DeAnna Zankich
Sequel is | Mailboxes and Mistletoe
Summary: Slush, slush and more slush, but this is a segue into the next series. Have to drop one shoe to make you interested in 2hen the other will fall . . .
Warnings: None
On their way out of the department store Romey stopped to peer into a glass display case at the jewelry counter. A tiny pair of sapphire earrings perched on a white velvet covered stand had her attention. Stuart came up behind her with Alfred strapped to his chest in a baby sling. The little boy was sleeping soundly, pressed against the warmth of his father's body.
"For you or for Lisa?" he asked, regarding the jewelry case.
"For me, actually." Romey set down her shopping bag that was full of the other purchases they had made that day and motioned for the salesman behind the counter. She indicated her interest in the sapphire earrings and he got them out of the case, placing them on the glass counter in front of her. "I have this dress I want to wear for Lisa's office Christmas party and I don't have the right earrings." She held the sapphire studs up to her ear and looked at her reflection in a small standing mirror on the counter.
"I'll get them for you," he said. "When's the party?"
"Tomorrow night. You don't have to. I'm fully prepared to buy them myself."
"You never let me buy you anything. You complain every time I give you a present."
She sighed. "I don't complain, Stuart, you just go overboard and get me such extravagant things. I never know what to say."
He smiled. "Romey, you had a kid for me. Buying you presents is the least I can do."
She kissed his cheek and gave him a playful smile. "Well, it wasn't ALL for you. Is Thrive having a holiday party?"
He nodded. "It's Friday." He wandered over to an adjoining case in which watches and bracelets were on display.
"Is Vince going with you?"
"Yeah, but I haven't asked him yet." Something in the case got his attention and he leaned in closer to inspect it.
"It's only two days away," she said. "Shouldn't you give him some notice or are you just being a bastard and assuming he won't have plans?"
"That's it," he said, distractedly. "That's what I'm doing." He knelt down to look at the object of interest in the case from a different angle and the salesmen asked if he wanted something taken out. "Yeah, could I see this watch? The silver Gucci."
Romey walked over and stood beside him as the salesmen unlocked the other case, then set the Gucci watch in question out for Stuart to see.
"Oh, how lovely," she said, her eye catching the tiny price tag dangling from the wristband. 875.00. "Not for Vince."
"Don't you think it's HIM?" Stuart draped the watch over his wrist and looked at it, speculatively. "I like it."
"He'd never wear it every day," Romey said.
"Sure he would. It's not that flash."
"No, but it's a fancy designer timepiece. He would feel uncomfortable. We're talking about Vince, here."
"Well, he can wear it for special occasions." Stuart smiled at her. " So, can I get you the earrings?"
She looked down at the baby for a moment, sleeping so peacefully against her friend's chest. "All right," she said. "And thank you very much."
"At least I know you LIKE them," Stuart said, then he looked at the salesman. "I'll take both--the watch and the earrings."
"Would you like the watch gift wrapped, sir?"
"Nah. Just put in the box it came in. I'll give it to him tonight."
"It's not for Christmas?" she said, surprised.
"I got him some other things for Christmas. I just like this watch."
"You're mad," she said, nudging him. "You lavish presents on him all the time, don't you? Fantastic, expensive things."
He shrugged. "So? I've got plenty of money, might as well."
"All under his vehement, blushing protest, no doubt," she said, laughing at him gently.
"That's the fun of it," Stuart said. "Do you have time for dinner?"
"Oh, my. I'm actually getting you for an entire afternoon?"
He took out his credit card and handed it to the salesman. "Are you saying you miss me, Ms. Sullivan?"
She held onto his arm, affectionately. "I must say that I've felt quite bonded to you since Alfred's arrival. It's sort of . . . primal, I believe. I have indeed found myself wanting to see you more often."
He looked at her for a long, thoughtful moment before he spoke again. "Are you happy? You and Lisa?"
"Yes, I think so. I mean, we've managed to stay together as lovers while remaining good friends for six years. We seem to be doing something right."
"Yeah, but are you happy? You know, is there still passion and all that?"
