Chapter Four

INSIDE SHAWN’S ROOM overlooking the Bristol Channel, Henry stood by the balcony door, looking at the lights from the docks reflected in the bay, while Shawn briefly diverted into the bathroom. For a moment, Henry wondered exactly what he was getting himself into, if he shouldn’t just maintain the distance and animosity between Shawn and himself and avoid the inevitable complications.

Henry had spent his entire adult life avoiding complications, though, and while remaining uncomplicated had significant advantages, it was also unavoidably unfulfilling. It wasn’t as though he and Shawn were likely to be thrust together very often, Henry reasoned, and maybe he was due a little pleasure for the sake of pleasure.

“Nice view, i’n’t it?” Shawn said quietly, coming up behind Henry and running a companionable but suggestive hand down his back. The basic T-shirt Henry wore fit closely and left little about Henry’s muscular shoulders and slender waist to the imagination. “Wait till you see it in the morning light.”

Henry glanced back at Shawn, who had untucked and unbuttoned his shirt and taken off his shoes and socks.

“Tell me what you’re thinking?” Shawn asked, again stroking Henry’s back.

Henry hesitated for a moment before responding. “Not sure I know, really. Been a little while since I’ve had a fling.”

“Yeah?” Shawn said, shifting his touch to Henry’s shoulder and arm. The thin cotton shirt sleeve stood no chance of containing, let alone concealing, Henry’s toned biceps.

“Going on a couple of years,” Henry muttered. “Been kinda busy…”

Shawn just hummed understandingly. “That’s all right. Do you want to tell me what sort of things you enjoy?”

Henry swallowed hard as Shawn began massaging his bicep. “Um…same as everybody?” Henry said with a shrug. “I mean…suck, shag… How many options are there?”

Shawn laughed gently. “Well, there’s a whole bloody lot of options beyond the finale, and a few others for that as well. Granted, I don’t have most of my equipment up here with me, but I usually travel with at least a couple basics, and there are always workarounds if you fancy more.”

“I presume you’re not talking about mountaineering equipment,” Henry said dryly.

“Nah,” Shawn chuckled. “I’ve got a pair of Velcro cuffs, light flogger, nothing especially heavy.”

For a long moment, Henry stared at Shawn, waiting for a teasing grin to replace the patient one. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Henry said at last.

“Sure,” Shawn said. “Not that any of that is required material,” he added quickly. “Just letting you know the options, if you’re interested. I’m very happy with the basics as well.”

Henry’s train of thought shuddered to a halt as he blinked owlishly at Shawn.

“I’m going to take a wild guess and say you’ve never experimented with that sort of stuff before,” Shawn said, resuming his light massage of Henry’s bicep. “I’d be glad to offer a sample, as little or as much as you want to try. No pressure, no obligation.”

“What would I have to do?” Henry found himself asking.

“Lie back and enjoy yourself, that’s all. And communicate—that’s really important. Tell me what feels good, what you’re not sure about, what you’re pretty sure you won’t like, what’s a definite no…”

Henry looked into Shawn’s perceptive but patient eyes for a long minute as he licked his lips subconsciously. He felt a bit like something caught staring into approaching headlights. Letting out a breath, Henry nodded. “Okay. Give it a burl.”

Shawn’s grin lit up encouragingly. “Excellent,” he said warmly, putting his hand on Henry’s shoulder and guiding him to lean down a bit for a kiss.

“You, uh…know what you’re doing with this stuff, then?” Henry asked hesitantly as Shawn pulled him over to sit on the bed.

“About twenty-six years’ experience wi’ it so far, yeah,” Shawn said. “There are a few things I won’t do because I don’t have the experience to do it safely, mainly because I don’t have any particular interest in a lot of the extreme stuff. I’m really very tame. More like a korma than a vindaloo. I’m much more interested in rich, satisfying flavour than overwhelming heat. And if it gives you any indication of my approach in the bedroom, that book about the ‘red rooms’ and all that rubbish? That were fuel for the firepit in my back garden by page seventy.”

“That puts my mind at ease.” Henry nodded. “I don’t know if I could sleep with someone of questionable literary taste.”

Shawn snickered. “You’re clever, then. I’ve done it, number of times, and it’s never very good,” he said, once again pulling Henry into a kiss while one hand raked across Henry’s still-clothed chest. “How much do you bench?” he asked after a protracted feel of Henry’s firm pectorals.

“Around two hundred, depending on the day,” Henry said, surprising himself by how seductive he suddenly sounded.

“Very nice,” Shawn murmured, “but no wonder for how you’re built,” he said with a smile. Then he got up and fetched a medium-sized Dopp kit from his holdall.

