(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 356

Chapter 356: I shouldn’t be hard right now, right?
Gunther was dragged up the stairs by a shaking, trembling Casper. Casper had to stop to push up his glasses and wipe away his tears so he could see, and then continue. Gunther was following him up, his expression dazed and confused and Kellen had a feeling that he would have followed him up even if they weren’t holding hands.

Kellen turned his gaze to his Esper. Rhys still had his hands raised, and Kellen watched as his throat worked when Kellen leveled him with his gaze. He looked worried, concerned, and Brent’s gaze behind his shoulders told Kellen that he would have his back to try and catch the S Class Esper if he tried to flee.

Kellen slowly untangled himself from the blanket, Charlie making sure he was stable enough to get to his feet before he made his way slowly towards Rhys. Rhys looked more and more nervous as Kellen continued to say nothing. When Kellen stopped before Rhys, his arms laying flat by his sides, Rhys looked like he was in pain.

“Kellen, just yell at me or something. You look like you want to.” Rhys whispered, but Kellen remained quiet for a little bit longer as he looked over Rhys again now that he was closer. He was in a bad state, but not as bad of a state as he thought. That didn’t mean Kellen was happy.

He eventually raised his hand, and Rhys stared at it, unsure what he wanted. Kellen sighed, frustrated that he wasn’t able to understand what Kellen wanted.

“Give me your hand, Rhys.” Rhys slammed his hand into Kellen’s a second later, no hesitation.

“Of course.” He agreed readily, clearly knowing that he fucked up, even if he wasn’t sure where he had fucked up. Kellen turned his gaze to Brent, who set his jaw.

“We’re going to his apartment so I can speak to him.” Kellen told Brent. Brent, the bouncer effectively, nodded and moved to the side, opening the door.

“I’ll come knocking when Taylor is finished with Gunther.” Brent told him, and Kellen nodded. He had no plans to take him up to the bedroom or anything silly like that. He didn’t even think he knew where Rhys’ bedroom was in his apartment. He just wanted a private moment with him.

Rhys let Kellen drag him around, even opening up the apartment next door and letting Kellen drag him towards the couch where Rhys had kissed him the first time. Kellen pushed him down onto the couch, Rhys falling as Kellen stood over him.

Rhys was watching him, his gaze concerned as he stared at the expressionless face of Kellen.

“Fix your clothes.” Kellen ordered, and between one second and the next, Rhys’ outfit was fully prepared. Kellen’s expression shifted, a frown marring his face as he stared down at the other man before he sighed. Kellen ran his hand through his hair, his movements jerky and Rhys cleared his throat.

“Just…Just yell at me. Please. This is killing me, Kellen. You look…you look really upset.” Rhys told him. Kellen, not answering him, crawled onto his lap, surprising Rhys. Rhys’ hands, his knuckles and fingers bruised and torn, slid to his waist. Kellen’s lips trembled as he watched him do so, the torn skin making his stomach drop to his feet.

Kellen reached out, wrapping his hands around the back of Rhys’ neck, his gaze determined.

“I’m guiding you first. Keep count.” Kellen warned, before he lips touched Rhys’. Rhys jerked at the sudden feeling of Kellen’s lips and guiding power flowing into him, but the man was smart and didn’t protest, or reject Kellen.

They had done this a few more times since they had suggested that they guide like this a bit more, so Kellen wasn’t as intoxicated from the feeling. Or, at least he had a little bit more control compared to the first few times.

Rhys felt turbulent inside, his ocean vicious, the waves swallowing him as he tried to guide. It was difficult, and Kellen was sure that his own emotions played into this as well. He did his best to temper the seas inside of him, knowing that Rhys’ tongue was in his mouth, the kiss deep and dangerous in a completely different way. Kellen could feel his body responding to the stimulus of this action, but he was ignoring it for now.

Too much needed to happen before Kellen could do anything about that.

Rhys’ gentle pull away, his lips, bruised and split, kissed Kellen’s cheeks, taking him out of the guiding session, coaxing him into other things, but Kellen’s grip on Rhys’ neck tightened, and using his strength, he pulled the man’s head back.

Rhys’ expression was shocked as Kellen panted, his cock hard while he sat in his lap, and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. Rhys had foolishly thought that he was in the clear because Kellen had sat in his lap and guided him with kisses. Forgetting that Kellen was a man of efficiency first, emotions later.

Things had been a little different since Kellen had arrived at the Guild, so Rhys had probably forgotten. Kellen, however, was shaking. Now that he knew that Rhys was safe in one regard, everything was coming to a boiling point.

“Captain Thatcher.” Kellen said, and Rhys snapped to attention, the colour fading from his face as he met the crying face of his Guide. Kellen didn’t let the tears stop him from speaking, forging ahead as they streamed down his face. “Why the fuck did you have to make it so real?” Kellen demanded, his voice relatively even considering the emotions that were tearing through him.

