Chapter 7
DeAnna Zankich
Sequel to | Sweet Redemption
Summary: The days leading up to the big `I do'.
Warnings: None
Author Notes: A thousand thanks to my sweet friend Kristina Grönberg for the title.
Spoilers: None
"If I see that bastard, Kurtz, I'm going to stab him in the jugular with one of those little cocktail forks," Stuart muttered as he and Vince stepped into Claridge's glittering Ballroom. The grand piano rang out beautifully in the back of the long room and tuxedoed waiters drifted gracefully among the guests with trays of goodies and champagne.
Vince frowned disapprovingly. "Behave, Stuart, behave. No brawling at Brian's fancy party."
They walked further into the room and Stuart captured two glasses of bubbly for them off a passing tray. Handing one to Vince, he touched the flutes together.
"Cheers."
Brazenly, Vince kissed him on the lips before he took a sip of his drink.
"Ooh, are you in public display mode tonight?" Stuart asked hopefully. "I'm sure we can find a coat room to shag in or something."
Vince chuckled and his cheeks flushed darkly. He was so beautiful when he blushed. "Blimey, I'm a bit hungry. We haven't eaten anything since breakfast and we didn't eat much of that. What sort of food have they got at these things."
"Frilly foo-foo shit with so many ingredients you can't identify what you're eating," Stuart said, glancing around. A buffet table was set up along the far wall and it looked to be quite a spread. "Let's have a look." He hooked Vince's arm and walked through the still sparse crowd to the buffet.
"What sort of food are we having at our wedding?" Stuart asked, playfully. He'd left Vince, Hazel and Romey in charge of all the arrangements for the ceremony, knowing how much Vince would enjoy the activity. Over the last few weeks he had taken to carrying a notebook with him everywhere that had all the phone numbers of every party vendor in Manchester along with his notes and sketches and plans. Stuart had left him to it, grinning to himself at the little sparkle it brought to his lover's eyes.
"You KNOW what the menu is," Vince said, refusing to be teased. "I've told you a thousand times. We're having those salmon wraps you like and the pecan tarts and fresh peaches in sugar syrup with cream. Jeni is doing a load of hors d'oeuvres and some more sweets for afters. She's got some chocolate mousse cake specialty, apparently. Your mum loves chocolate."
"I know," Stuart said, but he really hadn't known. He couldn't recall ever seeing his mother eat chocolate. The fact that he hadn't known disturbed him.
Vince picked up a plate from the stack on the end of the buffet table and inspected the food on offer. "And of course we're having a cake with that marzipan filling you like."
"What about what YOU like?" Stuart said, picking up a plate for himself. "You keep saying all these things that I like to eat, but what about you?"
Vince smiled at him, sweetly. "I have some things on the menu that I like, as well. I'm only telling you about the things you like because that's all you really care about."
"Ah, I see," Stuart said, laughing. "I'm such a self-centered twat."
"Dreadfully so, yes." Vince kissed his lips again and Stuart shivered from the soft, intimate contact. He loved it when Vince kissed him in public. Not only did he get the benefit of his lover's silky, fantastic lips, but he also got to ruffle the feathers of any nearby conservatives.
"Careful . . . you might get yourself in trouble," he said.
Batting his eyes, Vince turned back to the buffet and reached for a delicate cucumber sandwich.
Stuart glanced around the room at the guests milling about in their eveningwear. He recognized most of them from previous industry parties but some of the faces were new. One man he recognized as a big wig at Lloyds--most likely the bloke responsible for Brian getting the account.
"What are you wearing?" Vince asked.
Stuart blinked at him curiously. "Sorry?"
"To the wedding."
"Oh. I'm not saying." He smiled and lowered his chin. "You'll just have to wait and see." They continued moving down the buffet, picking up little bits of prettily displayed nibbles.
"Fine," Vince said agreeably. "Actually, that reminds me of something I've been meaning to talk to you about."
"What's that?"
"Well . . . I was thinking. It might be sort of . . . special . . . if we don't see each other the day before, you know? Like . . . I'll spend the day and night at Hazel's and just see you in your dad's garden at 5:00pm." Vince looked at him hopefully.
Taking a bite of a lovely spinach quiche, Stuart's brow wrinkled. "Vince, you know I can't sleep without you in bed with me. If you're not there, I won't get any rest the night before our wedding. I'll have luggage under my eyes and then I won't let anyone take photos."
