Rainbow Connection (4 page)

“What?” Mick asked taking the proffered mug and sitting on the bed once more.

Ceri picked up his own drink and sat on the chair opposite. “For someone who isn’t very good with words, you’ve said a fair few,” he said. “You say you’re nothing special, but I disagree.” He cupped Mick’s cheek. “Truth is, I’ve never met anyone like you before, and I like talking to you. I’ve been drifting around and doing nothing with my life.” He stopped for a moment then smirked. “Oh, and you’ve got a great cock! What more could a man ask for?”

Mick’s cheeks flushed red under his beard, and he dropped his chin. Ceri reached out and lifted his face. He smirked. “Well, you have got a great cock. Come on, let’s finish these and get out of here and have some fun. We can go to the beach at Barry Island. It’s not far from here. We can play on the arcades and watch the sunset. My family used to go to the Island when we were kids. The main beach is huge, and of course since
Gavin and Stacey,
they even have tours.”

“I’d like that,” Mick replied. “But how do we get there if it’s an island?”

“They just call it that; it was an island once upon a time, but then they built the docks and a causeway to connect it to the mainland. There used to be a big holiday camp there, but that’s all gone now. It also used to be the place where trains went to die.” Mick looked puzzled so Ceri explained. “They used to send old scrapped locomotives there—hundreds of them. My dad used to go regularly; he loves the old steam trains. They just left them there to rust. I don’t think the funfair is what it was, but they’ve done up the promenade a bit. Come on, let’s get going. I can practically smell those fish and chips.”

§ § §

The main holiday season was still to come, and they were past the first glut of tourists who came at Easter, so Barry Island had only a few visitors. The funfair was open, but neither of them fancied going on the rides.

“You were right,” Mick said. “It does look a bit dingy. It’s a shame as it could be good. Not many places have permanent funfairs.” They saw all the references to
Gavin and Stacey
and went into the arcade that Nessa looked after. They played the machines and lost most of the money they put in. Mick spent ages trying to make the coins topple in the waterfall machine.

Ceri looked over his shoulder and laughed. “They glue them on you know, so they won’t fall!”

“Now you’re teasing me, aren’t you?” Mick continued to put in coins while Ceri tried to win a cuddly toy in the crane machine. It took him six goes, but eventually he got the small teddy bear. He gave it to Mick, who looked genuinely touched, and slightly embarrassed to receive it in public, especially when Ceri whispered in his ear. “It reminds me of you.”

They got fish and chips and sat on a bench on the promenade. The sun slowly dipped down over the sea, and it began to get cold. They didn’t talk for a while, just ate and stared at the waves as they flowed in and out over the sandy beach.

“This fish is good,” Mick said finally. “Mum said you always got better fish and chips at the seaside. Which bit of Wales are you from?”

“Monmouth. It’s just over the border from Cheltenham really. My dad is a school caretaker and Mum works as a cook in the kitchens. I’ve a sister and two brothers. Megan is my twin; they kept trying until they had a girl and got me as a bonus. My brothers, Ifan and Dylan, are older than us, and both are married with kids. We lived in a house provided by the school, which was sort of nice. My parents still live there. My sister is at university, training to be a doctor.”

“Are you close? You know, being twins. They say twins are either close or hate each other.”

“I guess we’re close. She was the first person I told about being gay, or rather confirmed. She’d guessed a long time back. We talk on the phone and online, but I don’t see her as often now she’s up in Leeds. I miss her. I should get up there more often. Perhaps we could go sometime. Ifan, my oldest brother, is an electrician, and Dylan is a teacher. I was going to university…” He hesitated for a moment, not sure what to say next. He didn’t want to explain about his ex, Jules. “But I also had dreams of being a professional skateboarder, so I got any job that paid money and practiced.” He sighed.

“What is it?” Mick asked. “You still see your family, don’t you?”

“Oh yeah, I wasn’t told never to darken their door again or anything, even after they caught me in a compromising position with one of the other senior pupils.” Ceri saw Mick’s eyebrows rise at that confession. “No, I guess it’s time I grew up and accepted that I’m never going to be good enough to win any prizes for skateboarding. Perhaps I should go to university after all, but it’s so expensive these days.”

“What would you study?” Mick asked between mouthfuls.

