Chapter Thirteen
John-Francis
I’d never been so glad to be right in my entire life.
No sooner had the van pulled up outside the charred wreckage of Tess’s cottage, than I spotted Declan.
He was crouched down in the ashes, looking every part the maniac I knew he’d become.
I’d offered to escort Tess, unsure what my mate was capable of.
He was volatile at the best of times, but he wasn’t in his right mind…
Yet Tess declined. She’d practically thrown herself out of the van, rushing down what little remained of the garden path towards Declan.
It had been a bit hairy at first. Declan had been more beast than man when he’d launched himself at Tess, grasping her by her throat.
I’d panicked, but before I’d managed to get out of the van to help, Tess worked her magic.
Declan backed off. His fury had been snuffed out, and I watched them melting into one another.
There was something so intense about Declan’s relationship with Tess and now they were back together, so was that curious magnetism.
I hung around as they reunited and made up, giving them their privacy.
I grabbed my phone, eager to update Ronan.
JOHN-FRANCIS: Tess made it back safely to Appleby. It’s still early days, like, but I think Declan’s gonna be okay.
I didn’t have to wait long for a response. I knew Ronan had been just as tense as I had been, waiting to see how everything was going to play out. He was online instantly, and I watched him typing out a reply.
RONAN: Thank fuck for that. Ya free for a wee call?
Movement caught my eye, and I watched as Tess helped a drunk and wobbly Declan back to the van.
JOHN-FRANCIS: Not just yet. I’ll ring ya as soon as I’m home. Promise.
RONAN: No bother. Speak in a few.
I tucked my phone away, my first genuine smile in weeks working its way onto my face as the passenger door opened.
“A’right, now?” I asked as Tess pushed Declan up into the cab beside me, clambering in behind him.
“Aye,” he replied, his voice sounding gravelly. “Thanks, fella. I owe ya.”
Both of us knew he was referring to more than just the wee lift home, but now wasn’t the time to be getting into it. I put the van into gear and drove off into the night, heading back to the camp.
With Tess back where she belonged, life returned to some semblance of normality.
Declan made good with me and Seamus, though I was sure he wouldn’t be living this wee blip down for a long time.
It was hard to believe how quickly things settled down, happiness returning and banishing the dark of what had been, with the exception of one important detail – Ronan.
It was safe to say Declan was back on his feet and without the constant worry that had weighed so heavily upon me, I was free to turn my thoughts to ‘what next’. I had promised to reunite with Ronan as soon as I was able to and I burnt to uphold my word.
I knew where he was – a little place on the far Southwest of Ireland – and he made sure to tell me when they were moving on, but parting from Declan was more difficult than I’d imagined.
Travelling with my mate in tow was just how we did things.
I couldn’t remember much from a time before it was me and him. I wasn’t even sure where to start.
First things first, I needed to break the news to him but how was I supposed to do that without explaining why I wanted to go and who I was eager to get back to.
Right, that’s y’sorted wi’ Tess. I’ll just be off t’ meet up wi’ that fella I’d been ridin’ this whole time. Ya’ve met him – remember Ronan? Oh, an’ by the way, I’m a wee gay.
I scrubbed a hand down my face as I paced around inside my caravan.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how Declan was going to react to that.
He’d never been forthcoming of his opinions on folks like me.
What if he hated me for it? Was disgusted by me?
My own fucking ma hadn’t been able to stomach it, and I couldn’t shake the fear that gripped me, terrified of history repeating itself.
I wasn’t sure I’d survive such a brutal and cruel rejection a second time.
My phone rang, and it was exactly who I’d hoped it would be. Despite my inner turmoil, I was smiling by the time I answered.
“Howsagoin’?”
“A’right handsome.”
I cocked a brow. “Y’in a good mood, like.”
“Aye, well, not really. Just missin’ ya wee face. What’s the craic?” I could hear Ronan’s smile in his voice, and it lit me up inside.
“Ah, not much, now. Was just thinkin’ ‘bout ya actually,” I replied.
“I’d be hopin’ good things, like.”
“Always is, aye?” I paused, a soft sigh slipping from me as I sat heavily on the edge of the bed. “I’d be missin’ ya even more now Declan is outta me hair.”
“Aye.” There was a long thoughtful silence on the other end and just as I opened my mouth to fill it, Ronan spoke. “Where ya to, fella?”
“Me place, why?”
“Two ticks.”
I heard fumbling around and I waited patiently for whatever Ronan had in mind. The call dropped with a loud beep, only to immediately begin to ring once more. I flinched, the speaker blaring in my ear and pulled away.
