Imperfect Harmony (17 page)

“Have you got any eggs?” Rhys asked when they walked past them.

“I don’t think so.”

So Rhys picked up a half-dozen box and put them in the trolley. “Is that okay? I’ll cook them for you tomorrow morning.”

“Sure.”

Rhys took the trolley and pushed it along the aisles to the farthest one, where all the toiletries and medicines were. He grabbed a twelve-pack of condoms and a bottle of lube and added them to John’s shopping. “Just in case,” he said. “No pressure.”

John’s cheeks went pink above his beard and Rhys found his bashfulness adorable.

At the checkout he helped John load the shopping onto the belt. Their hands brushed once or twice as they reached for the same item in the trolley.

“I’ll pay for these,” Rhys said, putting the condoms and lube out last, with the Next Customer barrier between them and John’s stuff.

“You don’t have to.”

“It’s fine. Consider it my contribution seeing as you’re feeding me tonight and tomorrow morning.”

The teenage girl at the till was already putting John’s shopping through and it was mounting up in the bagging area. John stopped arguing and went to pack it. When he was done, he paid and waited awkwardly at the end of the checkout for Rhys to make his purchases.

The girl at the checkout gave them both a less-than-surreptitious once-over as she put the condoms and lube through. Rhys grinned at her while John studiously avoided making eye contact.

“Can I put these in one of your bags?” Rhys asked John. “No point paying for another carrier.”

“Um… yes, of course.” John mumbled.

Rhys passed them to him and he stuffed them quickly out of sight.

“Thanks. Have a good evening,” the girl said meaningfully as she gave Rhys the receipt.

“Oh, I’m planning on it,” Rhys said with a wink.

John muttered his thanks and hurried out of the shop, as though his arse was on fire, with Rhys following behind.

“Are you trying to pretend you’re not with me?” Rhys caught up with him outside in the car park. He put one hand on the trolley and fell into step beside John.

Rhys had only been joking, but John’s brows were drawn down and he didn’t respond immediately.

“What’s up?” Rhys hadn’t meant to embarrass John. He knew John was shy, but they were both adults and it wasn’t as if Rhys had said anything dreadful.

They’d reached John’s car now. John raised his head to meet Rhys’s gaze. Rhys could see the conflict on his features. “I’m sorry. I just… I feel embarrassed about people knowing we’re together. It makes me feel like a dirty old man.”

“John, I’m an adult. It’s not like I’m some kid who doesn’t know what he wants.”

“I know.” John sighed. “But I can’t help feeling weird about it.”

Rhys moved closer and put his hand on John’s where he was gripping the trolley. “Maybe you just need to get used to people seeing us together.”

“Maybe.”

“Is this okay?” Rhys asked, squeezing John’s hand until John lifted it from the handle and let Rhys hold it properly.

“I guess.”

“Does it make you feel dirty?”

John shook his head, a small smile creeping over his features.

“Good. Because there’s nothing wrong with any of this.” Rhys lifted John’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “And frankly, anyone who has an issue with our age gap can fuck off, because it’s not their business anyway.”

He meant every word. But as he said it, Rhys felt an uncomfortable niggle of anxiety, because he hadn’t told his mum about John yet. He wasn’t sure how she was going to react to the news that Rhys was involved with someone who was closer in age to her than he was to Rhys.

His words had the desired effect though. John’s smile widened, and he didn’t try and take his hand away.

When they got back to John’s, Rhys helped unpack the shopping. He found the condoms and lube last, where they’d slipped to the bottom of a carrier bag. He got them out and turned to John. “Where shall I put these?”

“On the stairs to go up, I guess.” John licked his lips and stared at the items in Rhys’s hands as if they were an unexploded bomb, or something that might bite.

Rhys decided to face things head-on, as usual. “You did say you liked to top, right? So why are you so nervous about the idea of fucking me?”

John shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it feels like a big deal.”

“You’ve had your fingers in me and your dick in my mouth. This isn’t any different—well, obviously it’s different in the details, but it’s just another type of sex, and we’ve already had plenty of that.”

John chuckled and his tension slipped away a little. “I know. I’m being daft.” In a rush he added, “I really do want to fuck you, don’t doubt that for a second. But I’m worried about coming too quickly again, or being so worried about messing it up that I can’t get it up at all.”

