It had seemed like a good idea when he thought of it. It seemed like a good idea as he made his plans. It seemed like a good idea as he hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder and set off. It seemed like a good idea as he gave the taxi driver the address and sat back in the cab.
But as he raised his hand to knock on the door it suddenly seemed like a really, really stupid idea.
John Paul hesitated for a moment with his hand inches from the shiny wooden surface of the door to the flat and then, with a deep breath, he knocked. It was too late to change his mind now, he had travelled all this way and he couldn't just turn back.
After a few seconds the door opened. John Paul's smile froze on his face as the person who came into view wasn't the one he was expecting.
"Oh err..." John Paul stammered, "Is Craig... Craig Dean in?"
The dark haired stranger observed him for a moment and then his face broke into a huge smile.
"You're John Paul aren't you?"
"Err yeah... how did you know?"
"Come in...," the stranger said not answering John Paul's question, "he's not expecting you is he?"
"No… I just thought I'd surprise him."
"You're gonna do that alright," the man laughed before holding out his hand, "I'm Adam by the way."
John Paul took the hand that was offered to him. "Nice to meet you."
"You DID know Craig had a flat mate right?"
"Yeah," John Paul answered, "Yeah he told me."
What he hadn't said, John Paul thought to himself, is what a good looking flat mate he had. As Adam stood in front of him John Paul couldn't help but notice his tall athletic build, his dazzling sea green eyes and a shot of jet-black hair that was carefully teased into looking unkempt.
Realising that he was staring John Paul blushed and looked away.
"So… Craig… where is he?" John Paul asked.
"Oh right," Adam replied with a grin, "He's at work… the pub… he'll be there till closing."
John Paul sighed with disappointment, maybe surprising Craig wasn't the best idea he had ever had after all.
"Look I tell you what," Adam was continuing, "Make yourself at home here for about half and hour while I get changed and I'll take you over there… I was planning on nipping in at some point tonight anyhow."
"That'd be great," John Paul said with gratitude.
"No problem, just dump your bag over there somewhere… I take it you ARE staying here?"
"I… err… if that's OK." John Paul could have kicked himself, why had he made such an impulsive and unplanned trip in the first place?
Adam laughed, "I don't think Craig would have it any other way!"
As Adam left the room John Paul slumped down into the nearest chair and cast his eyes around the room. It was sparsely furnished with several mismatched items and John Paul smiled widely as he spotted a gaudily coloured cardigan thrown over the back of another chair.
His eyes then came across a framed photo on an old tattered sideboard and he felt his breath catch in his throat. In a simple wooded frame he saw a photograph that he knew only too well. It was identical to the one he had by his bed back home, the one that Craig had given him at Christmas. John Paul shook his head with disbelief that Craig had this picture out on display in the main living area of the flat. It was no wonder Adam had recognised him so easily.
Forty minutes later Adam walked back into the room with a confident stride, running his fingers through his darkly shining hair he flash a dazzling smile at John Paul.
"Ready then?" he asked.
John Paul nodded and jumped to his feet, his heart pounding that little bit faster at the thought of seeing Craig again.
The pub was busy as they entered but John Paul instantly saw Craig at the far end of the bar smiling as he served a customer and totally oblivious to John Paul's presence.
John Paul made a move to head over to Craig but Adam grabbed his arm with a mischievous grin.
"Hold on… I've got an idea," he said with a laugh. "You grab a seat there," he nodded to a secluded booth at the side of the room, "And I'll get him to come over."
John Paul shrugged and, seeing no reason to argue, took a seat in the booth that Adam had indicated while the other man headed to the bar.
"Evening Craig," Adam shouted out merrily.
"Adam, y'alright?"
Adam nodded. "You heard from your John Paul today?"
Craig shook his head with a sigh. "Got a text last night," he said, "but nothing today… guess he's been busy."
"Yeah guess so," replied Adam barely able to contain his laughter. "Listen you couldn't bring us a couple of bottles over to the booth over there could you," Adam asked craning his neck in the direction of the secluded John Paul.
