Secret Santa Story: Traces In The Snow Part 3/3
Title: Traces In The Snow Part 3
Author: TalliW
Pairings: Tom Ryan/James Lester/ Nick Cutter, Abby/Connor, Stephen, Jenny
Rating: MA
Ryan turned on his side and tried to go to sleep. He closed his eyes and thought of Lester. Again.
Lester's delicate skin under his hands and lips, Lester laughing happily, Lester tight around him.
Damn. This way he would never get any sleep.
And his bladder was full too. He really should have gone beforehand. Sighing, Ryan raised up and set out for the latrine.
Lester snuggled under the thick duvet and inhaled deeply. He still could smell the faint fragrance of sweat and musk on the sheets, bringing back memories of the wonderful time when Ryan had been there. Ryan and Cutter.
Ryan's strong hands on his hips, Ryan's lips on his shoulder, Ryan's finger inside him.
Not that Cutter hadn't been great too. But Ryan had been so gentle. That had made it special.
Ryan had caressed him softly. Ryan had prepared him carefully. And it had been in Ryan's arms he had woken up. Always Ryan.
Lester took his cock in his hand and started to stroke himself. But now it just felt like a cheap substitute.
After his divorce he had tried to go back to his old lifstyle before his marriage but had quickly ascertained that he felt too mature to go on the pull. So his pleasures had mainly been solitary ones.
Just three times he’d got lucky and met someone just as lonely as himself. All three times it had been men. He knew what he preferred predominantly, despite his bisexuality.
And after his failed marriage he certainly wouldn't hook up with a woman again.
No, he desired to feel the hard body of a man, wanted to be engulfed by strong arms and be filled with a hard cock. And he wanted it right now.
Lester clenched his arse cheeks tentatively. The light twinge he had felt the day before had gone.
And hadn't Ryan told him yesterday that it was all right to have a little fun together? Perhaps he was willing to have more fun...
Ryan wasn't in his bedroom.
'Perhaps that's just as well,' Lester thought. He wouldn't know what to say anyway. It was better to let his body do the talking.
When Ryan returned to his room the sight was breathtaking. Lester was sprawled out on the bed, his legs spread invitingly whilst he lasciviously stroked his half-hard cock.
"What are you waiting for?" Lester asked, suddenly feeling insecure as Ryan continued to stare at him, gobsmacked. Had he just made a fool of himself?
The heat of embarrassment spread through Lester's body and tinged his cheeks, neck and chest with spots of red. He reached helplessly for his clothes, the bedcovers, a blanket, anything to cover himself and make a hasty retreat without losing the last scrape of dignity left to him.
"Don't. Don't try to cover your body. You look beautiful," Ryan rasped. Clearing his throat, he quickly moved to the bed, kneeled down and pulled Lester up and into his arms.
"You just caught me by surprise," he breathed against Lester's neck as he felt the nervous beating of Lester's heart against his chest.
"Thought it was just a one time thing. I hadn't expected...."
Lester silenced him with a kiss.
Cutter tossed and turned in his bed. Thought of bloodthirsty creatures filled his mind again. The moment he was tearing Stephen apart to feed him to the predators under Helen's amused look, he finally woke up.
He still heard Stephen's screaming. Or had that been a real cry?
He listened carefully and heard a faint moan from the room next door. Then again a high-pitched whimpering. Perhaps Ryan had fallen ill.
Cautiously, Cutter opened the door to Ryan's bedroom. "Ryan, are you all rig...? Oh!"
Taking in the two naked men on the bed, Cutter stood frozen at the entrance, his throat suddenly tight.
"Sorry. I thought... Doesn't matter," he mumbled, his shoulders hunched and his head lowered to his chest. "I’ll just leave you alone...and go back to bed. Yeah, that’s what I will do. I'm..."
"Cutter, shut up." Lester barked.
Shocked, Cutter's head snapped up and his eyes traveled back to the bed, where Ryan had just whispered something in Lester's ear.
Cutter's eyes grew wide as Lester extended his hand invitingly in his direction. With a big smile on his face, he hurried over and grasped Lester's hand. He was pulled into a hearty embrace by both men. Together, they tumbled to the bed, Lester and Ryan busy getting Cutter out of his clothes.
"Hang on. Just a moment." Gently, Lester shoved Cutter's head away, from where he had started to suck on his nipples.
"How...?" Lester was trying to concentrate whilst Ryan nuzzled his cock. "Coordination," he gasped out as Ryan swiped his tongue over his balls.
"How are we going to coordinate... fuck.... this encounter?" he finally managed to say, halfway coherently, his hands clenched in Ryan's hair to prevent him from going down on him again.
"Don't get me wrong. Last time was fantastic. But there is no way I'm taking you both in at once again. So how do we do it so everyone gets full satisfaction?"
Ryan growled low in his throat as Lester held him in place and kept him away from his groin.
When he realised Lester wasn't going to let him continue before the details were cleared, he raised his head and scanned Lester's face.
Lester was worrying his lower lip and Ryan found it endearing. Hoping Lester wouldn't feel offended, he declared forcefully, "I'm topping."
Lester's quirked eyebrow compelled him to elaborate his words. "Had a bad experience some years ago," he mumbled, with lowered eyes. "Preferred to be on top ever since."
"All right. You top. Cutter, what are your preferences?"
"Bottom. Top. I don't care as long as I'm getting off quickly."
Lester let go of Ryan's hair allowing him to happily return to his task between Lester's thighs, and pulled Cutter into a heated kiss.
"I'm going to fuck you so hard you won't last long enough to complain," Lester panted against Cutter's mouth when they had to break the kiss in need for air.
"Oh, yeah. Please," Cutter whimpered and turned around.
Within seconds, Ryan scampered up from between Lester's thighs and positioned himself next to Lester, his hand waving a tube above Lester's face. Lester really wanted to know where he had got that from so quickly again.
Then Lester's gaze was drawn to Cutter's pale-white arse, covered with a whiff of short blond hair.
His hand was trembling as he opened the cap of the lube, coated his hand and plunged two fingers inside Cutter's body.
Startled, Cutter clenched his arse cheeks at the unexpected intrusion.
"Ah, be gentle. I haven't been with a man in ages," he hissed.
Lester moved his fingers a little more carefully, meticulously stretching the tight muscle.
"Time to refresh your experience, Cutter," he whispered before he replaced his fingers with his cock.
Cutter exhaled deeply as Lester pushed forwards and slid into his body. It had been so long since he had been filled and he relished being stretched by Lester's thick cock, the burning just highlighted the feeling of pleasure cursing through his veins as Lester brushed against his sweet spot.
Ryan waited until Lester was fully seated inside then slicked himself up. He briefly circled Lester's hole with lube, finding him open and ready. With a deep groan, he thrust into Lester and started to fuck him steadily.
Although their first movements were a little frantic, they easily found a rhythm. Soon the room was filled with sounds of pleasure.
Cutter came first, his muscles clenching so tightly around Lester's cock he couldn't hold back any longer. With a last powerful trust, Lester buried himself as deep as possible and let his orgasm wash over him. Ryan just lasted a few more strokes before he spilled into Lester.
Curled up against Ryan's chest, with Cutter breathing down his neck, Lester woke up the next morning.
He inhaled Ryan's musky scent and tentatively licked over Ryan's chest, tasting the salty skin.
"Enjoying yourself?" Ryan's body vibrated with a soft chuckle.
"How long have you been up?"
"Just a short while. I was watching you."
"Were you?"
"Yeah." Ryan gently stroked Lester's forehead and cheek. "I like watching you. In sleep you look so peaceful. All your worry lines vanish."
Lester didn't know what to make of Ryan's words. He cleared his throat and carefully stretched his limbs.
Cutter mumbled something against his shoulder and pushed his erection between Lester's thighs, rutting against him.
"Ah, seems the horny bastard is finally up too," Lester said.
"Hey, horny bastard yourself. I wasn't the one who invented the threesome blowjob."
"I didn’t invent it either. I'm sure it has been done before. Besides you were the one who woke me up in the middle of the night with your stiffy."
"I don’t remember you complaining when I was riding your arse."
"And you made nice noises as you were humping the bed," Ryan tossed in. "In fact you were both almost singing in tune at the end. Perhaps you should go on stage with that performance."
Ryan laughed as Lester pinched his arm.
"Want to fuck you again," Cutter whimpered against Lester. "While Ryan rides me hard."
"You're really oversexed, Cutter!"
Lester closed his eyes and enjoyed the wonderful feelings Cutter invoked.
Behind him he could hear Cutter gasp and moan as Ryan fucked him into oblivion. Every thrust from Ryan shoved Cutter so deep into his arse that everything else lost meaning.
Cutter wasn't as big as Ryan but his cock had a nice curve which hit all the right places.
The temptation to get off quickly was strong, nevertheless Lester resisted touching himself.
He kept his hand at his side and concentrated on Cutter's cock pounding into his arse. Ryan was driving into Cutter like a jackhammer now. He had to be close.
Pleasure was spreading through Lester, from the one point in his guts where Cutter was vigorously massaging his prostate, to every cell in his body. The feeling was slightly different from when he stimulated his cock extra but just as intense and Lester hoped he would come this way.
"Harder! Faster!" Lester begged as he felt Cutter's climax approach.
When Cutter tried to grasp his cock he shoved Cutter's hand away. Then Ryan groaned loudly and stilled. Lester felt Cutter's cock expand inside...
"Noooo," he wept, pushing desperately back against Cutter, impaling himself on Cutter's rod. But he wasn't there yet.
"Fuck!" Cutter yelled and pulled out, his hand firmly closed around his base, holding his pending orgasm off.
"Fuck!" Cutter cursed again. "You idiot."
Panting for breath, Cutter leaned heavily on Lester, sweat was running down his body in spades as he fought for control.
"Turn around! On your back," Cutter gasped out. "Want to see your face when you’re coming."
Trembling with need, Lester obeyed and spred his legs wide for Cutter, his knees bent. Ryan considerately put a pillow under Lester's arse and soothed him with gently touches until Cutter was ready.