Rhys felt a surge of affection at John’s honesty. Condoms and lube still in his hands, he closed the gap between them and put his arms around John. Pressing a kiss to John’s cheek, he said quietly, “I hope you trust me enough now to know that neither of those things would matter? If it did, we’d deal with it. But I want to try… as long as you do.”

John brought his hands up and put them on Rhys’s hips. His breath was warm on Rhys’s neck as he whispered, so quietly that Rhys could barely hear him, “Okay.” He swallowed, then repeated the word more clearly. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

“Now?” Rhys drew back so he could see John’s face. He needed to be sure John was into this. As much as he craved John’s cock in his arse, he wanted John to want it too.

“No time like the present.” John’s dark eyes were warm as he smiled. “Plus it’s early enough that if it’s not a success, we’ll have time for round two later.”

Rhys chuckled. “I like the way you think. Maybe we can have a round two either way. Come on, then.”

Rhys led the way upstairs, already ripping the cellophane off the box of condoms. When they got to the bedroom, Rhys tossed the supplies on the bed and started to strip, pulling his T-shirt over his head.

As his heart pounded, he realised he was nervous too. He wanted so badly for this to be good—for John, more than for himself.

Distracted by the sight of John shirtless, Rhys paused to admire him. Muscles flexed in John’s broad shoulders and biceps as he unfastened his jeans, and his hairy chest made Rhys want to bury his face in it and sniff. He loved the way John smelled. He watched as John pushed his trousers and boxers down and his cock sprang free, thick and heavy and already well on the way to hard. Getting it up obviously wasn’t going to be an issue.

When John looked up, now naked, he raised his eyebrows when he saw Rhys was still wearing his jeans. “What are you waiting for?”

“I got distracted by the view.”

“I think my view is a lot better,” John said, taking the few steps he needed to touch Rhys. He put his hands on Rhys’s shoulders and drew them down his arms, running his fingers over the inked designs.

Rhys stroked John’s chest, feeling the strength of him and the warmth of his skin. Strands of silver shone among the dark hairs that tickled Rhys’s palms. John’s nipples tightened as Rhys drew his thumbs slowly over them, and his cock reared up and poked Rhys in the stomach.

Rhys met John’s gaze and smiled. “No trouble in that department, then?”

“It seems not.” John started unfastening Rhys’s jeans. He leaned down to kiss Rhys and walked him back towards the bed as he worked the denim over Rhys’s hips, taking his underwear too.

When Rhys reached the bed, he sat, and John got down on his knees to help get the tangle of fabric off his feet. Then he sucked Rhys’s cock until Rhys was panting and twisting his fingers into John’s hair.

When Rhys couldn’t wait anymore, he pulled John away, gripping his chin and guiding him up so he could kiss him. John’s mouth tasted of precome, and that made Rhys moan and kiss him harder. He finally broke away so he could wriggle back until he was in the middle of the bed. He turned onto his hands and knees, spread his thighs, and tilted his hips up in invitation. He looked at John over his shoulder and watched his hungry gaze drop to Rhys’s arse. Rhys grabbed the bottle of lube and held it out behind him. “Here.”

“Fuck,” John whispered. “Okay.”

His hand shook a little as he took the lube, but he didn’t open it straight away. Instead he put it down and put both hands on Rhys’s arse, squeezing and pulling his cheeks apart. He stroked over Rhys’s hole with a dry thumb, making Rhys clench and then relax, willing John to get on with it. John teased Rhys for a few unbearable minutes, rubbing and stroking, but not trying to penetrate him. Rhys’s cock bobbed against his stomach, aching and leaking, but he ignored it. If he stroked himself, he’d come before John got inside him.

“What are you waiting for?” His voice came out thready and needy.

“Just admiring the view. Your arse looks so hot.” John thumbed Rhys’s hole again, pushing at the muscle a little harder this time.

“It will look even better with your cock in it.”

John’s voice was warm with amusement. “Okay. I can take a hint.”

Finally, John picked up the lube and made things slippery down there. Rhys gasped as John breached the muscle, sudden and with something thicker than he’d expected. “Is that your thumb?”

“Mm-hmm.” John pushed it in and out a few times, stretching Rhys’s rim but not going deep enough to give him what he was craving.

