Robbie took his plate into the kitchen area, cake crumbs spilling sparsely onto the floor.
"Watch it hon," Ayda warned, balancing one of their smaller dogs precariously on her hip as she held it to her side. "Clean that up little one!" She placed the dog down and both Robbie and Ayda erupted into laughter as the dog started lapping at the floor for crumbs.
Gary had been standing in the doorway during this time, his hands in his pockets. He wasn't much in the mood for smiling but when Robbie caught his eye, he had to force a grin.
"Gaz would never let a dog into his house, would ya Gaz? Especially not to clean up." Mark had appeared all of a sudden behind Gary in the kitchen doorway. "You're too house-proud. Too up ya'self."
Gary opened his mouth to retort but nothing came out. He stood there gaping like a fish.
"That's actually kinda true mate. Mark has a point," Robbie said, tilting his head forward and glancing up innocently.
"Oh right. Cheer lads," Gary said with bitter sarcasm, shrugging to himself. "Listen Rob, I'm just going out for a bit. Do you mind? I need to clear me head."
"Weren't we going to go over my last track this evening?" Robbie seemed a little confused as he added, "Clear your head? Why?"
Gary's and Mark's eyes locked at that moment. Both of them would've seemed expressionless to an outsider, but within their own gazes they could almost communicate their thoughts to one another. Ayda took this moment to leave, but just before she did, she muttered something to Robbie about needing to bathe the dogs. Robbie nodded at her, though his eyes were switching between Gary and Mark. Something was amiss there, but he let it go and stepped forward, tapping Gary on the shoulder. "Be back soon mate, from wherever you're going. We can all Skype Howard later if you want… he's learnt how to use it and wants to test it out."
"Ah. Will do." Gary smiled a little and turned back to Mark once Ayda and Robbie had left the kitchen.
"Have a nice nap then?" Gary asked, just trying to make conversation.
"Yeah thanks," Mark said coolly, breaking eye contact and looking away with a disgruntled expression. "Why are ya' even bothered?"
Gary raised his eyebrows and spoke in a low tone. "Mark, seriously, I don't even know why I'm bothered… but I am, okay? I just am."
"Yeah right. You want rid of me. You want me outta here."
"I didn't mean that by the way. I'm just… well, you know what I mean though right? I can't forget that mistake we made. Moving on from it isn't going to be easy."
"Oh 'ere we go with the goddamn 'mistake' thing again. Is that your favourite word now? My problem with you… is that you can't make ya' bloody mind up! And I'm in the firing line of your changeable mind. You say Rob's got a changeable mind but look at yourse-"
"Oh for fucking hell's sake. I don't need this aggro," Gary said irritably, turning round and heading for the front door. Mark followed him, grabbing his hat from the rack by the door.
"Gaz, sorry. Please. We need to talk this out. Not for you, not for me, but for the future of Take That as a whole."
Gary stopped in his tracks and heaved a sigh. He didn't turn around though.
Mark watched him for a moment before stepping forward and closing the short distance between them. Gary felt Mark's arms wrap around him, so he turned around so they could hold each other properly. Why he was succumbing to Mark, he didn't know.
"Gary… we need to accept that it happened... because it bloody well did."
Gary closed his eyes and nuzzled into Mark's neck. He couldn't help it. They both held each other tighter as a consequence.
"I'm so stupid and pathetic, I am." Gary muttered, trailing kisses from Mark's ear down to his neck and shoulder.
"No, you're not," Mark breathed, his eyelids fluttering shut. "We're just two men who know what we want."
"This needs to be kept secret. No one… can… ever… know." Gary spoke between heated kisses as he began to caress Mark's jaw line with his lips.
Mark pulled the blonde man closer, edging his hands down over Gary's arse and giving it a light whack.
Gary chuckled and pulled away slightly. "Oi, you. We're not on tour. We're in Robbie Williams' house. No spanking."
"But I enjoy it Gaz. Oh - what? No spanking? What about… y'know?"
Gary's eyes narrowed in mock confusion but he couldn't stop himself from smiling. "You mean do it? In here? In this damn house?"
Mark ran his hands slowly up and down Gary's sides as he licked his lips. "Uh huh. In this very house Mr. Barlow."
"But I'm meant to be going out. I told Rob-"
"-Sshhh. He's washing the dogs. All nine of the dogs. That'll take forever." Mark winked as he added, "We've got forever."
Mark pulled Gary into one of the downstairs spare rooms, so they could resume their heated kisses and heightening of pleasured excitement. They both ended up on the floor - they didn't actually know how. They were just aware of each other, tearing feverishly at each other's clothes.
Mark knew now that he'd broken down all of Gary's upstart and sensible personality barriers. He was now the man Mark had always wanted to see – consumed with passion and lust. He could lie there all evening on the floor with Gaz, just watching him. Every moan or gasp from Gary was the biggest turn on imaginable and the thrill of getting caught seemed to heat everything up by a hundred degrees.
