A week later, Linc swallowed the last of his beer then tidied the plates and leftovers of what had become their regular Friday night takeaway. Still, they usually found some way to work off the calories. David stirred beside him and opened his eyes.
“Sorry, I fell asleep, didn’t I?”
“You did. You might want to clear the drool off your chin.”
David wiped his face. “Oh hell. What must I look like?”
Linc chuckled to himself. “Eminently fuckable as far as I’m concerned.”
“Oh yeah,” David replied, sticking out his chin with no sign of embarrassment.
“Damn, I was aiming at making you blush.”
“Really? Making you blush is much more fun and more of a challenge.”
“I’ve lost my touch,” Linc said, frowning.
“Oh, I hope not. I love the feel of those big, calloused hands of yours blowing my mind along with my dick.” David’s gaze didn’t falter, and this time heat rushed in two directions swelling his cock and burning his cheeks.
“Touché,” he said, standing up. “Why don’t you go upstairs while I get rid of this lot?”
As soon as Linc stood, Pixie and Dixie appeared as if by magic. “Do they need anything?” he asked.
David shifted forward and rubbed his eyes. “No, don’t let them fool you. They’ll beg for more food, but they have biscuits. You might want to check the water bowls. I need to visit the kittens.”
“I could bring us up tea or cocoa if you want, or is that too rock and roll?”
“Ah, you said the magic words. Camomile might help me sleep. I didn’t do too well last night.” Linc guessed the threatened spending cuts were occupying David’s thoughts. “And as we’re taking Elliot and his friend, not to mention the dog, out tomorrow, I want to be well-rested.”
Linc resisted the desire to pout. Maybe they’d get a quickie in. “I’ll meet you up there then.”
He whistled as he washed up. The cats wove around his legs wailing, ever hopeful to persuade Linc to give them some tasty treat to shut them up. “Nope, enough you two. I am not giving you more cat food. Your daddy says you have biscuits. I’m not as soft-hearted as he is.”
He too needed to be up early in the morning to visit a new client then get back before their trip to Hunstanton. After so much work, he was longing to get out of the workshop. A trip to the beach, even in February, would do him good and get David out as well. David hadn’t said much in the last week about his family’s reaction to his plans and Linc hadn’t pressed him. He’d talk when he was ready or if he had news. He hoped David’s family would be all right with his decision to investigate his birth mother, but he couldn’t help worrying what David might find, and how he would deal with it.
Linc had put off his next step and hadn’t yet contacted Noah to visit the farm or replied to the dinner invitation he’d had from Lindsay, his mother’s stepdaughter. He needed time before moving on, and to mourn what he’d lost all over again. He put the final plate in the rack and dried his hands on the tea towel.
Upstairs, in the kitten room, he found David sitting on the floor, talking to those watching the kitten cam. At eleven in the evening here, it would be afternoon in America and early morning in Australia.
David glanced up. “Yes, Linc has come in with cocoa,” he said. His tablet lay on his thighs as well as one of the kittens. Linc sat down next to him. Gwen jumped on his lap and kneaded his stomach.
“Ow! I think she might need her claws trimmed. Come on, settle down, there’s a good girl.” Gwen turned around then curled up, purring loudly. He stroked her head. “She is a beauty.”
“I don’t know if Linc wants to adopt a cat,” David said, answering a question from one of the viewers. “I think she might want to adopt him. The kittens are doing well and putting on weight. I’ve raised the accessible runs to the next level. Soon, I’ll let them reach the other levels while still allowing mamma here to get higher and escape their milk bar demands. They’ll be able to see out of the window into the garden and use the hidey holes. I’ll have to think how best to film them then. I might need another camera. Yes, Pixie and Dixie are enjoying their new environment downstairs. Yes, I’ll have Dixie in at some point to help socialise the little ones.”
Linc remained silent drinking his cocoa while David continued to chat for the next thirty minutes. Many were regulars and he referred to them by name. Some asked about sending gifts for the kittens or the rescue centre.