“Now,” he said, returning to the bed and unzipping the kit, “here’s what accessories I’ve got to work with at the moment. Any of these strike your fancy, just say. Or none. I’m very flexible about these things. Incidentally, though, there’s one thing I’m really not very flexible about.” Shawn took out a strip of condoms and set them on the bed. “I’m happy to share my last test results,” he said, “which were all-clear as of ten weeks ago, and I’ve not done anything high-risk since, but if either of us are going in, I insist on formal attire.”

Henry nodded, impressed with Shawn’s willingness to talk about what they were getting up to before they got started. Most of the guys he’d been with just dove right in once they were both all but incoherent from horniness. “Well, as I said, not really been with anybody in longer than I care to admit and never had anything come up in any of my tests either. Um…think I might pass on the ‘going in’ though. This time anyway.”

“That’s fine,” Shawn said easily. He put the condoms back into the pouch and took out a set of Velcro wrist cuffs linked by a spring clip, a biro-sized feather toy, and a small, bright-purple flogger.

“I promise that doesn’t sting much at all,” Shawn said of the flogger. “It’s more flirty than kinky. And it’s silicon, so it’s very easy to clean. The cuffs are nicely padded and fleecy, and you can get yourself out of them immediately.”

Henry’s hand hovered for a moment over the flogger, but then he picked up the cuffs. “Can I try these on, see how they feel?” he said curiously.

Shawn smiled. “Of course,” he said, pulling open one cuff to wrap around Henry’s wrist.

“That’s pretty comfortable,” Henry said.

“You want to give that a go?” Shawn asked. “Usually I’d thread the cuffs around the bedpost, give at least the illusion of restraint. No bedposts here, though, so we can just pretend.”

“Okay,” Henry said. “How does this go? Is there, like, a script or something?”

“Not really,” Shawn grinned. “We can do roleplay if you’d like that, but basically, I’d just cuff your wrists up over your head and have my wicked way with your body. Which would be me enjoying a nice, long feel-up and you probably getting progressively frustrated, until I finally take pity and either wank or suck you off, whichever you prefer.”

Henry’s eyes began to glaze as Shawn described what he had in mind. “That sounds pretty hot…” he murmured.

“Let’s test that hypothesis. May I?” he asked, plucking at Henry’s shirt.

Henry just nodded and let Shawn pull off his shirt after removing the handcuff.

Shawn’s grin grew as feral as it had in the men’s toilets at the Lions several nights ago. “That is everything I’d hoped it would be,” he murmured, running a hand down Henry’s chest. “Let’s get you comfortable, then, shall we?” he said, pressing Henry’s shoulder just enough to indicate that he should lie back.

Shawn cleared away his Dopp kit and took the cuffs up to the head of the bed where he pushed the pillows off to the side and brought Henry’s arms up over his head. “How’s that? Not too loose?” he asked, wrapping the cuffs around each of Henry’s wrists.

“Feels fine,” Henry said.

“Good. Shouldn’t be much risk of circulation issues since you’re lying down, but be sure to let me know of any tingling. At home, I could attach the cuffs to a hook on the wall, so I’d have to check your circulation frequently.”

“What, you got a dungeon in your place?” Henry said, somewhere between teasing and ever-so-slightly nervous disbelief.

“Definitely not,” Shawn chuckled. “Just a couple of very minor accommodations. There’s usually a painting hanging on that hook anyway, so it’s very low-key. Are you all right with me taking the rest of your clothes off at some point?”

“Yeah, sure,” Henry said.

“Good. May or may not do, but I don’t like to presume. To be honest, I could spend an hour just mapping your pecs. I love this sparse stuff,” he said, tugging gently at Henry’s chest hairs. “Nice texture but doesn’t get in the way of skin-to-skin contact. Is that natural or do you manscape?”

“Natural,” Henry said, shrugging as much as he could with his arms over his head. “Never had a lot of body hair from the neck down.”

“Very nice,” Shawn said as he leaned in and swirled his tongue around Henry’s nipple.

The electricity of the contact shocked Henry as his cock jumped in his pants. He realised that it really had been almost two years since his last sexual encounter and wondered if he had the patience to stick with this game of Shawn’s without pulling the cuffs off and turning it into a frantic race to get one another off. He had a feeling that sticking with it would be worth it in the end, though, and he was curious enough to see how much he really did like this new pastime.

 

LATER THAT NIGHT, Henry and Shawn were sat up with pillows piled against the wall-mounted tufted headboard. “So?” Shawn said, stroking Henry’s bare thigh.

“I think I liked it,” Henry said after a moment.

“But yer not sure?” Shawn said, sounding mildly offended.

“Well, I just mean… I did like it, which made itself pretty obvious at the end there… I just…”

Shawn chuckled. “It’s all right, I’m teasing. Takes a bit of time. A lot of time, really. You can’t rush into it, this stuff; that’s why I kept it pretty light for you. But, if I’ve sparked an interest, you can always explore more. Carefully, of course.”

