Edan used his pre-cum to scribe circles across Athol's ass, and the tiny strokes ticked as well as tantalized. When Edan used his cock to circle Athol's ass crack, and make tiny stabbing movements towards his asshole Athol jumped and groaned.
"Fuck it, you tease."
Edan laughed. A deep, sexy, ‘come hither and be mine’ tone.
"Fuck it, as your ass, or fuck it, as I'm a tease?"
Athol shivered. "Both, either or, take your pi … shite, take me like that… Oh sheesh, yes." He sobbed the words out remaining secure in the knowledge Edan would take them as they were meant. In pure, unadulterated joy.
****
Edan pushed past Athol's ring of muscles and paused to let Athol get used to the hard thick intruder within his ass. The effort made him shake, and he concentrated on not coming like a teen on his first time. He'd dreamt of this happening so many times over the years, without any expectation of it coming true. Now it was he who had no intention of messing up. If it was the only time—and he'd do his damnedest for it not to be—then by god he was going to enjoy every second. He gave himself up to the pleasure of watching Athol's skin sheen with perspiration, and his chest rise and fall rapidly. His eyelids fluttered and he gasped.
"Yessss."
"Okay?" Edan asked softly as he began to rock gently, and edge further inside Athol. "It's so fucking good for me."
Athol snorted and opened his eyes wide. "Fucking and good. Yeah, bloody spot on. I'm getting flashbacks of how it was for me, and it's hot. I want more. Show me." He tightened his legs around Edan's neck and lifted his ass up as high as it could go. Edan needed no more encouragement. He surged into Athol, who returned each thrust-and-relax with one of his own.
The exquisite tightness on his prick, and the sensations of fiery arousal that hit Edan, swirled around his consciousness and he was sure he could hear music playing as his body signaled its need to come.
Athol reached out and pinched Edan's nipples and the sharp pain was enough to send Edan tumbling into the abyss. Stars danced in front of his eyes, his vision clouded, and his hearing dipped until all he could hear was their harsh breathing.
My lover. My love. The love of my life. My other half. My completion. What if… He wasn't even going to contemplate the variations of 'what if'.
Edan knew he needed to pull out before he dropped out. "Soft as butter," he said as a warning, and Athol grunted his acknowledgement.
"Okay."
Edan drew back as gently as he could, and his deflated prick slid out.
Athol groaned. "Yee gods, Ede. I'm knackered."
"Yeah." Edan forced himself to move away, use the loo, clean his teeth and then collect wet washcloths and towels. He performed the same ministrations to Athol, as he himself had received earlier. It was one small, but perfect gesture that he could offer. "Well, we can sleep in, I guess."
"Sleep in? Waste good fucking time. Man, you've gone soft in more ways than one."
Edan laughed. "If I wasn't so knackered I'd give lie to your words. But sadly my cock never lies. And it agrees with you. Soft and sated." He picked up the towels and washcloths and took them into the bathroom. By the time he returned to the bedroom, Athol was sitting up, the duvet low over his hips.
"Bathroom's all yours."
Athol nodded and swung his legs over the side of the mattress. "Cheers."
For all his tiredness, Edan still had the strength to admire the sway of Athol's ass as he disappeared through the bathroom doorway.
"I hope I get to see that sight a lot more," he called out. "A well rounded swaying ass. Bloody perfect."
The said ass did a sideways wriggle. "Of course it is." Athol disappeared behind the door, and a few moments later the loo flushed, followed by the sound of running water.
Edan settled down on one set of pillows and waited for Athol to reappear.
When he did his hair was wet and droplets of water clung to his curls.
"You look like a wicked cherub," Edan said as Athol got back into bed. "And you're still damp."
Athol twisted and got on top of Edan and rubbed his moist body over him. "I'm not damp now."
"Ugh, monster."
"Well. Wicked cherub, indeed. Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Edan tried to roll them over and found himself on the edge of the bed, with his butt hanging over. He did his best to rock them back to safety, but Athol held his place.
"Spill the beans, or bruise the butt."
"Bloody awful choice. Ah well, I'm partial to a bit of wickedness, and as for cherub?" Edan laughed long and deep. "What was your nickname at uni?"
