DeAnna Zankich
Sequel is | Sugar Kisses
Summary: Stuart's indiscretions with Brian come back to haunt him in several surprising ways.
Warnings: B&D, S&M
Author Notes: Mild S&M.
Just as he got into a cab to go home that night, his mobile chirped in his pocket. Vince grabbed the device and looked at the display, but the reading said "caller anonymous". He told the driver their address and account number, then he answered the call.
"Hel-loh?"
The connection was weak and far away and he knew instantly that it was Brian.
"Vince?"
"Yeah--Brain. How are ya?"
"Fine. Listen, is Stuart with you?"
"No, so I can't really--"
"Hang on, man. You're going to want to hear this. I'm not calling to flirt, I just want you to know that I got an email from your boyfriend today. He sent it from his office which is why I wanted to make sure you knew about it."
Vince sighed, flopping back into the seat. He shook his head and pursed his lips irritably. "Brian, I can't stop him from flirting. I told him that at the beginning. And like I said . . . it would be stupid of me to tell him he can't interact with you. He's just . . . not meant to do it on his own . . ."
"He didn't flirt," Brian said. "He invited me to your wedding."
Vince's eyes widened and his heart hammered in his chest.
"I would certainly love to come," Brian continued. "But I didn't want to make any plans until I knew the invitation was mutual." He paused and the long distance cellular line crackled. "Is it?"
Unable to respond at that moment, Vince just sighed. "Brian . . . I need to speak to him about it before I answer, all right?"
"Of course. Well, let me know. If you decide it's all right, I'll just come out with Kate."
"Okay . . ." Vince said. "I mean, it's not that we don't want you there . . . it's just . . ."
"I know what it is," Brian said, laughing softly. "Just let me know. See ya."
The line went dead and Vince pocketed his phone again. Letting his head back against the taxi's seat cushion, he took a few deep breaths and tried to process his feelings. Was he angry? Was he disappointed? Did he want to scream? No. He felt none of those
things. What he felt was frustrated and a bit desperate. Vince felt like he had to do something palpable to get Stuart's attention and to let him know this was not an acceptable way to behave with Brian Kinney. But . . . the question was . . . what?
As the street lamps blew by the cab, he let his imagination run loose . . . a little further than usual . . . a little deeper into his own well of past experience . . . he was looking for something that would be useful to him then. Something . . . anything poignant enough so his ornery lover would take notice. Thinking back, Vince reckoned he had something that might just do the trick.
* * *
Stuart:
When he opened the front door that night, he was glad to see Vince was already home. He felt guilty about not discussing inviting Brian to the wedding and he wanted to talk about it right away.
"Hey," he said, dropping his keys on the counter.
Vince was standing in front of the fridge with the door open, inspecting the contents with dismay. "Hiya," he said, lacing his arm around Stuart's waist as he came up beside him. "We need to order something for dinner. We've got nothing here." Vince closed the
door and turned to his lover with an odd little smile. "Hungry?"
"Yeah," Stuart said. He pressed up against Vince's side with his whole body, snuggling in a standing position. Running his tongue over Vince's bottom lip, he was surprised by the heat of his flesh. He looked in Vince's eyes then touched his face with the backs of his
fingers. "You feel so hot, luv. Are you all right?"
"I suppose," Vince replied, that strange smile still lighting his eyes.
Frowning, Stuart pressed his hand to his lover's forehead. "You got a fever?"
"No." Vince turned to face Stuart, holding his hips in his hands. "Are you starving or can you wait a bit to eat?"
"I can wait. Why? What's up?"
Vince just looked at him for a long moment, seeming to search Stuart's eyes.
"Vince, what?"
Stepping back a bit, Vince took Stuart's hand and walked him out to the front of the kitchen counter. He turned to face him again and gave Stuart another soft kiss.
"I'd like you to take off all your clothes," he said, his voice soft and his tone firm.
Without a moment's hesitation, Stuart smiled devilishly and tugged his turtleneck over his head, letting it drop at his feet. Then he toed off his shoes and socks and reached for his black leather belt. He kissed Vince while he unbuckled it then began to slide it off
slowly.
