Thank you as always for the kind reviews and messages for this fic :) xx
The Moment We Met
Part 10
Ste blinked opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling, then let his head fall to one side. Brendan was there next to him almost unmoving as he slept. They'd done this over a few days now, spent the night together and Ste wanted to get used to it, let this new found routine become a part of his daily life. Ste cautiously edges up onto his elbow and watches Brendan sleep, the softness of his facial expression and the hurried eye movement behind his eyelids.
Ste wished he could see what Brendan's dreams were about and why, sometimes, he seemed in anguish because of them. He wondered if it was because of his father, recalling the twist in Brendan's face whenever he tried to speak about him. Ste took his fingers lightly over Brendan's moustashe and then beard, leaned over and placed his lips delicately against his part open mouth and drifted his gaze from them to Brendan's still closed eyes and fleeted a smile.
The bed tried and failed to wake Brendan as Ste crept out of it, his early morning body clock never failing him despite not needing to be up at this hour. It felt strange Ste couldn't go out, open up the deli and set the place up for the morning customers he'd become familiar with. Another new routine he would need to get used to.
After having a shower, Ste wandered though to the kitchen and then stopped to look around the empty flat, eyes straying to the photo's on the side cabinet and then to the dinning table Cheryl's note still laid on. Ste began to step over to it when he was suddenly stopped in his tracks, arms securing around his waist pulling him backwards. Ste let out a yelp and inhaled as Brendan swiftly pulled Ste into his body. Ste grinned feeling the low rumble of laughter Brendan made vibrate against his back.
"Been looking for ye" Brendan spoke quietly into Ste's ear and tucked his thumb under the towel he wore traveling beneath it's edge and against Ste's damp warm skin. Despite his tiredness he still felt playful and carefree knowing they were completely alone in the flat.
"Ya gave me a fright then, thought you were asleep" Ste said, giggle leaving his lips. His hands felt along Brendan's wrists and held there.
"I was, but I heard the shower going and then ye weren't in bed."
"Aww, I made ya pine for me"
"Don't make me tickle ye, I've the perfect advantage to find all of your sensitive parts"
"Yeah but, my youth makes me stronger than you. Easy to escape"
"Go on then Houdini"
"Who whaty?" Ste asked, he crinkled his nose as he looked back at Brendan.
"Escape artist? No?" Brendan raised his eyebrows at Ste's blank expression. "Never mind, come back to bed, who even gets up at this time unless you're mad"
"I'm just used to the early mornings aren't I? By now I'd be baking somet at the deli, probably sharin' it with you an' all"
"D'ye miss going in?"
"I miss working, that probably sounds mad an' all but you do miss that reason for getting up. Meeting new people. Just seein' what the day brings. So my body clock still thinks I have to do that, so, had a shower and then was gonna make somet to eat. And I'm peckish now"
"Me too, so..." Brendan muttered suggestively.
Ste pivoted around loosening Brendan's hold on him. "Can't stay in bed all day, I have to find a job Bren"
"Okay, look. You're doing the catering for the ball this weekend, right? And there's last night when ye helped me out, fairing pretty well in the job stakes I'd say."
"That were helping out though, don't expect to be paid for doing a favour."
"Favour or not, I appreciated ye being there and you've got a good hold of the ropes behind that bar" Brendan said, his eyes darted with Ste's. "You're one of the few people I like working with too, call that a result"
Ste sighs with a smile. "I'll admit we work well together, but whatever work I do for you will just be a temporary thing. Don't suppose you wanna work in a restaurant? I could train ya up to be a sous chef"
"If ye like meals un cooked and food poisoning then I'm your man"
"You are my man and I know you can cook despite your misgivings. Still gotta try your creme brulee don't I?"
"I do a great brulee admittedly"
"Well, it's a start." Ste replied, his face puzzled in thought. "Why creme brulee out of everything though, cos it's not the easiest thing to make."
"Ye get to use a blowtorch. That's awesome"
Ste's smirk widened. "Of course, silly me"
"I'm only saying, it won't kill ye to wait until next week with the job hunting, will it? I'll even help out with the applications, CV..."
"Gonna hold you to that then. Got a few things on I guess" Ste gazed over to the fridge. "I'm gonna make a coffee, want one?"
"Yep, slight snag though. Used the last of the milk when we got in."
"Alright, I'll go shop. And you mister, you can go back to bed" Ste said, he looked at Brendan's mouth and then at his eyes. They kiss softly, lips ever so slightly parting and warm to the touch. Ste languidly breathes between each kiss, quietly sighs, his body becoming relaxed in Brendan's hold. After a while Ste flutters his eyes open, sees the smile on Brendan's mouth that weakens his resolve. "That's not fair ya know"
"Shouldn't it be me protesting?" Brendan replied, he took his hands down the goosebumps mottling Ste's skin, brushing them away with his warm touch. "The one who's so clearly pliant whenever I'm with ye."
"Pliant, what does that mean?"
"It means, at your mercy"
"Oh I can live with that then"
"Ye think so?"
"Yeah, definitely."
Ste proudly smiles as he walks back towards the bedroom. He can feel the hair on his neck prickle, the cool air in the flat finding its way to the surface of his exposed skin. Ste waits until Brendan is back on the bed and watching him before he removes the towel, lets it fall to his ankles. The air skims his body and hardens Ste's nipples, his own coyness being so exposed leaving a shiver on him. Ste lightly laughs, chances a glance at Brendan who looks mesmerized and in awe of him. When Ste finds some boxers to put on it is then he sees his dick growing, no longer soft hanging between his legs.
Brendan's smiling now, a hint of a smirk and eyes that tell Ste just how much this is turning him on. Ste swallows and defiantly ignores his instinct to go over to the bed and continues to get dressed. "It'll go down"
"Not if I've anything to do with it" Brendan countered, he lays his head on the pillow still looking at Ste putting more clothes on. "Have to do something about this body clock of yours, keep ye in my bed longer"
"I'll be back soon, only getting some milk. You'll be grumpy without a coffee, an' so will I." Ste pulls on his jacket and looks fondly at Brendan.
"What?"
"Just this - us."
"Something to get used to" Brendan replied confidentially, his eyes closed as he settled further into the pillow.
Ste's smile widens.
"Doug?"
Ste spoke before he could stop himself, slowing his jovial movements down the stone steps from Brendan's flat. In front of him Doug was stood silent looking at the door of the deli, staring seemingly into space. Ste watched his head turn, eyes drifting up at him. He let out a quick breath, noise of sarcasm as he turned to look back at the deli again.
"Didn't take you long to find your way into his bed permanently did it."