She lowered her chin and gave him an incredulous look. "You CAN'T want details, Stuart."
He chuckled. "I dunno, is it any good?"
Laughing, Romey shook her head. "Contrary to what you might believe, Lisa is a wonderful lover. She's very generous and tender."
"Tender," he grumbled, disgustedly. "It's always about being tender with women. What about shagging, Romey? Don't you ever just want a good fuck?"
She eyed him, suspiciously. "DO you want details?"
The salesman came back to them with the jewelry boxed up and in a small bag. He handed Stuart his credit card and the slip for him to sign, together with a fancy Monte Blanc pen. Romey figured they reserved that pen for the big spenders because she hadn't seen it on the counter before. Stuart signed the slip and took his receipt, then he dropped his purchase into Romey's shopping bag.
"Don't let me forget the watch," he said.
"I won't." She hooked his arm and they started toward the department store exit, strolling slowly, two friends out Christmas shopping on a winter afternoon. She was happy to be with him that day, especially since he was in such a good mood. He'd even changed the baby's nappies twice with no complaint whatsoever. Did a right good job of it, as well. Romey wondered if Stuart was aware of how he was mellowing under Vince's influence, but she thought better of mentioning it. "So, why the sudden interest in my relationship?"
"I dunno," he said. "I guess I was just wondering if couples that have been together for years still want each other sexually. You're the only person I know whose in a long term relationship that hasn't ended in some bitter break-up."
"Your parents," she teased.
"Funny joke. Just picture THAT conversation."
She laughed, but it was tinged with concern. "Stuart, why can't you tell them you're gay?"
He shook his head, frowning and Romey instantly regretted asking the question.
"It's none of their business," he said, softly.
"But, you're nearly thirty years old. And you're in a relationship now. What about Vince? Don't you think he might want to be acknowledged by your family as your partner?"
"They already think of him like that," Stuart said. "No reason to tell them any of the gory details. Vince has been a constant in my life for sixteen years. Why can't my parents just keep on thinking what they've always thought."
"And what have they always thought?" she asked, looking in his eyes.
"That he's my best friend and we spend a lot of time together," he said, his tone mildly defensive.
"Are you certain they don't already know?"
He shook his head, breathing a bitter laugh. "No chance." He pushed open the glass door and held it for her as they stepped out into the chilly Manchester night.
* * *
Vince:
"Where are you, then?"
"Just dropped Romey and Alfred at home. We went for dinner."
"That's nice," Vince said, smiling to himself. It always made him happy when Stuart spent time with his baby. And it seemed that he'd been seeing quite a lot of Romey lately, as well, rather than just going to her house to pick Alfred up then leaving with him. "Are you heading home?"
"No . . ." Stuart cooed. "I haven't been shagged today, have I? I'm coming to yours." Vince felt that tingly, falling rush in his belly at the thought of Stuart wanting to be with him. Even after three months of being a couple, Vince still thought it was all some mad and wonderful dream from which he would wake at any minute. "I'll be here."
"See you in ten minutes." Stuart hung up.
Vince stretched out on the couch with the remote, a big grin stuck to his face. He wondered how long this giddy feeling was going to last and thinking about it going away made him feel sad. Three months-- almost to the day. It hadn't been easy, that was sure, but after all the struggles of the beginning of a relationship, he and Stuart were still together. And as far as Vince could tell, his lover had been completely faithful.
Of course, Vince's biggest fear was that Stuart would get bored and grow restless as a result. So far, his leniency with Stuart's flirtatious nature had proven to be the right course of action, even though the execution of it was sometimes extremely difficult. Vince had learned many things about himself in those first three months, but one of the most surprising lessons had been to find that he was extremely possessive. Almost violently so. On several occasions while he and Stuart were out clubbing, he'd almost come to blows with blokes trying to cop off with his lover. These displays of jealousy pleased Stuart to no end and they were always followed by wild, passionate sex.