"Put that in my hand," Vince instructed, his eyes indicating the belt.
Stuart's heart thumped hard and then began beating very fast. He licked his lips and then handed over the belt.
"Thank you," Vince said. His lovely blue eyes were intent and burned with an inner fire Stuart had never seen. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. "Now take off your trousers, please. And your shorts. All of it. I want you naked, Stuart."
Happy to comply, Stuart wiggled out of his trousers and underwear and kicked them aside. He was hard and a bit panicked and he couldn't recall the last time he'd felt so excited.
Still fully clothed, Vince stepped right up to him and cupped his balls in his right hand. Giving them a possessive squeeze, he kissed Stuart deeply, gently gnawing his lips. Stuart tingled all over and sighed with pleasure and anticipation. He had absolutely no idea what to expect from his lover and that fact thrilled him to no end.
"Turn around and face the counter," Vince whispered. "I want you to hold on." He reached out and placed Stuart's hands wide apart on the cool edge of the counter, then he pressed his body against Stuart's from behind. Growling low against his ear, he tapped Stuart's ankles apart with his foot. "Spread your legs, luv. Wide."
Stuart swallowed and did as he was told, pressing back against his lover's body. He adored the feeling of being naked while Vince was dressed, never once feeling any vulnerability. Stuart knew he was safe, wherever this new game took them.
Vince caressed his back slowly with both hands and Stuart could feel the strap of his own belt wound securely around his lover's hand. The leather was still warm and supple from being around his waist all day. Once again, Vince growled a whisper in his ear.
"You are such a naughty boy, Stuart," he said.
"Am I?" he said, breathlessly. He shivered and sighed, writhing against Vince lustfully.
"Mmm . . . you're the naughtiest boy I've ever met . . ." His warm fingers trailed down Stuart's spine to his ass where he stroked the smooth skin gently. His touch moved in slow caresses over each of Stuart's cheeks then down into the soft nether cleft between. Those satiny fingers caressed his anus and rubbed his balls from behind, then he continued down along the inside of Stuart's thighs. Each leg was pet and stroked, the fine hairs teased with Vince's nails and the fluttering pads of his fingertips. He urged Stuart's legs open until he was straining slightly to stay upright. To counterbalance, he
lifted his hips backward thus exposing his anus even more.
"Luv, I want you to reach between your legs with your left hand," Vince said as he took a step back. "Hold on to the counter with your right hand and use your left to gather your balls and protect them from my strap."
Stuart reached down with his left hand and cupped his balls, drawing them forward and out of harm's way. He glanced over his shoulder at Vince, his heart racing like mad and every nerve in his body thrumming. He swallowed.
Vince smiled lovingly at him and gave his hair a soft petting before he let out a length of the belt that was long enough to swing.
"Do you know I love you?" Vince purred.
"Yes . . ." Stuart's voice was a husk of ragged breath.
"Do you know why I have to punish you?" His large blue eyes twinkled with cunning.
Stuart gulped and licked his dry lips. "That email to Brian, I presume," he offered in a hoarse whisper.
Vince nodded, his brow raising. "That was a very naughty thing you did."
"I was going to tell you. Right when I came home . . ."
Stroking the length of leather through his hands to warm it again, Vince smiled and looked down for a moment. "The proper course of action would have been to tell me about it BEFORE you did it, yeah?"
Stuart only nodded.
"Tch, tch, tch." Vince shook his head, stepping forward again. He placed his left hand on Stuart's lower back then spread his legs slightly for balance. "Now . . . you'll just have to take your punishment, won't you? Like the bad little boy you are."
Stuart's cock throbbed and oozed pre-come in a big, wet drop that ran down the rigid shaft slowly. The thick liquid tickled as it rolled down and he felt it cooling in the air, calling even more attention to the sensation. He waited desperately for the first crack of the leather.
Vince kept watching his lover's face as he raised his arm. The warm strip of softened leather connected first with Stuart's left cheek, stinging wonderfully. Then Vince adjusted his swing and brought the belt down again, that time distributing the strap more evenly across both cheeks. The pointed end of the belt licked Stuart's hip with a burning snap as it was withdrawn and then it came down again and again and then he stopped.