"What is this? Waitress service?"
"Ah go on… there's someone I want to impress."
Craig raised his eyebrows with a grin. "Not another poor girl been lured into your web has she?"
"Well you know me," Adam replied.
"Go on then," Craig agreed, "Just this once… but don't make a habit of it!"
Adam joined John Paul in the booth with a triumphant smile. "He'll be over in a sec."
John Paul suddenly felt nervous. His lips were dry as he ran his tongue over them and his hands trembled on the tabletop.
"Here you go then," Craig's voice announced cheerfully, "Two bottle of lager."
He placed the bottles on the table with a smile at Adam before turning to see the poor girl that had fallen for his charms this time.
Craig froze in mid turn as he saw those two beautiful blue eyes looking up at him. For a second he couldn't quite believe that what he was seeing was real. He threw a questioning glance towards Adam before looking back to John Paul as his face broke into a joyful smile.
"John Paul!" He exclaimed.
"Happy to see me?" John Paul asked as he rose to his feet.
"Happy? I can't… how is… god John Paul!"
Craig threw his arms around John Paul and pulled him close, squeezing him tightly unable to believe that he was really there.
"I guess that's a yes," John Paul gasped as Craig crushed the air from his lungs.
Relaxing his hold Craig stood back to take in the gorgeous view of John Paul before raising his hands to cup the man's face and pressing his lips against the soft mouth that he had been missing for the last few months.
Adam took his bottle of lager and, with a smile back at his friend, headed out into the bar to see if he could find any similar action of his own.
"I just can't believe you're here," Craig said as he let his hands run down John Paul's sides.
"I was missing you," John Paul explained, "So I thought I'd do something about it."
"I'm glad you did… I just wish I didn't have to work… but I've got to stay to lock up tonight the manager's away."
John Paul took hold of Craig's hands. "It doesn't matter," he said.
"You'll stay though…" Craig asked, "You can sit by the bar and keep me company."
John Paul nodded and allowed Craig to lead him over towards the bar where he took up residence on a stool for the evening as Craig continued with his work, albeit slightly distracted.
During a lull in the evening Craig leaned across the bar and, grabbing John Paul's lapels, he pulled the man towards him planting a firm kiss against his lips.
"Your John Paul will be jealous if he sees you doing that," a woman's voice behind John Paul's head teased.
"I don't think so," Craig replied as John Paul turned to see who had spoken.
"Oh my god… you ARE John Paul," the woman exclaimed as her eyes scoured the face of the young man before her.
John Paul turned to Craig with a curious smile.
"So does ALL of Ireland know who I am?" He enquired.
"Of course not," Craig replied, "Just all of the people I've met!"
Craig breathed a sigh of relief as he bid the final customer of the evening goodnight and shot home the bolts on the front door.
It had been a busy evening and Craig had struggled to find any spare moments to spend with John Paul. Although he had managed to grab a hold of John Paul on several occasions as he passed to plant a quick kiss on the younger mans lips before continuing with his work.
For his part John Paul had been more than content to sit quietly at the bar as he watched the man he loved going about his business with each stolen kiss making him grin like an idiot.
Craig hoisted himself onto the stool next to John Paul with a smile.
"I never thought they'd all go," he said.
"You are pleased that I came over aren't you?" John Paul asked.
"Are you kidding? I couldn't be happier…" Craig replied as he leant forward to place another quick kiss against John Paul's mouth.
John Paul smiled tilting his head as he observed Craig for a moment.
"What?" Craig asked after John Paul had been staring for a while.
"You're different," John Paul told him.
"How d'you mean."
"Here… in Ireland… You're different..."
"Am I?"
"Yeah… you're more…" John Paul thought for a moment as he tried to explain what he meant, "You're more relaxed… the way you just kissed me without a thought… you'd never have done that back home."
Craig nodded thoughtfully. It was true that he was always reserved in showing his affection for John Paul back in Chester, the fear of judgement always at the back of his mind. Even the one occasion at New Year had been more of a calculated declaration rather then an impulsive action.
