A/N Hi everyone, you may have noticed I have been M.I.A. Laptop bust and had to save for a new one :(
This story a little bit inspired by my feelings towards laptops. Hope to get back to wrting on my other stories now, though lost everything I had already done.
Brendan sent the glossy grey laptop hurtling towards the grimy green brick wall, where it ricocheted off with an ugly crack, before landing with a smash on the hard concrete floor. From where he stood in the office behind his sleek glass desk, stock-still other than for a slight tremble as the rage that had engulfed him slowly ebbed away out of his system, Brendan could see the mangled machine where it lay, smoking slightly as the life flickered from it.
Cheryl's head popped in around the office door, "what on Earth was that?" she asked, before clocking the dead computer on the floor. Cheryl sighed, shaking her head. Her older brother had been acting strangely for weeks now. To be fair her brother was always somewhat of a mystery to her, but she loved him anyway. This had been different though, something in his behaviour had niggled at her, he had seemed to swing between being distracted and agitated, preoccupied and moody. If she didn't know any better she would have said he was pining for someone. But that was not her brother's style.
"What have you done to that?" Cheryl asked indicating towards the battered laptop on the floor.
Brendan sniffed. "Doesn't work," he grunted as he walked over and bent down to retrieve the computer, "think I'll go return it."
"I hardly think you can return," Cheryl began, but Brendan was not listening to her and was already on his way through the door of the office clutching the damaged laptop in one hand.
As he parked his large black car Brendan thought back to the first time he had seen the boy. He had been walking down the street, amusing himself by shooting steely glares at other pedestrians, seeing how many would jump out of his way (all of them of course) when he first glimpsed him through the huge shop window. The window display had been filled with shiny gadgets, the latest must-haves in technology, but Brendan had looked right past it all, his eyes locking on to the slim figure hovering in the aisles ready to help in any way possible. Brendan had felt a familiar stirring at this possibility, and his lip twitched slightly with anticipation. He had smoothed his moustache, covertly checking his reflection in the polished glass window and confidently entered the shop.
Brendan lingered for a little while by the digital cameras where he could watch the young lad at work. He noticed how his T-Shirt fitted him snugly, providing the merest hint of the slight but toned torso underneath. His black trousers, whilst not tight clung just enough that they showed to perfection the curve of his arse beneath the material. Finally he had approached Brendan to see if he required any assistance.
"Hi can I help you?" he spoke with a distinctive Mancunian accent.
Brendan had feigned an interest in the cameras he was standing near, all the time carefully studying the young lad before him. His soft light brown hair that was begging to be brushed away from his forehead, his piercing blue eyes which seemed to shine beneath a curtain of thick long dark lashes, his nose that turned up slightly at the end, how his lips were moist and full and fell naturally into a flawless pout.
Whilst the boy was perfectly amenable and friendly towards him, Brendan sensed a degree of reservation in his character. Brendan realised that this would not be an immediate conquest. He settled for buying one of the cameras and impressing the boy by withdrawing a wad of notes from his jacket pocket, peeling off a few fifties to pay for his purchase. He noted how the boy looked both daunted and exhilarated by his show of power and wealth.
Over the next couple of weeks Brendan frequented the shop every few days, whenever he was sure that the lad would be working. Ste, Brendan learnt his name was. Brendan had dismissed this as a stupid name and made a point of calling him Steven instead. Over the weeks Brendan managed to get him talking and learnt that despite his apparent youthful appearance Ste had two small children to support, and though he still lived with their mother they were no longer together. Brendan found this set-up interesting but not entirely surprising as he was 100% sure of this boy's sexual orientation and that was gay. Brendan quickly gathered that the children were Ste's world. His basic pay went towards keeping a roof over their head, food on the table etc… but whatever commission he had went towards treats for little Leah and Lucas. With that knowledge in mind Brendan continued to buy up the best, most expensive gadgets the shop had to offer. A new laptop, a 3D TV, a new games console, a top of the range stereo system. He wasn't sure why really. He knew he could have Ste without such gestures if he felt like it. He saw the way Ste's face lit up now whenever he entered the shop, how his eyes would sparkle, how he would sub-consciously lick his lips nervously as Brendan approached him. Brendan's only question was did Ste's conscious realise what his sub-conscious obviously craved yet?
Finally Brendan decided he could wait no longer. He bought a huge flat-screen TV, nominally for the club. "Will be good to get the football on," he had told Ste. As he always did Ste offered to help him back to the car with his new purchase. After the TV had been safely loaded into the car Ste began to turn to walk back to the shop.
"Steven" Brendan grabbed his arm stepping closer to the lad, trapping Ste between the hot metal of the car and the warmth of his body. "This is a thank-you," Brendan said brandishing two crisp fifty-pound notes before slipping them inside Ste's top, feeling the graze of the smooth tan skin against his fingers. And then feeling unable to stop himself Brendan bent his head down catching Ste's mouth with his own, just for a second in the sweetest kiss Brendan had ever known.
