For Mac (26 page)

Branson did just that and buried his face against Liam’s neck. He was still smiling, Liam could feel it, and when Branson said quietly, “Drive safely, man,” Liam could feel Branson’s mouth on his neck. It felt almost like a kiss, and Liam had no clue what to make of it all.

O
VER
THE
next several days, Liam tried more and more innuendo himself, and Branson continued to give as good as he got until they were utterly comfortable saying just about anything to each other. Liam thought they had been comfortable with each other before, but now they were even more relaxed.

Several times Branson seemed to get serious, like he had something important to say, but then he backed off instead, never saying anything. Liam point blank asked him about it one night, and Branson smiled and said, “Let’s get your dad home first. Let things settle down. Now’s not the right time.”

Liam thought now was the perfect time but never said that to Branson. If Bran needed more time for whatever was going on in his head, Liam would certainly give it to him, especially since it seemed positive.

Branson

W
HEN
L
IAM
’
S
dad finally got home, the kids took turns going over to look after him and, consequently, their mom. Branson had gotten the opinion that Aideen could take care of herself, but now, with what amounted to a huge toddler to take care of—Liam’s dad tried to do things he wasn’t yet physically up to, and Aideen got to clean up the mess he made—she seemed to appreciate the assistance. Branson assumed Katie and Lizzie would take cooking detail but then realized that was a fairly sexist view. Three days after Mr. Sullivan came home, Branson found out something new about Liam.

“All of this time going out to eat or eating at the cafeteria, and you never mentioned you can cook?” Branson playfully accused.

Liam chuckled. “It never came up?”

“Oh, don’t give me that.” Branson wasn’t buying it. “It could have come up if you wanted it to.”

Liam snorted and shook his head. “I’m going to assume you’re still talking about a topic of conversation here.”

Branson slapped him. “Of course I’m talking about a topic of conversation.” He hadn’t found the right time to tell Liam he was considering a relationship, but with all the innuendo lately, he hoped he was giving Liam a hint. “What else would I be talking about?”

“What else, indeed.” Liam winked.

Yep, Branson thought, it looks like he might be getting a hint.

T
HE
SITUATION
with Mac seemed to calm down for the moment with the new medication. Mac was still having petit mal seizures almost daily but hadn’t had the huge heart-stopping ones recently. Branson was thankful for that. He didn’t think he could handle the crisis with Liam’s dad
and
another crisis with Mac at the same time.

The rest of the week settled into a routine. Work, long lunches with Liam, visits with Mac after work, and dinner with Liam’s family, the routine broken only by visits to Dr. Luxton on Wednesday and Friday evenings, but he still had dinner with the Sullivans after that.

Branson found that he didn’t like the nights that Lizzie cooked. He was beginning to love the girl like a sister, but she absolutely could not cook. Patrick and Katie were okay cooks, but no one was as good as Liam, well, with the exception of Aideen, who had undoubtedly taught Liam to cook in the first place.

They had had a noisy but cozy meal with Liam’s family on Friday night, and Branson thought it might finally be the right time. Everything was getting back on an even keel. Liam’s dad was going to be fine, although he seemed to be grumbling more than ever since he had a lot of dietary restrictions and a prescribed regimen of exercise. Branson thought that it might be a good time to start thinking about him and Liam.

They had gone to the Sullivan’s in Liam’s car, so when Branson got in, instead of sitting in the passenger seat, as always, he scooted into the middle and fastened his seat belt there. Liam looked surprised but didn’t say anything about it. As they drove to Branson’s house, he laid his hand on Liam’s knee, and immediately thought it might not have been a good idea because Liam nearly ran off the road when he jumped in surprise. During the course of the drive, Branson leaned closer and closer until he finally laid his head on Liam’s shoulder.

Liam looked down as best he could while driving.

“Not that I don’t love the new closeness, Bran,” he stated in that beautiful Irish lilt he had, “but you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Liam—” Branson grinned. “—if you can’t figure out what’s going on, I’m doing something wrong.”

They were at Branson’s house by then, and Liam pulled into the driveway, then turned slightly so he could see Branson better. “Why now?”

