Chapter 28 #2
“You’re sorry? You don’t need to be sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the awful things I said. I didn’t mean to imply–”
“I know. I know you didn’t. I know what you were trying to say. I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I had some sense talked into me.” He turned his head over his shoulder and nodded at Tommy and Eric, who waved and smiled like fools.
“Alright… but I still shouldn’t have said what I said and I think I should explain… It’s just… I… I don’t know how to explain–”
“I love you,” Mick blurted at me.
“You… you what?”
“I love you. That’s what I actually came into your bedroom to tell you last night.
That I was an idiot for saying you weren’t my man, and that you were, if you wanted to be, and I was yours.
But the damage was already done with my stupid words, and you went all in your head and made up nonsense, and I think I know why. ”
“You do?”
“Because you love me, too.” He was smiling from ear to ear.
“You love me, but you didn’t believe I could love you back, so you made up all that rubbish in your head.
I know you did, because I did the same fucking thing.
I realised I loved you at Seb’s party, but I got scared that I had nothing to offer you and you didn’t feel the same way about me.
That’s why I tried so hard to get a job.
And that’s why I nearly burnt down your flat.
Because I love you and I wanted to prove I was worth loving. ”
For the second time tonight, I was frozen, trying to work through everything he’d said.
“Say something.” Mick’s smile was fading. I couldn’t find any words. So I did something else.
Grabbing him by the collar of his green polo shirt, I pulled him into me and smashed my lips against his.
A second passed, and he didn’t move. I was about to back off, then his hands flew behind me and he gripped the back of my neck.
His lips opened, and I relaxed, kissing him back with everything I had.
Flinging my arms around his waist, I felt his muscled back through his thin shirt and my whole body melted.
Kissing in the middle of the club for longer than was considered appropriate, I was aware of some cheers and cat-calling in around us.
Mick’s hands slid to my cheeks, and he pulled me away from him–just an inch or two–just far enough to look into my eyes. “Does that mean?”
“I love you, too.” My smile was so big my cheeks hurt. “I have for longer than I care to admit.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, Lord.” My cheeks heated. “I’m going to bloody murder Damian. And Tommy and Eric for good measure.”
“Don’t do that.” He smiled at me. “If it weren’t for them, I might never have realised what an idiot I am.”
“You’re not–”
“You know what I mean.”
Opening my mouth to argue, I was stopped in my tracks by the distinct sound of the bass and piano of ‘Cry To Me’ playing on the jukebox. My eyes snapped to his, and his sparkled, as he remembered the last time we’d heard this song.
No words were spoken, none were necessary.
Just his hand, held out to me, and mine taking it, unable to resist. Falling into his arms, everything made sense again.
Strong, tender hands rested on my hips as he rocked me against his perfect body.
Dancing with him, here in this place where I’d first laid eyes on him a year ago was perfect.
Tears trickled down my cheeks as the song ended.
An up-tempo song by the Marvelettes took its place, and we stopped dancing. Releasing me from his hold, but not letting go of me, he led me to the edge of the room, then looked me in the eye.
“Hey, hey.” He rubbed a calloused thumb across my cheek, swiping away the tears. “Don’t cry,” he cooed and kissed me. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.” He muttered more assurances between kisses.
Breaking away, I explained, “They’re happy tears.”
His dazzling smile reappeared. “Yeah?”
“Of course they are. You danced with me in the club. We’ve never done that before.”
“We haven’t?”
I shook my head.
“How was it?”
“Perfect.”
He kissed me again. I could feel his smile, and it was like I could taste his happiness.
“Let’s go home,” I said, then panicked for a second. “If you want to. I mean. And you don’t have to stay forever. You can live with Tommy and Eric. Or–”
“We can sort all that out in the morning. Just take me home, alright?”
Grabbing his hand, I started towards the stairs.
“Going without saying goodbye, are you?” Eric’s voice chimed behind me.
“Fine friends you are.” Tommy agreed.
“Tommy.” Mick turned to face him. “I love you like a brother, you know that. But if you don’t let me go right now, I will strangle you with your own tie.”
“And I’ll help him bury the body.” I added.
