Page 2 (continued)
DeAnna Zankich
Sequel is | The Second Day
Summary: Stuart ends up a bit gun shy emotionally after being left alone by Vince and it takes him a little time to get "back in the swing of things". Kate comes to visit for the engagement party.
Warnings: None
Author Notes: Bibliographic notation: This title is a line deeply embedded in the Molly Bloom soliloquy, otherwise known as the chapter "Episode 18: Penelope" of James Joyce's Ulysses. As we all know, Mr. Joyce is also an Irishman.
His short shift at the store had been quite busy and stressful so he
was already tired when he went to meet Kate and Stuart for drinks.
After several rounds of cocktails and then a big Italian dinner, he
was ready for bed as soon as they got back to the flat. First things
first, though. Vince had a new fish to introduce to his tank.
He carried the Firemouth Cichlid in its plastic bag half full of
water over to the tank and opened the lid.
"Right," he said to the other fish as they scurried around in the
clean water. "I want you lot to be nice to your new tankmate. He's
going to be nervous at first." Vince untied the knot at the top of
the bag and then gently emptied some of the water and the new fish
into the tank.
Kate came up behind him and watched over his shoulder. "They won't
try to evict him, will they?"
"Nah. This sort of fish is easy going. He'll integrate nicely.
Watch-back there. He's already chatting up Sylvester."
She giggled softly as they both watched the new fish make its way
around the tank, indeed seeming to introduce itself to the others.
"This is Colin 2," Vince told them, gently. "Behave, now." He
tapped some flakes of food into the water then closed the
lid. "Well," he sighed. "We'll just leave them to it." He turned
back to her and kissed her smooth cheek. "That was really very
thoughtful of you, Kate. Thanks."
"My pleasure," she said, giving him a cuddle. "I just wanted to give
you something personal to celebrate your engagement. I thought your
Stuart had a good idea."
Vince looked across the room at his boyfriend and they smiled at each
other. Kate leaned in to whisper to him.
"Now you have to help me get a good gift for him. He's such a pain
to buy for."
"Tell me about it," Vince concurred. "I'll give it a think and let
you know."
"Thanks." She walked across to the guestroom and turned on the light
inside.
Vince watched the fish interact for another few minutes then he went
up to the bedroom, peeling off his jacket and hanging it in the
wardrobe. He proceeded to undress down to his shorts then he headed
for the shower. The blinds were still closed over the glass walls
around their bedroom and bathroom so he felt safe that he wouldn't
offend Kate by wandering about his knickers. Not that he really
thought she would mind. He turned on the shower, stripped down and
got in.
Standing under the hot, thrumming water, Vince closed his eyes and
took a deep breath. Part of him couldn't wait for the party to be
over and the other part of him never wanted it to actually get
there. He felt like as they passed each milestone on their way to
the wedding, they were edging closer and closer to the end of their
relationship. Vince had no idea why, he just felt it in his bones.
Once all these preparations were done and the celebrations were
behind them, there would be nothing else to look forward to.
As he rubbed soap on his body, he heard the door open behind him.
Looking over his shoulder, he smiled at Stuart as he joined Vince in
the shower.
"Hey," he said.
"Hiya. Kate gone to bed?"
"Yeah. She said to tell you good night." Stuart took the bar of
jasmine and mint scented soap out of his lover's hand and worked up a
soft lather. "You seem sad tonight. You all right?" He rubbed the
lather over Vince's chest, gently stroking his nipples and the tender
flesh under his arms.
"I'm fine, yeah." Vince took some of the lather off his own chest
and smoothed it over Stuart's lean, sinewy arms, caressing the satiny
skin lovingly.
"You sure?"
"Yeah." Vince closed his eyes as Stuart leaned in to kiss him,
savoring the lovely tickle of his tongue.
Stuart brushed his lips over Vince's cheeks slowly, his hands still
moving in soft circles over his chest, down his sides, under his
arms, over the small of his back. He placed a gentle kiss on each of
Vince's eyelids then spoke softly in his ear. "Why are you lying?"
Sighing, Vince covered Stuart's mouth with a kiss to keep him from
saying anything more. He didn't want to talk about this-didn't want
to pass it on to his lover. The more he thought about it, the more
he felt it was likely just the last vestige of panic lingering around
to torment him. After all, no relationship was a sure thing.
Nothing was ever certain in life-least of all love.
Vince traced Stuart's hard torso with his soapy hand, touching the
muscles and teasing the sensitive skin just below his navel. He felt
Stuart's cock swell against him and he knew he'd got them passed that
unpleasant topic. He knew he could make love to Stuart for the next
hour and exhaust him with passion-knock him out so he wouldn't ask
anymore. If there was one thing that never changed for Stuart Jones,
it was his priorities. When pleasure was on offer, conversation was
never at the top of the list.
They finished their shower without another word. Instead, they
kissed lustfully and washed each other's skin with long, loving
strokes of soapy hands. As they rubbed themselves dry with a big,
fluffy bath towel, they were backing up out of the bathroom and
making their way to the bed. Neither one spoke, they were both lost
in the moment as they always were. Making love was the one safe
haven they both had-the one they both retreated to when things got to
be too much.
