Sean
SEAN
The crackle of the fire, combined with the plethora of insect noises and the absence of noise from the party, was pure bliss. Somehow, against his expectations, stayed up later than anyone else at the reception. While feeling the siren call of sleep beckoning him upstairs, he was content to sit on the cushioned loveseat by the fire. He didn’t know who’d dragged it there, but he was grateful.
The day had been an absolute success, and everyone had enjoyed themselves. Even Eric, grumpy and particular as he could be, had spent most of the night red in the face from drinking and laughing. He had clung close to Blaine, but wouldn’t blame him. They had the rest of their lives together, and while he envied them, he was more happy than jealous.
“And here I thought I was the one obsessed with the fire.”
Blake’s voice pulled out of his dreamy reverie. Glancing over his shoulder, he gave the man a gentle smile, even as his eyes swept over his body. It was quick, and knew it was too late to try and tell himself he wasn’t looking because he was. Blake had none of the bulk that Blaine did, and he moved with confidence like his brother, but it was with an easy grace rather than power. The fact that he’d changed into a loose pair of shorts and a tank top probably didn’t help much. Blake might not have been as bulky as Blaine, but there was still plenty to appreciate in his broad shoulders and toned body.
“Found I couldn’t bring myself to sleep yet,” told him.
Blake approached the fire, grabbing a long stick to push the logs around. “Well, and who wants to try to sleep with the newlyweds in their bed right now? We both know what’s going on in there right now .”
“Possibly,” chuckled. “Or perhaps they’ve gone to sleep. It’s been quite a day.”
“I’m happy to give them privacy. Well, and I don’t want to hear my brother and his husband having sex.”
“That’s fair. I don’t relish the idea myself.”
“It’s funny. I should have said it was weird to call Eric his husband, but it’s really not.”
smiled, nodding in understanding. “There is something about them, isn’t there?”
Blake set the stick aside and flopped onto the loveseat beside with a snort. “That’s one way to put it. I mean, they were high school sweethearts.”
“Blaine graduated before they were together,” pointed out.
Blake shrugged. “Eh, semantics. At the end of the day, they were together when they were young and stupidly in love. And then a bunch of drama happened, which led to more drama, and then eight years of complete silence, and then they found one another again. Of fucking course, they’re crazy about each other. I think they’ve been that way forever.”
cocked his head, eyeing Blake. “Is that envy I’m detecting?”
Blake smiled ruefully. “Aren’t you a little jealous?”
sighed. “It’s difficult not to be, just a little. But I’m happier for them than I am miserable for myself.”
“Which is a really nice way of saying you got over yourself,” Blake said.
snorted. “Yes, that it is.”
Blake leaned back, resting his feet on the lip of the fire pit. “It’s hard not to be a bit bitter. All I’ve got is a string of relationships, some good, but most a mess, lined up behind me.”
“I’m familiar with the feeling,” chuckled.
Blake gestured at the house. “And those two idiots...practically have their love life written out for them.”
“I imagine in the eight years they didn’t speak to one another, they might have had a similar complaint or belief about their love life,” told him.
Blake smirked. “Is that your way of telling me something might be lurking around the corner for me, and I’ll look back on bitch fests like this and laugh?”
“We can only hope that’s the case for us all, but yes. It’s all about perspective.”
“Very wise words, Dr. Andreas.”
“And they might just be full of shit, Mr. Edwards.”
Blake laughed. “I think that’s what I like the most about you, . Despite how serious and quiet you can be, you don’t take yourself too seriously.”
shook his head. “Anyone who takes himself too seriously for too long is asking for a world of pain. Or at least risks turning into a miserable shit.”
Which opened it up for Blake to comment on how Eric was exactly like that. was relieved, however, to find the man only shaking his head and leaving the obvious comment by the wayside.
Instead, Blake glanced at him. “So, uh, why hasn’t anything worked out?”
“With my exes?” asked.
“Yeah. I mean, you’ve admitted you’re attracted to both, so that should be like twice the opportunity, right?”
laughed softly. “Your logic is sound...in theory. Truth is, reality doesn’t work like that. I’ve only ever dated women, and that just...well, sometimes it was me, sometimes it was them, but mostly, it was just two people whose lives couldn’t mesh.”
“Why not, guys?” Blake asked.
shrugged. “Because none of them ever interested me in that sense. Maybe because most of my time spent with other men was in my early twenties. That’s not exactly the age for people seeking long-term commitments, particularly two men.”
“That seems a little judgy,” Blake said with a grin.
shook his head. “Then I’m judging myself just as much as I am others. It’s not as if I was seeking any real companionship.”
“With no one? You were just Slutty McSlut slut?” Blake asked.
gave an ugly snort, shoving Blake’s shoulder. “Yes. Though I did have a few girlfriends during that time.”
Blake laughed, rubbing his shoulder. “So only women on the dating train for you.”
“One might say the same of you.”
“Yeah, but I’m straight, so?—”
That question was up for debate in ’s mind, but he wouldn’t bring it up. He’d already been pushing Blake enough as it was over the past couple of days, and he didn’t want to make the man uncomfortable. If anything, he had to admit he’d already gone a little too far.
“Ah,” began, wincing. “About that. I should apologize.”
Blake stared at him. “For...what?”
