Page 51 of Joey

When he was done, he pulled Ethan’s wrists and ankles free first, and then his mouth, which he kissed and kissed to help with his dry mouth—at least that’s what he told himself. He removed the headphones, kissed him again, and untied the tie around his eyes.

Ethan blinked lazily at him. His body splayed over the bed when Joey had left his limbs as if he couldn’t get the energy to move.

“Hey,” Joey said.

“Hi,” Ethan croaked.

Joey leaned across the bed to reach the glass of water he’d put there and helped Ethan to sit up. His lover rested fully against him while Joey held the glass for him to drink his fill.

“Thanks.”

Joey nuzzled his cheek against Ethan’s head. “You’re welcome.”

Despite the uncertainty of what was to come that afternoon, Joey’s body was humming. Yes, the orgasm helped, but his mind, too, was calm and ready for whatever was going to be thrown his way. He had no idea what Denny was going to tell him, but he was pretty sure he wouldn’t like it. With Ethan by his side, he could manage anything.

“You okay?” Ethan mumbled.

Joey tightened his hold on him, rubbing his hands over his body to help centre him. “Yep. Let’s get you into the shower.”

Holding a rag doll under the spray would’ve been easier than keeping Ethan from folding himself onto the floor. He was completely loose and flopping all over the place. Eventually, though, they were washed and dried, and when they climbed out, Ethan was steadier.

“We need to do that again,” Ethan said as they dressed.

Joey glanced at him, but Ethan was staring at the bed and the discarded ties and equipment. “We will. Maybe next time, though, we do it when we don’t have to be anywhere. You were far too relaxed afterwards.”

Ethan wrinkled his nose, and Joey chuckled. “Sorry. That was intense. And I loved every minute.”

“I could tell.”

Ethan’s stomach rumbled. “We need lunch.”

“Oh, it’s lunch now, is it?”

Ethan pointed to the clock. “It’s twelve-thirty. It’s no longer brunch time.”

Joey laughed. “Okay. Lunch it is.”

Before they left the apartment, Joey dragged Ethan into his arms. “Thank you for coming with me. For all of this, really. When you first met me, you couldn’t have known what you were getting into, but you’re still willing to go wherever this takes us, and I can’t thank you enough.”

“I’m glad I’m here. That you’re not doing this alone.”

Joey kissed him. What else could he do?

After they’d grabbed some lunch from the cafe Joey visited often, they headed to Battersea Park. They wandered through the grounds, hand in hand, until they reached the bandstand. Joey slowed, staring at the man sitting on the steps. A man he hadn’t expected.

“You could’ve warned me,” Joey said when they stopped in front of him. “Using Denny was a bit of a misnomer.”

The man spread his hands. “What did you want me to say?”

“That you were Dennis Carter, the billionaire, playboy guitarist of the biggest band in the country.”

“And would you have come?”

“Probably not.”

“Exactly my point. Who would believe this playboy was gay, huh?” Dennis said, waving a hand towards himself.

That was the exact thought going around and around in Joey’s head.

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