Rolling on the bed, Stuart asserted his desire for dominance and
gently held Vince's wrists down on the soft comforter. He straddled
Vince's naked hips and looked into his eyes-watching them like a
predator trying to determine the next movements of its quarry.
"I haven't forgotten our conversation, Vince," he said, softly. "You
think you're `managing' me, but you're not. I know something's
wrong."
Breathing raggedly, Vince looked away. "I'm not trying to manage
you, Stuart. I just don't want to be psychoanalyzed tonight. I said
there's nothing, and I meant it. I'm just a bit tired. Can we
please . . ." He moved under his lithe partner and rolled him onto
his back. "Can't we just . . . make love and not have all this heavy
conversation?"
Stuart held his face in his hands and stared into his eyes. For a
moment he seemed unwilling to proceed-as though he planned to insist
and force his will, as he so often did. Then he sighed and a tiny,
seductive smile tugged his dark pink lips. "You drive a hard
bargain, luv," he said, his hips lifting gently into the crook of
Vince's spread legs. "I'd like to have you . . . if you don't
mind . . ."
Vince smiled, both at the request and at the fact that he'd won
again. Rolling back over, he held Stuart's hips with his hands,
pulling him close, stroking his sides as they began to kiss again.
He loved the feel of their hard cocks rubbing together, wet tips
sliding over each other, stroking all the tender places on the
swollen organs. He closed his eyes and let Stuart take over, sighing
into his lover's strong arms.
He moaned when he felt Stuart's well-lubricated fingers enter him and
he lifted his hips up into the penetration wantonly. "Oh . . .
yessss . . ." he breathed as those long, elegant fingers found their
mark inside his body. Stuart stroked the opening with long, even
caresses, teasing the ring of flesh on the outside, massaging the
warm canal inside.
Vince trembled and kissed him hungrily, dying to feel Stuart's cock
enter him, fill him to point of bursting. Pulling Stuart's face down
close enough so he could whisper, Vince told him he needed Stuart
inside him. He begged gently, tightening the grip his thighs had on
Stuart's hips. And when the reward came, he shuddered from the
sensation of being impaled on that hard cock. Holding onto Stuart's
arms, he raised up and worked himself on that hot erection, moving
quickly, topping from the bottom and Stuart held him down with his
fingers on Vince's hips. Using just enough force to assert his
control, Stuart's eyes locked on his and told him without a word to
be still. This was HIS party.
Vince chuckled deep in his throat and tried to lie back-tried to sit
still and be fucked. But there was no way to control his desire at
that point. He met each of Stuart's strokes with increasing passion,
his hips lifting and falling, stroking that hard cock inside him
greedily and then . . . he felt the tingling begin. That radiating,
white hot pleasure that always started in the center of his body. He
groaned as he felt Stuart's cock swell to its fullest capacity and
that hard, rounded head thumped his prostate repeatedly.
Stuart kissed and nibbled his neck and ears and then his hand went
down between them to stroke Vince's cock. The contact was too much
and Vince was coming instantly, squeezing his lover's erection inside
him with sharp contractions. He moaned loudly, eyes closed, head
back, hands gripping Stuart's powerful forearms and holding on for
dear life as the orgasm raged through him.
Stuart slipped out at the last minute and pressed his throbbing cock
against Vince's belly, rubbing himself off on the taut, sweat slicked
skin. He groaned and drove his tongue into Vince's mouth, devouring
him in a deep kiss that seemed intent on stealing his breath clean
away.
Collapsing on the bed, they rolled softly away from each other for a
moment, untangling their limbs then meeting again to curl up in a
different position. Vince's head rested on Stuart's belly and they
laid there for a long time just catching their breath.
"Nice," Vince commented.
Laughing softly, Stuart said, "you were trying to be naughty . . ."
He pet Vince's hair with his fingers.
"I wasn't," he defended, grinning. "You just really got me is all.
Made me too hungry."
"Mmm . . ." He lifted Vince's chin and made him look up. "Nervous
about the party?"
"A bit," Vince said and he was. Thirty was a lot of guests in their
flat and he was quite anxious about it.
"Don't be," Stuart said. "It's meant to be fun. What are you going
to wear?"
"Dunno. Hadn't thought about it." Vince snickered. "I expect that
was the first thing you thought of, yeah?"
"Fuck off," Stuart laughed, then he was quiet for a long
moment. "Can I pick something for you?"
Vince looked up at him and smiled sweetly. "Yeah. I'd like that."
"All right." He ran his fingers over Vince's naked arms, softly
tickling the fine hairs near his elbows.
They laid there for a while just relaxing and breathing, touching
each other with light fingers and placing feathery kisses on each
other's skin. Stuart shifted on the bed so they were facing each
other and then he tugged the comforter over them.
"Sleepy?" Vince asked.
"Not really. Just got a little cold."
Vince pulled him closer, pressing their bodies together under the
blanket. He could smell the soft fragrance of his lover's hair and
he closed his eyes. After a moment, he felt Stuart's fingers
stroking his belly very gently, affectionately.
"Do you remember the first time you realized you could get pleasure
from your cock?" Stuart asked, his warm fingers lifting Vince's
flaccid penis and cradling it gently.
The question made Vince smile to himself. It reminded him of the way
they used to talk when they were kids.