Henry just nodded.

Sensing Henry would do best with his own space to think about that, Shawn decided to change the subject. “You fancy getting some kip or see if there’s something on the telly?”

“Makes no never mind to me,” Henry said with a shrug.

“There’s usually a late night replay rugby match on the Welsh station,” Shawn said, reaching for the remote control and switching on the set. “You for a cuddle, then?”

“Yeah,” Henry said, shifting a bit closer as Shawn slid an arm around Henry’s waist and settled himself in the crook of Henry’s arm.

“Usually when I’m here, I settle into a bubble bath before bed. Think I’ll skip that one tonight though. Shower in the morning, maybe get breakfast at a café down on the quay.”

“Bubble bath?” Henry snickered.

“Yes,” Shawn said. “Well, bath bombs, usually.”

“Fair dinkum? Those scented, baking soda ball things?”

“Yep. Love ’em. You don’t think this skin stays soft on its own, do you?”

“I reckoned you moisturized.”

“That as well, of course,” Shawn said. “But just taking a bit of time out of the week, having a long, hot soak, occasionally with a glass of wine or sherry, or a pint…good for the psyche.”

“You’re a lot of contradictions, aren’t you?” Henry said.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Shawn laughed. “Urbane bastard, that’s me. What about you though? Sure you’ve got some contradictions of your own, eh? Beyond, say, big, tough bloke with a heart of gold…”

“What? Motor racer who sleeps with men wasn’t contradiction enough for you?” Henry said self-deprecatingly.

“Not as far as I’m concerned,” Shawn said seriously. “Though I know sport isn’t always, or often, so welcoming.”

“I think some have got at least a bit better than others, when it comes to their public face anyway. Motorsport…not so much yet.”

“How did you get into auto racing?” Shawn asked.

“Grew up around cars.” Henry shrugged. “Revhead from day one, basically. My dad was a mechanic and had a shop, so I was always around, paying attention, helping out with anything I could. As soon as I could start practicing, I was behind the wheel every chance I got. Started entering smaller rallies, took a mechanic job at a motoring circuit, then going out for bigger races, getting sponsored. I moved up here for a few years to do more of the UK and Euro races, and then went back to Oz a few years ago when my mum fell ill. Both Mum and Dad have since passed, though, so now I’m either driving, under the chassis, or hanging out on the beach. Your basic professional hoon and jumped-up grease monkey.”

“All-time favourite car?” Shawn asked.

“Oh man…” Henry groaned. “Don’t know if I can answer that. There have been so many. Guess I usually go mostly for the classics. Austin-Healys are always fun. For something a little sexier? Jaguars, Triumphs, Toranas, Cobra… It was a Cobra that came within cooee of ending me years back. Massively powerful, but the handling was a nightmare. Bounced around like a roo on crack. I was bloody lucky though. Yours?”

“I’m not bothered,” Shawn laughed. “Long as it gets me about. I just like listening to you talk about something you’ve got a passion for.”

“Right, well…what’s your passion, then? Besides having a kinky root, anyway.”

“History,” Shawn said without hesitation.

“You said something about that earlier, wishing you’d done it at school.”

Shawn nodded. “Aye. Well, that wasn’t in the cards back then, but it had been my best subject at school. To this day, I just find it infinitely fascinating. I watch some of those archaeology programmes and documentaries, and I can’t imagine what it must be like, taking stuff outta the ground that’s been buried for hundreds or thousands of years. Especially those really old ones, you know? Flint shards or summat. Knowing that there was some bloke sat there, breaking those off a blade five thousand years ago. Or walking on some floor surface that no one has walked on for a thousand years. A real connection to the past like that. It’s got to be a genuinely breathtaking feeling.”

Henry couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for Shawn. He talked about history the same way Henry did about cars, but while Henry had spent his life living that ‘breathtaking’ feeling, Shawn had only experienced it vicariously. As Shawn switched off the television and shifted to lie down, Henry followed and stretched out beside him, reaching over to trace the England Rugby rose tattoo over his heart.

 

THE ROOM WAS washed in the deep azure of morning twilight tinged with dusky amethyst when Shawn woke. The space beside him in bed was empty, and for a moment, Shawn hoped that Henry hadn’t sneaked away in the night because of their encounter. As he blinked to clear his vision, he saw the well-built Australian standing on the balcony with a towel wrapped around his waist. Shawn smiled and pushed himself out of bed, pulling on a hotel towel robe before stepping out onto the balcony with Henry.

“Morning,” Shawn said, slipping an arm around Henry’s waist. “Early riser?”

