Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
J ohan
As much as I miss Cole, the weekend has been very intense and I think it does us both good to have a little break. I think putting a little distance between us, to slow it down a bit, is a good idea. I still see him daily, first thing in the morning to collect Roffe and then to take him back at night. Sometimes I stay for dinner, other times I have it with Ben and Keith and it’s good to catch up with them. I’m in good spirits when I run up the stairs one morning later in the week. I’ve been told that there will be a gathering in the pub on Friday. I know that Cole doesn’t really go in for that, and he may be on call, but I wonder if he’ll brave it.
He's in the kitchen when I enter, and is making toast.
“Morning, want some toast?”
“Yes, please.” I step close for a hug but as I tilt my head down for a kiss he pulls back.
“Oh, you smell weird.” He pulls a face.
I’m perplexed. I make a show of sniffing my pits. “I’m pretty sure I showered this morning.”
He steps a little closer and takes a sniff. “You smell wrong. You don’t smell like you.”
Then it dawns on me. I had run out of my shower gel the previous day, one I’d brought with me from Sweden. I picked one up last night from the local store. I hadn’t given it another thought.
“I ran out of shower gel, I used a different one.”
He wrinkles his nose. “It’s not right.”
“Does that mean you won’t kiss me?”
“I don’t want to.” His pout is adorable.
“Ah—okay. But that shower gel came from Sweden, I’m not sure I can buy it here.”
He turns away to deal with the toast.
“Can you learn to like it?”
“I don’t think so.” He gives a little sigh, which I find adorable despite feeling quite frustrated. But then I remember that some people are sensitive to smells. Can I push this or can I make him feel comfortable again. I realise it’s not a big deal for me really. I might be able to find an alternative in the UK, but until then, I could get Mum and Dad to send some over. I stifle a laugh because while it seems ridiculous to me, it is a big thing for Cole.
“I’ll see what I can do.” I can’t promise anything until I’ve spoken to my folks, but he accepts it, and gives me one of his quirky smiles, like he knows he is being odd, but can’t help it. It’s a smile that always tugs on my heart strings.
He places some toast and a mug of coffee down.
“There’s going to be a group at the pub on Friday. I know you don’t really like to go out but would you, with me? Though are you on call?”
He leans back against the counter. “I’m not on call on Friday, after working the weekend and it being a lot of work, I’ve asked someone else to do it.”
He scratches his head for a minute.
“Okay yes, let’s go to the pub.”
I’m not wholly convinced.
“Cole, if you don’t want to go, we don’t have to. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“I know, I want to try though.”
“Are you sure?”
He gives a brief smile and then surprises me as he sometimes does. “Maybe I want to show off my boyfriend.”
I laugh, then he becomes typical Cole again. “But not if you still smell funny.”
“What about if I could use some of your shower gel?” I ask. He can’t possibly find that too wrong.
“That would work, but only until you can get your own smell back. I like how you smelled and I want you to smell right again.”
On Friday I finish early. Tom doesn’t want to be late either as he is going to the pub as well. As far as I can tell, it will be the same group that was there the first day I arrived in Larchdown. I’ve learnt that they meet up once a month or so, though Cole doesn’t usually join them. I’d arranged with Cole that I would shower and change at his place. He has asked me to come back with him afterwards and stay—I readily agreed.
As it was, we nearly didn’t make it. If it hadn’t been for Tom giving us a lift when he dropped his daughters off with his parents, I don’t think we would have bothered.
Cole has also finished early and is in the shower when I arrive. He steps out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist and I’m reminded how beautiful he is. I run an appraising eye over him and, well, if he doesn’t tease me. He flings himself on the bed looking delectable. I walk over to reach for the towel but he scoots out of the way.
“Shower first,” he commands and I comply.
“Don’t you dare go anywhere,” I say over my shoulder as I enter the bathroom.
He is still on the bed when I return. I’ve towelled myself dry but have deliberately not slung a towel round my waist. I’m using it to dry my hair instead. I am naked, my erection on full display. I fling the towel to the side as I reach the bed. This time when I tug at his towel he doesn’t move and his towel ends up on the floor next to mine. I crawl up the bed and over him, bracing myself on my arms either side of him. I lean down and kiss him. “Mmmm, I’ve missed this.”
He grins up at me, but before I can kiss him again he pushes against my chest.
“Lie down.”
Intrigued, I do as he says. He shuffles down the bed and hovers his lips over my cock. I get a fleeting memory of him being in the same position the other morning, but this time the phone doesn’t ring. He gives it an experimental lick from bottom to top.