Vince laughed at him gently. "You'll be fine. You slept without me for sixteen years, Stuart. You'll sort it out for one night."
"I'll be ridiculously horny, as well."
"Have a wank," Vince said, grinning. "Have two, if you like."
Chuckling, Stuart shook his head. "You think this is so funny, don't you? You've made me completely dependent on you and now you're abandoning me on the night before our wedding."
Vince shook his head. "I knew you wouldn't go for it. But I had to ask." He grabbed a napkin and tucked it under his plate, walking over to a table along the wall. Tiny white lights adorned every corner of the room, giving it a warm, fairyland quality. The pianist was rendering a muted, classy version of Elton John's "Your Song".
Stuart leaned on the tall table beside his lover and looked at him directly. "If it means that much to you, of course I'll do it. I'm just registering my complaints about the idea."
Vince swallowed a bite of the cucumber sandwich before he replied. "I don't want you being all crabby and upset at the ceremony. I know how you are. Never mind. I'll just stay at home and look after you."
Shaking his head and laughing, Stuart nudged Vince's arm with his knuckle. "I hate it when you do that."
"Wha'?" His big blue eyes were innocent and wide.
"When you play me against myself with my own words. Makes me sick how well you know me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Vince said, suppressing a grin.
Stuart took a bite of some pat on a wheat cracker. "You do, too. Bastard. Fine. We can be apart that day if you really want to."
Smiling coyly but knowing he'd won, Vince kissed Stuart's lips for a long lingering moment. "Thanks. I just thought it would make it special, you know? If we missed each other a little before our wedding night. Sort of . . . like it's our first time or something."
Stuart looked into those big baby blues and was suddenly brought back to the first time he laid eyes on Vincent Tyler. He remembered him standing behind his desk in English class with that book of poetry open in his hands, confidently reciting those lines from "Annabel Lee", his voice like a bright bell in the large, sunny room.
`I was a child and she was a child In this kingdom by the sea But we loved with a love That was more than love I and my Annabel Lee . . .'
Vince tilted his head and looked at Stuart curiously. "What are you thinking about?"
Stuart leaned forward and whispered in his lover's ear. He put on his best Gaelic accent and purred those two mysterious lines of poetry he'd promised to reveal to Vince on their wedding day. When he looked in Vince's eyes after, they were sparkling with sentimental tears. Vince shook his head and smiled.
"I don't even care what those words mean. I just love to hear you say them."
"It's a recipe for margaritas, really," Stuart teased. "Just sounds good in Gaelic."
"You are going to translate them for me though, right? On Saturday?"
Stuart nodded. "I'll translate for you now, if you like."
"No," Vince said, seriously. "I want to wait. Do it Saturday. But . . ."
"Wha'?"
"Can I please hear it again?"
Stuart brushed his nose against Vince's earlobe as he spoke the soft lines again.
"Mmmm . . ." Vince murmured. "So lovely." He leaned in for another soft kiss when a blur of color and activity drew their attention to the right.
Kate strided toward them resplendent in an emerald green velvet cocktail dress. It clung to her lean curves and the dense fabric filled her out in the places where she was a bit too thin. It was a lovely dress and Stuart gave her a huge, appreciative smile as she approached.
"God, look at YOU," he said, reaching out to hold onto her waist. He kissed both her cheeks and turned her around so he could see the back of her ensemble. Dark green strappy high-heeled shoes and a green beaded bag were the subtle but elegant accessories. "Fantastic," he concluded.
"Oh, go on," she said, rolling her eyes but she was smiling brightly. "No, really--go on!" She laughed and kissed his face again, then she stepped forward to hug Vince.
"You look lovely, Kate," he said. "That's quite a dress."
"Thanks, sweetie. I know it's loud. But I saw it at Harrods and I had to buy it. Brian loves green so I wanted to get something sort of `big' to wear for him tonight. Love him with my choice of clothes and all. Have you seen him yet?"
"Not yet tonight," Stuart said. "We just got here."
"You saw him today, though, right?"
"Yeah," Vince said. "He stopped by our room for breakfast."
They shared an intimate giggle and Kate shook her head.
"God, I don't want to know," she said. "Well, I really DO want to know, but I'm not going to ask. I think he said he and Mike were going sightseeing today. I'm kind of dying to know where Brian took him. I'm sure his idea of `the sights to see' in London are a bit different than those recommended in the Fodor's guide." She glanced around the room at the present guests, shaking her head in slight dismay. "Stuffed shirts, one and all. So far WE are the only fun people at this party."