Rhys pushed back, clenching around John and trying to draw his thumb in further. He groaned as John let it slip out, and Rhys’s arse grasped at nothing. Then John gave him his fingers instead, curling them and making Rhys gasp as his body responded. He gripped the sheets and dropped his head. “I want your cock.”

“Soon… I just….” John thrust his fingers deep, brushing over Rhys’s prostate again.

“You just what? Wanna make me shoot all over the bed before you even start? Because that’s what’s going to happen.” Rhys knew he sounded pissy. But he was, frankly. He was done with being teased.

John chuckled breathlessly and patted Rhys’s hip. “I’m making sure we’re both on the same page, because if you squeeze my cock the way you’re squeezing my fingers, I’m not going to win any points for stamina.”

“I don’t
care
.” Rhys’s voice rose in frustration. “Just fuck me before I come.”

“Okay.”

Rhys bit his lip as John left him empty again. The sound of the condom wrapper tearing was the best thing he’d ever heard. Then there was the thick, blunt pressure of John’s cock against his hole, and Rhys opened for him as he slowly inched his way inside.

“Fuck.” Rhys gritted his teeth. John’s cock was longer and thicker than his fingers. The feeling of fullness and stretch took his breath for a moment when John was balls-deep.

John paused with one hand firm on Rhys’s hip. He smoothed the other up Rhys’s spine and let it settle on his shoulder, gripping and holding Rhys in place. “Okay?” His voice was tense.

Rhys let his breath out in a whoosh and felt his body give the little extra that was required. “Yeah, just… yeah. I’m good.”

John eased out and then back in, a small movement that lit Rhys up on the inside.

“Don’t stop.” He pushed back, meeting John’s next tentative thrust. “Harder.”

John obliged, pushing in hard enough to make Rhys’s toes curl.

The pleasure was building, fast eclipsing any discomfort. Rhys’s erection hadn’t flagged at all, and as John fucked him in slow, perfect strokes, he resisted the urge to jerk off.

He knew John was fighting to control himself, and if Rhys came around him, it would probably be game over. Whatever happened, this wasn’t going to take long, but Rhys wanted to draw it out as long as he could.

“Rhys,” John’s voice was husky. “Fuck….” His rhythm faltered.

“Keep going.”

“But—”

“I don’t care if you come. I’m going to come too, as soon as I touch my dick.”

John groaned, giving in and thrusting into Rhys with short, hard strokes, nailing his gland over and over until John cried out as he climaxed. Rhys felt John’s cock pulse and jerk as his fingers tightened on Rhys’s hip and shoulder, his nails biting into the skin.

Only then did Rhys reach for his cock. He stroked himself furiously, and John was galvanised into movement, fucking into Rhys again as Rhys spiralled into orgasm. His whole body shook with it, and when he was done, he slumped forward onto his forearms. John was still inside him, his heavy body pinning him down.

“Am I squashing you?” John started to push himself up.

“Yes, and I like it. Don’t you dare move yet.”

John’s soft laugh was warm on Rhys’s back, and then Rhys felt the brush of his lips as he kissed him.

John had to move eventually, of course, but he was back as soon as he’d ditched the condom, throwing his arm over Rhys, who was too comfortable to move.

Rhys turned his head to the side and found John’s face close to his own. “I came all over your duvet.”

John smiled. “I noticed.”

Rhys closed his eyes and snuggled a little closer. “I’m getting cold now you’re not on top of me anymore. You made a good blanket.”

“Shift your arse for a minute, then.”

Rhys peeled himself out of the wet patch and relocated under the duvet. With John spooned up behind him, he warmed up quickly and started to feel sleepy. It was beginning to fade to twilight outside. A nap before dinner was appealing.

But then John broke the silence. “That song you sang earlier. It was so good.”

Rhys tensed, snapping back to alertness as his heart beat faster. He didn’t want to have this conversation.

But John persisted. “Your gran had a point. Not that the people in Beech House aren’t a worthy audience, but you’re so talented. It’s a shame you never sing your songs anywhere they’d be appreciated.”

Rhys curled more tightly around himself, drawing his knees closer to his chest. “I don’t want to perform them anymore. I only play them for Gran sometimes because she pesters me.”

“Is it because of Lyle?” John’s voice was gentle, and he tightened his arms around Rhys.

“I guess. Most of those songs I wrote either for him, or with him. You know how it is… it brings up too much bad stuff.”