Maddeningly slow, Cutter pushed in, as if afraid any faster move would set him off. Then he started to drive in, grinding his pelvis hard against Lester whilst his balls slapped against Lester's buttocks with every thrust.
Lester groaned and whimpered as Cutter nailed his sweet spot again and again. His hands involuntarily reached for his cock but he was stopped by Cutter's voice.
"Don't dare touch yourself," Cutter hissed, his eyes wild and his hands digging bruisingly in Lester's skin.
"You will come from my cock fucking your arse or you will not come at all. "
Lester wasn't sure he would ever have the energy again to get up. He felt completely drained.
Cutter had been true to his word. He hadn't stopped until Lester had reached release from just the heavy pounding he'd given him. Lester had come so hard he had screamed at the top of his lungs and creamed himself, Cutter, Ryan and a large portion of the bed.
"I have filled the large wooden tub downstairs with hot water," Nikolaus declared loudly in the corridor. "And for the lady there awaits the smaller one in the bathhouse. Tradition demands taking a bath before midday on Christmas Eve. So hurry and clean yourselves up."
When Ryan returned to his room, freshly bathed, the sheets had been changed and the dirty bedding had been replaced with new ones.
Connor looked in irritation into the kitchen, in hope that Nikolaus had just made a joke. But the door stayed firmly closed albeit he could hear the caretaker rattling around in the kitchen.
"I don't understand why we have to wait until evening to have something to eat today. In this cold environment I burn up a lot of energy. We already skipped breakfast today. I need my lunch. "
"Don't forget we are just guests here, " Abby reminded him, emphatically. "It has been very nice of Nikolaus to prepare three meals for us every other day."
"But it's Christmas. I was even helping with baking the cookies and then I only got one. Lester had two."
"Lester was also the one who snatched the cookies in the first place. Otherwise you wouldn't have got any," Ryan remarked.
Abby grasped Connor's hand and pulled him to the hall. "Come on, lets check on the anomalies. Perhaps something interesting has come through."
"Or something edible," Lester added grumpily.
Cutter snorted and shared a meaningful look with Ryan. Apparently Connor wasn't the only one needing to replenish his energies.
"How about baby raptor on a spit?" Grinning, Ryan lifted the little raptor by its tail and showed it to his team members. The creature was frozen solid.
Abby and Connor looked mournfully at the little creature.
"It should have stayed at home. This is no place for a thermophilic dinosaur." Cutter checked the animal thoroughly. "Seems to have been a hatchling, barely a few days old."
A few steps ahead, another raptor lay in the snow. But this slightly bigger animal seemed to be still alive. Connor could feel its slowed heartbeat under his fingers and picked the creature gently up.
"Not a good idea, Connor," Ryan remarked as Connor opened his coat and put the freezing raptor at his chest.
Connor ignored his warning and hugged the poor creature against his soft jumper.
On the way back, the raptor thawed slowly and started to wriggle. Connor smiled happily. He had saved the little creature. Perhaps he could tame it and...
All at once Connor yelled in pain as the raptor bit into a nipple through the fabric of his jumper
"Ungrateful bugger," Connor muttered and dropped the raptor to the ground. Swiftly the little raptor raced around the corner in the direction of the boulder as though nothing had happened.
Cutter and Abby chuckled. Even Lester had difficulties in keeping a straight face. And Ryan mouthed quietly, "Told you so."
With a pout Connor rubbed his aching chest, closed his coat and stalked ahead.
He was greeted by the sight of dozens of sparkling anomalies, surrounding the dark boulder in concentric circles.
"Here?" Cutter asked nervously.
"Here!" Lester affirmed.
Cutter's eyes darted around the large dining hall. Only in front of the fireplace was it warm enough for the activities Lester had in mind. On top of it, Connor, Abby or Nikolaus could walk in every moment. Preparing perch pasty and poached carp for Christmas Eve dinner wouldn't take forever in the kitchen .
Oddly, the thought of discovery sent spikes of arousal through Cutter's body.
He made short work of his clothes and was already half-hard when Lester stepped out of his shoes.
Lester shivered in the cold air and moved closer to the fireplace. Possessive arms grasped him from behind and started to roam over his body. Leaning back against Cutter's naked frame, Lester looked challenging to Ryan, who hadn't moved since they had entered the hall.
"Strip!" he ordered forcefully.
Lester waited in anticipation to see if Ryan would obey the command. Even Cutter stopped his ministrations on Lester's hips for a moment.
Ryan stood frozen. He had been willing to indulge in Lester's kinky play but now he wasn't sure if he was ready to give up control like this. There were reasons he preferred to be in charge in bed.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan grasped the edge of his jumper and started to hike it up.
Lester's eyes dilated in arousal as Ryan rotated his hips sinfully whilst he pulled his jumper over his head. His shirt and vest were taken off next. His hands locked at his waistband, Ryan slowly opened the button of his jeans and lowered the zipper.
Cutter mouthed small kisses against Lester's neck, enjoying Ryan's striptease over Lester's shoulder. Lester's right buttock flaunted a red imprint of teeth, where Cutter had bitten him hard, a moment ago.
Finally, Ryan had discarded his last item of clothing and stood completely bare in front of Lester, who tried to take the soldier's assets in all at once. The broad shoulders, pectoral muscles, robust arms, the thread of dark hair on the chest leading down to his navel...
Lester raised his head up and looked Ryan square in the eye. "Suck me!”
His eyes firmly directed on Lester's face, Ryan dropped down to the stone floor, opened his mouth and without any preamble took Lester into his mouth. Lester's legs buckled at the sudden onslaught and he was thankful Cutter was steadying him from behind.
He never had been given head as skillfully. Ryan was an artist with his mouth and tongue.
Ryan's cheeks hollowed as he sucked Lester's shaft, his tongue gently lavishing the underside, then teasing the head with brief licks and pushing the pointed tip into the slit.
As he swallowed Lester's cock to the root, Ryan could feel that Lester started to tremble.
He briefly pulled back and let Lester's cock slide out of his mouth to yell, "Nick, now!"
Cutter squatted down and quickly pulled Lester's arse cheeks apart.
The moment Cutter tongued into the crevice to lick a long wet stripe over the sensitive flesh, Ryan took Lester's entire length into his mouth once more. Then Cutter plunged his tongue into Lester's hole.
The feral scream echoed through the hall. Lester's voice almost sounded inhuman.
Completely caught up in his need for release, Lester dug his fingers in Ryan's shoulders and started to thrust, not realising he was practically ramming against the back of Ryan's throat.
Lester came with a roar, a sound more fitting for an wild animal than a man. His cock was pulsing deep in Ryan's throat, forcing Ryan to swallow the entire load.
Completely exhausted, Lester staggered to the side, his legs suddenly too weak to carry him. His flaccid cock slipped out of Ryan's mouth, drawing a raw groan from Ryan, whilst Lester slumped to the floor.
With deliberate movements, Ryan grasped his cock and started to fuck his hand, his eyes only swaying briefly from Lester when Cutter kneeled down beside him to jerk off.
Ryan's cum hit Lester full force in the face. A moment later Cutter squirted on the places Ryan hadn't managed to spray until a white layer of goo covered Lester's face and neck.
Both men reveled in the sight of Lester. The usual self-controlled man lay panting on the stone floor, his eyes squeezed shut and covered in spunk. The tiny globs of cum, hanging at his eyelashes, almost looked like tears.
When Lester opened his eyes and met their fiery gaze he looked so filthy and debauched Ryan groaned in excitement. Cum was now dripping down Lester's forehead, his cheeks, his nose and chin.
Laughing, Ryan pulled him into his arms, not caring that the spunk was griming him too. A droplet of semen pearled into Lester's eye and he whimpered softly against Ryan's neck.
"Christ, James, I don't think I have any inhibitions left after that," Ryan rasped hoarsely.
And in the end that was what this encounter had been about; losing inhibitions, losing control.
"Wow, that was hot!" Cutter panted."Wasn't sure first if I could jerk off here, in the open, on the cold tiles."
"If you’re a soldier you learn to wank in the worst places after an adrenalin rush," Ryan mumbled.
Gently he disentangled himself from Lester and started to lick at his face.
Cutter joined him and together they carfeully cleaned every trace of semen from Lester's body.
Half an hour later, Connor frowned in confusion when Lester and Cutter broke out in crackling laughter when Ryan said, with a straight face, he would skip dinner because he already had eaten and was full to the brim.
Ryan watched them kissing languidly. Just kissing for the sake of kissing and not as a prelude to sex. They seemed to forget everything else around, and it was turning him on greatly. For him, kissing was far more intimate than fucking.
When they finally parted he drew Lester in for a deep kiss himself.
Lester's lips opened freely as he put pressure on, and Ryan began exploring him thoroughly with his tongue; every corner of Lester's mouth, the inside of his cheeks, along his teeth and the roof of his mouth before he was coiling around the tip of Lester's tongue. He was tasting Cutter and something that was unique James.
"Want you," Ryan whispered against Lester's lips. "Want you in me."
Lester pulled surprised away. "I thought you only topped."
Ryan's heart hammered in his chest as he locked eyes with Lester. "I trust you, James."
They had prepared him carefully. Ryan didn't think he could stand any more seconds of touching and kissing and licking.
"Please," he whimpered, his desperation clearly audible in his voice.
He closed his eyes as Lester lifted gently his legs and lined up at his entrance.
‚It's OK. It's James,’ Ryan chanted silently as Lester breached him, cautiously.
Cutter grasped Ryan's hand and laced their fingers together, his other hand rubbing Ryan's belly soothingly.
Ryan could feel Lester deep inside his body and Cutter's touch on his skin. He knew he could trust them not to hurt him. He felt secure with these two men. Engulfed in the gentleness of his lover’s his horrible memories of a failed operation in northern Afghanistan were slowly washed away.
As Ryan opened his eyelids his heart was swelling at the sight of Lester moving gently above him. Lester's eyes, bright with unshed tears, were firmly directed at the point they were joined whilst he was making love to him.