“Psychology. I’ve always been interested in behaviour, from the time I realized I was gay. I watched a programme with John Barrowman about what made him gay. This is a bit of a personal question, but I hope you trust me enough to answer—do you think of yourself as gay? It’s just that you’ve only had sex with two people from what you told me earlier. Have you ever fancied women?”

Ceri watched Mick chew his food slowly giving him time to think of an answer. “I was eighteen when I met Alfie. My best friend at school was a girl called Sally, but she was just a friend. She stopped the others picking on me. I never really had much to do with the boys. I didn’t look at them because I didn’t want to be called names. Mum let me stay home when I wanted. I’d fill my time writing stories based on superheroes and science-fiction programmes. My stories always have male heroes.”

“Do you still write then?” Ceri asked. “I’d love to read them sometime.”

He saw Mick’s whole body stiffen at the suggestion. “They’re just scribbles,” he said. “Then after Alfie died, I kept to myself and no one else bothered with me until you came along. I’m nearly twenty-five, and I suppose I’ve always chosen the path of least resistance. I nearly went back to Mum because I was scared to be on my own in the flat, but the flat was my only connection to him, and I couldn’t stand not to have his things around me. Sometimes, I still put out two plates.”

“I’ve never lived with anyone—not like that,” Ceri said matter-of-factly. “My longest boyfriend lasted six months. I was eighteen when I met Jules in a club in Sydney during my gap year, and moved to Cheltenham to be near him. He dumped me and went off to university. Now I have a room in a house I share with six others. It’s a bit of a pigsty really, but it’s cheap.

§ § §

The sun dipped over the horizon. They put their rubbish in the bin and walked back to the road.

“We’d better get back or I won’t find my way in the dark,” Ceri said.

They arrived back at the hotel after losing their way quite a few times. Ceri opened a couple of bottles of water from the machine and handed one to, Mick who sat watching the TV from the sofa. The large bed seemed to dominate the room. Ceri sat on the chair and waited. He didn’t want to press Mick into doing anything. He knew the other man was unsure of himself, and was obviously used to behaving in a certain way as far as sex was concerned. He swallowed some water then began to undo his boots.

“I’ve had a really good day,” Mick said, in between mouthfuls. “Can I sleep with you in the bed, and see what happens? Would that be all right?”

“I’d like that very much,” Ceri said, trying to remember the last time he’d actually slept the whole night with someone. He was simply looking forward to being in the other man’s arms. Anything else would be a bonus.

CHAPTER 6

They undressed themselves quickly and got into bed. Ceri flicked the switch above and plunged them into darkness. The only light came in through the top of the curtains. Gradually their eyes adjusted. Mick stretched out his arm and Ceri settled himself onto his shoulder. Mick kissed his forehead ever so lightly while Ceri twirled his fingers through the hair on Mick’s chest. It was softer than he expected, like he’d used good shampoo and conditioner on it. He found a nipple amongst the hair and squeezed it a little. Mick moaned.

“So d’you like that?” Ceri asked, moving his head so he could run his tongue around the hardened nub.

“I like that,” Mick replied. Ceri continued the caress with his tongue. He ran his fingers over the other nipple at the same time. Mick writhed underneath his touch. Moving back up, Ceri kissed him and laughed. “Your beard tickles. Perhaps tomorrow we could shave it off, just a bit, if that’s all right.” Mick simply groaned in reply, his mind obviously on other things.

“What d’you want to do?” Ceri asked. “I could blow you again if you want.”

“I don’t know,” Mick replied. “I’m not used to this. With Alfie, I just followed his lead. He was so much more experienced than me, and he made me feel safe, loved, special. He liked me to…” He swallowed hard.

Ceri raised himself up onto one elbow. He could just make out Mick’s face in the gloom. He trailed his fingers absentmindedly up and down the other man’s chest. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but it might help.”
Did you ever get to choose what you did?
“Look, if it’s easier, I’ll tell you what I like to do. I’m simple really. I like to suck men off, and I like to be fucked. I’ve never fucked anyone. It’s not my thing; though, I suppose I could try.” He looked into space for a moment. “Perhaps I should be more flexible, but I’ve always been a bottom. My favourite thing is to be on top. I told you I was a toppy bottom. I’d love to ride you.” Mick’s whole body tensed beside him.

“I’m sorry, I’ve said too much, haven’t I? I don’t want to freak you out. It’s all right, we’ll just go to sleep. That’s okay too. Just being here with you like this is wonderful.” He knew he was babbling to fill the quiet darkness surrounding them. “Say something, Mick. Please.”

