Worth Keeping (16 page)

“I’ll park at the co-op and we can walk around and do some shopping afterward. I’ve got to go to the hardware store.” He pulled his Land Rover deftly into a parking space and switched off the engine. The two men got out and as Nick was locking the car, he heard someone call his name. He turned, groaning softly when he saw who it was. “Oh, God. It’s Barrett Monk. The man’s a bloody pain in the arse. He thinks he’s the bloody bee’s knees.”

A small, spare man walked toward them, his limp noticeable. Nick tried to dredge up a smile as the sandy-haired, buck-toothed man invaded his personal space with a smell of garlic and beer. Barrett wasn’t known for his attention to hygiene.

“Nick. Good morning. I haven’t seen you in town for ages.” Barrett glanced curiously at Owen who stood by Nick’s side. “And this must be your visitor.” Nick noticed the slight inflection on the word “visitor” and sighed.

He was sure the whole bloody village knew of the true nature of his and Owen’s relationship by now. Owen wasn’t particularly circumspect when he came into town and liked shooting the breeze with anyone who was in earshot.

Nick waved a hand. “Owen Butler. Barrett Monk. Barrett is resident entrepreneur and jack-of-all-trades. If you need anything at all, this is your man.”

Owen shook hands, regarding the man appraisingly. “So you’re the man. I’ll bear that in mind.”

Barrett smiled, showing crooked brown teeth. “I can do you a deal on anything, all you have to do is ask.” He motioned proudly to a large Skoda Yeti parked on the far side of the street. “That’s my new baby. Business is good at the moment so I can afford to return the favour by giving special discounts.”

Nick looked at him curiously. “Yes, I heard you had the new car, paid cash for it too. And you’ve just moved houses to that fancy new neighbourhood across the bay. Business must be good. You and Sid really raking it in then in the import-export business?”

Barrett grinned. “It’s going well. Sid and I have some plans to expand soon; we’re just waiting for the business investment money to arrive in the bank account.”

Sid Fleming was Barrett’s partner in their business, a supposed trade of importing items in from places in the Far East and Russia then reselling them locally and in the neighbouring cities. Nick had never been sure exactly what products were involved and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. He nodded, seeing Barrett about to speak again.

“Well, Owen and I have to get moving. Lots to do.” He flashed a smile at Barrett. “See you around.” Nick grasped Owen’s arm, steering him toward the hardware store a few shops down.

Owen looked at him, a glint in his eye. “I was going to ask him if he could get me that special rope we need for our games. He might have been able to get it quicker than ordering it online.”

Nick turned to Owen with a gimlet stare. “You are kidding, right?” He saw the slight twitch of Owen’s mouth. “Even you wouldn’t be that daft as to ask him for something like that. It’ll be all over the village before you can get the bloody knot tied.”

Owen waved a hand airily as they entered the hardware store. “Maybe we can find something in here. I’ll scoot off and take a look.” He ambled off in the direction of the back of the store and Nick watched him go with a shake of his head as he approached the counter.

Billy Yoruba, a huge Nigerian man who had lived in the village for more than twenty years, smiled at him. “Hey, Nick. You picking up your package?”

Nick nodded. “Is it ready?”

“Yep, let me get it from the back for you.” Billy disappeared into the back of the store. Nick waited idly, watching the other customers in the shop and saw Owen at the far end of the building, making his way back to him.

When Billy finally came back with the large and fairly heavy parcel, Nick signed the acceptance slip, said goodbye and met Owen halfway.

Owen raised an eyebrow. “Need a hand with that? It looks pretty heavy. What the hell have you got in there?”

“Just a load of stuff for the lighthouse. There are some repairs I need to do to the flooring in one of the sections and part of the wall needs fixing. Are you ready to go?”

Owen looked disappointed. “Yes, they didn’t really have anything suitable. Looks like I’ll be surfing the net when I get home.”

Nick and Owen were walking toward the entrance when a voice shouted from somewhere beside them.

“Hey, guys. How’s it hanging, Owen?” A young man, probably no more than eighteen, walked toward them with a fixed smile on his face. As he got closer, Nick could see his pupils and his bloodshot eyes. The boy was completely stoned.

“Mikey. We were just on our way out.” Nick had no intention of talking to the boy when he was high. He saw a guilty look cross Owen’s face as he cast an uneasy glance at Mikey.

Mikey Grey gazed at Owen with a grin. “You all right, Owen, mate?”

“I’m fine, Mikey. Like Nick said, we were just on our way home. Come on, Nick.” Owen pulled at Nick’s arm.

