved hard, and he shivered uncontrollably for a long time. Tim did not dare let sleep take him, despite his exhaustion. He feared that if he slept, he might never wake up again, remembering tales of Napoleonic soldiers who had lain down in he snows of Russia and died there. To keep himself awake, he rubbed Rowan’s cold limbs, trying to encourage the flow of blood, and creating a little heat through friction. He used his legs in the same way, rubbing them along the length of the other man’s thighs and calves. As he began to warm up, Tim found it easier to think. There might be a phone in here. Feeling slightly warmer, he forced himself up. Having found a light-switch, he hunted fruitlessly for a telephone. There were however a large number of chocolate bars. All the usual impedimenta of a touristy gift shop in fact and most of it of no use whatsoever. He helped himself to the food, worrying about the idea of stealing but reasoning this constituted an emergency and he could pay in the morning. All they had to do was survive the rest of the night. The glowing screen of Rowan’s waterproof watch announced it was nearly three in the morning. They’d been lost for more than four hours. Eventually, someone would have to come and open the shop up the next morning, at which point the ordeal would be over.

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Tight Dark Places With nothing to do but wait, Tim settled alongside Rowan, returning his attention to warming the older man up. Several times, Rowan shifted and moved slightly, which seemed like a good sign. Pressed so tightly against the body of the man he’d been lusting after, Tim couldn’t help but respond. His swollen cock rested happily against the curve of Rowan’s taut buttocks. Beneath his hands, the cold skin warmed and revived. Rowan sighed deeply and pressed back against him, teasing at Tim’s firm erection. “Tim?” “How’re you doing?” Tim asked, wondering what on earth was going to happen now. He had no idea how Rowan might be going to react to finding himself naked and in such an intimate embrace. “I’ve felt better.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “I—ah—assume I passed out or something.” “Yes. Sorry about this, but it was the only way I could think of to warm you up.” “Quite right. Shared body heat’s about the best thing in these circumstances, and you were right to get rid of the clothes. Being wet only makes things worse.” “Do you want some chocolate?” “That would be good. Thank you.”

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Tight Dark Places Tim watched Rowan eat, noting the returning colour in his cheeks. “I told you we could do it,” Rowan observed. “It was close though. I’d never have got out without your help.” Rowan shrugged at this. “I was hardly going to leave you there, was I?” “Well, thanks anyway.” “As the last thing I remember is making it through the pool with you, I assume you must have carried me here, so I think we’re about even.” “Now what?” Tim asked. “Can we get out?” “Not without forcing the door. The windows aren’t big enough.” “Then I suppose we stay here. I think I’m too tired to try anything much.” “Right,” Tim said, wondering what to do with himself. He felt awkward now that Rowan was awake, but at least his hard-on had retreated. “I’m still bloody cold,” Rowan said. “More shared body heat?” Tim asked awkwardly. “If you’re okay with that?”

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Tight Dark Places “Sure.” Tim managed not to grin too broadly as they settled back down in the pile of cloth. After a few awkward shuffles, they arranged themselves into a comfortable enough position. Rowan lay behind Tim, his arm wrapped round the younger man’s waist, their bodies pressed tightly together. A feeling of deep peace settled over Tim, and despite the uncomfortably hard floor, he soon drifted into sleep.

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When Tim woke, he became instantly conscious of two things. Firstly, he could hear voices somewhere nearby. Secondly, there was something hard pressed against his backside. The door to the outside world opened. “Hello?” a voice called out. “Hello!” Tim called back. Was Rowan hard against him? It certainly felt that way. Rowan stirred and sat up, breaking the contact. Then the paramedics came, along with Anna and Sophie. There seemed to be a lot of people all talking at once, and blankets, hot drinks, questions. Tim’s head swam, and he could barely keep up with what happened.

