Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
STEVEN
After a few hours of celebrating the win in the best way possible, they’d decamped to Udo’s house as he had a hot tub in the garden. Steven sat across from Udo. Naked amidst the bubbling water.
“This is nice,” Udo murmured. “I’m sorry about before. I think I lost the plot there for a second.”
“Don’t worry about it. I won’t tell anyone.”
“I’m serious,” Udo said. “Sometimes I can’t control my feelings for you. They overpower me.”
The hot tub was under a gazebo surrounded by trees. In the dusk light, it gave a fairy-like quality to the space.
“I know what you mean,” Steven replied. “We’re so lucky we went for it. Us, I mean.”
Udo leant his head back. Steven gasped at the muscles in his neck. His body was a work of art. Despite the romantic moment, Steven grew hard.
“I wish…”
“No,” Steven interrupted. “No wishing tonight. Just being. You’ve scored a goal and you’re in a hot tub with the sexiest man in Brockton.”
Udo burst out laughing. “I think Adam or Ewen might have something to say about that title you’ve given yourself.”
“I’m only kidding,” Steven replied. “Everyone knows who the most handsome man in Brockton is.”
Raising an eyebrow, Udo seemed amused. “And who would that be?”
“Howard obviously.”
Udo splashed him with water.
Steven rested his foot on Udo’s thigh. “I once stayed at a villa in Germany that had the biggest hot tub you’ve ever seen. Honestly, I could have done lengths in it.”
“Were you alone?” Udo asked.
“I had a ton of handsome footballers in there with me,” Steven replied. “Don’t get excited. Purely business.”
Udo took hold of Steven’s foot and massaged it.
“That’s good,” he murmured.
“Are you staying tonight?”
“Too bloody right I am.”
The birds were singing in the trees as they let the moon shine down. Steven loved spring. It was a time of optimism and rebirth. For the first time in many years, he shared the sentiment.
The lights from the hot tub sent sparkles over Udo’s face. It only served to make him more beautiful.
“Do you still miss playing?” Udo asked.
Steven had lost count how many times he’d been asked this question.
“It’s been six years,” he explained. “I think I’m over it. Although when I saw you score, I was a bit jealous. I can’t lie.”
“There’s nothing like that feeling, is there?”
Steven shifted his other foot and pressed against Udo’s cock.
“I don’t know,” he said.
“You have a one-track mind.”
“Can you blame me? I’ve got a very handsome man naked in front of me.”
Dropping Steven’s foot, Udo scooted round so that he snuggled into Steven’s side. The warm water enveloping them.
“I’m really happy right now,” Udo said, kissing Steven’s cheek.
“Me too.”
They sat in silence for a while. Steven had had flings before and even a serious love affair with a physio. Yet, nothing had felt like this. Something about Udo made Steven totally relaxed.
“I was sad about the way my career ended,” Steven said. “No one wants to go out with an injury.”
Udo raised his head and stared into Steven’s eyes. “That’s a fear of mine. I’d rather leave on a high.”
“Do you think Brockton will be your last club?”
“Totally. I’m thirty-four. I’ve got two good years in me at best. I know I could spin it out a few more but you’d sell me to some shitty club.”
“I wouldn’t,” Steven replied, stroking Udo’s shoulder.
“There we have a conflict of interest already.”
“It’s not my decision.”
“You can influence it.”
Steven didn’t like the direction of the conversation. He was happy to talk about football. He had no intention of talking about management policy at Brockton.
“What will you do? When you retire.”
“You’ll laugh.”
“I can tell you now that I won’t.”
Udo blushed, which piqued Steven’s interest all the more.
“I don’t want to work in football, that’s for sure.”
“Wow. Okay.”
Most players either went into coaching or were pundits on television. It was rare for them to take a leap of faith. After all, footballers had lived and breathed the game since childhood.
“I want to write.”
“Interesting. What kind of writing?”
Udo shrugged. “Maybe fiction. I’m tempted to blow the world of football wide open.”
Panic flashed through Steven’s system. Was this a research mission for Udo? Would Steven find his private life in a book one day?
“What’s the matter?” Udo asked.
“Nothing. I hope you won’t be featuring us in your books.”
Udo frowned. “Of course not. Don’t you know that you can trust me?”