And the sex was another thing. True, it had been quite an adjustment for Vince to match Stuart's voracious appetite, but once he'd grown accustomed to shagging almost constantly, everything was fine. They had no shortage of attraction for each other, which helped, but the dramatic increase in sexual output had been a bit of a struggle for him. He'd resorted to taking vitamins and even considered sampling Viagra. But Stuart was patient and he knew that in a short while Vince's body would adjust to the new demands. He had been right.
Vince could hear Stuart's footsteps on the stairs coming up to his front door. He stayed put, knowing Stuart would use his key. After a light knock, the key jingled in the lock and Stuart pushed the sticky door on its off-balanced hinge and came in.
"You have got to get that bloody door fixed," he said, dropping his keys on the kitchen table then walking around the couch. He stood there for a moment just looking down at his lover and smirking.
"I don't know," Vince said. "It sort of suits the place, that dodgy door. If I fix it, I'm afraid the place will lose some of its character."
Stuart shook his head. He wore jeans and soft black boots and a dark green turtle neck showed under his leather jacket. He reached into the pocket of his jacket and took out a square box, then he peeled the jacket off and draped it over a chair. Walking over to sit on the couch next to Vince, he picked up his wrist and went about removing his watch.
"What are you doing?" Vince asked.
"I got you a new one," he said, slipping the old watch off and putting it on the corner table. He picked up the square box with the Gucci logo printed on the lid and opened it, taking out the glinting silver timepiece inside.
"Stuart, what have you done?" Vince eyed the new watch with amazement knowing just by looking at it that it must have cost at least five or six hundred quid.
Stuart slipped it on his boyfriend's wrist, fastening the band just below that ever-present silver bracelet. He smiled proudly at the way it looked on. "See?" he said. "I told Romey it was you. She didn't think you'd like it."
Vince sat up and looked at the new bit of jewelry with his jaw dangling. "I can't wear this! Someone'll rob me. I'll be attacked in the street!"
Stuart laughed, softly. "If someone wants it that badly, let `em have it. I'll get you another one." He sat back against the couch cushion, leaning over Vince's legs comfortably. "Do you like it, though?"
"It's beautiful." Vince turned his wrist up and down, then held his arm out a bit to see it from a distance. "If I wear this at work, everyone will think it's a knock-off."
"So? You'll know it isn't."
Vince looked at him, his face set seriously. "I don't think I can wear it every day."
Chuckling, Stuart said, "Romey knew you'd say that. Just wear it. It wasn't all that expensive. It's not a Rolex or anything. It's just something I thought would look nice on you. And it does." He leaned forward and kissed Vince's lips sweetly.
"It's lovely. Really. Thanks." He admired the watch again, turning his wrist around and watching the light from the telly glint off the buffed silver.
Stuart looked at him for a long time, just sitting there with wheels turning in his head. Vince had grown accustomed to these long, thoughtful silences over the years and he knew better than to ask the brunette what was on his mind. Stuart would clue him in when he was ready. Vince just waited.
"I didn't sleep very well last night," he said finally.
"No?"
"I never do anymore when you're not there."
Vince smiled. "I had to help Hazel with that banking project-- otherwise, she'd have cocked it up to no end. We were up `til all hours. I was dead tired, anyway. Just came back here and crashed out."
Stuart looked at him, a tiny grin tugging his plum lips. "I want to sleep with you and wake up with you every day, Vince."
Sighing, he said, "Oh, no. We're not having the moving in together discussion again, are we? I thought you came here to get shagged."
"It's ridiculous, us having two flats! We're together every day, anyway. Just move in."
"Stuart, I'm not . . ."
"Wha'? You're not what? Not ready? Not interested? Not ever going to move in? Vince, it's time for the next level. What are you waiting for?"
Vince flopped back down on the pillows behind him, covering his face with his hands. "I'm just not sure it's a good idea," he said, wearily. "Everything's going so well now . . . what if we move in together and suddenly it all goes to shit? I will have given up my flat and you will have given up your privacy."
"Right," Stuart said, stretching out on the couch next to Vince. They were pressed close together, touching everywhere, and Stuart draped his arm over his lover's waist. "Here's what I'll do. If, by some chance, you move in with me and we break up--I promise to pay for you to get another flat--anywhere you like. And I won't ever ask you to pay me back. That way you have nothing to lose. No risk. How about that?"