"Where's Richard?" Stuart asked.
"He's still futzing with his suit. I swear to God, that man is worse than any woman I've ever met when it comes to getting ready. Every time we've ever been late to a function, it was his fault. Oh, here's our guest of honor now." She waved her hand over her head in the direction of the entrance.
Brian strolled across the big softly lit room dressed in a sleek black single-breasted suit with a dark brown shirt and tie under. The color did the same thing on him that it did on Vince--it made him look golden and flushed and brought out the almost eerie sparkle of his hazel eyes. Michael followed a few feet behind him, dressed well in a dark navy suit with a white shirt and subtlety striped tie. The suit was obviously expensive and he looked a bit uncomfortable in it, despite its nice fit.
"Hi, bunny!" Kate said, throwing her arms around Brian's neck. "You look gorgeous. Did you and Vince plan this brown thing?"
Brian's almond shaped eyes scanned Vince's body from head to toe in one quick sweep. He smiled admiringly. "Nice. You look great in brown." He stepped forward and kissed the edge of Vince's lips affectionately, his eyes flitting up to look at Stuart as he did so. "Mr. Jones. Good evening, you handsome devil."
"Mr. Kinney," Stuart grinned and extended his hand. He and Brian shook, their eyes locked on each other's intently. Brian's hand was soft and hot and Stuart gave it a playful little squeeze before they let go. Looking over Brian's shoulder, Stuart extended his hand to Michael. "Hello. Nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you, too," Michael said, shaking back. "And this must be Vince."
"Oh, that's right," Brian said. "Sorry. Michael Novotny, Vince Tyler."
The two shook hands and smiled politely, exchanging pleasant greetings. Kate gave Michael's cheek a kiss and complimented his suit.
"Nice threads, baby," she said.
"Thanks," Michael said shyly. "Of course, Brian picked it out."
"Why `of course'?" she asked.
"I don't know . . . it just looks like something he would wear."
Brian rolled his eyes and slung his arm over Michael's shoulders. "You look lovely, Mikey. And I don't wear blue. Now, Katherine--THIS is a dress. I love it."
"Thank you," she said, curtsying. "I wore it especially for you."
"It's great," Michael said brightly. "You look like Poison Ivy."
"Is that good?" she asked.
"Yeah! Poison Ivy is this hot babe that gave Batman grief for awhile during the whole . . ." Stopping himself, Michael shook his head self-consciously. "Never mind. But it's a compliment."
"Well, thank you then."
"Where's your husband?" Brian asked her.
"Upstairs primping. If he wasn't straight, I'd swear he was a fag. Have you seen the Lloyds guys yet?"
"I passed two of their marketing people up in the front. Got clapped on the back and had my hand pumped. `Great job, brilliant concept, can't wait to see it take off', yada yada." He nodded to one of the roving cocktail servers to come by with a tray of drinks and they each took a flute of champagne. Brian raised his glass to the small gathering. "I just want to say that I'm very pleased you are all here tonight--Mikey especially. It's good to be in the company of friends." He tapped his glass against each of theirs.
Michael grinned happily and sipped his champagne. "I still can't believe I'm really here."
"What did you do today?" Kate asked.
As Michael started to give them a rundown of all the places he and Brian had visited that day, a small group of executives that Stuart recognized made their way through the thickening crowd to approach Brian. One of the suits was from Lloyds and he began the introductions. To Stuart's surprise, the man knew him and Kate by name and even knew some of the projects they'd worked on. He made specific mention of the fundraiser in Manchester on which the two had met.
While the conversation turned to business, Stuart glanced at Vince. His handsome lover had pulled back from the group and was chatting away like old friends with Michael. Stuart wondered what they were saying, but he didn't think Vince would tell him. Something about their expressions and their low tones made him think the conversation between these two people who just met each other was somehow private. He caught Vince's eye quickly as Kate hooked his arm to take him off to mingle with the other executives. Smiling sweetly, Vince blew him a kiss.
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Michael:
Making their way around several groups of politely chatting partygoers, he and Vince passed the dessert bar and grabbed a few chocolate cookies on their way to the terrace. They slowed down as they went by the piano, enjoying the player's rendition of the love theme from "Titanic". The pianist gave Vince a special smile as they stood listening to him play.
