15. LARRY
15
LARRY
Waking up in Kyle’s arms is something I could only have dreamed of a couple of weeks ago, but somehow the dream doesn’t quite live up to the reality. Sure, his big arms feel just as fantastic as I’d hoped wrapped around me under the comfort of the duvet, but the warmth of him, the scent of him, it’s like nothing else. I don’t know how I’m meant to go back to sleeping in my own bed when this is what I’ve just woken up to. How is anything else supposed to compare?
I’m awake before him after our first night together, definitely a little bit sore because let’s be honest with ourselves here, that thing between his legs is an absolute weapon, but I don’t mind. There’s something oddly satisfying about having taken it, and apparently taking it very well.
I’ve not been with many people other than Wesley, and those guys were all guys around my own age. Kyle is more than ten years older than me, and there’s something in the way he does it that tells me he has a lot of experience in that area.
And being called a “good lad” for taking his dick so well? I never thought I was that kind of guy, but having that growled at me while I’m being fucked into next week is a feeling like nothing else I’ve experienced. Though perhaps it’s just Kyle. Who knows? I don’t think I want to find out. I’m in that heady state where all I want is him, which is stupid, and I could be setting myself up to get hurt but… I don’t know… I got hurt once and I survived.
I’m about to spiral into a pit of sadness when I feel soft kisses between my shoulder blades, the roughness of his beard tickling me, the little growl in the back of his throat as he seems to enjoy every little kiss as much as I do.
I snuggle back into him, feeling his morning wood poking against my butt crack. He reaches down and rearranges himself, pointing it upwards so it sits snuggly down there, and presses his big body in closer. I could get used to this. I already am getting used to this.
“Good morning,” he grumbles. Even his morning voice is sexy. How is his morning voice so sexy? What’s happened to me?
“Morning,” I reply, and my voice is a little raspy this morning. Apparently all that moaning and groaning last night has done me no good. I sound like a smoker. I clear my throat. “Sleep well?”
“Like a log,” he replies. “You?”
“Same,” I say. “Last night was…” I trail off. I can’t quite put it into words, so I try actions instead. I snuggle back into him, pulling his arms tight around me. I let out a Disney princess sigh and immediately regret it.
He chuckles. “Yeah, that about covers it,” he replies, squeezing me so tight I let out a little splutter. “Sorry. Don’t know my own strength.”
“All those hours in the gym,” I reply. “The ones where you’re not getting sucked off in the steam room.”
“That was one time, I swear,” he protests. “I’ve literally never done that before. You’re the bad influence.”
“If it helps, neither have I,” I say. “I’ve never even been to a sauna before.”
“Oh, I’ve done that,” he says.
“I bet you’re very popular with a cock like that.”
“Lawrence!” he exclaims, mock scandalised. He starts to tickle me, his hands moving down my sides, along my ribs. And I’m giggling, almost screaming with how much he’s making me laugh.
I have to release myself from his grip so he stops, and I do, turning myself around in the process so I’m facing him. His hair is a little all over the place from sleep, so unlike the version of Kyle I see every day at the office. His face is a little puffy, his eyes squinty, his beard in desperate need of a comb, and yet I still want to kiss his face off.
And I can’t really remember the last time I felt like this—this happy, this free, this easy. Things with Wesley had been so tense for so long that I forgot things could feel like this, that I could feel so wanted.
“What are you doing today?” I ask.
“Nothing much,” he replies. “Figured we could hang out if you’re available.”
And that’s exactly what I want to hear.
We end up spending the rest of the day together, before Kyle walks me back to my apartment late in the afternoon. And even then we’re still messaging one another, neither one of us wanting it to be over.
We spend the next few weeks in and out of each other’s houses, not really spending an evening apart, all the while keeping things as quiet as possible at work which… isn’t particularly easy. Mostly because seeing him in a suit has me wanting to rip his clothes off at any given second. Any one-to- one catch-ups feel like they’re charged with so much tension I can barely hold it together, and every casual touch is enough to send shocks through me.
