A/N

Thank you all for the lovely reviews of the last chapter. Sorry I can't reply to guest reviews (not sure if that's just me being retarded or if the system doesn't allow it) but I really do appreciate them all. Hope I haven't kept you waiting too long for this chapter - let's call it a St Paddy's Day treat in honour of our favourite Irishman ;)

Chapter 3

'Nice tricycle, Noah.' Brendan seemed genuinely amused. 'Where'd you pick that thing up, playgroup?'

Brendan had heard the pathetic spluttering of a scooter - it couldn't be called a bike - outside his bar and had gone out for a better look. This was even better than he was expecting, that brainless hulk of a man looking completely ridiculous sitting on the back of a wheezy little excuse for a machine. And there was Steven, fawning over him, though Brendan knew his boy well enough to know it was through half-gritted teeth.

You might be fooling that idiot, but you ain't fooling me.

'I think you look well fit,' was the best that Ste could manage.

Ste hadn't forgiven Noah for his display with Sean but he didn't think that Brendan needed to know that, so he slid over and let his arm linger against Noah's girthy bicep and tilted his head as he let out a soft, flirtatious giggle.

All for my benefit, Steven? You shouldn't have.

'And there was me thinking a big boy like you could handle something a bit tougher,' Brendan started. 'But it looks like you've got quite a taste for something scrawny between your thighs.' He looked both men up and down with a look that managed to be both sexual and disdainful at the same time. It was classic Brendan Brady.

The boys just looked at Brendan with disgust but didn't manage a response.

'No-on ever told you that real men ride motorbikes?' Brendan added, because he could.

It was almost too easy for, the comments too ripe for the picking.

Candy from a baby.

'Is that right? So what does that make you then, Brendan?' Ste spat back.

'Oh I think we both know I'm all man,' he was purring. The sound was confrontational yet deeply seductive. He saw Ste swallow hard. 'With the goods to prove it. Let me know when you realise that what you really want is a ride with a real man, Steven.'

Brendan turned and was about to walk away, leaving the dust to settle in his wake, when a voice behind him piped up, 'You've got a bike? I'd be well up for coming out with you for a ride sometime.' It was Kevin.

Ste winced as he waited for the inevitable backlash. He knew Brendan well enough to know that wasn't the kind of over-familiar comment Brendan took from his employees, particularly from Kevin, who was always clumsily trying to flirt with his boss. It was embarrassing to watch.

Ste's anticipation of what was to come made the shock even greater when instead of seeing his prediction materialise, Brendan cupped Kevin's cheek in his hand and drooled, 'Yeah, yeah, a ride, why not. Good lad.' His hand patted Kevin's cheek where it had rested. He shot a glance back at Ste and Noah, and with a 'See ya!', he stalked off back into the bar.

If Steven wants to play games, let the games begin.

A few moments later a familiar voice rang out in the empty venue.

'So what was all that, back there? With Kevin?'

After seeing his plan hadn't worked and his sulky looks in Brendan's directions weren't even registering with the other man, Ste's impatience had got the better of him and he had followed Brendan into the bar. Because he had been patient already, hadn't he? He'd waited nearly a week for Brendan to come looking for him, for an apology, for anything - but the cold shoulder, silent treatment and that display with Kevin and Noah was all that his restraint had been rewarded with.

'I don't know what you're talking about, Steven.' Brendan looked back at Ste darkly, his face stoney and giving absolutely nothing away.

He should have known that Steven didn't have a game plan in coming in here; the opening gambit outside was all he had in his hand. The real game of chess would have to wait for another time, but Brendan was sure that with a bit of practice Steven would get the hang of it. And how Brendan loved a game of human chess. The tactics, the anticipation, the shape of possibilities beginning to play out. Tantalising.

It really gets me in the mood.

'You haven't even apologised, for what happened before. What you did.' Ste had bee waiting all week to confront Brendan but he couldn't be sure that was really why he had followed him inside.