“Good morning,” Henry said. “Not really. In fact, I usually sleep as late as possible any days I’m not racing; just ask Mez. I just happened to wake up for a minute and saw the sun starting to rise. Kinda drew me out here, I guess.”

“Yeah. Told you mornings are beautiful down here,” Shawn said.

“You weren’t wrong. Just been out here a few minutes and already watched a few big water birds coming and going from the wetlands. And some sailboats pottering around the bay. That’s kinda cool, very relaxing.”

“They’ve put pathways through so you can have a look at the ducks and herons and whatnot without bothering them. Could have a walk down through the wetlands before we head back up to Jamie and Mer’s,” Shawn suggested. “Let them have a late morning in the new place and all.”

“Yeah, sounds good. Actually, as nice as it is, it’s also buggering cold out here at the moment,” Henry said as a stiff bay breeze rattled the sailcloth that divided the balcony from that of the next room. “Do you mind if I hit the shower first?”

“Nah, go ahead,” Shawn said. “Help yourself to my shaving kit and that as well if you want.”

“Cheers,” Henry said, heading back into the room. “I’ll just run down and grab my port outta the car.”

“I’ll fetch it up for you,” Shawn offered. “In th’ boot?” he asked, changing his bathrobe for track bottoms and a T-shirt.

“Yeah. Thanks,” Henry said.

“Go on, don’t want you freezing that nice arse off,” Shawn said with a grin, patting Henry’s bum as he picked up the car keys and his room card. When Shawn returned to the room, Henry was just towelling off in the bath. Shawn brought the bathrobe he’d worn before in to him as he stepped in to fill up the kettle from the bathroom sink.

“Your bag’s on the bed. Tea or coffee for you?” Shawn asked. “I bring my own teabags, incidentally, but you’d have to rely on the instant coffee here. Sorry abou’ that.”

“Tea’s fine,” Henry said. “I’m usually coffee, but there’s definitely no instant coffee in this world that’s worth it.”

“Couldn’t agree more. Like I said, help yourself to my kit if you want,” Shawn said, gesturing to the leather toiletry bag on the counter.

Henry hated to feel like he was taking advantage, but Shawn had offered twice, and he had intended to have a shave that morning anyway. It certainly seemed Shawn was better versed in ‘manscaping’ than Henry was, so he decided to try out some of the stuff Shawn had. Even if he wasn’t particularly sure just what some of them did, he figured cleanser and shaving lotion were straightforward enough to be pretty low risk. He recognized the woodsy scent of the shaving lotion as the same that had drawn him in the night before when he’d kissed Shawn in that restaurant lounge.

A few minutes later, Shawn returned and set a cup of tea on the counter as Henry was wiping off the last of the shaving cream. “Nice shave, isn’t it?” Shawn said and took a sip of his tea.

“Fair dinkum. Can’t complain,” Henry said, checking closely in the mirror for any missed patches.

“You typically use an aftershave?” Shawn asked.

“Not really,” Henry said, rinsing Shawn’s razor. “Tend to find it too irritating.”

Shawn nodded. “Why not try some rose water, then?” he said, reaching into his kit for a travel-sized spray bottle. “It’s great for sensitive skin, calms inflammation.”

“What do you do with it?” Henry asked.

“Just spray it on. Here, close your eyes,” Shawn said. He gently stroked his fingers along Henry’s fresh-shaven jawline, turning Henry’s face toward him, and spritzed a few pumps of rose water over Henry’s face and neck. “There ya go. Just let that dry out now.”

Henry hoped Shawn hadn’t noticed how his pulse quickened at the surprisingly tender touch and mentally told certain regions of his anatomy that they’d had their fun the night before, and now it was time to behave themselves again. “Shower’s all yours,” Henry said, stepping out of the steamy bathroom with his mug of tea.

When Shawn emerged from his own shower and shave, Henry was dressed and looking out over the now fully daylit bay. “You fancy a bit of brekkie?” Shawn asked as he pulled on a pair of jeans and took a clean shirt off the hanger. “There’s a good café down on the quay.”

“Yeah, let’s eat,” Henry said, picking up his bag and the hire car keys as they went out. “Just bung this back in the boot, and you can lead on.”

At the café, sat on its own pier just a stone’s throw from the pub they’d visited the night before, Shawn and Henry opted to take their breakfast outdoors. Sitting in the morning sun that had warmed the bayside since sunrise, Henry with a latte and Shawn with a pot of loose-leaf Assam, a plate of breakfast pastries and cakes between them, they enjoyed the quayside view of the Victorian terracotta Pierhead building and the hypermodern glass-walled Senedd.

Henry was amused by the saucer-sized blackcurrant Welsh cakes but claimed he’d never had anything better than the ones Merrick’s mam-gu made whenever they’d drive up to visit her. She always sent him home with a gallon zip bag full of them, and Henry was disappointed that he’d just miss her visiting James and Merrick in their new place as he had to be down in Chichester the next day to prepare for the races at the Goodwood motoring circuit.