Ste craned his neck backwards, thoughts of the kiss he and Brendan had shared still ghosting his lips. He faced front again. "It's not permanent, I mean it's just cos Chez is away so Brendan asked me to stay"
Doug scoffed, head shaking disbelievingly. "How long were I asking you to live with me? And yet Brendan manages to do it in record time. He gotta be good in bed"
"He's incredible in bed but that ain't why I stay there" Ste bites back, annoyed with having to explain himself.
Doug scowled back at Ste.
"Don't be flippant then, cos you'll just get a reply ya don't like won't ya?"
"There's no need for that."
"There's every need actually"
Ste huffed down the remainder of the steps and walked over to Doug. There was a message left in the window and written in black marker - 'closed until further notice'. It had a feeling of finality to it and Ste felt it hit the bottom of his stomach hard.
"You're leaving?"
"What? You expected me to stay after what you've done?"
"Dunno what I expected." Ste kept his eyes on the sign. "Are ya going back to Liverpool then?"
"I have stayed in this country far too long, time to go home. I fly out end of the week" Doug swallowed loud enough Ste heard the movement of his throat. "You could still come with me, its not too late to sort you a place on the plane"
Ste spun his head to the side, eyes drifting over Doug. "Are you serious? Ya still want me to come with you?"
"Isn't fighting for the person you love normal? Nothing has changed for me, why I'm finding this so hard to deal with. We could still start a fresh"
"You'd do that despite everything?"
"Yeah, I could learn to live with the fact you cheated"
"Learn to live with it?" Ste cried incredulously. "I don't want you to learn to live with it. Doug would ya listen to yourself? Don't you see? I can't love you. Only him"
"Why do I keep expecting violins to suddenly play in chorus"
"Ya what?"
"Never mind, go back to your fairy tale" Doug sighed turning to walk through the village.
"Not so fast!" Ste shouted. "We need to talk about the business, and the bank account I'm suddenly cut off from. Ya know, getting Riley to fight your battles is bad enough but to go to Brendan? Yeah that's another level"
"What are you talking about Ste? Riley doesn't fight my battles"
"He went to the club to see Brendan" Ste began to follow Doug, quickened his footsteps to catch up with him. He watched Doug shake his head.
"No, that's not true. Brendan is making up stories and you're so damn gullible you'd believe him anything"
"Yes I believe him, cos it happened right. Maybe you oughta' have it out with your so called mate ey? Look I get you're angry, but that's half my money in that account, money I earned while you were half way across the world."
"Money you earned personally serving Brendan more like, you were too busy shagging the local night club boss to give a shit about your responsibilities!"
"He was my friend! Always was. Nothing happened until we went away and that were because of you, right. Because I wanted to try and make things work between us, what a joke." Ste gestures his arms out in front of him, lets his eyes wander realising they're stood in the middle of the village. "Ya know, we can do this out in the street or go somewhere private"
Doug sighs heavily. "I've got keys for the deli. We could talk in there"
"Fine by me."
Ste gets them both a drink when they get inside and joins Doug on the window seat placing the glasses down.
"Not much left in here, you've been busy"
"This what you did for Brendan was it? Cosy drinks by the window"
"If this is truly making ya feel better then go ahead. Won't alter things except the amount of respect I have left for you. Dunno why you're that bothered cos I was never good enough for ya anyway. You'd do anything to keep a hold of this no matter what."
"Because I still love you Ste." Doug picks up his drink and sips at it. "I didn't mean to hurt you with the things I've said, I am sorry"
"Not sat here expectin' an apology. I have a contract in place, and I'm pretty sure ya can't sack somebody over who they are in a relationship with. Discrimination written all over that and that's illegal, wouldn't sit pretty in court, an' I reckon even Riley couldn't throw all his money at solvin' that argument"
"Stop being clever, this isn't you"
"Actually this is me, just you never noticed. I don't want the job back, I'll find somet else but I do want what I'm owed. Up to you how we go about it cos I have plenty of time on my hands to fight it out in court" Ste turned to look at Doug, "An' ya know how good I am at talking"
"How did we come to this? We were happy until Brendan came along"
"You need to stop being so angry, it's not good for ya. It's not even his fault either, it's mine."
"I will close the account, it's the last thing I need to do before I leave, whatever is left in there from this place is yours. I don't want it, or the deli, I just want to go home. My parents need me"
"I'll just take my wages, ta"
"Take the money Ste, it's there to be spent. You'll make more use of it than I would, my parents will take care of everything once I get over there won't they?"
"They do look after ya, no denying that. I hope your Dad will be okay."
"Thanks" Doug's voice is strained as he speaks. "You going now?"
"Yeah, I should get back" Ste stands up and walks to the door pulling it open. "Be happy Doug"
"You've been gone ages" Brendan said tiredly as Ste walked into the bedroom, he stretched his arms above his head and looked at Ste. "Thought ye only went for milk"
"I did"
"So where is it then?"
"I forgot it"
Brendan held his head up. "This the moment ye turn back around and go get some then?"
"Later" Ste replied, smile plastered over his face as he quickly crawled over to Brendan and knelt beside him. "I need to ask a favour"
"Anything"
"Can I borrow your bank account?"
Brendan blinked surprised. "Wasn't expecting that. Um, sure I guess. Why?"
"Just until I open my own, Doug said I could have what's left in the joint account. That's what I've been doing all this time - you'd be proud of how I sorted it an' all." Ste fiddled with his phone for a few moments and paused to look at the screen. The smile on his face widened as he turned it around to show Brendan. "Need to put this somewhere"
Brendan gazed over the screen and flicked his blue eyes up to Ste. "You're right. I am proud of ye"
"Ta" Ste smiles. "Are you on phone banking? I'll make a transfer"
Brendan grabbed his phone. "Are ye sure there's no catch to this, I don't want any repercussions for ye. Maybe we should consult a solicitor?"
"No need for that. To be honest, he wanted me to have this and I ain't gonna argue with him any longer. Doug's gone back to America, or will be end of the week."
"Right then. I'm... ye know" Brendan grits his teeth.
"No ya not. But thanks for trying to say it though. Doug'll be okay, his parents will lavish him with everything he needs."
"Did ye kiss goodbye"
"Yeah, big kiss"
"Go and kill him now shall I?"
Ste loudly laughs. "We never kissed, I made my escape from the deli"
"The deli is open again?"
"Nah, we just needed somewhere quiet to talk, and we eventually found common ground, sort of"
Brendan shuffled up close and gave Ste a peck on his lips. "Good"
"He said sorry for all the times he put me down, first time too. Let me transfer a little amount first make sure ya get it and then I'll do the rest. No more joint accounts for me, more trouble than they're worth. Got it?"