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Tight Dark Places ****

Approaching Dr. Rowan Cleeve’s office, Tim felt anxious indeed. He’d seen the man a few times since their night in the caves, but not alone. The summons had been rather odd, and he had no idea what was going on. Taking a deep breath, he knocked. “Come in!” Tim entered, trying not to let his face betray just how anxious he felt. “Have a seat, Tim. I think we need to talk about your studies, about how you mean to progress.” “Okay.” “Are you happy with the work you’re currently doing?” “It’s certainly interesting.” “But it’s a lot more field work than you’re used to. How do you feel about that?” “I think it’s good to diversify. I’ve not been put off by what happened, if that’s what you mean.” He feared his tutor might be poised to tell him he wasn’t good enough. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but Dr. Albans has lost one of his students. She’s pregnant. Now, he’s one of your lab and

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Tight Dark Places microscope types, which is more what you’re used to. If you’d like to shift the emphasis of your studies—well, its early days and I could smooth things over for you.” “You don’t think I’m up to the field work, do you?” “That’s not it at all, Tim. I think you’d be happier doing something else. I also don’t think I’m an entirely suitable person to tutor you through your doctorate.” Tim closed his eyes briefly, taking this statement onboard. He supposed this must be about what had happened in the caves and that Rowan no longer felt comfortable around him. If that was the case, he didn’t see much point staying. He might as well transfer and work under someone else and just concentrate on getting his qualification. “Fine,” he said, aware of how defeated he sounded. “You may as well send me on to Dr. Albans then.” “I think it’s the best decision all round.” “Right well, I’d best get going. Things to do.” Tim walked out of the office in a daze, and wandered round the campus for some time, unable to think about where he was going or what he was doing. Dr. Rowan Cleeve didn’t want him around anymore, and it felt like the end of the world. What did it mean for his studies? He was half tempted to throw the whole thing in and get a proper job instead. Had

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Tight Dark Places he done anything wrong? Tim analysed his every word and action. There didn’t seem to be anything untoward, unless his tutor had been conscious during the time when he was hard. He didn’t know what to think, but the feeling of rejection ate into him, leaving a trail of bitterness and misery in its wake.

****

The phone rang more than a dozen times before Tim decided to pick it up. He didn’t feel much like speaking to anyone, but supposed this must be urgent. The number calling him looked unfamiliar. “Yeah,” he said, making no effort to rouse up any enthusiasm. “Tim? I need to talk to you.” It took him a few seconds to recognise the voice. “Oh. Hello Dr. Cleeve. How can I be of assistance?” “What the hell is this I hear about you quitting?” “I’ve reconsidered my options.” “Is this because I recommended you work with someone else?” “Yes.” Tim heard a long, heavy sigh, then only silence for several

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Tight Dark Places seconds. “Can we meet up and talk? I don’t want to do this over the phone.” “I suppose,” Tim said gloomily. “Are you free this evening?” “I can be.” “Good. Just give me the chance to try and talk you out of this while there’s still time.” “Okay.”

****

They met in a bar Tim knew. In summer, the place thronged with people, but off season the huge outside seating area above the river wasn’t so popular. Tim didn’t mind the chill, and no one else wanted an outside table, so it gave him a degree of privacy. The prospect of some kind of confrontation with his former tutor didn’t appeal to him at all. Rowan emerged from the crowded interior, carrying a couple of glasses. “Well, it’s quieter out here, that’s something,” he said. “So, what was it you wanted to say?” Tim asked. “It’s such a shame, such a waste you quitting. You’re a

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Tight Dark Places fine student. I’m just not the man to teach you.” Tim sipped at his drink and considered this. “You have a problem with me, and you’d rather pass me on to someone else. It’s all right. I understand. I just don’t much feel like being passed on.” “That’s not quite how it is.” “Enlighten me.” “I don’t blame you for being angry with me. You’ve every right to be cross. I’ve not treated you very well at all.” Tim didn’t answer. He rested his chin on his hands and stared at Rowan, not offering him any kind of reassurance or encouragement. The man had hurt him, and he didn’t feel like being generous about it. “I don’t feel it’s appropriate for me to carry on as your tutor, that’s all.” “I’m not sure what that means. What exactly have I done?” “You haven’t done anything, Tim. I’m the one who’s out of order.” “I don’t see how.” “Well, perhaps that’s as well. I don’t want to part on bad terms with you. Please don’t give up your studies on my account. I’m not worth it.” “I need to think about it.”