"He thinks you're hot," Michael mentioned as they started for the terrace entrance.
"He doesn't." Vince shook his head but he was clearly flattered. Michael wondered if he knew how attractive he was, or if he thought of himself only as `Stuart's boyfriend'. Even though they had just met, Michael felt at ease with Vince and he was glad to have someone interesting to talk to at Brian's work party.
They went outside into the cool evening air and found a bench along the railing that overlooked one of Claridge's vast gardens. Still working on their glasses of champagne, they sat down next to each other and surveyed the few guests who were out there smoking cigars and trying to impress each other. Vince nodded to a handful of men leaning on the rail a few feet away.
"Look at them. They all hate each other," he said.
"How do you know? Looks to me like they're being nice." Michael watched the men more closely.
"Nah. They're just putting on airs." Vince sipped his drink, glancing one more time at the other men. "See this one closest to us? He's making a fist in the pocket of his coat. The bloke he's speaking to is really pissing him off."
Michael spotted the fist in the pocket after Vince pointed it out, but he never would have seen it otherwise. He laughed a little and looked at his companion with a smile. "You're very observant."
Vince shrugged. "I reckon. I just find people interesting. So, what have you and Brian been doing in London? You've been here for two days, yeah?"
"Right. Just eating and drinking and seeing a bunch o' touristy stuff. We spent an hour shopping for this suit today but the rest of the time we went to a few attractions. I saw the Tower, which was cool. And we rode on the Eye."
"I haven't even done that yet," Vince said. "Was it nice?"
"It was completely cool," Michael enthused. "You could see everything. And Brian knew what all the buildings were so he was pointing everything out. It was great. I'd like to do it again, actually. Then we had drinks in this pub that was apparently haunted by some woman Jack the Ripper killed."
"Yeah?" Vince said, perking up. Apparently that was interesting to him.
"Yeah. Shit, I can't remember what it was called. But it was cool. It was on the edge of the part of town where all those murders took place . . ." he paused, searching for the name of neighborhood in his memory.
"White Chapel," Vince finished for him.
"Right. It was sort of creepy but in a good way." He sipped his drink and tried to think of something polite to ask just to keep the conversation going. He tried to remember all the things Brian had told him about Stuart and Vince and then something came to him that he felt was prosaic enough to mention. "Brian said you and Stuart went to Scotland recently."
"Yeah," Vince said. "Stuart took me up there to propose. But I beat him to it." He grinned and the expression softened his already very handsome face.
Michael noted the way Vince's eyes lit up at the memory of being in Scotland. He was a little concerned that he might be asking too personal a question, but he forged on anyway. "He also told me you got to look for the Loch Ness monster while you were there."
Vince tilted his chin and gave Michael a speculative squint. "Brian told you that?"
"Yeah." Michael couldn't read Vince expression well enough to know if he'd overstepped his bounds, so he figured he'd try to clear up any confusion. "I don't mean to be prying by mentioning that--I mean, we just met--but . . . well, Brian tells me pretty much everything. He's my best friend. I mean, just so you know . . . he tells me everything."
"Right, I assumed so," Vince said smiling. "I also assumed you were familiar with everything that's been happening with him and us."
Letting out a relieved sigh, Michael nodded. "Yes. I am familiar. I just wanted . . . you know, to make sure you knew that. I mean, it's kind of weird that I know so much personal stuff about you and Stuart, but Brian talks about you guys all the time."
"Does he?" Vince said, his face becoming even more unreadable. "That's interesting. I think it's especially interesting that he told you about Loch Ness."
"Why?" Michael laughed. "That's sort of tame compared to the other stuff he's told me."
"Yeah, but it's also more . . . personal," Vince said. "It's one thing to witter on about some sexual situation you got into--men love to brag, after all. But to actually discuss a personal detail like that . . . I dunno. It just seemed odd that he even KNEW that, much less that he would tell his best mate about it."
"Oh," Michael said, not sure he was following. "Well, I think he's really . . . I mean, he seems to really get along well with Stuart."
Vince's lips turned up in a tiny, playful smile. "He does indeed." He finished his drink then looked around for a waiter. "Would you like another?"
"Yeah, thanks." Michael drained his own glass and Vince took it with him as he went off to get them another round.