Mikey laughed. “Jeez, always in a bloody rush, Owen. Even when I blow you. What’s the bloody hurry?”

Nick’s heart skipped a beat at Mikey’s careless words.

When he blew Owen?

“You’re stoned, Mikey.” Owen tugged fiercely at Nick’s arm but he stood firm, sick to his stomach.

“Something I should know about here, Owen?”

Owen shook his head vehemently. “Not now, Nick. Leave it, please.” He threw an angry look at Mikey. “Mikey, fuck off.”

Mikey cackled loudly, his body shaking with mirth. “Jeez, Owen, you don’t have to be so bloody rude. Normally you’re gagging for it. Are you sure I can’t do you quickly or do you have him now for that?” He gestured slyly to Nick, whose body tensed as he looked around the store. While the village knew he was gay he didn’t like the idea of his private business being bandied about in the local hardware store.

Owen leaned into Mikey, his face ugly. “Mikey, I swear, if you don’t bloody shut up I will deck you one. Now bugger off. Nick, let’s go.”

Owen strode swiftly toward the entrance and disappeared outside leaving Nick looking at Mikey. Nick found his feet finally and moved off as Mikey chuckled.

“Your mate seems a bit out of sorts, Nick. Normally it’s me and him behind the store, his pants around his ankles and me sucking his cock. A very nice one too. But I suppose you know all about that up close and personal.” His eyes narrowed as he gave his groin a suggestive grab. Nick wanted to hit him but he had his arms full so instead he marched unsteadily out of the store and toward the car.

Owen was hopping around the car in agitation. “Nick, let me explain.”

Nick said nothing, the heaviness in his chest too much to bear. He put the package down on the road and opened the back door, then heaved the box violently in the back. Nick slammed the door shut and turned to face Owen, all thoughts of grocery shopping forgotten in the blackness that consumed him.

“You let him blow you, Owen? After the warning I gave you? The guy is a slag. Who the fuck knows where he’s been?”

In truth that wasn’t Nick’s overwhelming concern; his jealousy was.

“I made him use a condom, Nick.” Owen said quietly. “It wasn’t done bare. I have more sense than that so you needn’t worry you might have caught something.”

“And how long has this been going on?” Nick opened his car door, sliding into the driver seat as Owen clambered into the passenger side.

“Nick, it was ages ago. Before I even met Heather that day for the first time. I haven’t been with him since.” Owen’s jaw set. “The
last
time was before you went for your ‘chess game’ with Daniel.” His voice was challenging. “So we’ve both had our sexual partners.”

Nick had no comeback to that. He started the car and drove down the street, his hands clenched tightly on the wheel. “Fine. But I told you the guy’s trouble. You aren’t his first big-time customer. The last one he tried to blackmail using pictures he’d taken with his mobile phone. That didn’t turn out too well for poor George. He had to leave Pebble Cove and go back to Cambridge.”

Owen nodded. “Point taken. I’m sorry he got to you in the store. The guy’s a prick.”

“I told you that.” Nick was uncompromising. “Is there anyone else I should know about?”

Owen’s face whitened and his fists clenched in his lap. “No, you bastard, there’s no one else you
should know about
. Christ, I can’t believe you bloody asked me that.” He sat back in his chair, his face stony.

Nick felt a twinge of shame. He’d taken it too far. “I’m sorry. That was out of line.”

“You’re fucking right it was. Wanker.”

They sat in chilled silence the whole way home and when Nick pulled up outside the cottage Owen was out of the car before it even came to a stop. He marched indoors.

Nick ran a hand through his hair, huffing in frustration. He went to the boot, took out the package and walked into the storeroom at the side of the cottage. He put the heavy bundle down, wincing as his back muscles protested. When Nick walked into the kitchen, Owen was seated at the kitchen table with Don. Flinty green eyes stared at Nick as he came in and he sighed heavily.

Don looked at his son. “Good morning out? Did you get everything you needed?”

Nick nodded, fetching a glass from the cupboard and filling it with water. He drank thirstily then wiped his mouth with his hand. “Yes. I’ll make a start on the repairs in the morning. You can give me a hand if you like. Owen starts his new job tomorrow.”

Don smiled. “The one with Daniel? Sounds like a good opportunity. Owen, are you ready for it?”

“According to some, I’m always ‘ready for it,’” Owen muttered.

“Owen, I said I was sorry for that comment,” Nick muttered. He put the glass into the sink with a thunk.

