Stronger together, p.7
Stronger Together, page 7
part #1 of Partners Series
He suddenly rolled off the hammock, nearly flipping Liam off of it in the process before he managed to right himself.
“Berk,” he cursed good-naturedly as Colin smirked at him, both of them pulling their trainers back on.
They were halfway across the lawn when Colin took Liam’s hand and tugged him to a stop. Liam turned toward him and his partner took him in his arms and kissed him long and slow.
“What was that for?” Liam asked quietly when the kiss gradually ended.
There was warmth in Colin’s blue eyes. “Nothing,” he shrugged with a smile. “Just…happy.”
Colin’s simple statement hit Liam right in the heart, creating a glow deep within him, bringing an answering smile to his own face as he took his partner’s hand and they walked side by side into the cottage.
~*~*~*~*~
Dinner was a delicious affair of good food and good company, and after the washing up was done, Liam and Colin retired to the lounge.
“Cricket’s on the telly, I think,” Colin said. “Want to watch?”
“Yeah, sure,” Liam answered, sitting down on the sofa, draping his arm along the back.
Colin turned on the television to the appropriate channel then joined Liam on the sofa, sitting close beside him.
The game held their attention for a short while, cheering for their favorite team, but then Colin got up from the sofa and returned with a bottle of scotch and two glasses. One drink turned into two, that turned into many more. Liam and Colin went from sitting beside one another to lying spooned together on the narrow sofa, the game completely forgotten, their attention only on one another now as hands began to wander and hips began to move.
Then Liam suddenly had his arms full of Colin as his partner squirmed around so they were lying face to face, bodies pressed tightly together. A moment later they began a repeat performance of earlier that day, kissing hungrily, hands beneath shirts, Colin’s groin rubbing insistently at Liam’s. And this time there would be no wayward pheasants to interrupt the proceedings.
Liam’s pulse thrummed in his veins as Colin moved sensuously against him, his arousal growing by the moment, his sex hard and aching from the friction of Colin’s rolling hips and his partner’s erection pressing against his. If things kept up in this way much longer, Liam was in danger of embarrassing himself and needing a change of trousers. But there was no way he was stopping Colin, not if this is what his partner wanted. He’d happily live with the embarrassment.
Catching Liam by surprise, Colin snaked a hand between them and cupped Liam’s full and heavy genitals through his denims, gently, tentatively squeezing and rubbing.
“Colin…” Liam groaned sharply at the delicious pressure, the first time Colin had touched him below the waist.
And this was Colin growing bolder and confident, as he became more comfortable with Liam’s body and his own. Liam fleetingly recalled his first sexual experience with a man and while it hadn’t been terrible, he wished it had been like this—gradually leading up to sex instead of rushing headlong into it. He loved this slow, growing intimacy between them.
Liam pressed himself into Colin’s palm, capturing his mouth once again just as Colin began tugging at him, trying to get Liam to roll over and lie on top of him.
In Liam’s eagerness to comply, he shifted too quickly on a surface that was never meant to accommodate two fully grown men in the position they were in and he overbalanced, reflexively clutching at Colin as he tumbled off the sofa, bringing his partner down with him onto the floor in a tangle of limbs, banging into the coffee table and knocking over the nearly empty bottle of scotch.
There was a beat of stunned silence then neither could help the laughter that burst forth at the sheer ridiculousness of it all, the mood once again hopelessly broken, as if the universe were conspiring against them.
Colin’s eyes were dancing with mirth as he leaned in and placed a kiss on the corner of Liam’s mouth. “Goodnight,” he smiled, then pushed himself upright and headed out of the lounge, casting a glance over his shoulder, still smiling.
Liam gusted out a breath from where he lay on the floor. He had never felt more like a frustrated, randy teenager than he had the past few days. But he wasn’t upset. Colin wasn’t teasing him or leading him on. Colin was literally a virgin to all of this.