“Cole,” I shudder. “We’re due to go out in ten minutes. Are you sure you want to do this?”
He doesn’t answer but runs his tongue over my slit, tasting the precum that has been leaking out ever since his lips have been within inches of it.
I hiss. Having him in this position is one of my more exquisite fantasies.
“Is that a good noise?” he asks, swirling his tongue round the head before pushing his lips over the end.
“It’s an, ‘if you don’t stop now I’m going to come all over you,’ noise,” I manage to get out before the pressure of his lips breaching the head elicits another hiss.
The throaty chuckle he makes travels straight down to my balls.
“Fuck Cole.” I mean it, but he doesn’t stop. I don’t think there’s any way he could take the whole of it, not without a lot of practice, but he doesn’t try, he keeps his attention on the end. The visual I have of the head of my dick passing in and out of his luscious lips draws me closer to the edge. He grips round the base of the shaft with one hand, pushing down, and has me arching up into his hand. Keeping up the pressure with his forefinger and thumb, the rest of his fingers cup my balls. The feel of them and the dual pressure at tip and base is too much and I can’t help but come to his touch. He looks startled as it must have hit the back of his throat, but he doesn’t gag and takes all of it. I look at him in wide-eyed wonder as he crawls back up the bed, resting his chin on my chest with a grin that stretches for miles.
“Where the fuck did you learn to do that?” I ask incredulously. He’s mightily skilled for someone who has never had his mouth round a dick before.
“I was trying something out; I did some research.”
“You did some research? Where?”
“The internet, there’s quite a lot out there.”
“I bet! Well please feel free to research all you want, if that’s the result.”
“But I need to practise as well.”
“You won’t find me complaining.”
Just then there’s a booming voice. “Are you guys going to jerk around all night or are you coming out?” It’s Tom, and he sounds like he’s just on the other side of the door.
“Minute.” Cole shouts before succumbing to a fit of giggles. I push him off and we both scrabble around for our clothes, appearing a few minutes later, at least presentable. We half expect Tom to still be on the other side of the door, looking like a disapproving parent when we emerge, but he wasn’t even in the apartment. He’s waiting in the car with Megan. She raises her eyebrows at us and winks at me when we climb into the car, but thankfully doesn’t comment, or ask any awkward questions. Cole’s hand finds mine as we travel down to the village, and I intertwine our fingers, rubbing my thumb across the back of his hand. I had asked Keith to make sure the group didn’t make a big deal of Cole and I turning up, because I want him to be as comfortable as possible, and he’s done a good job. We slide into the booth with nothing more than a casual hello or hi, while Tom fetches some drinks.
I let the conversation flow round me, just letting the atmosphere soak in. There is nothing quite like an English village pub, and it was something I could never find anywhere else. Cole starts to relax and so I do. Talk turns to movies and the latest film from the Marvel franchise, which Cole knows plenty about so is able to contribute. He even has a debate with Paul about DC versus Marvel. I’m not sure who wins but I think it’s good natured. I keep half an eye on him but he doesn’t look like he wants to leave. Most of the time he’s almost smiling. I need to go pee so I give his knee a squeeze to get his attention and ask if he’s okay. He nods with a smile and I slide out of the booth.
As I walk back, I’m just behind Keith’s chair when he leans across the table and speaks in a loud stage whisper.
“So Cole, what did you have to do to snag yourself a Viking hunk?”
I can’t believe he just did that, that he had waited until I wasn’t there.
But Cole just looks at him and answers, “I gave him a dog.”
The table erupts into laughter and I slide back into place with a, “Well, now you all know my price.” But I look daggers at Keith and distract Cole so he can’t say anything else.
I’m still pretty mad at Keith when we stand to leave half an hour later. I drag him to one side.
“What was that for? I thought you were my friend Keith.”
“I am, it was practice.”
“Practice?”
“I wanted to see how he was without you there. Do you think you can always protect him, field every question that he’s going to be asked about you?”
“No.” He is right of course.
“I watched you all night. You were carefully steering the conversation if it got a bit tight, you were protecting him. You can’t do that forever.”
“This is our first time out.” I protest, but Keith just looks at me and I realise I’ve done it again. I thought I was helping but I have been treating him like a child again.
“Fuck.” I fist my hands in frustration and anger at my own stupidity. Keith envelopes me in a huge hug and I soften slightly.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Little Brother,” he murmurs as he holds me close.
“Thanks, Keith,” I say as he releases me and I step back. He nods at me as if he’s pleased I’ve gotten the message, and jerks his head to the door. With a lascivious smile he says, “Don’t keep lover boy waiting.”