Stuart looked up, clarifying his remark. "I don't mean the first
time you had a wank, I mean the very first time you realized that
this organ attached to your body was for something more than pissing."
"I know what you mean," Vince said. "Besides, we've already talked
about the first time we masturbated. We had that discussion when we
were sixteen."
Stuart giggled. "Yeah . . . that was funny. I can't believe you did
it in the boy's toilet at school. Anyone could have walked in on
you."
Nodding, Vince's cheeks flushed at the memory. "Yeah," he
said. "But it simply had to be done."
They both laughed like kids and then Stuart leaned up on his elbows,
looking at his lover closely.
"Do you remember?"
"Yeah," Vince said. "I do. I was . . . quite young. About five or
six, I'm guessing. It was . . ." He covered his face and
groaned. "It's . . . sort of . . . odd. I dunno if I want to tell
you."
"Oh, please!" Stuart said. "You've GOT to be joking! Just tell me,
you twat."
"All right," he relented. "Hazel put me in swimming lessons when I
was five years old and she used to come to the pool and watch me. It
was actually nice. A way to have all her attention for a bit."
"Right," Stuart said, settling down with his head on the pillow to
listen.
"There were two instructors-both young women-and one of them, I even
remember her name because she was kind to me-Alison. Alison had a
Golden Retriever puppy."
"Oh . . . God . . ." Stuart teased. "You didn't shag the dog."
Giggling, Vince looked at his lover flatly. "I was five, Stuart. I
wasn't bound to shag ANYTHING. It didn't really work yet."
Stuart rolled onto his side, grinning like mad and waited for the
rest of the story.
"Anyway, this puppy was about as tall as my waist and he was really
friendly with all the kids. I think he was trained to jump in and
save us in case anyone started to drown or anything. Anyway, I was
finished with my lesson this one day and I went back to the changing
room to get dressed. It was this open, concrete locker area that
didn't have doors on it-it just sort of went behind the wall next to
the pool. So, I was in there and I'd just got out of my wet bathing
trunks and the puppy came in. He was always around, just there, ya
know. But this time, he walked right up to me as I was standing
there naked and started licking me. I remember it really clearly.
He licked the water off my legs at the tops of my thighs and then he
licked my willy. He did it a few times, too, enough so I could
really feel it. I was just standing there sort of . . . stunned, but
I wasn't afraid he was going to bite it off or anything. I could
tell he wouldn't do that. He was sort of . . . cleaning me, you
know? Like they do themselves."
Stuart's eyes were round and he was listening with rapt attention.
"I know it sounds sort of disgusting, but . . . it wasn't. It was
nice. And I remember standing there sort of wishing he wouldn't
stop."
"Did you get a little hard-on?" Stuart teased.
"'Course I did, yeah! I remember that really clearly. It wasn't
like I knew what I was feeling, really, I just knew that it felt
lovely and I didn't want it to stop. But it did, of course. The
puppy just decided I was clean enough and he buggered off. I
finished getting dressed and went out to meet Hazel. I think we went
for ice cream. She usually took me for some sort of sweet after my
swimming lesson."
Stuart was smiling at him brightly and then he leaned over and gave
Vince a soft kiss. "That's brilliant," he said. "Thanks for telling
me that."
"Well, you're welcome. Quid pro quo, now. Go on. When was the
first time you realized your penis was for more than pissing? Wait,
don't tell me-birth, right? You were born with an erection."
Stuart laughed, snuggling a bit closer under the comforter. "Not
quite, but nearly. Truth is, I was around the same age as you. Five
or six. My father used to go to a card game at his friend Frank's
house every Thursday night. It was sort of a festive thing for him
and his mates and he always dressed up a bit. He had this dark gray
suede sport coat that I used to love. He wore it for the Thursday
night card game a lot, actually."
Something about that troubled Vince and he was speaking before he
thought better of it. "Do you think your dad ever . . ." he stopped
himself.
"What? Cheated on my mother? Who knows. He certainly would have
had a million opportunities if he wanted to. I never wondered about
it, really. Wouldn't have mattered. She'd never leave him."
"Are you sure about that?" he asked.
Stuart shrugged. "My mother's too proud to do anything like that.
It would be like admitting a failure if she divorced him over an
infidelity. She would have to explain that to the church and to her
friends and family-she'd never be able to do that. Margaret Jones
would much rather stay with a man that cheated on her and put on a
happy married face than have to admit he'd gone outside their
marriage for affection."
Vince found that very interesting-mostly because he'd never really
heard Stuart talk about his mother in such intimate detail. Even
though Stuart's relationship with his mother was reasonably pleasant,
Vince hadn't thought he paid that much attention to her
feelings. "Go on, then," he said, reaching up to play with Stuart's
curls.
"Right, this one Thursday night after my father came home from the
card game, he was sitting in the lounge reading the newspaper. I'd
just finished my bath and I was walking around the house naked."
"Like you do," Vince said, playfully.
"Like I do, yeah. Mum shoutin' at me to at least put on my knickers."
Vince chuckled at the image.
"Anyway, I went into the lounge and got up into Dad's lap. He was
barely paying me any mind, just reading his paper and glancing at
some program on telly. I sat on his knee-sort of straddling his
torso so I could keep warm on him."
