by K. C. Wells
Little by little he relaxed, aware of Colin’s hands on his thighs, reaching under his shirt to stroke his belly, fingers tugging gently at the furry trail that led to his pubes. Ed gazed at him, his body warm and sated, his hand caressing Colin’s head.
Colin gazed at him with a broad smile. “Now that is a memory worth holding onto.”
Ed sat up and grabbed him, pulling him closer so that their mouths connected, Colin’s lips crushed against his own, the taste of his come on Colin’s tongue. When he broke the kiss, Ed fell back against the seat cushions and regarded Colin sadly. “You didn’t get the chance to come.”
Colin shook his head. “And it doesn’t matter. I loved watching you come. I’ll get off tonight, when I’m recalling how you looked, your taste, your smell.” He grinned. “I might even call you while I do it.”
Ed chuckled. “I’m gonna ’old you to that.”
The door handle rattled, and both of them jerked their heads up.
“Oops,” Colin said with a wicked grin, getting up off his knees. “I think we just ran out of time.”
Ed lurched to his feet and pulled up his pants. As he tucked his limp dick into his briefs, he shook his head. “You’re a bad influence, you know that?”
Colin laughed. “Yes, and that’s why you love me.” When they were both standing, Colin leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips.
Another door handle rattled, this time from Mandy’s room.
Ed snorted. “I think they’re onto us.” With one last glance at his office, he walked over to the connecting door and unlocked it. Rick and Mandy stood on the other side, both smirking.
Ed cocked his head to one side. “Yeah? Did you want something?”
“I was about to pour myself a coffee and wondered if you wanted one while I was at it.” Rick snickered. “Except when I came to ask, you were at it.” Beside him, Mandy covered her mouth and gave a smothered gasp.
Ed levelled a hard stare at Rick. “I ’ave no idea what you’re talkin’ about. But a coffee sounds good. Give me a minute while I say goodbye to Col.”
Rick’s eyes twinkled. “Take as long as you need, boss. Shall we lock the door again?” He grinned. “You might want some privacy while you, er, talk.”
“An’ you might be ’eadin’ for a smack, so watch it,” Ed warned him, before closing the door on both of them.
Colin had already picked up his bag. “I’d better go. It’s already past midday and I need to catch the Gatwick Express. The flight leaves at 15.10.” He crooked his finger. “Last kiss.”
Ed chuckled and went over to Colin to wrap his arms around him. “Nah. We’ve got loads more kisses left to come.”
Colin laughed. “Why is it everything that comes out of your mouth usually sounds dirty?”
Ed gave another snort. “Duh. That’s because it usually is.” He leaned forward and kissed Colin one more time. Then he patted him on the backside. “Now get out of ’ere. The sooner you’re gone, the sooner you’re back where you belong.”
“In London?”
Ed smiled. “In my arms.” For a man who’d always hated excessive sentiment with a passion, he was frequently astounded by how often such thoughts passed through his head when it came to Colin. He’s turned me into a big ball of mush. The thing was, Ed didn’t mind it one bit.
“I’ll be landing about half-four on Sunday,” Colin said as Ed walked him out of the office and along the hallway to the reception area.
“D’you want me to meet you at Gatwick?”
Colin shook his head. “Just have something nice planned for dinner, a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge, and you waiting with open arms when I come through that front door.”
“You got it.” Ed gave him a peck on the cheek. “Now get your gorgeous arse to Gatwick.”
Colin grinned and left him standing by Karen’s desk. Ed watched him walk away through Trinity’s glass doors. When he was no longer in sight, he turned around to find Karen and Rick observing him.
Ed put his hands on his hips and scowled. “Well? Neither of you got any work to do? And where’s this coffee you were goin’ on about?”
“Be right with you, boss,” Rick said before he darted off in the direction of the kitchen. Karen was still staring at Ed, a soppy smile plastered all over her face. When Ed folded his arms across his chest and cleared his throat, she lowered her gaze and made a show of shifting papers around on her desk.
