Part 7

Two weeks later and Syed was still living at Christian's but had started back at the Unit. He was earning quite a bit of money now and was trying hard to find somewhere else to live. The atmosphere between him and Christian was better but they still hadn't really talked seriously. Syed felt that Christian might want him out of the flat but he didn't know how to raise the point in conversation. The phone rang and Syed answered it:-

"Hello can I speak to Christian please?" asked a male voice.

"He's at work at the moment, can I get him to call you back?"

Yes it's Alex, he's got my number, ask him to call me later thanks.."

Syed went to work and was keeping himself to himself when Christian said:-

"What's up?"

"Nothing"

"Something's wrong, I can tell. When I left this morning you were fine and now you're being really quiet"

"We're not all loud and outgoing like you Christian" retorted Syed slamming down the pan he was washing. Christian didn't know what to think, they had got on better the last few days and now this. Something must have happened to make Syed this moody.

"Oh by the way" said Syed "someone called Alex called you this morning said you had his number".

"Yes thanks" Christian realised that's why Syed is in such a mood and was quite pleased as this showed that Syed could still have feelings for him as it seemed he might be a tad jealous although Alex was an old school friend and straight as a die!! But Syed didn't need to know that yet thought Christian smiling to himself.

He rang Alex later and turned out he was having an engagement party and would Christian like to come along and he can bring someone!! Christian thought he might be brave and see if Syed would come with him.

"Syed you know that Alex that called me before well he's having an engagement party this Friday and I wondered if you would like to be my plus one."

Syed was shocked by Christian's invite and confused. He thought Christian only wanted to be friends now after what had happened in the past and couldn't quite understand why he was inviting him to this party. Still he agreed to go, it would be interesting to see how Alex was with Christian as they were perhaps ex-boyfriends and he presumed that Alex was marrying a man!!

The next day Zainab and Jane came round for lunch. Syed was really relaxed and had a great time playing with his baby sister. After lunch, Zainab and Syed were in the kitchen clearing up and Jane took the chance to speak to Christian about something that was concerning her,

"I can't understand why you two aren't back together" she voiced.

Christian looked down at his glass and fidgeted with it and then said

"I just want to be careful and not mess things up, things have got much better between us but I don't want to rush it"

"It's obvious to me and Zainab how much you two like each other, I feel like knocking some sense into the two of you" replied Jane.

Christian smiled "we're going to a party on Friday, I'm hoping we may get closer then"

"You need to be honest with him and tell him what you're feeling"

When Jane and Zainab had gone, Christian was quiet thinking about what Jane had said. Hopefully the party would change things as he was finding it so difficult being in close proximity to Syed and not being able to touch him or kiss him. He missed him physically.

Friday came and Christian' heart beat much faster when he saw Syed finally emerge from the bathroom. He had on a smart white shirt with those lovely tight skinny jeans he wore for best. His face glowed and he looked so gorgeous it took Christian's breath away to look at him. Those eyes of his were so damn hot and Christian could feel his insides melting as he looked at him. Unknown to him, Syed was going through similar emotions looking at Christian who was wearing a smart black shirt and trousers. Christian came over to him and said "your collar needs lying flat". He pressed it down for him with his hand and his fingers touched Syed's neck. Syed felt his whole body on fire at that one brief touch and he shivered. They looked at each other and for a minute Syed thought Christian was going to kiss him but then the moment was broken and Christian went off and picked up the keys.

"Ready?" he asked.

They arrived at the party and once they got there Syed realised that in fact Alex wasn't gay and was engaged to a girl. He thought he saw Christian smirking when he had realised and thought perhaps Christian wanted him to think that. They stood to one side and Christian asked "have a dance then?"

"No" said Syed "you go off don't worry about me"

"Syed I don't want to leave you on your own"

"You like dancing more than me anyhow" Syed walked off to get himself another drink. He hadn't been drinking alcohol for a few weeks now but he really felt he needed a proper drink at this moment. He poured himself a strong rum and coke and took a big gulp That was better. Christian was chatting to Alex and another guy but he had noticed Syed pouring himself that drink and frowned. He hoped Syed wasn't going to start drinking loads again, he had only just fully recovered from being ill.

"Have this slow dance with me" Christian asked later on of Syed.

"We can't everyone will look" said Syed.

"No they won't look there are other gay couples here too and they are dancing, no-one will give us a second glance"

Syed had no other argument to this so they moved to join the other dancers. Syed tensed up when he felt Christian's arms around him, it felt so good and yet it scared him feeling like this again. Christian tried to pull him in closer but he held back.

"This is like dancing with my gran at Christmas" smirked Christian.

Syed looked up at him and their eyes met. Syed suddenly felt really dizzy and it wasn't the alcohol, it was just that Christian was looking so intently into his eyes with a loving look that he was totally lost.

"I'd forgotten how good it is to hold you like this" murmured Christian in that seductive voice of his. Syed just looked back at him and it felt like they were the only people there. "I want us to be together again" went on Christian. He looked at Syed but he didn't say anything "say something please – give me a sign anything"

"I wasn't sure you still wanted a relationship with me anymore after all that has happened" stuttered Syed "I thought maybe you wanted to meet someone else"

Christian looked crossly at Syed "why would you think that, you must realise my feelings haven't changed at all. I still love you Syed"

Their heads moved closer as if they might kiss and Syed smiled "Ditto" he said

Suddenly he tripped over Christian's foot and this gave him an excuse to look away.

"Perhaps you should dance with someone who can actually dance" he said crossly to Christian and walked off. Christian sighed – it had felt so good to hold Syed in his arms again and Syed felt the same way but now he had gone off again.

He found Syed in the kitchen pouring another drink.

"Look maybe you should go easy on that stuff" he suggested.

"That's rich coming from you."

"I don't want you to get ill again."

"Stop mollycoddling me, you just need to let me do what I want"

They argued a little after this and later on they left the party in a taxi and sat in silence all the way back to Christian's house. Christian paid off the taxi driver and they went indoors. They said goodnight but Syed found he couldn't sleep, his mind kept going over the past and tonight's dance with Christian. He shouldn't have got angry with Christian like that, it was just that he wanted Christian so much at that point and he felt so helpless. He went to get himself a glass of water and suddenly he heard movement behind him in the kitchen. He knew Christian was right behind him.

"Can't you sleep?" asked Christian.

"No, I didn't mean to wake you, I just needed a glass of water".

"You didn't wake me, I can't sleep either".

Syed hesitantly looked up into Christian's face. Even in the dark he could see that Christian was staring really intently at him again. Syed could feel his heart beating faster and his breathing was getting ragged. Christian moved closer and said

"maybe the reason we can't sleep is because our minds are on something else"

"Like what?" asked Syed but as soon as he opened his mouth and said that, he knew it was a mistake

"Like this" said Christian and he leaned in to kiss him. The kiss was really gentle and hesitant and Syed felt like he was spinning around. Christian drew back and looked at him to gauge his reaction. He didn't want to scare him off but he felt the time was right after what they had said earlier. This time when he kissed Syed it was a proper smooch and the two of them held onto each other tight. When they came apart this time, they were both gasping and Christian held out his hand to Syed "let me come to bed with you" and Syed nodded. They fell onto the bed kissing and Syed felt Christian undoing his dressing-gown and his hands were all over his chest and his back. He felt Christian's hands sliding down further and he let out a moan. Syed reached up to Christian and kissed his neck, his ears and then moved down towards his chest. For the next couple of hours the two men enjoyed, remembered, rediscovered and satisfied their passion for each other and their love.