Brendan tilted his head, feigning confusion. 'Why would I apologise?'

'For messing things up for me. For getting in the way of me and Noah. I really liked him and you couldn't keep out of it. You had to stick your oar in where it wasn't wanted.'

'Hmph. Did I now?' Brendan looked at the young man like he was considering what Ste had said.

'And you made me think you liked me, with all that stuff on the beach. But you couldn't care less, could ya? You were just doing it for a laugh.'

'Is that what you think of me, Steven?' Brendan's voice held level and there was nothing in his poker face that would have made Ste think otherwise.

Ste was beginning to look less certain of himself but there was still a dark smear of distain in his eyes.

'And even now you can't just leave it, can you?'

'You're the one who came in here chasing after me, Steven.'

'Chasing after you? Can you hear yourself?' If Ste had calmed down briefly he was freshly riled and ready for the fight again now.

'And there was me thinking I'd done you a favour,' Brendan countered cooly.

'How'd you figure that one out?'

'You found out what he was really like before you got too involved, didn't you?' Brendan asked the question in a way confirmed the answer was self-evident.

'Yeah and found out what you're really like an'all.'

'Just looking out for you, yeah?' He leaned in and drolled, 'And showed you what you're missing. Like I said, Steven. All man me…' He pulled away and started to walk off towards the office, leaving only whiskey fumes in his wake.

Ste was infuriated to find that the husky tone of Brendan's last comments had left him flushed.

'Did you mean what you said? About going out for a ride?' Ste's comment caught him before he reached the door.

Brendan turned. That easy? God, I'm even better at this than I thought.

'I always mean what I say, Steven.'

'Then when are you taking me out on that bike of yours?'

Brendan questioned him with his eyes.

'Well, its the least you can do to apologise properly.' Ste justified as he shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He almost sounded convincing.

Just as Brendan had made to leave, Ste had glimpsed Kevin watching their exchange from down the corridor. He hadn't twigged that Brendan had known Kevin was there all along, nor that Brendan had seen Ste catch sight of Kevin, conveniently just before his change of heart.

'Be here Friday at four.'

The door to the office slammed behind him.

'Nicely on time. Punctual. I like that Steven, I like that.'

'Yeah, well, I gotta be on time, what with work and that.' There was a prickliness to the way he spoke.

We'll soon fix that, Steven. I know just how to get you nice and relaxed…

'Here.' Brendan held out a helmet to Ste and then went to slick his own hair back before lifting his helmet over his head. As he did this he realised the younger man was looking at him funny.

'What?'

'I dunno, I guess I just imagined you without that on, you know, your hair blowing in the wind or summat.' He was almost laughing.

Good. That wasn't so hard, was it?

Brendan smirked back.

'What, like James Dean?' He paused at the romantic image. 'I'm brave, Steven, but not down right stupid.'

'Fair enough.'

'I was stupid though, when I was younger.' Brendan had leant in and muttered the comment confidentially, like he was letting Ste into a secret - which he was - albeit an open one. That pretty much summed up Brendan's attitude to his private life, open secret.

'Yeah, yeah I was. Reckless.' He paused, enjoying the recollection, a smirk playing over his lips. 'There's nothing like it, alone on the open road, roaring along as the air rushes over you, feeling like you could go anywhere, do anything, with that powerful beast underneath you… That, Steven, is freedom.'

'So what changed?'

Having kids. Having something worth living for. Realising I couldn't protect them if I couldn't protect myself.

Brendan shrugged. 'Mate of mind was out on his bike. Had an argument with a lorry. Makes ya think twice.' He spoke the words almost flippantly, like he was talking about whether he took sugar in his coffee. He swept his leg over the rear of the bike and started the engine. It roared and pulsed beneath him. 'What you waiting for, Steven? Let's go!'

