Sliding his hand under Brian’s groin, he pulled his cock down between his legs and stroked it.
“Yeah, that.” Brian squirmed a bit. “Keep doing that.”
“Only if you tell me.”
“Ugh, I thought you might have forgotten about that.”
“Unlikely.” Andrew gave his dick a firm tug, then took his hand away.
“Fire truck.” Brian lifted his head and glared over his shoulder at him. “Fine. I love you. Happy now?”
Andrew crawled up over him and caught his mouth in a long, deep kiss. “Was that so hard?”
“Not as hard as my poor neglected dick.” Brian pouted. “Come on. Play with it.”
“You’re so romantic.”
“And it’s all for you, beautiful.”
Chuckling, Andrew worked his way back down Brian’s body until he was where he started. He licked from the tip of Brian’s cock, up its nicely plumping length, over his balls, lingered on his crack, then slipped his tongue over the entrance waiting for his attention. Brian’s hips bucked up and he let out a startled groan. Liking that a lot, Andrew repeated it a couple more times until he was happy to set up camp at Brian’s hole. At first he’d simply been curious about rimming, but Brian’s frantic squirms and gasping breaths were the only reason he really needed.
“Oh shit, Andrew. Fuck, please. Please, now. I need you.”
Andrew’s heart skyrocketed at the utter desperation in his boyfriend’s voice. He loved being the cause of it. Loved even more giving Brian anything and everything he needed. Sitting back on his heels, Andrew reached for the condom and lube.
Brian started to get up and Andrew pressed a hand on his lower back. “Like this.”
“Are you sure?” Brian looked back at him, concerned.
They’d been careful with their lovemaking since the incident with Sam. Andrew was steadily recovering from the concussion, but he still got unsteady sometimes. The headaches had lessened greatly and he wasn’t as lethargic anymore. For a couple of days immediately after he woke up, his speech had been a bit slurred, but that was all fixed up now. Still, Brian had been very cautious in resuming the physical side of their relationship, insisting that he do all the work and Andrew just lie back and enjoy it. Andrew had loved it, but now he wanted to be the one making sure Brian was taken care of.
“Positive. I need this as much as you do.”
Brian’s groan was part indecision, part want. “If you get dizzy, stop immediately, okay.”
“I’ll be fine.” Andrew dribbled lube on his fingers and worked them around Brian’s hole. “As soon as I get in this arse.”
“That’s emotional blackmail again.” Brian’s head dropped back to the pillow and he pushed his arse against Andrew’s hand so that his finger popped into him. “Hurry up. Need you.”
Andrew tried for slow and mildly torturous, but his own lust got the better of him and within minutes he was twisting three fingers inside him. Brian was whimpering and pushing back onto him with an eagerness that wiped all thoughts from Andrew’s head. God, he loved how much Brian wanted this from him. Loved everything they did together. Loved this man so much he got breathless whenever he thought about it for too long.
Unable to wait any longer, Andrew rolled the condom on, added more lube, then pulled Brian’s hips up until he was on his knees. Brian’s head rested on the pillow and the curve of his spine drew Andrew’s hand to caress it as he lined up his dick. At the first hint of touch, Brian pressed back onto him, taking him in at his own pace. Andrew let him, fascinated by the sight of himself disappearing into tightness and heat. When Brian’s body encased him completely, Brian stopped moving, breathing steadily, face turned on the pillow. One of his hands was by his head and the other reached back to hold Andrew’s thigh.
“So good,” he moaned. “How do you feel better every single time?”
“Practice makes perfect.” Andrew waited for that slight ease of tension in Brian’s body, then started moving, slow, shallow thrusts. “Oh god, you’re so amazing.”
“We’re awesome at sexing, face it.”
Andrew snickered. “Is that your medical opinion, Dr. Stagliano?”
“Oh Jesus, don’t call me doctor when you’re that deep. I can’t pop stiffies whenever someone calls me doctor at work.”