Rhys’ mouth opened, a small noise escaping as he began to realise what exactly he had done wrong, and why Kellen was so upset.

“Oh, uh-” Kellen yanked his head back further, his tears not able to hide the anger in his gaze as he glared at Rhys. Kellen slammed his other hand over his mouth, allowing him his nose so that he could breathe. He wasn’t trying to kill the man.

“No. Fucking. Excuses.” Kellen bit out, fury making it a little harder to speak. He could hear his pulse in his ears, his anger filling him up so much it was taking over for the fear and worry that he’d felt up until this point.

Rhys nodded, his eyes wide as he stared at the man on his lap, holding the back of his neck until bruising, his hand firmly over his mouth. He nodded again when Kellen narrowed his gaze, his tears making it difficult to make out his facial expressions.

“That was not what I greenlit.” Kellen began. “You two looked like you actually fucking hated each other. Who were you trying to fool? What were you two thinking? And then not going to Taylor? Did Hill know about this? Pamela? If you kept this just from me, you’re sleeping in this fucking apartment until you smarten the fuck up.” Kellen warned, every bit of him shaking with anger. He meant his words, but he didn’t want it to be true.

He wanted to be able to cuddle with Rhys in his own bed once this was all over, but he needed to make sure that Rhys knew that this? What he had done? Wasn’t okay. They were supposed to make the public believe that they were leaving on poor terms, not that the two fucking hated each other’s guts. That wasn’t in any of the stuff they had discussed.

If Gunther and Rhys had planned this behind everyone’s backs? Very different then if the other members in high positions in the Guild kept this from him as well. It would hurt twice as much. He could write of Gunther and Rhys being two stupid Espers, both similar in nature who had kept this from the others because they didn’t think it was a big deal.

It would be something else entirely if the rest of the Guild kept this from him.

Rhys wrapped his hand around the wrist of the hand that was covering his mouth, and Kellen frowned at the state of his hand. He was so upset. So angry at this fucking idiot. Kellen let the man tug his hand away, and Rhys pressed a kiss against Kellen’s palm. It did nothing to dampen the rage inside of him.

“Baby,” Rhys said and Kellen shook his head.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” Kellen warned, but Rhys pushed ahead.

“Sweetheart, love, beat of my heart, Kellen.” Kellen shook his head at each of his names. “It wasn’t…neither of us planned for it to get like that.” Rhys told him and Kellen shook.

“So you did plan to hit each other?” Kellen confirmed, and Rhys sighed.

“We all agreed, you included, on a few hits. I didn’t know Gunther was going to come at me with so much force.” Rhys looked a little ashamed. “And I didn’t realise that I would respond in kind, either. It was an accident that I think we both needed. No one else knew about this. Pamela even warned us to keep it P.G. We didn’t manage to do that.” Rhys laughed, but realised that Kellen wasn’t relaxing, wasn’t calming down. “I’m sorry Kellen. I really am. I didn’t think this would upset you as much as it did.” Rhys raised Kellen’s palm to his mouth, peppering it with kisses.

Kellen didn’t stop crying.

“You’re a fucking idiot, just like Gunther.” Kellen told him, and Rhys’ lips turned up slightly.

“I am. I’ll agree wholeheartedly to that. What can I do to help? Your tears are killing me, Kellen. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you like this.” Rhys told him again, his voice gentle, his eyes kind and Kellen shook his head before he bent, pressing his face into Rhys’ neck.

“I felt my heart shatter as you two threw the first few punches.” Kellen whispered and Rhys exhaled.

“Oh sweetheart.” Rhys’ voice held so much emotion. “It’s okay. You saw us together after, didn’t you? There is no bad blood between us.” Rhys told him. “And if there was, we got it all out. It’s okay.” Kellen’s body shook as a sob left his mouth and Rhys shuddered. “Oh Kellen. Fuck. What am I supposed to do with this hard on when you’re sobbing?” Rhys joked and Kellen sobbed, before he let out a choked laugh.

“Suffer.” Kellen told him and Rhys turned, lifting Kellen’s face so he could press kisses against his cheeks. Kellen continued to cry while Rhys held him, comforting him and Kellen felt like such an asshole. The man was injured, and yet he had to answer to him and comfort him.

Rhys didn’t seem upset about that at all. In fact, the man seemed happy, ecstatic even that he was doing this.

“I guess I will suffer.” Rhys told him, his smile in his eyes. “I can’t do anything about this, can I? Taylor could show up at any time, and my Guide is shy.” He teased, pressing more kisses against his skin. “You just get this all out. I’ll comfort you no matter what. Just promise you’ll grab me like that again in the future.” Rhys told him and Kellen let out another choked laugh.

“You pervert.” Kellen accused and Rhys grinned.

“I’m your pervert.”