TO BE fair to Reading, Steffen’s reasons to hate it had more to do with the situation than the town itself, but it didn’t stop Steffen’s antagonism toward it. His flight had been delayed, and he ended up stuck sitting on the runway at Basel. His phone died with no way to plug in his charger, and he’d forgotten his portable battery pack. At least he’d had the chance to convince Mark he would make his own way to his apartment rather than having Mark come to meet him at the airport. Both of them didn’t have to suffer.
He knew his way by now, this being his third visit, but the late landing and tiredness made him balk at putting his life into the hands of the British railway system. He decided to say fuck it and get a taxi from Heathrow Airport straight to Mark’s. If he hadn’t already decided on that plan of action, the ridiculously long queue at passport control would have sealed the deal. At least the M4 motorway was clear, and although he had no way of letting Mark know his expected arrival time, he had to admit he enjoyed the absence of the incessant buzz of his Handy—it was rare for him to be completely unplugged from the rest of the world.
Less than an hour from leaving the airport, the cab pulled up in front of Mark’s apartment block. He grabbed his bag, paid, and used the key Mark had given him to let himself into the building. The block didn’t have a lift, but despite being tired and having suffered through a long day, the thought of getting to Mark gave him the energy to power up the stairs. Mark’s apartment wasn’t bad, but Steffen couldn’t help but make an unfavorable comparison to his own luxurious home, and the fact he wanted nothing more than for Mark to be back in Basel living with him didn’t help.
Steffen called out as he unlocked the door, “Mark!”
His bag had barely hit the ground when he found himself with an armful of Mark and being kissed within an inch of his life. “I thought you’d never get here.”
Being pinned against Mark’s front door should have been uncomfortable, but Steffen couldn’t be happier. “I am only delayed by a couple of hours. I am sure you would have survived.”
Mark kissed him soundly one more time and pulled back, grinning. “I heard from Kaz.”
“And?” It had to be good news, the way Mark’s smile lit up the room.
“They’ve secured my B permit from Basel Stadt and finally given me a start date. Three months’ time, and I’ll be with you in Basel.”
Steffen had to remind himself that it had only been three months since Mark had returned to the UK. At times it had felt so much longer. Rationally he’d known it would happen eventually; they’d survived the separation with visits every two weeks and being inventive over Skype. Some couples had it much worse, but all that mattered now was they could finally start making plans for the future. Stop living in a limbo, waiting to hear. “Oh, Mark, that is the best thing I have ever heard.”
“Better than I’ve just changed the bedclothes and I want you to help me get them dirty?”
God, he loved this man. Steffen grabbed Mark’s hand and pulled him along to the bedroom. All thoughts of the small size of Mark’s home evaporated as they landed together on the bed, and Mark peeled away Steffen’s mac. Steffen couldn’t wait to get his hands on Mark’s skin and was especially happy to see Mark was dressed only in his pajamas, which gave Steffen the easy access he craved. Two weeks without being able to touch Mark left Steffen with little willpower. He pulled at Mark’s T-shirt, not caring at the strain he was putting on the seams. Mark was just as eager, and Steffen had to bat his hands away to stop Mark tugging at his buttons. He didn’t want a repeat of his last visit, where three buttons of an expensive Saint Laurent shirt had been sent flying.
He bit and licked his way down Mark’s torso as Mark lay gloriously naked in front of him, stretched out across the duvet. The scent of Mark’s spicy shower gel lingered as he nuzzled into Mark’s wiry pubic hair, and the taste was 100 percent Mark as he took Mark’s hard cock into his mouth.
Mark tugged on his hair, and Steffen pulled away, confused. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing. I’ve been fantasizing all week about sixty-nineing since our last Skype session.”
Fuck, he wasn’t going to turn down that offer. Steffen scooted back so Mark could shuffle into the center of the bed, reoriented himself so he knelt with a knee on either side of Mark’s head, and then bent over to continue where he started. Mark’s hands slid up his thighs and rested on his buttocks. Steffen shivered as Mark swallowed his cock whole while lightly stroking a finger down the cleft of his buttocks.
