Chapter 9 Austin #2
The question surprised Austin, but there was no venom in Liam’s voice. In fact, he was smiling.
“I’m far from perfect, Liam.”
“Just look at you. Sexy, rugged lumbersnack, with a hot body and gorgeous tattoos. And then you’re a nice guy as well. You’re an amazing dad. You care about other people, and you even make time for me and all my bullshit. It would be a lot easier if you were an arsehole.”
Austin was aware it was the drink talking, but couldn’t help smiling at Liam’s words, although he wasn’t happy about how Liam spoke of himself.
“Let’s get you to bed, shall we?”
Liam smiled at him and licked his lips.
“Not like that.”
Liam folded his arms, huffed, and stuck his bottom lip out in a pout.
It was adorable, and Austin wanted to suck on that lip so badly, but he would never take advantage of someone who was inebriated.
Austin fired off a text to Michael, explaining what had happened and that he wouldn’t be back for the trivia night.
They could eat his share of the food. He wasn’t sure how long he would be with Liam.
Hopefully, he would crash out as soon as he got home, but Austin didn’t want to be up against a timeline if Liam needed him longer.
He drove slowly so the truck didn’t jerk unnecessarily.
If it hadn’t been so cold, he would have walked to the pub, but the gods must have been looking down on him or something today so he could do this for Liam.
Austin looked across, and Liam had his eyes closed, his face against the window.
He could tell Liam wasn’t asleep, just focused on getting home and trying not to feel sick.
Austin pulled up outside Liam’s house. His parents had lived here for over thirty years, so he hadn’t needed the address. He saw the separate door for the annexe, and knew from speaking to Liam over the past few months that that was where he lived.
“Liam, we’re here.”
“What?” he said, opening his eyes. “Where are we?”
“Home.”
“At your place.”
“No, at your place. Have you got your keys with you?”
Liam arched his hips up to get into his pocket.
Austin imagined his body arching like that after he’d made Liam cum and then squashed those thoughts down.
Not tonight. He needed to be a friend to Liam, not some letch who couldn’t control his dick.
Liam pulled his keys out of his pocket and passed them to Austin.
“Stay here. Let me get the door for you.”
Liam smiled at him, his eyes still glazed. He was a cute drunk. Well, he was cute all the time. Austin got out of the truck and walked round to Liam’s side and opened the door. Liam jerked in surprise, but then smiled again when he saw it was Austin.
“Do you want some help to get out?”
Liam shook his head and got himself out of the truck, but stumbled once he was upright.
Austin caught him, and the way he fell meant their mouths were close together, but then Liam assaulted him with vodka fumes, which reminded Austin that he needed to be the sensible one here.
Besides, the first time he kissed Liam was going to be something they both remembered forever.
That might sound corny, or was it creepy?
No, definitely corny. Austin just knew they were inevitable.
He got Liam inside the annexe, which was nice and warm. Austin settled Liam on the sofa and went to the kitchen for some water. He filled up a pint glass and passed it to Liam, who looked at it with puzzlement.
“It’s water. Drink it.”
“Why?”
Austin chuckled. “You’ll feel better in the morning.”
“You know what will make me feel better in the morning?”
“Liam, drink the water.”
“Looks like Milo was right.”
“Milo?” Oh yes, that was Liam’s friend he shared the flat with in London. “What was he right about?”
“Said you gave off toppy vibes,” he said before taking a big gulp of water. “Which, just as an FYI, I am completely on board with.” He smiled before taking another big drink.
Very inappropriate images flashed through Austin’s mind.
Now was not the time. To be fair, Milo hadn’t been wrong, but he didn’t see himself as some alpha in the bedroom if that’s what Liam was thinking.
Austin’s primary aim had always been his partner’s pleasure.
Liam finished the water and held up the empty glass like he’d just won a prize.
Austin took it off him and went and filled it up again.
“More water? Why?”
“Just one more, and then we can get you to bed.”
“Ooh, I like that idea.”