“Still up for that stroll through the wetlands before we go?” Shawn asked as they walked back over to the car park beside the hotel. “It’s short, nothing taxing, but it’s nice, birds and ducks and that.”

Henry nodded and followed as Shawn led across the car park and through a gap in the hedges that opened onto a footpath that wound through the tall reeds and marsh grasses. Soon, the path widened to a pedestrian roundabout with a large, abstract stone sculpture in the middle and a boardwalk jutting out over the water beside a marina. Rows of white hulls gleamed and reflected in the calm water while tall masts and stays mirrored the cranes poking up around the shipping docks on the opposite side of the bay. Hazy clouds had rolled in over the coast and filtered the sun, imbuing a calm and contemplative ambiance around the waterfront.

Shawn took a seat on the board base on the sculpture and invited Henry to sit with him. “So, have you had any further thoughts about last night? Liked it, or…not for you?” Shawn asked casually.

Henry paused momentarily. “I was kind of thinking about it this morning, yeah. Liked it. In a few ways.” Henry sighed, wondering if he should voice the rest of the thoughts that had played through his mind in the shower and while he was waiting for Shawn that morning.

“Go on,” Shawn said, resting a hand on Henry’s thigh. “You can tell me. Remember what I said about how important communication is. That applies afterward as well.”

“Yeah. Thing is, yeah, I liked it, but I also think you’re on the money about it taking time. And that’s the thing, isn’t it? I mean, after today I’m down in Chichester through the weekend and heading back to Oz next week. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t really expect this was more than a one-off; that’s fine, but at the same time, not sure if I would jump into that kind of thing with just anybody.”

Shawn nodded. “Well, you definitely shouldn’t jump into it with just anybody; that’s for sure. There are a lot of gobshites out there, in many respects, not that I have to tell you. And you can definitely explore this stuff on your own as well. But there’s nothing preventing us from keeping in touch, either. That could be a real help, in fact. Let you test the waters a bit more, sort of survey some new ideas, without necessarily jumping in, as you put it. All from the comfort and privacy of your own home. I’ve had some casual relationships that went on for years across multiple time zones, oceans, you name it.”

“I’ll think about that,” Henry said. “Really.”

Shawn stroked Henry’s knee and nodded with a patient, disarming smile.

“One thing…” Henry said again after a moment.

“Yeah?”

“Is it okay if we keep this kind of just between us? It’s not that I’m ashamed or asking you to keep things from James, but…”

“No, that’s fine. What happens between you and me is the business of you and me and no one else. If you want to talk about it, you’re welcome to; you’ve got my blessing. Especially if you want to rave about my generously proportioned manhood,” he said with a wink. “But if you’d prefer it to be discreet, that’s always all right as well.”

“Thanks,” Henry said. “I know that James is like a brother to you the same way Merrick is to me.”

“Brothers don’t always tell each other everything,” Shawn smiled understandingly.

“I don’t have siblings, so I don’t know.” Henry shrugged. “You?”

Shawn laughed. “Yeah, a few. Brother and three sisters, all older.”

“Wow. Bit of full house, was it?”

“A little bit, but not all the time. My brother was the oldest, ten years ahead of me, and by the time I was nine, he was married and had two kids—both of whom preceded the marriage—and my oldest sister wasn’t far behind him. Still, they’re why I understand the importance of skincare. Can’t grow up with a bathroom cupboard stuffed with cold creams and serums and lotions without trying a bit of it, you know? And, fair dos, some of it actually helped when my face started looking like I fell into a raspberry bush at fourteen.”

Henry laughed. “Yeah, I just had to live with the spots and try to scrub them off with mechanics’ soap.”

Shawn reached up to stroke Henry’s cheek. “You’ve got a good complexion now, at least. Make sure you get some rose water at some point. I always use it after a shave.”

“Yeah, will do.” Henry checked his watch, and it had just gone ten thirty. “Think we should head back up there?”

Shawn nodded and stood up. “Sure.”

“So, are your folks still around?” Henry asked as they strolled back up the path.

“Dad, no. Mum, just about.”

“Just about?”

“She’s been in care for a couple years. I admit that I don’t go up to visit often enough, but she doesn’t have a clue who anybody is and probably wouldn’t be particularly glad if she did recognize me, so I guess neither of us are missing much. She’s got the best care money can buy and not burdening my sisters, so I reckon I’ve taken all the high road necessary on that front.”

“Sounds contentious. Sorry to hear that,” Henry said sympathetically.

Shawn was quiet for a moment before saying, “That old saying about choosing your family when you’re gay? It’s very true. And it makes a big difference.”