It was never the most comfortable position, and getting the balance right, and the angle, was always a tricky act. Steffen had to readjust to make sure he could give Mark the best experience. He’d forgotten how intense this could be. Having Mark in his mouth while simultaneously being sucked with an equal fervor made his body hum with anticipation, the thrill of his climax building with every mutual suck and lick. Mark was a master with his tongue, and when Mark’s fingers danced playfully around his hole, it made it nigh on impossible for Steffen to control himself.
He came hard as Mark hummed, and received the salty tang of Mark’s release as reward. His blood rushed in his ears, and his head spun with desire, the happiness mingling with the lust and endorphins, making his head wonderfully dizzy.
It took a moment for him to catch his breath and for them to rearrange themselves and get under the blankets. Mark cuddled close, and Steffen wrapped his arms around him. Even without Mark’s good news, this was in line with the pattern they’d settled into as they reacquainted themselves with each other. Kiss. Fuck. Cuddle. Talk. So far it hadn’t been more than two weeks between seeing each other, but there had been moments, at least for Steffen, when it had seemed much longer.
“Come on, tell me how it happened,” Steffen asked.
Mark lazily traced patterns across Steffen’s chest. “I got called into a meeting with HR this morning. Kaz and Phil, my UK boss, were also invited. They said everything was now confirmed. I got the contract with my Swiss salary and conditions and start date for when I officially transferred. All the Swiss permit paperwork is either done or only the last technicalities are still open. To be honest, given we’ve been waiting for this, it seems so anticlimactic.”
“You can stay here if you would prefer,” Steffen said with a playful squeeze, but he could understand what Mark meant.
“No chance. You’re stuck with me now. Somebody’s gotta help me adjust to living in Switzerland.”
“I should let you work it out yourself—it would give you an incentive to improve your German.”
“Then you’d have to visit me in my new home under Dreirosenbrücke, when I can’t get anywhere thanks to the bureaucracy.”
“You can consider yourself lucky that, unlike most of Basel’s new arrivals, you will not need to play the finding an apartment game—I might not even insist on seeing your references or financial records.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.”
Steffen had grown accustomed to hearing Mark use that phrase, along with his tendency to overthink things, as part of his desire for everything to run smoothly. “I hope it was not too painful for you.”
“I’m being serious. Are you absolutely sure I should be moving in with you straightaway? I’m going to get some relocation assistance. I could—at least at first—find my own place. I don’t want you to think we’ve rushed into this.”
Mark was an idiot, but he was Steffen’s idiot. Steffen was going to put a stop to this idea before it took hold. “Mark, you are moving into the apartment. If this relationship had not been worth fighting for we would not have been flying out to see each other at every opportunity. We both have insanely busy jobs, and I fear if we do not crawl into the same bed every night, we will never see each other.”
“It’s not that bad.”
Steffen moved so he lay facing Mark. “If you want to find somewhere else to live, then I will help you. But do not make it sound that it’s because of me. I love you and want to live with you.”
“I didn’t mean that,” Mark rushed to answer. “Of course I want to live with you.”
“Good. We have enough rooms if you want to have somewhere as your own space. But I think we will have to discuss the house rules, because I am not sure you will agree to my suggestion that you should be naked at all times when we do not have visitors.”
“As if you can enforce that.” Mark smiled, and the worry around his eyes had gone.
Steffen still wasn’t convinced this was the end of the discussion and thought there might be something else behind it. “You need to tell me if you have concerns. I cannot begin to help if I do not know what they are. Did something happen to start you thinking about the apartment?”
“I spoke to my mum earlier, to let her know and confirm the details for tomorrow.”
Steffen pursed his lips. Mark had mentioned his mother’s reservations, and Steffen could hardly say he was surprised she wasn’t so happy to have her son move to another country. “She is still worried?”
