Falling Star Valentine Read online

  “That’s just it I don’t have a home. I’m not a felon.”

  Dale grinned, hearing the indignation in Valentine’s tone. “You’re not a felon. Well, that’s something.” He nearly added, ‘and you can stay with me.’ The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he bit them back, deciding to wait and see how the day progressed. Jack’s betrayal still colored Dale’s trust in his own judgement.

  “Okay. I’ll unpack and then we’ll shop. Use my cell phone to check where the nearest mall is. We need a department store and a grocery store. I’ve not lived in this part of the city before.” He tossed his smartphone to Valentine.

  Valentine caught the phone.

  Dale carried his duffle bag into the bedroom and opened it up. His laptop was in a special sleeve and he took that out first. He unpacked it swiftly and checked in the closets. The rails had integral hangers. “Cool.” He commented aloud as he went to get his suitcase from where he’d left it in the living area.

  Valentine stood by the huge window looking out.

  Dale went to him. “Did you find us a mall?”

  Valentine held out the phone. “No. I couldn’t make anything work.” His voice wavered.

  Dale gave him a look meant to comfort him. “That’s strange. I know the ISP is connected and I input the settings into my phone and laptop already so that things just worked when I rocked up.” He went to the router that sat on a corner shelf in the kitchen. “Accessing the internet is so important for my work I paid extra to have the agent make sure it was connected.” All the lights glowed on the router. He swiped his phone and brought up Google. He had a street map and information about local malls, stores, and cafes in moments. He turned to Valentine. “It works…” Then he saw Valentine’s expression and knew. “You don’t know how to use it do you? Not the phone or the Internet…” Dale trailed away. How can he not know?

  Valentine’s eyes filled with sadness. “It’s something I haven’t had time to learn on my visits.”

  Dale grabbed the handle of his suitcase and wheeled it rapidly into his bedroom. On his visits? He opened it and dragged out the clothes he’d brought. He practically threw his underwear, T-shirts, and couple of sweaters into the drawer facility of the closet and roughly hung up the two suits and the shirts he’d packed. He hung up the woolen pea coat he’d worn on the journey and dragged on his old leather jacket from the bottom of the case. As much as I like him, if he keeps being obtuse I have to let him go. I can’t deal with another broken heart. Better to end it sooner than fall in love with him and find out he’s a liar. Then he ran a fingertip over his lips remembering their last kiss. Fall in love with him. Annoyed with himself he stormed into the living room.

  “Right then. There’s a mall at the end of the block. Lucky huh?” He grabbed up his keys and phone. “Coming?”

  Chapter Eight

  Valentine went to Dale’s side. He knew things weren’t going as well as they could be. The last Valentine’s Day he’d visited Erath, he was already in bed with a guy at this time. They spent the entire afternoon completely naked, sucking, and fucking, and generally misting up the seedy hotel room windows, but then the guy had left, so maybe this was better. The last guy wasn’t curious about him, mostly he wanted his cock sucked, and Valentine’s cock in his ass, so there was no comparison when Valentine considered it. Dale and he had a steamy encounter on the train, but Dale hadn’t left him at the station.

  I want Dale. He’s so kind, and delicious, too. I’d love him forever. I don’t think he loves me, yet. Fatigue hit Valentine. None of this was easy. Sometimes he wished he’d simply foregone the chance to return to Earth, but the idea of seeing the ocean, the forests, and all the beautiful places, trapped him in longing for a life there. He’d once asked who’d dreamed up the conditions for staying, for becoming human again. He never received an answer. Other stars formed in the nebula and bounced off into space. Some joined him in the vast river of those beings waiting. Valentine couldn’t even remember how he got there. He didn’t know for sure if he’d formed or been assigned there. How long would I have been there? The sleeping takes memories away, but it would be more than two centuries for sure.

  “Would it be easier to talk as we walk to the mall?”

  Dale’s question brought Valentine out of his thoughts.

  “Okay.” He was so tired. He wanted to sit with Dale, hold him close, and feel the sweetness of his kiss. Valentine edged his hand into Dale’s as they walked.

  Dale gave a swift sideways glance at him but clasped his hand.