"Uh huh" Brendan replied. The money transferred in full so he put his phone down on the side. "So first round's on ye then, yeah?"
"No chance." Ste chucked his phone down on the bed and flicked his eyes up to Brendan. "This is going towards my restaurant"
"Too right it is" Brendan agrees sharing another kiss with Ste. "So what did ye say to him?"
"Can't remember now, I were just dead serious with him, like, I tried to think how you'd go about it, cos you're clever"
"You're smarter than ye think"
Ste breathed long through his nose, silent with their thoughts they kept a watchful eye on each other.
"I need to get some milk" Ste pushed out his bottom lip pretending to sulk.
"Doesn't matter, I'll grab a coffee at the club. Gonna come with me today?" Brendan asked lying back down on the bed, the pillow molding softly to his head.
"Not straight away no, later on. I'll pop back to the flat, sort out some stuff. I've a few of Doug's things I'd been storing, going to get it packed up and sent to him"
"America? That will cost a fair bit Steven. We have a local recycling centre, could take it there in my car if ye wanted"
"No, I will get it back to him. And Riley's house will do - he can give it back to Doug can't he? Probably got a private jet standing by."
Ste clambered off the bed and toed off his shoes.
"Fair play to the man, getting paid millions for kicking a ball around a field." Brendan's eyes closed.
"There's a bit more to it that that though, gotta have skills. Doesn't hurt to look fit in them shorts either- not that I notice Riley, I just mean in general like" Ste looks at the LED alarm clock. "Still really early init?"
"Ye was the one up at dawn Steven. Even the birds were still asleep"
"You must be tired. I should go, leave ya in peace"
"Not yet" Brendan mumbled, his voice becoming heavier. He held an outstretched arm and blindly beckoned Ste over. "Come back to bed"
"Sleep some more then, you'll be working late again tonight, won't be neither use nor ornament to em turning up knackered" Ste removed his trousers and t shirt and slipped beneath the covers. His arms held against Brendan's chest as he rested his head there.
"My boy, always full of the words of wisdom"
"I am wise, it's true. Beyond ma years an' all"
Brendan chuckled leaving Ste to feel it vibrate against his head Ste responded with his own light laughter
"Ye gonna stay?"
Ste tilted his head back to look at Brendan, his breathing shallow now.
"Where else would I be?" Ste whispered.
Ste spent a couple of hours at his flat gathering up Doug's things and managed to pack it all into a small box. It wasn't much to show for the amount of time they'd spent together, some clothes, cinema tickets, music and DVD's he'd never watch again in his life. Ste sat on the sofa and retrieved an old birthday card from the top of it, the writing inside was what you'd expect a greeting to be, the usual words of love and kisses on the end. Ste sighed and tucked it back in hiding it beneath some clothes and left the box.
Ste found another small box as he searched for ingredients in the kitchen. There was no point letting it go to waste here while he stayed at Brendan's. There was a lot of things he could use to bake with so he grabbed up as much as he could carry in his hands and left the flat. On his way back into the village Ste found himself with some company.
"Hey Ste" John Paul said, appearing from behind him. He smiled in greeting as he joined Ste in his walk to the village.
"Hi, you not at school today?"
"Not till this afternoon. I'm off to see Brendan at the club actually. Finalise arrangements for this weekend" John Paul explained. "Haven't seen you around for a bit, or Doug for that matter"
"You won't. Doug at least anyway - he's going back to America"
"Wow, the states again? Maybe you should go with him this time, get yourself a free holiday"
"He's going alone" Ste said, he side glanced at John Paul. "We're not together anymore so the deli is closed up and I'm out of a job"
"Shame, I liked the deli. It was convenient for my coffee and breakfast in the morning. Making my own doesn't really appeal" John Paul smiled at Ste and looked at the box in his arms. "Feeding the five thousand?"
"Just a hundred I think" Ste said, he held his arms lower. "It's for your ball thing this weekend. I'm doing the catering for it"
"Brilliant, least we'll get a good feed out of it. Brendan hire you?"
"He asked me, yes" Ste turned to look at John Paul. "Why?"
"Oh, nothing. Curious that's all. There is a rumour going round the village. Not that I listen to gossip but, I heard you two were..."
"We are" Ste confirmed. "So, yeah - he's off limits"
"Are you directing that at me?" John Paul spoke incredulously, smile stretching across his face.
"You'd know" Ste said sarcastically, he gazed up to the village and saw the club in the distance.
"So he's mentioned Dublin, must be serious if you're sharing past conquests" John Paul raised his eyebrows. "Listen, we were drunk, like stupidly so and I was trying to forget for a brief moment that my boyfriend of five years had just left me"
"Oh." Ste looked back at John Paul.
"Yeah. It was a long time ago, Ste. Brendan was just... convenient, and there's no way I'd even consider going there again, you'd have to be desperate-"
"Oi, ya wanna be wearing the contents of this box? Right, cos my hand might slip if ya say owt else about Brendan, got it?"
"Loud and clear." John Paul grinned and held his hands up. A light chuckle left his lips."I still think about him, Craig that is" John Paul added quickly. "I have to ask, why pick Brendan over Doug? He seemed a good guy"
"He is a good guy, some of the time." Ste flicked his eyes up to John Paul. "Is there no way of contacting Craig? Seems like he meant a lot to ya"
"Been too long, a year has passed and we've both moved on with life"
Ste halts at the courtyard gates and drifts his eyes up to the club. Brendan stands there talking to a guy on the balcony. A delivery man that he hands over some money to and then strays his eyes over to them stood below. Brendan considers both John Paul and Ste a moment and swerves his body around but it's Ste he has the hidden smile for. It makes his heart flutter that little bit faster.
"He might call you one day, Craig, when ya least expect it." Ste said, his eyes focused on Brendan. "What would you do?"
"Answer the call" John Paul mused with a smile. His own eye line reached Brendan on the balcony. "I'd best go sort out the arrangements for the ball with Brendan. Thanks for helping out with it Ste"
John Paul climbed up the steps and stalled next to Brendan. "Go." Brendan said, he gestured his head back at the club door. "I'll be in shortly"
As John Paul left them alone. Ste smirked as he walked through the quiet courtyard and kept Brendan's attention.
"Making friends again?" Brendan asked with a raised brow.
"Might be" Ste shrugged. "You got keys for the flat?"
"Ye gonna come up here and get them?" Brendan asked leaning down across the railings.
"This box is heavy to go trapsin' up them steps with it. How about ya come here instead"
Brendan pushed off the railings and skulked down the steps towards Ste. Brendan settled close but not touching, eyes gazing deep into Ste's as he held up his keys for him to take. He pulled them back when Ste went to grab them.
