Read Stung (Zombie Gentlemen) for Free Online Page B

eye.
    “Are you now?” Victor kissed the side of his neck,
moving his hands to the front of Crunch’s body, starting to pop open the
buttons of the shirt. “This doesn’t feel all that ancient.”
    Crunch took into account that Victor could be some
lunatic waiting to attack him, but he wasn’t afraid. He had enough experience
to deal with some pretty-boy-strangler if necessary. “Twenty seven, you?” He
took in the first breath of smoke, relaxing to the touch.
    “Twenty three. Almost.” Victor kept kissing and nibbling
on Crunch’s neck and arm but finally managed to open the shirt, sliding his
hands under the fabric with a soft hiss. “You have hair.” That was definitely a
sound of appreciation.
    “Sure do. Just not much on my ‘ead.” Crunch
laughed and slid his palm over less than a quarter of an inch of hair on his
head. It was a practical do in a place like this. “Yar so young ya probably
don’t even remember the Plague.”
    “No, I just heard stories.” Victor pulled back
Crunch’s left arm to remove the sleeve.
    “Ya ever killed one, or are ya one of them London
boys?” Crunch let Victor undress him. They’d be sitting ducks if someone came
to check up on him, but he knew no one would. No guard cared enough to leave
their post.
    Victor cleared his throat, embracing Crunch from
behind and pressing into his back, his breath going shaky. “I... I’ve never
been out of London and Bylondon. Have you?”
    “I am ‘ere, right?” Crunch snorted. “I’ve been out
and about a lot .” He passed the sweet-smelling pipe to Victor.
    “Me too. I am here, I mean.” Victor sighed,
inhaling some of the smoke and returning the pipe.
    “My advice to ya: ya get tired, upset, don’t think
that you’ll be the one who can make it to London through the forest. Ya can’t
and no one can, but there’s always someone trying now and again. That’s what we
‘ave these for.” Crunch pointed to the horn by his trousers. “I blow on that
and ‘alf the camp is up on their feet in a matter of minutes.”
    “How do you know they didn’t reach the city?”
    Crunch looked back at Victor and grabbed his chin.
“‘Cause we ‘ave crossbows for more than just the zombies. Get it? I’m gonna
walk ya back soon. Ya need rest.”
    Victor tensed against Crunch’s naked back, looking
at him like a frightened animal, but it only lasted a second, and he gave
Crunch the same seductive smile he used to lure him in. “I want to see you
tomorrow.”
    “Ya sure will.”
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 3
     
    Victor still felt the heat of Crunch's body when
the door of the barrack shut behind him. The thick stench of a few dozen unwashed
bodies and faeces wiped the smile off his face. The wooden building was
immersed in semi-darkness, with just a few candles lit here and there, and he
was getting the impression that in the soft glow, he could see malodorous vapour.
There were three rows of bunk beds: two standing by the long walls, one in the
middle, with just two narrow passages between them. He didn’t yet know how many
men he shared the space with, because from what he could see, most shared their
palliasses with someone else.
    “Oy, posh boy, you too good for dinner with
everyone?” he heard someone call from the side.
    He narrowed his eyes, putting on a mask of rage,
but his heart skipped a beat. “I had porridge, like everybody else!”
    “Why’d they wanna see you?” A hand emerged from the
shadows of the upper bunk to Victor's side and grabbed at his forearm. A young,
slightly cross-eyed man leaned forward, squeezing his flesh demandingly.
    Victor shoved his hand away. “None of your
business.”
    “Ah, let the pretty boy go, he’s not gonna be so
pretty after a month here,” said another voice. Victor didn’t even know when so
many people turned their attention to him, but there were dark faces all
around, all eyes scrutinizing him. He looked back at the second man and tried
not to let his distaste show, as