“Get you to bed on your own.”
“Boo!”
Austin laughed. Drunk Liam was a funny flirt. At least he knew Liam was attracted to him. Vodka was like a truth serum.
“All done,” said Liam, holding the empty glass up.
Austin took it off him and put it on the table before putting his hand out for Liam to grab. He lifted him up, and he stumbled into Austin again.
“Fuck, you’re so hot,” slurred Liam.
Austin just smiled and shook his head. This man was really testing him.
If only Liam wasn’t drunk, but he was, and that was the only reason Austin was in his personal space.
He still didn’t know why Liam had gotten drunk.
Something must have happened, as he didn’t seem the type to get wasted on his own, let alone on a work night.
Perhaps it had something to do with his work, and why he’d been in London all week?
That was something Austin could ask him tomorrow, because they would talk tomorrow.
Once they were in the bedroom, Liam shed his clothes. Austin was frozen to the spot for a second, and then left to respect his privacy. A few seconds later, Liam walked out with just a towel around his waist.
“I’m gonna get a shower,” he said with a smirk.
That fucker was playing with him. Part of Austin was worried about Liam being able to hold himself upright in the shower, given how stumbly he’d been, but he was also not able to pull his gaze off that body.
Austin had gotten a glimpse in the gym, but it was nothing to the carved physique he now saw in front of him.
His shy little baker was ripped. It was a gym body, and different to Austin’s, which mostly came from manual work.
Austin was also a hairy guy, but Liam didn’t seem to have a single hair on him.
He looked like a cover model for a men’s fitness magazine, and Austin needed to stop looking before he started drooling.
Liam gave him another cheeky smile before he wiggled his arse and walked into the bathroom.
Austin let out a breath and then went back into the kitchen.
He poured another pint of water and found some paracetamol, then he checked on Liam’s bedroom.
It was immaculate, but he put on the bedside lamp before turning the overhead one off, and he pulled back the duvet, hoping the heat from the room would warm it up a bit.
It seemed to take ages, but it couldn’t have been over five minutes before Liam came out of the bathroom. The towel was wrapped around him again. He’d dried himself off, but a few water drops clung to his impressive muscles.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’ve got a headache,” he said, his earlier bravado no longer there. He seemed vulnerable.
Austin passed him the glass of water and paracetamol, which he took quickly.
“Let’s get you into bed, shall we?”
Liam gave that dirty smile again. Okay, so the bravado wasn’t completely gone.
“What time do you have to get up for work tomorrow?”
“I need to be at the bakery for four o’clock.”
“Not the bakery. Do you need to go into London again tomorrow? Do you need a lift?”
“Nah. I don’t need to go into London ever again.”
What did that mean? “Liam, did something happen at work?”
“They told me my services are no longer required,” he said before flopping onto the bed.
What the fuck? Austin had a million follow-up questions, but Liam was already looking close to falling asleep, so he left it.
“Don’t worry about going into the bakery. Chloe will cover you.”
“I need to be there. It’s all I’ve got now. I can’t let Mum down. I promised, and Dad can’t do anything. He’s not good, not good at all. I just have to . . . you know. I have to do this.”
“Just go to sleep, Liam, and we’ll talk tomorrow. I want to help you.”
“You’re so good to me, Austin. I don’t deserve someone like you.”
“You deserve everything,” he said, unable to stop himself.
Liam smiled. “Can I have a goodnight kiss, please?”
Austin would do nothing like that, but he looked so cute and smiley under his duvet that he felt compelled to do something. Austin leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Liam let out a contented sigh and snuggled himself down in bed.
He waited for a few minutes, sitting on the chair in the room’s corner, waiting for Liam to fall asleep.
Once he was certain Liam was asleep, he couldn’t help but kiss him on the forehead again before leaving and closing the door behind him.
It pained him to leave Liam on his own, but he needed to get home to his daughter.
Tomorrow they would have a serious talk, though.
Austin didn’t want to waste any more time.