Steven rather awkwardly flung his leg over the back of the bike. He was glad Brendan wasn't watching. The last thing he wanted to do was give away the fact that his heart was racing, that this was his first time, that he was scared. His legs were shaking as he grabbed onto Brendan's waist like he had seen them do in the movies. It felt like bolts of electricity were surging off Brendan's body, through Ste's tensed arms and down into the pit of his belly. He tried to force the sensation to stop there. It absolutely did not spread down into his groin. Absolutely not.

So fricking awkward.

But the more he tried not to think about it, the more all he could think about was Brendan's weight between his arms, about squeezing his legs tighter around the bigger man, his legs locked around his hips, thighs pressed together…

'One piece of advice Steven!' Brendan was yelling through his helmet, over the noise of the engine. 'Whatever you do, never look back!'

And before Ste had a change to catch his breath, off they roared.

It took several miles, but eventually Ste began to relax. He leant his head on Brendan's back as he turned to watch the coastline flying by them. They were climbing up along the cliffs, further out from civilisation than Ste had dared venture on the island so far. Brendan handled the bike expertly, even when they wound their way through a series of hairpin bends, the road sandwiched between sheer rock face and a vertical drop onto rocks below. Their bodies leaned and wove rhythmically, held together by the force over the air rushing over them.

So this was what Brendan had meant about freedom. Deafening silence. For once it didn't feel like you against the world but that you were somehow part of the world, part of the air, a particle being catapulted by an unstoppable, vital force.

Ste felt himself tensing again and readjusted. Except now it wasn't out of fear that he was clinging tight to Brendan's body. He felt safe and alive and flooded with adrenaline, all at the same time. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before.

After what felt like an eternity, Brendan pulled the bike over into a sandy lay-by overlooking the rocks. Seconds later, the roar of the ocean replaced the growl of the engine.

Brendan secured the bike and removed a package from the compartment as he went.

'C'mon,' he gestured, moving towards the scrubland that had opened up between the rocks and the road.

Ste rolled his eyes at Brendan's instinctive bossiness, though try as he might to deny it, he was enthralled and more than a little curious. At that moment, Brendan could have jumped off the cliff top and Ste would have followed him.

Ste was still trying to get his breath back as he made to catch up with Brendan. His legs were unsteady from the time spent on the bike and the ground was uneven underfoot. He nearly skidded on the dusty sand that was loosely covering the rocks beneath his feet as the path wound downwards. Brendan, meanwhile, was bounding on ahead, his feet barely touching the ground.

When Ste finally caught him up, Brendan was standing on a rocky precipice that faced out to sea, shoulders back, breathing deeply as he contemplated the vastness that opened out in front of him.

'Just in time for sunset,' he said, barely turning to face Steven as he heard him approach.

Ste felt the warm breeze blowing in from the sea wash over him.

Brendan dropped down to a seated position on the sandy ground, hugging his knees. He looked around and caught Ste's eye, indicating that the younger man should join him.

When they were settled, Brendan reached into the bag he had brought down with them.

'Drink?' he asked, turning towards Ste.

'You haven't got a bottle of whiskey stashed in there, have you?' Ste smirked.

Brendan glared at him, though without his usual degree malice. It could almost have been mistaken for playfulness.

'Don't drink and drive though, right?' Ste corrected himself.

Brendan grunted as if to say, 'Something like that.'

Not when I have a passenger to take care of.

He pulled out two cokes and handed one to Ste. He cracked open the other can himself, took a noisy slurp, then set it down carefully beside him.

He looked sideways at Ste in that inviting, secretive way that made Ste's heart leap unexpectedly and his breath catch in his throat. When he was sure he had Ste's attention, Brendan pulled his jacket aside to reveal a hip flask in his pocket.

'In case of emergencies,' He explained, grinning.

Ste returned his smile. It started with a small twitch of his upper lip then gently yet firmly curled upwards until it shone with naughtiness through into his eyes.