And that gave Liam pause, the thought of eventually making love to Colin…being the first man to make love to Colin… It nearly overwhelmed him. But he knew without a doubt it would be worth waiting for.
CHAPTER FIVE
Late the next morning found Liam pushing the trolley at the market, trailing along behind Colin, surreptitiously filching a bag of crisps, a packet of biscuits and a Swiss roll while his partner wasn’t looking, hiding them in amongst the organic veggies, fresh fish and granola. Man could not live on nuts and seeds alone. Well, at least not this man.
Thankfully he’d done a quick recce of the pantry and refrigerator while Colin was out on his daily run and unsurprisingly found his normal fare sadly lacking.
It certainly wasn’t the first time they’d been shopping together, when Colin wanted to use Liam as a guinea pig for a new recipe. It was just…different now. More…domestic. Like breakfast the last two days. It also wasn’t the first time one of them had stayed overnight at the other’s flat and they shared breakfast the next morning. But it was different now as their relationship continued to evolve and change into something even better. And Liam couldn’t be happier.
He once again thought about settling down and committing himself wholeheartedly to a relationship for the first time in his life and how much he wanted it. Because all of this… It just felt right. Like it was meant to be.
Shopping finished a short time later, complete with several side-eyes from Colin when he realized what Liam had snuck into the trolley, they exited the market with their purchases, to be stopped by a young lad handing out flyers.
“Don’t forget the church fête later today, sir!” he called out cheerfully, and Liam accepted one of the brightly colored flyers.
“Thanks, son,” Colin smiled.
“What’s this all about, then?” Liam asked as they started loading the paper bags into the boot of Colin’s jeep, glancing at the piece of paper.
“Village throws it every year. Have for ages. Rides for the kiddies, games, bake sale, art show, bit of everything, really. Helps raise money for the church. I haven’t been for years. Normally not out here round this time.”
Liam put the last bag in and closed the boot. “Sounds like fun, we should go.”
Colin chuckled. “Liam and a church fête? Not two things I’d normally associate with one another.”
“You wound me,” Liam teased. “I’m all for supporting a good cause. And besides, you did say there was a bake sale, eh?”
Colin shook his head. “Should’ve known you had an ulterior motive. Hang about,” he said as Liam opened the passenger side door. “Need to pop in over here.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder to the shop next to the market. “Won’t be a minute.”
Liam watched his partner walk into a small florist shop, wondering what he was doing. He reappeared just a few minutes later, carrying a small, colorful bouquet.
Liam put his hand over his heart. “Aww, for me, mate? You shouldn’t’ve.”
“Good, ‘cause I didn’t,” Colin answered with a grin, opening the driver’s side door. “C’mon, we’ve one more stop before we head back.”
“Where’re we going?” Liam asked as they both climbed into the jeep, Colin carefully placing the bouquet on the back seat.
Colin gave him a soft smile as he got the car moving. “You’ll see.”
~*~*~*~*~
Their destination was the village cemetery, on the outskirts of the small town. Liam had a feeling he knew where his partner was taking him as he walked along beside Colin through the very old, but very well-maintained cemetery. Sure enough, he stopped in front of two headstones with familiar first names — Margaret and Samuel.
Colin bent down and lovingly swept away a few leaves from the top of the headstones, then removed the dried flowers and replaced them with the fresh bouquet.
He straightened up and stood close beside Liam. “I make sure to visit every time I’m here,” he said softly. “Cathy does, too.”
Liam ran a soothing hand down Colin’s back. “I’m sure they love that,” he replied just as quietly. Then his eyes widened when he saw the dates of their deaths. “They passed within six months of each other.”
Colin nodded. “We lost Gran to a heart attack out of the blue. She and Grandad had been married 68 years. Cathy and I fully believe Grandad died of a broken heart. He just couldn’t be without her.”
None of Liam’s relationships with men had ever been serious. They weren’t even relationships, really. It was mainly about sex and having a good time. They were never meant to last forever. But with Colin… Liam wanted forever.