It was a full-blown laugh this time, mostly because Andrew could see it actually happening. “Okay, Bri Bri. No more doctor.”
“And not that either. That’s what your sis—ooh! Yes, there.”
Andrew concentrated on hitting Brian’s prostate. He loved seeing him lose control, but he also didn’t need to hear a certain name while they were fucking. Rubbing his hands up Brian’s back until he was curled over him, hips still rocking, Andrew kissed the back of Brian’s neck.
“Fine. Lady—”
“Nope.” Brian smacked his thigh, then tightened his muscles around Andrew’s dick. “Try again.”
“Sweetheart.”
Brian sighed. “There you go.”
Andrew repeated it in time with his thrusts until Brian was whimpering and pleading. The desperate and sexy as fuck sounds added to the rapidly building pressure and heat in Andrew’s belly and cock. Looking at Brian’s body move with him, the line of his spine as he strained and arched, was hypnotic, and Andrew couldn’t get enough of him. He needed more.
Pulling out, Andrew flipped Brian over and lifted his knees to his chest and entered him again.
“Yes,” Brian hissed, head tossed back. “Perfect.”
Yes, he was. Andrew lowered himself over Brian and caught his mouth in a burning kiss. Brian opened immediately, his hands cupping Andrew’s face, his legs cradling his body.
“Love you,” Brian said against his mouth. “I’m never going to let you forget that.”
“Me either.”
Tots was full to bursting the following night. It wasn’t, perhaps, the best place to have a wedding reception, but no one had wanted to go anywhere else. The people around the table were the only guests at the little ceremony that afternoon at the Chapel by the Sea on the Broadwater. It was all Elle and James had wanted after the drama.
Their party was a bit larger than the last time they’d all been there so they’d pushed two tables together and Andrew wove his way towards the loud group of friends and family, a tray of drinks held in both hands. Beside him, Troy carried another one. They had whiskey for the fathers of the bride and groom, beers and ciders for the groomsmen and a round of Carly’s new cocktail obsession for the bride, maid of honour, bridesmaids and mothers of the groom and bride.
“About time,” Brian called as they got closer. “We’re dying of thirst here.”
“You had champagne at the ceremony.” Elle, in her slinky wedding dress, swatted Brian’s arm playfully.
“And I worked up a thirst making sure you two actually got married this time.” Brian grinned at her cheekily and Andrew’s heart thumped wildly at the sight. His boyfriend was an absolute vision in his groomsman suit, even with the jacket off and his sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms. Andrew barely remembered what Elle’s dress looked like because his eyes had been on Brian most of the day.
“For which I thank you very much.” James tugged Elle back to his side and gazed adoringly at his new wife. “It’s about time we did this thing.”
She cocked an askance eyebrow at him. “Really? Am I the one who kept putting it off? After the first time,” she added when James’s mouth opened.
James shrugged, then grinned up at Andrew. “Had to wait for the best man to get back on his feet. Couldn’t have him falling down in a faint in the middle of the vows.”
“Yeah, fire truck you, mate.” Andrew handed him his drink, then passed out the rest.
Troy passed his drinks around and then took his seat next to Simone, who leaned into him and whispered something in his ear that made him both blush and laugh. Not sure he was entirely comfortable with that little thing, Andrew reclaimed his seat next to Brian. Automati
cally Brian’s hand sought out his knee, even as he turned back to his conversation with Jen, Elle’s other bridesmaid. She was a theatre nurse who worked with Elle’s boss a lot so they were chatting all things open-heart surgery. Andrew rested his free hand over Brian’s and concentrated on not grinning too much like an idiot.
It wasn’t just the fact that he could be open about his feelings for Brian now, or that Brian was wholeheartedly returning them, but that they were also surrounded by their friends. It had honestly felt like they might never get back to normal for a while there, and Andrew was incredibly grateful they were all here now and happy.
Across the table, Simone caught his eye and smiled. “How’s the new job going?”