Don looked puzzled. “Did you two have an argument? You both seem a little tense.”

“Just a disagreement. It’ll blow over,” Nick said hopefully. Owen snorted.

Don grinned. “Well, maybe the two of you should just go screw yourselves senseless and get over it. It always works for me.” He stood up, blocking out the sunlight. “I think I might go for a walk, see where I get to. You boys have fun. And remember tonight I’m taking Heather to Rosario’s so I won’t be home for dinner.” He picked up his bomber jacket and walked outside.

Owen stared at Nick, disbelief on his face. “Did he just leave so we could have make-up sex?”

A smile tugged at the corner of Nick’s mouth. “I think he did. Don is pretty unorthodox, as you’ve noticed.” He quirked an eyebrow at Owen. “So is his plan working?”

“No.” Owen’s answer was firm but Nick thought he detected a slight thaw.

He was heartened. “Sure?” He moved over to Owen, running a hand through Owen’s hair, caressing his cheek. Owen’s breath quickened but he didn’t move. Nick bent down and trailed his lips softly along the nape of Owen’s neck. Goose bumps formed on his lover’s skin as he took a deep breath and his body tensed.

Nick’s own lips formed a grin as he licked the sweat from under Owen’s ear. “You taste really good,” Nick murmured. “I love the taste of angry man in my mouth. Of course that’s not the only thing of yours I like the taste of.” His fingers trailed down Owen’s rigid shoulder and across the muscles of his back. Nick’s own groin heated up and swelled at the sexual play. Owen was feeling the same from the way his cock stood firm against the taut material of his trousers.

“Seems a shame to waste that,” he whispered into Owen’s ear, loving the fact he could turn this man on so much.

With a loud growl and a muttered “Bastard,” Owen stood up, grabbing Nick by the shirtfront and propelling him backward against the wall. His eyes were green slits of emerald, his lips fierce as he ground his mouth against Nick’s. Nick closed his eyes, and a sense of peace flooded his body with Owen’s familiar scent.

Owen released his lips then pulled Nick toward the bedroom with no intention of being refused. Nick let himself once again be taken.

An hour later they lay side by side, sweaty and satiated on Nick’s bed. Owen was drowsing as Nick ran gentle fingers across his bare chest and stomach. They were both sticky and smelt rank. Nick thought he might be in heaven.

“Owen?” He leaned forward, nibbling Owen’s earlobe.

Owen groaned. “No more please. I can’t take another round.” His swollen lips looked delightfully kissable so Nick kissed him, loving the warmth of Owen’s mouth against his. Finally he released Owen and snuggled into his shoulder.

“The whole not having anal sex thing—are you still okay with it?” It was worrying Nick. Their sexual antics were relegated to blow jobs, mutual jack-offs and frotting. Owen sighed heavily, turning to face Nick, propping himself upon his elbow as his eyes searched Nick’s face. Nick stared back, trying to see the truth in them.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Nick. I like having a man inside me more than I like being inside one. I’m a bit of a toppy bottom, I’m afraid.” Owen grinned. “But I understand your reluctance and I’d never push you. I can understand you not wanting to be penetrated. I understand less the fact you won’t do it to someone else. But I respect that.”

Nick traced the contours of Owen’s lips with his finger. “I tried being inside another man. I couldn’t even get hard; I made a fuck-up of it. Heather says”—his voice quietened—“Heather says it’s psychological, not physical. That I feel as if I’m an abuser myself when I do it despite it being consensual with another man. But my body just won’t work the way it should. I mean I use my fingers but it’s not really the same, is it?”

Owen reached out, threading his fingers through Nick’s unruly hair. “And that’s fine. Maybe one day we’ll get it to work.” He hesitated. “Have you ever thought about using sex toys instead?”

Nick sat up and looked at him. “You mean like a dildo?”

Owen nodded. “Yes. If you can’t manage it,” Nick winced and Owen stroked his cheek, “and there’s no shame in that, then maybe you could use a dildo with me? Fingers are nice but maybe this will be a next step.” He frowned. “Hasn’t anyone you’ve been with ever suggested that before?”

Nick lay back against the pillows, his eyes thoughtful. “No. Brad was a pure top—it would have been his cock in me. That was the whole challenge of why he was attracted to me in the first place. He thought he could ‘fix’ me, poor deluded fool.” He laughed sharply. “And he didn’t like using toys or accessories. That would have meant failing.” He reached out a hand and trailed a finger down Owen’s cheek. “To be honest, I’ve never had a relationship with a man in which I meant enough to even talk about that option.”