Hi, I haven't spell checked this at all so there will be crazy stupid typos and mistakes... Basically wanted to keep at least half a promise and get something out to you.

This chapter is low on plot and high on smut.

Plotwise the story starts hotting up again with Chapter 29.

Chips x

P.S. Thanks for the comments. They make me make weird sounds and do things like punch the air and laugh at my computer and get all emosh

{~}

Ste hopped into the warm interior of the taxi.

Once again, Doug stopped him, this time from closing the door.

Ste was getting the impression that Doug was trying to keep him from leaving.

"What?"

Doug hesitated. "Um. Nothing. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yeah. See you." Ste waved. "And stop worrying because I know you are. Things will be different this time."

"I know."

Ste grinned. "Can I close the door now please?"

Doug paused, then hopped into the cab, forcing Ste to scoot over. "Changed my mind. I will take that ride. It's fucking freezing."

"You're acting well weird you."

Doug made himself comfortable as the taxi started off. He breathed warm air into cupped hands to warm up. "Yeah. Well, actually. I just had an idea. Benji's probably made me dinner-"

"Supper." Ste corrected. "Dinner is lunch."

"Doesn't make sense no matter how many times you say it, dude." Doug said. "So Benji has probably made me something to eat, which as you know is basically a death sentence to taste buds."

"True."

"…And I haven't had a chance to get to know Brendan yet…" The American continued.

Where is this going?

Doug gave Ste his most winning smile and concluded, "And you said you were having take out so-"

The penny dropped.

"No, Doug."

"But-"

"No. I am not having you come over to his place so you can give him the third degree."

"I won't."

"You will."

"What if I promise to be good?"

Ste sighed heavily. He had not pictured an evening of Doug, Brendan and him. Three was definitely a crowd.

"It's just so I get a feel for him, Ste."

Ste thought about it and relented. "Promise you won't be twat to him then."

Doug smiled. "I promise."

"And that you'll stay for one drink only."

Doug tried to protest but Ste interrupted him. "One drink, Doug and then I get to have some alone time with him."

{~}

Steven was taking ages.

The temptation to call him and ask his whereabouts was strong but Brendan resisted. For one thing his friend Doug was with him so he was safe. For another it would have come across as an overbearing move for a two day relationship.

"Where are you? I was expecting you at blah blah…"

Shit a nagging wife would say and Brendan was no nagging wife. He was a man who had received a visit from the boys in blue that confirmed that his boy was in danger.

That knowledge did terrible things to his nerves so he distracted himself with a shower then changed into something more comfortable and poured himself a shot of whiskey.

And then another.

This was going to be strange. This was the first time Steven was going to come over since the dissolution of their contract; since they were no longer sex worker and client. Since they were something else; something more conventional.

This meant that Brendan hadn't needed to cash a load of money on his way home from work and place it in the key bowl by the door. He did not have to come up with an excuse to tell Steven why he needed to see him again. And Steven wouldn't have to come with his black satchel in tow. His bag of magic tricks.

That Brendan wasn't happy about. He liked that bag. Loved it. Missed it already…

Maybe he could persuade Steven to resurrect it and its contents.

At least it was the only thing he would miss. He wouldn't miss the sharing; that gnawing feeling over the fact that he had no special rights or hold over Steven. He wouldn't miss the paying either; not because it was costly- it barely made a dent to his budget- but because of the principle behind it. What it suggested about how much value Brendan placed on Steven and his body.

Tonight was a new beginning. The start of something. Moving the apartment from a 'call out venue' to 'my boyfriend's place'.

Jesus H. C.

Brendan just thought the word boyfriend. If his sister were able to read his thoughts she would probably squeal then pass out with excitement.

Get a grip. No need to get carried away. It's early days.

Thinking the word boyfriend made Brendan think of Steven and thinking of Steven reminded him that he was worried for the lad's safety.

So he picked up his phone, unable to stop himself from making the call.

Luckily the doorbell rang. Luckily because his cool façade had been this close to being smashed to pieces.

He released a breath that he had not realised he was holding.

He spoke into the intercom, "Come in" and pressed the button.

Then he waited.

There was only one aim in mind now.

He was going to fuck the lad silly.

Anxiety had been quickly replaced by lust. The little grope they had had in the morning had whet Brendan's appetite. On more than one occasion that mahogany desk and the memories it brought had distracted him during the meetings that followed in his office.

When Steven finally walked into the apartment Brendan was waiting.

He grabbed the lad's cold coat and pulled him in, chest to chest. He pressed his lips against Steven's cool lips coaxing them with intent and passion. He ignored the chill that transferred his way. Ste would warm up soon anyway, once Brendan got him out of his clothes.

He set himself to purpose until Ste stopped him by grabbing his wrists and pulled away and breathed air at Brendan as he spoke softly against his lips, embarrassment tinging his tone.

"Um. This is Doug." He pulled back to reveal a young man. A young man who gave Brendan a quick salute and an awkward cough. "You know, the artist friend."

Shitting hell.

"Hi." Doug said.

Brendan was not happy. Did he miss the part where Ste said he was bringing a plus one? Because had he known then he wouldn't have thought it was a good idea to greet the boy in his boxer briefs.

"Wasn't expecting anyone else, Steven."

Ste had the decency to look apologetic. "Nor were I. Sorry. Doug wanted to meet ya."