"Yeah, and Affric used to say that … oh hell." Athol relaxed his grip, and Edan felt himself slip out of the bed. Athol grabbed him and dragged him close. "Phew, almost a sore ass for the wrong reasons. And now I'm reminded what the stranger in the bed is."
"Eh?" Edan had no idea what Athol was going on about. Was he so sleep deprived he was rambling?
"Bloody Affric. Sina, and Seonagh. And whoever is shit stirring."
Edan rested his head on Athol's chest and tilted his head to look at his face. "What are you going to do? I'll back you, you know that, but hell, Athol, isn't it time he sorted his own crap out? How many times have you taken the flack, taken on his misdemeanors, and let him get away with goodness knows what? For what? Did you ever get a word of thanks from anyone? Was there ever any acceptance of what you did? How you put your own degree, and even profession on the line, all for him? How many lies and payouts have happened? All because your parents won't accept he's got no concept of right and wrong. All because at a quick glance, he looks like you. Ah, all because he was jealous as hell of you and what you achieved. He couldn't see it was by damned hard work, and not by using other people. He might be your twin, Athol, but he's slime. Not worth a tenth of you. Not worth all the effort you put into him." Edan stopped, appalled how years of resentment about the way his love was treated spilled out like a toxic cloud.
The misery in Athol's face made Edan wish he could take his words back. Almost. But once he had his say, Edan was amazed at the relief that filled him. He hadn't realized how much Affric's antics and attitude had gnawed at him.
"Sorry," he said gruffly. "And I hope I haven't upset you. But I feel a helluva lot better for having said all that."
Athol took a deep breath, and the motion shook Edan's body, as he lay stretched over Athol's chest.
"I don't blame you. I knew what he was like, but as you said, I fell in with mum and dad's pleas, and Affric's promises. He tore mum and dad's hearts to bits, and then trod on the remains. I told them then, enough was enough, but they insisted he was changing. That he'd turned a corner."
He was silent for so long, Edan searched his brain for something to say. He couldn't think of a thing.
"Well he did turn a corner. On a stolen Harley. At over a hundred miles an hour. And he didn't turn it the right way. He went into a wall and killed himself. The police said he'd got enough booze in him to fuel the bike to John o' Groats and back. Until the day they died, I don't think mum and dad ever really believed it had nothing to do with me. I was his twin. I was the responsible one. I should have helped him. Well tell me this, how can you help someone who won't bloody help himself, eh?" He thumped the mattress and took a sobbing breath. "How the fucking hell can you do it?"
Edan pulled Athol up his body and hugged him tightly.
"You can't. All you can do really is pick up the pieces. And the time comes when you can't even do that." He kissed Athol on the cheek and stroked his hair. Much like you do to a child in need of a loving hug. "You did more than anyone had a right to ask, and now you need to let it go."
Athol sighed. "Yeah, well how? We still have someone shit stirring from Dundee, and the young lass, who wants to know who Affric is. To say nothing of approaching Sina. She's more than likely to throw the knives at us rather than carve the fatted calf. What a mess."
Edan had nothing to add to that. It was true. When
he'd known Sina, she hadn't been noted for placidity.
"I know I shouldn't have involved you," Athol continued. "It's my brother's mess again, but hell, Edan. I wanted, no, needed to see you. To talk to you and to…"
"Fuck me?" Edan added and grinned. "Thank goodness." He sobered as a chill slithered down his spine. "What next?"
****
Athol stared at the once so familiar face, and wanted to cry. Wuss. Man up and fess up. I've got this far…I might as well go the whole hog. Get it over with.
"I'm going to try and find out who sent the letter, see Sina and tell her what happened to Affric. After all, she always said she could see through him—sensibly—a long while before the rest of us. And I guess see what help she needs, if any. If any of this gets back to Seonagh, and I'm linked in, it might be a bit of a shock. The guy who threatened to show her what really went on in a BDSM club might be her gay, weird and kinky uncle. Bet that'll go down well."
"You didn't? But you said she was under age."
