Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll

[mariez]

Some comic relief from Chapter 77 - and an example of why Louise is the Queen of Dialogue (among other things!) :


“Oh yeah?” Ellery got up. “I got ta pee. No I ain’t takin any Percodans, an I wish you’d stop countin em. I told ya I would tell ya if I get in pain an I’m gonna.”

“Huh,” Ennis said getting up and padding after him, and put his hand out to block the open door of the bathroom as Ellery went in and tried to close it.

“What the fuck are you doin, Ennis?” Ellery said, standing in front of the toilet.

“Watchin you.”

“An why?”

“Cause Wes told me to. An you told me to.”

“I did not.”

“Yeah ya did. You said don’t let me do anything stupid.”

“What am I gonna do stupid in the bathroom? Flush my cock down the toilet?”

“Nothin, cause I’m here watchin ya.”

“Jesus Christ Ennis,” Ellery finished urinating and shook off. “Mind if I brush my teeth now Momma?”

“Not at all. Yer kisses’ll taste sweeter after.”

Love it! 

Marie

[belbbmfan]

Wow, Jo ...... those have to be the most beautifully astute observations of Ennis that I have ever read! May I print them out to place in my copy of the book? Thank you so very much for sharing.  And thank you, Louise, for suggesting it.

Marie

You're right Marie, that really is something to be treasured. Thank you Jo!

[MaineWriter]

Good morning, re-readers...today, chapters 81-85.

http://louisev.livejournal.com/71633.html

Ellery turned his head. “What’re ya waitin for Ennis?”

“Ellery...” he rasped, molten eyes shining with emotion.

“What... is everythin okay?” Ellery’s heart skipped a beat as he saw the expression on his face.

“I love you, boy,” Ennis said, pressing forward, and entered him in a long, smooth thrust.

“Oh god....” Ellery gasped, fingers digging into the pillow as Ennis penetrated him, the ache left by their previous lovemaking giving an edge of erotic pain to each thrust. Ennis closed his eyes as he pulled back, throat full with the as yet unexpressed emotion following his declaration, and he found himself thinking with each thrust, with each stroke of his hand over the head of Ellery’s cock as he pleasured him, this is love....

“Darlin.... gonna come...” he choked out, arching his back, digging in with his fingers, and gripping the base of Ellery’s cock to trigger his orgasm, and thrust hard with his hips, crying out with relief and joy.

“Ennis... goddamn...” Ellery groaned, spasming into his clenching hand, and he came, the fierce clenching of his tender sphincter, causing Ennis to buck and thrust deep once more as he ejaculated.

Ennis slipped his arms around Ellery’s waist, bending down, kissing the slick surface of his spine, licking the salty sheen, teeth scraping the smooth flesh, then pressed his cheek against his shoulder and pulled him down onto his side, spooning him, cock still deeply embedded in his quivering bowels. “Oh darlin, darlin...” he moaned softly, holding him tight, squeezing his eyes shut as they filled with sudden, unexpected tears.

“It’s okay, Ennis, it’s okay sweetheart...” Ellery whispered. “Just hold me, it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry, darlin...”

Ellery turned his head. “What’re you sorry for?”

“For all yer hurts. Sorry that asshole called you an upset you.”

“Aw... thank you, sweetheart.”

“You don’t deserve that.”

“No, didn’t think so.”

Ennis released his hard embrace and lay on his back, and Ellery turned to him, resting his head on his bent arm. “You cryin fer me?”

Ennis nodded.

“Ya know, that is the nicest thing anybody has ever done.” He reached out a finger and brushed Ennis’s tear from his cheek. “Thank you.”

Ennis smiled crookedly. “Yer welcome.”


L

[MaineWriter]

Chapter 82:

“Eagleton,” he sighed.

“Listen, Cantrell...” and Ellery held up a hand.

“This had better be about Wyomin vs. Steele or we ain’t havin this conversation.”

“I think there are some things we should discuss...”

“About the case? Then let’s step into my boss’s office an he can discuss em with you an refer you to the D.A. You know our wonderful and multi-talented District Attorney, Mel Ruskin I suppose...”

Eagleton wrung his hands. “You know damn well it isn’t about that. Listen to me, Cantrell... I know you care about Bruce –“

“No, you are wrong there. You are dead wrong about that. Now since you didn’t come down here on Sheriff’s Department business I am gonna have ta ask ya ta leave.”

“Then can I call you an talk on the phone later?”

“I don’t think we got anythin ta talk about. I did what you asked, an that is that.”

“But... I think.... Cantrell -- Bruce is a very depressed young man.”

“Bruce is not a very young man, an the sooner you realize it the more he’ll get over bein a spoiled brat makin you live his life for em. An none a this has fuckall to do with my job an I got ta ask you ta go or I am gonna step in my office an slam the door in yer face.”

