Chapter 24 #2
“You’re welcome of course, but if you really want to say thank you, you’ll come in and have a bevvy.”
Mick had been waiting on the pavement, but he must have heard all the commotion from inside and come over.
“You’ve been driving for hours, and I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“Yes, Seb, we are. That’s why we want to get home and–”
“Yes, yes. Time for all that later, dears. Come, come. Bring your young man. I’m dying to get properly acquainted.”
I looked helplessly at Mick and mouthed, “sorry.” He smiled indulgently and shook his head. We followed Seb into his large sitting room, where roughly half a dozen of my friends were standing and sitting around chatting, with drinks in their hands.
“Look who I found!” Seb announced to a round of cheering. “Let me get you some drinks. Damian!” He shrieked across the room. “Pour Michael and Mick a drink, would you, dear? Michael and Mick, that's sort of funny, isn’t it? You both have the same name, or near enough.”
“Hilarious, Seb. What is all this in aid of?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you having a cocktail party on a Monday night?” I asked.
“Why not?”
Mick laughed beside me. “Fair enough.”
An arm slid around my waist, and it took me a minute to realise it was coming from my other side. I froze and turned to my left. A dashing smile on a handsome face greeted me.
“Oh, hello Robert.”
“Hello, darling.” He kissed me once on my left cheek, then my right.
“I haven’t seen you for so long I was worried you’d been carted off by lily law.”
“No, I’ve been about.”
“You have not. I haven’t seen you in any of the usual haunts for months. Seb, isn’t that right? Have you seen our dear Michael at all this summer?”
“No, and that is precisely why I insisted he join us this evening.”
“Fantabulosa! What have you been up to for the last two months?”
I thought back, and he was right. I hadn’t been to any of the clubs or coffee bars since…
since the night that Mick and I first slept together.
I hadn’t wanted to either. There didn’t seem any point seeking anyone else out because nobody would ever be him.
That was the night I stopped kidding myself I could just fuck my way around London and forget my feelings for him. Now that we were… whatever we were.
“I’ve been… busy. It’s nice to see you all.” I felt Mick lean into my side. “Robert, you remember my… friend–”
“Oh, Nick! Good to see again.” He held his hand out, palm down, like an ingenue at a ball. Mick shook it, rather than kissing it, and I snorted.
“It’s Mick.”
Damian minced over holding two martini glasses and thrust them at me and Mick.
“Don’t expect me to wait on your arse all night,” he snapped as he handed over the drinks.
I took a sip, and it was very dry. In fact, I think they were just glasses of Gin with olives in them that had been waved in the vague direction of the Vermouth bottle.
“Don’t worry, dear, we shan’t be staying long,” I said, glancing at Mick.
“Oh, Robert,” Damian sneered. “What are you sniffing ‘round here for?”
“Not your trade, dear, that’s for sure.” Robert and Damian locked eyes, and I thought one of them might slap the other, but Robert gave in and strutted away.
What is that all about? I didn’t have time to think about it, because Mick stepped closer and put his hand on my shoulder. “We can stay and enjoy the party for a bit if you want.”
“Are you sure?” I was tired, but I hadn’t seen my friends for some time and it would be nice to enjoy a few drinks in Seb’s luxury pad.
“Yeah, of course. We’ve spent time with my friends. It’s only fair we see yours as well.”
Overjoyed by his use of the word “we” and how his phrasing made us sound like a couple, I smiled at him. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. But not too long, eh?” Coming closer so I could feel his hot breath on my neck, he spoke in a soft whisper. “I’d like a good night fuck before we go to sleep.”
My dick stiffened like it had a direct connection to my ear, and I stifled a groan. A wicked grin appeared on his face as he asked at a normal volume, “Sebastian, can I use the powder room?”
“Of course, dear. Let me show you where it is.” Seb put a hand on Mick’s back to guide him, and I had to stop myself from ripping them apart.
If that wasn’t enough to raise my hackles, Damian then raked his gaze over Mick’s arse in a way that set my teeth on edge. “You two have been spending a lot of time together, haven’t you?”
“Yes,” I said through gritted teeth.
“And I don’t blame you. He’s a lot of fun to have around, as I recall.” All traces of arousal vacated my body, replaced with red hot rage.
“What the fuck do you mean by that, Damian?” I snarled. I knew exactly what he meant and I did not want to talk about it, but I also didn’t want him leering over Mick like that.
“Oh, nothing, dearie, don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
“You stay the hell away from him, Damian. I’m warning you.”
I was seething, and Damian realised.
“Michael, I’m sorry. I was only winding you up. I thought you two were just having a bit of fun. I had no idea things were serious between you.” His tone was soft and all the bitchiness was stripped away.
I downed the rest of my drink and slumped onto a chaise lounge.
“I’m gone for him, Damian. Completely and utterly head over heels.”
“That’s a good thing isn’t it?” He sat down next to me.
“Yes. I think so. He’s wonderful of course.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“That’s the problem. He’s so bloody wonderful. He’s young and beautiful, and one day he’s going to wake up beside my wrinkly arse and realise that he’s better off without me.”
“You’re too hard on yourself, Michael. I blame that absolute prick Alistair. He destroyed your self-esteem, the bastard."
I huffed out a small laugh. “Maybe. I’m just scared. Mick is perfect. No, scratch that. He’s not perfect. But he is perfect for me. I’ve wanted him for so long, and now that I have him, I’m terrified I’ll lose him.”
“Michael, you need to stop worrying about everything that might happen some time in the future and just enjoy what you have. Otherwise, you’ll chase him away by trying to keep him.”
“You’re right. Of course you’re right. It’s hard to enjoy something so fragile, in case it breaks.”
“I’m not sure it’s as fragile as you think. That boy looks at you like you hung the moon and the stars. And you should have seen the look he was giving Robert. He looked ready to murder him”
“Really? Why?”
“The same reason you wanted to scratch my eyes out when you thought I was making a move on Mick.”
Oh.
“Whatever he purred into your ear affected him as much as it affected you.”
“How do you mean?”
“Why do you think he asked Sebastian where the bathroom was? He needed to calm himself down and rearrange his trousers.”
For a moment, jealousy overwhelmed me again at Damian talking about Mick like that. Then I let sense back in and allowed his earlier words to sink in.
“Does he really look at me like that?”
“Yes, he does and it’s sickening. That’s why I wound you up about him. I was jealous.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Stand down. Jesus. The two of you are perfect for each other. He’s like a guard dog, and you’re an angry kitten. I meant I was jealous of the way you looked at each other. Of the love that vibrates off the two of you.”
“It’s not–”
“Do not insult me by finishing that sentence, Michael Prentiss. I have known you for a very long time, and I know what love looks like on you. And I might not know your young man very well, but he had the same dopey look in his eyes. That boy loves you, I’m sure of it.”
Oh God, please let that be true.