Sitting there on that bench outside the fancy party, Michael could barely see Brian inside. He was in the center of a group of fawning colleagues that were all smiling and congratulating him and he seemed to be eating it up. Brian loved to be the center of attention in any situation, but most especially when everyone around was kissing his ass. Michael didn't even try to catch his friend's eye. Brian was totally distracted.
In another part of the room the crowd was a bit thicker and Michael could see Stuart and Kate standing in the mix of people near the piano. They seemed so close they could have passed for a married couple. Michael had only met Kate a few times, but he really liked her. She was genuine. And she loved Brian to bits. That much they had in common.
Vince returned presently with fresh glasses of champagne and he sat down beside Michael again.
"Thanks."
"'Course. So, now I'm dead curious," Vince said. "What else has Brian told you about us? I mean, if you don't mind me asking."
"I don't mind at all," Michael said. "In a way, I'm glad you asked. I wasn't sure if you'd feel weird talking about it since we don't know each other."
"Not really," Vince said. "But I didn't realize he was telling you THAT sort of thing. The sex stuff I reckoned was given, but the other . . ." He shook his head a little. "It's just odd. Makes me wonder."
"About what, specifically?"
"Well," Vince said thoughtfully. "I wonder why he told you about Loch Ness because . . . well, why would that interest you? You don't know me, you had no idea that I was into the whole monster thing when I was a kid. Why would you care that my lover took me up there to surprise me with that?"
Michael thought about the question and about his answer. "I think he thought I'd be interested because it's something I would want to do. I think he told me because he knew I would think it was cool. I DID think it was cool. Did you see anything?"
"Yeah," Vince said with a shy smirk. "I didn't tell him too much about that, though. That was the night we came back from our trip and Stuart and I had only been engaged for twenty-four hours. Brian . . . tipped up at a rather precarious time in our relationship. We were both scared to death over what we'd just done and neither of us knew how to deal with it. We took him home that night and it was my idea, believe it or not. Reckon I was looking for a massive distraction."
"Can I ask you why?" Michael said softly. "I mean, I know that's really personal but . . . why did you do it? You guys just got engaged. Weren't you worried about messing up your relationship?"
"No," Vince said simply. "I did it because I wanted to. Needed to, most likely. I knew it would please Stuart and I fancied Brian, as well. I wanted to have him. It was just a . . . game then, a release. At first."
"And now?"
Looking into the crowded room, Vince seemed to be thinking about that very seriously. "Now . . . I think Brian has more of an issue with it than we do." He looked at Michael and smiled openly, without a shred of challenge. "Don't you?"
Sighing, Michael looked down into his glass. "I think he might care about Stuart a little more than he wants to, yeah. And because of that, he sort of looks up to you because you were able to . . . capture Stuart, I guess. Or, at least that's what I've put together from only hearing his side of it all." Taking a deep breath, Michael felt a little shaky from the sudden and intense intimacy of the topic. He wanted very much to shift the balance of the conversation. "What do YOU think is going on with Brian?"
Vince shrugged. "I couldn't say. I only know that he's managed to become a rather big part of our lives. He's . . . well, we . . ." He sighed and breathed a soft laugh. "Aw, I dunno, Michael. I think he's got under our skin and I'm not sure what we're going to do with him."
"You're getting married on Saturday," Michael said, his tone slightly wary. "Are you planning to continue to see Brian in this . . . sexual way?"
Again, Vince shrugged. "I wish I had an answer. I just . . . I'm not sure."
"Is Stuart in love with him?" Michael knew he was being brazen then and his heart beat like mad as a result.
"Not so much," Vince replied. "The size of his feeling for Brian is manageable."
Michael looked into the other man's eyes and lowered his voice a bit more. "And what about you? Do you care for Brian at all?"
"I like him quite a lot," Vince said. "And of course I've enjoyed being with him very much. But . . . I don't know . . . if we continue to see him on this intimate level, I'm afraid Stuart's feelings will grow to the point of not being manageable anymore. And I can't risk that."
"I wouldn't think so," Michael almost whispered.
"So, I reckon we won't continue to see him like we have been. At least not after the wedding." Vince's eyes glinted when he smiled then and the playful quality of the expression was infectious. Michael found himself smiling, too.
"I don't think I could do what you've been doing. I mean, I KNOW I couldn't share David like that."