  Valentine’s flagging spirits soared. “I’m not currently residing here. I don’t have a home or a job, or any family. I don’t have any belongings. I’m not here for long, just today—Valentine’s Day—the day for lovers. I will go back to where I came from tomorrow morning around seven. Honestly, I don’t know why.” He stopped talking as Dale froze and gazed at him with a sad expression.

  “You’re talking in riddles again. You must have a home somewhere. Why are you only here for the day? What does that mean? Where will you go back to?” He shook his head as if giving up on Valentine.

  “I want to tell you. I’d like to tell you.” His voice was thick with tears.

  Dale started walking again, but as if to comfort him, Dale slipped his arm around Valentine’s body.

  Valentine breathed in the comfort of Dale’s touch and his tears receded. “I er … I don’t live on Earth. I want to. If I can have someone fall in love with me on this lovers’ day then I get to stay.”

  Dale laughed aloud. “Okay. I give up. You don’t want to tell me anything about yourself. If I knew what was good for me I’d leave you in the mall … but…”

  Valentine hurried to insert something that meant he could stay with Dale as long as possible. “But you like me and want to spend time with me.”

  Dale’s voice was full of amusement. “Yeah … okay … weirdo.”

  “I’m not sure I know what that means, but your voice was happy when you said it so I’m happy, too.” Valentine answered and pushed his arm around Dale’s shoulders.

  ****

  The mall they shopped in was huge.

  Valentine stuck close to Dale.

  Laden with supplies, they took a cab back to Dale’s apartment.

  Dale unwrapped the linen he’d bought as soon as they dropped all the bags in the kitchen.

  “Valentine can you put the food that needs it into the fridge? I want to get this stuff laundered.” He disappeared down the corridor with the armful of bedsheets, quilt covers, and pillowcases, clutching the laundry detergent against his body, under his arm.

  Valentine loaded the food that already felt cold into the fridge and the other items into cupboards. The kitchen was equipped with things he knew about from one of his visits to Earth, like pans and cutlery. He filled the electric kettle and set it to boil. He’d learned that from the seedy hotel encounter. Dale had bought instant coffee not knowing if they had a percolator. Valentine turned to him when Dale came back from setting the bedlinen to wash. “I’m making coffee. What did we buy to eat? I’m so hungry. This is like living here with you. It’s great.”

  Dale stared at him and in that moment, Valentine knew Dale felt the same. If only Dale would believe him, if only they could make love, if only…

  Dale’s dark eyes shone with affection. He glanced at the kettle when it made a loud click having boiled the water.

  “We could make turkey sandwiches. There’s soup, too. Do we have a pan?”

  “Yes, I found loads of things to cook with.” He ducked and opened a deep drawer that had pans in there. He took one out and held it up.

  Dale grinned at him. “So, if you’re only here for the day where to next?” He took the pan, and as Valentine watched, dispirited that the conversation had turned to his departure, he grabbed a carton from the fridge, emptied the contents into the pan, and set it on the glossy surface that Valentine guessed made heat somehow.

  “You won’t believe me if I
tell you.” Valentine opened the fridge and brought out the packet that held turkey. He scooped up lettuce and tomatoes, and placed the items on the counter.

  Dale nudged him to one side. “You stir the soup and I’ll make the sandwiches.”

  Valentine took the handle of the spoon Dale had already placed in the soup and slowly circled it in the thick liquid.

  Dale sliced tomato. “I will believe you.”

  Valentine took a deep breath. Fear of losing Dale stopped him replying.

  Dale took plates from the cupboard and put soup bowls alongside. “I should warm these, but we’ll just have to eat fast.” He took the pan off the stove and poured the soup into the bowls.

  Valentine watched. If he doesn’t fall in love with me by the time I have to leave, then it’s okay. It’s been so nice being with him, but I won’t try again. The tenth time can stay unused. I’ll never find anyone I want as much as Dale.

  Dale turned to him. “Grab food and take a seat at the table. I’ll put the heating on.”

  Valentine took the food to the table and sat. He gazed out of the huge window. The sky was heavy with rain. Below on the sidewalk people hurried. Trees that lined the pavement swayed in the gathering wind.

  Dale joined him at the table. “Eat, Valentine, the soup will go cold. It’s going to pour with rain.” He looked out of the window.