"It's Christmas day," Connor yelled enthusiastically through the corridors and hooted on his blowing horn. "We can finally have cookies."
Ryan just snuggled deeper in his lover’s embrace, firmly sandwiched between Cutter and Lester in Lester's bed.
Twenty minutes later Nikolaus knocked on Lester's door.
"Up with the three you. It's Christmas day. Father Christmas doesn't like lazy people."
Connor squealed excited as he discovered the big plates full of cookies and small honey cakes next to bowls filled with apples, raisins, walnuts and hazelnuts in the dinner hall.
"Help yourself," Nikolaus grinned, highly pleased. "Merry Christmas!"
Abby and Connor were already stuffed full with cookies when the lazy trio finally joined them in the dinner room.
"Where have you been for so long?" Cutter asked as Connor walked in the hall, shivering from the cold. He had only had wanted to go to the latrine to pee.
Connor beamed happily. "I just had a long talk with a Camptosaurus from the Late Jurassic. Did you know that the buds of the fir trees taste better if they’ve grown during the full moon?
Lester raised his eyebrow in amusement. "Very interesting, Connor. But now hurry. Nikolaus is waiting with the Christmas meal."
"And you have to fertilise your spouse during waxing moon to get stronger offspring," Connor prattled on.
"I'll keep that in mind," Lester mumbled, dryly while he grasped Connor's arm to lead him to the dinner hall with Cutter, ignoring Connor's assertion that he really had talked with a dinosaur in the courtyard.
Ryan just rolled his eyes. 'That's what happens when you eat cookies all morning,' he thought.
Ryan was happily helping himself to the roasted pork. That was food more to his liking than the soups and fish they had had the previous days.
Cutter and Lester had also got big chunks of meat on their plates. Once again, Connor munched a cookie with a almost obscene expression of rapture on his face whilst Abby chewed on a pork pie.
He really could grow fond of this place despite its lack of electricity and proper sanitary facilities.
Nikolaus sat at the square end of the table with a broad smile on his face and watched his guests enjoy the Christmas meal.
It was Nikolaus idea that they should go for a walk after lunch and take some apples, nuts and raisins to the fringes of the forest as a gift for the friendly animals.
In hope of meeting another dinosaur so he could show that he really could understand them, Connor had walked ahead. But no animal, not even one from the present-day, had shown up on the way to the forest. Cutter and Ryan had teased him mercilessly about his alleged hallucinations but Connor was absolutely sure it had been real. And he would prove it.
They had avoided the meteorite since all that anomalies had emerged at once and hadn't closed again, afraid of the things which might come through. But now, on the way back, Connor was marching directly to the rear of the castle to the boulder.
The anomalies were still there, glittering silently in concentric circles around the meteoric boulder. But there weren't any tracks visible. So no creature had come through in more than twenty hours. Slowly, Connor started to doubt his extraordinary experience.
With relief, Lester sat down on the stone, knackered from the long walk to the forest. Ryan sat down next to him whilst Cutter leaned against the stone. Suddenly the cold surface of the boulder started to heat up.
Frightened, Lester and Ryan sprang up and Cutter stumbled backwards. The stone was glowing a soft yellow and was now so hot they could feel the warmth through the many layers of clothing they were wearing. Then the soft yellow shine turned into a bright white.
"Run!" Ryan yelled in panic and gave the stunned Cutter a shove.
When the boulder began to pulsate they were already near the castle gate.
In a whirl of silver-white light the boulder exploded and splintered into tiny parts, the light so radiant they had to shut their eyes tight for a moment.
Lester was the first to open his eyes again. He looked back to where the meteorite had been but there was nothing more than a snowy vastness. The black boulder had completely vanished and with it every single anomaly.
Still shocked from what had happened, they staggered into the castle. Nikolaus was waiting for them at the door with a tray of steaming mugs filled with herbal tea.
"Now rest for a while. You have had a strenuous walk. I will call you when the dinner is ready."
Ryan watched Abby heading for Connor's room the moment he entered Lester's bedroom and he tacitly wished her the best of luck.
"I believe you, Connor," Abby said quietly.
Allowing himself a moment of guilty pleasure just watching her stand at his bed in nothing as a long linen nightgown, Connor finally met her eyes.
"What do you mean?" he asked, nervously.
"So many strange things happen here. So when you say you talked to a dinosaur I believe you."
Connor's eyes glistened in joy and he had to clear his throat before he could speak again.
"Thank you, Abby. You don't know how much that means to me."
Shaking with cold, Abby wrapped her arms around her upper body.
"Connor, it's freezing cold in your room. Don't you want to be a gentleman and offer me a place in your warm bed?"
"Oh, yeah. Sure," he automatically answered.
It took several seconds until his brain caught up with the meaning of her question and suddenly he gulped for air.
"Connor?"
"Oh, sorry." With a flurry of movements he threw the duvet aside and made room for her.
Abby climbed under the thick bedcovers and snuggled up to Connor, an amused smile on her lips.
She loved the strangled gasp he made as she slid her hand under his vest and after a moment of caressing his chest and stomach she started attacking the waistband of his boxershorts.
Within ten minutes, Connor had lost his underwear and was warming Abby up with his naked body.
Ryan had found one of Lester's most erogenous places, right above his collarbone, and was now sucking with enthusiasm on that spot. Cutter busied himself kissing Lester's hip up and down whilst he mapped Lester's upper body with his hands.
A jolt of pleasure traveled right down to Lester's cock every time Cutter scraped his teeth along his hipbone, gauging how much of the rough handling Lester could take. Lester whimpered needily when Cutter lavished the tender skin afterwards, wanting to feel that skillful mouth on his cock now. But Cutter only nuzzled Lester's pubic bone and then trailed away again.
Ryan had moved on to Lester's chest. He battled Cutter's hands aside and took the hard nub between his lips.
With a stifled cry Lester bucked up and clutched the sheets in his fists as Ryan sucked hard on his right nipple whilst he pinched its twin with his fingers.
Ryan grinned smugly. He always had suspected Lester might like it a little rough.
Relishing the sight of goosebumps emerging on Lester's skin, Cutter carefully licked at the juncture of Lester's thight and groin before he took a long swipe with his tongue up the length of Lester's cock.
Lester closed his eyes and got lost in a sea of sensations as both men seduced him with hands and tongue.
Finally, when Lester thought he couldn't stand the sensual torture any longer, Cutter turned his back to him and snatched the tube of lube from the bedside cabinet.
Anticipation was spreading through Lester's body as he watched Cutter prepare himself.
"Please, let me," he begged, his voice rough with desire.
Before Cutter could react Lester plunged his forefinger into Cutter's opening and curled his fingertip.
"Hey, careful, James. Or it will be over before you're inside," Cutter admonished. Slowly, he pulled his own fingers out and offered his arse to Lester for the taking.
While Lester fingerfucked Cutter, he barely noticed that Ryan had nudged him completely onto his right side, too caught up in the sight of his knuckles vanishing in Cutter's arse. A moment later slick fingers breached Lester's tight ring and started to widen his hole.
"Oh God, Tom!" Lester moaned.
Desperate to shove his rock-hard cock into Cutter's tight opening, Lester grabbed Cutter’s hip, lined up at his entrance and thrust forwards. Cutter squeaked and would have toppled from the bed if Lester hadn't held him.
"Bloody hell, Lester," Cutter cursed. "Give me a warning next ti...." His last word went over in a moan when Lester hit his prostate with a tentative thrust.
Unable to wait any longer, Ryan moved in place behind Lester. With his large hands he kneaded Lester's arse cheeks before he spread them gently apart and pressed his cock against Lester's anus. Lester's body opened up easily for Ryan and almost without any resistance the thick glans slid inside.
"You both ready?" Ryan cawed hoarsely, the dual groan the only answer he needed to ram his hips forwards and impale Lester on his entire length, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt.
Cutter screamed as Lester surged forwards and hammered against his prostate, the feeling so intense it was almost bordering on pain.
Lester closed his eyes in pleasure. Cutter was still so tight. There was no way he could last, not with Cutter clenching around him like this and Ryan pounding in his arse like mad.
"Cutt... Nick.. Going to... Can't hold on..." he rasped, his ability to form coherent speech quickly going down the drain with every snap of Ryan's hips.
"Yeah, there, right there," Cutter moaned and pushed back against Lester, his hand fisting his rod while he was fucking himself on Lester's cock.
Lester came with a curse on his lips, emptying himself in Cutter's body until he was completely spent.
Ryan's moves became erratic as Cutter pulled back and scrambled to his knees, Cutter's eyes wild as his hand furiously pumped his cock over Lester's body.
"Good, so... so... good," Ryan stammered as he pushed Lester face down in the mattress and started to ride him hard.
As Cutter tumbled over the edge, spraying Lester's upper back with viscous white cum Ryan eyes were clued to the slit on Cutter's tip, where thick droplets of semen pearled out to soil Lester's body.
The orgasm ripped through Ryan's body and took his breath away. It seemed to go on for hours with his cock pumping semen into Lester's arse.
Finally, completely exhausted, his arms gave away and he sunk down on Lester's back, right in the mess Cutter had made.
The smell of sweat and semen filled the room as Ryan took deep breathes of air.
Cutter had his head laid on Ryan's arse and hummed with content as a loud knocking on the door interrupted their peaceful moment.
"Supper is ready," Nikolaus yelled from outside. Moments later they heard him knocking on another door, telling Connor and Abby about dinner.
"What have you been up to?" Abby asked with a grin after Cutter, Ryan and Lester had trailed into the dining room at an interval of five minutes, sixteen minutes later than Connor and Abby had arrived.
Cutter made a paniced face while Lester's eyes flickered briefly over to a nonchalant-looking Ryan.
Seeing that, Lester straightened his back and said with forced calm. "I was resting for a few hours. My guess would be the others were doing the same."
Cutter nodded vigerously.