Vince started to protest--to spout his pat argument about not wanting Stuart to pay for anything for him and all that standard rot--but Stuart stopped him, covering his mouth with a soft, wet kiss.
"Don't tell me no," he said, quietly. He shifted on the couch so he was on top of Vince, straddling him with his lean, strong legs. "Don't deprive me of the comfort of my lover's body next to me in bed. I miss you so badly when you're not there." He lifted Vince's t-shirt and rubbed his nose against the warm skin there, placing soft kisses on each of his nipples.
This tactic was completely unfair. Vince was powerless to it. His body heated up and responded to Stuart's touch and proximity instinctively, all his senses coming alive at once. He breathed a moan and slid his fingers under Stuart's sweater, stroking the silky skin slowly.
"Say yes . . ." the brunette urged, wiggling his hips in response to the soft stroking. "Come and live with me."
Vince looked at him, peering into those gray blue eyes. "Can my fish come, too?"
Smiling beautifully, Stuart said, "the fish, the couch and all seven Dr. Whos."
"Seven?" Vince said, mock serious. "What about Paul McGann?"
"Paul McGann doesn't count," they said together, grinning like kids.
"So, you'll do it?" Stuart said. "You'll move in?"
Petting those dark, satiny curls, Vince said, "yeah, all right. I'll move in."
Stuart kissed him over and over, giggling and smiling. "We can have you settled in by Christmas," he said. "We'll have a huge party!"
"That's only three weeks," Vince said, his reflexive anxiety kicking into high gear. So many preparations, so much to organize. "I have to give notice, I have to pack . . . there's too much to do in that little time."
"I'll help you," Stuart said, calmly, like he always did when Vince wigged out. "We can hire movers to pack, so that's no problem. Just don't worry. I mean, I know you can't help it, but try not to worry so MUCH." His eyes twinkled, happily. "You're going to love what I got you for Christmas."
"Oh my God, Stuart, you can't spend any more money on me! It's ridiculous!"
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "You need to relax. Really. Besides, the gift I'm most pleased about didn't cost me anything. Well, I had to promise Marie I'd baby-sit once over the holidays, but that was all."
"We could get the boys to help me move house," Vince suggested, playfully.
"Fat lot o' good they'd be. Moaning and whining the whole time."
"Then, we'll get the lesbians."
"Now you're thinking." Stuart laughed, brightly. "We can start this weekend. After my company party on Friday. Did I mention that?"
"You mentioned it, yeah," Vince said. "But you haven't asked me to be your date."
He groaned, lowering his forehead onto Vince's chest. "It'll be dead boring. You don't have to go. I'm only going `cos I have to."
"Where is it?"
"At our offices. We're having some party planners come in to decorate and cater. Sandra had to sort it all out. She's been doing nothing else but that for a week."
"Well, if you don't want me to go . . ." Vince said, hedging teasingly. "Like, if there's some bloke in your office you fancy and you want him to think you're single . . . or whatever."
"Vince," Stuart said, flatly. "You've seen the blokes in my office. Boring, bland and all business. Most of them are married with small kids--all of them straight. Why do you think Burton hired me? The company needed some fuckin' blood pumping in its veins."
"Then, let's go liven it up a bit." Vince lifted his eyebrows, lasciviously. "We could get up to no good in the copy room."
Stuart grinned, pushing Vince's shirt off over his head. "We could fax That Fucking Lisa a photocopy of my naked arse."
"Cheeky bastard," Vince said, laughing at his own pun. He pulled Stuart up by his shoulders and kissed him, deeply, savoring the delicious flavor of his mouth.
"Seriously," Stuart said. "You don't have to go."
"I want to."
"Don't blame me if it's a stifling bore."
Smiling, Vince kissed his lover's smooth throat. "I can't recall one time in the last sixteen years where I've been bored when I'm with you."
Wrapping his arms around Vince, Stuart slipped his tongue into his mouth, getting the ball rolling on that shag he always seemed to need so badly.
(continued in yet another series--this one with a theme and some little surprises for you guys)
Home Page