Thank you thank you for your reviews! I'm glad you love the tension! It is fun to write:0 I hope I can satisfy all your tension needs with this chapter!
He tells me every day
The radio was turned on, blasting on its full capacity. He preferred to listen to music while working. The Offspring was one of the few American bands he could stand and he loved playing their music really loud, whistling along as he installed some shelves in Gregory's bedroom. He didn't know what the shelves were for, though he had the idea they were for Gregory's "England" boxes. He still didn't know what was in them and the curiosity was killing him. Though he kept himself in check, violating Gregory's privacy like that would probably not be appreciated.
He looked around Gregory's room. It was clean and neat, but not like it would usually be. Gregory had simply stuffed his pajamas behind his pillow. Christophe looked at the bed with a certain longing.
A few days after Lucien had visited them Gregory had been stalling in the bathroom waiting for Christophe to go to bed. He had eyed the blond with raised eyebrows as he shifted uncomfortable in front of him. Then, he picked up the hint and walked into Gregory's bedroom.
He took his clothes off and only left on his boxers. Gregory was blushing like mad, not looking at him and had moved under the covers. Christophe had turned off the light and had crawling into bed with him without a word. Gregory didn't say anything and had just pulled him close, hugging him to him.
He had woken up early in the morning, lying with his face pressed against Gregory's chest and the blond's arms around him.
Waking up next to the blond was so comforting and familiar that he had faked sleeping, snuggling up to Gregory. Who had petted his hair and held him close for nearly half an hour. He was quite certain Gregory knew he was awake, but he had not said anything about it. When Gregory's alarm had gone off he felt a slight sigh against his forehead before a soft kiss was once again pressed against his temple and Gregory moved out of the bed.
He shook his head. He shouldn't be torturing himself so much. His thoughts were once again interrupted. He turned volume of the radio down and grabbed his phone.
"'Ello?"
"Christophe Mousseau? It's Tom Fritz, from 'Software United Company'."
Christophe's face broke into a grin as the other man started talking.
XXX
He barged into the lobby of the fancy looking building, hastily making his way to the receptionist.
"Can you tell me where I can find mister Edwards?" The receptionist typed something on her computer.
"He is in a meeting right now, in the conference room, but you can-" No doubt she would propose for him to wait a bit, instead he walked straight towards the door she had just pointed to.
"Sir! You can't just walk in there, they are in a meeting." Christophe ignored her. He had already put his cigarette out just before entering the building, that was all they would get from him.
"Sir!" She called again but he just barged into the conference room. About 8 men turned around to face him. They were all bend over a table, looking at some documents. Immediately he locked eyes with Gregory, who came up and was about to speak to him but Christophe cut ahead of him.
"Ah, you really are busy. I'm sorry, I can come back later." But he knew he had already made Gregory curious now.
"No, no, we can have a moment. Come." Gregory walked up to him and indicated with his head towards a door to his right. Christophe walked towards it as Gregory held the door open for him.
"I'll be right back, gentleman."
He closed the door behind him and turned to Christophe. But Christophe cut ahead of him once more.
"After zis meeting is over, do you 'ave any more important stuff to do?"
"No, it's Friday, that's usually one of the more quiet days."
"Good, zen after zis meeting come with me."
"What?"
"Come with me!"
"Why?"
"Zat computer company called."
"They did? And?" But Christophe's grin said it all.
"Really?" Gregory appeared just as happy as he as he grasped his arms.
"Yes, really. I start on Monday."
"Oh, Christophe!" He sounded relieved and he looked almost as if he wanted to hug him but didn't dare to do it. So Christophe pulled him in and Gregory wrapped his arms around him greedily, as if his happiness for Christophe was overflowing and he wanted to pour it all into the Frenchman.
"I'm so happy for you." He whispered into his shoulder, hands grasping his shirt.
"Thanks, I am too." Christophe grinned back. "Zat's why I'm 'ere, to celebrate."
Gregory backed up, but Christophe kept him close, not wanting the moment to end.
"I still have to finish this meeting, though. I'll try to keep it as short as possible."