"Thought ye were popping in to see me?"
"I got side tracked"
"John Paul side tracked?"
"I met him on the way back to the village. He was tellin' me all about your drunken night together."
"I categorically did not spend the night with him and if he's said otherwise..."
"He hasn't, as keen as you to forget about it an' all"
"Good. Couldn't agree more"
Ste smiles and shakes his head. "Are ya gonna give me them keys?"
"Come and get them" Brendan leans in and grins. Their mouths are drawn together in a soft kiss and Ste manages to pull the keys easily from Brendan's grip.
"Wish ya didn't have to work so many hours"
"Ye won't notice as much once you're busy again" Brendan said, he gazed down at the box Ste held in his hands. "Whats all this?"
"It's from my kitchen cupboards, thought I'd make use of the ingredients I have, make a start on the food for the party. It'll keep me occupied for the duration of today so I'll text you later when I've finished, okay?"
"Alright. Listen, if it's quiet here again I'll be home early. We could do something, takeout, couple of beers."
"I'd like that." Ste gave Brendan a chased kiss. "I'll see you tonight"
Ste wrapped up the last of the food and cleaned the mess off the counter until the surfaces sparkled again. He blew out a long breath and chucked the cloth into the sink. After changing into something comfortable Ste sat on the bed and gazed at the clock, 10pm, he'd spent hours in the kitchen and needed to relax.
With Brendan now at the forefront of his mind, Ste retrieved his phone and messaged him.
'Finished, took me ages to sort the kitchen' S
'U busy?' S
'Not really, slow here' B
'Where are u?' S
'Office doorway, watching my staff laze around' B
'This mean your coming home to me?' S
'Keep that thought...' B
'How long u gonna be?' S
'Give me an hour' B
'Just the 2 of us' S
'Song in there somewhere' B
'Play that song,
The one that keeps me going all night long...' S
'Don't need no song for that' B
'Ha ha :P' S
'What takeout we having?' S
'Chinese?' B
'I'll order, doors open xx' S
"Hey" Brendan said as he peered around the door. Ste flicks his eyes up and smiles.
"Hiya" Ste replies, he sits crossed legged on the sofa. "Foods' arrived, ordered a few things cos I realised I didn't know what ya liked"
"I like lots of things" Brendan admitted closing the door behind him. He placed some beers on the table and put some music on in the background. "Smells good in here"
"Thank you" Ste responded swiftly, eyes confidently fixing with Brendan's.
Brendan chuckled at Ste while he wrangled out of his suit jacket.
"You gonna do a strip tease for me?" Ste asked expectantly, moving to settle back against the sofa. His eyes taking considerable time to feast over the man in front of him. "Might have a fiver I can tuck down ya pants"
"Fiver? Really?" Brendan gestured to his body and made Ste laugh. Brendan held a light smile while he gazed at Ste, while he unbuttoned his shirt and let it hang either side of his chest. "I'd rather have ye take my clothes off anyway"
"Right now?"
"Someone's keen. Later"
"Spoilsport"
Brendan sat down next to Ste and lent over to kiss him. "Good to see ye"
"You too" Ste smiled giving Brendan's chest a stroke. "Hope you're hungry"
"I'm always hungry"
Ste dished out a plate of food for them each and settled back on the couch to eat it. He listened to the songs playing and reconised it was Johnny Cash and although it wasn't his kind of music, Ste knew it would become something he would like in the future because Brendan would always play it. He hadn't noticed Brendan's head had fallen to one side, that his eyes had been watching him intently.
"D'ye want me to change the music?"
"No" Ste began, he turned to look at Brendan. "I wanna get used to it"
"Remember the last time we sat here like this?" Ste continued.
"Ye ran out on me" Brendan sniffed.
"Before that Brendan."
"I told ye about Niamh, showed ye the scan. My Mothers photo." Brendan recalled, his head laid to one side again. "How could I have known then, just how much you'd mean to me now."
"I guess ya just know, because I did too" Ste held his hand at Brendan's face bringing their lips together in a kiss. "That's what I wanted to do the last time and I wish I had. If Cheryl hadn't of come in -"
"Would ye have stayed?"
"I dunno, maybe. I was, ya know, up for it"
"Yeah." Brendan swallowed. "Me too"
"You always were up for it" Ste laughs. "Glad we waited anyhow, it was amazing"
"Yes. Feel free to re enact that anytime" Brendan suggested, he took a swig of his beer.
Ste lightly chuckles, licked his lips and held his head at the back of the sofa."Nice we can do this init?"
"Hm. Not too sure the books will look so nice" Brendan flicked his eyes on to Ste. "Having to close up early again, seems to be a regular thing at the moment"
"Is the club in trouble then, I mean cos it's not getting much business? You look worried"
"Hmm. A bit yeah, I think it just needs a boost. There's bigger clubs in the city and people are going there instead."
"What about the theme nights you and Cheryl spoke about? That's gotta bring punters in Brendan, caters for a wider audience dun' it? And then there's advertising, do you have a website, Facebook excetera?"
"Social media" Brendan scoffs. "Not on the top of my list"
"I know it's hard for you cos ya don't get the whole internet thingy"
"I get the internet, just don't like it much" Brendan corrected Ste as he passed him a bottle of beer. "I'll mention it to Cheryl, let her handle it"
Brendan held his arm up so Ste could slot into the side of his body.
"What were ye like at school?"
"Me?"
"No, the bloke next door - of course ye"
Ste nudged Brendan and held his bottom lip against his teeth to stop himself laughing. "I were nothin' special"
"Don't believe that for one second"
"I didn't like me at school then. I have Dyslexia, and that made things difficult at school, teachers treated me like I were stupid. Terry were the worst though, anything to have a dig"
"Ye were smarter than any of them. Nobody should make a child feel that way, school's hard enough as it is"
"I know. What were you like at school then?"
"Younger"
"Funny. Cock of the school, I bet"
Brendan chuckled. "Jack the lad? Maybe I was in my teens, toughened up - had to ye know, with my Da around. Seamus Brady. That's my middle name"
Ste edged up on his folded leg. "After your Dad?"
Brendan side glanced at Ste and sniffed. "Hm"
"You know when people say 'there's no worries when you're a kid', that's not even true, is it? When Terry had hit me, the pain used to last days, weeks. Time dragged most for me when I were a kid."
"That happened when I turned eight" Brendan said, he caught the movement of Ste's face as it turned to look at him. His heart felt like it would leap out from within it's confines.
"Eight?"
