Alec awoke in a
tangle of limbs. He was slightly numb in places and pleasantly achy in others,
but he felt good and an overwhelming sense of optimism flooded his tired body. He
stretched carefully and looked around. A tremble of uncertainty washed over him.
He didn’t recognise the room and it was quaint, rustic looking. He didn’t know
anyone who would go for English Country Garden décor. And then he noticed the
blond head nestled against his chest—Sebastian—and everything was okay. He
reached down and kissed his forehead. Alec smiled to himself as Sebastian let
out a contented snore and snuggled closer. Anywhere was home with his little
slave boy wrapped around him.
The other body
pinned to his side wiggled, Alec glanced at the dishevelled mop of sandy hair
and this time he grinned—Brad. Ah yes, it was all coming back to him. What a
night they’d had. Not so much a Master/boy session as an all-out free for all.
It was Alec’s turn to let go of a contented sigh, there would be plenty more of
that today, he was sure.
He settled back
into his pillow and pondered the day ahead. A little kissing and cuddling might
be in order. His stomach rumbled loudly. A good helping of Sebastian’s cooking
might have to come first.
But Brad and
Sebastian in a strange room? The cottage. Of course, they had fled the city to
get away from the sudden and crushing oppression of Alec’s obligations. Oh… a deep-seated ache of the decidedly
unpleasant kind surfaced in Alec’s chest and he fought the urge to curl into a
ball. He missed Hamilton. He wanted Hamilton. Hamilton would be waking up in a similar
situation but with Brendan and Dylan playing limpet. Would he be wishing it was
Alec in the same way that Alec was longing for him?
As though
sensing his distress, Sebastian stroked Alec’s shoulder. “It’s okay, I’m here,”
he mumbled in his sleep. A twinge of guilt rippled through Alec’s mind. Sebastian
was waiting for him. Waiting for him to do exactly what they’d done the day
before—run away to the country—but for good. No more city life, no more Hamilton.
For the first time since the crazy rollercoaster of his sexed up life had begun
a few years previously, Alec had a moment of clarity. Nothing in the world
could replace Rick Hamilton in his life.
Alec watched a
frown crinkle Sebastian’s brow and a pout form on his perfect lips but it wasn’t
enough to shake the inevitable truth, the dream he’d shared with Sebastian was
over. He’d have to tell him, have to tell him soon so he could move on and find
a life of his own, a love of his own. And that’s where the reverie stopped. The
idea of Sebastian moving on was too painful to even consider. He wouldn’t allow
it. Couldn’t.
Alec shut down
the thought process, wriggled out from under his boys, and stomped to the
bathroom, slamming the door and stubbing his toe in the process. The air turned
blue with his curses as he rubbed his foot. Standing straight, he smacked his
head on a low beam. “For fuck’s sake, even the bloody house hates me now.” He
sighed. “I’ll hate myself for breaking Sebastian’s heart soon enough,” he said
to the walls. “I don’t need any help from you, thank you very much.”
The glow he’d
bathed in as he first opened his eyes was well and truly gone. And it had looked to be such a promising day.
“Talking to
anyone in particular?”
Alec spun round
to see Brad leaning against the doorframe, all muscled and golden and
unbelievably gorgeous. Why had he been in such a foul mood again?
“You woke me
with the door. Another tantrum brewing?” Brad sidled over and stroked a hand
over Alec’s chest. “I might know something that will help.”
Alec’s breath
hitched as Brad pressed his lips to Alec’s. The briefest touch, and as he moved
away, Alec moved with him trying to prolong the contact.
“I really need
to shower and clean my teeth. Bed breath isn’t in the least bit sexy.”
“Oh I don’t
know.” Alec pulled Brad against him. “I think I can put up with it.”
The door opened
again and a muffled humph made them
both turn. Sebastian rubbed his eyes. “Starting without me? Not fair.”
Brad and Alec
opened their arms to let Sebastian join them. The smooth skin, the new, lightly
muscled definition of Sebastian’s body pressing against him, and Alec couldn’t
remember why he’d been slamming doors and cursing. Surely, life couldn’t get
any better.