Once again, that cool, soothing hand stroked over Stuart's tingling flesh and Vince kissed his neck and naked shoulder with great affection. Turning his head, Stuart devoured Vince's mouth, kissing him hungrily, desperately, his chest heaving with his labored
breathing.
"You don't think I'm going to let you shag Brian again, do you?" Vince whispered with a tiny smile tugging his lips. He looked in Stuart's eyes as he waited for a reply.
Licking his swollen lips and tasting Vince there, Stuart batted his eyes. "Yes," he said.
Vince's eyebrows raised and he laughed softly. "Oh, Stuart. What AM I going to do with you?" He placed his hand on Stuart's belly just below his navel urging his hips back and up, then he swung the belt again and stung the flesh at the tops of his thighs. The sound was amazing--loud, crisp and daunting but the sensation was merely a sharp
buzzing. It took ages of practice to learn to handle a strap that way and he had no idea where his sweet, innocent Vince had learned that skill. But Stuart couldn't think about that just then. He had other things on his mind.
Vince moved behind his lover, steadying him with his hand on Stuart's hip. He dragged the belt over the insides of Stuart's thighs slowly, torturously, caressing the tense skin. Stuart bit his lip and closed his eyes, knowing the next set of spanks were going to smart
seriously.
The stinging tip of the strap licked his thighs in three quick strokes--three on each side, so fast and precise that Stuart barely had time to breathe between the two crackling volleys.
"Oh my God . . ." he gasped, almost coming right then. He felt Vince kneel behind him and massage his reddened skin with his soft hands.
"You like that?" he asked.
"Yes . . ."
"You deserve it, you know. You deserved something far worse than the brush for sending that email. That was a terribly naughty thing to do." Vince parted his lover's cheeks with his thumbs and licked his anus almost roughly.
Stuart trembled trying to hold off his orgasm, but he was reeling with lust. He could hardly open his eyes and his cock itched and throbbed and pulsed with his rapid heartbeat. Then suddenly the rimming stopped and the belt came down again--that time with a succession of short wallops across his buttocks, up and down the flesh in equal parts on each side. Perfect. Vince was still kneeling which made his intense control seem even more amazing. He stroked Stuart's left thigh while peppering the right one with slaps of the belt, then he switched seamlessly without missing a beat.
Just as Stuart was about to collapse from desire, Vince stopped and stood up, walking to the counter where he set the belt down. He was out of breath and flushed and he looked absolutely beautiful.
With his jaw open in disbelief, Stuart looked from his lover's eyes to the belt and back again. "Oh, no. I know I was FAR naughtier than that. You can't stop!"
Vince chuckled. "Oh, don't worry, me lad. I'm not done with you yet. Come here." He held out his hand and Stuart took it, walking behind Vince up to the bedroom.
"Lie down on your belly," he said, guiding Stuart to the bed.
He crawled forward until he could lie flat on the cool comforter, carefully lowering his body down over his straining erect cock. The insides of his thighs and his butt cheeks were simmering with feeling and Stuart sighed, contentedly. "I know this is punishment," he said smiling. "But it's soooo lovely . . ."
Vince crawled onto the mattress beside and stretched out, leaning on his elbow so he could look down at his prone lover. "I'm glad you're enjoying this as much as I am."
"You . . . have SO much explaining to do," Stuart said, eyeing him skeptically.
Chuckling deep in his throat, Vince caressed his lover's hair. "We'll do that some other time. Right now, let's try my question again. All right?"
Stuart watched him, waiting.
"DO you expect me to let you shag Brian again if he comes out for the wedding?"
"Yes," Stuart said. "And I expect you to shag him with me."
Vince shook his head, letting out a deep breath. "I see you need a bit more punishing." He sat up and reached into the drawer beside the bed, taking out that shiny little brush.
"I thought I was far too naughty for the brush today."
Looking back at Stuart with wide, inquisitive eyes, Vince said, "so you like the belt, then?"