As quick as it had happened Brendan stepped away, briefly registering the surprise and unmistakably hint of lust painted onto Ste's face, before opening his car door jumping in and driving off. Brendan knew he could have the boy if he wanted him. He had not resisted him, in fact Brendan had definitely felt Ste begin to part his lips for that moment, inviting Brendan in. What worried him was the unexpected reaction he had had to this momentary contact with the boy. He had never felt anything like it before. A mixture of desire, need, passion, protectiveness, and possessiveness. Brendan dismissed these feelings, putting them down to the fact that he was unaccustomed to having to chase his conquests for such a long period of time before. He satisfied himself with the knowledge if the boy hadn't already realised he wanted a man he did now, and that he Brendan would soon show him just how good that could be.
Later that night Brendan was patrolling the club dance floor, checking no dodgy deals were being done without him knowing and getting his cut of the proceeds. The club was heaving with hot sweaty bodies, full of punters celebrating an English win that evening. The new TV was already paying for itself Brendan was pleased to see. Then Brendan spotted him through the crowd. Brendan smiled as he realised Ste had obviously made an effort. He stuck out in his smart shirt and carefully styled hair amongst all the other guys who were wearing football shirts and trainers. Brendan tutted to himself, the downside of a football crowd was no sense of style. Brendan followed Ste's progress through the throng jumping and dancing on the floor until finally he caught his eye. Ste smiled at him somewhat shyly and Brendan beckoned him to join him in the staff office.
After Brendan closed the office door on the noise and action going on in the club he turned to Ste, "so Steven to what do I owe this pleasure?" he smirked. He noticed with some amusement a crimson blush swept up Ste's neck onto his cheeks.
"Erm," Ste stammered, "'I've just come with some mates to watch the footie, check out the new TV."
"Are you sure that's all you've come to check out?" Brendan raised his eyebrows.
"Err what d'ya mean?" Ste said, though he seemed to know exactly what Brendan was referring to as he took a nervous step backwards.
"Do I make you nervous Steven?" Brendan half laughed stepping towards him.
"Err no," Ste shook his head unconvincingly.
"Are you sure?" Brendan dropped his voice to a seductive whisper, bending his head towards Ste's enjoying the sound of his breathing hitching and seeing his Adam's apple bob as he gulped uneasily. "Don't worry I won't hurt you," Brendan murmured soothingly against Ste's lips, before placing his mouth against Ste's feeling the boys resistance crumbling as their mouths met, lips parted and tongues plunged in to battle against each other. Brendan felt the reverberation of Ste's groan of pleasure and let his hand trace down his body to feel the growing hardness there.
Brendan immediately realised he had gone too quickly, Ste jumped back from him like he had been burnt. "I'm sorry," Ste panted, "I don't think I can do this." He escaped through the office door. Brendan revelled in the pain that shot through his hand as his fist met the harsh brick wall. Fuck he thought as he sucked the blood from his knuckles. Fuck he had pushed the boy too far too quickly. He'd had a taster now though and now he wanted Steven more than ever before.
The next morning Brendan had Ste's number on redial on the office phone. No answer. Brendan felt himself grow more and more frustrated. As the burn to see Ste grew fiercer and more intense Brendan told himself it was just that he was not accustomed to being thwarted in his conquests. That was all this was about. After a couple of hours of going to Ste's voicemail time and time again Brendan felt his patience finally bubble over and he sent his new laptop hurtling across the room.
When Brendan reached the shop he barged in through the door immediately scanning the place for Ste's presence.
A girl stood slumped at the till looking bored.
"Where's Steven?" Brendan demanded.
"Who?" the girl asked looking puzzled.
"Steven?" Brendan asked again.
"O, you mean Ste?" a look of comprehension dawning on her face.
"Yes," Brendan snarled through gritted teeth.
"Stock room I think," she said gesturing vaguely towards a door at the other side of the shop.
Brendan stormed towards the door, ignoring the girl as she called out behind him "err you can't go in there!"
"Brendan? Err what you doing here?" Ste looked up from where he was stacking boxes on to the shelves in the small dark room.
"Why aren't you answering my calls?" Brendan barked. "What is it, don't you like me?" Then with a pang Brendan realised he was genuinely scared that Steven didn't like him, didn't want him, that the past few weeks had been nothing but a customer-server relationship to him after all. No Brendan had not been mistaken about Ste's response to him, he was sure of that. The boy was obviously just worried about taking a step Brendan guessed he had not taken before. Brendan drew in a deep breath and stepped cautiously towards Ste. He reached out gently brushing his hair just as he had wanted to do when he had first meet him.
"We can take this slow," he tried to reassure Ste, and then with startling clarity, "I like you Steven, okay?"
The room was lit up by Ste's responding smile, before he allowed himself to be wrapped in Brendan's embrace and smothered by Brendan's kisses.