“How I’ve acted the past couple of days,” explained. “It was pushy, invasive, and more than a little disrespectful. I shouldn’t have teased you as much as I did.”
Blake stared at him for a moment and then giggled. “Really?”
“What?” asked.
“You’re apologizing for that?”
“I believe I listed the reasons why I should have apologized.”
Blake shook his head. “You don’t have to apologize, . I’m a big boy. If it bothered me, I would have told you to cut the shit.”
considered that for a moment, then nodded his understanding. In some ways, he still thought he owed the man an apology for his behavior, but he was willing to accept he didn’t. An unwanted apology was an unnecessary one. To insist upon it only made the apologizer selfish, motivated by the urge to make themselves feel better. He also had to trust that Blake would say something if necessary.
Blake hummed, bouncing his leg as he looked thoughtfully into the fire. “So, just teasing then?”
glanced sidelong at the other man. “What do you mean?”
“Like, you were just giving me shit, all the times you were hitting on me and whatever? Like, you weren’t serious about trying to sleep with me? That’s what I mean.”
waited a few seconds before answering. Once more, he found himself trying to figure out what was going on in Blake’s mind. The man was purposefully staring at the fire, which, from the position of his face, hid his expression from .
“Well, I believe we’ve already addressed that you’re a good-looking man,” said slowly.
Blake’s voice betrayed nothing. “Which isn’t what I asked.”
chuckled softly. “I should know better than to hedge my language with someone who works in business.”
“It does come with the territory.”
“Very well. Then yes...and no. Yes, I find you attractive, and I’m also attracted to you, and given the chance, I would certainly...indulge.”
“You’d sleep with me?”
“Yes.”
That didn’t feel quite accurate, either. There was certainly more to Blake than just a pretty face and a nice body. And while he was sure Blake was no stranger to casual, no strings attached, it felt wrong to label Blake like that without question.
“But,” continued, “also, no, because you haven’t expressed an interest.”
“So you’d totally get with me, but because I’m apparently straight, you’re just having a bit of fun by teasing me.” Again, Blake’s tone gave away nothing.
“An accurate, if somewhat simplistic, summation,” said.
Blake tilted his head so the rest of his expression was hidden from , nodding slowly. “Interesting.”
“Ooh, that expression is particularly irritating when you’re on the receiving end,” said, wrinkling his nose.
Blake chuckled, his shoulders easing. He slid further onto the loveseat, spreading his legs apart and making himself comfortable. His leg pressed against ’s, and he let his head loll back against the headrest. By the time he’d settled in, his expression was amused and relaxed.
“I wasn’t bothered by it, you know,” Blake said.
Trying not to be distracted by Blake’s leg against his, snorted. “You said as much earlier. Though you certainly seemed a little bothered by it at the time.”
“Eh,” Blake shrugged. “It was just a bit weird, seeing you so...flirty. You’re normally so chill, the grown-up of the group, along with Blaine. Seeing you let your hair down, especially aimed directly at me, was strange.”
“That was all,” rephrased.
Blake gave a crooked grin, blue eyes catching the firelight and glowing orange. “Well, maybe not all . But it was certainly part of it.”
“I see,” said.
“Mm, see, that’s almost as annoying as ‘interesting.’ So you know.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for later consideration.”
“You’re really not improving.”
gave a wistful sigh. “Forgive me, I’m forever stuck in the vocabulary of a shrink. I can’t help myself.”
Blake snorted and, to ’s surprise, threw an arm over ’s shoulder, pulling him in close. “And hell, maybe, just maybe, I enjoyed your attention.”
Between their sudden closeness and the man’s words, found himself distracted from immediately responding. The only time had been this close to Blake, he’d been fast asleep. And although he was only pressed up against the man’s side, he understood why his dreaming self had responded so positively. Once more, he was reminded that while Blake didn’t have his brother’s muscle mass, his body was still firm and very warm. There was also the faint, woodsy scent of what he assumed was the man’s cologne somewhere beneath the faint smell of beer and the nearby fire.
Clearing his throat, finally managed to speak. “I suspected you were enjoying the attention a bit. Unlike your brother, you seem to enjoy being in the spotlight.”
“Ooh,” Blake groaned. “Called out on my ego. Damn.”
“The world needs entertainers, and it needs an audience as well. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying attention, especially when it’s freely given.”
“Oh, look at you, Mr. Pearls of Wisdom over there.”
“I suppose I should have known you didn’t need comforting about your possibly oversized ego.”
“I mean, that’s mean and all, but you’re not wrong. Plus, I turned you on so much just by existing that you couldn’t help but hit on me.”
made a strangled noise somewhere between a choked laugh and a groan. He slapped Blake’s chest roughly, shoving away from the man as he finally let the laughter burst out.
“Eric is right, you are the worst,” proclaimed between breaths.
Blake’s grin was huge and brilliant. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you laugh like that.”
gave him another playful swat, knowing he was probably grinning just as goofily. “Then consider yourself lucky because I can’t remember the last time I did.”
A new emotion crept into Blake’s delight, a softening around his eyes and a slight ease to his grin. Before could wonder where this new development came from, Blake’s hand curled around the back of his head. sucked in a sharp breath as he was pulled in suddenly, and Blake’s lips were on his.