Ryan fought the smile trying to curve his lips. "Yes, I was sleeping." With a twinkle in his eye he shot the question right back to Abby. "And what have you been doing in the meantime?"
"Oh, Connor and I were just sleeping as well," Abby answered smugly and winked at a blushing Connor.
The kisses were fervently and the touches gentle. Lester and Cutter cossetted him like there was no tomorrow and slowly it dawned on Ryan that they were saying farewell. Now, after the boulder and the anomalies had vanished there was no reason to stay any longer at the castle. The time of having fun together was slowly coming to an end.
Ryan didn't want to go back to England, where Nick was just Professor Cutter, the scientist he had to protect, and where James was just his boss and nothing else. He wasn't ready yet to give up the happiness he had found here.
But he knew he had to let go.
Desperately, Ryan sucked on Lester's tongue, his hands buried in Lester's hair as he spilled himself in Cutter's eager mouth, wishing this night would last forever.
Abby stared perplexed at the first page of the thick little book she had found in front of the fireplace in the hall this morning.
'Wishes' stood in big golden letters on the top and underneath a list of names with a remark added. The whole book was filled with names and the remarks next to it were often written in foreign languages.
She skimmed quickly through the pages and found their names on the last page with a thick red frame around.
"I think I've found Father Christmas' notebook," Abby announced, giggling. "Want to know what everyone secretly wished for?"
Mischievously, Abby started to read out aloud, "James Lester: I want to meet someone nice who's hot stuff in bed and likes to cuddle.
Nick Cutter: Wanna get laid, regularly.
Tom Ryan: Want to fuck Lester into the ground. NB: Wouldn't mind to get a go at Cutter as well.
And Connor... Oh that's sweet."
Impulsively she went over to Connor and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"What's this nonsense? Give me that book immediately," Lester demanded with a crimson face.
"No!" Abby said and took a step backwards.
Also Cutter and Ryan had recovered from their initially shock and were now closing in on her,
Abby tried to hide behind Connor but had no chance as the three men made a grab for the book together.
In the last moment she managed to escape and run for the exit.
Laughing she raced into the yard but slid on the frozen puddle next to the well.
The book sailed out of her hand into the air. Before she or her pursuers could catch it, a large fat wild goose who seemed to have come from nowhere snatched the book and flew away cackling loudly.
Stunned, they followed the goose with their eyes until it disappeared from sight behind the next hill.
"Santa will be happy to get his notebook back."
Four pairs of eyes turned to Connor, who added smugly "You don't think that was coincidence with the goose, do you?"
Lester prepared to respond but then decided against it. There was no point in arguing about the existence of Father Christmas with Connor.
"And what Christmas wish was written beside your name, Abby?" Connor asked with bated breath, hoping it was similar to his own.
Abby smiled mischievously at him. "I guess you will find out in the future, Connor." Then she kissed him passionately.
"So Ryan wanted sex with Lester and Cutter. Lester wanted someone nice for sex and cuddling and Cutter just wanted sex.
With the noises I've heard the few last days, I think Santa managed to fulfill your wishes just fine. I don't understand why you are making such sour faces now," Connor said with a shrug.
"You can't seriously believe that Father Christmas exists. What was written in that book was nonsense," Ryan growled.
"No, it's not. You're just too embarrassed to admit that you were wishing for sex."
"Damn. I didn't just want sex with Lester. I wished for something permanent, a relationship."
Realising what he just had revealed, Ryan winced heavily.
"I'm not opposed to a relationship." Lester surprised them all with his declaration. "That was what I was really wishing for as well.
As long as it doesn't complicate work," he added quickly.
Ryan smiled gently at Lester and twined fingers with him. "Don't worry, James. You are far too professional to let it affect work."
"Mmmh."
Cutter felt left out as he watched Ryan and Lester gazing in each other eyes and Abby hugging Connor happily.
"Seems in the end you all got what you wanted," he said quietly and moved towards the door.
"Where do you think you are going, Nick?" Lester's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"I don't like to be the fifth wheel," he answered indignantly.
"You aren't. As far I remember you wished for something regular as well. I think that can be arranged."
"I thought three was a crowd?"
Ryan sauntered over to Cutter and mouthed a kiss on his cheek. "Wrong, Nick. Three is more fun."
Abby shook her head in mock indignation. "Hey, now that we have resolved who'll have fun with whom, can we go and have lunch?"
"Not yet," Lester said with a glint in his eyes and hurried out of the room.
Pouting, Connor looked after him."Why not? I get hungry too."
Lester returned with his hands hidden behind his back. "There is something else we have to do first."
Now the others looked completely puzzled.
"Snowball fight. And then we build a snowman," Lester called and aimed for Ryan and Cutter with the snowballs in his hand. He managed to hit them against head and chest before his ammunition went out and he'd to seek refuge in flight.
With a battle cry on their lips, Ryan and Cutter chased after him, Abby and Connor close on their heels.
Exhausted and flushed from the cold, they returned an hour later. Four more snowmen were now standing outside the castle next to Connor's first creation and the serious expression on the Lester snowman had been changed into a smile.
Always knowing just what they needed Nikolaus was already waiting for them in the dinner room with a hot supper and a big chunk of roasted pork with white cabbage.
Ryan was chewing contentedly on the roasted meat while he observed his friends inconspicuously.
Lester's eyes were shining and Cutter was still grinning. They had never looked so exuberant and happy before. And Connor and Abby exchanged amorous glances over a baked beetroot pie and played footsie under the table.
"You'll have to return now before your friends get worried,"" Nikolaus announced once they had finished the meal.
It was like a cold shower and dimmed their mood instantly but everyone knew that Nikolaus was right.
They hadn't thought of Doctor Bittner since they had arrived at the castle. But the man must be sick with worry by now. They also couldn't endless overstrain the caretaker's hospitality.
Besides their work here was done. The bolder was destroyed and the anomalies had closed.
With heavy hearts, they bid Nikolaus farewell and started on their way.
They had just left the castle when it began to snow. Their surroundings soon vanished behind a veil of dancing snowflakes and as Ryan turned around to the castle for a last look he saw nothing but white infinity.
As suddenly as the snow flurry had started it equally abruptly ended. Once again, the sky was blue without a cloud in sight and the snow glittered beautifully in the afternoon sun.
But more surprising were the traces they discovered a little further on. The footprints matched theirs perfectly and Ryan realised they were the traces they had left on their way there, looking like they had been made only recently and as if it never had been snowed.
Following their tracks back to the village was easy.
They were welcomed warmly by Doctor Bittner and his wife, who quickly had mulled wine and butter stollen ready.
"I hope you didn't worry about us, Dirk. We spent Christmas at the castle. Nikolaus, the castle's caretaker, was very hospitable. We found signs of the same phenomenon we had encountered in England. Unfortunately, that's top-secret. Government business, you understand. But at least it's closed now. It's unlikely that there will be trouble with strange creatures again."
Doctor Bittner only stared, bewildered, at Cutter. "But you were only gone for two hours. It's still three days until Christmas. And there is no caretaker up there. It's just a ruin with barely enough walls left to recognise it as a castle."
They returned to England on the next flight and no one mentioned Nikolaus aloud on the whole trip home. But everyone was mulling over the events at the castle. There were so many questions and no answers.
Cutter was asking himself for the umpteen time why he had never considered going to fetch their measuring instruments or at least call his friend on his mobile before the battery had run out.
Also Ryan had more than enough uncleared issues. Yet he wasn't sure he actually needed answers. Some things you had to understand with your heart and not your mind.
But he knew he would never forget the extraordinary trip to Thuringia, the mysterious land where his dreams had come true.
They arrived at the ARC just in time for the Christmas party Jenny had organised, where Jenny triumphantly announced she and Stephen had unmasked Oliver Leek as a traitor and had almost captured Helen whilst the rest of the team had been abroad.
Cutter walked over to Stephen and gave him a warm hug, settling their months-long quarrel with just this small gesture, before he returned to Lester's side.
Smiling, Lester linked arms with Cutter and Ryan and joined in singing along, with feeling, to the song just starting to play.
To the tune of ‚We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, Connor and Abby shared a kiss under the mistletoe whilst Lester admired the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the middle of the ARC with his lovers.
Ryan glanced up at the star on top of the tree and silently thanked Father Christmas for fulfilling his wish. From now on, he would always try to be a good boy.
Afterword:
There are several German myths and ancient customs embedded in this story.
For instance the myth that pure souls can talk with animals on Christmas day or that during the Twelve Days of Christmas (25th December to 6th January) it's not advisable to do the laundry because it brings ill luck. It was believed white laundry on a line would attract evil spirits and therefore a close friend or relative would die.
(Actually still my grandma didn't wash laundry during this time.)
In the past there was no christmas tree. Instead the house was just decorated with green branches to summon the spring and bring richness into the house.
Nikolaus is the German name of (St.) Nicholas, who, in the 4th century, invented the tradition of giving apples, nuts and cookies to well-behaved children around his birthday in December.
Since the Christianisation, the time from 25th November to 24th December was Lenten season. Therefore meatless food like soups and fish was eaten until Christmas Eve.
On 25th/26th December the traditional food was pork (matins boar) The tradition of serving goose for the main course came up first in the 16th century in England and was taken on by other countries later.
I wasn’t specific about the location because, sadly, there are too many castle ruins in Thuringia which have been destroyed through our bellicose past.
But I guess I was mostly inspired by the ruin of Castle Gleichen which is famous through the saga of count Ernst the third of Gleichen who got the special permit for bigamy from the Holy Father in Rome. As he arrived with his second wife, Melechsala, the daughter of the sultan, who had helped him escape from Saracen’s captivity during the crusade, his other wife, Ottilia, greeted them with the words: "She shall be heartily welcome, your second wife and my first mate." :)
And you really can get lost easily in the snowy landscape of the Thuringian Forest, especially if you stray from the official trails. Fortunately, I had my clever dog with me when I had that experience some years ago, who had a better sense of direction than me.