"Zat's okay, I'll wait. But after zat, we're going out to celebrate."
Gregory grinned.
"Yes, okay."
They went back into the conference room and Christophe stepped outside to go back to the lobby. Waving one last time at Gregory as he closed the door behind him. In the lobby he just read a bit and looked around aimlessly, waiting for Gregory to show up. He was just checking the clock on the wall for what felt like the eightieth time when the blond came walking through the door, coat in hand and smile on his face. He shot up from his chair and walked up to him eagerly.
"So, where do you want to go?" Gregory asked as they stepped outside. "I know a good place where we can have lunch if you-."
"Lunch." Christophe interrupted, scoffing. "'ow about I show you the way Ze French celebrate something." He lit a cigarette. "'ow about we go zat bar near our house, what's it called, 'Café Belgium'?"
"A bar?" Gregory spluttered. "It's 1 in the afternoon!"
"Exactly." Christophe smiled as he blew out some smoke. "We might 'ave to chug a few to get up to scratch."
In spite of Gregory protesting they still ended up at the bar, it was Christophe's celebration after all. Christophe could tell he felt uncomfortable in his suit in a bar in broad day light, but he felt good. The waiter came over after they had picked a table a bit in the back, sitting side by side.
"I'll have a Kilkenny, a small one." He turned to Gregory. "You want one too?"
"For the last time: No! It's too early for beer!"
"Fine, an appletini for the picky prince over here." He pointed his thumb at Gregory, who turned pink. The blond tried to say something but the waiter already walked off.
"You are awful."
"Come on, Gregory! When was ze last time you got drunk during ze day time?" Gregory just grumbled something as he took off his coat to hang it over the back of his chair, but Christophe already knew what that meant.
"Never?"
"Just because I'm not like the French, who get drunk during the day all the time…"
"But zat's because eet's ze best! You should come over to France sometime, see if zey can get you to relax."
"I am relaxed." Gregory snapped back at him, just as the waiter brought them their drinks. Gregory eyed the appletini with narrowed eyes. Christophe thanked the waiter and just handed him his drink.
"Come on, stupid Brit, at least make a toast or something before you start whining about 'ow relaxed you are."
"Okay." Gregory seemed to shake his reluctance off himself and took the drink and held it up.
"Here's to Christophe, who will finally know what it will mean to work from 9 to 5."
"I'll drink to zat." They clinked their glasses. Gregory took a cautious sip of his feminine drink and Christophe put the glass of Guinness to his lips. And drank. And drank. He could see Gregory's eyes widen as he slowly, but surely downed his glass. He signaled the waiter for another one.
"Did you just- did you just drink that in one go?" His glass still raised halfway to his mouth.
"Yes, why do you think I asked for a small one?" Christophe took in Gregory's shocked look. "You want another one too?"
"No thanks, I'm-."
"Come on, Gregory."
"Okay, okay." Tentatively he raised the glass to his lips and started to gulp it down. Christophe signaled for the waiter that Gregory also wanted a new one. Gregory had barely finished it when their new drinks arrived.
"Keep 'm coming." Christophe said to the waiter. The waiter just smiled at them.
"No more appletinis for me though!" Gregory called after him.
"Yes, make zem strawberry next time!" Christophe added. The blond took a sip from his drink and smiled at him.
"It still feels naughty, drinking during the day." He whispered conspiratorially, a naughty glint in his eye that Christophe liked seeing very much.
"Good." Christophe winked at him. "Eet's good for you to do some more stuff like zat." He held up his drink, wanting to clink their glasses together and drink some more. Gregory groaned.
"Okay, but no more chugging though, this is disgusting."
Christophe sighed as if he was giving up something very precious to him.
"All right then. But zen I make ze toast."
He cleared his throat and pushed their glasses together.
"To stupid British princes, who need to unwind some more." Gregory rolled his eyes, but clinked their glasses. They took a sip.
"Tell me more about the job though. How many hours? How many vacation days?" Christophe started talking. The waiter kept bringing their drinks and after their fourth they were both a bit louder and more pink in the face. Christophe had such a good time, talking and hanging out with Gregory like this that time flew by. Gregory kept asking questions and seemed really interested in Christophe's job.