Eagleton finally got angry. “We need to talk about this further. I’ll give you a call later when you are a bit more reasonable...” he muttered, and Carol buzzed him out through the security door.


L

[MaineWriter]

Chapter 83:

“No, guess not.” She took a large sheaf of paper out of a folder and hurried out the door, and Ellery grinned when he saw the sway in her hips. Now that was way too obvious, he thought.

He fell to thinking in the quiet room. He had originally thought to take the summer school, to talk Beagle into staying with him, finding an apartment. He had money… that wasn’t an object, and Grandpa would hardly have objected if he told him he wanted to get ahead in his studies through the summer. He had even put in a registration card…

He sighed, rubbing his eyes. It isn’t summer a sixty-five Ellery, get yer head outta yer ass. The summer school intern returned, brandishing a set of fresh warm copies. “Here’s the dorm assignment list, hope you can read it, we’re changin over the…”

“Computer systems, yes I heard. Thank you. Do you have his registration of his courses, an the professor names?”

“Yeah, I copied that for ya.”

“Thank you kindly, very efficient of you.”

“Laura. Laura Bradley,” she said breathily.

He winked at her. “I’ll be sure ta put in a good word.”

“Thank you. Oh Mr. Cantrell…” she said as he stepped toward the door with the registration.

“Hm?”

“You be sure ta come back soon.”

“Sure enough,” he said politely, and made sure to close the door behind him. Women like that ought ta be caged, he said to himself as he made his way back to the relative safety of the Registrar’s office.


L

[belbbmfan]

from chapter 84: enter the mysterious Brad Sevigny


“Dr. Thompson?” Ellery asked.

“That’s me.”

“Sheriff’s office,” Ellery said, and brought out his badge once more. Unlike the women in the registrar’s office, he took the badge in his hand and scrutinized the identification and photo.

“You should get a new photo, you look like Paul McCartney in that one,” he commented. “How can I help you Chief Deputy?” he said, and Ellery smiled a bit more widely when he got the title correct.

“Thank you for the compliment, I think. I am sorry ta tell you that one of yer students was killed durin the night.”

Thompson nodded. “Word spread like wildfire. Summer school has only got about four hundred students.”

“Mind if I ask you about Wilkes? We have very little ta go on an no witnesses ta the crime that I have found so far.”

“Ya might try his roommate, Brad … what did he say his name was… Sevigny, I think…. He is in the registrations for the summer literature session I think Will said.”

“I am a little surprised, Dr. Thompson. You knowin his roommate.”

“Shouldn’t be. In this kind of a course the students work a lot of hours in the computer room an their rides, wives, husbands, roommates, often stop by an wait for em. His roommate had the car an usually picked em up from there when I closed the lab.”

Ellery looked at the dorm assignments. “I don’t see no Sevigny listed as his roommate. I don’t see no Sevigny or S name in his building.”

“Might a got it changed.” Thompson dropped his voice. “This’ll come out no matter what but sometimes… the students change their rooms without notifyin anyone, especially if they make friends far away from their own dorm. I teach summer school every year.”

“So yer telling me this dorm assignment sheet is probably good fer nothing.”

“You could try Sevigny’s original assigned room, if there was trouble he might have moved back in.”

Ellery sighed. “Back to the summer school office.”

[MaineWriter]

Chapter 85:

“I am urgin you to reconsider, Cantrell. You are a mature adult…”

“An up until you started buggin me on this matter I thought you were, so start actin like one. Please do not call me again Eagleton, or I will ask the Sheriff and the D.A. ta intervene on my behalf.”

“I guess yer leavin me no choice then,” he replied, now gruff.

“That is the idea, Counselor. Now I have had a bitch of a day an I am hungry an I would like ta have my dinner. Please don’t call me again.”

“Good bye, then, Mr. Cantrell. Thank you for tryin.”

“You are very little welcome,” Ellery said, banging down the phone. “Goddammitall, Ennis…," he said, stalking to the kitchen. “Goddammitalltahell.”

“What now?” Ennis looked up from spooning out bowls of chili, alarmed by his anger.

“It is things like this that truly tempt me ta quit my job an take up playin the accordion.”

“Take up what?”

“Just an expression,” he sighed, sitting down.

“You’d look real cute in those shorts playin the accordion,” Ennis said, sitting down and opening a bottle of beer for him. “Specially if I can sit over here an see all the way ta France.”

Ellery smiled wanly, accepted the beer, and took a long pull on it. “Maybe I will then.”

They ate with little more small talk, and Ellery, rather than rising from the table when he finished his chili, moved his knees slightly apart and gave Ennis a challenging look. “Well boy, I got a feelin if I got up right now I might get assaulted over at the sink. Maybe we could just cut out that pretendin ta wash dishes part an get right to it.”

“That sounds about right," Ennis said, setting down his beer.

[MaineWriter]

Good morning, re-readers...chapters 86-90 today. We are almost at the end of the book!

http://louisev.livejournal.com/72900.html

In chapter 86, the famous butter scene!