It was Brendan's turn to feel his stomach lurch in response. It was the first evening in weeks that Brendan hadn't had a drop of booze, so why was he feeling this tipsy?

'Go on then, give us a slurp.' Ste demanded, cheekily.

Brendan's eyes interrogated Steven for a brief moment.

'Well I'm just the passenger, aren't I?' He justified.

Brendan took the hip flask from his jacket again and handed it to Ste. Their finger tips touch for just a split second. Without thinking, the brush of their bodies brought their eyes together and both men broke into a broad smile.

I've never seen him smile like that before, like he really means it. Did I do that? Ste flushed as thoughts ran through his head uncontrollably. It must have been the booze filtering into his system. Making another man smile was no reason to blush. But Brendan Brady isn't just another man, is he?

'It's alright this, isn't it?'

'Mmmm.' Brendan's affirmation was guttural, unmediated.

'This your place?' Ste added, trying to draw Brendan into conversation without seeming to pry.

'Something like that,'

'You get out on the bike a lot?' These were the words that left Ste's lips but that wasn't what he wanted to ask. How many other men have you brought here?

'Not really. Not often enough.' Not often enough to feel human.

Why had Brendan brought him here? He didn't need to come all this way just to fulfil his part of the bargain. They could have gone around the block a couple of times, down to the harbour and back home to the bar for a drink. That was all Ste was expecting. So this - this felt like something else. If Ste had been brought out here by anyone other than Brendan Brady it would have seemed like a date. And a corny one at that. But Brendan's attention was too engrossed elsewhere for it to seem that way, and he was too spontaneous in his manner for any of it to feel contrived, even with the small bag of carefully considered supplies he had brought with him.

'You always ridden bikes?'

'Yeah, pretty much.' Brendan paused. Ste felt like there was more that Brendan wanted to say but Ste was used to him never finishing these unspoken sentences out loud. But this evening he was in a different mood. He had softened like the fading sun on the horizon and seemed relaxed enough to let Ste into his confidence.

'First time I ever rode a bike I was 14. Belonged to a mate of mine's Da. We took the keys when he was passed out from boozing and went for a ride along the harbour. Totalled it. Lucky we didn't kill ourselves in the process. Since then I never have been able to get the taste of speed and petrol out my mouth.'

'What happened? I mean, when his dad found out?'

'Nothing. He'd drunk himself into such a state that he thought he'd done it himself.'

Both men chuckled imagining the scene.

Didn't stop my Da beating seven shades of shite out of me anyway though.

'How was your first time?' Brendan asked. 'Did I go easy on you?'

Ste blushed crimson and barely managed a stutter his response. 'Uh, yeah, urm, I mean good. Dead exciting actually,' Ste corrected himself as his smile broke through. 'I was well scared at first but I just held on as tight as I could, especially when we went round some of them corners.'

'You're telling me!' Brendan exclaimed. I'm going to have bruises the shape of your fingers on my ribs for weeks.'

How did Brendan manage to make that sound so seductive? It wasn't like they were talking about sex bruises, was it? Ste did his best to compose himself but it already felt like a losing battle.

'Oi, I wasn't that bad!'

'Don't worry Steven. I can take it. You surprised me with your strength, that's all. Little chicken arms of yours,' Brendan felt himself giving into the pull drawing him to the other man's body as he reached across to nip Ste's arms with his fingers. He just couldn't resist.

'Get off!' Ste playfully pushed Brendan's arms off, accidentally knocking his can of coke over, sending it clattering down the rocks below them. They giggled like they a pair of tipsy teenagers.

They were sitting face to face now after their playful altercation, little more than a hair's breadth apart. This is when it happens. This is when he kisses me. Ste's eyelids flickered shut as his body throbbed warm with anticipation. But before relief came, he felt the smallest of touches - not Brendan's - gently brush against his face.

'What was that?'