Fucking friends. Fucking cock-blocking friends. Brendan had just discovered another reason why it was good that he kept the few he had at arm's length.

"Do you mind?" Ste asked.

Doug.

Just like at the exhibition Brendan was struck by the passing resemblance between them. Nearly the same height. Nearly the same eye colour. Nearly the same hair colour.

The American was scanning the place, taking in the detail with a look of amazement.

What could Brendan say?

He couldn't come across the arsehole so he lied to justify his state of undress, "Just got out of the shower." Then, "I'll get dressed. One minute. Make yourselves at home. Steven, we still doing take out?"

"Yeah, but Doug's only staying for a drink." He said.

"I can stay for food." Doug said.

"He really can't." Ste insisted.

Brendan insisted that if he was going to put up with company that he going to put on some clothes first so he headed for the stairs.

{~}

"That's who you've been sleeping with!?" Doug whispered loudly as he pointed to where Brendan stood moments ago.

"Yeah."

"And when I say that I mean that…" Doug wafted his hand over his groin with his jaw hanging open. "Wow, Ste." Then he roamed around the vast room. "And this… this is nice too."

"What do you want to drink?" Ste put his rucksack on the white leather couch and headed for the kitchen area.

"OJ. Please."

Ste poured some juice from the fridge with shaky hands for both of them then sat them down at the bar.

This felt familiar. Being in this space. Like he had never been away.

He was feeling nervous. Getting Doug's approval felt like a big deal.

"So what do you think about him?" He asked and held his breath.

Maybe Doug would see signs that Brendan wasn't right and wasn't right for him. Early signs that would avoid him later heartache and pain.

"Strong first impression." Doug grinned. "Big … … … apartment."

Ste read between the lines. "Are you talking about his-"

Brendan walked down the spiral staircase. His footfall cut Ste's sentence off.

His words as he approached Doug and Ste were,

"I was starting to worry about you, Steven."

Ste looked at the time then at Brendan. He was dressed now, disappointingly, in a familiar t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms.

Doug said a barely audible, "Aww. He was worried."

"Yeah. It took a bit longer at the station than I thought it would."

"Everything okay?" Brendan asked.

Ste couldn't look him in the eye when he said, "Yep. I'm getting a restraining order on him. Caden."

"He won't hurt you again." Brendan said firmly. "Don't worry about that."

Ste didn't get why Brendan seemed so sure. No one could be while Caden was still out and about.

Ste said, with just as much conviction. "I won't let him scare me."

Brendan nodded. "Good. Still you've got to be careful out there."

"That's what I keeping telling him." Doug said.

"You hungry?" Brendan asked suddenly.

The way he looked at Ste made the lad know that his question carried double meaning. Ste looked over to his friend then back at Brendan.

"Yeah."

Brendan walked past him and brushed a hand over his arse- subtly so Doug wouldn't notice and raise an eyebrow- as he headed behind the bar. He delved underneath, came up with a wedge of take away menus and passed them to Ste.

"Pick what you want."

Ste leafed through the menus and came up with,

"Japanese, please."

Ste gave the order.

Brendan made the call.

Doug asked some questions.

"So how long have you lived here?"

"A few years."

"It's a big place for one person." Doug commented.

Ste gave Doug a sharp look.

Brendan said, "Some might say."

"A lot of people would say. Ever thought about sharing with someone?"

That got Brendan. Ste could see the tightening of his body, the firm set of his jaw, the vein that popped up on his forehead. Tension throughout.

Doug frowned. He knew he had hit a nerve too. "Or have you already… shared with someone?"

"No." Was the brisk reply.

What was Doug playing at? Brendan probably thought that Ste had already been talking about moving in with him to his friends.

"Doug's only saying that because you could fit his flat and my house in your apartment and you'd still have room. That's all." Ste said.

"Where are my paintings?" Doug said.

Ste groaned.

"In Ireland."

Ste looked at Brendan. What?

"In my house in Ireland." Brendan said.

"Oh." Ste vaguely remembered Brendan saying something about this being his pied-à-terre, a home from home.

"Like hanging up on display?" Doug asked.

"Yeah. You got any other questions for me, Douglas?" Brendan asked. He placed his hands on the bar counter and leaned over like a barman taking an order; trying to look calm but coming across anything but.

"Yes." Doug said.

"No." Ste said.

"Have you got any brothers or sisters?"

What did that have to do with anything?

"He has a sister." Ste said on Brendan's behalf. "Cheryl."

"And a da and a ma." Brendan added coolly.

"Where are they?"

"Back home. What about you, Dougie? You got a daddy and mammy?"

"My dad died of cancer when I was five. Mum's back in Philly. No siblings."

Brendan poured himself a drink. Another shot of whiskey.

"Doug's like you, Brendan. Moved from abroad to settle in Chester."

"I came for love." Doug said. "Didn't work out like I'd hoped. What about you?"

"Same." Brendan said.

Doug raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Ste sat up and paid attention.

"No." Brendan smiled. "I came to make my fortune."

Doug smiled too and Ste saw a glimmer of hope.

"Yeah, you don't strike me as the grand romantic gesture kind of guy?"

"What do I strike you as then?"

"Can't make my mind up." Doug took a sip of his orange juice.

{~}

"He doesn't need to come again." Brendan said, once Ste had seen Doug out and closed the door.

He came up to Ste folded him into his arms, groin to groin. It was times like this when they were up close and personal, that Ste realised their difference in size. Brendan was a good five inches taller and broader. More muscle mass.