Ed shook his head and strode down the hall to his office. When he got inside, he sniffed the air. Damn it. Ed went into his private bathroom and snatched the can of lavender air freshener from the cabinet under the sink. He sprayed into the air above the couch and then returned the can to its usual position.
“A bit late for that,” Rick commented as he came through the door with two mugs of coffee. He flashed Ed an evil grin. “It’s already all around the office.”
Ed glared at him. “Your doin’, I suppose.” When Rick gazed back at him with an innocent expression, Ed guffawed. “An’ you can knock that off for a start. It’s been an ’ell of a long time since you were innocent.” He held out a hand for his coffee. “Now, ’ow about you change the subject an’ tell me ’ow things are progressin’ with this weddin’ of yours?” He sat at his desk and leaned back, his hands wrapped around the mug.
Rick perched on the chair facing Ed. “It’s going well. Angelo’s mum Elena has finally cut down her list of Italians, and the invites are going out this week. I still don’t think many of them will turn up, but I could be wrong. I hope so, for her sake. Apparently, when Angelo’s brothers got married, there was a huge Italian contingent. I’d hate for her to be disappointed if a lot of the invited guests decline the invitation.”
“The gay thing?” Ed hazarded a guess.
Rick nodded. “I know her attitude had changed over the years, but I think she’s expecting a bit much of very traditional Sicilians.”
Ed shook his head. “I ’ave to say, I’m not a fan of big family weddings. If it was me, I’d do it as quiet as possible, an’ with as little fuss as possible.”
Rick leaned forward. “Does Colin know this? I mean, I’m assuming you two have talked about it.”
Ed sipped his coffee before speaking. “Colin ’asn’t got a lot of family to invite, an’ I get the impressions those he has got wouldn’t be keen to come an’ watch two blokes gettin’ ’itched. So I’m not about to invite a load of people, ’cause it would only make ’im feel bad.” He grinned. “There’s a lot to be said for elopin’. Just sayin’.”
Rick clutched his chest in mock horror. “Elena would kill us.” He sat back in his chair. “So, what are you going to be getting up to this weekend? While the cat’s away, and all that.” He waggled his eyebrows. “We could have a boys night round at your place. You, me and Angelo, Will and Blake. Alcohol, takeaway… porn.”
Ed gave a loud snort. “I don’t think so.” Though he had considered going to spend some time with Will and Blake on Saturday. He’d spoken on the phone with Blake that morning, and something was… off. It was just a feeling, but Blake had sounded strained. But when Ed had suggested the idea, Blake had said they had plans.
Ed wasn’t convinced, but there was little he could do about it. If his mate needed to talk, he knew where to find Ed. He’d just have to find something else to occupy his time, so that he wouldn’t be forever watching the hours tick by until Colin came home.
Look at me. He’s going to be away for two nights an’ I’m already dreadin’ the idea of being without ’im. Further proof, as if he needed it, that Colin was the centre of his world. Not that Ed told him that often enough. I sometimes think he has no clue just how much he means to me, how much I need ’im.
Maybe it was time Ed did something about that.
He glanced across his desk at Rick and it was then that it hit him. A lightning bolt, if ever there was one.
“Rick? You got a minute to talk a bit longer?”
“Sure.” Rick smiled. “Any
thing for the boss.”
Ed gestured with a flick of head. “Then close the door.”
Chapter Fourteen
Colin’s first thought as he stared out of the taxi window was that he’d come to the wrong address. Ray had told him over the phone that he lived in a top floor flat on the centre of Edinburgh, and for some reason Colin had expected a block of flats, maybe dating back to the sixties or seventies.
But not this. Not a five-story, gorgeous building in red and grey stone, more like some ancient university than the exterior of people’s homes.
“This is Well Court?” Colin asked the driver, who laughed.
“It’s a beauty all right,” he said, smiling. “I wouldnae mind livin’ in Dean Village maself. And that’ll be nine pounds.”