"I like the belt." Stuart said giggling. "You're bloody brilliant with it."
"All right." Vince put the brush back in the drawer and trotted down the steps to the kitchen to retrieve the black leather belt. When he returned, he climbed on the mattress below Stuart and pulled him down toward the foot of the bed by his ankles. His cock scraped against the soft comforter as he slid and the friction almost sent him into
orbit. Stuart groaned with pleasure.
Laughing wickedly, Vince pulled him all the way to the edge of the bed until his knees touched the floor. Vince grabbed one of the pillows from under the comforter, bringing it back to tuck under Stuart's knees. Standing off to the side a bit so Stuart could see
him, he rolled up his sleeves then gathered the belt around his hand again.
"I can really wail on you from this position," he said. "Do you want me to do it harder than I was?"
"A bit harder, yeah."
Vince chewed his bottom lip, eyes glinting happily. "You never stop surprising me, Stuart."
"Neither do you."
They grinned at each other and then Vince braced himself on the mattress with his left knee raised. He drew out about a foot and a half of the leather, warmed it with his hand, then struck it backhand across his lover's ass.
"Ow!" Stuart yelped. "That hurts . . ."
"Hurts in a bad way?"
He had to think about it for a moment, breathing hard and gauging the intensity of the sting as it subsided. "No," he said finally. "It's good. Do it like that."
Vince raised the belt again and then began another sweeping series of strokes that seemed impossibly fast yet totally controlled. Each smack had the same consistency--the same burn as the one before it and the one that followed. Stuart moaned and wiggled, instinctively bouncing to escape the belt but dying for it to find him again. He gripped the comforter and clenched his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut until tears slid down his face.
Pressing his lover's thighs apart with his knee, Vince returned the belt to that sensitive skin, spanking the long muscles and tender flesh with such grace and precision that Stuart froze not wanting to interfere with the excellence of the onslaught. Each thigh was smacked evenly and equally, up and down from knee to cheek and back again. And then Vince tossed the belt aside, breathing hard, and flopped on the bed beside his lover.
They looked at each with wide eyes, laughing like kids and trying to catch their breath.
"Oh my God," Stuart said, wishing he could crawl into Vince's lap and snog him `til he couldn't breath, but Stuart was immobilized. His limbs were heavy and tingly and his cock was so hard it hurt. "I have NEVER felt like this before in my life," he sighed.
"I was thinking," Vince said, still struggling to breathe normally. "Your parents never spanked you and Marie, did they?"
"Wasn't their way. Guilt and mental manipulation--revoked privileges, that sort of thing. Never physical threats."
"Right. That's your problem, then." He was grinning playfully. "You've been naughty your entire life--every day getting worse and worse--trying like hell to make somebody spank you." Vince rolled onto his back and laughed out loud. "You'll probably turn
into a bloody lap dog now that I've finally given you a proper whipping!"
Stuart just looked at him, only half smiling, and waiting for him to stop laughing. Finally, Vince turned his head and looked in Stuart's eyes.
"I'm joking," he said when he saw the rather serious expression on his lover's face. "You know that, right?"
"I know. Have you got your strength back?"
"Yeah. I'm fine now."
"Lovely. Fuck me, then."
For a moment Vince just laid there looking at him with a crooked, sexy little grin on his face. Then he was off the bed like a shot flinging his clothes off like they were burning his skin. Stuart's limbs were still far too heavy for him to move quickly, but he rolled
over onto his back and slithered up the mattress to get to the night table drawer. He took out the bottle of lube, tossing back to Vince who caught it in mid-air.
"I want to be in your lap," Stuart said softly, pushing himself up to a sitting position.
Vince crawled up to him and sat down, pulling Stuart into his lap by his hips. He drew Stuart's legs around his waist, stroking the hairs on his thighs with his fingers. Looking up into Stuart's eyes, Vince kissed his lips. "Can you reach the drawer?"
"Yeah." He leaned back and pulled it open again. "What do you want in here?"
"Feel around for a little jar. Should be right near the front."