"David's your boyfriend?" Vince asked and Michael felt a momentary twinge of jealousy that Brian had never mentioned that. In one instant, he was aware that although Brian talked endlessly about Stuart and Vince to him, it was obvious that he never mentioned Michael to them.
"Yeah, right. We've been together about six months. I just don't think I could ever be okay with sharing him with another guy. Maybe I'm just too possessive."
"Maybe not," Vince said. "Maybe you've got it right, Michael, and we're the ones mistaken for what we did." He looked up toward the party and his face brightened with a warm smile. Following his gaze, Michael watched as Stuart sauntered across the terrace and up to the bench where they sat.
"Hiya," he said in his spine tingling accent. "Gossiping?"
"Yep," Vince answered. He slipped his fingers into the pockets of Stuart's trousers as he stood in front of him at the bench. "How's the schmooze-fest in there?"
"Deep," Stuart said. He sipped his champagne and smiled at Michael. "Are you bored out of your mind yet?"
"No, actually," he said. "Vince rescued me. We've been having a very UNboring talk."
Stuart ran his fingers through his lover's short dark blond hair and grinned at him sexily. "You're dishing about our sex life, aren't you?"
"Apparently Brian dished it all already."
Stuart shook his head and laughed softly. "He's such a twat."
"Oh, be fair," Vince said. "You would have told ME every gruesome detail if I hadn't already been there."
"I'm sure he didn't tell me everything," Michael said. "He just gives me the more grizzly highlights. Brian likes to shock me."
Stuart was watching Michael closely, his long elegant fingers still playing in Vince's soft-looking hair. "Are you in love with him?" he said suddenly.
"Stuart!" Vince smacked him on the ass. "Don't be rude."
"It's okay," Michael said, but it wasn't. He'd felt instantly violated when Stuart asked him that question and he prayed his indignance hadn't shown on his face. That would make it obvious that the subject was huge to him. "I have a boyfriend, actually," he said, hoping it would serve as an answer. Apparently, it had not.
"So?" Stuart said, tilting his glass to his lips to drink again. "What's that got to do with it?"
"All right, stop," Vince said seriously. He looked up at his slightly intoxicated boyfriend with a stern expression of disapproval. "You're just being a bastard now. Zip it up."
Michael whinged from Vince's defending tone, knowing all at once that Vince knew how he felt about Brian. His feelings must have been far more transparent than he thought.
"Fine," Stuart said with a dismissive laugh. "I didn't mean anything by it." He showed a quick, thin smile that Michael wasn't sure how to receive. Not wanting to ask, he dismissed the gesture as a European thing.
Vince gave him an apologetic sigh as he drained his second glass of bubbly. Looking up at Stuart again, he said "I'm going to get pissed. You don't mind, right?"
"Not at all," Stuart teased. "You're bloody easy when you're drunk."
"I'm easy when I'm not," Vince said, smiling. "I'm like a trained dog for you."
"Mmm . . . so full of shit." Stuart leaned over and gave Vince a wet, licking kiss on the lips that took Michael's breath away. He'd seen men kiss each other thousands of times but the heat and passion of this kiss was dazzling. They closed their eyes and seemed to disappear into each other, tasting each other's mouths with hungry little bites. Suddenly he began to have an understanding of Brian's intense interest in these two. If they burned that hot from a simple kiss, they must rage like a forest fire in bed.
Feeling embarrassed for watching them, Michael looked away and finished his drink. He scanned the crowd inside looking for Brian, but he was nowhere to be seen. The party full of eager congratulors had swallowed him up. He glanced furtively at the Brits again and allowed himself to watch them kissing for another few seconds. Then he got up and made his way back into the party.
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Vince:
He pulled Stuart into his lap while they kissed, very much aware that the cigar-smoking blokes that didn't like each other down along the railing were whispering about them. He slid his hands up under Stuart's suit coat and held onto his tight waist, moving him in his lap until his firm cheeks were right over Vince's thighs.
Stuart giggled playfully, draping his arms around Vince's neck. "You are in SUCH a mood tonight."
"I'm seeing if they'll chuck us out for indecent behavior," Vince said. He glanced to the right and noticed Michael had left them. He sighed. "Aw, shit."
"Wha'?" Stuart barely glanced to the side, his attention entirely on Vince.
"We were very rude to him just then," Vince said. "Both of us. Get up. I'm going to go find him and apologize." He held Stuart's hips meaning to move him onto the bench but the lithe brunette wouldn't budge.