"That's when it began"
"He hit you too didn't he?" Ste's voice wavered, his eyes closing tightly. He felt the back of Brendan's finger sweep gently down his cheek, the warmth of it opened his eyes again. Brendan was looking at him, his eyes perfect colbalt blue shining back.
"Yes."
"I hate him, never even met the man but, I do"
"There's a club" Brendan attempted a laugh but the lump in his throat had been unexpected creating a choked sob instead. Ste held across his hand as he looked down on it.
"Ya know what worries me the most, what you can't say, the things you can't tell me"
"I will tell ye, I will. Just right now I wouldn't know how too." Brendan explains honestly. "Let's get Dublin out of the way, do us both good, might even help me lay some demons to rest huh? As soon as Chez gets back I'll tell her we're going"
"We'll make you new memories there, each place we go, put our mark on it"
"Exactly. Ye know, my favourite times are the ones I've spent with my Ma, Chez when we were kids, and ye. Since you've been here, I've looked forward to coming home"
"Still early days init, that could change, you'll be sick of me" Ste rests his head on Brendan's shoulder.
"Would have happened already, knowing the way I've been in the past."
"Love em' an' leave em' type"
"I don't know how to love Steven"
"No, I'm not having you say that. You show me love in ways I'd never imagined." Ste shifts himself to kneel up at the side of Brendan and takes his hand. "You touch me and..." Ste faltered his laugh. "I tremble. Right, that might sound soft but it's true"
"How much beer ye drank?"
"Oi, pack it in!"
"I am kidding. What ye said, well, it works both ways"
Ste looked back at the coffee table. "Have you finished with the food?"
"Yeah"
"Right, I'll clear it up" Ste goes to move but Brendan stops him.
"Leave it, we'll do it in the morning."
Brendan stands up and holds a hand out to Ste pulling him to his feet. Ste touched his finger on one of Brendan's nipples and rubbed the tip against it. Kissed his mouth when Brendan dipped down towards him. Ste sucked on Brendan's tongue the moment it slid between his lips, pushed up to the tip of his toes and enveloped mouth wide around his tashe smiling at the soft prickle.
"Early night then?" Ste searched Brendan's eyes and stroked his hand along his jaw.
"Early night"
"Ye like this?" Brendan asked, his lips feather light touching just below Ste's ear. He sucks at the fleshly lobe and when Ste tightens his ring around his cock Brendan bites instead.
"Yeah. Feels good" Ste's breath is laboured, caught in his throat as Brendan deepens his thrusts inside him. He's full, walls of his entrance stretched tight around Brendan's cock. Coated in lube their movements are slippery, easy when Brendan's curved palm lifts his thigh higher up again and again, while flicking his hips forwards and hitting his prostate.
Ste presses his head back into the pillow, mouth widening in response to the way his body feels, every skin prickle and tremble more powerful than the last. It's slow, intimate, timeless and Ste can hear the noise he makes, the desperate cries Brendan elicits from him are drawn out euphorically. Ste arches up with Brendan's other arm placed behind his back, strong while holding them close. Brendan licks Ste's throat with a wide tongue kisses his Adams apple and jaw line. The hint of stubble Ste now has reddening Brendan's lips.
Brendan lowers himself and takes Ste's nipple inside his lips, caresses it gently coaxing the nub erect and hard so his teeth can hold on and tease its sensitivity. He looks at Ste when he licks wet over it, watches Ste's eyes fixed and dilated, mouth panting. No man has ever turned him on this much. Brendan quickens his movement, drives his cock in and out of Ste until he can feel the orgasm within him splay goosebumps the entire area of his skin.
"Steven, God, Steven"
"Fuck, that's... " Ste wraps his legs tight at Brendan's back and digs in his fingers beneath Brendan's bum grinding his dick against his sweet spot. "Uh, oh, Bren..."
Brendan ejaculates hard inside Ste and feels the wet of Ste's come warm between their stomach's. Ste's hand frantic brushing through his hair and lips kissing his mouth. Ste's tongue feels rewarding, focused with its movements. The kiss deepens so much when they part it leaves them dizzy and breathless.
"Wow" Ste runs his fingers against the sweat glazing Brendan's skin, scrunches them gently into the addictive feel of his shaking body. "I love we get to do that to each other"
"You're incredible" Brendan breathes his words, lets his head fall onto Ste's shoulder.
As his eyes close, Ste ghosts a smile.
"Bren?" Cheryl pulls out the key from the lock and walks through the door. She lets it softly click closed behind her as she holds her breath to listen out. The flat is quiet as she steps over to the coffee table to place her keys down, the remnants of a Chinese take away left on there fills the room with its smell, half eaten cartons of noodles and a beer bottles show half full. Chez carefully looks from the table up into the room.
"Brendan?" Cheryl licks her lips and carefully walks through to the kitchen continues to look around listening for signs of her brother. It's when she gets to his bedroom door a noise is heard behind it and she breathes out finally, a breath that's half a laugh in relief. "Thank god for that Bren ye almost had me worried then. Are ye..."
Cheryl gasps as she opens the door, mouth covered in shock eyes like saucers. Cheryl quickly shuts the door again and closes her eyes, hand covering her stifled giggle. After composing herself Cheryl makes herself a brew, a drink of tea and by the time there's movement from Brendan's room she's quietly sipping from her cup, eyes drifting up over the rim of it.
"Weren't expectin' ya" Ste said, his voice sounding like a whisper. His arms came around his chest hugging his body. He didn't keep eye contact.
"Nope, didn't look that way. Ye know I love my brother but some things I really shouldn't see..."
"It wasn't what ya think" Ste explained, playing out everything in his head. Ste chewed his bottom lip and looked up at Cheryl.
"Love, ye don't wanna know what I'm thinking"
Ste held his red cheeks in his hands, felt the heat transfer into him. "Moving on quickly. Welcome back"
"Thanks love"
"Are you alone?"
"Alone? Yes, why?"
"Just cos, Brendan mentioned you bringing home your dad sometimes"
"I did that once, and he played merry hell too. Has he told ye that, has my brother explained how I can't have my own Da here just because they don't get on?"
"Don't get on?" Ste's eyes drifted onto Cheryl, his face slightly twisting. "I think it's a bit more than that"
"Steven" Brendan warned as he appeared from his bedroom, eyes moving from Ste to Cheryl. "Hey sis, useful thought - how about ye knock before entering my bedroom?"
"Absolutely, I won't forget again. That ye can be assured of" Cheryl looked at Brendan.
"Got me a sudden hunger" Brendan said dismissing Cheryl's words to look over at Ste. "Must that extra exercise I'm getting lately"
Ste fidgeted uncomfortably. "There's some bacon in't fridge, want me to make that?"