Stuart held onto Vince's shoulders and leaned back as far as he could, searching around in the drawer for anything that felt like a jar. His fingers brushed a wide, flat lid and he grabbed it, taking it out to read the label: Ponds.
"It's cold cream," he said. "You can't fuck me with this."
"Of course not," Vince said, taking the cream out of his hand. "It's for your skin. For the welts."
"I have welts?" He ran his hand over his backside and winced as he touched a few hot, raised spots on his skin. "Ooh. You really had a go at me."
"You said you wanted it hard . . ." Vince squeezed some lube into his hand and stroked Stuart's cock with the slick substance.
Finally having attention on that swollen, tingling organ, Stuart almost passed out from pleasure. He was so hard he felt like he might burst and every stroke of his lover's hand made his nipples throb and his anus clench hungrily. He covered Vince's mouth with a
wet kiss, tasting his tongue and sucking his lips.
"Are you really angry?" he whispered into the kiss.
"Shhhhh . . ." Vince's fingers slipped between his legs and greased his pucker gently before sliding up inside him.
Stuart figured he'd go back to the kissing part and talk later.
"Up," Vince guided his lover's hips, lifting him and positioning his cock at that hot opening.
As soon as he felt Vince's cockhead inserted, Stuart squirmed and lowered himself down, swallowing his lover's erection whole. He moaned and kissed Vince ravenously, raising himself up with his legs while Vince lifted him with his hands.
"Slowly . . ." Vince murmured, his grasp tightening just enough to gain control of their speed. "I want to feel every inch of you . . ."
Stuart dropped his head back and moaned loudly, shuddering and tingling everywhere. He felt Vince suckling his nipples, biting them gently as his cock slid in and out of Stuart's body. He felt like he might die, it all felt so incredible. His skin was alive and warm and everything seemed to be humming with pleasure. Even his hair brushing his shoulders as he leaned back felt utterly delicious.
Vince's cock rubbed across his prostate slowly every time he entered and every time he slid out. He felt his lover's hand gently pulling his erection with slick fingers and then everything around him seemed to slow down . . . ripples of pleasure washed over his entire body and he saw colors on the back of his closed eyelids. Stuart felt like he was part of a well-working machine as he rode Vince's cock in slow, even strokes. He felt his own cock spasm and squirt semen but all he really felt was a continuous, intense blur of pleasure, like one long contraction squeezing his body all at once, draining him in
one giant breath.
Warmth radiated inside him as Vince came and then they were falling toward the mattress and the pillows, rolling together in a long, wet kiss. Their limbs tangled and they pressed their bodies tightly against each other, breathing in, smelling, tasting and caressing. Stuart ended up lying on top of Vince with his legs still around his
waist and his head on Vince's chest.
"Christ . . ." he breathed, his heart still pounding.
"All right?" Vince stroked his spine with light fingers.
"I . . . have NEVER been so relaxed in my entire life."
Vince kissed the curls at the top of his head then he shifted under him as he reached for that jar of Ponds.
Stuart laid still just breathing with his eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of Vince's body and the ongoing, sweet vibration of pleasure lingering in all his nerve endings.
"This will cold at first," Vince whispered and then his fingers touched Stuart's buttocks with that chilly cream.
He opened his eyes and looked up, almost ready to make some sort of protest about temperature, but then his lover smoothed the ointment over a particularly tender welt on Stuart's right cheek and the combination of pleasure and tickling pain was too luscious to
ignore. He let out a long sigh, then smiled and put his head back down.
Vince kissed his curls again, his fingers working slowly with the cool cream, soothing the simmering skin all over Stuart backside. It felt wonderful and he started to feel drowsy. Before he could drift off, Vince moved under him and shifted him until he was lying on his belly on the comforter. Vince lay beside him with the jar of cream and gently soothed it over the backs of his thighs. Each of the warm little welts seemed to drink up the cream when it came across them and Stuart sighed contentedly.
Feeling loved and completely safe, he fell into a deep, tranquil sleep almost immediately.
He woke up about an hour later and Vince was lying beside him under the top sheet reading a book. Stuart moaned and stretched, curling into his lover's body for warmth.
"Nice nap?" Vince asked, gently petting his hair.