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Tight Dark Places “Well that’s something at any rate.” “I’d find it helpful if you could explain what the problem is.” Rowan sighed and looked past Tim towards the river. His expression seemed melancholy. “I suppose as this is probably the last time we will see each other you may as well know. At least this way you’ll know why it’s no fault of yours. That business after the cave in.” He looked around as though to make sure they couldn’t be heard. “You fell asleep in my arms. I’d hoped you didn’t notice, when you woke. But it’s no way for a teacher to behave with a student. I assumed you’d want to get shot of me anyway which is why I suggested Dr. Albans. For what it’s worth, I think old Fred would suit you nicely.” “I don’t see anything inappropriate in that. We were in rather an extreme situation.” “I behaved inappropriately.” “You’re going to have to do better than that. It’s no explanation. You keep saying the same thing. What exactly did you do that you think is such a big deal?” Rowan flushed dark crimson, and would not raise his eyes as he spoke. “I rubbed myself against you. Had our rescuers not turned up when they did, I might have got myself

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Tight Dark Places off. I thought you’d realised when they woke you.” “I did wonder.” “Well, it’s said and I apologise for what I did. I don’t know what I was thinking. You’re a fine student, Tim. Go and work with Fred Albans. Get your doctorate.” Rowan stood as though intending to leave. Tim reached across the table and grabbed his wrist. “We’re not done yet. Sit down.” Looking bemused, Rowan lowered himself back into the hard chair. Tim didn’t let go of his wrist however. “Let me get this totally clear. You can’t carry on as my tutor because you fancy me?” “It causes far too many problems.” “I see that. I’ll talk to Dr. Albans in the morning, find out if he’s still willing to take me on.” “Thank you. That’s all I wanted to hear.” “Don’t get up. I’m not done yet.” Rowan raised his eyebrows in evident surprise. Tim loosened his grip on the older man’s wrist, letting his hand cover Rowan’s. “You know what I thought? I thought you wanted to get rid of me, that you’d regained consciousness earlier than I’d first thought and realised what was going on with me.”

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Tight Dark Places “Not at all. I don’t recall you doing anything untoward.” “Then I guess you were still out of it when I started trying to warm you up. Otherwise you might have remembered me pressing against you. Even though I was cold and tired and scared, I was still hard for you.” Tim watched the effect of his words settling in. Rowan’s eyes widened visibly. “If I wasn’t so sure of my unparalleled audio skills, I’d ask you to repeat that.” “Maybe I should say it again anyway. Your naked body turned me on. If you’re not my tutor anymore, and if you want me…” “Then there’s no reason why I shouldn’t take you home right now.” Tim grinned. “I think we’re on the same wavelength here.” Rowan stood, and Tim followed him, guessing that meant they were leaving. He hadn’t once imagined the evening could turn out this way, but the surprise discovery delighted him. His cock stirred in anticipation of what might come. “What’s the view over the river like?” Rowan asked. “What? I don’t know.” “Let have a closer look, shall we?” Bemused, Tim followed Rowan across the broad patio