"You're cooking here now are ye?"
Cheryl didn't look up when Ste's eyes drew on her. He swallows. "Sometimes, yeah."
"I asked Steven to move in, to stay here, until ye came home is all. Is that a problem?"
"No, it's just that why can Ste stay and not Da. He's family - sorry Ste, but he is" Cheryl pointedly looked at Brendan. "Da sends his love by the way. He was asking how ye were, all Da wants is to have a small piece of your time, why can't ye let him be a part of your life again?"
"Because he has no rights to it!" Brendan's face gnarled momentarily as his voice angered. Both Cheryl and Ste were taken aback by his sudden outburst but it was Ste who found his way by Brendan's side and curling his hands around his arm protectively. Brendan gulped and strayed his eyes up from the gesture to Ste.
"No rights as your father?" Cheryl continued to poke at the open wound blindly. "I miss Daddy, so would it hurt to have him here occasionally - not like I'm asking him to move in"
Ste flicked his eyes to the ceiling and tried to draw strength for both him and Brendan who he could feel struggling. "You will be able to when we leave the village, just at this moment I don't think Seamus being here is..."
"Don't say his name" Brendan spoke lowly but with an edge to his voice. His eyes were soft when Ste gazed into them. "Just, don't"
"Okay" Ste whispered mirroring the tenderness between them and slightly squeezing his hands on his arm.
"Yous are leaving the village?"
Cheryl's question widened both Brendan and Ste's eyes, still looking at each other. Ste let out a quick breath realising what he'd said, they'd barely discussed it themselves. Brendan darted his eyes between his boyfriend and his sister respectively before settling them back on Ste again.
"Hey. Would ye -" Brendan flashed a warm smile. "Would ye leave us? I gotta speak to my sister"
"Yeah. Yeah..." Ste swallowed the caught lump in his throat, his guilt written all over his face, "I'm sorry for -"
"Ye never have to say that to me" Brendan soothed and held a warm palm to the side of Ste's face before letting their lips touch. His thumb brushed the round of his cheek as his blue gaze held with Ste's.
"Are you all right?"
"Ye know me"
"Exactly" Ste replied, he looked over at Cheryl before he walked back to Brendan's bedroom.
"You're leaving the village?"
Brendan turned to step into the kitchen, filled up the kettle and set it to boil. Behind him he could feel his sisters eyes boring into the back of his head as he placed two cups on the side.
"Coffee?"
"Fine, whatever" Cheryl seated herself at the kitchen table. She kept a difficult silence while Brendan finished up the brews and placed them on the table. He pulled out a chair opposite her and sat down.
"Steven wants to open a restaurant, he's got a plan and funds to do it. But he can't do it here, no retail space"
"No retail space? What about the deli?"
"Too small"
"There's an empty plot on the corner too, or is that too big"
Brendan flicked his eyes up to Cheryl and kept his silence momentarily.
"We've talked about Dublin"
"Right. Thought ye didn't want to be near Da"
"Ye could bring him here, seen as you're so keen on doing that anyway"
"Take him out of Dublin so ye can settle there instead. Isn't Ireland big enough space between ye"
"The whole fucking world isn't enough space. I'll still know Da's around no matter"
Cheryl slid her cup to one side and held her hand over Brendan's. "What did he do? Why d'ye hate him so? Is it because Da left your Ma for mine, do ye resent me as much?"
"How can ye ask me that? I love ye more than anything Chez"
"More than Ste?" Cheryl countered.
"That's different" Brendan's voice was soft, measured. His gaze drew up to fix with his sisters.
"Why?"
"Because I plan to live my life with Steven"
"Wow. How can ye be so sure, he's already walked away from Doug - pretty sure he'll have thought the same as ye"
"No he didn't. Why would Douglas want to live his life with the man whose voice irritated him. Steven could do no right in his eyes. Douglas had no intention of building any kind of future for that boy in there - but I do. I do"
Cheryl smiles for the first time then, feels her heart swell and her hand tighten. "I hope - I hope ye can tell Ste what it is that's haunting ye Brendan. Because ye may have been silent about it all these years but I can still see something isn't right. Talk to him babe, please"
Brendan swallowed nodded gently.
"I'm gonna miss ye, both"
"We won't go yet, but it will happen at some point. I want to take Steven away, visit Dublin. Thinking we could take the ferry over"
"He'd love that. I take it ye won't be visiting the pub"
"Is he still there domineering the bar?"
"He runs the bar Brendan. And the house"
"No. Absolutely no way am I taking Steven there. He's tainted enough, he won't touch him"
"They'll have to meet at some point love, if ye truly want Ste in your life"
There's a noise behind them, and when they both look up Ste is standing there coyly. "Hi, sorry to disturb ya. Am I okay to have a shower?"
"Ye know where everything is love" Cheryl said with a smile. "Bet your ears are burning"
"Ha, yeah" Ste briefly smiles, darts his eyes on Brendan before he ascends the stairs.
Brendan's eyes follow him until Ste reaches the top. "Are ye gonna stay in?"
"No, I thought I'd catch up at the club. We can go through the rota when ye come over"
"No problem"
Brendan can hear the shower running when he listens at the bathroom door. He knocks first before entering but suspects Ste can't hear him over the water. He steadies the door to and flicks his eyes up to the shower curtain, the shadow behind it is too faint to make out any kind of outline, but the tune Ste hums gives Brendan something to smile about.
"Are ya gonna stand there all day or join me at some point?"
Brendan parts his mouth. "I didn't think you'd heard me. Wasn't sure if you'd want company"
"You can scrub me back" Ste draws back the curtain and smiles. "Struggle reaching, ya know"
"Uh huh" Brendan replies as he removes his dressing robe and boxers. He lets Ste's eyes wander a moment, captures the grin on his lips.
Ste steps back to make room for Brendan to get under the shower head, watches his eyes close beneath the jet stream as the water cascades down his body. Ste waits until the water has left a wet sheen on his skin and drifts his fingers up Brendan's back, and curves them over his shoulders. He can feel the tension within Brendan immediately.
"You're tightly wound ain't ya" Ste clenches his hands, massaging the tense skin. Brendan groans in approval, whenever his grip tightens.
Brendan reaches behind himself and presses his own touch against Ste, fingers delicately grazing his damp skin coaxing Ste forward enough their thighs were touching. He hears the cap on the shower gel flick open and the squeeze of soap is sleeked on Brendan's back and and down to his sides.
"So what did Cheryl say, about you leaving the village?" Ste asked as he replaced the cap and put the bottle down on the side. Ste circled his palms over the scented shower gel mapping the foamy lather over Brendan's skin.
