Chapter Seven

Alex drove north on the A1 motorway. According to the sat nav, he was seventeen minutes from his destination. The route had been surprisingly easy once he’d escaped the convoluted one-way system of the city. The roads through Newcastle might not be as complicated as his hometown of Manchester, but for an uninitiated driver, they were just as stressful, and even on a Sunday morning, there was a lot of other traffic to be aware of.

As soon as he hit the motorway, Alex’s stress level relaxed and his thoughts turned to Ethan.

They had sat up late into the night in the hotel bar, finished the wine and enjoyed a nightcap before Ethan had called a taxi around two-thirty. Alex had almost asked him to stay. Their conversation had been boosted by a high degree of flirting. It was obvious how much they were into each other and that their differences of the past had been forgotten. How easy it would have been to put his hand on top of Ethan’s and lead him to his room.

Alex had wavered, coming close to giving in, but the time hadn’t been right. He’d only met Ethan twice since their reacquaintance. It was too soon. He had never been a fan of one-night stands or jumping into bed with someone he barely knew. If and when he had sex with Ethan, it would be when the time was right, not because alcohol had lowered his resistance to temptation. He would know when he was ready.

It might even be today, he thought with a smile.

And if it wasn’t, he would wait.

Although Ethan had matured a lot since Alex had known him last, he’d seen hints of the old character last night—a tendency to turn the conversation back to himself and his achievements.

“I clocked much faster times at that age,” Ethan had said when they were discussing Chris Hauer and his medal-winning performance that evening.

And how many times did he drop Strictly into the conversation? Alex had lost count.

It was true that Ethan might have mellowed with age and slowed down a little, but he was clearly just as career-driven as he’d always been.

But who isn’t? Alex knew he shouldn’t hold it against him. Everybody wanted to do well. He’d see what facets of Ethan’s personality came out at lunch. Then he’d have a clearer picture of the man he was today.

The gentle voice of the sat nav guided Alex off the motorway onto a quieter road, which soon twisted and snaked its way through the countryside. Ahead, he saw the brilliant blue of the North Sea. It was a near-perfect morning with a clear sky and unrestricted sun. He opened the window to inhale the fresh coastal air. As a city dweller, he always appreciated the clean breath of the sea.

He drove along a narrower road, past a farm and its outbuildings, and just as he became certain he must have taken a wrong turn, he came upon a beautiful barn restoration, set back a hundred meters or so from the cliff edge.

Alex smiled. This had to be Ethan’s house. It was grand, handsome and more than a little showy. It suited him perfectly.

As he brought the car to a halt in a sheltered courtyard, the front door opened, and Ethan stepped out.

Alex flipped at the sight of him. Ethan couldn’t have got to bed much before four a.m. and yet he looked crisp and bright-eyed this morning. He wore a well-fitted blue polo shirt and even better-fitting shorts, revealing his powerful thighs and calf muscles. He was bigger now than in his running days, much broader and thicker. The extra width suited him.

Alex got out of the car with a grin that had to be a mile across. “Got it back in one piece,” he said, holding up the key. “Thanks for trusting me with your baby.”

Ethan came straight in for a hug, wrapping his powerful arms around Alex, pulling him close. Alex’s heart thudded against his ribcage as they touched, noting the firmness of Ethan’s chest, the flatness of his stomach and, just for a second, the bulge in his groin. And just as fast, they were apart again.

“Thanks for bringing it back all this way.”

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t have missed it. You didn’t tell me you lived somewhere as perfect as this.”

“There would be no surprises if I told you everything.”

Face to face, the two- or three-inch difference in their height became apparent. Alex had to tilt his head to look up into Ethan’s eyes.

At that moment, a large black and white cat came trotting across the courtyard, its head and tail held high. The cat regarded Alex with friendly curiosity and gave a loud meow. Funny, he’d never have guessed Ethan was a cat person.

“Is he yours?” he asked, bending to stroke the cat behind his ear.

“No. But he might as well be. This is Bailey. He lives up there on the farm but comes to see me every day for a handful of extra treats. I enjoy having him around, though. He keeps the mice and rats away.”

Alex grimaced. “Rats?”

Ethan chuckled. “A fact of life out in the country, especially so close to the farm. This house used to be an old cow shed, so I think the vermin always had a good source of food here, and old habits die hard. But don’t worry about them. Bailey might be a cutie, but he’s also a first-rate killer. He does an expert job of keeping them clear.”

Bailey meowed in agreement and headbutted Alex’s leg.

“Come on inside,” Ethan said. “I just made fresh coffee.”

The interior of the house was simple in a country style, with oak floors and lots of large, airy windows. He followed Ethan into a shaker kitchen, with buttermilk units and dark granite surfaces. He noted a huge hob and a double oven, a massive American fridge, lots of cooking utensils and pans, as well as a rack of bottles and spices and a wine fridge. It was very smart and functional and not at all what he would have expected of Ethan.