A fat drop of rain had landed in the negligible space between them and a second had come to rest on Ste's eyelashes, making him draw back in surprise.

'It's starting to rain, Steven,' Brendan whispered. 'C'mon. Let's get outta here.' Brendan stood up and took Ste by the hand, helping to ease him to his feet. He didn't let go as he led him not back up to the road and the bike as Ste had expected, but down towards a cove and a tiny crescent of hidden beach beneath them.

Their fingers stayed intertwined as they clambered across the rocks that stood between the cliffs and the beach. Ste almost gasped with delight when Brendan, a pace ahead of him, ducked into cave. The roof barely cleared their heads when the two men were stood up and it sloped down to sit back into the rock in a way that reminded Ste of a tent he had slept in when he went on a camping holiday to Blackpool as a kid. The floor was smooth rocks covered in a thick layer sand.

Brendan opened the bag he had carried down with them and pulled out a picnic blanket, spreading it out before their feet. When Brendan sat down, Ste saw that there was a rock directly behind where he put the blanket, perfectly positioned to act like a seat back. Ste was impressed.

'Hungry?' Brendan put his hand back into the bag and pulled out a foil-wrapped package. The familiar smell of bacon wafted up towards Ste's nostrils as he dropped to the ground.

Brendan tore hungrily into a slice of the meat and held out the other half for Ste to take.

Ste took the offering. For a moment he was speechless. Until a memory struck him.

'I thought you didn't share food?'

Brendan choked back a laugh from behind a bite of what was now a full-blown bacon sandwich. Cheeky fucker. I'd share everything I've got with you, if only you knew it.

'Here. There's plenty to go around.' He passed a second filled roll over to Ste. It was still warm.

Ste looked across to Brendan and breathed an almost inaudible laugh. The man was ridiculous, incredible.

'You've got crumbs in your moustache,' he said.

'Hmm..' Brendan turned to him, not sounding surprised. 'Where?' He held his jaw towards Steven, inviting his touch.

Ste brushed his thumb across Brendan's upper lip, clearing the crumbs. Such an intimate gesture, but it felt so natural. He held Ste's eye contact long enough to make the young man's stomach knot, before turning back to his sandwich with a smile.

Ste could hardly believe it, wouldn't have believed even 24 hours ago that this was the same Brendan Brady he knew, tormentor of anyone who dared step over the threshold of his bar (and many more who didn't dare), even after the care he had shown Ste at the hospital, even after the tender passion the Irishman had displayed as they had caressed so ardently on the beach. Ste tried his best to push down the recollection of the passionate moment they had shared as his body began to thrum at the memory. A boner was the last thing he needed right now. Wouldn't that be the perfect way to ruin the moment?

The rain was drumming down heavily outside them now, splashing onto the rocks and the water as the tide gradually moved back out to sea. The last glimpse of the sun was still burning red on the horizon. Despite the rain, from where the two man sat together the sky looked cloudless.

Brendan reached into his pocket and took out his hip flask. 'Might as well get settled in.' He leant back on the rock and chugged back some of the liquid, then passed the drink over to Ste, who took a bigger swig than he intended and chased the unfamiliar burn down with a slight cough and another bite of his sandwich.

Silence drew out between them against the setting sun, warmer and brimming with more emotion than anything they might have said in words could have done. Before his brain could stop him, Ste found that he had leant his head on Brendan's shoulder, surrendering the weight to the firmness of the body beneath. As soon as he became conscious of what he had done, Ste's heart starting thudding heavily in his chest but he was too self-conscious to move away again. Fear, adrenaline, whiskey, desire… His stomach contorted as Brendan reached to put his arm around Ste's shoulder and pull him in closer.

This is freedom.

Neither man could have said how long they sat like that. An almost full moon had risen and was beaming its light across the water. Ste was surprised that despite being in a cave after the sun had gone down, it didn't seem that dark and the air wasn't even slightly cold. The warmth coming off the man sitting next to him was all he needed.

