Where the Devil Says Goodnight (Folk Lore 1)

They became one with the tapping rain as they took their time making out like two teenagers, hungry for each other even after satisfying their lust.

Eventually, they settled into petting each other lazily, and Emil rested his weight on Adam as he relaxed.

“I loved that,” he whispered with his head on Adam’s shoulder, eyes closed, as if his mind still lingered on their moment of passion.

Adam had no idea how one man could be this stunning. But he loved what they’d just done too. And somewhere deep, beyond all the barriers that kept his mind safe but which felt so translucent now, he knew he also loved Emil. That he’d do anything for him.

“Our own Titanic moment,” Adam said and reached up, tracing his fingers over the steamed-up glass above.

Emil chuckled. “Only question is which one of us gets to survive?”

Adam snorted, feeling perfectly content with the sticky mess on his stomach as long as Emil kept holding him with arms that felt safer those of the Church. Safer than anything that was holy. “There was obviously space for two on that door.”

“But if push came to shove, I’d drown for you,” Emil said, eyes still closed, and a blissful expression stuck to his face.

He might have as well cut out Adam’s heart and put it on his mantelpiece. “I want to help you too. Will you… reconsider what we talked about earlier?”

Emil groaned. “I can make my own vodka. It’s okay.”

“But you still need to pay for the bottles, and other ingredients.”

Emil stayed silent for a while. “Thank you. For wanting to make it happen so much. But you have to let me pay back every grosz once we’re settled in Warsaw.”

Adam couldn’t stop the wide smile tugging at his lips and kissed him hard, shifting until he managed to crawl on top of Emil and trap his head between his elbows. He’d never thought he could be this happy to lose the money he’d been saving for such a long time, but at least now the cash had a purpose other than sitting in his bank account and working up a tiny percentage. “Fine. I can let you do that, but until then, your soul is mine.”

Emil grinned back and slapped his ass. “Greedy monster.”

Chapter 17 - Emil

Bottles filled Emil’s house from top to bottom. He and Adam had discussed this extensively and the consensus was to either go big or bust, so Emil needed to have a lot of the alcohol on hand. They’d started producing the alcohol infusions back in August, and since Adam had helped with every part of the process, the work didn’t eat into their time together that much. Though it meant less horse rides or peaceful walks in the forest.

In late October, the urge to go outside wasn’t an imperative anyway, especially that the last few days have been abysmal—filled with storms, endless rain, and a dropping temperature that spoke of upcoming November. Adam’s superiors had already informed him of his next placement. Only seventeen days were left of his stay in Dybukowo. Seventeen days until Emil would have to walk him to the bus stop and wave goodbye.

If everything went according to plan, he would soon follow Adam, even though the prospect of uprooting himself—and Jinx—made unease sprout in his head like mold. For the first time in his life, there was an external purpose to guide him away from the life he knew, and while he worried adjusting to life in a city might prove difficult, he also wouldn’t give up on the chance at happiness that had unexpectedly dropped into his lap.

He didn’t want to let Adam go, and the longer they were together, the more he saw how compatible they were. Mrs. Luty and Father Marek would have noticed if Adam had started spending nights at Emil’s, but he often left the parsonage first thing in the morning and crawled into Emil’s bed as if just lying next to him brought him peace.

They watched movies together, read books while cuddled up in the sheets, and Adam wasn’t averse to physical labor either, eager to help out with the alcoholic infusions as well as with the mundane work around the homestead. Whatever they did, topics for conversation never ran out. After years of loneliness, Emil had finally found someone whose heart was in perfect harmony with his own.

Determined to leave with him, Emil swallowed his pride and accepted a loan of Adam’s money to pay for the ingredients needed, but while he was also the main force in terms of preparation, Adam made calls on Emil’s behalf in an attempt to turn the alcohol infusions into cash. And while Emil knew how crazy it was that he chose to uproot his life to become the secret lover of a Catholic priest, a man who would never openly acknowledge their relationship, Adam’s dedication to their cause confirmed that it was the right decision.