"Mmmm . . ." He played with the soft hairs on Vince's belly as he lay close to him. "Are you really angry?"
"You were very naughty," he said again.
"Yeah. But ARE you really angry?" He looked up almost fearfully, not at all certain what he would see in those pale blue eyes.
Vince had a little smile on his handsome face. His hair was still messed up from their play and his evening beard glistened on his chin. "If I were really angry, Stuart, I never would have done that to you. I'd never hurt you, luv. Just wanted to get your attention."
Stuart grinned. "You certainly did that." He sat up gingerly, his entire backside feeling deliciously bruised--both from the belt and from the deep, penetrating shag he'd gotten. "I don't know why I did it really."
Vince set his book aside and folded his hands across his naked belly. "Do you really want him to come to the wedding?"
Stuart shrugged. "Don't think I really care about that. I think I just . . ."
"Wanted to see him again?" Vince offered gently.
Frowning, Stuart rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with his fingers. "I suppose."
"Well . . . what if I say no?"
Looking at his lover with surprised eyes, Stuart didn't quite know what to say. "Uh . . . well, I . . ."
Vince laughed softly, leaning forward to kiss Stuart's lips. "I don't honestly know what I'm going to say," he said. "But it's very possible I might say no. So . . . you should get used to that idea. I might just put my foot down, Stuart. I'm not sharing you."
"I don't want to be shared," he said. "I want US to share Brian. Like we did."
"I know what you want," Vince said. "You've got that lad's scent up your nose and you can't get it out. It's like Nathan only here . . . there's a bit more danger, isn't there?"
Crinkling his brow, Stuart said, "what do you mean?"
"Well . . . you care for Brian. And he could give me a run for my money if I'm not careful. If I don't regulate your interaction with him--he might just nick you away."
Stuart was laughing before he even thought about it. "That's the stupidest thing I've heard in ages! First of all, Brian doesn't want or need a boyfriend. AND--he's a bloody twat! I like him, yeah, but Christ, he's such a selfish little fucker. I couldn't be with anyone like that."
"'Course not," Vince said, grinning cheekily. "Then YOU couldn't be a selfish little fucker."
Stuart scowled and looked down, not caring for the painful reminder of his own his flaws. No one could zing him about that worse than Vincent Tyler.
Sighing, Vince raised his lover's chin on the end of his finger. "Ah, come on, then. Don't pout. I'm not sure what I'm going to say about Brian. I just haven't decided yet. I need to think on it more."
"I don't want to BE with him, Vince. I love you."
"I know you do. But that doesn't stop what I see between you and him."
"We're not . . . it's not like THAT. We're just interested in each other. Not to be boyfriends, just to . . . know each other. We're curious."
"Regardless," Vince said. "Will you please wait to do anything more or speak to him again until I do decide?"
Stuart picked at the edge of a pillowcase and kept his eyes down. "Yeah," he agreed. "I'll wait."
"Promise?"
He looked into Vince's eyes and offered a tiny, rueful smile. "Promise."
Vince took his chin in his hand and pulled him in for a kiss. "Thank you."
They decided to go out for dinner at an Indian place around the corner from the flat. On the way there, the boys stopped at a newsagent. They wanted to pick up some magazines on garden landscaping to get some ideas for the wedding.
The racks of publications were outside under a plastic awning and Vince had gone inside to buy some gum. Stuart perused the magazines in the home and garden section, taking down a few that looked like they might be of use. While he browsed, another man walked up to the stand. Stuart barely glanced at him, just noted his presence and the
fact that he was looking in the porn section of the racks. The man stood about ten feet away and Stuart could feel him staring.
Reaching for another magazine, Stuart made certain to show his left hand--to show his ring so the other man could see it. This still did not stop him from staring and his eyes began to drill holes in the sides of Stuart's head. Finally, he looked over with an irritated
frown.
"I'm not interested, okay?" he said. "I'm married." He flashed his ring again then went back to looking at the home and garden magazines.
The man kept staring, smirking slightly. He took a few steps toward Stuart and then he spoke in a low voice. "I've seen you, mate. Down in the village."