Neither man cared to mention that it had long-since stopped raining.

Brendan felt Ste move slightly against him, repositioning himself to get comfortable.

Downside of that skinny backside, not much cushioning. Time to move into another position. It's now or never, Brady. He came chasing after you, remember. And you've already had him writhing beneath you practically begging for you to take him home to bed. So what are you waiting for?

Brendan took another deep slug of from his flask and, tucking it away, he sighed. He turned his head slightly towards the younger man who moved his cheek and looked up at him through those raven lashes. All thoughts in Brendan's mind were silenced. His body took over as he leant down and pressed his lips onto Steven's with a feathery light touch. Ste let out the softest of moans and gently opened his mouth, pulling Brendan in, inhaling the scent of the pheromones radiating from him on a tide of body heat, tasting the taint of the whiskey on his lips, knowing that was what Brendan would be tasting on him, too.

There was no doubt from how they kissed that Ste wanted this every bit as much as Brendan did. And Brendan wasn't sure he could have stopped now, even if he had wanted to try.

With an astounding flicker of mental coherence, Brendan reached to his side and deftly planted the picnic bag on the spot where Steven's head came to rest as Brendan pressed him to the ground with his body weight. Their groins ground together as their kisses grew desperate. Ste's fingers tugged at Brendan's hair as the older man pushed his hand up and under Ste's thin t-shirt and pressed the flat of his hand over the taught skin he found there, tracing a path first up to his nipples, then oh so slowing dragging his fingertips down towards Ste's waistband where he teasingly flicked at the buttons of Ste's jeans.

'Is this what you want?' Brendan taunted, his voice soft and hoarse in Steven's ear.

'Yes.. oh god… Brendan…'

All in good time Steven. Let's have a little more fun with you first…

'Is this what you want Steven? My hand stroking your dick, tugging you off until your balls go tight and you cover my hand in your cum. Is that what you want? Tell me it is. And make sure you say please…'

But Ste could only grunt his reply.

Brendan felt his own balls ready and tighten up towards his body at the sight and sound of the boy beneath him, at the vision his own words conjured up.

I want you to come in my hand. I've dreamed of your cum, Steven, of taking you like this, making you writhe against my body helpless for me. And this is just for starters.

Ste's cries echoed against the walls of the cave surrounding them as Brendan stroked his dick, slowly at first, up and down, then increasing the urgency and intensity of his movement as Ste's brow contorted and his mouth locked open around the shape of his moans. He cried out as the wave of his orgasm shuddered over him, his cum splashing liberally across his own chest and covering Brendan's fingers, just as the older man had urged him to do. He was breathing heavily as he opened his eyes again and Brendan felt a shudder rush over the man in his arms. He kissed his cheek gently and their noses brushed against each other before their lips met once again.

Brendan pulled away and held Ste's eye as he licked his fingers clean, enjoying the taste of Ste's come as though it were he was cleaning the bowl of the most delicious cake mixture he had ever tasted.

'Seems I've worked up an appetite,' Brendan growled, swooping in for a deep and hungry kiss.

'Your turn,' Ste whispered sultrily when Brendan had finished, still slightly breathless.

Brendan gazed down at him, the outline of his tousled hair thick and dark in the moonlight.

God am I going to enjoy this.

Brendan murmured incomprehensibly as Ste pushed back up against him so that they both lay on their sides.

'Take me in your mouth,' Brendan urged, barely audibly into Ste's ear. I shiver shot through him at the sound of his own words.

Brendan rolled onto his back, inviting Ste's touch. Ste didn't hesitate. He lifted Brendan's shirt and began working his way down the Irishman's firm belly with his lips. His chin touched against Brendan's erection as his tongue tickled his belly button and trailed down towards the hotly anticipated destination. The pressure Brendan was putting on the back of Ste's head told him he was doing the perfect job of building Brendan towards the reaction they had both been fantasising about for so long.