Steven shifted so his legs were wrapped around Udo. He kissed him.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t,” he replied and he meant it. “Just keep me out of it, yeah?”
“I promise.”
Udo ran his fingertips down Steven’s flanks, making him shudder. The man had a magical touch.
“Have you written before?”
“I never stop,” Udo replied. “I’m definitely going to use what happened with Alex.”
After he’d retired, Steven had had therapy. The adjustment period had been so difficult. Going from stadiums chanting his name to doctors telling him he’d never play again had been a matter of days.
His therapist had suggested he write everything down, which he’d done. Somewhere in his house was a box of journals where he’d let his emotions leak all over the page. Perhaps he’d dig them out and see if there was anything in there that could help Udo.
“I wish you luck with it.”
Udo frowned. “I kind of hoped you’d be along for the ride.”
He knew he was blushing. After everything that had happened to him in the last twelve months, putting himself back out there struck fear into his heart.
Yet when he saw Steven’s kind smile, he knew this time it was going to be okay.
“If you’re offering,” Steven replied.
“Oh I am.”
Steven kissed him.
“Then I accept.”
The next day was a bank holiday. Steven woke with a jolt. Udo’s arms around him were an instant comfort.
“Are you okay?” Udo mumbled.
“Yeah,” Steven replied. “Bad dream. Go back to sleep.”
Udo snuggled into him. Steven revelled in the closeness. He closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would return.
It was no use. He was awake.
“What were you dreaming about?” Udo asked, his breath tickling Steven’s ear.
“I can’t remember,” Steven replied. “I’ll get up. It’s the middle of the night.”
Whether Javier was onto them or not, he would be furious if Udo didn’t get his rest. It was equally as important as decent training.
Steven went to move when Udo clutched him tighter.
“Not so fast,” Udo said. “What time is it?”
Steven reached for his phone.
“It’s four o’clock,” he replied. “I told you it was the middle of the night.”
Udo stretched. The room was partially dark. The light from the ensuite meant Steven could still make out Udo’s muscles rippling.
“I’m awake now,” Udo said. “Shall I make us a coffee?”
The sun would be rising soon. The weather forecast had said it was going to be another glorious day.
“I’ve got an idea,” Steven said.
An hour later, they were in the car on a deserted car park up on the moors. In the half-light, Steven made out huge wind turbines scattered across the scrubland.
Some people hated them. Steven had always found their slow spinning to be therapeutic. He sipped the coffee he’d brought in a vacuum flask.
“This is supposed to be romantic?” Udo asked.
Steven rested his head on Udo’s shoulder. “Patience is a virtue.”
“Not one I’ve been blessed with, I’m afraid.”
Soon enough, light began to creep over the horizon. Steven shifted so that he sat with his back to Udo, who encircled his arms around Steven.
The dawn arrived. Slowly but surely. The dew on the moors glistening as if someone had scattered diamonds everywhere.
“It’s beautiful,” Udo whispered before kissing the top of Steven’s head.
The moors felt as though they belonged to them. All the problems of the world were a million miles away at that point.
Steven glanced at Udo. His handsome face lit by the start of the sunrise. An urge to protect this man flooded Steven’s system. He never wanted him to go through anything on his own again. He would be the arms that Udo sought whenever he was tested.
He loved him.
“Thank you for coming up here with me,” Steven replied.
They sat in silence a little while longer until the sun came fully up.
“What are you doing today?” Udo asked.
Steven closed his eyes. “The family are coming over later. We usually have a barbeque for bank holidays.”
“Oh okay,” Udo replied. “I should probably do some organising at mine.”
Steven shifted so that he could see Udo’s handsome face. “Why don’t you come along?”
“To meet the family?”
Maybe it was too early. Yet the more that Steven thought about it, the more it made sense. He was serious about Udo and he wanted his family’s approval. His mother had made it perfectly clear that she expected him to settle down.
“You’re a colleague and a friend,” Steve said. “Why wouldn’t I invite you over?”
The bashful expression on Udo’s face melted Steven’s heart.
“Don’t you think it’s too soon?” Udo asked. “If this goes tits-up between us, we’re going to be in serious hot water.”
Steven kissed him.
“Then we’ll have to make sure nothing goes wrong. Won’t we?”