“The same. She’s not said anything too negative, but there’s been a few comments about how long we’ve been together, whether I should move in with you or if I should have my own place in case something happens.” Mark sighed. “I’m sure she’ll get over it.”
Steffen had happily agreed to meet Mark’s parents, but now it was even more important he made a good impression. “I will be my most charming tomorrow.”
“Just don’t be an arse. I know it’s a challenge, but I think you’re up for it.”
Steffen lunged forward and unleashed his most unrepentant tickle attack. “You will pay for that, Timmel!”
THE LONDON Street Brassiere was the type of white-tablecloth restaurant that Steffen would frequent for both business and pleasure. The first glance at the menu and wine list as they waited for Mark’s parents to arrive impressed him. “I must admit I was not expecting somewhere of this caliber.”
“My dad developed a taste for fine dining when he was working, and Mum was happy to tag along. They like it in here—I think they might consider it as home turf, yet still able to show off a bit.”
“I intend to pick up the bill—will that be an issue?”
“Not sure. Depends how the meal goes.” Mark leaned over and pointed to one of the wines. “That’s Dad’s favorite.”
“Then we will order a bottle to come after the aperitifs. I’m in the mood for a Kir Royale.”
He was trying to decide between the guinea fowl and the pork belly when Mark nudged him. “They’re here—finally.”
Steffen glanced up and spotted Mark’s parents immediately. Even without them being pointed out, they were unmistakably Mark’s relatives. Mark had his mother’s coloring and his father’s build. Steffen was glad he had made enough of an effort with his clothes choices to look good but had not overdressed in a suit. He’d never really been too bothered about impressing a boyfriend’s parents before. Peter’s mother and father had been pleasant enough but hardly enthusiastic, but then he hadn’t had to make an impression before—the Gryse name had done much of the talking.
Steffen got to his feet as the Timmels approached the table. “Mr. and Mrs. Timmel,” he said, extending his hand to Mark’s father. “It is my pleasure to meet you.”
They shook hands, Mark’s mum speaking first. “It’s Diana and Liam. I’m glad to finally meet the man who’s swept Mark off his feet.”
“The sweeping has been entirely mutual.”
They sat down, and a waiter appeared as if by magic and took orders for aperitifs, Kir Royales all round, and Steffen ordered the wine.
“What are the restaurants like in Basel?” asked Diana.
Steffen appreciated her attempt to get the conversation started. “I have a number of favorite ones, although I have a lot more I will not go back to.”
“Yeah, well, some of them are really expensive for what you get,” said Mark. “I’m glad I had Steffen to show me around. I’d have probably lived off sandwiches and chocolate if it weren’t for him.”
Diana tutted. “I taught you better than that, Mark.”
“Steffen’s a far better cook than me. There’s no way I wasn’t going to take advantage of that.”
“You enjoy cooking, Steffen?” asked Liam, looking up from his menu, and Steffen remembered Mark had called his father a bit of a foodie.
“I do. I like to dabble, and, so far, Mark has not complained—not to my face anyway.”
“Once Liam retired I handed over the reins of the kitchen to him,” Diana said fondly. “I must say, he has a much broader repertoire than me.”
Steffen was grateful for the common ground. Making small talk could be draining, but Liam’s enthusiasm for combining flavors bubbled over, and Steffen followed Liam’s recommendation for dinner. He began to relax a little after a few sips of his aperitif, but he knew he was still being assessed carefully by Mark’s parents. Halfway through the duck starter, Steffen realized the inquisition, albeit a gentle one, was about to begin.
“Mark said you own your own business,” said Diana.
“That is right, computer systems and infrastructure, working out the best ways of adapting IT for a company’s needs.”
“So not something that has to be done out of Basel, then?”
“Mum,” warned Mark.
“What? I’m only asking.”
Mark pursed his lips. “No, you’re not.”