Ste liked that… so much more to play with.

He brought his hands up, run fingers over Brendan's cheek to feel the roughness of his stubble. Then he combed his fingers through his hair.

He had wanted to do that since getting here with Doug.

"I'm sorry. Doug's just being protective." He said. "At least it weren't Amy."

Brendan gave him a mock look of horror. "There's worse to come? Fuck."

His hands linked behind Ste's back then rested comfortably at the base of his spine.

"Yeah! That were nothing!" Ste said. "He didn't mean anything by it, by the way, you sharing a house with someone. He weren't trying to say that we should or nothing."

Brendan tensed against him once again, then breathed, then said, "I didn't think that was what he was suggesting."

"Oh." Ste sighed with relief. He didn't want another reason to scare Brendan off, did he? "Funny how he saw you in your kecks though, weren't it?"

"Not really! That was not the party I signed up to."

"What were you planning then?" All innocent like. Like he didn't know what designs Brendan had had on him.

Brendan gave him a look that hinted at an answer and a hungry kiss that said it all.

This was the greeting that Ste had wanted until Doug spoiled his plans.

This, with Brendan coiling Ste around his body, winding tongues and scratching skin under clothes in urgency. Brendan's breath was hot against his neck and his bite unexpected; sharp then softened with a kiss and a caress of the tongue. The tongue wound up Ste's jaw and to his ear. His earlobe was tugged and made him breathe heavily and gasp and lift a leg around Brendan's thigh.

Brendan's big hands cupped him then, palming his butt cheeks and drawing him in, guiding them and Ste into rubbing himself against Brendan. The friction was torture and the hand that delved into the back of his suit trousers determined and warm against his skin.

He was being pushed backwards, so quickly that he nearly lost his footing. His back collided against the door to the apartment. It shuddered under the impact. Brendan trapped him there. His hands either side of Ste's face and he leaned in so that his body weighed on Ste's. Their eyes connected and they shared breath and Ste reached up for a kiss and Brendan smiled before pulling away.

He was teasing him.

How cruel.

Ste's shirt came off; partly through unbuttoning, partly through lifting it off, partly through tearing it off his body. The point is, it came off. And Ste was sure he heard a button or two pop off. That cheesed him off a bit.

"What am I going to wear tomorrow?" He asked as Brendan kissed over his jaw and ground against him so that Ste ground back until he forgot his question…

Until Brendan whispered,

"I've got it covered."

Well that was okay then and Brendan kissed him so that Ste wanted more. He pulled at the hem of Brendan's t-shirt trying to lift it off him. The Irishman chuckled.

"Patience. Patience." And he dipped lower to tongue Ste's collar bone and then his chest just over where his heart was going like the clappers and then over his nipple.

Ste looked down because he loved seeing the master at work; Brendan undoing his trousers with one hand, nimble. Button and zip dealt with in a flash. Ste helped. It was the least he could do. He shimmied out of his trousers letting them drop to his ankles. He tried to get out of his underwear.

No chance.

Brendan grasped his cock through the cotton material. Ste gasped as Brendan felt the length of it, rigid and straining, through the thin cloth. His mouth grinned against Ste's teeth as he traced its length.

"This is all I could think about." Brendan murmured as he stroked Ste's cock slowly.

His tongue darted out and scrape a moist lick over Ste's lips. "This." He brought their hips together and the thrusts were fluid against Ste. "All fucking day."

That tongue.

It was back on Ste's chest leaving a trail of hypersensitive skin. Ste bet Bren was brilliant with his tongue like with tongue twisters and that party trick where a cherry stem could be tied into a knot because there was the thing he did with his tongue that he was doing right now, like feathery flutters, then deeper, firmer ones that made Ste arch into him and gasp. He was so glad he got the piercing because it enhanced the sensation. And Brendan liked playing with it. He tugged at it with his teeth. Softly. It was the magpie in him, Ste reckoned. He liked the sparkle. Then Brendan pushed it one way then the other.

Then tugged it hard.

That hurt.

"Aw." Ste opened his eyes and realised he had closed them. "That hurt."

Brendan grinned at him.

Fine, he could have another go on Ste's nipples since he was so good at it. And since he smiled.

So Ste went to kiss him again to give him permission as if Brendan needed it. He did what he wanted with Ste's body and Ste loved it.

But Brendan pulled away.

Ste leaned closer so that their foreheads touched but Brendan's lips evaded capture.

"Jesus, don't tempt me." Brendan whispered. Even as he said it his lips gripped Ste's lower one and sucked and let go and sighed. "Fuck."

And he moved away from Ste and from the door so that what had felt like a warm room was instantly cold. A metre lay between them; air full of crackle and pop.

Ste felt disorientated by lust, confused by Brendan's rejection until he saw that the feral look was not gone from the Irishman's eyes. So he moistened his lips.

"Food's coming. Can't have a boner for the delivery guy. I think enough people have seen us undressed for one day." Brendan said. "Besides. I'm starving."

"Oh."

"Don't pout."

"I'm not."

"Don't worry. I'll fuck you later." Brendan's smile was cocky as fuck. "I'm having your arse for dessert. Get dressed."

"God, you're so full of yourself, you!" Ste said. "Do you know that?"

He started tugging on his clothes until he realised his shirt was in a worse state than he thought. Then he wondered what the point was... in getting dressed.