Colin paid him and climbed out of the taxi, his bag in one hand and his coat over his arm. Sunset wasn’t that far off, and he was starting to get hungry. He crossed a stone courtyard, heading toward the main door. To the left, a clock tower stood, tall and majestic, and in front of him the gable of the building climbed in old brick steps to its peak.
This is beautiful.
He walked into the large entrance lobby and began to climb the stairs, thankful for the rugby that kept him fit. Except that only made him wonder how Ray coped; Colin himself was slightly out of breath by the time he reached the top floor and apartment 29.
He stood still for a moment, both to get his breath back and to quash the butterflies in his stomach. He had no clue what awaited him on the other side of that heavy front door, and now that he was actually there, the prospect of seeing Ray after all these years made his heartbeat quicken and his mouth dry.
For fuck’s sake, just ring the bloody doorbell.
Then it occurred to him. Even my inner voice is beginning to sound like Ed. The thought made him smile.
He raised his hand, took a deep breath, and pressed the black button set into a small white box beside the door. A minute later, it opened and Colin fought the urge to react to the sight that met his eyes.
Ray had got old.
He looked a damn sight older than his fifty-four years, and a hell of a lot thinner than Colin remembered. His short, brown hair had thinned out dramatically, and there were more lines in that face, especially around the eyes. There were a few sores around his lips that looked painful, and an air of fatigue clung to him. But despite the change in Ray’s appearance, there were faint glimmers of the man Colin had known thirteen years ago. Ray’s smile hadn’t changed a bit, and the sight of it brought back memories that rolled over Colin in a slow tide. Memories of loving Ray with all his heart.
“Hey, stranger.” Ray’s face lit up and he held out his hand. “You made it then.”
Colin ignored the outstretched hand. He stepped into the hallway, dropped his bag, and enveloped Ray in a careful hug. Ray froze and then relaxed into the embrace. Colin held onto him, his heart breaking just a little to see his ex so changed. “Hey yourself,” he whispered, before releasing Ray and taking a step back.
Ray closed the door behind him. “Here, give me your coat.” He helped Colin out of the long wool coat Ed had insisted he bring along, for which Colin was now profoundly grateful. April had burst onto the scene with a cold snap in Scotland, and he’d tightened its warm layer around him as he’d made his way down the steps from the plane.
“Are you hungry?”
Colin opened his mouth to reply, but his stomach got in there first with a loud grumble. He gave Ray a sheepish glance. “I guess I don’t have to answer that one.”
Ray chuckled. “I’ve got a couple of ready meals in the fridge, unless you want to relive the good old days and get a pizza.” He tilted his head and his gaze roved up and down Colin’s athletic form. “Except you don’t look like you eat a lot of pizza.” Colin couldn’t help noticing how he appeared to be fighting for breath.
Colin shook his head. “You had to say that, didn’t you? You had to make me think about chicken supreme pizza.”
Ray’s eyes widened. “My God. You remembered.”
Colin snorted. “How could I forget? It was the one we ordered every time we went to Pizza Hut on a date.”
“Then that does it. Chicken supreme pizza it is. There’s a Pizza Hut in Raeburn Place that delivers.” He grinned. “Potato wedges, garlic bread, coleslaw and a bottle of Pepsi to go with it?”
Colin laughed. “Now who has the good memory?” He didn’t get to eat pizza that often, although Ed would give him an argument every weekend that it was the sixth food group. The things I have to do to keep that man of mine on the straight and narrow. He grinned to himself. Right then Ed was probably digging into a very large Indian takeaway and loving every mouthful.
“And what was that?” Ray paused in the middle of scrolling over his phone screen.
“What was what?”
“That look.”
Colin smiled. “I was thinking about my partner. Right now he’ll be sitting in his favourite armchair with a plate of Beef Madras, a naan bread, poppadums with mango chutney, and a can of beer, while he watches rugby matches on DVD.” He laid a hand on Ray’s arm. “Let me order this.” When Ray arched his eyebrows Colin shrugged. “For old times’ sake. Not to mention thanking you for putting me up this weekend.”