“So what’s it gonna be, boy,” Ellery said, his smoky eyes issuing a challenge as he rose to his feet. “Cock ring? Blindfold? Tyin me up?”

Ennis also stood, unbuckling his belt suddenly. “Oh I got an idea all right. Just gonna butter ya right up an have ya right here fer dessert.”

Ellery looked down at the dishes scattered across the table. “Right here? The way you go you’ll break the table.”

“Got a better idea.” Ennis took a step toward him and in a few quick motions had Ellery’s cutoffs unzipped and on the floor, and grabbed his arm with one hand as he unzipped and pushed his own denims off his hips, his cock, already hard, bouncing free, then pushed Ellery down so that he was bent over the end of the countertop, shaking his cutoffs off his feet and spreading his thighs, Ennis holding him down one-armed as he reached for the butter and swiped a gob of it onto his fingers.

“Jesus you are gonna butter me up..!” Ellery exclaimed, disbelieving, the sudden sexual moves arousing him immediately, and he watched as Ennis dabbed butter into his crack, sliding his finger in to lubricate him thoroughly.

“Yep. Need ya boy,” he said, leaning down, licking at the rapidly-melting butter as it slid between Ellery’s cheeks and down over his balls, then gripped on with his teeth in a clear, pale area of flesh on his left cheek, making a loud growling noise, nipping and then letting go.

“Oh fuck, Ennis!” Ellery choked out, his head coming up sharply and barely clearing the cabinet above.

“Easy boy, here I come,” he said softly, and rubbed his slick hand over his cock, sliding it up into his sphincter, penetrating him steadily as he leaned down, keeping Ellery’s upper body flat on the countertop, until he was completely inside him.

“That feel good?” he asked, sliding a slick hand around and grasping Ellery’s erection, sliding his hand over it and beginning to stroke.

“Oh sweetheart...” Ellery moaned. “Don’t talk... just fuck me...”

L

[MaineWriter]

More from 86:

“That was only the beginnin,” Ennis commented, taking the cloths from his hand.

“Oh, what now?”

“Now we got ta do some cuddlin an kissin in the proper settin.”

“Ah... no argument there.”

Ennis took his hand, and led him to the bedroom, where Ellery noted he had once again changed the bed with fresh new percale, neatly folded down. Ellery climbed into the bed first, and Ennis followed, lying on his side, his hand wandering down Ellery’s body lazily.

“I love ta touch you, darlin,” he said softly, looking at him with a molten gaze.

“About as much as I love ta touch you,” Ellery responded. “Listen I got a question for ya. The other night when you poured that drink an said me belongin ta you an you belongin ta me, was that some sort a ceremony?”

Ennis nodded, blushing, busying himself with brushing Ellery’s hair back from his forehead.

“You just make that up on the spot?”

He smiled and nodded again. “Yep.”

“This mean... your stayin with me... permanent?”

“Sure does.”

Ellery’s face transformed into a soft smile. “That is real good. Then I guess that was sort of like... gettin engaged.”

“Yep.” Ennis was acting shy, embarrassed, and it seemed completely out of character for the man who had just slammed him down on the counter, wiped butter on his ass and fucked him silly. Ellery reached up with his own hand and brushed his fingers against the sweaty frame of curls on his forehead, and Ennis raised his eyes, looking at him directly.

“Why you actin shy?”

“Sometimes I’m like that... after.”

“You mean after we fuck like animals an you leave teethmarks in my ass?”

Ennis smiled tightly. “Yeah.”

“I like you shy,” Ellery said, tilting his head, smoothing out a large curl that had settled over Ennis’s forehead. “But I like Mr. Coyote too. I hope you don’t get sick a gettin riled up the way you do... today thinkin about rilin you up is about the only thing that got me ta Elk Mountain an back in one piece.”

[MaineWriter]

86 is a chapter that is full of stuff!

“Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe he can’t handle bein grown up an queer,” Ellery said. “Anyhow, I don’t want ta talk about this. I want ta talk about us. I want ta talk about this commitment thing.”

“Okay,” Ennis said, letting his shoulder drop and leaning into his pillow.

“What about if we got rings for each other?”

“Rings...”

“You know, engagement rings.”

“Won’t people think we got.. you know, a fiancee or somethin?”

“Yeah.”

“Only... we’re men.”

“It won’t say so on the ring. We don’t have to, it’s only an idea.”

“Lemme think about it, okay?” Ennis said, his hand dipping back down and brushing across Ellery’s pale chest.

and at the end of the chapter...

With his simple declaration, Ennis had given Ellery a hope, that this hunger, lurking inside him for so long, unsatisfied, would be fulfilled, and that he could look forward to a relationship that nourished, rather than drained him. As they fell together, spent, onto the bed, Ellery felt the beginnings of that hope, and the end of a life of frustrated longing.

L