"Actually." He looked at Brendan and had a thought. A naughty thought. Something that he hoped Brendan would enjoy as much as he knew he would. "Do you mind if I have a shower before we eat?"

He walked up to Brendan. Correction- he plastered himself to Brendan.

"Food's not here yet." Brendan laughed. "Go ahead."

Ste smiled seductively.

"I'm not coming. I'm not falling for that, Steven."

Ste bristled. "Who invited you anyway?" He said petulantly.

He wasn't that disappointed. He had a trick up his sleeve.

{~}

Steven slipped into a t-shirt and clean pair of boxers that he found in Brendan's room. Both were far too big on him.

It didn't matter.

He wasn't planning to be in them long. Brendan had another thing coming if he thought Ste was going to wait until they finished eating before getting it on. They had been apart for too long. It was time to catch up on lost time. Their time together at the weekend had only fired Ste's desire.

The food- sushi, sashimi, wasabi and soy sauce- and drink, sake, had already arrived by the time he got back to the living area.

While Brendan got out crockery and chopsticks and put them on the glass coffee table Ste got out of his clothes.

Brendan looked confused when Ste then put the crockery and food on the edge of the table.

"Is there a reason why your clothes are off, Steven?"

Ste plonked himself on the cool glass of the coffee table and shivered at the cool feeling on his buttocks and backs of thighs. He gave Brendan a defiant smile and lay back on the low table, along its length. He was too long for it so he bent his knees and plant his feet on the edges of it.

"Yep." He said, as if it was no unusual thing.

"Care to share." Brendan lifted an eyebrow. He was intrigued.

"You said you wanted to eat first, right?" Ste said.

"Yes." The affirmation held a question mark that said, 'yes, so what the fuck are you doing?'

His eyes glided down Ste's body and Ste felt it as if it were Brendan's actual touch. He wanted nothing more than for Brendan to jump his bones but that didn't look likely to happen.

So Ste was compromising. Wasn't that one of the foundations of a longstanding relationship.

"So I had an idea." He said.

Brendan's eyes snapped back to Ste's from his perusal of Ste's bare body.

"What's that?" His eyes drifted once again, over plains of skin, high cheekbones. He honed in on Ste's lips then down his neck and over his slim torso. He tracked the slow rise and fall from Ste's every breath.

Then he stared at Ste's buttocks; how they were flattened by the table and his cock which was flaccid and nestled benignly on his stomach.

Brendan's eyes darkened and his breathing quickened.

"My eyes are over here, Bren."

"Yeah." The man said hoarsely.

The way Brendan looked at him made Ste feel cocooned by desire.

Brendan moved to stand at the foot of the table near Ste's feet and placed his hands on Ste's knees.

"Spread'em." He murmured; voice thick with want.

Ste smiled. This was easier than he thought it would be. The older man might be the one issuing commands but Ste was the master puppeteer. This was exactly what he had wanted.

He let his thighs part and kept his feet on the corners of the table. Then he lifted his hips up only to settle them down again so that his pelvis was more tilted.

Up towards his man.

A hint.

Brendan drove his hands slowly down Ste's inner thighs, over the hairs on them, pushing outwards to splay Ste's legs even more. They reached Ste's groin, his thumbs wedging into the grove that connected leg with perineum. Brendan was so close to cock and balls it would have been cruel to leave things there, Ste decided. His cock stirred under the strength of his imagination and anticipation.

He locked eyes with Brendan and rocked his hips slightly.

Another hint.

Brendan baited. He caressed the soft skin between Ste's balls and arsehole. Ste moaned and relaxed back into the table.

The smooth surface somehow wasn't as welcome as the rougher surface of the wood this morning. It had been Brendan's desk that had given him this idea now.

"What was your idea then?" Brendan whispered.

"Huh?"

Brendan moved his hands away from Ste's groin.

Hey! What?

"You're naked on my glass table."

So Brendan wasn't going to fuck him right now? Ste was starting to appreciate that Brendan was governed by his stomach first and by his dick second.

He threw in the towel.

In the battle of man versus food, today food won.

"It's called Nantaimori."

For council-flat fodder Ste knew his shit. That's what came from being aspirational… and fucking a bi ex-client with a thing for all things Japanese. James had taken him to a function where there had been a 'live female sushi platter'.

Ste himself had never been one before.

This was a first.

"I'm familiar with the practice." Brendan said.

"I thought you might like it. Since you like me as a human shower..."

Brendan's hands traced up and down Ste's thighs, playing havoc with his feelings. Unknowingly mocking him with temptation.

"You won't feel objectified?" Brendan asked seriously but Ste could tell that he liked the idea. A lot.

"You don't make me feel like I am." Ste said honestly. "And I think that it could be fun."

"Could be a lot of fun." Brendan murmured as he took in his naked lover's body below him.

He picked up the platter of sushi and knelt to the side of Ste. "It's going to be cold."

Ste made himself comfortable.

"And you can't move." Brendan added.

"Yeah. Yeah. I can handle it." Ste said dismissively.

He was useless at it. At least at first.

Brendan had five issues with his living sushi platter.

One. Ste breathed too deeply so Brendan found arranging the sushi and sashimi on him "impossible".

Two. The human platter was hungry and eating the food. When Brendan placed a roll on Ste's closed mouth Ste opened it so that it fell into his mouth and ate it. Ste blamed Brendan for putting temptation his way.