Incoming Video Call: Ronan.
Shite. I panicked and hurriedly ran a hand through my hair, glancing over my shoulder to make sure the place was reasonably tidy before answering it.
There was a second or two of delay before my phone caught up and Ronan’s lovely wee face appeared on the screen.
My heart leapt in my chest, racing with exhilaration.
“Thought this might be a wee bit easier, seein’ as y’got time t’ chat, like,” he said. The audio and the picture were slightly out of sync, but that didn’t matter. I was just thrilled to be seeing him for the first time in weeks.
“Aye, quality. Y’look good. Got a wee tan, like,” I chuckled.
Ronan laughed, his face crumpling into a playful grimace.
“Don’t. Look at this shite…” He trailed off and the camera blurred as he turned it around.
It was clear he was lying down in bed, wearing nothing but a pair of jogging bottoms. I was brought face to face with the fucking lovely, tattooed chest that haunted my dreams. As the camera adjusted to the light, I spotted what Ronan was showing me and I laughed loudly.
“Got yourself a wee farmer’s tan?” I teased. Stark lines between tanned and non-tanned skin stood out like a sore thumb.
“I’d be lookin’ feckin’ ridiculous, like,” Ronan replied. “Fell asleep in the sun like a wee melter. Been tryin’ t’ even it back out but we’d be havin’ feckin’ rain since.”
“That’s funny, like.” I smirked. “But y’lookin’ feckin’ fine as all hell, even wi’ the dodgy tan.”
“Wee charmer.”
The flirtatious energy got my pulse racing. With everything that had been going on, I hadn’t had the presence of mind to think about sex and how much I was missing that side of my relationship with Ronan. Now? Now I was definitely thinking about it.
When Ronan moved the phone, I shouted out.
“Whoa, now. Go back. I was enjoyin’ lookin’ at ya, like,” I murmured. “I’ve missed ya.”
Obediently, he returned the camera and held it up so I could see even more of him. The angle cut off most of his face, but I could just about make out a sexy smile.
“Y’feelin’ a wee bit horny, now?” Ronan asked and I watched with a dry mouth as he ran a hand down his body.
“Mm,” I hummed. “Where’s ya ma an’ Darragh?”
“They’d be out f’a wee while longer yet.” I could already hear a slight breathlessness in Ronan’s reply and my cock responded, pulsing in my jeans as it steadily began to harden. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten off, but I knew without doubt it was overdue.
“Get y’cock out,” I rasped. “Show me what I’d be missin’, now.”
To my delight, Ronan did as I asked without hesitation and a low groan escaped me as he pushed the waistband of his joggers down. I wasn’t the only one who was enjoying themselves, that much was clear and when Ronan began to palm his hard length, I scrambled up onto my bed.
“Feck,” I growled between clenched teeth, the buckle of my belt clinking as I hurried to unfasten it. “I wanna taste y’so bad, like.”
I saw Ronan’s chest rise and fall with a sigh, his hand beginning to move a little quicker in response to my words. I glanced around, looking for somewhere to prop my phone up amongst the pillows and after faffing around to get the right angle, I turned my attention to myself.
I dragged my t-shirt off over my head before settling down and pushing my jeans and boxers down.
As soon as my cock sprang free, Ronan moaned.
It was tinny over the phone’s speaker, but even that was enough to send blood rushing around my body, making me dizzy.
I took hold of my cock and began stroking it, eyes riveted to Ronan doing the same on my screen.
“Y’missin’ me, aye?” I asked, voice husky. “Missin’ me mouth on ya?”
“Feck, more than anythin’,” Ronan sighed.
“What ‘bout me cock? Bet ya wee, greedy hole is desperate f’it by now, aye?”
He was touching himself with purpose now, hand wrapped tightly around the head as he stroked himself off. I was helpless but to join him and snatched up the lube from my drawer. As I was slathering it over my cock, throbbing with anticipation, I heard Ronan laugh.
“Ah, don’t be makin’ me jealous, now. What I wouldn’t give f’a wee bit o’ lube, like.” Before I had the chance to respond, Ronan spat into his palm and returned it to his cock. “Gotta do things the old fashioned way, eh?”
I spread my thighs, taking my cock in my hand and sliding it up and down. The lube heightened every sensation, and I already knew I wasn’t going to be able to hold off for long.
We didn’t speak as we worked our bodies, just gasps and low grunts and moans passing between us, each spurred on by the other. When Ronan’s impressive abs flexed, his thighs tensing, I knew he was getting close.
“Feck, that’s it,” I breathed. “Y’almost there?”
“I miss ya,” he groaned.