Athol laughed. It wasn't melodic but discordant, and he winced at the sound. "Shock tactics, and they worked. But I don't think I'll be flavor of the month when she realizes I could have told her who Affric was. Poor kid. Whoever is doing this needs stringing up by the balls. Apart from anything else, they must have known it wasn't Affric at Dommisimma. He'd've shouted it from the rooftops. Dommisimma doesn’t work like that. It's well run, and discrete. Someone is just out to make trouble."
"Well let's sleep in it and plan in the morning? No lie-in, but maybe a nice wake-up call?"
"Sounds good to me." Athol swept a kiss across Edan's lips and nipped the soft skin. "Ede?"
Edan looked up at him." Yeah?"
Athol shrugged, unsure how much to say. "Thanks."
"Ah, hon." Edan rubbed Athol's shoulder. "My pleasure. I've hoped and prayed we'd find ourselves like this somehow. Just never expected it to happen like this."
Neither had Athol. He smiled and curled into Edan's back without even thinking about it. The old position came naturally. So did closing his eyes, taking a deep breath and scenting the man he loved, and settling to sleep.
He woke up to someone shaking him.
"Athol, wake up, man … you're dreaming. Come on, whatever it is, it's not real. Look."
Athol moaned and opened his eyes. Instead of pain, hot metal, a rain and oil slicked road, flashing lights, and a skeletal figure looming over him, he looked into the concerned eyes of Edan.
"Ah, Ede." Athol wheezed. His breath came in jerks, and his skin crawled. "Hell. Give me a sec." He fumbled for the bottle of water he'd seen on the bedside table. Edan pre-empted him, and passed it over. "Cheers." He drank deeply and recapped it. Edan put it back without saying a word. Athol took a deep breath, and plumped up the pillows to half sit.
"I haven't had that dream for ages. It's not pretty."
Edan levered himself to sit next to Athol. He didn't say anything, just gave Athol's arm a gentle squeeze.
"You know how twins often feel what the other one feels?"
Edan nodded. "I remember when Affric broke his arm, and you went white and swore in the middle of an exam."
"This was the middle of the night. I'd just had an evening at the club, and well," Athol hesitated, baring his soul with a vengeance, "split up with a partner. Martin was a great guy, but we both knew we weren't set for the ever-after program. We split whilst we were still friends. But I'd gone home in a strange mood. A fantastic first half of the evening followed by a not so fantastic remainder. I was stone cold sober, sad, fed up and wondering what the hell was wrong with me. So when this hit me, I honestly felt every nuance. The cold, the wind, the sense of power, and even the drunkenness. I hit the wall with him. Felt my blood drain away. Saw the grim reaper … and woke up as the phone rang."
Edan's face leeched of all color.
"Hell, Edan, don't you go wussy on me." Athol was alarmed. Edan looked as if one pinky touch would knock him over. "I woke up, and it was the police," Athol continued his narrative. "Mum and Dad wouldn't ring me." His heartbeat jumped as he remembered those awful hours. "Hell, why sugar coat it. They blamed me."
"What?" Edan's roar of outrage was more welcomed than Athol realized. He'd never ever admitted to anyone how much his parents’ attitude had wounded him. He hadn't needed to, not to Edan. Edan understood without words.
Athol shrugged. "I should have been used to it, but you know I was grieving as well. We were told Affric was killed instantly. Mum looked at me, and told me I'd failed him. Then she walked away, and Dad sort of shrugged and went with her. She and Dad didn't even tell me when the funeral was. I had to find out, and take myself there. Not as a valued member of the family. Not in one of the cars, just like an acquaintance or something. They blanked me and at last it hit me. I really was unimportant to them." He bit his lip. The memories, the grief and the sense of wounding filled him once more. Usually he kept them tightly locked away, and his nightmares had lessened. It seemed something, or someone had turned the key with a vengeance. "I've heard nothing since the reading of the will." He half smiled at Edan's expression. "Yep, though I reckon if they could have kept me away, they would have. But you see, I was named in the will. In one of his less aggressive arsehole moments, he'd left me 'everything'. I say the term loosely. They would have contested except, the everything was a mountain of debts."
"Bastard, and I bet you paid the debts." Edan shook his head. "How can two halves of one whole turn out to be so diametrically opposite?" He put his arm around Athol and held him tightly. "Their loss, hon, their loss."