"So?" Stuart said petulantly, not making eye contact.
"In fact . . . you taste quite nice as I recall. We had a lovely snog that night at Babylon."
Stuart looked at the man then, scanning him, trying to recall if they'd had each other. Vaguely he wondered what was taking Vince so long just to buy gum. "I don't remember," he said coolly. "Sorry."
"Well, you wouldn't," the man said, stepping even closer. He was taller than Stuart by several inches, lean and wiry with close- cropped dark hair and greenish-hazel eyes. He was near enough then that he only had to whisper to be heard. "You were quite pissed.
And distracted, as well."
Stuart just stared at him, not wishing to encourage him with a reply.
"This was only a few weeks ago," the man continued undaunted. "You and your partner must be into public exhibition. Or at least I'm assuming that was your partner who was polishing your knob with his tongue on that bar room table."
Stuart breathed a sarcastic laugh. "Not that it's any of your business," he said, looking away again.
"Of course not," the man said. "But if that bloke wasn't your partner . . . then maybe you're open to. . ."
"He wasn't," Stuart snapped. "That bloke is a friend. Again, this is none of your bloody business. And I've already said I'm not interested so why don't you fuck off, mate."
The man only smiled challengingly. "He was just a friend, eh? Well, I could be your friend." He took one more step forward and that was one step too many.
Stuart moved away, glaring at him. "I said fuck off."
Vince stepped out onto the sidewalk then and instantly took in the exchange under the awning. Wordlessly, he stepped up to his lover and stood right behind him, protective, possessive and just slightly threatening.
"What's all this, then?" he said, looking at the other man closely.
"Nothin'," Stuart said. "He was just leaving."
The man shook his head sarcastically and walked off muttering to himself.
Stuart sighed, irritated and angered by the whole exchange. He realized he was shaking and that pissed him off even more.
Vince turned him around by the shoulders and looked in his eyes. "What was all that about? Who was he?"
"Just some bloke," he said. "Trying to cop off with me and wouldn't take no for an answer."
Vince looked down the street after the man, his brow knit unhappily. "Twat. What, is he blind?" He picked up Stuart's left hand and kissed the back of the big platinum ring. "You are SO bloody taken, it's not even funny." He put his arms around Stuart and pulled him close, hugging him. "Luv, you're trembling. What did that bastard say to you?"
Against Vince's shoulder, Stuart sighed. "Never mind. He's just some . . . never mind. Here," he said, holding out the magazines for Vince to see. "This one has a whole section on how to transform small gardens for parties. Should be just what we need. We can look through it over dinner."
Vince kept watching him until he met his eyes. "Stuart, what happened with that bloke? Tell me."
"He just pissed me off is all. Said he'd seen me down in the village with Brian that night. That night I . . . acted like such a twat at Babylon. It just . . . upset me. He was being a cunt about it."
"Did you shag him?"
"No, but apparently he snogged me. I don't remember. I . . ." he shook his head in frustration. "I don't want to think about it, Vince. That wasn't exactly my finest hour."
"Right," Vince said decisively, taking a deep breath. "Right. There it is, then. I don't want Brian coming." He took the magazines out of Stuart's hands and turned to go inside and pay for them.
"Why?" Stuart said.
Turning around in the newsagent's doorway, Vince sighed. "Look at you. You're a bloody wreck thinking about the last time you saw him. If he upsets you this much, I don't want him around you. That's too much feeling. Makes me anxious. I mean, I know you say you don't care for him, but . . . look at you." He turned around and
went inside.
Stuart paced until Vince came out then launched right back into the discussion. "I'm not upset because of Brian," he said. "I'm upset because of ME. Because of how I behaved. Brian didn't have anything to do with me being such a bloody asshole."
Vince stood there looking at him with his blue eyes full of patience and love. "I don't want him coming. That's my decision, Stuart. You said you'd respect it."
"Fine," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "Fine with me. I don't care if he comes, anyway. We'll ring him after dinner."
"Fine." Vince held out his hand and Stuart took it and they walked off down the street toward the restaurant.
(more to come . . .)
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