Three. Ste's bellybutton was a poor receptacle for the soy sauce when Brendan poured into it. Too shallow apparently. The dark liquid spilled down Ste's stomach so that Brendan had to lap it up chasing the rivulets before they hit the coffee table.

Four. Ste was too ticklish. Brendan's lips and tongue on him when cleaning up the soy sauce made Ste laugh so much that all the food that had been carefully placed on him fell off and onto the table.

Five. Ste's skin was too warm. It was bringing the food too quickly up to room temperature.

Finally, when Ste's laughter had subsided and Brendan had managed to wipe his own smile off his face he said sombrely,

"I'm returning you. Back to sender."

"Why?" Ste pouted.

"You're not fit for purpose." A smile cracked out of the corner of Brendan's mouth. He traced a finger over Ste's tattoo and rested his hand on his stomach. "Such a shame. Such good quality."

Ste took a breath in and out. "Wait. Okay. Start again."

So Brendan reloaded his platter.

Ste finally stayed still and Brendan sat on the floor next to him, cross legged, admiring his handiwork.

"See." Ste said smugly.

"Shush." Brendan said. "Unless you want me to gag you."

Ste whispered, "Please."

And it was dark and desperate and unexpected that word.

Brendan gave him a kiss on his hip and then his groin and then his dick before saying with a hint of roughness,

"Maybe later."

His hand, with chopsticks in tow, hovered over the delectable selection of sushi and sashimi rolls on Ste's chest and stomach.

Ste stayed stock still as the Irishman ate off him as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Brendan sipped away at the sake and poured islands of soy sauce on Ste to dip his rolls into.

Any dropped crumbs of food on Ste were picked up with mouth or hands. His lips and tongue lingered for longer than was necessary on Ste's skin but Ste was resolute in his motionlessness.

Brendan sat back. He ran a finger over the length of Ste's body over a trail vacated by the food he had eaten. Then he curved a palm over Ste's balls, feeling them, rolling them, lifting them. Stopping to pick up another roll and popping it into his mouth before grabbing hold of Ste's cock in a loose fist.

He kissed the head of it and Ste gritted his teeth to avoid pushing his groin up into Brendan's face.

"You did well." Brendan said with a partially full mouth. "I thought you might crack."

Ste gave him a smile but didn't speak.

Brendan leaned over to kiss him softly before leaning back to pick up the multifunction remote control on the couch. He pressed a few buttons and the surround sound audio system in the room kicked in.

The room filled with Motown. Ste smiled. Brendan remembered his love for the music.

"You still hungry?" Brendan asked.

Ste nodded.

"As you've been such a good platter for me…" Brendan got onto his knees and picked up a salmon sashimi with his teeth. He poured some sauce onto Ste's chest and watched as it ran up towards his neck. Brendan dipped the salmon into it and then brought it to Ste's mouth; like a mother bird feeding her young only not because Brendan wasn't about to spit regurgitated food into Ste's waiting mouth.

Ste closed his lips over the fish, bit most of it off and let their mouths meet with a kiss. He chewed and swallowed and sighed at the taste.

"You like that?" Brendan looked down at him in awe; like he was mesmerised.

Ste nodded again.

Brendan parted Ste's mouth with his tongue and spoke into it gently. "You can speak now, Steven."

"Yes. I like it."

Brendan traced his lips over the dark trail caused by the soy sauce on Ste's skin. Ste pulled him down and kissed him again. Deeper. He came off the table to embrace Brendan. The rest of the food fell off him and onto the coffee table.

Ste didn't care. He put his arms over Brendan's shoulders and his hands through his hair.

"I thought you said you were hungry." Brendan whispered.

Ste pulled Brendan on top of him. For a second he had a fear that the glass would shatter under their cumulative weight but it didn't.

His breath was hot against Brendan's.

"Not for food, Brendan."

He wrapped his legs around the taller man like a cobra; his ankles anchored together over Brendan's back. He used the power in them to lift up to Brendan so that his bum came off the table and his chest came flush with the bigger man's. Brendan took his cue and lifted Ste into his arms with strength Ste didn't know he possessed.

Ste was in his arms and clung on, kissing the face off the Irishman as he manoeuvred them off the coffee table and onto the soft rug nearby. Brendan crawled in between his legs and lay on top of him, feasting over him, licking his body to get the flavours of the meal off him.

Their actions were frantic and desperate.

This was dessert.

Ste tugged at Brendan's tracksuit bottoms only getting them down as far as his buttocks before Brendan took over and kicked them off, almost tripped over them as they got stuck at his ankles. Ste kissed him. He bunched up Brendan's t-shirt keen to get it off him too. To get skin on skin but Brendan was having none of it. There was no time for that. He swatted Ste's hands away and pinned them to the floor on either side of his body, close to his sides. He pulled at his nipple piercing and got a moan of pleasure. He firmly held Ste's shoulders and used them as countertraction so he could push into Ste's body. Their groins came together, Ste's sitting on Brendan's, arsehole available for the taking if Brendan so wished.

He didn't. Not yet. He placed feather light kisses all over Ste's body and licked his pits. That earned him a moan. Ste hadn't doused himself in deodorant or moisturiser. He knew that it would be an unpalatable mix with the food. It paid off now. When Brendan explored him with his lips and tongue all he got was a taste of Ste… unaltered by artificiality. He bit down Ste's jaw and told him to open his mouth,

"Wide."