"Well, yeah it is," Athol said. "Because amongst all the debts and demands for this that and the other, I found some share certificates, and those shares weren't all for bridges to buy and islands to sell. I now get a rather nice return from them. I tried to contact Mum and Dad to tell them, to say…oh I don't know, I guess to offer them all of it. As a remembrance of Affric. I didn't get a reply from my letter, had the door slammed in my face, and then a letter came from a solicitor telling me not to harass them. So I don't, and I send the dividends to charity. Maybe I need to give them to Seonagh, if she's his daughter."
Edan grimaced. "If. Look, I know this is a damned cheek, but could she not be Affric's?"
"Trust you to get to the crux of the matter."
Chapter Five
Edan stared at the TV screen, not really seeing the program or hearing the presenter talking, as he checked his bag and made sure Absinthe wasn't trying to crawl inside. His next-door neighbor was going to pop in twice a day for, as she put it, feeding and cuddles. As Mrs. Thomas loved Absinthe as much as Absinthe loved her, Edan knew he wouldn't be missed much while away. Still, the cat would go into the bag to shed hairs. According to Mrs. Thomas, it was Absinthe's way of making sure Edan didn't forget him.
His phone beeped a text, and Edan opened it. For the past five weeks, both he and Athol had been busy, and had to content themselves with a few hurried meals at a venue half way between each house, Face time and Skype. Even on Christmas day, they'd been apart, as Athol was on call, and Edan thought he'd best go south and visit his parents as promised. The two-hour, eighty-mile distance between their respective homes might as well be twenty hours and eight hundred miles, for all the chance they had to get together over any length of time. They'd tried for an overnighter twice and each had cancelled once due to pressures of work. Now though, Edan was making his way west and meeting Athol on Athol's home territory.
To say he was nervous was an understatement. Why, he had no idea—well actually, he admitted to himself, he did have an idea. He wanted to be with Athol, to be part of his life and vice versa. And he hadn't the foggiest idea how they were going to achieve it.
Edan found his phone on the second shelf in the fridge and his toothbrush in the bread bin. Luckily his car keys were on the hook where he expected them to be. He checked his wallet was in his pocket, that everything that should be switched off was switched off, and stroked the cat. Absinthe
opened one eye and went back to sleep.
Edan laughed and shook his head. He hoped his welcome would be more upbeat when he arrived at his destination.
"You're a fair weather friend. You only love who feeds you the best. Don't think I don't know Mrs. T saves you the best bit of her Sunday roast. You're spoiled."
Absinthe opened one eye, meowed and closed the eye again, purring gently and then went back to sleep. Edan left the snoring creature to dreamland and left the house.
As he drove across the country he went over what he'd learned. Athol had been frank with his knowledge, and Edan had checked up via various public records facts and figures. Seonagh McMath was a student and he'd probably seen her in or around the university. However, he didn't go out of his way to look for her, other than what was available publicly. Heading for a first-class honors degree if she carried on this way, she was preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. Edan rather thought he'd find her likeable if he ever got the chance.
Once, he thought a redhead in the distance could be her—something about the way she held her head seemed familiar—but Edan decided not to find out. Life was complicated enough. Especially with Athol's confession that he could be a father. The confession hadn't hurt Edan. Hell, who was he to judge? For that matter, in theory, so could he. They'd both been bi until their third of the triangle backed away, and they'd decided they only wanted each other. And look how that ended up? With neither of us having each other, and a lot of nastiness and grief.
The thoughts that swirled through his head gave him a nasty taste in his mouth. Edan cleared his mind, stuck in a positive attitude, swung into a layby to stop the car, take a swig of water, and turned on his MP3 player. As he rejoined the road, the playlist lifted his mood and made him snigger. He'd obviously made it up during his days at uni—with Athol in mind.
They'd both liked oldies even then, and had a quirky sense of humor. As Joe Jackson's 'Different for Girls' morphed into Lynyrd Skynyrd and 'Freebird', Edan's mood lightened. When the next track was 'Let's Face the Music and Dance', with the line, 'there may be trouble ahead' he laughed out loud. That was for sure.
A Dom's Decision Page 6