  Valentine waited for Dale to start eating before he tasted the soup. He ate slowly weighed down by the knowledge that his fate was probably sealed. He’d be back among the stars by seven the next morning, earth-time.

  Huge raindrops spattered on the window, blown onto the balcony by the gusty wind. One of the chairs out there fell against the rail. Deep in thought, the sudden burst of sound made Valentine jump. He put down his soupspoon and gazed out of the window. The rain mirrored his internal tears.

  Chapter Nine

  A wash of concern flowed over Dale. He saw the blanket of sadness that suddenly descended over Valentine.

  “What’s wrong?” Instinctively, he stood, and pulled out the chair closest to Valentine. He sat and slipped his arm around Valentine’s shoulders. “I’m not going to kick you out into the cold night if that’s what’s worrying you.”

  Valentine turned his face to Dale. “It’s not that. It’s because I hoped you were the one. It feels as if you are when we kiss. When I saw you, my heart filled up with that hope. I loved what we did in the train washroom.” He gazed into Dale’s eyes.

  The urge to kiss him was way too intense to resist. Dale nudged his nose on Valentine’s and grazed his lips on Valentine’s mouth. Desire crept over him. He held Valentine’s head with his free hand. Soft, dark hair slipped through his fingers and he kissed Valentine until he couldn’t breath and had to pull away. He rested his forehead on Valentine’s to whisper.

  “I have to admit it feels great when we kiss. I liked you the moment I saw you, too.” He couldn’t quite admit the way his heart had hammered when he first met Valentine, but deep down he knew it was significant.

  Valentine shifted in his chair. “I should go, before I fall completely in love with you and then have to suffer a broken heart for the next eon.”

  Dale experienced a sharp pain of loss. “It’s raining … an eon … but if you want to leave…” Some part of him couldn’t bear the idea of Valentine leaving. He pulled Valentine close, to kiss him. He’d meant it to be a soft goodbye kiss, but as his lips touched Valentine’s mouth desire surged through him, and he ran his fingers into Valentine’s hair, twisting it in his fingers, and the kiss became hungry, hard, and searching.

  Valentine responded, his tongue slipped along Dale’s and Dale’s stomach tightened as his cock filled out in delicious pulses.

  Dale couldn’t pull away. He kissed Valentine and the strangest thing happened. At first, it felt as if he’d melted, and every part of him drifted in a haze of pure sex, and then the haze became a vast ocean of stars in a dark sky and he traveled through it with Valentine holding him close. Dale struggled away from the addictive kiss.

  Valentine pushed his hands under Dale’s sweater and swept his hands along Dale’s muscles. The touch ignited such deep desire in Dale that he winced and groaned.

  “Fuck that feels good.” He let go of all reservations and leaned away from Valentine. He dragged off his sweater and stood. Gazing into Valentine’s lust darkened eyes, Dale stripped off his boots, and then his jeans, underwear, and socks, so that he stood naked in front of Valentine. “I need you, bad.” His voice hoarse, he took a step toward Valentine. His hard cock swayed up against his stomach.

  Valentine leapt to his feet. He grabbed Dale’s ass and dragged Dale against his body. He sucked on the soft part of Dale’s shoulder and then bit softly along to Dale’s jaw. “You’re so sexy. My dick’s leaking already. I need your cock…” He kissed Dale hard.

  The breathless words sent excitement through him and Dale pushed away from Valentine. He opened the buttons on Valentine’s shirt. “I’m going to fuck you. You know that.” He pushed the shirt down Valentine’s arms and Valentine shrugged it off.

  Dale remembered Valentine wore nothing under his suit pants. The memory made his cock jerk. His breath left him in a soft whoosh as Valentine dropped his pants.

  Valentine’s cock seemed even more huge and enticing than it had in the train washroom. Dale’s ass clenched and he gasped. “I’m sucking your delicious dick after I’ve fucked you.” His eyelids drooped as lust stormed over him tightening every muscle in his body. “If I don’t come soon I’m going to explode.” He ran his hands over Valentine’s naked body. The feel of Valentine’s skin under his palms sent streaks of desire hurtling down his stomach to pool between his legs. He kissed Valentine’s chest muscles and licked at the nipples before grazing Valentine’s lips with his. Passion gripped him so strongly he could only murmur low sounds. “Uh-uh…”

  Valentine turned and bent over the chair, his legs apart, and his ass ready for fucking.