Andrew’s stomach fluttered at the reminder. “I haven’t actually started yet. Frank said I could wait until I was fully recovered. Next Monday is my first day.”
He still couldn’t quite believe how well everything had turned out. His phone had been broken in his fall from the punch and he’d forgotten everything that had happened leading up to it. Thankfully, Frank Reynolds had been keen enough to talk to him to track him down a couple of weeks later. Very understanding about Andrew’s situation, he’d left his offer for the job with him and told him to get in touch when he’d decided about accepting it. Calling Frank had been nerve wracking when he’d managed it a fortnight before, but the architect had been easy going and assured Andrew he wanted him precisely because of his interest in eco-friendly designs. He said his company needed to update to keep up with current and emerging trends, and he wanted Andrew to help pave the way.
“Do you have to go up to Brisbane every day for it? I know you were worried around that.”
Hearing that, Brian turned back and slung an arm around Andrew’s neck. “I spoke to Reynolds and said I simply couldn’t have him gone all week, so they’re letting him work from home Tuesday to Thursday. He’ll only be gone two days.”
Eyes rolling, Andrew said, “That was always going to be the plan. Most of Reynolds’s architects work from home. I do have to set up a permanent workspace at home, though.” He leaned in a pecked a quick kiss on Brian’s cheek, which pinked up nicely in the wake of his lips. “Lucky we have a spare bedroom now.”
Scowling through his blush, Brian grumbled. “And I’m not allowed into my old bedroom anymore, but apparently it’s fine for Schrody to go in.”
“Archy doesn’t distract me from work. He just sits on my lap and purrs.”
“And that’s all I would—”
“Nope!” James exclaimed loudly. “I’m very glad you guys are so bloody happy, but I don’t need to hear about what you do at home.”
“Fine. How about PDAs?” Brian asked, but didn’t wait for an answer before grabbing Andrew’s face and kissing him on the lips.
This was the first time they’d kissed like this in front of their friends, and it sort of felt like a test. But all they got was “whoo hoos” and cheers and even Andrew was blushing when they drew apart.
A moment later all of the lights went out in Tots and almost everyone went silent in surprise. Before anyone could do more than murmur questions, strings of twinkly lights lit up over an open area to the side of the bar.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a deep, smooth voice announced over the sound system, “please put your hands together for the first dance of Mr. and Mrs. Rollins.”
Elle gaped and James blinked.
“I didn’t think we would be able to do this,” Elle whispered in shock.
Andrew stood and coaxed them both up as familiar violin strains started playing around them. “This is my gift to you both. You deserve your first dance together, even if you didn’t get the big wedding you’d planned.”
Elle kissed his cheek, eyes shimmering, and James bro-hugged him, then they wove their way to the dance floor as the violins were joined by a sensual synthesizer. The rest of the party followed them and as the couple stepped onto the improvised dancefloor, Michael Hutchence’s voice began singing Never Tear Us Apart. James and Elle spun around the small space in a waltz they’d been practicing for months, both of them glowing under the soft sparkling light. When the song ended, the whole bar erupted into clapping and cheers.
A new song started and Carly took Andrew’s hand, drawing him into the light as well. The rest of the wedding party followed, groomsman with bridesmaid, and parents. Partway through the song, Carly tapped on James’s shoulder and he turned to dance with her, leaving Elle to Andrew.
“Thank you so much for this,” she said, head resting on his shoulder.
“Thank you for waiting until I could do this for you.”
“No thanks needed. This wedding was never going to happen without you.” She smiled at the twirling couples around them. “Or without anyone else who matters the most to me and James.” The smile softened as it was redirected at him. “I’m so happy you’re going back to architecture. You deserve to have what you love in your life. All of what you love.”
As it had for most of the day, Andrew’s gaze found Brian. He was trying to Charleston or something with Jen, resulting in a lot of flailing limbs and laughing. When he managed to look back at Elle, she was smirking.