And Ste did and Brendan kissed it and then spat in it and then kissed it again. And then he pushed against him and his dick rubbed against Ste and Ste scratched his nails over Brendan.

He spread his legs wider because enough was enough already and he wanted to get fucked. He had been patient enough. He had been good.

He undulated under Brendan; against him. And his sounds were not for sensitive prudish ears.

He brought the Irishman closer still by digging his nails into the firm flesh of his buttocks. He gripped his arse hard and rubbed up against him.

"Fill me up." He commanded.

And Brendan pulled away. But only for a second. To adjust his position, to grip Ste's thighs and pull him in more. To bring his cock up close and personal with Ste's arse; nudging against him; poking at his balls, dragging over his opening, over and over again.

He roughly pulled Ste's legs back and Ste almost did a backwards summersault so he giggled because Brendan wasn't the cool customer he was letting on. His hands pushed Ste's ankles onto his shoulders and then again his dick rubbed against Ste's opening. And Ste could see. And Brendan could too. So they both watched as they made it happen. Taunting themselves, cock pushing over hole. The tip gliding over it and back. And Ste felt himself relax and Brendan's eyes widened just like Ste's hole did just slightly from wanting Brendan's dick so badly in it.

It would be so easy for Ste to slick his fingers with spit now and open himself up more while Brendan watched.

He could push his fingers deep into his hole and find that place that made him feel a kaleidoscope of emotions; all good.

It would be so easy to then guide Brendan's thick raw throbbing cock into him; to help him push it in.

Fill him up.

Raw.

No.

Ste tensed.

"You've got chlamydia… he may have carried it from a previous relationship."

"He still cheated. He goes to a bar and hangs outside it."

He pushed Brendan off. His hands pressed firmly against Brendan's stomach.

"You okay?" Brendan whispered breathlessly against his mouth.

He kissed Ste, all tongue and spit and passion and Ste let him; let Brendan do to his mouth what his dick wasn't to his arse.

"Yeah." He whispered when they parted.

"I can't get enough of you, Steven." Brendan confessed into his ear.

Brendan wasn't Caden. Ste had to learn that and believe that. He would never force Ste to do something he wasn't comfortable with.

He wouldn't lie to him.

He. Was. Not. Like. Caden.

"Roll over, Steven."

Ste didn't hesitate and when he did Brendan pushed his chest down into the rug and his arse up into the air. Two firm slaps on his butt cheeks made him yelp and then, paradoxically, stick his arse up even more.

"Show me your arsehole." Brendan said roughly.

Ste blushed.

From the beginning they had had rough play but it was accented with moments of tenderness. It was something that Ste was learning turned him on beyond belief. It was strange when he considered how Kevin's sadistic streak had done nothing for him.

Brendan's words made him feel slutty and hot all over and desired so he reached his hands back to pull his bum cheeks apart. He cocked his head round from where it rested on the rug to look at the Irishman as he knelt behind him.

"That's it." Brendan's hands caressed his back and bum, lightly. Then with just nails.

Ste was sure that his body had gone a deep crimson. He buried his face into the shag pile rug and breathed into it waiting for what Brendan had in store.

"I want you to stay like that until I say." Brendan breathed.

Ste groaned and nodded his assent. His cock jerked and he knew he was precumming. Already. God. He was a slut for Brendan.

Brendan ghosted his hand over the mounds of flesh of his bum and down the backs of his thighs.

Then he spat on Ste's hole as lube.

Ste groaned and pushed back. A swell of expletives fell from his mouth.

Brendan's hands joined Ste's and his mouth descended on him. If the sushi had filled Brendan up it didn't show. He ate Ste's arse right up; licking, tonguing, fingering biting occasionally, slapping across it until Ste was a whimpering, incoherent mess.

Desperate broken "Brendans" escaped his lips, peppering the air.

At heart Ste was a pure bottom. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than having his hole toyed with. Circumstance had made him into a passable top but this was where he thrived.

This was where he got his kicks.

Brendan fisted Ste's erect cock while rimming him and it all felt like too much. Like no human could feel such sustained pleasure without combusting so Ste gripped the hairs of the shag pile with white knuckle fists.

"I told you to keep your arse cheeks open." Brendan commanded.

Ste groaned.

"Sorry." His hands went back to his bum cheeks holding them apart.

Brendan ran a finger over his slick hole. A prelude.

Ste was so ready- born ready for Brendan cock- but demanding it would scupper any chance he would have of getting it.

Brendan was in full dominant mode and Ste was happy to submit to his will… at least for tonight.

His short rapid breaths blew the hairs of the rug like grass in the wind as he let Brendan do what he wanted with him. To him.

Brendan pulled at his aching cock while his mouth continued its assault on Ste's hole.

Three fingers. That is what Brendan worked up to. Ste could feel them stretching him out, plunging into him then out while Brendan's mouth turned its attention to Ste's balls. His fingers rubbed over Ste's prostate so that Ste's legs developed a will of their own and lifted up towards Brendan to get more. Deeper. Harder.

The slap got Ste back down onto his knees. And his hands were back on his bum cheeks, exposing his hole to Brendan.

He didn't care how he came across. How horny and turned on. He needed this like he needed oxygen.

Brendan was on him now, sort of, over one side of him. His hips thrusting against Ste's left buttock. Ste could feel Brendan's cock against him there. Brendan's chest covered Ste's back and his lips kissed Ste's shoulder. His fingers didn't stop pumping into him.