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Tight Dark Places area to the railings. Beneath them, the ground sloped down steeply to a barely visible road somewhere beneath. Light from the roads and nearby bridge reflected in the muddy water. “Now, the question is, do they have closed circuit cameras out here?” Tim looked round at the large pub behind them. He couldn’t see anything that remotely resembled a camera. Being quite an expensive spot, it didn’t tend to get all that much trouble. “Can’t see any,” he said. “Good.” Rowan moved to stand behind Tim, sliding hands round the younger man’s waist and holding him tightly. Tim sighed with contentment, feeling like he was back where he belonged. “You need to know what you’re getting yourself into,” Rowan whispered into his ear. “I’m something of an adrenaline junky. I told you about the potholing. It doesn’t stop there.” His fingers strayed up over Tim’s chest, tantalising in the extreme, making it difficult to concentrate on what was being said. “Okay, tell me,” Tim managed. “I like risks. Can’t resist flirting with a student, or trying to get myself off on a guy who’s asleep next to me. Anything

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Tight Dark Places with a dash of danger gets me hot.” As he spoke, he pressed against Tim, unmistakably hard despite the layers of fabric between them. Tim felt Rowan’s hand descend lower, cupping his crotch through the loose corduroy trousers covering it. His cock sprang to life at once. In no time, his fly was down, and Rowan’s determined fingers dragged his erection out into the cool night air. Then he fully realised what the older man had been talking about. The risk of getting caught obviously turned Rowan on. Tim felt nervous in the extreme, but he couldn’t resist the action of that strong hand working his cock. “The thing is, I don’t really want to take you home just yet,” Rowan explained as he massaged Tim’s cock. “I want to get you off right here, right now. That’s my kink. I like restaurant toilets and expensive taxis, park benches, dark alleyways. Not so dark alleyways.” “Oh,” Tim groaned, pressing back against Rowan and grinding his backside against the other man’s hard-on. Part of his mind repeated the observation that this didn’t seem too clever. What if someone catches us? Indecent exposure. Public indecency. It’s criminal, isn’t it? They could lock us up for this. On the other hand, it felt so very good, and he didn’t want to protest. “Are you going to tell me to stop?” Rowan asked.

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Tight Dark Places “No,” Tim managed to say. His tongue didn’t seem all that co-operative, and he couldn’t find the words to halt this hazardous seduction. Leaning back against Rowan’s shoulder, he tilted his head, offering up his lips. The invitation was rapidly accepted, and as Rowan’s tongue plunged deep into his mouth, Tim forgot to worry and let the surge of his growing lust overtake him. At that moment, he felt as though he could do anything. The action on his cock speeded, demanding more of him. His legs threatened to give way, so he clung on to the railings with one hand. Tension mounted within him, making a great knot somewhere deep inside. Tim wanted to scream out his need, but in such a public place, he had to bite his lip instead. “Do you think anyone’s watching us?” Rowan whispered. “There are windows, although with it being so dark out here, I doubt they can see much. Perhaps even now, some other guy is wondering what we’re doing, and wishing he could get a better look.” The idea sent a shaft of heat right through Tim’s narrow body. He’d never considered the idea of being watched before, but the way Rowan talked about it made it sound so sexy. “I’m coming,” he croaked, feeling the rush of release shooting up through him. Pleasure overwhelmed him. Shud-

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Tight Dark Places dering gushes of it shook him, as he shot his load into the night. “Perfect,” Rowan whispered in his ear. Tim moaned softly, aware that his entire body was shaking in the aftermath. The experience left him drained and languid. “I think you might be just my sort of pervert,” Rowan murmured, his lips brushing Tim’s ear as he spoke. “I can think of so many things I want to do with you.” His fingers eased down between Tim’s buttocks, teasing at his backside. “Anything,” Tim responded. “Would you let me fuck you right here, right now?” Rowan asked, his tone urgent. For a moment, Tim hesitated, afraid of what might go wrong if he said yes, but utterly desperate to be filled and taken. He heard the door behind him open, and panic gripped him. His fly remained open, his shrunken cock dangled. Fumbling, he tucked his organ out of sight, hoping he hadn’t been noticed. “A sweet young couple,” Rowan breathed. “Do you think they want a show, or should we go somewhere else?” “Let’s go.” They walked hand in hand through the streets. There were no shortage of people out looking for company and