"I guess it was just that I could start again when I got here… no one had any preconceptions about me… I could write my identity from new and I didn't have to explain anything… so when Linda, she's the manager, asked me if there was anyone in my life I told her about you."
John Paul's brow furrowed, "But we weren't together when you got here."
"I know… I kind of told her all about it… how I messed up the best thing I'd ever had… she was great, really supportive… it was her that encouraged me to get in touch with you at Christmas."
"I like her already," John Paul laughed.
"Yeah she's gonna be gutted she missed you!"
"I guess I'll just have to come back again soon!"
Craig slipped from his stool and walked behind the bar to grab two bottle of lager before returning to John Paul's side.
"Come on," he said.
"Where to?"
"Pool… I've been practicing…"
"Oh you think you can beat me now do you?"
"You'd better believe it."
Craig held out one of the lager bottles to John Paul, using it to pull the man towards him for a soft kiss before releasing the drink into his hand.
Craig racked up the pool balls before handing the cue to John Paul.
"Don't you want to break?" John Paul asked him.
"No that's fine," Craig replied taking a seat by the table, "You go ahead."
John Paul put his bottle down on a nearby ledge before taking position at the pool table. With a swift stroke he broke apart the nest of coloured balls sending one into a corner pocket.
He turned to Craig with a triumphant grin and Craig raised his bottle in a salute.
After a few more shots John Paul found himself in a position where he had to stretch across the table, much as Craig had anticipated when he suggested the game for, if the truth were told, he hadn't so much as picked up a pool cue since leaving Chester at New Year.
Craig took a long slow drink from his bottle, his eyes never leaving John Paul as the man began to lean his body into the pool table.
Craig's eyes widened as the denim of John Paul's jeans stretched tightly over his thighs and the curve of his buttocks, his gaze lingering on an exposed patch of skin as John Paul's shirt rose slightly over the enticing arch of his back.
With the solid sound of the pool cue against the white ball John Paul took his shot, hitting the coloured ball he had been aiming at but failing to send it into the side pocket.
He turned to Craig with a resigned smile. "Your shot," he said before noticing the look in Craig's eyes.
"Let's just say you won," Craig replied rising from his seat.
"You had no intention of playing did you?" John Paul asked.
Craig shrugged. "I couldn't help it," he explained, "I just haven't been able to forget the sight of you leaning over the pool table in the Dog at Christmas… and what I wanted to do to you right then!"
"Really?" John Paul replied turning back to the pool table to lay the cue down.
Before he could turn back John Paul felt the heat of Craig's body against his back. Craig placed his hands on John Paul's shoulders and ran them down the length of his arms, stretching them out towards the table as he laced his fingers in-between John Paul's.
John Paul could feel Craig's breath hot against his neck.
Craig let go of John Paul's hands, leaving them holding on to the edge of the table, turning his touch to his denim clad hips, squeezing at the flesh before stroking slowly over John Paul's legs.
John Paul could feel his heart begin to race as his jeans started to feel uncomfortably tight.
"And you looked even better tonight," Craig breathed into John Paul's ear.
"Did I?" John Paul asked his words barely a whisper.
"And we have the whole place to ourselves," Craig continued, "With no chance of interruption…"
"It would be a shame to waste such an opportunity," John Paul said.
"My thoughts exactly," Craig agreed as his hands slipped around John Paul's waist and made short work of unfastening his belt.
John Paul closed his eyes as he felt Craig loosen his jeans before pushing them easily over his slender hips. His fingers gripped onto the edge of the pool table as the warmth of Craig's hands made contact with his bare flesh.
His heart was beating so loudly that he was sure it was echoing around the empty room and his body ached for Craig's touch so much that he almost cried out in desperation.
It was as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist. The only thing that seemed real to John Paul was the gentle caress of Craig's touch as it journeyed over his skin and the growing need burning deep inside his flesh.
"I've missed you so much," Craig said softly as he traced the curve of John Paul's buttocks, smiling as he felt the man tremble beneath his touch.