“Celebrity Top Cook!” he exclaimed. “Of course. I should have known you’d have a fancy kitchen.”

“It’s the most important room in the house,” Ethan said. “Take a seat.” He gestured to a table before a set of open French doors.

The table had been laid with coffee cups and saucers, a jug of cream and a bowl of brown sugar. The old Ethan wouldn’t have gone near the latter items. Alex sat and appreciated the view. The doors opened onto a patio area with comfortable-looking furniture, a simple but well-tended garden and, beyond that, the open vista of the sea. Ethan brought the coffee pot over before disappearing behind Alex. When he came back around, he held a plate of scones and a dish of butter. The smell of fresh baking made Alex’s mouth water.

“I hope you like cheese,” Ethan said. “I prefer savoury scones in the morning to sweet.”

“Wow. They look amazing. Did you make these?”

“They came out of the oven less than an hour ago,” Ethan said, filling a coffee cup and handing it Alex.

“Didn’t you sleep?”

“Ha. You’d be surprised how easy it is to make cheese scones. Ten minutes to knock the mixture together, then fifteen to twenty in the oven. A mouthful of heaven in no time at all.”

Alex helped himself to one of the delicious-looking golden savouries. It was still warm. He cut it open and slathered both halves in butter. “What the hell,” he said. “Might as well go all in, seeing as it’s a rare treat.”

“You don’t cook at all?”

“A little. Simple stuff. Nothing like this. I can stir a few ingredients together in a pot, but I wouldn’t know where to start with baking.”

“It’s not that difficult. I can show you, if you like. You’ll be able to impress all your friends with your new skills. I think I told you that I’m putting together a cookery book, though it’s nowhere near ready. I’m trying to keep the recipes simple but special—the kind of things that look like they require more effort than they do.”

“Top Cook seems to have changed your life. I don’t remember you being much into food before.”

“Food was fuel when I was running, nothing else. I ate what I had to, to improve my performances, and that was all—no goodies, no fat, no sugar. I treated my body like a machine and wouldn’t put anything in it that might spoil it. It sounds boring, and trust me, it was. Man, when all of that stopped, it was like a whole unknown world had opened up to me. All the things other people took for granted, like pizza or chocolate? I got to experience them for the first time without feeling any shame or regret.”

This really was a new Ethan. His words sparked another memory for Alex. He’d been shadowing Ethan and his team at an event in Barcelona. Ethan had thrown a hissy fit at the selection of breakfast items available at the hotel, getting his coach to berate a poor waitress and demanding an egg-white omelette was made to his exact specifications. He hadn’t even had the decency to make the request himself. He’d got other people to do his dirty work.

It was hard to believe that the man sitting across from him now was that same arsehole.

He took a bite of the cheese scone. Ethan had said they were easy to make, but the taste was superb, with lots of strong mature cheddar and a hint of salt and mustard. He swallowed and took a sip of coffee. “Delicious.”

“Do you like seafood?” Ethan asked.

“I love it.”

“Good. These scones are just to tide us over. I’ve got crab and crayfish tails for lunch. I thought we could have a salad and some fresh bread with them.”

“Don’t tell me… You baked the bread too.”

“Almost. The dough is rising right now. I haven’t baked it yet. It needs another hour before it goes into the oven. How do you feel about taking a walk along the coast when you finish your coffee? There’s a footpath close by that leads down to the beach. I’d like to show you some of the local scenery. It’s a beautiful day for it.”

“I can’t argue with that. I’d love to.”

It occurred to him that Ethan might be putting on a show—a damn good show, but a front all the same. The house, the food, the landscape? It all went together to make him seem like perfect boyfriend material. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. It was too early to be sure. Alex had always been good at detecting bullshit. His heart said Ethan was genuine, that he really had changed for the better. His head found it harder to forget the obnoxious prat he used to be—and perhaps still was.

It was hard to deny how physically attractive he was. As he stood to clear the table, Alex couldn’t resist checking him out. Those thighs, that bulge, those huge, beefy butt cheeks. Ethan had it all going on and had put it on display. The sun seemed to have brought out the freckles on his forehead and neck, adding to his sexy appearance.

Ethan put on a cap and sunglasses to protect his skin as they set off on their walk. True to his word, a path ran from the side of the house to the edge of the cliff before making a gradual descent to the sandy beach below. Despite the breeze coming in from the sea, it was a lovely warm morning, with the bright sun holding the promise of more heat later in the day.

“How did you find this place?” Alex asked, taking in the stunning scenery. “It’s perfect.”

“I’ve always run around here. The coastal paths, the country lanes… I’ve been training here since I was a kid. I knew the farmer had planning permission to develop the old barn, so I made him an offer and bought it off him as it was.”