 

FRIDAY MORNING FOUND Shawn again packing his weekend hold-all, but also putting into a suit bag a grey linen sport coat. He had booked in for the weekend at a hotel in Portsmouth and intended to check in there before driving out to the motoring circuit in Chichester.

By afternoon, he had intrepidly waded deep into the sea of steel and chrome at Goodwood. The campus was immense, and the piercing whinge, growl, and occasionally an exhaust bang of race cars echoed through the air. Shawn was glad he’d picked up a glass of champagne at the first bar tent he passed on the way through and relieved that the day was overcast as it wasn’t hard to imagine how all that metal could heat up if it were a bright day.

On his way in, he’d sent a message to a contact of his who was attending the festival as a representative of one of the charitable beneficiaries of the weekend’s events. Once he’d picked up a program and map, he figured out where to meet his occasional acquaintance for a short drink and brief networking catch-up as thanks for directing Shawn where to obtain access credentials at the last minute.

At last, with helpful guidance from a couple of stewards, Shawn managed to make his way to the inner sanctum to find the motoring association tent said to be hosting Aussie motorsport champion Henry Martin. Henry was unmistakable in his classic white driver’s coveralls as he leaned in over the gleaming engine of a Formula One Ferrari and chatted with some event goers. Shawn hung back a bit, sipping his champagne and watching Henry in his element.

It struck Shawn how many different sides of Henry he had seen in their rather few encounters. What Merrick had said about him being more loyal teddy bear than professional tough guy was looking truer all the time. The demeanour that had, upon their first meeting, resembled something between bodyguard and pimp had proven to be fierce friendship, for which Shawn couldn’t possibly fault anyone. The stunningly more open and tender side that he had seen just a few days earlier in his hotel room was particularly intriguing, though, and was what made Shawn go haring off to a big cars event on a whim.

After a few minutes, the people Henry had been talking to moved on, and he turned to see if there was anyone else waiting to shake his hand. “Shawn?” he said, “Crikey. What are you doing down here? You didn’t say you were planning on coming to the festival.”

Shawn shrugged and stepped in further under the marquee. “Hadn’t planned on it, actually. Just took it in my mind to come down and see what all this is abou’.”

“Well, primarily cars, mate,” Henry said laughingly.

Shawn nodded mock knowledgeably. “Aye, that has rather come to my attention, yeah. You done any driving yet today or just been polishing up that motor?”

“I did a couple runs this morning,” Henry said. “Which is good because it looks like it may rain soon, and if there’s too much of it, they can’t run. Still, got mine in, so hard luck to those who didn’t, eh?”

“No doubt,” Shawn said. “You have any plans this evening?”

Henry paused for a moment as the question and its subtle implication found its way in under Henry’s purely professional side. “Uh, well…depending on if they’ve got to halt the driving, I’ll have one or two drivers’ meetings either this afternoon or evening, but there’s not really anything after seven thirty or so. Usually just drivers and their respectives hanging out, trying not to get too pissed—stuff like that.”

“Well, if you’re interested in a late meal, consider yourself invited,” Shawn said.

“Always interested in a meal, mate, late or early. Or both, for that matter,” Henry said with a grin. “Are you just down for the day or what?”

Shawn shook his head. “Booked in for the weekend.”

“Fair dinkum? It’s usually bloody impossible to get a hotel room anywhere during the festival. You must really know how to pull strings,” Henry said, impressed.

“Better than that,” Shawn said with a grin. “I’m not staying in Chichester, I’m down in Portsmouth. Don’t mind staying a little further out, avoiding the crowds, you know?”

Henry nodded, knowing exactly what Shawn meant and appreciating his tact.

“So, dinner?”

“Yeah, for sure,” Henry said. “Uh…maybe I can ring when I’m done here, meet you some place?”

Shawn smiled. “That sounds perfect. Well, think I’ll have a look around a bit more before any potential rain,” he said, giving his stylish plaid stick umbrella a jaunty shake. “Anything you particularly recommend?”

“Start line’s just down the lane there,” Henry said, “if you want to see some of the racing. Formula One races will be going in probably ten minutes or so. And if you cross the bridge over the track, there’s the supercar paddock and then the aeroplanes and helis.”

“All right, thanks. Talk to you later, then,” Shawn said, clapping Henry’s shoulder in a way that looked nothing more than matey but definitely left a lingering inference.

Shawn wandered about through the exhibitions and took in the start of the F1 race but knew he wasn’t well enough versed in what was going on to appreciate whether any of the drivers were doing well or not. Eventually, he made his way through the display of aircraft and over to the Georgian hotel on the estate grounds. It had just started raining, and Shawn decided to duck into the hotel and wait out the weather with a cup or two of tea in the inordinately bright and airy bistro. He also called in to the hotel’s spa to book a few treatments for the next afternoon. A detox wrap and massage, followed by a fresh and nutritious meal, were always a sound idea as far as Shawn was concerned, even if it was utterly at odds with the celebration of gears and grease occurring mere steps away.