"Craig…" John Paul's voice was a whimper as his fingers clawed at the soft green baize of the pool table.
"I never knew I could want anybody as much as I want you."
"Craig… I… I need you so badly."
Craig lifted his fingers to his mouth and took a moment to moisten them with saliva, he knew it wasn't ideal but then this wasn't a situation he had been anticipating when he left for work earlier that day.
With an experienced gentle firmness he pressed one finger into John Paul's flesh until the heat of John Paul's body opened up and allowed him entrance.
John Paul breathed deeply as he felt Craig's slow penetration easing inside him, stretching him and making him want more.
Craig's mouth was hot as it pressed against John Paul's neck tasting the sweet saltiness of his skin as he slipped a second alongside the first making John Paul moan softly in his throat.
Craig's own desire was building by the second and he fumbled one handed with his own trousers before freeing his throbbing erection into the coolness of the air. He touched himself lightly as he continued to move his fingers inside John Paul but he wanted so much more and he knew he wasn't the only one.
"God, Craig… please…"
John Paul's voice shook with uncontrollable desire and Craig needed no further encouragement as he slipped his fingers from John Paul and guided the head of his cock into position.
With little effort Craig pushed into John Paul, moaning lightly as he felt the hot passage opening up to swallow him, gripping and yielding to him in a way that felt better than anything he had ever experienced before.
"You feel so amazing," he sighed as he moved slowly forward savouring every second as he sank deeper into the man he loved.
John Paul was unable to speak as he felt the hardness of Craig deep inside him. It felt like a lifetime since he had been so close to his wonderful man and he had almost forgotten just how good it was to be with him like this. To share himself completely and without reservation and to make love rather than just have sex.
Craig's arms wrapped around John Paul's chest, holding him tightly, as his cock became completely engulfed and his body was pressed firmly against John Paul's.
He stood motionless for a moment as his cock pulsed inside the heat of John Paul but he was unable to keep stationary for long and soon took up a steady rhythm moving in time with the drumming of his heart, still holding John Paul firmly in his grip and pressing his mouth against John Paul's neck.
John Paul's breath shook as Craig moved harder and faster inside him, his legs trembled, his heart raced and his knuckles were whitened with the intensity of his grip on the edge of the table.
Craig's sudden grip on his cock was so unexpected that John Paul cried out, biting down on his lip as Craig's hand held him firm and stroked over its length, teasing his thumb over it's sensitive head before moving back to repeat the process again.
"I love you so much," Craig murmured into John Paul's neck as his passion and desire increased until it seemed as if his only reason for being was to make love to this man.
"Craig… I…" John Paul's words were lost as his voice turned to moans, the feeling of Craig hard and deep inside him and at the same time holding him tightly and stroking him firmly was too much to bear, it had been too long and he wanted Craig too much to be able to hold back.
Craig could feel John Paul's cock begin to pulse heavily in his hand, causing him to curl his fingers in tighter and increase his speed until John Paul cried his name loudly into the silence of the room as he came, so hard that it was only the table before him and Craig stood behind that kept his trembling body upright.
Craig held on to John Paul tightly as the evidence of his desire spilled hotly over his hand. His body contracting around Craig's cock caused the pressure inside Craig's own body to build until he knew he had to give in to that sweet release.
Craig thrust harder and faster into John Paul, his breaths becoming more fevered until he felt the intensity of his climax crashing over him as he came deep inside the body he worshiped, his voice repeating the name he loved until his body finally came to a satisfied rest.
There was a silence in the room only interrupted by the laboured breathing of the two men as they rested against the pool table.
Craig finally broke the silence with a small laugh, "I don't think I'll ever be able to look at that table again in the same way," he said.
"It certainly beats its traditional use," John Paul replied with a grin.
Craig reluctantly let go of his hold on John Paul and stepped back to adjust his clothing. "I suppose I should really finish locking up!"
John Paul pulled up his jeans as he turned back to face Craig. "In a minute," he said holding out his arms.
Craig happily moved into John Paul's embrace as their mouths met in a gentle kiss filled with love and promises of the future.