“What? You mean you designed the house yourself?”

He grinned. “Not entirely. I hired an architect and worked on the plans with him. I told him what I wanted and designed the house to that end. I must admit that it turned out better than I’d expected. I’ve always loved the location, but the house exceeded every hope I had.”

Alex wondered why Ethan felt the need to pursue a new career in reality television when he had so many other obvious talents. He could go into property development or open a restaurant or a gastro pub. Why did he want to compete with all those B-list celebrity types when he could become his own man, independent of all that showbiz crap? He kept the question to himself, however, afraid of upsetting him. The Ethan of old had had a very fragile ego. He didn’t know this improved version well enough to risk pissing him off now.

They walked along the sand, keeping high above the tide line. The beach was deserted. Alex looked behind to check, and sure enough, there were no people in that direction either.

“Did the private beach come with the property?” he jested with good humour.

“I wish. But it seems like it at times. Hardly anyone ever comes down here.”

“How come?”

“Well, there’s a public footpath across the farm, which leads to another beach farther up the coast. This cove is kind of isolated. You have to make the effort to get here. It’s not the kind of place people discover in passing—especially not tourists.”

“I’m so jealous. I have a tiny balcony on my apartment, and I thought I was a king when I got the place. But you? You have a whole beach.”

Ethan grinned at him. “I’m more than happy to share it.”

That was definitely new. Young Ethan wouldn’t have shared anything, if he’d even known the meaning of the word.

“You’re looking at me strangely,” Ethan said.

“I am? Sorry.”

“What is it?” he asked, stepping nearer, still smiling.

“I’m just… I don’t know. I suppose I’m struck by how different you are.”

“I must have made an impression on you for all the wrong reasons when I was young.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say?”

“I was a monster—a pain in the arse. I admit it. I’m not that man anymore. I wish I could convince you of that.”

“You have.” To a degree. Alex wasn’t fully convinced…not yet.

“I like you, Alex. I like you a lot. You must realise that. I don’t think you’d have come today if you thought I was as bad as I used to be. Shit, I wouldn’t have come if I were you, but I’m glad you did. I’m really glad.”

Alex stopped. “I like you too. And that’s the reason I’m here. I believe people can change for the better.”

They stood face to face in the sand and Ethan took off his shades, exposing those green eyes that were impossible to resist. He stepped closer…closer. He was coming in for a kiss and Alex didn’t stop it. As Ethan’s lips came nearer to his, he knew it was what he wanted. He had to get over his reservations in order to move forward.

Their lips connected. Ethan put his hand lightly on the back of Alex’s head and pushed his tongue into his mouth. With a rush, Alex seemed to become aware of every part of him—his hands, his scent, the light growth of his stubble as it rasped against his own, the muscles of his chest, the pressure of his hard-on. He wanted all of Ethan.

“Come with me,” Ethan said.

He took Alex’s hand and led him to the base of the cliff. He turned Alex around and backed him against the rocks.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked. His heart raced and his breath became shallow.

“What I’ve wanted to do since I saw you last week.”

Ethan dropped to his haunches, sliding his hands down the front of Alex’s body. Alex shivered as he touched his sensitive flanks. Ethan reached for Alex’s belt fastening and, seeming to sense his hesitation, said, “Don’t worry. There’s no one here but us.”

He undid Alex’s belt and his fly, taking his time. He grabbed Alex’ trousers and underpants and tugged them down as one, freeing his hard cock. Ethan’s smile widened. “Nice,” he said, taking the shaft in one hand and Alex’s balls in the other. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against the wet folds of Alex’s foreskin.

“Oh God,” Alex groaned, pushing his back against the rocks and surrendering.

Ethan chuckled softly before putting his mouth over the head. He eased the foreskin over the crown and took it to the back of his throat. Alex shuddered, completely enveloped by heat and moisture. He knocked the cap off Ethan’s head and dug his fingers into his thick blond hair, careful not to guide him or force him down. It was up to Ethan to set the pace.

Alex listened to the rush of the sea as Ethan got to work, moving up and down the shaft, making soft slurping noises. He made it seem effortless, deep throating without gagging, breathing through it. Alex shuddered, tremors that came up his thighs and all through his torso. He let go of Ethan’s head and set his hands against the rock for support. Ethan’s expert mouth seemed to be draining him of all strength.

“I’m going to come soon,” he finally gasped, giving Ethan to chance to pull away, but the warning only caused him suck with even greater effort. It was more than Alex could bear, but the build-up was eternal. Ethan held him on the edge for longer than seemed possible. Alex worried he was going to pass out, then with an almighty rush, Ethan took him over.

His entire body buckled as the first spurt erupted from him.

Ethan murmured appreciatively, working his throat to ensure that not even a drop was wasted.