"Like you do," Vince said again, kissing his lover's lips.
"Yeah. He just sort of put his arm around me and held me up there on
his lap. You know, his little boy just before bed wanting some
affection from Daddy."
Vince smiled.
"Anyway, I remember I was starting to fall asleep and I moved around
so I could lie on him and not hold myself up as much. But when I
moved, I remember feeling my cock rub against the suede on the inside
of the jacket-right in near the lining where it's really soft. I
remember looking down to see what I'd touched and then sort of moving
the suede bit out so I could rub on it again. I . . . remember
getting hard and being all fascinated by that-the way it looked, you
know? Then I just sort of laid on him again and pressed my little
erection against his belly, rubbing it on that soft suede."
"Blimey," Vince said. "Your fetish with soft fabrics started early."
"Yeah, I reckon it did." Stuart smiled, his lovely eyes far off for a
moment. "Well, he must have felt what I was doing because old Clive
was out of that chair like a bullet. He picked me up carefully and
held me tight and just carried me off to bed. In fact, that's the
only time I can ever remember my father holding me in that manner-
close to him, with both arms around me, tight. Really protective
like. I remember him putting me down in my bed and tucking me in,
pulling the covers over me. Kissing me good night. He just walked
out of my room and closed the door and that was that."
"Did you have a wank?" Vince asked.
"You know about the first time I had a wank," Stuart said. "Like you
said, I was five. I didn't know how the equipment worked yet."
"But you figured it out the next day, yeah?"
"Funny." He kissed Vince again, snuggling close on the bed.
Lying there thinking, Vince tangled his fingers gently in Stuart's
curls. "I quite like your father," he said after awhile."
"Yeah," Stuart agreed. "Clive's all right."
"Then, why are you afraid to ask him about the garden?"
"I'm not afraid," he said. "I just think we'll have a much better
chance getting him to agree if you ask."
"But . . . you're his son. Especially after that story . . . telling
me the way he held you that day."
"ONLY that day," Stuart repeated. "That was the only time he ever
held me that way. At least that I can remember."
"Well, did you ever climb in his lap again?" Vince said.
Stuart looked at him with wide eyes. "I'm sure I did," he said
defensively. "He's my father."
"So? Took you ages before you climbed in MY lap and I'm your
boyfriend." He smiled, cheekily.
"Yeah, but now I never stop." He lifted his legs under the blankets
and draped them across Vince's thighs.
"You'd better not," Vince said against his ear. "I love having you
in my lap."
Stuart kissed him softly and then kissed him again, snuggling against
him and getting comfortable. It didn't take them long to fall into a
deep sleep and Vince's early dreams were filled with the sound of
children laughing.
Stuart:
On Saturday morning, the phone started ringing at eight thirty. He
and Vince were sleeping off the previous night's impromptu dinner
party at Burton's house. Stuart's boss had suddenly decided to have
the boys and Kate over for a little celebration dinner and it had
turned into quite a do with several clients turning up as well as a
bunch of Burton's outside friends. Parties seemed to follow Kate
Stephani wherever she went, even though Burton swore the get together
had been in honor of Stuart's engagement.
Groaning from the headache he felt upon opening his eyes, he answered
the first call of the day more gruffly than usual.
"What?"
"Good morning to you, too, luv," Hazel chirped. "Is my son there?"
He grumbled. "Mmm. Yeah. Hang on." Stuart rolled backward and
nudged his lover until Vince shifted and woke up. "It's your
mother," he said holding the phone out to him.
"Oh . . . thanks." Vince took the phone and brought it to his ear
groggily. "Hiya. Uh . . . yeah. Yeah, all right. That's fine.
Give us an hour, will ya? Okay. Bye." He pressed the END button
then sighed, dropping the phone down on the bed between them. "She's
coming `round with Romey and the caterer."
"Now?"
"In an hour. Last minute meeting. And then we have to go to the
florist and the party supply shop. I have that order at the bakery
at Harlo's and that stuff waiting at the offy and-"
Stuart rolled over and covered Vince's mouth with his
hand. "Please," he said. "Just lie here for a minute. Let's not
talk. It'll be the last bit of peace we get until tomorrow."
Vince sighed and curled into his lover's body, resting there for
another ten minutes before they got up to face that equally anxious
and festive day.
* * *
Vince:
After a thousand errands he was on his way back from the offy at
3:15. His mobile rang and Stuart's name appeared on the small
display.
"What's gone wrong, now?" Vince groaned.
"Nothin'," he said. "Where are you?"
"On my way home. I had to go back to the offy TWICE because the
moronic manager forgot an entire case of the wine we ordered. Bloody
twat. Do you need me to stop for something?"
"Nope."
"Then . . . why are you calling?"
"Just because. Haven't really seen you all day."
Vince smiled. "Why, Stuart Alan Jones. You're not being romantic,
are you?"
"Who, me? Never. See you when you get here."
"Stuart?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you, too." Vince hung up and couldn't stop grinning. That
was the first moment in the entire day that he felt excited about the
party.
* * *
Stuart:
The caterer, Jeni, and her staff of five had been there since 4:30
getting all the edibles together. Hazel had just left to go get
ready after having been there all morning decorating the flat with
streamers and lights.
