12: Hope

LIAM

I breathlessly tucked in my spent c*ck, already starting to feel mortified, with my actions.

Damn you, Daniel! For arousing these sensations, I can't even describe. For god's sake, I just finished wanking, picturing him. I have never had a faster release with my hand.

What I feel for him isn't just sexual, it goes deeper than that. And I think he knows it too.  Anytime he is around, I can't keep calm. My heart starts pounding, palms sweating and my cock jerks anytime I feel his touch. There is also this warm fuzziness I feel when I am with him. I have found it easy, to speak my mind in his presence, which rarely happens. 

Yesterday our gaze met briefly across the field, anyone watching would have caught onto us.  I couldn't tear my eyes off him, and neither could he, honestly. It took much effort and nudging from Gianna for him to break the stare. And even then, I was disappointed he did.

I had no caution with Daniel. No breaks, no restraints whatsoever. I was just falling hard, and I didn't want to stop or even pause.

What if I am just playing the fool again? My mind can't help but ask. So be it, my heart retorts every time.

****"

I heard Matthew shift in his bunker. I pocketed the soil tissue and I hopped off the bed, getting on my feet. He was up, fumbling with his shirt's buttons.

“Ready?” I inquired if he was ready to head for dinner. I was waiting for him. 

“ Yes,” he confirmed. The cells were already unlocked. We fell into step and had an uneventful dinner before we went back to the cells. 

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked tentatively after settling back in my bed. 

“Go ahead,” came a soft response. 

“What do you miss the most? About the outside world, I mean?”  My cellmate exhaled deeply, and I found myself doing the same. 

“My daughter,” he answered without hesitation. “That's one regret I have in life, not being there for her as she grew up.” 

“What will you do once you get out?” I asked earnestly.

“You have too many questions tonight.” Matthew grumbled, and I smiled at his assessment. The truth is I was stalling from asking what I really wanted to know. I was afraid of asking Matthew to accept help from my family. 

With my cousin's lawyers, Matthew has chances of getting the parole he deserves. He has been in this awful place for too long and from his frail state I fear he doesn't have many years ahead of him… He should be with his daughter, making up for the lost times. That was the reason I asked my cousin to see how soon he can get him help.

“ My family is influential,” I started, hesitating for a second. 

“If you'd like, they can try to look into your parole.” Silence hung upon us. I was afraid that my offer might offend him.

I heard him shift, and the next instant he was staring wide-eyed at me. 

“Really?”  Hope simmered in his wise silver eyes. 

“Yes, but I don't want you to get excited, not yet.” These things are never a guarantee. And I didn't want to see him disappointed. “Will you talk to our lawyers?”

“Oh, Liam," Matthew gushed, climbing into my small bed.

He dropped his weight on me, wrapping his arms around me.

“Thank you so much, little one. I don't know how to thank you.” he murmured with so much emotion in his voice. 

“Don't thank me yet,” I warned. “I don't know the outcome, I am just hoping it works in your favor.”

“Doesn't matter to me, either way, I am grateful.”  His words brought tears to my eyes. After a minute or two, Matthew stood and climbed back to his bunk, and we fell into a peaceful silence. 

“A swim would be great,” he spoke up after a while. I kept quiet and waited for him to continue, and he did. “… I would like to drive around, and see how much the world has changed.” 

I held back a sob, when it occurred to me how lucky I was.  I could have ended up like Matthew, completely passed by life, though he is existing. 

“Hopefully, you will do those things," I wished him the best. 

And hoped that odds were in his favor.