He took Colin’s hand in his, speaking softly, sincerely. “I want what they had. To have someone to spend the rest of my life with. Can’t imagine anything better than loving one person that much.”
Colin stood very still, his eyes wide with surprise. And Liam understood the reaction. In all the years they’d known one another, Liam had never expressed these feelings, that desire, about any woman or man he’d been with. That he wanted that kind of commitment with any of them. All Colin had ever known was Liam moving from one relationship to another like a revolving door.
But under Liam’s steady, heartfelt gaze, Colin’s expression gradually softened with the dawning realization that Liam was serious. The hint of a smile graced the corners of his mouth as he swallowed hard and nodded, squeezing Liam’s hand in silent reply.
“I want that, too.”
And in the quiet stillness of the summer morning, Liam saw his future in the man standing next to him.
~*~*~*~*~
Back at the cottage, Colin put the last of the shopping in the refrigerator while Liam picked up the flyer and read it again. It really was silly, two adult men at a fête, but Liam couldn’t let the idea go. When was the last time he and Colin had just had fun? He thought of the times they’d tried to play squash together, or go to the cinema or catch a game of football or cricket. Only to be called into HQ in the middle of it. But there was no one now to call them back on duty. They needed to take advantage of it while they could. As silly as the idea was. And besides, Liam could kill two birds with one stone as well…
“Mister Colin Mason?”
Colin arched a suspicious brow at him at the use of his full name. “Yeah?”
Liam played it up, bowing with a flourish, sweeping his arm out. “Would you do me the inestimable honor of accompanying me to the fête tonight?”
Colin laughed at Liam’s antics and shook his head. “Another date?”
Liam just smiled at him and Colin put his hands on his hips and cocked his head. “You are serious about this, aren’t you?” he asked sincerely.
Liam moved in close. “Told you I want to do this right.”
It could never be a traditional date, of course. While they were out in public he couldn’t hold Colin’s hand or put his arm around his shoulders or lean in for a kiss. But the sentiment was there, and that’s all that mattered. And he knew Colin understood that.
Colin draped his arms over Liam’s shoulders, his smile soft. “Yes, I will accompany you to the fête tonight, Mister Liam Bancroft.”
The warm glow inside Liam’s chest matched the warmth in his partner’s blue eyes.
~*~*~*~*~
Liam had to say he was impressed at what the village had put together. The road that ran parallel in front of the church had been blocked off to road traffic and set up for the fête. Strands of white light bulbs had been strung across the road at regular intervals, lending the area a festive air. Individual booths had been set up on both sides of the road. Some were games of chance, some were selling baked goods or other food items, some selling artwork or other handicrafts made by the residents. In the open area to the right of the church, a small carnival had been set up with rides for the children.
It seemed as if all of Dunsbrook had turned out for the yearly event. People milled about, going from booth to booth, smiling and chatting, boys and girls ran about laughing, folks clapped and shouted in encouragement to those playing games and the summer night was filled with the delicious scents of hot dogs and popcorn.
Liam couldn’t help but be caught up in the cheerful atmosphere. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Okay, where do we start?” he grinned.
Beside him, Colin groaned. “Oh my God, I’m here with a four-year-old.”
“Ah, c’mon, Colin!” Liam spread his arms wide. “Live a little! When’s the last time you had candy floss and popcorn and tried to win a stuffed toy, eh?”
“When I was twelve.”
Liam put on a crestfallen expression and Colin rolled his eyes. “Oh, all right then, lead on.”
Liam patted his partner on his back. “That’s the spirit!” He scanned the booths nearest them and his eyes lit up at one of the games. “Darts!”
Colin chuckled at Liam’s exuberance. “Go on then, give it a go.”
The carnie running the game gave them a broad smile as they approached. “Welcome, gentlemen! Step right up! Try your luck?”
Liam fished a bill out of his wallet and handed it over. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“Excellent, excellent!” The carnie grinned. He took Liam’s money and handed over six darts. “All you need to do to win a prize is break four of the same colored balloons.”