The bar staff had just arrived. Stuart and Kate guided the head
barman around the flat to the locations where they wanted the
temporary minibars set up and then he joined Jeni and Romey in the
kitchen.
"Right, have you got everything you need?" he asked.
"Everything's fabulous," Jeni said, giving him a calm smile. "Try
this." She lifted a tiny quiche off a baking sheet with a fork and
handed it to him. "Spinach and crispy bacon. Lovely."
Stuart popped the whole thing in his mouth. "Mm," he said, eyebrows
lifting. "That IS lovely."
Jeni nodded proudly. "We've got four different types of quiche-that
one, a cheddar and broccoli, a jack cheese and ham and one with some
jalapenos in. Very nice, those. They're my personal favorite.
Then, there's the stuffed mushrooms and the chilled prawns and chili
sauce. There's the finger sandwiches and veggie spring rolls with
plum sauce and the stuffed prunes. A fruit plate, a raw veggie
platter with dill cream dip and a plate of olives and mild peppers.
And for afters, we've got your pecan tarts, mini apple danishes,
lemon bars and double fudge bars with fresh whipping cream. Two
different coffees, three different flavors of tea and then your
bar." Jeni clasped her hands triumphantly. "I believe you're all
set, Mr. Jones!"
Stuart kissed Jeni's cheek. "Fantastic. Thank you." Leaning
forward, he placed a similar kiss on Romey's cheek. "We really
appreciate all your help."
"My pleasure," Romey said. "Now, I'm off to get myself and our son
ready for the party. See you later." She smiled as she grabbed her
handbag and keys, then she slipped out the door.
Stuart and Kate started setting up tables along the walls and placing
hired folding chairs anywhere they would fit. Vince had been on the
phone ever since he'd come home, checking with all the guests and
making sure everyone had the proper directions and parking
instructions.
Glancing around the room, Stuart had to smile. Everything looked
quite lovely. Hazel had adorned the space with strings of tiny white
lights and streamers of pink and red. Amazingly, she'd stopped
herself just before the decorations could get to be TOO much. It was
festive but not cloying-a fun, cheerful environment.
"I've got to piss," he said.
"Be my guest," Kate said, standing on the arm of the couch to fix a
string of lights that was drooping.
As he stepped up into the bedroom, he glanced back to see Vince on
the phone at the dining room table-distracted with his back to the
rest of the flat. Stuart made sure the blinds were drawn over the
glass bedroom walls then he went to the wardrobe, opening the doors
quietly. He took out a pair of Vince's black trousers-ones that fit
him beautifully and showed off the grabable sculpted curve of his
ass. Sliding them off their hanger, Stuart folded them carefully and
placed them on the edge of the bed. Closing the wardrobe, he went
back to the bathroom and did his business, a little smirk tugging his
lips.
* * *
Vince:
Satisfied that he'd reached everyone, Vince gathered his notes and
cleared off the dining room table so the caterers could set up their
presentation there. He went up to the bedroom and put his things
down on the dresser.
His eye caught the pair of trousers folded neatly on the bed and he
tried to remember if he'd left them out.
"Hm. That's odd." He walked over to wardrobe and put the trousers
away, then he went back out to see if anyone needed more assistance.
* * *
Stuart:
Slipping away again while Vince and Kate were rearranging the
furniture in the lounge, Stuart went back up to the wardrobe and took
out those same black trousers of Vince's. He placed them on the end
of the bed again, then added a thin black leather belt, coiling it up
and placing it slightly off to the side, like a shop window display.
Then he closed the wardrobe and went back out to the lounge.
* * *
Vince:
"I think we have some Super Glue in the bedroom," he said, making his
way across the room.
Kate held two pieces of a broken picture frame in her hands and she
looked very dismayed. "I can't believe I did this," she said. "I'm
such a klutz."
"Don't worry. We'll fix it right up." He took the steps up to the
bedroom in one energetic bound and stopped right where he was when he
saw the same black trousers on the bed again. That time, they'd been
joined by a belt. "Right," he said under his breath, finally getting
the clue. He smiled, left the garments where they were and went over
to the dresser to get the glue.
* * *
Stuart:
He slipped away one more time before he and Vince were planning to
get ready. Going into the wardrobe, he took out a dark red, long-
sleeved shirt and laid it beside the trousers and belt.
Then he went back down to make sure everything was in order for the
party before he disappeared to have a shower.
* * *
Vince:
Jeni and her staff were finishing last minute preparations in the
kitchen while the small bar staff polished glasses and sliced fruit
garnishes. All the decorations were in place, all the furniture
arranged and everything seemed to be ready to go. Kate walked up to
him, drying her hands on a towel.
"Okay," she said. "We're all set, right?"
"Looks that way," he said.
"Okay. Then, I'll just go get dressed. Your mom and Romey are both
coming back a little early, aren't they?"
"Yeah. They'll be here at half seven."
"Okay, then. We have forty-five minutes to get gorgeous." She
kissed his cheek. "For me-that isn't anywhere near enough time. The
spackle I use on my face won't even harden by then." She smiled and
sauntered off to the guestroom.