“I couldn’t wait anymore.” Branson lifted his head and met Liam’s eyes. “I’ve wanted to do this for almost a week—has it only been a week?—but I didn’t want to put pressure on you with your dad sick and all.”

Liam grinned. “This is why you’ve been acting so out of character?”

Branson tilted his head. “Have I?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Bran.” Liam smiled. “But you aren’t usually quite as playful as you have been lately, especially with the innuendo. I couldn’t figure out what was going on, but you seemed happy, so I didn’t knock it.”

Branson’s eyes lit up. “I decided the Wednesday before your dad went into the hospital, after my talk with Dr. Luxton, that I don’t think it’s wrong to see where our relationship could go. Mac would hate it, but I’ve decided I’m tired of living for Mac. Especially now. Most of the reason I did what he said was because he made life hell if I didn’t. As awful as it sounds, he can’t do that now, so maybe it’s time I take the advice of everyone who knows me at all and start living for me! Dr. Luxton tries not to give advice, but even she thinks I should follow my heart and see where things could go with you.”

Liam smiled wider, though Branson would have sworn that was impossible. “I’m really glad to hear that, Bran.”

Branson leaned in and kissed Liam gently. “Let’s take this inside. I don’t want to hide, per se, but I don’t want to advertise either.” He ran the back of his finger down Liam’s cheek. “Let the neighbors buy their porn like everyone else.”

Liam choked on his laugh and fumbled to get out of his seat belt as quickly as he could. Branson scooted behind the wheel and out the driver’s side after Liam and slipped his hand into Liam’s. They made it to the door in record time, and by the time they unlocked the door and got inside, they were laughing at their urgency, and ironically that seemed to elevate it a little bit.

Liam engulfed Branson in a huge hug and kissed his hair. “Are you sure, Bran? I’ve wanted this for so long, but I really will wait until you’re ready. Don’t feel like you have to—”

“I’m ready.” Branson looked up and met Liam’s eyes. “I’m not sure for how much, exactly. I’ve never done this before. I don’t think I’m ready for… you know… all of it.” Branson felt suddenly shy but grinned when Liam stroked his cheek, and he said, “Let’s just see where it goes.”

“I can do that,” Liam declared.

They stood, barely inside the door, for the longest time, holding each other and caressing each other’s faces, and, as silly as it would have sounded if either said it out loud, gazing into each other’s eyes.

“I can’t believe we’re really here,” Liam said in awe. “I almost don’t know how to proceed. I don’t want to rush, but I’m afraid that once we start….”

Branson actually chuckled. “Kiss me, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

Liam leaned in, ready to follow Branson’s directions, but then stopped and got a serious look on his face. “I have to know you’ll stop me if you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable. No matter how far we’ve gotten. I promise I will stop. I know you’re new to all this. I don’t want to push too hard. I don’t want to mess this up.”

Branson kissed him quickly, a peck on the lips, then looked him in the eye and answered seriously, “There’s nothing you can do to mess it up. And as much as I want you to show me everything there is to do, all at the same time, I know I wouldn’t be able to follow through with most of it. I finally know I want this. I know I want you. And more importantly, I think I’m finally at a place where I’ll let myself have it. But you’re right, I’ve never done any of this before, and I expect I will get freaked out at some point.” When Branson saw the look on Liam’s face, he quickly continued. “Not freaked out to the point that I’ll pull completely away. Not freaked out like I’ll wish we hadn’t done it. Just… you know… not comfortable with all of it at once. So, yeah, I’ll let you know if I need to stop. But please know that it’s not because I’m not interested in going farther. Okay?”

Liam smiled. “I can live with that.” And he closed the distance between their lips.

Liam

L
IAM
COULDN
’
T
believe this was finally happening. He had waited so long for this, but he was also still afraid Branson wouldn’t be as comfortable with it all as he seemed to think he would be. The change had happened pretty suddenly, as far as Liam could tell. He knew that Branson had known all along that he was gay, and Bran had told Liam that he was interested in him before. But for all that this had been building since almost the first moment they met, it also seemed sudden. So Liam closed the distance between them and kissed Branson gently, but watched his reaction the whole time.