Ste reached for Brendan's cock and stroked it. As good as Brendan's fingers felt, they weren't a patch on his phallus. He craved the feeling of that first push into him. The head of Brendan's dick always felt almost too big at first as it negotiated its way into his tight hole until the initial resistance was breached and the steady tight slide continued. Until Ste felt full, complete and replete.

"Fuck me with your cock, Bren." He whimpered softly unable to stay quiet about it anymore. "Please."

Was that him that said that?

"No." Brendan whispered in reply.

Ste groaned out of frustration and tempted Brendan by pushing back against his fingers, showing him how he could milk him like he was doing to his digits.

Brendan flipped him over.

Ste was startled when cold dark fluid was poured over his body until he remembered that it was soy sauce.

It splashed over him and although most started on him- on his torso, abdomen, pelvis and groin- most quickly rolled off him and onto the beautiful clean rug.

Brendan licked the salty dip as it cascaded, concentrating on Ste's shaft and balls. He toyed with Ste's scrotum, licking it and filling his mouth with his balls like gobstoppers before sucking on them and letting them drop.

He took Ste's dick down his throat and held the Mancunian's chest down when it sprung up like a primed bow.

Brendan's shoved his fingers back into Ste and Ste got loud as fuck as both his arse and his dick got attention again.

He couldn't finish an exclamation. It was all, "Oh my G-" and "Bre-" and "Fa-" and Sh-". Amongst the half-finished words were sounds that Ste wasn't sure he had ever heard himself make.

Brendan clamped his free hand over Ste's mouth firmly.

"Shush. Unless you want me to gag you."

"Please."

"Maybe later."

He continued to blow Ste and fuck him with his fingers until up was down and here was there and the place was spinning and Ste couldn't hold on any longer.

He blew everywhere. His body was out of control. Brendan laughed in wonder as he watched his climax. Ste's jerked and let out hoarse muted cries through Brendan's palm.

Brendan could feel a smile under his fingers. Steven smiled when he came. It was a refreshing change to the near pained expression most men had in Brendan's experience when they ejaculated.

Ste's arse contracted and relaxed rhythmically against his fingers, reminding him of what it did to his cock. When Brendan grazed his fingers over Ste's prostate one more time as he pulled out, Ste shuddered as if zapped then peeled with laughter.

Brendan took his hand off his mouth and his mouth off Ste's cock.

"Oh wow!" Ste sighed. "Wow."

He was boneless. Like a rag doll, smiling at him lazily like Brendan imagined a cat would smile if it received the trifecta of cat pleasure all at once; sun on its back, a decent rub of its ears and good bowl of food.

Ste looked completely sated. He could not move a muscle. Not a flicker. Nor did he want to.

He told Brendan, "Thanks."

The word was barely formed; a sound pushed out with minimal effort.

He managed to lift a hand to tug at Brendan's shirt so that the man could lean over and Ste could give him a kiss as a gesture of gratitude; close mouthed and barely a touch.

That was when Brendan remembered that he still had his t-shirt on.

He sat back on his heels and whipped his t-shirt off. Threw it to one side.

His mouth was still full of Ste's spilt cum.

Spit or swallow?

Without warning or preamble he pushed Ste's arse up. His bum was off the floor and Brendan's mouth poured Ste's warm cum on his hole.

He gasped as Brendan then spread it and used his fingers to push it into his hole.

Brendan's mind was filthy.

Ste loved Brendan's mind.

Brendan studied Ste's hole, now slick with spit and cum. He pushed a finger in again. The slip and slide was unbelievable. He slapped Ste right next to his opening and his hole snapped shut in shock.

Brendan smiled and let go of him so that Ste collapsed back onto the floor; devoid of tone. His arms and legs lay uselessly by his side. His head couldn't lift off the carpet. His eyes could't open. His lungs couldn't fill with enough air to settle his breathlessness.

Brendan was breathless too and sweaty.

But he was a man on a mission. In the same way that he had had a one track mind about his food, he now had his sights on Ste.

But first he needed supplies and a re-charge. He rubbed his hand against his fallen clothes then stood up. Ste didn't move. Didn't react.

Brendan walked to the fridge, firm cock in hand and guzzled down a pint of water. Though it had seemed like a fun accessory at the time, a bottle soy sauce was too fucking salty.

He found a condom. Ste's trousers. Horny fucker. He had been prepared for this. Brendan slipped it on. Just that action reminded his cock what it was in for. It jerked in gratitude.

The lad was smiling lazily. Eyes closed. His legs were up so that the souls of his feet were flat on the rug and his knees were bent. They swayed this way and that, languidly, while he stroked up and down his chest with the tips of his fingers.

"You okay there?" Brendan asked as he stood over him, feet either side of Ste's hips.

Ste's eyes flew open. He nodded.

This would need explaining in the morning. The negative image of Ste's trunk and thighs on the white rug caused by the dark liquid that had cascaded from his sides.

Mary would not be pleased.

Whatever. Brendan would buy a new one.

"You've taken your shirt off." Ste said, voice all alluring, thickened by his post-coital state.

Brendan smiled. That was it. If Ste was going to look at him like look, all fucked out and comely, then Ste was going to get what was coming to him.

"I've slipped something on too." Brendan said then dropped to his knees.