Their drinks vanished quickly. Christophe had his head tipped back to get the last drop of beer out of his glass and Gregory looked at his empty glass with a sad expression on his face.
"Want a new one?"
"I don't know. The strawberry ones might even be worse."
"We could order something else. Maybe wine?"
"Jesus, Christophe!"
Christophe quirked an eyebrow. "No?"
"Oh, all right then." The waiter came over and took their glasses.
"Want new ones?"
"Could we get some red wine maybe?" The waiter didn't look fazed at all at their drinking pace, though Gregory looked away embarrassed.
"Are you two celebrating or mourning something? It's usually one of the two when people drink like this during the day." Gregory shot Christophe a look of disapproval.
"Celebrating." Christophe clarified, looking up at the waiter. He was blond, just like Gregory, though nowhere as pretty as him. "I just got a new job."
"Oh, congratulations! You get the next glass of wine on the house!" Christophe thanked him, a rare occurrence for him and turned to talk to Gregory once more.
When their wine arrived Gregory took a sip, sighing in relief at the taste. Christophe felt his body react immediately to that sexy sound.
"That's so much better." Gregory murmured in approval, a rare look of relief and relaxation in his eyes. Christophe fell in love even more because of that happy look. He laughed at the way Gregory looked right there, his glee spilling out of him in a burst of soft laughter.
"What?" Gregory frowned.
"Eet just looks like you're also getting ze 'and of getting drunk during ze day time."
"I'm not drunk!" Gregory frowned, though he had a blush on his face and his eyes looked a bit misty.
"Hm, oh dear. Zen we must 'urry up." Christophe grabbed the bottle and added more to Gregory's already full glass.
"Christophe!" The blond hissed in warning.
"Hm?"
"This looks-."he looked at his wine glass, nearly filled to the brim.
"Zen you better drink eet, no?" Christophe quipped. Gregory grumbled but carefully drank some of it.
They continued talking and laughing, both falling back into heavier and heavier accents as the effects of alcohol wore on. Somehow they had ended up closer together, legs brushing against each other's underneath the table. Christophe took their tipsy moment to press his leg firmer against Gregory's. And the blond let him, apparently content with the contact. Christophe was shaking the last drop of wine into Gregory's glass when the blond asked him:
"Did you, you know, that time my parents where there, sort of come out to them?"
Christophe snorted.
"Ha! Yes, I guess I did. But zey did not seem to notice."
"No, they are really oblivious to those type of things."
"You never came out to them, did you?" Gregory blushed a shade of red that had nothing to do with the alcohol they had consumed.
"No, I never dared to."
"You think zey'll be upset about it?" He leaned in closer, eager to hear more. Gregory wasn't usually this open. It was clear the alcohol was having more effect on him than on Christophe.
"I- I don't know. Maybe." He seemed so upset that Christophe put a hand on his knee. Gregory surprised him by grabbing his hand and squeezing it.
"Zey adore you, you know zat." Christophe whispered, scooting closer. He noticed how Gregory's lips were turning red because of the wine and had half a mind of trying to lick it away.
"Yes I know." Gregory whispered back, still gripping his hand. "They really like you too."
"Really?"
"Yes, they thought you were a bit brusque but lovely." Christophe barked out a laugh, Gregory just smiled at him.
"Did you know about me?" Gregory asked in a soft voice. "You know before you, uhm-."
"Before I caught you stroking yourself to gay porn?" Christophe said back in a normal voice. Gregory looked around in panic. But no one was paying them any mind.
"Of course I knew!" This time he whispered, to ease Gregory's mind. "Mon cher, I knew ze moment you walked into my bar."
Gregory blushed.
"How did you know?"
"It was just so obvious, the way you walked, the way you dressed. Your hair." He added.
"What's wrong with my hair?" Gregory gasped.
"Nothing!" Christophe grinned. "That's 'ow I knew." He leaned in some more. "Besides, you were totally checking me out in the shower that one time."
Gregory blushed even more.