By the way the idea with the castle builder is complete rubbish. We didn't have to import builders from England.;)
Author: TalliW
Pairings: Tom Ryan/James Lester/ Nick Cutter, Abby/Connor, Stephen, Jenny
Rating: MA
Ryan turned on his side and tried to go to sleep. He closed his eyes and thought of Lester. Again.
Lester's delicate skin under his hands and lips, Lester laughing happily, Lester tight around him.
Damn. This way he would never get any sleep.
And his bladder was full too. He really should have gone beforehand. Sighing, Ryan raised up and set out for the latrine.
Lester snuggled under the thick duvet and inhaled deeply. He still could smell the faint fragrance of sweat and musk on the sheets, bringing back memories of the wonderful time when Ryan had been there. Ryan and Cutter.
Ryan's strong hands on his hips, Ryan's lips on his shoulder, Ryan's finger inside him.
Not that Cutter hadn't been great too. But Ryan had been so gentle. That had made it special.
Ryan had caressed him softly. Ryan had prepared him carefully. And it had been in Ryan's arms he had woken up. Always Ryan.
Lester took his cock in his hand and started to stroke himself. But now it just felt like a cheap substitute.
After his divorce he had tried to go back to his old lifstyle before his marriage but had quickly ascertained that he felt too mature to go on the pull. So his pleasures had mainly been solitary ones.
Just three times he’d got lucky and met someone just as lonely as himself. All three times it had been men. He knew what he preferred predominantly, despite his bisexuality.
And after his failed marriage he certainly wouldn't hook up with a woman again.
No, he desired to feel the hard body of a man, wanted to be engulfed by strong arms and be filled with a hard cock. And he wanted it right now.
Lester clenched his arse cheeks tentatively. The light twinge he had felt the day before had gone.
And hadn't Ryan told him yesterday that it was all right to have a little fun together? Perhaps he was willing to have more fun...
Ryan wasn't in his bedroom.
'Perhaps that's just as well,' Lester thought. He wouldn't know what to say anyway. It was better to let his body do the talking.
When Ryan returned to his room the sight was breathtaking. Lester was sprawled out on the bed, his legs spread invitingly whilst he lasciviously stroked his half-hard cock.
"What are you waiting for?" Lester asked, suddenly feeling insecure as Ryan continued to stare at him, gobsmacked. Had he just made a fool of himself?
The heat of embarrassment spread through Lester's body and tinged his cheeks, neck and chest with spots of red. He reached helplessly for his clothes, the bedcovers, a blanket, anything to cover himself and make a hasty retreat without losing the last scrape of dignity left to him.
"Don't. Don't try to cover your body. You look beautiful," Ryan rasped. Clearing his throat, he quickly moved to the bed, kneeled down and pulled Lester up and into his arms.
"You just caught me by surprise," he breathed against Lester's neck as he felt the nervous beating of Lester's heart against his chest.
"Thought it was just a one time thing. I hadn't expected...."
Lester silenced him with a kiss.
Cutter tossed and turned in his bed. Thought of bloodthirsty creatures filled his mind again. The moment he was tearing Stephen apart to feed him to the predators under Helen's amused look, he finally woke up.
He still heard Stephen's screaming. Or had that been a real cry?
He listened carefully and heard a faint moan from the room next door. Then again a high-pitched whimpering. Perhaps Ryan had fallen ill.
Cautiously, Cutter opened the door to Ryan's bedroom. "Ryan, are you all rig...? Oh!"
Taking in the two naked men on the bed, Cutter stood frozen at the entrance, his throat suddenly tight.
"Sorry. I thought... Doesn't matter," he mumbled, his shoulders hunched and his head lowered to his chest. "I’ll just leave you alone...and go back to bed. Yeah, that’s what I will do. I'm..."
"Cutter, shut up." Lester barked.
Shocked, Cutter's head snapped up and his eyes traveled back to the bed, where Ryan had just whispered something in Lester's ear.
Cutter's eyes grew wide as Lester extended his hand invitingly in his direction. With a big smile on his face, he hurried over and grasped Lester's hand. He was pulled into a hearty embrace by both men. Together, they tumbled to the bed, Lester and Ryan busy getting Cutter out of his clothes.
"Hang on. Just a moment." Gently, Lester shoved Cutter's head away, from where he had started to suck on his nipples.
"How...?" Lester was trying to concentrate whilst Ryan nuzzled his cock. "Coordination," he gasped out as Ryan swiped his tongue over his balls.
"How are we going to coordinate... fuck.... this encounter?" he finally managed to say, halfway coherently, his hands clenched in Ryan's hair to prevent him from going down on him again.
"Don't get me wrong. Last time was fantastic. But there is no way I'm taking you both in at once again. So how do we do it so everyone gets full satisfaction?"
Ryan growled low in his throat as Lester held him in place and kept him away from his groin.
When he realised Lester wasn't going to let him continue before the details were cleared, he raised his head and scanned Lester's face.
Lester was worrying his lower lip and Ryan found it endearing. Hoping Lester wouldn't feel offended, he declared forcefully, "I'm topping."
Lester's quirked eyebrow compelled him to elaborate his words. "Had a bad experience some years ago," he mumbled, with lowered eyes. "Preferred to be on top ever since."
"All right. You top. Cutter, what are your preferences?"
"Bottom. Top. I don't care as long as I'm getting off quickly."
Lester let go of Ryan's hair allowing him to happily return to his task between Lester's thighs, and pulled Cutter into a heated kiss.
"I'm going to fuck you so hard you won't last long enough to complain," Lester panted against Cutter's mouth when they had to break the kiss in need for air.
"Oh, yeah. Please," Cutter whimpered and turned around.
Within seconds, Ryan scampered up from between Lester's thighs and positioned himself next to Lester, his hand waving a tube above Lester's face. Lester really wanted to know where he had got that from so quickly again.
Then Lester's gaze was drawn to Cutter's pale-white arse, covered with a whiff of short blond hair.
His hand was trembling as he opened the cap of the lube, coated his hand and plunged two fingers inside Cutter's body.
Startled, Cutter clenched his arse cheeks at the unexpected intrusion.
"Ah, be gentle. I haven't been with a man in ages," he hissed.
Lester moved his fingers a little more carefully, meticulously stretching the tight muscle.
"Time to refresh your experience, Cutter," he whispered before he replaced his fingers with his cock.
Cutter exhaled deeply as Lester pushed forwards and slid into his body. It had been so long since he had been filled and he relished being stretched by Lester's thick cock, the burning just highlighted the feeling of pleasure cursing through his veins as Lester brushed against his sweet spot.
Ryan waited until Lester was fully seated inside then slicked himself up. He briefly circled Lester's hole with lube, finding him open and ready. With a deep groan, he thrust into Lester and started to fuck him steadily.
Although their first movements were a little frantic, they easily found a rhythm. Soon the room was filled with sounds of pleasure.
Cutter came first, his muscles clenching so tightly around Lester's cock he couldn't hold back any longer. With a last powerful trust, Lester buried himself as deep as possible and let his orgasm wash over him. Ryan just lasted a few more strokes before he spilled into Lester.
Curled up against Ryan's chest, with Cutter breathing down his neck, Lester woke up the next morning.
He inhaled Ryan's musky scent and tentatively licked over Ryan's chest, tasting the salty skin.
"Enjoying yourself?" Ryan's body vibrated with a soft chuckle.
"How long have you been up?"
"Just a short while. I was watching you."
"Were you?"
"Yeah." Ryan gently stroked Lester's forehead and cheek. "I like watching you. In sleep you look so peaceful. All your worry lines vanish."
Lester didn't know what to make of Ryan's words. He cleared his throat and carefully stretched his limbs.
Cutter mumbled something against his shoulder and pushed his erection between Lester's thighs, rutting against him.
"Ah, seems the horny bastard is finally up too," Lester said.
"Hey, horny bastard yourself. I wasn't the one who invented the threesome blowjob."
"I didn’t invent it either. I'm sure it has been done before. Besides you were the one who woke me up in the middle of the night with your stiffy."
"I don’t remember you complaining when I was riding your arse."
"And you made nice noises as you were humping the bed," Ryan tossed in. "In fact you were both almost singing in tune at the end. Perhaps you should go on stage with that performance."
Ryan laughed as Lester pinched his arm.
"Want to fuck you again," Cutter whimpered against Lester. "While Ryan rides me hard."
"You're really oversexed, Cutter!"
Lester closed his eyes and enjoyed the wonderful feelings Cutter invoked.
Behind him he could hear Cutter gasp and moan as Ryan fucked him into oblivion. Every thrust from Ryan shoved Cutter so deep into his arse that everything else lost meaning.
Cutter wasn't as big as Ryan but his cock had a nice curve which hit all the right places.
The temptation to get off quickly was strong, nevertheless Lester resisted touching himself.
He kept his hand at his side and concentrated on Cutter's cock pounding into his arse. Ryan was driving into Cutter like a jackhammer now. He had to be close.
Pleasure was spreading through Lester, from the one point in his guts where Cutter was vigorously massaging his prostate, to every cell in his body. The feeling was slightly different from when he stimulated his cock extra but just as intense and Lester hoped he would come this way.
"Harder! Faster!" Lester begged as he felt Cutter's climax approach.
When Cutter tried to grasp his cock he shoved Cutter's hand away. Then Ryan groaned loudly and stilled. Lester felt Cutter's cock expand inside...
"Noooo," he wept, pushing desperately back against Cutter, impaling himself on Cutter's rod. But he wasn't there yet.
"Fuck!" Cutter yelled and pulled out, his hand firmly closed around his base, holding his pending orgasm off.
"Fuck!" Cutter cursed again. "You idiot."
Panting for breath, Cutter leaned heavily on Lester, sweat was running down his body in spades as he fought for control.
"Turn around! On your back," Cutter gasped out. "Want to see your face when you’re coming."
Trembling with need, Lester obeyed and spred his legs wide for Cutter, his knees bent. Ryan considerately put a pillow under Lester's arse and soothed him with gently touches until Cutter was ready.