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Tight Dark Places amusement. The two men drew a fair few gazes with their overt gesture of affection. “All it takes is one guy who hates gays, and we could get ourselves thumped,” Rowan pointed out cheerfully. “Fun, isn’t it?” “I’m rather new to this. I’d always been discrete.” “What really lights my candle is the risk of being caught, not actually getting caught. There is a difference.” “So you’re not into being watched then?” “Being watched is an entirely different issue. A keen audience can be quite exciting. Do you want to be watched, Tim?” “Maybe.” Rowan stopped in the middle of the street, sweeping Tim into his arms and pressing a heated kiss to his mouth. Someone made a cat call, and there were hoots from across the road. Heat built in his stomach as he responded to being so visible and vulnerable. Perhaps some of the onlookers were shocked. Some might even be aroused by what he and Rowan were doing. The idea drew him, igniting a fire in his veins. “Come home with me,” Rowan said as he broke away from the kiss. “I thought you wanted to do something wild and public?” “Wait and see.”

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Tight Dark Places ****

Leaning over the edge of Rowan’s small balcony, Tim realised that going home wasn’t the tame option at all. Other balconies offered a view of this small space, and in the street below, people came and went fairly frequently. It wasn’t a quiet neighbourhood. Rowan lubed Tim’s rear, teasing at his opening with knowing fingers. Tim bit his lip, knowing that if he made much noise, people in the street would look up and see him. He was just about decent, with only his head and shoulders visible, but sudden cries of lust would no doubt alert passers by to the hot sex taking place. Tim knew it would be seriously hot. His body ached in anticipation, hankering after penetration and pleasure. Behind him, Rowan teased his cock between Tim’s splayed buttocks. “There’s something about having the night air on your skin, I think. Comfortable?” “Horny.” “Well, let’s see if I can help you with that.” Rowan thrust in, taking Tim in a single, confident stroke. The younger man couldn’t help but cry out. Frantically, he looked around, wondering if he’d drawn too much attention

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Tight Dark Places to himself. Rowan pressed against him. “How will you manage to be discrete as I make you come if this sets you off so vocally?” Rowan asked. “I don’t know.” “Think of all the fun we can have finding out!” With that, Rowan began in earnest. He had a long cock, not as wide as some of the member’s Tim had known but big enough to promise utter satisfaction. Each thrust brought fresh waves of pleasure. Bracing himself against the edge of the balcony, Tim pushed back, making sure each thrust went as deep as possible, filling him right up. He didn’t care who was watching them. If Rowan Cleeve kept fucking him like this, he couldn’t worry about the consequences. He needed this overwhelming sensation, this feeling of being owned and taken. “Come to work with me some time. Sit under my desk and see if any of my students notice you,” Rowan suggested. The idea made Tim tremble, heat building within him. “Do this with me in daylight some time when that street just heaves with people.” “Yes,” Tim whimpered, knowing he’d do anything to have this man’s rock hard erection buried deep inside him. Rowan’s breath grew laboured, and his thrusts became frenetic, carrying Tim forwards. Their shared climax seemed

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Tight Dark Places inevitable, and Tim strained towards it, wanting the rush of release, the heat of being filled. “Oh God that’s good!” Rowan cried out, his voice loud given their exposed position. With a cry that must have been audible to a number of people in the street below, Rowan emptied his balls into Tim’s innards. The sudden shout almost threw him, but the heat of that eruption chased away all apprehension. “I’m coming!” Tim thought his voice sounded too loud. He couldn’t really tell. He didn’t care. Heat and pleasure engulfed him and as he came, his muscles tensed around Rowan’s cock, fuelling his pleasure. Rowan held him close, still gasping for breath, and chuckling low. “I could fall in love with you,” he said. Tim felt as though something inside him had melted. “I think you may be a closet exhibitionist after all,” the older man pronounced. “I’m coming out,” Tim announced. “You’re coming everywhere and anywhere I can think of,” Rowan promised him.

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