“We depend on our viewers,” David explained to newcomers. “They’re wonderfully supportive and give generously to the charity. We are a no-kill shelter and medical costs can be high as well. Once a year, we have a big campaign for donations or at other times if one of our other kitty cammers needs help. Adopters of our kittens also give what they can and make lovely gifts. There are some amazing people out there.” David stifled a yawn.
“I think it’s time someone went to bed,” Linc said, without thinking.
David showed him the comments on the tablet. “Now folks, remember children may be watching.” He lifted the kittens from his lap. Gwen, hearing the tiny mewls of protest, jumped from Linc’s lap, and lay to welcome her babies.
“Right, everyone, I’m off until the morning. Have a good day and enjoy the kittens.”
Once in David’s bedroom, Linc perched on the edge of the bed while David used the bathroom. He returned, still wearing his prosthesis.
“I’ll shower in the morning. I’m too knackered now.” He removed all his clothes except his briefs then sat next to Linc and unstrapped his false lower leg, placing it to one side. Next, he took off the sock and padding and rubbed the stump. “Can you pass me the cream in the top drawer? It keeps the skin softer and stops me getting blisters.”
“Can I help?” Linc asked.
David turned to face him. “If you want to.” He lifted his leg over Linc’s thigh.
“Does it hurt?” Linc asked.
“Not unless I’m stupid. The leg needs to fit snuggly. It’s another reason why I try to keep my weight even. It was a problem when I grew, especially if I had a growth spurt and the prosthesis needed changing. They do wear out, but they’re much better than they used to be.”
“I had no idea when I first met you. You can’t tell.”
“It’s not something I feel the need to hide anymore. We have the Paralympics to thank for a lot of the changes. I’m lucky it’s only the lower part of my leg, although it does throw out my knee, hip, and back. I should have more physio than I do. I need to make an appointment, but unless you pay, there’s quite a waiting list. I found a great bloke. I’ll see if he has any time available. I still like to do a bit of running, and exercising helps with overall flexibility. I have to move a lot of books in my job.” He paused. “Talking of the library, we’ve had our official annual we-have-to-review- the-libraries-in-the-area letter.”
Linc stopped rubbing. “Could they close you?”
“Of course they could, with funding cuts the way they are. We’re lucky to have the café, which brings people in, and two of us staff the place now, with a few volunteers, but yeah, they could close us.”
“What would you do? I’m guessing there aren’t a lot of public library jobs.”
“No, there aren’t. Schools and universities have librarians, but I have no experience in education. The government also has specialist libraries, but they’re being cut as well. I might have to move away if the worst comes to worst.” He moved his leg.
“Shit!” I don’t want you to go.
“Shit indeed. I like living here near my family and the rescue centre… and you.” David leaned forward and held Linc’s face then kissed him. “You’re all stubbly. I like it. I like the way it feels on my thighs, but I like you with a beard as well.”
“Is that a hint?” Linc asked, licking his lips. He lifted his T-shirt over his head. Standing, he removed his jeans and socks then sank to his knees between David’s legs. He buried his face between David’s thighs and nuzzled his crotch.
“I might be too tired for anything energetic,” David said. Linc glanced up as he yawned again. He grabbed his discarded T-shirt and placed it on the floor. It would wash easier than the carpet, and he’d taken to leaving spare clothes at David’s. “You lean back then and let me do the work.”
“Hmm,” David said, doing as instructed.
Linc reached into David’s briefs and uncovered his already hardening cock then did the same for himself. He reached into the open drawer, found the lube, and spread it on each hand. “Some for me, and some for you,” he murmured.
“What?” David asked.
“Nothing. Now, let me go to work before you fall asleep.”