Then he lined up his sheathed cock and pushed into Ste and felt the lubrication afforded him by the cum and spit. How they eased the path. Maybe there would be need for commercial lube in a bit but for now this was divine.

Fluid.

Ste was full of cock. Just what he had wanted. But this was different to expectations. Better. Making his soul curl up and then unwind and want to scream.

The Irishman pulled out fully. And Ste heard the snap of his hole closing and the wet tap of Brendan's dick against him; tap tap tapping only to plunge in again.

Ste lay back and closed his eyes. It was relaxing, savouring this. The hits on his prostate weren't making him go mad just yet but that was because he was still post-orgasmic. Refractory. He had just come so the sensations were muted. He couldn't come down and go up at the same time. But the fullness delighted. And Brendan lying over him, giving Ste little room to breathe… Ste loved that. He loved being covered like this, surrounded by Brendan's weight and warmth. He felt sheltered, cushioned and protected.

"Your hole is so ready for me." Brendan sighed into his ear.

He pulled at Ste's ear lobe and pushed into Ste, hard, the movement pushing Ste up the rug. Pushing a breath out of him. A gasp.

Brendan fucked Ste so that there was no way he could be any deeper. He fucked him with such power that there was no way he could fuck him any harder.

He fucked Ste with all the passion he had.

And Ste surrendered to it. He couldn't do much else. He felt wide open and available and used and well and truly fucked.

It all started up again. The latency was gone and replaced by euphoria.

He opened his eyes and opened his mouth when Brendan dipped to kiss him. He tasted his cum on his lover's tongue. That got him going even more because it reminded him that his cum and Brendan's spit were acting in lieu of lube. His own cum was rubbing into his insides with every push of Brendan's cock.

He tightened against Brendan and matched his thrusts with gyrations of his own and the Irishman laughed a short hoarse laugh in appreciation.

"That's fucking hot." He murmured as he cleaned Ste's sweat on his forehead with his lips. "Keep doing that."

Ste kept his sphincter tight and he tingled all over as Brendan's dick kept finding the spot in him like it had a homing device; that spot that got him acting like a wanton hussy.

Brendan pulled out and pushed Ste onto his side. He lifted Ste's top leg and pushed his cock right back into him. He could have Ste anyway he wanted him. Ste couldn't resist. Wouldn't want to.

He pushed in deep using Ste's leg as leverage. Ste moaned against the depth of the intrusion then rocked against it; baffling Brendan. He was taking it all. Not a flinch in sight. Ste continued to milk him like that, rocking back and forth, his hand tracing over Brendan's chest to discover raised angry looking scratch marks.

He was the cause of them so he caressed them lightly, soothingly.

He reached down to grip hold of Brendan's bum so that he could push the man deeper still and he noticed early bruises there. The imprint of his fingers.

Funny how things looked one way but were actually another. It appeared that Brendan was owning him and yet Ste was the vicious one. Savage. He had maimed his lover with the power of his desire… He had wanted a night of passion and got it. He had got things his way in the end.

Like now he wanted more. Faster. If that were possible. Harder. If that were possible. Deeper. If that were possible.

Somehow it was.

Brendan went up to an eleven.

Ste felt his balls tingle again. He jerked off and his dick felt sensitive and his toes curled up because this was it…

Again.

He was this close to finding release.

So close. He fisted his cock as Brendan ploughed into him.

It was raw but exquisite when it happened. Brendan didn't pull out. He grabbed Ste's hard cock with one hand and his hip with the other and fucked the heck out of him. Rough.

And yet still paused to kiss his shoulders, neck and cheeks. Gentle.

The Irishman settled his forehead on the side of Ste's head. He blew hurried breaths over his face and whispered,

"I'm going to come, Steven."

His balls and hips slapped against Ste's buttocks firmly as he pumped into Ste a few more times before falling off the precipice. Ste pressed their mouths together. Brendan's arms answered by going around Ste like a venous fly trap. His rhythmic ejaculation and disconnected hip judders triggered Ste's own climax.

He fucked himself on Brendan's cock while they came, together.

He slipped his hand between his legs to feel where they were connected; where he was stretched around Brendan's cock. He kept his hand there so that he felt the slide of Brendan penetrating him when an errant post climax shudder hit him.

Brendan pulled out and collapsed in a heap on the rug next to Ste. He pulled Ste to him facing him and gave him a kiss.

Their eyes met. Their chests heaved. But their gaze at each other was rock steady.

It was through their harsh breaths that Ste realised that Gladys Knight was still playing in the background. Good old classic Motown.

Her dulcet tones reverberated through the room.

He loved this music and he loved how he was feeling right now and he loved how Brendan was looking at him and touching his lips and then smiling. He loved how Brendan was holding him in his arms even though he was a mess of food and soy sauce and fish and rice and cum and spit. He loved that. He loved…

"Liverpool tomorrow." Brendan said softly and raised an eyebrow.

The Irishman couldn't wait. The Kilner project was well underway and the team were going on a field trip to the site. And Brendan was planning to steal a few moments with Ste in private…

Ste burrowed in closer to him and kissed him.

"Yeah." He rubbed his nose unhurriedly against Brendan's cheek relishing in the hair there. "We'll have to go separately, right. Can't have Mel, Guy and them lot thinking summats going on."

Words had a funny habit of messing things up. Here they killed the mood. Not even Gladys could make it better.

Brendan's hands lifted off Ste.