Ray smiled, but then his smile faded as he thrust a hand into his jeans pocket to pull out a folded handkerchief. He coughed into it, the hacking sound loud and harsh, and Colin was alarmed to see a flash of red when Ray wiped his mouth.
“Are you okay?” No sooner had the words left Colin’s lips than he berated himself. Stupid question.
Ray nodded, his breathing erratic. “Let’s… let’s get dinner organized, yeah? We can… talk later.”
Colin had a feeling it was going to be a long conversation.
* * * * * *
While Ray poured out a glass of wine for Colin and some juice for himself, Colin took a quick tour of the flat. It was small, with sloping ceilings on both sides and wooden floors that gave the rooms a warm glow. Small, square windows were set into the roof. One room comprised a kitchen and living room, and Colin estimated the compact space probably measured fourteen feet by ten. One door led off it to the bedroom. The bathroom was all done in white tiles, with a shower over the bath. Despite the flat’s diminutive size, there was a light, spacious feel to it.
“I love your flat,” he said as he went back into the living room. Ray was placing two glasses on the coffee table. He glanced at Colin and smiled.
“I’ve been here for a few years now. Tomorrow I’ll take you down to the river which flows past the rear of the building. I walk along it once a day—if I have the energy, that is.” Ray sat on the small two-seater couch and patted the cushion. “This is your bed tonight, by the way. And before you ask how I can expect you to fit that muscled physique on here, it opens out into a bed.”
Colin grinned. “Thanks for that. I had visions of sleeping with my feet sticking out the window.” His attention was drawn to the sores around Ray’s mouth, and he couldn’t help wondering about his state of health.
Unfortunately Ray caught his glance. “Yes, I know, I’ve looked better.”
“Can we talk about your health?” Colin asked hesitantly. He was conscious of not wanting to overstep any boundaries.
Ray snorted. “Health? I always think that sounds like such a positive word, don’t you? And one that doesn’t really fit this situation.” There was a bitter edge to his voice that made Colin’s stomach clench. “Anyway, we can talk about me tomorrow. Right now I want to hear all about you.”
Colin gave a start when a loud buzz came from near the front door.
“And that will be the pizza,” Ray said with a grin. “You can get the door, seeing as this is your shout.”
“No problem.” Colin got up from the couch and reached into his jeans pocket for his wallet. He took the large box and the plastic bag from the delivery guy, paid him, including a tip, and then brought the items through into the liv
ing room. Ray had plates and cutlery waiting.
The smell of the pizza had Colin salivating. The last thing he’d eaten had been breakfast. Then he gave an inward chuckle. Not quite the last thing.
Ray shook his head at the sight of the food that filled the table. “I hope you’re hungry, because my appetite isn’t what it used to be.”
“Just eat what you can,” Colin told him. He’d wait until tomorrow to get answers.
* * * * * *
“There’s still some garlic bread left.”
Colin groaned. “God, no. I feel like that character in the Monty Python sketch, when the waiter tries to get him to eat a wafer thin mint. Any more and I’ll explode.” He knew he’d overfaced himself, but that was partly due to not wanting Ray to feel bad about the meagre amount he’d eaten. “I can’t remember the last time I felt this stuffed.”
Ray laughed. “You put more food away than you did as a student, that’s for sure.”
Colin had to admit, the food had taken him on a trip down Memory Lane. “Oh, I don’t know. Remember that Indian restaurant you took me to, the all you can eat one?”
It was Ray’s turn to groan. “Oh Lord, yes. You had chicken Korma and Lamb Tikka Masala coming out of your ears, you ate so much. Where did you put it all?”
Colin snorted. “You had a theory, as I recall. You said I had a tape worm.” It was as if the intervening years had simply melted away and they’d slipped back into the same comfortable conversations they’d shared as lovers.
Some things had changed, however. Ray had eaten little of their takeaway.
Colin gazed at the remains on Ray’s plate. “Apparently one of us was hungry.”
Ray sighed. “That’s pretty common nowadays, I’m sorry to say.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway. Enough about me. Tell me about this job of yours. That piece I read about the award was very impressive.”