Brendan shook his head minutely, lips held tight together. "Dunno, she seemed okay about it. Not overly happy but ye can't blame her for that."
"I thought she'd try and stop you" Ste glided his hands across Brendan's shoulders, curved the muscle on his arms and watched the water wash off the lather. "Not in a bad way of course, but she'll miss her big brother. Chez always speaks highly of you"
"Been together a long time" Brendan dipped his head down underneath the shower head, let the heat from the water over the back of his neck. "I used to look out for her, still do"
"What big brothers are for init? Turn around"
Brendan turned to face Ste and watched his hands run through his chest hair covering it in a soapy lather then down the concave of his belly around the curve of his thighs, slips in and out between them, wrists brushing against Brendan's ball sack and pubic hair.
Ste flicks his gaze up at Brendan, takes his hands up the side of his neck, flicks the droplets of water from his wet beard. "Cheryl was lucky, wish I'd had you around back then, when I were a kid. Reckon we woulda' been best mates then an' all"
"I wish you'd been around too" Brendan spoke lowly, his hand lifted to cradle Ste's face. "Might have made things more bearable"
Ste's blue eyes danced quickly as he looked back at Brendan, expression pained. Brendan stroked his hand through Ste's wet hair, down the curve of his face and tucked his fingers beneath his chin to angle up his head. Ste closed his eyes to the hurry of water splashing his face and Brendan watched as the droplets clung to his long swept eyelashes and made them darken. Brendan dipped down and kissed Ste's water logged lips, drank the water from his open mouth and pulled in his body until they were flush together.
Brendan placed his legs at ease and guided Ste's hand to the underside of his ball sack and along his perineum, lets out a loud long moan that travels down the back of Ste's throat when they kiss. Ste edges back from Brendan and chuckles.
"Where did that come from?"
"Maybe I'm just pleased to see ye"
"I can tell. And ya say I'm loud. Cheryl will have heard that"
"Chez has gone out"
"Have the neighbours gone out too?" Ste teases, rubs his hands down the sides of Brendan's arms. "Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes. Thanks to ye, and your healing hands" Brendan said, he switched off the shower "I gotta go Steven, catch up with Chez at the club"
"Don't worry, I know you've gotta work. Will be doing more baking anyhow, if ya here you'll just be under me feet and eating the food" Ste turns to step out of the bath and feels the sting of Brendan's hand against his bum. "Oi!"
"Under your feet huh? Not my fault you're such a good chef"
"That stung" Ste rubs his backside, and then Brendan rubs it too.
"Want me to kiss it better?"
"Pucker up mate" Ste laughs
A couple of days later and it's the student's ball at the club. Ste wandered around the courtyard and smiled at the decorations, fake snow and light blue lighting that gave the feel of a crisp winters day. The night had drawn in now and the music was on a slow number, many of the students were dancing with their partners or friends and having a great time. Ste's eyes shifted to the balcony and up to Brendan who stood there looking down upon him. Ste smiled before walking up the metal steps.
"Hello" Ste spoke playfully, settling close to Brendan.
"Hello back"
"Seeing you up here, reminds me of all those times I caught ya watching me when we first met."
"Not sure what you're getting at Steven"
"Oh come on, you were always looking" Ste glanced to his side.
"I might have...occasionally, noticed ye"
"Every day?"
"Every day" Brendan repeated with a nod of his head. He smiled to himself. "So, what d'ye think, going well?"
"I'd say it is. Looks ace all the theme and decorations"
"The food is going down a treat too, thanks to my..."
"Continue, your what?"
"Talented boy."
"Thought you'd have at least said lover"
"That too" Brendan chuckled.
Ste's smile stretched across his face. "Feels good don't it?"
"Very much" Brendan agreed. "Are ye gonna stick around?"
"I'll stay to help out." Ste leaned on his side to look at Brendan. "Bren, you know now that Chez is back..."
"What about it?"
"Well. I'll have to go home"
Brendan inhaled to speak but stopped short and instead just turned to look back at Ste.
"Cos, it was only temporary weren't it? Just keeping ya company while Chez were away and I've a perfectly good flat waiting for me so, gonna go home tonight." Ste's voice faltered, momentarily smile on his mouth. "Say somet then"
"It didn't even occur to me Steven."
The balcony door opened and Cheryl popped her head through. "There ye are! Hi Ste, party going on in here, ye coming in?"
"I'm gonna..." Ste pursed his lips and thumbed back to the door. "See ya later Brendan, okay"
"Okay" Brendan nodded, his eyes strayed to the side of him and back out into the distance.
Hours later that evening, Ste found his way into the office. It was empty so he bounced himself down on the couch and splayed his arms along the back of it and felt a dull ache in his body. Feeling tired, Ste rested his head back and relaxed his eyes shut, the thrum of the music outside still matched the beat of his heart as it seemed to dance along with it the duration of the night.
After a while the door opens and for a few moments Ste can't open his eyes, his head drifting, tiring him to a lazy state. The music quietens again when the door is placed to and instead the sound of footsteps in the room is enhanced. They stop in front of Ste and all he can hear is the base of music outside of the door.
Ste blinks open his eyes and smiles to see it's Brendan stood there, jacket-less because of how hot it is in the bar. Ste's gaze wanders down the length of him and back up, gets a smirk out of the man before him who removes his shirt from his trousers, unbuttoning it to spay either side of his chest.
"Gonna start doing your shifts like that?" Ste asked quietly, voice matching his tiredness.
"Ye think I'd get away with it?"
"Uh huh" Ste cleared his throat, tongue darting to moisten his lips. His eyes wander back up to Brendan's. "Bit distracting though"
Brendan flashed a small smile, moving down to straddle either side of Ste so his chest is directly in front of his face. Ste lifts his hand and gently claws down Brendan's chest, he's damp with sweat darkening his chest hair. Ste's tongue darts over his nipple, his lips softly kiss.
"Been a good night so far, hasn't it?" Brendan said, his eyelids closing to the movement of Ste's tongue finding it's path to his other nipple, the motion tickles his skin raising goosebumps. Brendan feels his nipples stiffen encouraging a falter in his breath. "The students look to have enjoyed the ball"
"Hmm" Ste agreed, his kisses edging wider as Brendan's skin became addictive. "It's been a success, that's down to you"
"Not just me" Brendan disagreed, his thumbs tracing along Ste's pillowed lips. He focused his eyes on Ste's, fringed by his long eyelashes. "Your food has been a hit, at least what's left after I'd finished."