If there was one thing Liam excelled at, it was playing darts. He glanced over his shoulder at Colin and gave him a confident wink, then turned back to the game, where balloons of various colors were tacked up on a corkboard. He zeroed in on the blue ones, for an obvious reason. He took careful aim at one and let the dart fly…
…only to have it make contact with the blue balloon but then bounce off instead of breaking it.
Colin snickered behind Liam. “Problem there, mate?”
Liam shot him an annoyed look then turned back to the game, realizing the reason for his failure. The game was rigged slightly in that the balloons were not fully inflated, making them harder to break. Liam had been too delicate in his first throw. He wouldn’t make that mistake twice. Colin would never let him live it down if he lost at this.
And he didn’t, adjusting the strength of his throw and expertly breaking the next four blue balloons in a row. Colin and the carnie gave him a round of applause.
“Well done, champ,” Colin praised him.
The carnie indicated to the toys hanging from the top of the booth. “The moggie or the pup, sir?”
Liam took one look at the stuffed cat with the ruffled fur and big blue eyes and pointed to it. “The moggie.”
The carnie handed it over and after he and Colin had walked a short distance away from the booth, Liam tossed the prize to his partner with a wink and a smirk. “Here you go, mate. Looks just like you, don’t it?”
Colin held up the stuffed animal with one hand. “And just what the devil am I supposed to do with this?”
Liam let his smirk turn into a tiny smile. “Accept it as a token of my undying affection.”
The words were said in jest, but the truth behind them was genuine and he saw the understanding reflected in Colin’s eyes.
“Stupid romantic sod,” Colin muttered, his face flushing, and Liam’s smile grew exponentially.
~*~*~*~*~
They spent the next several hours wandering around the fête, stopping to play more games, both of them winning several times and then handing over their toys to the first child they came across, much to the little one’s delight and their parent’s thanks. But Liam didn’t miss that Colin kept the stuffed cat, which secretly pleased him to no end.
Liam also didn’t miss many of the food booths, happily snacking on sweets and popcorn, even getting Colin to join him with a hot dog and lemonade.
And like a true gentleman on a date, Liam paid for everything, grateful when Colin indulged him with amused affection.
“Enjoying yourself, aren’t you?” Liam grinned, popping the last of the hot dog in his mouth. He nudged Colin, nearly spilling his lemonade. “Go on, admit it.”
“Okay, okay, maybe this was a good idea of yours,” Colin admitted grudgingly, but with the hint of a smile.
“I’m full of ‘em,” Liam winked.
“You’re full of something, alright,” Colin cracked back.
Liam laughed and briefly rested his hand on the small of Colin’s back as they continued down toward the end of the street, stopping to browse some of the handicrafts, chatting with the artists.
As they wandered about, Liam realized he hadn’t felt this relaxed in…well, he couldn’t remember when. And from the look on Colin’s face, his partner was feeling the same. And once again that sense of contentment spread through Liam.
They eventually reached the end of the road, where an ice cream van was parked, dispensing cool treats on the warm summer night.
“Buy you a cone, sunshine?” Liam asked, heading for the van.
Colin made a face and put a hand on his stomach. “Ugh, no. I’ve had enough tonight.”
Liam shrugged. “Your loss. I’m getting strawberry!”
“And when you’re sick in the loo later don’t expect me to clean you up!” Colin called after him and Liam grinned.
He returned to his partner’s side a minute later, strawberry cone in hand, licking away happily.
“If you’re quite finished eating your way through the entire fête, are you ready to go?” Colin grinned.
Liam pretended to mull it over until Colin gave him a poke. “Yes!” Liam laughed. “I’m quite finished. Let’s go, my son.”
With all of the shops closed up, the rest of the village was pleasantly quiet compared to the liveliness of the fête and they took their time walking back to Colin’s car, taking a detour through the small park, enjoying the beautiful night, and the company.