I’m almost certain that Peter knows something’s going on, but I’m not about to make the first move to talk about it. I know it’s not right, that we’re probably breaking some kind of work code by doing what we’re doing but… I don’t want it to stop.
I’ve been messaging Rosemary all about it, and on an evening when Kyle already has plans with his friend Mark, we decide to have a quiet night in.
ROSEMARY
It’s been ages. Don’t get me wrong, happy that you’re happy, but I miss you and I need to hear all about this.
I’ve got wine, and plenty to be telling you!
We order in food and sit in my living room, TV playing low music in the background while she tells me all about what life is like at the bookshop right now and I tell her all about what’s been going on with Kyle, how things have been at work. I keep some stuff private. She doesn’t need to hear about just how much and how often we’re causing our neighbours problems, but based on our first meeting I’m fairly sure that’s heavily implied.
“So it’s all going well then?” Rosemary replies, unable to keep the smile off her face. It’s mirroring my own face. I really can’t remember the last time I was this happy. “Look at you, you’re beaming,” she continues with a laugh.
“I can’t help it,” I say. “I know it’s new and that we’re very much in the honeymoon period here but… I just feel really happy. He’s been really great for me.”
“You’re a different person than the one I was basically picking up off the floor a few weeks ago,” she says. “Look at you. It’s put a bit of pep in your step.”
“It has,” I reply. “I don’t… I don’t know what else to say. It’s been great, and I’m excited for it to continue being great.”
“How long before you’re fucking at the office?”
“Rosemary!” I reach across and swat her arm, causing her to cackle and nearly spill her wine. “You can’t say that.”
“Your first time together was at the gym. You clearly have a thing for—how shall we put it?—public displays of affection,” she teases, waggling her eyebrows.
“People at work don’t know,” I say. “And I think it’s probably for the best they don’t know I’m sleeping with my boss. I can’t imagine it would go down too well.”
“Will certainly make pay-rise discussions easier,” she replies. “But seriously, all joking aside, you seem like you’ve really found some happiness, Larry,” she continues. “And after everything you went through with Wesley, it’s really nice to see.”
My phone buzzes against the table. It’s been pretty quiet all night, Kyle being out with his friend Matt and Rosemary being here. They’re the only two people I really have any contact with. I reach across and pick up my phone… and my heart sinks.
“What?” Rosemary asks. “Everything okay?”
It’s Wesley again. I’d totally forgotten about his message from a few weeks ago and now here he is again. I show Rosemary.
WESLEY
Still thinking about you. Really miss you, L. Hope you’re enjoying Grovemoor. I’m going to come and see you. Just want to make sure you’re okay xx
“Still?” Rosemary says. “He’s reached out before?”
“Before my first date with Kyle,” I reply. “I didn’t really think anything of it. I deleted it, ignored it. I didn’t want to hear from him.”
“He’s persistent, I’ll give him that,” Rosemary says. “How does he know where you are?”
“I’ve not exactly been secretive about it,” I reply. “I don’t want to see him.”
“So tell him that.”
“You really think it’ll stop him?”
Rosemary shrugs. “You’ve got to at least try,” she says. “You’re with Kyle now, he has no claim on you. Don’t let him keep pushing you around.”
I nod and send a message back.
LARRY
All good here. Don’t really want to see you, Wes. Thanks for checking in x
“How’s that?”
Rosemary scoffs. “I think ‘fuck off you cheating prick’ would have sufficed, but you’re too nice for that,” she replies. “Just have to hope it works.”
“Do I need to tell Kyle?”
Rosemary considers it for a moment. “I don’t think you need to rock the boat,” she replies. “Hopefully that’ll be the end of it, and you can just continue living your life with Kyle. You don’t owe Wes a damn thing.”
I hope she’s right. I really hope she’s right.