When Ste undid Brendan's trousers, his dick barely touched the air for a moment before Ste had peeled back the foreskin and placed the tip of it between his lips as he flicked it with his tongue. The faintest grin of pleasure accompanied with a guttural sigh escaped from Brendan's lips as he threw his head back, followed by a long groan as Ste's tongue moved to the base of his shaft and ran the flat of his tongue up the full length of Brendan's dick, before clamping his mouth around it and taking its entirety into his mouth. He held it there for a brief second while he looked up at Brendan's face, taking in the magnificence of his reaction, his total surrender to Ste's tongue. He wanted to beam with pride and arousal when he saw Brendan staring back down at him, his face overtaken with lust. But Ste was too focused on his goal to be distracted for long. He sucked Brendan's dick hard and slow at first, firmly grasping the flesh between his lips. Brendan's hand ran his fingers through Ste's hair as he pressed him down in time with the thrust of his own hips, his movements finding sync with Ste's building pace. He held Steven's head in place as his orgasm grunted through him, his hips lifting from the ground beneath to capture every millimetre of Ste's moist warmth as his cum spurted into the young man's mouth.

When Ste moved away he looked up at Brendan with the dirtiest grin of satisfaction breaking on his lips that Brendan had ever seen - though he could barely focus on what he was seeing, that had been so intense he was seeing stars.

Who the hell says fantasy is better than reality?

It was as though the pressure of all those evenings spent on his laptop creaming over a second-rate stand-in for Steven had finally been released, though Brendan knew it wouldn't be long before the desire would begin burning in the pit of his stomach and deep in his groin once again. If he had been a little bit obsessed with guy before, he was well and truly addicted to him now after that taster - not that he was in any post-fuck state to care.

Ste moved himself back up Brendan's body and hesitantly leant in towards his mouth for a kiss, unsure whether Brendan would want to kiss Ste's soiled mouth. The force with which Brendan pulled Ste's lips back to his own left no room for doubt.

The kiss they shared confirmed that neither man was sated. But for now, at least, that would have to wait. Brendan's eyelids were starting to feel heavy and they weren't in any rush now that they had settled in for the night.

'C'me here.' Brendan guided Ste around so he sat between Brendan's knees, facing out over the beach, his head leaning back on Brendan's chest. When Brendan leant forward and pressed his lips to Ste's temples, the younger man could have been forgiven for thinking that he had died and gone to heaven.

'Try and get some sleep,' Brendan whispered, barely taking his lips away from Steven's skin as he murmured.

Ste nestled in closer in response. He wanted to sleep and knew it would come soon. But he wanted to sit here with his eyes open for as long as he could, basking in every last moment.

Before long, Ste could feel Brendan's chest heaving rhythmically beneath him, lulling him to sleep along with the sound of waves washing gently in the near-distance.

'Am I dreaming?' Ste whispered softly as he felt Brendan's lips kissing him back to consciousness.

His eyes were stinging and his mouth felt dry but it was a small price to pay for the warm feeling in the pit of his stomach and the press of the body embracing him.

The sky beyond them was deeply coloured with the rising sun.

'Never woken up on the sand at sunrise in the arms of an Irishman before, Steven?' He pressed the words onto Ste's cheek as he wrapped his arms tighter around him. 'You haven't lived.'

Ste knew he was only joking, but the words rang truer than Brendan had meant them. Despite all the ups and downs of his twenty-odd years on this planet, last night with Brendan had made Ste feel that he really hadn't lived until then. It was the most intimate and romantic evening he had ever experienced, no competition. He was grateful that he wasn't facing Brendan as he was sure the grin on his face was nothing short of idiotic.

'C'mon, help me up here Steven. Old man here needs some breakfast.' The two men clambered to their feet, Brendan more stiffly than Ste, after bearing the brunt of the rock behind them all night. But god, had it been worth it.