It had only been a couple hours, which Shawn contentedly spent sipping smoky, robust Russian Caravan tea and responding to emails, when Henry sent a text message saying they’d wrapped up early on account of the rain and he was free for the rest of the evening. Shawn tapped the screen to return Henry’s message with a call and suggested that they could meet at Shawn’s hotel and then decide on somewhere for a meal. Henry agreed, and Shawn sent him the Portsmouth hotel’s address to put into his GPS and his room number so he could come right up.

Shawn was glad that the rain had let off to just a few drops and it was a short walk back to the car park. Once he cleared the exiting traffic around Chichester and got onto the A27, it was only a smooth twenty-minute ride back to his hotel where he quickly shed his jacket, draping it over the back of the desk chair, and waited for Henry’s knock.

It wasn’t a long wait.

When Shawn let Henry in, there was a long-drawn-out moment as they looked, transfixed, into one another’s eyes. The thrall was broken by the click of the door closing behind them, and all at once, Shawn had Henry’s back against the wall and was kissing him with raw passion.

Not that Henry was by any stretch a passive bystander. His hands were all over Shawn, tugging his shirt out from his waistband, slipping his hands under to grasp at Shawn’s back and down to grope his arse.

“I see we’re both rather revved up,” Shawn said breathlessly, stroking Henry’s firm biceps.

“Kind of am,” Henry said. “All the testosterone of the track, I guess.”

“That’s not a problem. C’mere,” Shawn said with a wide grin, pulling Henry over to the bed.

 

“YOU ALL RIGHT?” Shawn asked, lying close beside Henry.

Henry let out a little laugh. “Am I? Think I’m bloody boneless now. I don’t think I knew tongues could do that…”

“Good,” Shawn murmured. “That’s the object of the game.”

“Where’s all your kinky gear, though?” Henry asked.

“Guess we skipped a few steps, eh?” Shawn snickered. “Of course, if you fancy more later, I did bring along the cuffs and that little flogger, as well as a blindfold this time.”

For someone who looked like he might fall asleep mid-sentence, Henry looked about as intrigued as possible.

Shawn smiled patiently. “Later, later. I also promised you a meal. Are you hungry?”

“Shit. I forgot how hungry I was,” Henry said. “Yeah, probably should eat. It’s gonna take me a few minutes to get upright, though. And…I probably oughta shower before we go anywhere.”

“We don’t have to go anyplace. I’m happy to have something sent up if you prefer. Couple orders of fish and chips? Bottle of lager each?” Shawn suggested, looking through the room service menu.

Henry sighed happily at the prospect of simple fare and not having to get up for it. “That would be really brilliant at the moment.”

“Done,” Shawn said, picking up the room phone and pressing the speed dial for room service. After ordering and pulling on a pair of pyjama bottoms, Shawn stretched out beside Henry again. “So, are you driving again tomorrow?”

Henry nodded. “Yep. Morning and afternoon.”

“Let me know which races. I’ve booked a couple spa treatments over at the spa—body wrap and a massage, but I’ll come to watch if I can.”

“You really are into that whole self-care thing, aren’t you?” Henry said with a lazy smile.

Shawn nodded seriously. “Certainly am.”

“Well, won’t that be a conflict?” Henry said, turning over to face Shawn. “I’ll be all ‘revved up’ from driving, but you’ll be all ‘zenned out’ from your massage.”

“I see no conflict,” Shawn said confidently. “I said I’ve got the cuffs and flogger. That should help keep you a bit more at my pace.”

Henry snickered but couldn’t say the possibilities weren’t delicious. “And what about that blindfold you mentioned?”

Shawn laughed. “Why don’t we see about that when we get to it?”

“See about it. Funny,” Henry said, deadpan.

“Yeah, sorry,” Shawn said, snuggling a bit closer and resting his head on Henry’s shoulder. “Sounds like that’s tomorrow evening sorted, anyway. Are you flying very early on Monday?”

Henry groaned to even think of Monday at that point. “Oh yeah. I’ll be up to Heathrow well before sparrow fart.”

“Then I suppose we should leave Sunday night out,” Shawn said regretfully. “I really do hope you’ll decide to ring me when you’re back home.”

“Wouldn’t be surprised if I do. You think it could be fun, even just over the phone and all?”

“Oh, I know it,” Shawn said, running his fingertips through the light scatter of hair on Henry’s chest. “But how were your races today?”

“Both good,” Henry said. “Finished both, no blow-outs, no spin-outs, not dead last, and all panels intact, so yeah. I had a pretty good morning.”