Ste laughs, lifting his head enough to look back at Brendan. Ste drifts his hands at the sides of Brendan and strokes around his arse, smiles as he squeezes. "Please tell me ya locked the door"
"Soon as I found ye sat in here. Wouldn't want anyone to disturb us on our break"
"Good" Ste licked his lips and unbuckled Brendan's belt, thumbed open the button and dragged down the zipper. Ste drifted his gaze over the bulge in his boxers. "Excited?"
"I am now"
"Kneel up a bit"
Brendan watched as Ste uncovered his cock gripping it in his fingers and angling the swollen head between his lips to suck on. "Fuck, Steven"
Ste took the wide of his tongue between the slit and gazed up at Brendan. "Do you wanna come?"
Brendan nodded and held his hands on Ste's shoulders, gripped them to steady himself feeling the weakness in his legs shake his body. Ste sucked his length inside his mouth slowly, each movement warm and wet, surrounding him the deeper Ste took him down. Brendan twitched feeling the need to thrust, used his fingertips to show how much he was holding back. Ste massaged his balls in response, clasped his palm open and closed while his mouth slipped along his erection back and forth, tongue resting along the underside, tickling.
Brendan's thumbs stroked Ste's cheeks feeling them puff out each time he sucked him to the back of his throat, their eyes focused on each other. Ste slurped his way back letting Brendan's cock slip from his mouth and instead sucked at his fingers. Brendan moaned as his ball sack heaved, as Ste's hand slid between his legs and placed the moist fingers at his hole, gently circling pressure against the muscle.
Brendan closed his eyes, mouth open as he breathed heavy. Ste felt his own cock push up against his trousers, tightening around him as he hardened for Brendan. His hand movements became controlled as he rubbed friction and felt the muscle twitch and relax. The tip of his finger worked its way through the muscle and Brendan jerked, dug his fingers into Ste's shoulders. As he came, Brendan watched Ste swallow around him.
When Ste looked up Brendan was gazing at him with a slightly stunned expression, it disarmed Ste a little but then Brendan moved down and kissed him on the lips, chased at first then again deeper sealing his mouth on Ste's and tasting himself. Ste brought Brendan down to rest in his lap and curled his hands around his back as Brendan's tongue slipped through his lips and circled the inside of his mouth.
Ste's eyes follow Brendan as he climbs up off him and tucks his spent cock back in his boxers, fixes his trousers up again.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah" Brendan said.
"Probably should get back out there, gonna be missing us ey?" Ste said hesitantly. Brendan's eyes flick up hearing the tone of it.
"Come here" Brendan said reassuringly, he curls his finger at Ste until he gets up and stands with him.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No. No ye did everything right. It felt... really fucking good"
Ste smiles. "Made me hot, seeing you like that"
"Yeah? Let's see" Brendan strokes his palm over Ste's trousers and the swell of his cock trapped behind them and rubs slowly, his eyes intent and mouth parted. "Know what I wanna do to ye?"
"I can imagine" Ste whispers.
"Say it"
"You want to fuck me" Ste clears his throat.
Brendan open mouth smiles, drifts his eyes up to the door when someone knocks on it. He tightens his hand on Ste's twitching crotch, fondles and makes him gasp breath. "I'd like ye to keep that thought while you're behind that bar tonight, like ye are right now"
Ste lets out a low laugh, hard kisses Brendan biting on his bottom lip. His eyes draw up and fix with his. "I love you"
"I love ye" Brendan husks. "Infinitely"
As the evening draws to a close Rhys and Jacqui escort a drunk John Paul out by the arm, Ste smiles at him and continues to wipe down the bar collecting the last of the glasses. Cheryl walks over and plops herself down on a bar stool.
"Phew, well that was a busy night - thanks for staying to help out love. You've become quite the barman"
"I've picked it up alright, everyone has helped me out." Ste gripped tightly to the now tattered remnants of the cloth in his hand and discarded it in the bin. "I really need to get back into catering though, didn't always like working at the deli, but I miss cooking, it's what I am good at"
"Brendan said about your restaurant idea." Cheryl answered. "Shame ye can't stay around here"
"I don't want to take Brendan away from you Cheryl, but I can't begin that part of my life without him. Brendan was the one who convinced me to follow my dreams in the first place"
"I know. You've made such a difference to my brother, I haven't seen him so looking forward ye know? It's like something stopped that, a barrier he had put up. And then ye came along and his future is mapped" Cheryl holds her hand over Ste's. "He might be the big man, making out he's this tough guy, but he needs looking after too"
"You've always been the one doing that. Nothing will change your relationship Chez, he will always need his sister"
Ste drifted his eyes up to Brendan as he walked out of the office, watched him walk around checking the place was empty and there was no one left in the club. His eyes settle on Cheryl.
"Right, I'll call it a night." Cheryl got up off the stool and held her hand against Brendan's arm. "See yous both in the morning"
"Night sis" Brendan called back after her, his eyes strayed onto Ste. "Chez alright?"
"Yeah. I think in a round about kind of way, she's asked me to look after you" Ste said, he flicked his gaze up to Brendan. "You gonna let me?"
Brendan leaned his elbow down on the bar. "Yeah"
Ste smiled. "You not having a dance Brendan?"
Brendan scoffs. "The boss don't dance"
"Don't start that again, cos I know different" Ste crowds closer to Brendan "I like that though, being the only one who really sees you"
"I'd very much like to walk ye home tonight Steven"
"Okay" Ste spoke softly. "We could go now, cos everything is done"
"Come on then" Brendan pushed up off the bar and waited at the club door for Ste to leave. The walk through the village was a little chilly, Ste clung to his jacket and walked alongside Brendan closely.
"Never been walked home before" Ste said, he breathed deeply through his nose, side glanced his eyes at Brendan "Bet you've done this loads of times"
Brendan ghosted a smile. "What makes ye think that?"
"Dunno. Have you..?" Ste asks, his eyes looking anywhere but on Brendan.
"No, I haven't"
"Right then" Ste breathes out in relief and continued to walk with Brendan until they arrived at Ste's flat. He fumbled for his keys and opened the door. "Well, this is me"
"So it is. What happens now?"
"Traditionally, you'd have to kiss me on the doorstep"
"I'm all for keeping tradition" Brendan replied, he edged closer to Ste leaning in to him and smiled before they kissed. He pried Ste's lips apart with his tongue tasting the inside of his mouth. Ste's whimper vibrated hotly down the length of it. Brendan backed off, and gazed deeply into his eyes.
"Coming in for a 'traditional' coffee?" Ste lightly laughed.
"That was easier than I thought"
"Must be the way ya kiss me" Ste grabbed a hold of Brendan's suit jacket and pulled him inside.