"No I wasn't!"
"Oh, come on…" Christophe grinned. But Gregory was saved as a waitress appeared at their table.
"Can I get you two anything? Maybe something to eat?"
"Eat?" Christophe frowned. Just then did he notice the people in the bar. They were all having dinner. He grabbed Gregory's wrist and looked at his watch: it was already 6 PM.
"Uh, sure. I'll have ze fish and chips."
"I'll have the lasagna, and another bottle please." Gregory tapped the empty bottle on the table. As the waitress walked away Christophe turned to Gregory and rose his eyebrows.
"You sure?"
Gregory grinned. "Yes, sure."
They continued talking and drinking during their dinner. Gregory's hair had become messy as he was constantly resting his head in his hand, fiddling with some of the strands. His tie was halfway undone and his cheeks now had a permanent blush on them. Christophe had never seen him look more attractive than just then. As the waitress cleaned away their plates he scooted up to Christophe, so that their chairs nearly bumped together. Christophe rested back against his chair, content. He felt something behind him and realized it was Gregory's arm, which was flung over the backrest of his chair. He didn't say anything and just rested against it. Gregory's hand absentmindedly stroke his arm for the tiniest second. Christophe rested his hand once again on Gregory's knee and made a low humming sound in the back of his throat. He liked being able to touch the blond without him being uncomfortable. He looked at him and was met by a silent look, he just smiled at him and said:
"Hm, I like seeing you relaxed like zis, Gregory." He moved his thumb over Gregory's knee.
"You never allow me to touch you zis much." He frowned. Gregory grinned and leaned in. His free hand landed on the table as he turned towards him.
"Yes I do. I'm just not used to getting touched that much."
"I know." Christophe whispered.
"But with you I don't mind so much." His hand on the table moved and touched Christophe's arm.
"No?"
"No."His hand slid over his shoulder and to his neck. Christophe swallowed, their faces were so close together now. He could feel Gregory's warm breath on his face. He wanted to say something but Gregory's hand pulled at his neck softly and he forced their foreheads together. Christophe slid his hand up further, over Gregory's thigh to rest on his waist. The fabric of Gregory's pants was tight there, as if it was stretched over something. He didn't permit himself to look down to see if his guesses were correct, because Gregory had just licked his lips nervously. He wasn't sure what to do but he didn't have to think about that because next he knew someone on the table next to theirs knocked over a chair and they jumped apart hastily. Gregory removed his arm from Christophe's chair and Christophe let go off Gregory's knee. He looked at the empty bottle of wine and sighed.
"Maybe we should go home."
"Hm, yes." Gregory seemed just as dazed as he himself felt at that moment. They stumbled off their chairs and grabbed their coats. Christophe paid, barely able to read the number on the piece of paper. He did know he was paying a lot for their night out, he didn't care, that night with Gregory was worth every penny.
"Don't you want me to pay some of that?" Gregory asked, draping his arm around Christophe's shoulder. Gregory was quickly throwing overboard any trepidation he normally had against physical contact it seemed. And Christophe loved that immensely.
"No, eet's my treat." He leaned against him. "I 'ave a job now and eet's about time I paid you back for some stuff."
"You don't get your paycheck until the end of the month."
"Gregory." He leaned in and whispered in his ear, Gregory's arm slid to his waist. "Just take it, mon cher." Gregory's fingers tightened on his waist.
Just a bit.
The waiters waived cheerily at them as they walked outside, Gregory's arm still around him. They stumbled over the street and Christophe threw his arm around Gregory's shoulder as well. Clinging to each other and laughing they made it to their front door. Christophe got the keys, dropped them got them from the ground and tried to get the key into the lock, but failing to aim correctly. Gregory just laughed and leaned against the wall, not trying to help him at all.
"Shut up, I got zis." Christophe said, trying to grumble angrily. But he was laughing too, Gregory's joy was infectious.
