Scavengers: July by K.A. Merikan Page A

a regular servant’s room. On one side, it had a sloping ceiling, but the room itself was spacious, with a strong, wooden bed occupying the main space just below a large window. The glass was broken in one place, but otherwise, it seemed intact. By the other wall, stood a basic table with four chairs. It seemed as if frozen in time: covered with a cotton cloth and set for a meal. It looked as though the room's occupants had left in a hurry. Food was still on the plates and clear glass mugs where stained with a tea-colored residue. A sad, dried flower had remained in a small vase at the center of the table. As the man turned, he saw a smaller part of the attic, partially obscured by a blue curtain. The orange sunglow shone on another bed and some wooden toys were scattered on the floor. He walked there slowly, passing a much bigger, closed latch in the wooden floor. He remembered from his childhood that it was sometimes open, directly connected to the stables underneath. The room made him sad and nostalgic, but on the other hand, he felt lucky that he had survived, unlike so many others. He heard Ira climbing back and pulling the ladder up for safety.
    “You want new bedding?” the man asked while studying the attic. “Must be here somewhere.”
    “Yes, I’ve been here a few times as a kid.” James felt strangely liberated now that he stood there naked. He walked to a massive chest next to the bed and opened it. “My father gave it to them for their wedding.” Suddenly, he felt the other man’s presence behind him and was swiftly pulled into a warm embrace. The feel of a flaccid cock against his backside sent shivers down his spine.
    “So,” Ira breathed in a low voice, kissing the nape of his neck, “Gonna have your first time on a wedding bedding? Sounds promising,” he murmured, stroking the other man’s arms gently.
    James gasped, not really knowing if he was ready for this. His body on the other hand was all for it. Even the burning sensation on his jaw and neck seemed to fade in comparison. “You know I have a wife...,” he muttered, in an attempt to keep a bit of dignity. Feeling the prick behind him though, he knew where this was heading and he wasn’t really planning to take charge of the situation either.
    “She ain't here,” Ira answered, taking hold of his hips with a grunt. “She couldn’t do what I will either. Doesn’t have a cock.” The way he said the last word almost made James moan, and he felt an unmistakable stir by his backside.
    “She doesn’t...,” he repeated, breathing heavily. “You do know what you’re doing?” he asked, though at the same time he was sure that was the case.
    “Oh, don’t fret,” the man breathed against his ear, “got years of experience.”
    James looked at him with a nervous smile and moved away a bit. “I’ll just change the bedding then,” he said and his imagination went running wild once again, as he thought of the men Ira must have been with. Suddenly he started feeling nervous about his own lack of experience. Would he be good enough?
    The other man was taking something out of his bag. From the smell of it, James could guess he was preparing dinner.
    “Since when do you feel like that?” Ira asked, sounding sincerely interested.
    James looked up at him while changing the bedding to a soft, blue set with decorative knitted detail on the quilt while feeling entirely inadequate. “Like what?” He was struggling with what he was doing, as evidently, it was a chore always performed for him by a maid. Seeing food, reminded him that he'd been too nervous that morning to eat breakfast. Ira found a clean copper plate in the cupboard and filled it with bread, cold meat and some dried fruit from London. They also had cold tea in a metal can.
    “Need help?” Ira asked as he placed the meal on the bedside table, along with a small jar.
    “No, no, I’m fine. Almost done,” the other man said, dealing with the last pillow. “It’s not