"He just left `cause we were snoggin'," he said. "He was being polite."
"Yeah, unlike we were. Now get up."
Stuart slid off Vince's lap but he kept his legs draped over him so he couldn't move. Vince lowered his chin and raised his eyebrows, annoyed.
"I'd like to apologize, Stuart," he said. "Michael's a nice bloke."
"I don't want you to get up yet." Stuart grinned and tugged gently on Vince's tie. "Keep kissing me. You're giving me a hard-on. Not to mention driving those bastards down there fucking mad."
"Why are you being such a brat?" he said, trying to be stern but failing miserably. He gave in and let himself be pulled into another hot, wet kiss. Stuart was always on fire when they snogged in public. He loved being watched, most especially by disapproving eyes.
"Come on, Stuart," Vince murmured between kisses. "I want another drink. Let's go inside. Really . . . I want to find Michael. I feel bad."
Sighing, Stuart rolled his eyes. "Christ. You're so nice, Vince. You'll make a fantastic wife."
"So you keep saying." Vince gave him one more kiss on the lips then he stood up and reached back for Stuart's hand. "Come on, you wicked lad, you. I can't believe how rude you were."
"Yeah, it was such a shock," Stuart said sarcastically. "Me being rude. Imagine that." He let himself be pulled to his feet, making sure to blow a kiss to the gaping cigar smokers along the railing on the way back into the party. "Twats," he snickered.
Vince shook his head. "How do you know those aren't important business people?"
"I don't recognize any of them. They're just bankers or whatever. There," he said, nodding toward the piano's corner of the large ballroom. "Michael's standing there with Kate." He tugged Vince's wrist and walked in that direction.
As they made their way through the crowd, Vince glanced around for Brian. Looking for the most populous section of the party, he spotted the tall handsome American in the center of a throng of admirers. Brian's considerable height placed his eye level just above the other's heads and he caught Vince's gaze directly. Those lovely hazel eyes softened in a sweet, personal smile that Vince was compelled to return.
For a moment he just looked at Brian, watching him interact with the other people around him. Vince felt a small tingle of pride of his friend's accomplishment and that feeling disturbed him. In his heart of hearts he felt he had no right to be proud of Brian Kinney. The support of Brian's life and his accomplishments was something that belonged to his friends at home. All at once Vince felt strangely like an imposter at the party and the intensity of the feeling made him squeeze Stuart's hand.
"What?" he said, looking back over his shoulder.
Vince stopped them before they got close enough to Kate and Michael to be seen. He pulled Stuart's hand until he turned around and they were close enough to whisper.
"What's wrong?"
"I, uh . . ." he sighed, suddenly feeling a little dizzy from the champagne.
"You're pale, luv." Stuart put his hands on Vince's cheeks and looked in his eyes. "Talk to me. What's wrong?"
Sighing, Vince touched his forehead to Stuart's and closed his eyes for a second. "I think . . . it's time."
"For what?"
Vince glanced back over to where Brian stood soaking up the attention of the guests around him. "I think maybe it's stopped being fun."
"You mean Brian?" Stuart said.
"Yeah."
Frowning, the handsome brunette took a deep breath. He chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully but had nothing to say just yet.
Vince looked at his lover challengingly. "Stuart, we agreed. As soon as it stopped being fun for either of us, we were going to call it quits."
"I know," he said, a slight frown still creasing his brow. He looked over at Brian again, watching him with those flinty blue eyes.
"Stuart . . ." Vince warned. His heart was beating thickly in his chest and he dreaded his lover giving him an argument about the subject. "You promised."
"I said I KNOW," Stuart snarled. "Don't tell me you're suddenly getting jealous? What happened?"
"I'm not jealous, I'm just calling it off. And I want YOU to do it. This has gone far enough."
Stuart stared at him for a long, cool moment. "Why now? All of a sudden. What did Michael say to you?"
Vince shook his head and looked away.
"Tell me," Stuart insisted. "What did he say that upset you so much?"
"It's nothing Michael said," Vince stated, but the truth of it was something else. His conversation with Michael had affected him far deeper than he'd realized until that moment. "I just . . . think it's run its course. I want it done. And I need you to be the one to end it."
"Why? If you're the one over it, YOU do it." Stuart's tone was petulant and cross and he scowled like a child being reprimanded by a teacher. "I'm not as certain that I'm finished with him."