Maddeningly slow, Cutter pushed in, as if afraid any faster move would set him off. Then he started to drive in, grinding his pelvis hard against Lester whilst his balls slapped against Lester's buttocks with every thrust.
Lester groaned and whimpered as Cutter nailed his sweet spot again and again. His hands involuntarily reached for his cock but he was stopped by Cutter's voice.
"Don't dare touch yourself," Cutter hissed, his eyes wild and his hands digging bruisingly in Lester's skin.
"You will come from my cock fucking your arse or you will not come at all. "
Lester wasn't sure he would ever have the energy again to get up. He felt completely drained.
Cutter had been true to his word. He hadn't stopped until Lester had reached release from just the heavy pounding he'd given him. Lester had come so hard he had screamed at the top of his lungs and creamed himself, Cutter, Ryan and a large portion of the bed.
"I have filled the large wooden tub downstairs with hot water," Nikolaus declared loudly in the corridor. "And for the lady there awaits the smaller one in the bathhouse. Tradition demands taking a bath before midday on Christmas Eve. So hurry and clean yourselves up."
When Ryan returned to his room, freshly bathed, the sheets had been changed and the dirty bedding had been replaced with new ones.
Connor looked in irritation into the kitchen, in hope that Nikolaus had just made a joke. But the door stayed firmly closed albeit he could hear the caretaker rattling around in the kitchen.
"I don't understand why we have to wait until evening to have something to eat today. In this cold environment I burn up a lot of energy. We already skipped breakfast today. I need my lunch. "
"Don't forget we are just guests here, " Abby reminded him, emphatically. "It has been very nice of Nikolaus to prepare three meals for us every other day."
"But it's Christmas. I was even helping with baking the cookies and then I only got one. Lester had two."
"Lester was also the one who snatched the cookies in the first place. Otherwise you wouldn't have got any," Ryan remarked.
Abby grasped Connor's hand and pulled him to the hall. "Come on, lets check on the anomalies. Perhaps something interesting has come through."
"Or something edible," Lester added grumpily.
Cutter snorted and shared a meaningful look with Ryan. Apparently Connor wasn't the only one needing to replenish his energies.
"How about baby raptor on a spit?" Grinning, Ryan lifted the little raptor by its tail and showed it to his team members. The creature was frozen solid.
Abby and Connor looked mournfully at the little creature.
"It should have stayed at home. This is no place for a thermophilic dinosaur." Cutter checked the animal thoroughly. "Seems to have been a hatchling, barely a few days old."
A few steps ahead, another raptor lay in the snow. But this slightly bigger animal seemed to be still alive. Connor could feel its slowed heartbeat under his fingers and picked the creature gently up.
"Not a good idea, Connor," Ryan remarked as Connor opened his coat and put the freezing raptor at his chest.
Connor ignored his warning and hugged the poor creature against his soft jumper.
On the way back, the raptor thawed slowly and started to wriggle. Connor smiled happily. He had saved the little creature. Perhaps he could tame it and...
All at once Connor yelled in pain as the raptor bit into a nipple through the fabric of his jumper
"Ungrateful bugger," Connor muttered and dropped the raptor to the ground. Swiftly the little raptor raced around the corner in the direction of the boulder as though nothing had happened.
Cutter and Abby chuckled. Even Lester had difficulties in keeping a straight face. And Ryan mouthed quietly, "Told you so."
With a pout Connor rubbed his aching chest, closed his coat and stalked ahead.
He was greeted by the sight of dozens of sparkling anomalies, surrounding the dark boulder in concentric circles.
"Here?" Cutter asked nervously.
"Here!" Lester affirmed.
Cutter's eyes darted around the large dining hall. Only in front of the fireplace was it warm enough for the activities Lester had in mind. On top of it, Connor, Abby or Nikolaus could walk in every moment. Preparing perch pasty and poached carp for Christmas Eve dinner wouldn't take forever in the kitchen .
Oddly, the thought of discovery sent spikes of arousal through Cutter's body.
He made short work of his clothes and was already half-hard when Lester stepped out of his shoes.
Lester shivered in the cold air and moved closer to the fireplace. Possessive arms grasped him from behind and started to roam over his body. Leaning back against Cutter's naked frame, Lester looked challenging to Ryan, who hadn't moved since they had entered the hall.
"Strip!" he ordered forcefully.
Lester waited in anticipation to see if Ryan would obey the command. Even Cutter stopped his ministrations on Lester's hips for a moment.
Ryan stood frozen. He had been willing to indulge in Lester's kinky play but now he wasn't sure if he was ready to give up control like this. There were reasons he preferred to be in charge in bed.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan grasped the edge of his jumper and started to hike it up.
Lester's eyes dilated in arousal as Ryan rotated his hips sinfully whilst he pulled his jumper over his head. His shirt and vest were taken off next. His hands locked at his waistband, Ryan slowly opened the button of his jeans and lowered the zipper.
Cutter mouthed small kisses against Lester's neck, enjoying Ryan's striptease over Lester's shoulder. Lester's right buttock flaunted a red imprint of teeth, where Cutter had bitten him hard, a moment ago.
Finally, Ryan had discarded his last item of clothing and stood completely bare in front of Lester, who tried to take the soldier's assets in all at once. The broad shoulders, pectoral muscles, robust arms, the thread of dark hair on the chest leading down to his navel...
Lester raised his head up and looked Ryan square in the eye. "Suck me!”
His eyes firmly directed on Lester's face, Ryan dropped down to the stone floor, opened his mouth and without any preamble took Lester into his mouth. Lester's legs buckled at the sudden onslaught and he was thankful Cutter was steadying him from behind.
He never had been given head as skillfully. Ryan was an artist with his mouth and tongue.
Ryan's cheeks hollowed as he sucked Lester's shaft, his tongue gently lavishing the underside, then teasing the head with brief licks and pushing the pointed tip into the slit.
As he swallowed Lester's cock to the root, Ryan could feel that Lester started to tremble.
He briefly pulled back and let Lester's cock slide out of his mouth to yell, "Nick, now!"
Cutter squatted down and quickly pulled Lester's arse cheeks apart.
The moment Cutter tongued into the crevice to lick a long wet stripe over the sensitive flesh, Ryan took Lester's entire length into his mouth once more. Then Cutter plunged his tongue into Lester's hole.
The feral scream echoed through the hall. Lester's voice almost sounded inhuman.
Completely caught up in his need for release, Lester dug his fingers in Ryan's shoulders and started to thrust, not realising he was practically ramming against the back of Ryan's throat.
Lester came with a roar, a sound more fitting for an wild animal than a man. His cock was pulsing deep in Ryan's throat, forcing Ryan to swallow the entire load.
Completely exhausted, Lester staggered to the side, his legs suddenly too weak to carry him. His flaccid cock slipped out of Ryan's mouth, drawing a raw groan from Ryan, whilst Lester slumped to the floor.
With deliberate movements, Ryan grasped his cock and started to fuck his hand, his eyes only swaying briefly from Lester when Cutter kneeled down beside him to jerk off.
Ryan's cum hit Lester full force in the face. A moment later Cutter squirted on the places Ryan hadn't managed to spray until a white layer of goo covered Lester's face and neck.
Both men reveled in the sight of Lester. The usual self-controlled man lay panting on the stone floor, his eyes squeezed shut and covered in spunk. The tiny globs of cum, hanging at his eyelashes, almost looked like tears.
When Lester opened his eyes and met their fiery gaze he looked so filthy and debauched Ryan groaned in excitement. Cum was now dripping down Lester's forehead, his cheeks, his nose and chin.
Laughing, Ryan pulled him into his arms, not caring that the spunk was griming him too. A droplet of semen pearled into Lester's eye and he whimpered softly against Ryan's neck.
"Christ, James, I don't think I have any inhibitions left after that," Ryan rasped hoarsely.
And in the end that was what this encounter had been about; losing inhibitions, losing control.
"Wow, that was hot!" Cutter panted."Wasn't sure first if I could jerk off here, in the open, on the cold tiles."
"If you’re a soldier you learn to wank in the worst places after an adrenalin rush," Ryan mumbled.
Gently he disentangled himself from Lester and started to lick at his face.
Cutter joined him and together they carfeully cleaned every trace of semen from Lester's body.
Half an hour later, Connor frowned in confusion when Lester and Cutter broke out in crackling laughter when Ryan said, with a straight face, he would skip dinner because he already had eaten and was full to the brim.
Ryan watched them kissing languidly. Just kissing for the sake of kissing and not as a prelude to sex. They seemed to forget everything else around, and it was turning him on greatly. For him, kissing was far more intimate than fucking.
When they finally parted he drew Lester in for a deep kiss himself.
Lester's lips opened freely as he put pressure on, and Ryan began exploring him thoroughly with his tongue; every corner of Lester's mouth, the inside of his cheeks, along his teeth and the roof of his mouth before he was coiling around the tip of Lester's tongue. He was tasting Cutter and something that was unique James.
"Want you," Ryan whispered against Lester's lips. "Want you in me."
Lester pulled surprised away. "I thought you only topped."
Ryan's heart hammered in his chest as he locked eyes with Lester. "I trust you, James."
They had prepared him carefully. Ryan didn't think he could stand any more seconds of touching and kissing and licking.
"Please," he whimpered, his desperation clearly audible in his voice.
He closed his eyes as Lester lifted gently his legs and lined up at his entrance.
‚It's OK. It's James,’ Ryan chanted silently as Lester breached him, cautiously.
Cutter grasped Ryan's hand and laced their fingers together, his other hand rubbing Ryan's belly soothingly.
Ryan could feel Lester deep inside his body and Cutter's touch on his skin. He knew he could trust them not to hurt him. He felt secure with these two men. Engulfed in the gentleness of his lover’s his horrible memories of a failed operation in northern Afghanistan were slowly washed away.
As Ryan opened his eyelids his heart was swelling at the sight of Lester moving gently above him. Lester's eyes, bright with unshed tears, were firmly directed at the point they were joined whilst he was making love to him.