On the third try he managed to unlock the door and they stumbled inside. Giggling he pulled Gregory, who was still laughing against the wall, inside and closed the door. Gregory clung to him and the weight of the Englishman made him unstable and he collapsed against the wall, the blond slumping against him. They grinned at each other and Gregory moved a little closer, hands moving to his waist. Christophe didn't do anything to stop him, he liked the look Gregory was giving him. A look of desire. He hooked one of his own arms around Gregory's neck.
"You know what I've often wondered?" Gregory whispered as he let his fingers move up under Christophe's shirt.
"What?" Christophe whispered back. But Gregory didn't reply, instead he leaned in to kiss him hungrily, desperately. With a moan Christophe replied to the kiss, pulling him closer by his jacket.
It seemed as if something had snapped. They were both hungry for the other and greedy, their kiss sloppy and harsh. Both too drunk to make it more elegant. Christophe felt his body go into overdrive as he felt Gregory's body through the blond's shirt and realized he could touch it. And that Gregory would let him, would like it, would want it. For the way Gregory was kissing him with such vigor made it very clear that the blond very much liked what they were doing. Christophe's body tingled more with every brushing of lips and his hands ached to touch the other man. Desire was clear in every stroke of Gregory's tongue, passion in every nip of his lips and it only made him hungry for more.
Gregory was pressing him against the wall and running his hands over Christophe's sides. Christophe didn't know where he wanted to start touching Gregory first. One hand on Gregory's waist and the other sliding into Gregory's hair, messing it up further. It was not enough, he needed more, and his other hand was already undoing Gregory's shirt. Gregory pulled away from their kiss and grabbed his arms. He started to pull Christophe along with him. He followed him eagerly, pressing kisses against Gregory's face and neck. Gregory moaned as he pulled him inside his room. The sound the most beautiful thing Christophe had ever heard.
But the blond did not stop there. He undid his tie and threw his jacket off. Christophe's hands went to his own shirt, pulling it off and throwing it on the floor.
"Come here." Gregory moaned and grabbed at him, pulling him against him. They kissed hungrily again. Both of them so out of it. The tension of the past weeks seemed to have come to a climax that made them desperate for the other. All their pent up frustration of seeing but never getting what they wanted making them wild in desire. Together they stumbled onto the bed, Gregory on top. Christophe felt the world still spin around him.
"Fuck, I'm so drunk."
"Me too." Gregory whispered back, kissing his neck and pushing his legs in between Christophe's. "Fuck! Should we even be doing this?" A look of confusion on his face.
Christophe arched up to rub their erections together and Gregory moaned out in a strangled sound.
"Not now, Gregory, not now!" He grabbed Gregory's ass in both hands and pushed him down. Gregory moaned and started to kiss down his neck. Christophe leaned his head to the side, giving him better access, loving the feel of Gregory's warm lips on his skin. His kisses intense but soft, a combination that was very fitting for the blond and had him wondering how those lips would feel on a different part of his body. His own hands roamed over Gregory's back, never getting enough of the feeling of the soft and firm skin underneath. Tiredness was sweeping over him however, even as Gregory's hand moved over his chest. Gregory moved up and they kissed again.
"I'm not sure about this, Christophe." He whispered against his lips.
"Don't lie, I know you want eet."
"That's not it…" Gregory backed up.
"Zen what?" He realized Gregory looked just as tired as he did. He also looked very uncertain.
"I don't think- Maybe-." He appeared too drunk to form a coherent sentence. He leaned down, kissed him one more time and then put his head on the pillow next to him and fell asleep. Christophe was only momentarily baffled before falling asleep as well.
XXX
He awoke with a pounding headache and in partial state of undress. For a moment he didn't know where he was. Until he recognized the wonderful smell around him and the warm body wrapped around his. Gregory was pressed against his chest, still in his suit and hair a complete mess.
Oh, right.
He stroke his hand through the blond hair and detached himself from him. Carefully he went outside to use the bathroom. Trying his best not to trip over his own unsteady feet. He drank some water afterwards and splashed some in his face.
He moved back into Gregory's room where the blond was just sitting up in his bed, looking up at him groggily.
"Christophe? What are you doing here? Why am I still in my suit?"
And then it hit him, harder than the hangover.
Gregory didn't remember.