“Are you ever wrong?” he asked her wryly.
“Occasionally, but thankfully no one is ever around to see it.”
Then Simone was shoving in between them to dance with Elle and leaving Andrew with Troy. They waltzed, badly, until Mrs. Rollins took Troy under her wing to show him how to dance properly. Left on his own, Andrew gravitated to where Brian was dancing with Carly.
“May I cut in?” he asked Carly.
“Oh, god, please take him.” Carly laughed and shoved Brian into Andrew’s arm. “I don’t know how it’s possible but I swear he’s got three left feet.”
“Hey!” Brian’s indignation lasted about the two seconds it took for Andrew to wrap an arm around his waist and start swaying. “Well, I suppose this is nicer than whatever she was trying to do to me.”
“I hope so.”
Brian slung his arms over Andrew’s shoulders, thumbs brushing against the back of his neck. “How are you holding up? No dizziness? Headache?”
Andrew pulled him in a little closer. “I’m fine. I’m great.”
Grinning, Brian murmured, “Yeah, you are.”
They danced to the end of the song like that, no one cutting in, and when the music faded it took Andrew a moment to realise. Laughing, Brian pulled him off the clearing dancefloor and back to their table. A new round of drinks was fetched and Mr. Rollins tapped a spoon against his glass, calling for a toast. Andrew’s closest friends all groaned in mock frustration.
“That’s your job, best man,” Troy said happily.
“Fine, fine.” Andrew stood and lifted his glass. Once he had quiet, he thought for a moment. He hadn’t prepared a toast, thinking they weren’t going to be strictly following the usual plan for a reception. Brian’s hand came to rest on the back of his leg, low enough to be out of sight of the table, but warm and grounding, giving him the strength to speak from the heart.
“The last time we were all here,” he began, looking from Elle and James, to Troy, Carly and lastly Brian, “it was just a normal night. Six friends meeting to catch up, share good news and celebrate some upcoming nuptials. But that was the last normal night for some of us for a while.” Brian’s hand squeezed his thigh gently. “Because that’s the night James, in the uncoolest move ever, mate, asked me to be his best man.”
James conceded with a nod.
“I wanted nothing more than to stand up with one of my best friends in the entire world as he got married to the woman he loved. I just didn’t know if I could do it when the woman was my ex.”
A round of chuckles went around the table.
“But in the end, that didn’t really matter. All that’s important is that James is stupid in love with Elle and they’re happy. And I needed some happiness. The past couple of years haven’t been awesome ones.”
Elle
stood and wound an arm around his waist, looking up him with tears shining in her bright eyes. Andrew slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple.
“But,” he said when he could, “they’ve been full of love and friendship and companionship. All of you were there for me when I didn’t think I was going to make it through. When I thought I didn’t want to make it. None of you gave up on me and I couldn’t give up on any of you, either. So I stood up there beside my best friend and watched, happily, as he married this gorgeous and special woman.”
Everyone “hear heared” and Elle ducked her face into Andrew’s shoulder. Sitting back down, she leaned into James and watched Andrew.
“That last night we were all here changed so much.” Andrew’s gaze returned to Brian. “Nothing was normal afterwards. But we got each other through all the ups and downs and here we are, with James and Elle successfully married. Welcome to the new normal. So charge your glasses and let’s celebrate not just finally seeing Elle and James hitched, but that we all got to see it together. To Elle and James!”
“To Elle and James,” everyone chorused and then drank.
James held his glass up a second time and said, “To the new normal!”
Everyone laughed and toasted the new normal. Andrew clinked his glass against James’s and then sat.
Brian leaned into him. “I don’t think I like this new normal.”
“You don’t?” Andrew closed the last little distance between them. “Why not?”
“Because it’s unfair.”
He would have been worried but Brian’s voice was low and seductive and the way he gazed into Andrew’s eyes was all heat and want. “Why?” Andrew barely got the word out.
The New Normal Page 27