"It's Christmas day," Connor yelled enthusiastically through the corridors and hooted on his blowing horn. "We can finally have cookies."
Ryan just snuggled deeper in his lover’s embrace, firmly sandwiched between Cutter and Lester in Lester's bed.
Twenty minutes later Nikolaus knocked on Lester's door.
"Up with the three you. It's Christmas day. Father Christmas doesn't like lazy people."
Connor squealed excited as he discovered the big plates full of cookies and small honey cakes next to bowls filled with apples, raisins, walnuts and hazelnuts in the dinner hall.
"Help yourself," Nikolaus grinned, highly pleased. "Merry Christmas!"
Abby and Connor were already stuffed full with cookies when the lazy trio finally joined them in the dinner room.
"Where have you been for so long?" Cutter asked as Connor walked in the hall, shivering from the cold. He had only had wanted to go to the latrine to pee.
Connor beamed happily. "I just had a long talk with a Camptosaurus from the Late Jurassic. Did you know that the buds of the fir trees taste better if they’ve grown during the full moon?
Lester raised his eyebrow in amusement. "Very interesting, Connor. But now hurry. Nikolaus is waiting with the Christmas meal."
"And you have to fertilise your spouse during waxing moon to get stronger offspring," Connor prattled on.
"I'll keep that in mind," Lester mumbled, dryly while he grasped Connor's arm to lead him to the dinner hall with Cutter, ignoring Connor's assertion that he really had talked with a dinosaur in the courtyard.
Ryan just rolled his eyes. 'That's what happens when you eat cookies all morning,' he thought.
Ryan was happily helping himself to the roasted pork. That was food more to his liking than the soups and fish they had had the previous days.
Cutter and Lester had also got big chunks of meat on their plates. Once again, Connor munched a cookie with a almost obscene expression of rapture on his face whilst Abby chewed on a pork pie.
He really could grow fond of this place despite its lack of electricity and proper sanitary facilities.
Nikolaus sat at the square end of the table with a broad smile on his face and watched his guests enjoy the Christmas meal.
It was Nikolaus idea that they should go for a walk after lunch and take some apples, nuts and raisins to the fringes of the forest as a gift for the friendly animals.
In hope of meeting another dinosaur so he could show that he really could understand them, Connor had walked ahead. But no animal, not even one from the present-day, had shown up on the way to the forest. Cutter and Ryan had teased him mercilessly about his alleged hallucinations but Connor was absolutely sure it had been real. And he would prove it.
They had avoided the meteorite since all that anomalies had emerged at once and hadn't closed again, afraid of the things which might come through. But now, on the way back, Connor was marching directly to the rear of the castle to the boulder.
The anomalies were still there, glittering silently in concentric circles around the meteoric boulder. But there weren't any tracks visible. So no creature had come through in more than twenty hours. Slowly, Connor started to doubt his extraordinary experience.
With relief, Lester sat down on the stone, knackered from the long walk to the forest. Ryan sat down next to him whilst Cutter leaned against the stone. Suddenly the cold surface of the boulder started to heat up.
Frightened, Lester and Ryan sprang up and Cutter stumbled backwards. The stone was glowing a soft yellow and was now so hot they could feel the warmth through the many layers of clothing they were wearing. Then the soft yellow shine turned into a bright white.
"Run!" Ryan yelled in panic and gave the stunned Cutter a shove.
When the boulder began to pulsate they were already near the castle gate.
In a whirl of silver-white light the boulder exploded and splintered into tiny parts, the light so radiant they had to shut their eyes tight for a moment.
Lester was the first to open his eyes again. He looked back to where the meteorite had been but there was nothing more than a snowy vastness. The black boulder had completely vanished and with it every single anomaly.
Still shocked from what had happened, they staggered into the castle. Nikolaus was waiting for them at the door with a tray of steaming mugs filled with herbal tea.
"Now rest for a while. You have had a strenuous walk. I will call you when the dinner is ready."
Ryan watched Abby heading for Connor's room the moment he entered Lester's bedroom and he tacitly wished her the best of luck.
"I believe you, Connor," Abby said quietly.
Allowing himself a moment of guilty pleasure just watching her stand at his bed in nothing as a long linen nightgown, Connor finally met her eyes.
"What do you mean?" he asked, nervously.
"So many strange things happen here. So when you say you talked to a dinosaur I believe you."
Connor's eyes glistened in joy and he had to clear his throat before he could speak again.
"Thank you, Abby. You don't know how much that means to me."
Shaking with cold, Abby wrapped her arms around her upper body.
"Connor, it's freezing cold in your room. Don't you want to be a gentleman and offer me a place in your warm bed?"
"Oh, yeah. Sure," he automatically answered.
It took several seconds until his brain caught up with the meaning of her question and suddenly he gulped for air.
"Connor?"
"Oh, sorry." With a flurry of movements he threw the duvet aside and made room for her.
Abby climbed under the thick bedcovers and snuggled up to Connor, an amused smile on her lips.
She loved the strangled gasp he made as she slid her hand under his vest and after a moment of caressing his chest and stomach she started attacking the waistband of his boxershorts.
Within ten minutes, Connor had lost his underwear and was warming Abby up with his naked body.
Ryan had found one of Lester's most erogenous places, right above his collarbone, and was now sucking with enthusiasm on that spot. Cutter busied himself kissing Lester's hip up and down whilst he mapped Lester's upper body with his hands.
A jolt of pleasure traveled right down to Lester's cock every time Cutter scraped his teeth along his hipbone, gauging how much of the rough handling Lester could take. Lester whimpered needily when Cutter lavished the tender skin afterwards, wanting to feel that skillful mouth on his cock now. But Cutter only nuzzled Lester's pubic bone and then trailed away again.
Ryan had moved on to Lester's chest. He battled Cutter's hands aside and took the hard nub between his lips.
With a stifled cry Lester bucked up and clutched the sheets in his fists as Ryan sucked hard on his right nipple whilst he pinched its twin with his fingers.
Ryan grinned smugly. He always had suspected Lester might like it a little rough.
Relishing the sight of goosebumps emerging on Lester's skin, Cutter carefully licked at the juncture of Lester's thight and groin before he took a long swipe with his tongue up the length of Lester's cock.
Lester closed his eyes and got lost in a sea of sensations as both men seduced him with hands and tongue.
Finally, when Lester thought he couldn't stand the sensual torture any longer, Cutter turned his back to him and snatched the tube of lube from the bedside cabinet.
Anticipation was spreading through Lester's body as he watched Cutter prepare himself.
"Please, let me," he begged, his voice rough with desire.
Before Cutter could react Lester plunged his forefinger into Cutter's opening and curled his fingertip.
"Hey, careful, James. Or it will be over before you're inside," Cutter admonished. Slowly, he pulled his own fingers out and offered his arse to Lester for the taking.
While Lester fingerfucked Cutter, he barely noticed that Ryan had nudged him completely onto his right side, too caught up in the sight of his knuckles vanishing in Cutter's arse. A moment later slick fingers breached Lester's tight ring and started to widen his hole.
"Oh God, Tom!" Lester moaned.
Desperate to shove his rock-hard cock into Cutter's tight opening, Lester grabbed Cutter’s hip, lined up at his entrance and thrust forwards. Cutter squeaked and would have toppled from the bed if Lester hadn't held him.
"Bloody hell, Lester," Cutter cursed. "Give me a warning next ti...." His last word went over in a moan when Lester hit his prostate with a tentative thrust.
Unable to wait any longer, Ryan moved in place behind Lester. With his large hands he kneaded Lester's arse cheeks before he spread them gently apart and pressed his cock against Lester's anus. Lester's body opened up easily for Ryan and almost without any resistance the thick glans slid inside.
"You both ready?" Ryan cawed hoarsely, the dual groan the only answer he needed to ram his hips forwards and impale Lester on his entire length, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt.
Cutter screamed as Lester surged forwards and hammered against his prostate, the feeling so intense it was almost bordering on pain.
Lester closed his eyes in pleasure. Cutter was still so tight. There was no way he could last, not with Cutter clenching around him like this and Ryan pounding in his arse like mad.
"Cutt... Nick.. Going to... Can't hold on..." he rasped, his ability to form coherent speech quickly going down the drain with every snap of Ryan's hips.
"Yeah, there, right there," Cutter moaned and pushed back against Lester, his hand fisting his rod while he was fucking himself on Lester's cock.
Lester came with a curse on his lips, emptying himself in Cutter's body until he was completely spent.
Ryan's moves became erratic as Cutter pulled back and scrambled to his knees, Cutter's eyes wild as his hand furiously pumped his cock over Lester's body.
"Good, so... so... good," Ryan stammered as he pushed Lester face down in the mattress and started to ride him hard.
As Cutter tumbled over the edge, spraying Lester's upper back with viscous white cum Ryan eyes were clued to the slit on Cutter's tip, where thick droplets of semen pearled out to soil Lester's body.
The orgasm ripped through Ryan's body and took his breath away. It seemed to go on for hours with his cock pumping semen into Lester's arse.
Finally, completely exhausted, his arms gave away and he sunk down on Lester's back, right in the mess Cutter had made.
The smell of sweat and semen filled the room as Ryan took deep breathes of air.
Cutter had his head laid on Ryan's arse and hummed with content as a loud knocking on the door interrupted their peaceful moment.
"Supper is ready," Nikolaus yelled from outside. Moments later they heard him knocking on another door, telling Connor and Abby about dinner.
"What have you been up to?" Abby asked with a grin after Cutter, Ryan and Lester had trailed into the dining room at an interval of five minutes, sixteen minutes later than Connor and Abby had arrived.
Cutter made a paniced face while Lester's eyes flickered briefly over to a nonchalant-looking Ryan.
Seeing that, Lester straightened his back and said with forced calm. "I was resting for a few hours. My guess would be the others were doing the same."
Cutter nodded vigerously.
Ryan fought the smile trying to curve his lips. "Yes, I was sleeping." With a twinkle in his eye he shot the question right back to Abby. "And what have you been doing in the meantime?"