“Alright.” Tommy laughed. “Go on, lovebirds.”
We didn’t need telling twice, and we ran out of there before they could change their mind. Tumbling onto the street, we forgot to let go of each other, but Bill helped us out.
“So drunk you need help standing again, is it, Michael?” He winked at us, and we stepped apart, leaving several inches of space between us.
“Something like that.” I smiled and did Mick’s salute, then saw him out of the corner of my eye doing the same thing. Laughter peeled out of both of us as we raced off in the direction of home.
“Taxi!” Mick shouted as soon as we got onto the main road, sticking his arm out. Luck was on our side, and a black cab pulled over right away.
“Where to?” said a gruff Glaswegian voice, and I heard Mick gasp, then giggle.
“Hallfield Estate, please, mate.”
We clambered in, and I turned to Mick who was still laughing. “What’s so funny?” I whispered.
“It’s the same cab driver.”
“What? No! Really?”
He nodded. “Uhuh.”
I burst into laughter as well, and we giggled most of the way home. When we stopped, the driver didn’t speak, just pointed to the meter. I gave him the money, and as we got out, I could have sworn I heard him mutter, “Bloody fairies” under his breath, but I didn’t give a shit.
We got up to my front door at a speed that would have impressed Roger Bannister and fell into the flat. Continuing our record-breaking pace, we got undressed in approximately four and a half seconds and were rolling around on the bed naked, limbs entwined, hands everywhere.
“I missed you,” I moaned between kisses.
“I’ve only been gone a day.” He tugged my lower lip between his teeth and sucked it.
“Too long. It was too long.” Trailing kisses down his jaw, then his neck, then nibbling on his collar bone, I was so happy to be back here with him. Crawling down his body, I found his nipple with my tongue, lapping across it and watching it harden.
“I fucking love it when you do that,” he groaned.
“I know.” I grinned up at him, then nipped at it, making him cry out.
“Fuck, sweetheart.” Grabbing a fistful of my hair, he dragged me up his body. “I’m not going to last. I need to get inside you. Now.”
“Uhuh, yes. Okay, yes. Mmhmm.” Stretching across him, I retrieved the jar of Vaseline, making a mental note to stock up on the stuff. Opening the jar, I covered my fingers and reached behind myself.
“Hey, let me do that,” he whined.
“No, uhuh.” I shook my head. “You enjoy it too much, do it for too long, and torture me with it. As much as I love that, I don’t have time for it tonight. I will get myself ready and then you will fuck me into oblivion. Understood?”
“Yessir.” That salute was so sexy.
Stretching myself just enough that I wouldn’t tear anything, I climbed off him, and got onto all fours.
“Can’t we do it face to face? I wan–”
“No! I want it hard and fast and now. So hurry the fuck up and get your dick in me.”
He looked at me like he was about to argue, then thought better of it and did what I asked.
Gripping my hips so tightly I knew there would be bruises tomorrow, he pounded into me exactly like I’d asked.
The sounds in the room were obscene–grunts and shouts of pleasure punctuated by the fast slaps of flesh against flesh–and I fucking loved it.
Like I’d predicted, it didn’t take long to get me to the edge. His rhythm was punishing, and my vision blurred as pure pleasure spread from my balls up my spine and back down again as I erupted. In perfect synchronicity, he rammed into me and held me in place, groaning as he emptied deep inside me.
Without pulling out, he lowered us both down to the bed, resting on top of me while he softened inside me. He lay soft, open mouthed kisses on the back of my neck. “I can’t move,” he sighed.
“Me neither. But I need to clean up, and as much as I love you, you will crush me to death if you stay on top of me for much longer.”
Letting out a half-grunt, half-laugh, he lifted himself off me. I hated this part, the loss of his body made me feel empty and lonely, so I cleaned up as quickly as possible and got back into bed. He did the same, and very soon, we were cuddled under the blankets.
Lying behind me, his body curved against mine so we touched from our ankles to our shoulders, he stroked up and down my side. The soft, gentle strokes were the perfect sensation after sex; it was like he was inside my head and knew just how to touch me.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too,” he replied. Are those the best four words in the English language? I think they might be.