Linc took hold of the base of David’s cock and slid his hand to the head a few times before enclosing the tip in his mouth and sucking gently at first, then harder. For a while, he concentrated on David, the taste and smell of the man. He licked and probed with his tongue, sometimes he concentrated on the tip, teasing, barely touching, and sometimes just breathing, letting his breath caress the smooth flesh before plunging down again to encase the whole shaft. Next, he concentrated on David’s balls, taking each into his mouth in turn then together, rolling them around, loving the musky smell and the noises David made. He took hold of his own now solid erection and stroked lazily, not wanting to come before David. David’s balls drew up and Linc concentrated on pumping his erection, increasing the speed.
“Oh, hell, Linc. You’re such a tease. I need to come.”
Linc matched the actions of his hand and mouth but didn’t have to wait for long as David climaxed sending streams of hot liquid into Linc’s throat. He had no trouble swallowing it all, relishing the salty taste. He let go of David and concentrated on his own pleasure. He came a minute later then sat back on his haunches and folded the T-shirt ready for the wash. David raised himself back up and placed his large hands either side of Linc’s face.
“Thank you. Now come to bed. Busy day tomorrow.”
Linc crawled in behind David and wrapped his arm around David’s chest, loving the way David clasped his hand. Minutes later, both were asleep.
Early the next morning, Linc fed the cats then made tea and toast while David checked on the kittens.
“I hope you both know how lucky you are to have a daddy like yours.” Linc watched Pixie and Dixie tucking into their meat and filled their water bowls before sitting at the table. He sipped his tea. He could get used to this—waking with someone, feeling tiny kisses on the back of his neck, loving the closeness, the small talk, and the jokes.
Footsteps echoed on the stairs as the toast popped up. Linc placed the four slices on a plate and took out the butter. He might have guessed David would have real butter and not margarine.
He peered up and his breath caught. Every time Linc saw David after even the smallest time apart, he couldn’t believe someone so gorgeous would be interested in him with his extra padding and lack of polished grooming, not to mention his reading issues.
Stop it. He chastised himself, annoyed that he’d fallen into his old self-deprecating habits.
“Are you sure you’re all right taking Elliot and his friend today?” David asked, while he ferreted in the cupboard for something.
“Of course I am. Elliot appears to be a remarkably intelligent and mature young man, and he clearly cares for Luke but, in the end, this isn’t about what we want, or what Elliot wants.”
David turned to face him then sat. “No, it isn’t, but it’s hard for him—hard for them both. He placed something on the table.
“You like Marmite?” Linc asked nodding at the jar.
“Yeah. D’you want some.”
Linc waved his hands in protest. “Ugh, take it away. ‘I can’t stand the stuff. This bread is too tasty to cover in gunk.”
David grinned. “More for me then.”
Linc spread butter liberally on his toast. He did have concerns for Luke but not with taking him out. “About Elliot’s friend,” he said. “My biggest worry is that Chris, and even Luke’s parents, think we have some special understanding of being transgender because we’re gay. Speaking for myself, I haven’t met anyone who’s transitioned, but I do know what it’s like to be different. I hope they realise wearing a dress at panto doesn’t give me any inside knowledge or special understanding. However, if Luke’s parents are happy for him to be out with us, then I say we let Luke take the lead and set his own pace.”
David nodded. “I’ve ordered a couple of books for the library. It may say LGBTAQI on the shelf, but I realised I had nothing on being either transgender or asexual. I need to learn more myself. What are you going to do with yourself this morning? It’s too far for you to go to yours and back and spend any time there. You can stay here.”
“I was rather hoping you’d say that. I thought I might catch up with TV I’ve missed as you’ve one of those Firestick thingies. A coffee and more of this toast mid-morning would be good too. Your sister’s homemade granary loaf is to die for.”
“I’d better get off. Don’t spoil your lunch.”
Linc grinned. “I’m sure we can find a way of working off a few slices of bread. I’ll pick you up at twelve then. Have a good morning.”
Once David had left, Linc washed up and put the plates away. The cats followed him again. “Bloody hell, you two. I’ll break my neck if you keep walking in front of me. Come on, it’s time to veg out and watch TV.”