  Dale ran a fingertip down Valentine’s balls as the sac hung between Valentine’s legs. He covered Valentine’s body with his, bending over the delectable man. He placed a wet kiss on Valentine’s neck. “We need a condom.”

  Valentine let out a little moan.

  Dale forced himself to stand. He walked swiftly in a haze of sexual need to the bedroom where he’d left his supplies still in the pocket of his duffle bag. He pulled out the bag of condoms and lube. His fingers shook. His stomach clenched. Soon he’d have his cock in Valentine’s tight ass.

  Valentine stood as Dale raced back to him. He pulled Dale close and kissed him.

  “Let me put it on you. I want to feel your cock in my hands.”

  Dale pushed a foil pack into Valentine’s hand. His balls ached. He groaned.

  “Hurry.”

  Valentine rolled the condom onto Dale’s cock.

  Dale gasped, and sighed, and held onto Valentine’s muscled shoulders. The pleasure of Valentine’s hands on his cock threatened to overwhelm him. He grabbed the lube and squeezed it onto his palm.

  Valentine kissed him and Dale clung to him, taking another kiss. “I wish I could fuck you and kiss you at the same time.”

  Valentine whispered against his lips between kisses. “You can. I know a way.” He scooped the lube from Dale’s palm and lathered it onto Dale’s condom covered erection.

  Dale groaned as pleasure spiked up his cock and ran under his ass.

  Valentine pressed him gently to sit on the chair. He straddled Dale and leaned to kiss him. As his lips merged in dreamy kisses on Dale’s, Valentine guided Dale’s slick cock into his ass and sat, inching Dale’s cock deep inside.

  Dale moaned. He threw his head back and gasped for breath. The intensity of sensation as his cock went into Valentine’s ass sent him reeling. “Fuck, I’ll come quick…”

  Valentine held his face and brought his mouth close to rain kisses all over Dale’s lips. The pleasure was exquisite as Valentine rocked, and pulled up and down on Dale’s cock,
kissing him at the same time. Valentine’s cock, huge between their stomachs, leaked pre-cum everywhere. “Dale, if you can grasp my cock I’ll come, too.” He murmured softly into Dale’s ear.

  Delicious sensation tingled along Dale’s ear and he felt his orgasm start in his ass and run between his legs. It ricocheted through his balls, and rocketed up his cock. He grabbed Valentine’s hip in one hand and grasped Valentine’s cock in the other and he thrust up into Valentine’s ass in hard strokes.

  Dale groaned loudly as he came. “Fuckin’ hell…” Wave after wave of incredible sensation stole his breath away.

  Valentine held Dale tight, his mouth against Dale’s cheek. He kissed along Dale’s jaw. He moaned softly onto Dale’s lips, as his cum spurted. Valentine stilled his hips. He rested his face on Dale’s face with a sigh. “That felt so, so good…”

  Tenderness engulfed Dale. He’d never fucked a guy like this. He kissed Valentine gently.

  “That was intense … amazing. You can’t use a phone, but you sure can fuck. You’re a star, Valentine.” He felt Valentine smile against his mouth.

  Valentine drew away to gaze with happiness into Dale’s eyes. “Yes. I am. That’s exactly what I am, a star. How did you guess? It’s such a relief that you know.”

  Dale stared at Valentine’s happy face. What? What does he mean? He saw the complete joy in Valentine’s eyes, and he couldn’t bear to do anything that would make it go away. He kissed him softly all the way down his neck and rested there for moments savoring the feel of Valentine’s hard body.

  His cock was shrinking in Valentine’s ass. He felt the weight on his thighs as Valentine relaxed against him. “The bed’s not made, or I’d suggest we crawl in. I’ll get the quilt and we can wrap up on the couch in that. I want to talk with you.”

  Valentine edged off him and stood. His happiness shone from him.

  Dale couldn’t help smiling. “I’d better deal with the condom.” He went quickly to his bathroom and peeled the condom off, cleaning up with a wad of Kleenex and dumping the tissue wrapped condom into the chrome wastebasket by the sink. He glanced into the mirror. I do like him, such a lot.