Vince excused himself from their employees for the evening and went
up into the bedroom, closing the door after him. He checked the
blinds and flipped the lock in the doorknob, then he turned around
and spotted the clothing Stuart had laid out on the bed. Smiling, he
walked over to inspect what his lover had chosen for him to wear.
"All right?" Stuart asked from behind him.
Vince turned around to the lovely brunette standing in the doorway
between the bedroom and bathroom, his lithe body still glistening
with moisture from his shower. His curls were wet and glossy and he
wore a white towel around his lean waist.
"Yeah, it's nice," Vince said, his eyes passing up and down Stuart's
body unabashedly. "Look at you. Once again you've showered without
me."
Stuart grinned. "It would take too long if we did it together. We'd
be in there snogging and rubbing soap on each other's cocks all
night."
"Mm. Doesn't sound like a bad way to spend an evening." Vince
approached his lover slowly, with his hands out to touch him.
Stuart captured his hands and wound their fingers
together. "Unfortunately, luv, we have other plans for tonight.
Now, go shower so I can dress you."
"Oooh, I'm getting the full treatment, eh?" Vince said,
smiling. "You gonna put my knickers on, as well?"
"Of course. Now hurry up." He smacked Vince's ass playfully as he
went off to the bathroom.
He showered quickly, then went back to the bedroom naked, rubbing his
hair with a towel. He found Stuart reclining on the bed, also naked,
flipping through one of their favorite porn mags. His cock was semi-
erect and looked irresistibly inviting lying against his smooth
thigh.
"Do I have time to suck that?" Vince asked, crawling across the bed.
He took care not to disturb the clothing Stuart had laid out for him.
"I don't think so . . ." He glanced at the bedside clock. "We've
only got about twenty minutes to get dressed and everything. I think
we're going to have to wait."
Hovering over that scrumptious erection, Vince leaned down and placed
a kiss on the warm, salty head. "I'll worship you later, luv," he
said to the plump organ.
Stuart took the towel out of Vince's hands and started rubbing
roughly at his own hair with it. Vince reached up and took the towel
back.
"Oy, stop it. You'll get it all frizzy and break the curls. Let me
do it."
"I've been doing my own hair for thirty years, Vince."
Moving forward on the bed, Vince stroked Stuart's damp curls lovingly
with his fingers, shaping them into perfect ringlets. Then he
squeezed the remaining water out of them gently with the towel. By
the time he was finished, he had a huge, painful hard-on and he
smiled shyly.
Stuart giggled, stroking Vince's thighs softly. "Come here."
"We'll be late."
"I don't care." Stuart pulled Vince's hips toward him and devoured
his erection with his hot mouth. He sucked hard, with intent, and
his fingers gently rubbed Vince's balls.
Bracing himself on the wall over Stuart's head, he closed his eyes
and gasped at the sudden onrush of pleasure. "Oh . . . my . . .
God . . ." he breathed, his hips moving quickly, stroking his cock in
and out of that hot, sucking mouth. He felt the first luscious
tingle of orgasm begin almost immediately, deep inside him. He let
it build for a few seconds and then he reached down and caressed
Stuart's hair. The mere feeling of those silky tresses in his hand
was such a Pavlovian reaction to him, so sure and intense that he was
coming within seconds. He would likely have come just from drying
Stuart's hair, even without touching his cock at all.
He tried to keep from moaning outloud, stifling his pleasure sounds
as best he could so as not to alert any of the people in the flat to
their activities. As the contractions began to fade, he leaned
forward and covered Stuart's mouth with his own, swirling his tongue
inside and tasting his own seed.
Stuart swallowed while they were kissing then he sucked Vince's
tongue, giggling deep in his throat. "Mmmmm . . . yummy . . ." He
nipped Vince's bottom lip as they separated. "I love that taste-your
mouth, my mouth and your spunk. Either of our spunk, for that
matter."
Vince smiled at him, lowering down further to lick Stuart's throbbing
cock. Then fully erect, it reached up his belly, the pulsing head
wetting the soft skin just below his navel. Vince lapped that musky,
clear moisture away with his tongue, then he took the whole head into
his mouth and sucked hard. Tilting his forehead down into Stuart's
tummy, he opened his throat enough to take almost all of that hard,
shuddering organ into his mouth. He could feel it kicking and
swelling, trembling with pleasure as he fed on it purposefully.
Stuart sighed, his breath hitching slightly as he tried to keep
quiet. His legs fell open wantonly and his hips lifted his cock into
Vince's hungry mouth quickly, repeatedly, all but fucking his face.
Vince wished he could watch his lover doing that, the idea of it was
so erotic.
The first blast of hot semen sprayed the top of Vince's mouth,
surprising him a bit, and he had to tilt forward a bit more. He
opened his throat as much as he could, taking it all in so he
wouldn't choke. Stuart loved to be deep-throated and Vince had had
to learn some minor gymnastics in order to accommodate that desire.
He didn't mind, of course. Having Stuart's cock in his mouth was one
of his most favorite things in the world. Truth be told, he couldn't
even LOOK at that gorgeous organ without tasting it, which made for a
lot of late mornings when they got ready for work together.
Sitting up, Vince covered Stuart's mouth with his again and their
tongues mingled wetly in a warm, sucking kiss.