Liam couldn’t help but inwardly shout for joy when Branson melted into the kiss and stepped closer to Liam, bringing their bodies together as well. Liam licked Branson’s lips, asking for entrance, and Branson parted his lips, granting permission, but still cautious, tentative. Liam took a chance and deepened the kiss the tiniest bit, and it was like he lit a fire in Branson. Branson suddenly couldn’t seem to get enough. He grabbed Liam around the neck and shoulders and tried to bring them even closer. He was becoming frantic, and Liam knew if they didn’t slow down, it would be over before it began.

Liam relinquished Branson’s mouth and slid his cheek along Branson’s. He nibbled at his earlobe briefly and whispered, “Easy, Bran. We have all night. We don’t have to rush.”

Branson was panting and obviously frustrated. “We don’t have to take it this slow either.”

“I don’t want our first time to be rutting against each other, standing up fully clothed in the foyer.”

Branson actually giggled. “Well, since you put it that way, no, I don’t guess I do either.”

“I want it to be special, Bran,” Liam whispered, almost like a prayer. “Let’s slow down some, okay? We’ll get there. I promise. Just not all at once.” Liam thought it was ironic that he was the one to slow them down when Branson had worried that he might freak out and need to stop. Now that they had gotten started, there didn’t seem to be any freak out in sight. At least for the time being.

Branson looked at Liam, apparently at a loss for what to say, so Liam took charge. He led them into the living room and sat down on the couch, pulling Branson gently down beside him. Then, apparently, he surprised the shit out of Branson. Liam pulled Branson close beside him, facing them toward the TV, and grabbed the remote off the arm of the couch. They had been watching episodes of
Firefly
off and on, so it was still in the DVD player. Liam pressed the play button, and Branson looked at him, disbelieving.

“I’ve wanted to cuddle with you during every movie we’ve ever watched.” Liam tried to explain. “I don’t want to miss my chance.” When Branson simply stared at him, he reminded him, “We agreed to go slow, right?”

“Slow, yes.” Branson’s voice was incredulous. “But this is glacial!”

Liam drew Branson in even closer, kissed his hair, and whispered into his ear, “It’ll be worth it. You’ll see.” Branson was still stiff against him, not comfortable with the pace. “Trust me,” Liam whispered and then peppered Branson’s cheek with kisses.

Branson looked up at that. “I do trust you.” The twinkle in his eye made Liam’s heart skip a beat. “Always.” Then Branson seemed to relax and wiggled closer, laying his head on Liam’s chest. Liam stroked Branson’s hair, and Branson rubbed Liam’s arm as they watched TV.

They escalated their touches throughout the show so that by the ending credits, they were just this side of frustrated. Liam was still determined to take it slow but upped the ante a little. He laid Branson back on the couch and followed him down to lie on top of him, taking up most of his weight by leaning against the back of the couch, while bracing with his outside arm. He used that hand to pet Branson’s hair and stroke his cheek. Then he leaned down for another kiss.

They both seemed to deepen it at the same time, and Liam eased his arm down so that he was now taking up his weight with an elbow. He wiggled his inside arm under Branson’s neck and pulled them closer. Before long, they were gasping for a quick breath, then returning to the kiss over and over again.

Liam gradually sagged against Branson’s body until they were flush with each other. He started to thrust gently, their lower bodies rubbing together. Branson gasped and pushed back, and their mouths met each other hungrily for what seemed like forever.

“Liam,” Branson panted, turning his head enough to break contact. “I don’t want to come in my pants like a teenager.”

Liam reined himself in as best he could. He had already taken this further than he had meant to tonight. “Then we better stop, because I really don’t think we should do anything else right now.”

“Gah!” Branson made a guttural protest. “Liam, you’re killing me here.”

Liam chuckled and pulled back, brushing the back of his hand against Branson’s kiss-swollen mouth. “We’ll get there. Not all at once.”

Branson seemingly willed his body to relax, then made a show of banging his head against the sofa cushion. “You’re getting me back for making you wait so long, aren’t you?”