"Oh, Connor and I were just sleeping as well," Abby answered smugly and winked at a blushing Connor.
The kisses were fervently and the touches gentle. Lester and Cutter cossetted him like there was no tomorrow and slowly it dawned on Ryan that they were saying farewell. Now, after the boulder and the anomalies had vanished there was no reason to stay any longer at the castle. The time of having fun together was slowly coming to an end.
Ryan didn't want to go back to England, where Nick was just Professor Cutter, the scientist he had to protect, and where James was just his boss and nothing else. He wasn't ready yet to give up the happiness he had found here.
But he knew he had to let go.
Desperately, Ryan sucked on Lester's tongue, his hands buried in Lester's hair as he spilled himself in Cutter's eager mouth, wishing this night would last forever.
Abby stared perplexed at the first page of the thick little book she had found in front of the fireplace in the hall this morning.
'Wishes' stood in big golden letters on the top and underneath a list of names with a remark added. The whole book was filled with names and the remarks next to it were often written in foreign languages.
She skimmed quickly through the pages and found their names on the last page with a thick red frame around.
"I think I've found Father Christmas' notebook," Abby announced, giggling. "Want to know what everyone secretly wished for?"
Mischievously, Abby started to read out aloud, "James Lester: I want to meet someone nice who's hot stuff in bed and likes to cuddle.
Nick Cutter: Wanna get laid, regularly.
Tom Ryan: Want to fuck Lester into the ground. NB: Wouldn't mind to get a go at Cutter as well.
And Connor... Oh that's sweet."
Impulsively she went over to Connor and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"What's this nonsense? Give me that book immediately," Lester demanded with a crimson face.
"No!" Abby said and took a step backwards.
Also Cutter and Ryan had recovered from their initially shock and were now closing in on her,
Abby tried to hide behind Connor but had no chance as the three men made a grab for the book together.
In the last moment she managed to escape and run for the exit.
Laughing she raced into the yard but slid on the frozen puddle next to the well.
The book sailed out of her hand into the air. Before she or her pursuers could catch it, a large fat wild goose who seemed to have come from nowhere snatched the book and flew away cackling loudly.
Stunned, they followed the goose with their eyes until it disappeared from sight behind the next hill.
"Santa will be happy to get his notebook back."
Four pairs of eyes turned to Connor, who added smugly "You don't think that was coincidence with the goose, do you?"
Lester prepared to respond but then decided against it. There was no point in arguing about the existence of Father Christmas with Connor.
"And what Christmas wish was written beside your name, Abby?" Connor asked with bated breath, hoping it was similar to his own.
Abby smiled mischievously at him. "I guess you will find out in the future, Connor." Then she kissed him passionately.
"So Ryan wanted sex with Lester and Cutter. Lester wanted someone nice for sex and cuddling and Cutter just wanted sex.
With the noises I've heard the few last days, I think Santa managed to fulfill your wishes just fine. I don't understand why you are making such sour faces now," Connor said with a shrug.
"You can't seriously believe that Father Christmas exists. What was written in that book was nonsense," Ryan growled.
"No, it's not. You're just too embarrassed to admit that you were wishing for sex."
"Damn. I didn't just want sex with Lester. I wished for something permanent, a relationship."
Realising what he just had revealed, Ryan winced heavily.
"I'm not opposed to a relationship." Lester surprised them all with his declaration. "That was what I was really wishing for as well.
As long as it doesn't complicate work," he added quickly.
Ryan smiled gently at Lester and twined fingers with him. "Don't worry, James. You are far too professional to let it affect work."
"Mmmh."
Cutter felt left out as he watched Ryan and Lester gazing in each other eyes and Abby hugging Connor happily.
"Seems in the end you all got what you wanted," he said quietly and moved towards the door.
"Where do you think you are going, Nick?" Lester's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"I don't like to be the fifth wheel," he answered indignantly.
"You aren't. As far I remember you wished for something regular as well. I think that can be arranged."
"I thought three was a crowd?"
Ryan sauntered over to Cutter and mouthed a kiss on his cheek. "Wrong, Nick. Three is more fun."
Abby shook her head in mock indignation. "Hey, now that we have resolved who'll have fun with whom, can we go and have lunch?"
"Not yet," Lester said with a glint in his eyes and hurried out of the room.
Pouting, Connor looked after him."Why not? I get hungry too."
Lester returned with his hands hidden behind his back. "There is something else we have to do first."
Now the others looked completely puzzled.
"Snowball fight. And then we build a snowman," Lester called and aimed for Ryan and Cutter with the snowballs in his hand. He managed to hit them against head and chest before his ammunition went out and he'd to seek refuge in flight.
With a battle cry on their lips, Ryan and Cutter chased after him, Abby and Connor close on their heels.
Exhausted and flushed from the cold, they returned an hour later. Four more snowmen were now standing outside the castle next to Connor's first creation and the serious expression on the Lester snowman had been changed into a smile.
Always knowing just what they needed Nikolaus was already waiting for them in the dinner room with a hot supper and a big chunk of roasted pork with white cabbage.
Ryan was chewing contentedly on the roasted meat while he observed his friends inconspicuously.
Lester's eyes were shining and Cutter was still grinning. They had never looked so exuberant and happy before. And Connor and Abby exchanged amorous glances over a baked beetroot pie and played footsie under the table.
"You'll have to return now before your friends get worried,"" Nikolaus announced once they had finished the meal.
It was like a cold shower and dimmed their mood instantly but everyone knew that Nikolaus was right.
They hadn't thought of Doctor Bittner since they had arrived at the castle. But the man must be sick with worry by now. They also couldn't endless overstrain the caretaker's hospitality.
Besides their work here was done. The bolder was destroyed and the anomalies had closed.
With heavy hearts, they bid Nikolaus farewell and started on their way.
They had just left the castle when it began to snow. Their surroundings soon vanished behind a veil of dancing snowflakes and as Ryan turned around to the castle for a last look he saw nothing but white infinity.
As suddenly as the snow flurry had started it equally abruptly ended. Once again, the sky was blue without a cloud in sight and the snow glittered beautifully in the afternoon sun.
But more surprising were the traces they discovered a little further on. The footprints matched theirs perfectly and Ryan realised they were the traces they had left on their way there, looking like they had been made only recently and as if it never had been snowed.
Following their tracks back to the village was easy.
They were welcomed warmly by Doctor Bittner and his wife, who quickly had mulled wine and butter stollen ready.
"I hope you didn't worry about us, Dirk. We spent Christmas at the castle. Nikolaus, the castle's caretaker, was very hospitable. We found signs of the same phenomenon we had encountered in England. Unfortunately, that's top-secret. Government business, you understand. But at least it's closed now. It's unlikely that there will be trouble with strange creatures again."
Doctor Bittner only stared, bewildered, at Cutter. "But you were only gone for two hours. It's still three days until Christmas. And there is no caretaker up there. It's just a ruin with barely enough walls left to recognise it as a castle."
They returned to England on the next flight and no one mentioned Nikolaus aloud on the whole trip home. But everyone was mulling over the events at the castle. There were so many questions and no answers.
Cutter was asking himself for the umpteen time why he had never considered going to fetch their measuring instruments or at least call his friend on his mobile before the battery had run out.
Also Ryan had more than enough uncleared issues. Yet he wasn't sure he actually needed answers. Some things you had to understand with your heart and not your mind.
But he knew he would never forget the extraordinary trip to Thuringia, the mysterious land where his dreams had come true.
They arrived at the ARC just in time for the Christmas party Jenny had organised, where Jenny triumphantly announced she and Stephen had unmasked Oliver Leek as a traitor and had almost captured Helen whilst the rest of the team had been abroad.
Cutter walked over to Stephen and gave him a warm hug, settling their months-long quarrel with just this small gesture, before he returned to Lester's side.
Smiling, Lester linked arms with Cutter and Ryan and joined in singing along, with feeling, to the song just starting to play.
To the tune of ‚We Wish You a Merry Christmas’, Connor and Abby shared a kiss under the mistletoe whilst Lester admired the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the middle of the ARC with his lovers.
Ryan glanced up at the star on top of the tree and silently thanked Father Christmas for fulfilling his wish. From now on, he would always try to be a good boy.
Afterword:
There are several German myths and ancient customs embedded in this story.
For instance the myth that pure souls can talk with animals on Christmas day or that during the Twelve Days of Christmas (25th December to 6th January) it's not advisable to do the laundry because it brings ill luck. It was believed white laundry on a line would attract evil spirits and therefore a close friend or relative would die.
(Actually still my grandma didn't wash laundry during this time.)
In the past there was no christmas tree. Instead the house was just decorated with green branches to summon the spring and bring richness into the house.
Nikolaus is the German name of (St.) Nicholas, who, in the 4th century, invented the tradition of giving apples, nuts and cookies to well-behaved children around his birthday in December.
Since the Christianisation, the time from 25th November to 24th December was Lenten season. Therefore meatless food like soups and fish was eaten until Christmas Eve.
On 25th/26th December the traditional food was pork (matins boar) The tradition of serving goose for the main course came up first in the 16th century in England and was taken on by other countries later.
I wasn’t specific about the location because, sadly, there are too many castle ruins in Thuringia which have been destroyed through our bellicose past.
But I guess I was mostly inspired by the ruin of Castle Gleichen which is famous through the saga of count Ernst the third of Gleichen who got the special permit for bigamy from the Holy Father in Rome. As he arrived with his second wife, Melechsala, the daughter of the sultan, who had helped him escape from Saracen’s captivity during the crusade, his other wife, Ottilia, greeted them with the words: "She shall be heartily welcome, your second wife and my first mate." :)
And you really can get lost easily in the snowy landscape of the Thuringian Forest, especially if you stray from the official trails. Fortunately, I had my clever dog with me when I had that experience some years ago, who had a better sense of direction than me.
By the way the idea with the castle builder is complete rubbish. We didn't have to import builders from England.;)