"Oh . . . now THAT'S lovely," Vince purred. "Your mouth, my mouth
and both our spunk."
"You are such a naughty little boy," Stuart said, smiling. "I love
that about you. I don't think anyone else knows that, do they?"
"'Course not," he said. "Wouldn't want anyone to think I had a dark
side. They wouldn't like me as much."
"That's shit," Stuart said, giving him one last kiss. "It gives you
all this interesting depth. However, I don't mind being the only one
that knows. It's a hot secret. Now, sit on the edge of the bed so I
can dress you."
Vince did as he was told, still a bit shaky and tingly from coming,
but he felt fantastic. He watched while Stuart got out a pair of
black underwear for him and knelt on the floor at his feet to put
them on, one leg at a time. He had to stand up a bit to get them
over his bum, and when he did, Stuart kissed his tummy softly.
"Oh, don't start again," Vince warned. "We'll never leave this room."
Stuart bit his bottom lip, grinning. "All right. Do you want a t-
shirt?"
"Yeah. That shirt's a bit scratchy."
"Don't wear it if you don't want to," Stuart said, slightly defensive.
"No, I like it. I just have to wear something under it is all.
Choose a t-shirt." He lowered his chin seductively and smiled to
diffuse that tiny eruption of insecurity Stuart had shown.
The brunette got out a soft black cotton Calvin Klein t-shirt and
tugged it over Vince's head. Next, he put on the shirt, carefully
buttoning it up the front.
"Am I wearing a tie?" Vince asked.
"Yes. But not a jacket. Because I'm wearing a jacket and no tie."
"Don't I get to pick what you wear?" Vince teased.
"Nope," Stuart answered. He stepped away briefly to go to the
dresser for a pair of Vince's cuff links. Standing there naked, he
looked like an erotic angel and Vince just smiled.
"You have a fantastic ass," he said.
Selecting a pair of elegant gold cuff links, Stuart returned to his
lover grinning. "Thank you," he said.
"Makes me want to lick it and bite the flesh with my teeth," Vince
continued, his eyes glancing at the clock to see how much time they
had. Six minutes.
"Now you're starting again," Stuart said softly while his fingers
worked to deftly insert the cuff links into Vince's
shirtsleeves. "We've got to hurry."
"I know," he conceded. "I'll just save that thought for later." He
kissed Stuart's forehead affectionately.
Next, Stuart helped Vince into his trousers, playfully stroking his
legs as he slid them on.
"Stop it . . ."
Giggling devilishly, Stuart zipped the fly then reached for the belt
he'd laid out and passed it through the loops around Vince's waist.
Before buttoning the trousers, he smoothed Vince's shirttails down
along his belly, making sure there were no visible fabric wrinkles
over his backside. Then he closed the button and hooked the belt.
The last detail was the tie-one of Stuart's own that matched the dark
red hue of the shirt perfectly-and then he stepped back to survey his
work.
"Beautiful," he said, smiling. "I'd shag you."
Vince giggled. "I bloody well hope so!" He stepped over to look at
himself in the full-length mirror, pleased with the
reflection. "Nice choice," he said.
"I thought so," Stuart said. He turned back to the wardrobe and
began taking out his own clothes. Just as he was freeing his
charcoal Ungaro suit from the dry cleaner's bag, there was a sharp
rap on the bedroom door. "I'm not dressed," Stuart called.
"Makes no never mind to me," Hazel's voice called through the
door. "I'm sure I've seen better, anyway."
Vince chuckled and Stuart just sighed.
"Put some knickers on," Vince told him, quietly.
Opening the drawer in the wardrobe, Stuart slipped into a clean pair
of underwear. Vince let his mother into the room.
"I didn't even hear you ring the bell," he said, kissing her cheek as
she passed him in the doorway.
"Jeni let me in. Don't you look lovely!" Hazel held him by the arms
and gave him the once over, smiling her approval. "Very nice color
on you. Stuart must have picked it out."
"I CAN dress meself, if you don't mind," Vince said, indignantly.
"Of course you can, love. Now, do your old mum a favor and bugger
off for a bit. I need a minute alone with the Irish boy." Hazel set
her handbag on the bed and took off her coat to reveal a rather
subtle black cocktail dress underneath. It was sheath cut, ankle
length and fit her ample curves nicely.
"Christ, look at you," Stuart said. "That's quite elegant, Hazel.
Very nice."
"Why, thank you," she said, clearly surprised. "I've had this dress
for ages. Never really had the proper occasion to wear it. Right,
Vince. Off you go."
He shook his head at being dismissed and stepped out, pulling his
bedroom door closed after him.
* * *
Hazel:
She let out a deep breath after Vince left. The tension in the
bedroom had increased ten-fold almost instantly.
Stuart stood in front of the wardrobe in his shorts, his smooth skin
and lean, sculpted muscles seeming to shimmer with sensual vigor. As
always, he was quite a sight. He regarded her almost shyly, his dark
eyes never leaving her face as he began buttoning his sapphire
colored shirt.
"How are you, then?" she began.
He shrugged his response but said nothing. He was waiting for her to
lead.
"Right," she said, planting her hands on her hips. "I suppose I want
to apologize for my part in all that business last week."
"You suppose?" he said, coolly. "Vince never would have left me at
all if you hadn't put those ideas in his head."