“Close your eyes,” Mick said quietly.

“Okay, if that makes it easier.” Ceri put his head on Mick’s chest and did as he’d been told.

Mick took a breath and grabbed onto Ceri’s hand. “I’m not used to talking about sex. I know there’s porn out there, gay porn and things, but I’ve never looked at it.” A man who had never looked at porn was unusual.

“Yeah, and I know that’s a bit odd. Alfie wasn’t interested. I have no idea if what we did was
normal
. Well, I know it wasn’t normal. Normal is for men and women, not men who sleep with men.” Again Ceri let the comment pass.

“Alfie turned my whole world upside down. Suddenly I was someone; I was Alfie’s boyfriend. I was part of a group, accepted, and every night I got to be at home with this incredibly attractive man. Alfie had a stressful job, and he worked long hours. He often had to deal with the injured and their relatives. Sometimes, when he’d brought people back to life, he’d come home, and he’d be so hyper. At other times, he’d be frustrated because he hadn’t managed to save someone. I let him do whatever he needed to do because it helped him.” Mick stopped and took another breath.

Ceri squeezed his hand. “Go on. It’s all right. I’m just going to listen.”

Mick took a long breath then let it go. “He liked me to be on my hands and knees, sometimes just spread over the edge of the bed. Mostly he was careful and prepared me, but sometimes he just pushed into me as soon as he could. I always knew when he just needed to.”

Ceri wanted to say something. He wanted to help. Was Mick saying this bloke forced him? He didn’t think so, but he felt uncomfortable listening. He knew he sometimes welcomed that burn that edged into pain. He’d had sex without too much preparation—needs must when you were in a cubicle, or up against a wall. Some of his encounters had been rough, and Jules had been none too careful at times, but Ceri always gave as good as he got, and he could wriggle out of difficult situations if things got tricky.

“I did like it,” Mick continued. “He always took care of my needs too. He liked me to come while he was still inside me. After, he’d hold me in his arms, and we’d go to sleep.”

Ceri had so many questions, so many thoughts running through his mind. He so much wanted to set Mick free, to let him choose for himself, but that wouldn’t be easy. It sounded like Mick had never made any decisions in bed and hardly any in life. Ceri loved to bottom, but that was his choice. He wanted to encourage Mick, to help him find out what he really liked, but Ceri didn’t want to put him on the spot and ask him straight out.

“Ceri, are you asleep?” he heard a worried voice ask.

“No, I’m still listening.”

“Will you teach me how to make you feel good? I knew what Alfie needed, but I’ve no idea how to behave around you. You say you want to be on top. I know what that means, but I’ve never had sex that way. I feel like I’ve such a lot to learn.”

“Can I open my eyes now? I want you to kiss me,” Ceri said.

“Yeah, I’d like that.” Ceri looked up and waited for Mick to move towards him. He opened his mouth. Soft lips touched his own. Soft hair brushed across his chin. Mick tentatively pushed in his tongue, and Ceri sucked it slightly, adjusting his own as they tasted each other. Mick moved his hands up and down Ceri’s back as he pushed closer. Aware of his own body’s growing response, he ground his cock against Mick’s thigh creating a delicious friction. Ceri adjusted his position so he was cock to cock with the other man. They rutted against each other, moaning and gasping for air. A familiar tingling sensation began to gather at the base of Ceri’s spine, and Mick tensed underneath him. His orgasm came in waves as he pumped out warm, sticky liquid between them. Mick quickly followed him and they clung together in the dark, breathing heavily. A sheen of sweat covered their bodies, and the air filled with the smell of sex. It was intoxicating. He lay his head on Mick’s chest and idly wound the soft hair around his fingers, waiting for Mick to speak, desperate to know he had enjoyed the experience.

“That was amazing,” Mick said, his breathing back under control. “We need to move, or we’ll end up stuck together.”

Ceri raised his head and wriggled his groin once more. His heart did a little leap of joy at Mick’s comment. “Yeah, it was. I know we should clean up, but I don’t want to.” He took a deep breath. “God, we smell good together. I want to keep that for now, and I’m tired. It must be all that fresh air. Tomorrow, let’s go and buy some books, if we’re brave enough. I don’t want to scare you, but I want to try all sorts of things with you.”