“And you think the track will be all right for driving on tomorrow?”

“Yeah, no worries. It’s not meant to rain overnight or tomorrow from what I’ve seen,” Henry said, adjusting a pillow behind his head and wrapping his arm around Shawn.

“Have you ever had issues with a wet track?”

“Bloody oath. Went into a fishtail after hydroplaning a few years ago. The boot slammed into the barriers at around 110 MPH. Rooted my damned shoulder. Still paying for it if I don’t keep after it.”

“Was that the close call you had with that Cobra you were talking about the other day?” Shawn asked, subconsciously stroking Henry’s shoulder.

“Nah, separate incident, with a… Well, it was an F1 race, so I won’t bore you with the technicalities, but it was a Mercedes chassis anyway. I had no injury from the Cobra. It just almost killed me. Totally different things. With the Cobra, if I had pulled the wheel a millimetre too far or not far enough, a nanosecond too early or late, I’d have been dead on the spot. Probably a couple others with me. Instead, everybody walked away without a scratch. Team docs had to come assess me in the bar, though, because all I wanted was a few bloody stiff drinks after that.”

Shawn frowned slightly, wondering if he really did want to watch any of Henry’s races if something like that could happen. He decided to steer the conversation back to more pleasurable topics. “So…what are your thoughts on the pace?” he asked, stroking Henry’s hip. “Any other activities you’d like to include—basic or exotic?” he asked.

Henry thought about it for a moment but shrugged. “I’m pretty much a rank beginner with all but the most basic of basics, Shawn,” he said honestly. “I haven’t really invested much in that side of things, I guess. A bit behind the curve…”

“That’s all right,” Shawn assured him, resting his hand on Henry’s arm. “This isn’t a race. You don’t get points for trying everything by a certain point in your life. And it’s never too late to start exploring.”

“Ya know, there’s one thing I always want to enjoy, and I do when I’m by myself but it never seems to work as well when I’m actually with somebody. No matter how much I try to psych myself up for it,” Henry said.

“Shall I guess?” Shawn said knowingly.

“By the confidence in your voice, I’m betting you don’t need to,” Henry said, glad Shawn’s eyes were closed in relaxation. He was sure eye contact would have made him squirm just then. “I hope it’s not really disappointing of me. It’s not a macho thing, at least I don’t think it is. And I’m not scared of a bit of pain. Thing is, I’ve been with some guys who just seemed… I mean… Obviously it didn’t hurt for them, ya know? ’Cause they couldn’t bloody get enough. But one finger is about all I can stand. Is it, like, genetic or something?”

“Nah, it’s not genetic, just practice. And time. A lot of time,” Shawn said, caressing Henry’s abs as he glanced up and pressed a soothing kiss to Henry’s jawline. “What do you use when you’re by yourself?” he asked. “Any toys?”

Henry shook his head and held up a finger.

“Well, that’s why you’ve liked it in those cases. You’ve got total control of everything that tends to get in the way. When you’re with somebody else, there’s the ‘other’ factor involved. Most guys who don’t bottom are beyond clueless at reading how ready you are, and you won’t often find them checking in as much as they should, or using nearly enough lube. Of course, it’s also somehow universally accepted that you shouldn’t do anything but grit your teeth and take it, which is complete and utter bollocks. And when you’re both already gagging for it, it’s extraordinarily rare that things are going to go slow enough to get you loosened up properly to really enjoy it, especially if it’s not something you do often.”

“Is it worth bothering?” Henry asked, somewhat doubtfully.

“It is,” Shawn said, “definitely. Bearing in mind that it’s also perfectly valid to just not like it if you don’t. But if you do like it, then the practice is worth putting in.”

Henry snorted. “Well, yeah, I know it feels good from your side.”

Shawn smirked and traced his fingers from Henry’s navel up to his collarbone. “I didn’t mean from my side. But my side isn’t necessarily just my side either. If you get me.”

“You like getting fucked?” Henry asked, intrigued.

“Love it,” Shawn said. “Especially by a big, strong lad like you,” he said with a leering grin.

Henry’s gaze went a bit glassy, and he subconsciously licked his bottom lip. “I…uh… I’d make sure you’re really relaxed… Could suck you off first, if you like that.”

“Certainly I like it,” Shawn said. “Do you? Enjoy doing that, I mean?”

“Uh…yeah. A lot. Haven’t had much of it in a while though.”

“Now, that is an absolute tragedy,” Shawn said sympathetically, stroking Henry’s cheek and running his thumb over Henry’s full lower lip.

Just then, there was a knock at the door and a call of “Room service”.

“To be continued…” Shawn said teasingly as he slid off the bed and flipped the corner of the duvet to cover Henry from the waist down.