Vince sighed, his expression softening to one of weary sadness. He spoke softly, his voice calm and tempered. "You promised, luv. And ending it is yours to do. Don't you think?"
Stuart looked to Brian again and Vince followed his gaze. Brian was watching them curiously with a small knit in his brow. Presently, he excused himself from the group of admiring guests and strode across the polished floor to where they stood.
"Okay, you guys are freakin' me out," he said. "What's with all these furtive glances? What's going on?"
Vince looked at Stuart expectantly, but he said nothing. He watched while his lover squirmed under the intent gaze, clearly battling with the last ounce of his rebellion. For a cold instant, Vince actually thought Stuart would break his word and refuse to end their association with the American. But then, finally, the handsome brunette heaved a reluctant sigh and turned to Brian.
"I need to speak to you," he said. "Alone."
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Brian:
It wasn't as though he hadn't expected it. He always knew his addictive playtime with Stuart and Vince would come to an end eventually. But if he was honest with himself, Brian was a little bit angry. No one had ever broken up with him in his life and he was completely ill equipped to deal with it. He had also never cared for anyone on this level, which made the whole thing just that much nastier.
"Okay," he said, glancing around the bustling ballroom for someplace he and Stuart could go to speak privately. He was accustomed to looking for corners and closets in which to drag willing sexual partners, but he'd never had to look for a quite place to be dumped before. His heart wasn't really in it.
"Here," Stuart said, taking his arm and leading him back around the piano to a doorway marked `employee access only'. He pushed the bar and opened the door, preceding Brian into an echoey stairwell.
When the door closed behind them, the echo intensified and Brian hated the presence of it. Not only was he about to be humiliated and quite possibly hurt, but he would have to go through it with reverb. He leaned against the door and slid his hands into his pockets, looking at the delectable Stuart Jones openly.
"You know, this is terribly uncool of you," Brian said. "Bringing me down on this particular night."
"You know what I'm meant to say, yeah?" Stuart said. He tugged his fingers through his dark curls and regarded Brian almost sheepishly.
"I have a good idea."
"Vince is making me."
"Mm hm." Brian offered a tiny smile. "But we both know you wouldn't do it if you didn't want to, Stuey."
Shaking his head and sighing, Stuart stepped forward until his hands were touching Brian's chest. His fingers played with the silky Armani tie, softly stroking Brian's skin through his shirt.
"I don't want to, really," he whispered. "I'd keep you around for the rest of our lives if I could."
"No you wouldn't," Brian said. He pressed his lips to Stuart's smooth forehead. "You're getting married on Saturday. And I hate to tell you this, baby, but you're getting the good end of that deal."
Stuart chuckled softly. "Piss off," he said. "I'm a fantastic catch."
"Yeah," Brian teased. "But Vince is fucking prince."
He sighed again, stepping even closer to Brian in the hollow sounding stairwell. "I, um . . . just want you to know that . . ."
Brian kissed his forehead again, then his hot cheek, making his way down to Stuart's satiny, ruby colored lips. The kiss only lasted for a second, but Brian felt it all over his body. Inside, as well. That kiss moved through him like a wave.
"If I'd met you at another time," Stuart murmured, eyes closed, his dark lashes resting on his cheeks. "Before me and Vince . . . it would have been different . . ."
"Yeah," Brian agreed, pulling back so they could look at each other. "If I'd met you at a different time, you and I would have fucked once--maybe. Maybe not. We might have just blown each other off and never said a word. But if I'd met you before you and Vince got together, none of this EVER would have happened. And you know it."
Stuart's blue eyes drilled into Brian's. He licked his lips and leaned in for one more kiss.
"Are you hurt by this?" Stuart asked.
At first Brian just looked away, but then he looked back and held Stuart's gaze intently. "I don't think I have to answer that."
"No," he said. "But would you, anyway?"
"Why? So you can have the satisfaction of knowing you got to me? You already know that."
A tiny smile tugged Stuart's lips and he stepped back, shaking his head. "Brian, you're such a twat. Never mind."
They looked at each other for a long time, the sounds from the party muffled by the heavy door.
"I'll miss you," Stuart said finally, his voice a soft husk.
"Of course you will," Brian smirked.
Reaching for the door handle, Stuart laughed. "Still a cheeky bastard. It never ends with you." He opened the door and they walked through it, the swirling crowd welcoming them back to the spirited celebration.
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