Steffen stepped in. “I built up the company in Basel. In theory I could have done it somewhere else, but it is where I call home. I very much hope Mark will feel the same.”
She hummed. “I must admit, I hadn’t expected my baby boy to go so far away.”
“It’s only an hour-and-a-half’s flight. It’s not like I’m moving to Sydney.” Steffen held his tongue. Mark was in a far better position to deal with his mother. “I’m sure you’ll love Basel when you come and visit.”
“There’s a river cruise of the Rhine that starts in Basel and works its way to Amsterdam,” Liam said, ignoring the exasperated look from his wife. “We could do it the other way around and visit Basel at the end, rather than fly straight back.”
“Liam, I thought you agreed with me on this.”
Liam huffed. “He’s a grown man. It’s not like he’s sixteen and knocked up his girlfriend.”
Steffen nearly choked on his wine. Mark shook his head. “Please, both of you, stop trying to kill me with embarrassment. I don’t want Steffen thinking insanity runs in the family—he might not let me back into his apartment.”
Steffen had suffered at the hands of his own mother when she’d met Mark, so he slid his hand to rest on Mark’s thigh for gentle support. “There is no chance of that happening, but you would not like it if your mother was not concerned. When I left to live in the UK for a while, my mother was extremely worried. She had convinced herself I would be mugged, or stabbed… or God knows what.”
“See, at least Steffen understands. I’m just being a mum—and mums worry.”
“Rest assured, Diana, I will take care of Mark in Basel. It is a much safer city than Cambridge. I was burgled three times in the seven years I was there.”
Diana wrinkled her nose. “I suppose Switzerland is a safe country.”
Steffen saw Mark smile into his glass, and Steffen guessed he was getting somewhere. He needed to turn it up a notch. He sensed he just needed to show her his appreciation of her son and make sure she knew he wasn’t about to leave Mark. “Very much so. And the job prospects of someone with Mark’s talents are extremely good.”
“They wouldn’t have transferred him if he wasn’t good,” Diana said, and smiled at Mark before turning back to Steffen. “But I have to say, you two haven’t exactly been together long.”
“Mum!” hissed Mark.
Steffen was used to clients needing assurance. Unruffling feathers was one of the most important roles of his job, and dealing with Mark’s mum would involve a similar tactic.
“I understand your concern, but also, while it might only be five months, we have both put a lot of effort into our relationship. I have known married couples do less when separated by a distance, so I do not feel it fair that you judge our commitment solely on length. By the time Mark relocates, it will be closer to nine months, and we are not getting any younger. I do not see the point in wasting more time.”
The waiter chose that moment to refresh their wineglasses and remove the plates. Steffen excused himself from the table. The look Mark had shot him told Steffen he would have words with his parents while Steffen was gone. He didn’t exactly dawdle, but he could have been quicker, and returned to the table as the waiters were gearing up to serve their main course.
If nothing else, he couldn’t fault the food. Meeting Mark’s parents was always going to be a tricky situation to maneuver, but at least he could do so with fine wine and a chef who knew his way around a kitchen. Diana looked a little happier, and Steffen thought Liam was a lot more laid-back than his wife and would adapt to most things if accompanied with a crisp French white wine.
Liam raised his glass. “I think a toast is in order. While you may not have been together as long as some couples, I can already see a real change in Mark. I raise my glass to your new start together in Basel, and I hope you’ve a spare room for us to visit!”
Whatever Mark had said to his mum while Steffen was in the bathroom seemed to have done the trick. She smiled genuinely and held up her glass. “Welcome to the family, Steffen.”
“Thank you. I consider myself to be a very lucky man.” That was clearly the right thing to say, as Diana smiled even wider.
Meeting Mark’s parents had in the end gone as well as could be expected, better even. Now all they had to do was survive Mark meeting Steffen’s father, brother, and sister when Mark next visited Basel. But at least they already had the support of Steffen’s mother, who was more than capable of making the rest of his family behave.