"Is that what you think? That I `put ideas in his head'? Like he's
some daft nodding dog? Stuart-THAT is EXACTLY why he had to prove to
himself that he could leave you! You would never have given him the
chance to find out such a thing for himself if you-"
"Don't you start with me, woman!" he shouted. "I'm not standing here
while you have a go at me and get me all fucking upset right before
this party! This is a very stressful evening for me, Hazel. You can
bloody well tear into me later." He turned his back on her and
reached for his trousers, stepping into them with angry, clipped
movements.
Hazel gathered her composure to continue, but she kept her voice low,
calm, almost a whisper. "I didn't come in here to have a go,
Stuart. I came in so we could sort this out between us. Before the
party. I know how intense this is for you, luv, what with your
family and all, and I want to be there for you tonight. I don't want
to have this . . . animosity between us anymore."
His back was still turned as he zipped up and put on his belt,
tucking in his shirt. Just like she'd expected, he said nothing.
She knew that he felt he'd already said his piece and that anything
more she got out of him would take some serious wheedling.
"Can I ask you something?" she said.
Again, Stuart only offered an indifferent shrug in response.
"Do you still love him more than your own life?"
Stuart stepped into his shiny black shoes and slipped on his finely
tailored jacket, checking his complete look in the mirror. "I still
do," he said, softly, while he adjusted his collar.
Hazel walked over to him, smoothing his shoulders with her trembling
hands. He turned around to face her and she touched the pressed
lapels of his coat, marveling at the fine quality of the fabric. She
loved that blue on him-that deep color that matched his eyes.
Looking into those eyes, she offered him a tentative smile.
"Stuart Alan Jones, I'm trying to make peace here. Help me or I will
punch you."
For a moment he just stared at her but the fact that he'd turned
around at all and was letting her touch him was something Hazel
didn't miss. She looked back into those flinty Irish eyes and waited
with her heart galloping in her chest.
"You want me to forgive you for helping Vince leave me, is that
correct?"
"I-" She sighed and shook her head a bit. "Yes. That's correct."
"That's mad," he said simply.
"I know. And you have every right to say `no'."
"I have every right, do I?" he said, his eyes wide. "You just
threatened bodily harm if I didn't agree to forgive you!"
Hazel batted her eyes and just looked at him. He had her on that.
Shaking his head in frustration, Stuart clasped her hands in his and
took them off his chest. "Listen, I don't want to be angry at you,
either. But I am. I don't know how long that will last, but I can't
force it to go away just because you want me to."
"Stuart-" she began but he gave her such a look that she stopped in
mid-sentence.
"Contrary to popular belief, I am an adult," Stuart continued. "And
I'm capable of displacing my anger for tonight. I can and I will do
that much. We'll come back to this discussion later and there will
be no evidence of any tension between us tonight. Is that acceptable
to you?"
She gave him a wan smile. "If that's all I can get."
"It is." Stuart leaned forward and kissed her forehead and she could
smell the soft fragrance of his aftershave. His lips felt warm on
her skin and the little scratch from his chin stubble was strangely
comforting. On many occasions since she'd first met Stuart, she'd
been given a glimpse into the mystery of why people found him so
irresistible. That moment revealed to her one of the less obvious
things-his emotional vulnerability. He was scared and she could feel
it passing from him into her with the simple press of his lips on her
face.
"Right," she said, keeping hold of his hands for a moment longer than
he'd planned. She felt him try to pull away and then relent and let
her keep them. "Do you want me to sort of . . . get Margaret
prepared? I can, you know, talk to her, tell her some crap jokes and
relax her, make sure she's had a few drinks."
"Yeah," he said. "Get at least half a bottle o' wine in her and then
let me know." He laughed bitterly then he did take his hands back,
turning to the mirror again to fix his hair.
"That shouldn't be a problem," Hazel said, walking over to sit on the
bed. "Is she completely unaware of any of this?"
"The engagement, yeah. She knows I'm gay. She knows Vince is my
lover and that we've been living together for a year. That's it."
He turned to her and slipped his hands in his pockets. "This is
going to knock her down. I can just hear the bloody diatribe
now. `Can two men actually GET married?' `Please, God, tell you
aren't wearing a dress!' `I hope you're having a psychiatrist marry
you `cos you're bloody mad!"
"Christ, Stuart," Hazel said. "Give the woman some credit. She is
your mother. She loves you. All mother's only want their children
to be happy."
"I know she loves me, that's not the point. She loves me but she's
never been able to control me. She can't fix me, Hazel. I'm bent
and she can't make me straight. Margaret hates that and she takes it
out on me."
All Hazel could do was sigh. "I'll work on her," she said. "I'll
signal you when she's almost bagged."
They both laughed weakly.
He closed the wardrobe and Hazel helped him straighten up the bed so
the room looked nice. Then he went over to the closed door, stopping
before it and turning back to her.
"I've said how much I appreciate all your help setting things up out
there, yeah?"
"Yes," she said.
"And I've said how lovely you look, `cos you do. Stunning, in fact."
Hazel almost burst under so much flattery from him. "Yes, you've
said. Thank you."
He nodded then opened the door and held it for her as they went out
to start the party.
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