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“You do have nice teeth,” he replied, “And long hair suits you.”

“When I have problems, I have Éti and Colette to help, or my dad and Nico. And it’s fine. I don’t worry about asking them. Colette has explained that even very strong people like me can have weak moments when they need someone else. I think you’ll be good at helping me, Caspian.”

“You think so?” He sounded doubtful.

“I know so. We could, like, have a secret signal when someone springs a metaphor on me, so I don’t look like an idiot. And you’re great at meeting new people, at remembering their names and pretending to be interested in them. I find that very tiring, and Nico says it shows on my face.”

“Yeah.” He pulled his sleeve back down. Not in a snatchy way, but like he couldn’t bear to look anymore. “I could help you with those.”

When I wrapped him up in my arms, he fell back into them, and I rubbed my nose along his perfect left cheek. My skin didn’t prickle, so I knew our argument was over. For two wonderful minutes and nineteen seconds, neither of us moved.

“I fight the urge to cut myself every single day, Max. Every hour, on some days. I find myself inventing excuses to justify it. And then making excuses to be alone so I can. I can’t understand why you’d want to shoulder that.”

“And I can’t understand why you don’t think I would.” I gave him a nudge. “I have massive shoulders.”

With a soft huff, he swivelled to face me. “You do. And you make excellent jokes.”

We kissed. My first kiss-and-make-up kiss, slow and long, deep and soft. Like our tongues were carrying on with the sorrys. It was a kiss hinting I was even more than indispensable; I was essential. That he needed me like our ripening vines needed sunlight. That, with time, he could grow to maybe-love me too.

As Caspian’s hand slipped to the sturdy zip of my waders, the kiss changed. And, just like that, our romantic date was back on as he tugged my arms from the sleeves and threw his own shirt to the grass. My T-shirt was close behind it.

“Massive shoulders,” agreed Caspian, burying his pretty face against my right one. Entwining my fingers in his, I pulled him away and back to the blankets.

“They look even bigger when I lie down.”

After that, it wasn’t long until Caspian had his pretty face buried between my thighs. Which made it prettier still. And then he whipped out his secret second tongue, the pointy one he saved for my slit, which he kept hidden during non-blowjob related activities behind his normal, flatter one.

As his penis was also erect, he suggested we do the sixty-nine position. He wouldn’t suggest it again in a hurry. We discovered I couldn’t concentrate on his penis as well as my own pleasure, especially as I’m taller than him by 29.3 centimetres and the position was awkward. So, switching between his two tongues, he sucked my cock and laved along my shaft until I came in his mouth.

AndthenI returned the favour. Caspian has a Perfect Penis as well as a Perfect Peach.

CHAPTER 26

CASPIAN

“I maybe-love you back.”

The words fell from my mouth the second I opened my eyes, as if they’d queued up overnight. “I’m not leaving when the filming is over.”

“You’re going to stay and let me look after you.”

Fitting around me like a shaggy bear skin, Max kissed the back of my neck. Then, Max being Max, rubbed his semi-hard dick against my arse. A broad grin stretched across my face. Just when I suspected the only person out there for me was me, this incredible human being had come along. And I could see a future with him. “Yes,” I agreed. “We’re going to look after each other.”

Later, after we watched the sun rise up over our beautiful island home, coating it in a honeyed, warm glow, we made love again, then trundled back to the gatehouse for hot showers and breakfast.

I swore I didn’t recognise the man in the mirror. For a start, his skin glowed. My repeat doses of Vitamin Max were takingeffect. And, secondly, he held a razorblade with the sole purpose of tackling his sparse overnight growth of neck hair, making his stubble untidy. Any other uses hadn’t yet occurred to him.

A solid mass blocked out the natural light as Vitamin Max himself appeared behind me. Resting his chin on my shoulder, he dipped a hand into the front of my briefs.

“Didn’t you tell me bathrooms were private?” I grinned up at him in all his shaggy, sleepy, rumpled morning glory.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“And,” A thought struck me. “Weren’t you supposed to be in a fancy VIP box this weekend, watching rich men kick balls around?”

With a grunt, he carried on stroking inside my pants. His beard scratched the back of my neck as he sucked on the tender flesh. If he kept that up, the only cutting happening this morning would be an accidental nick to my chin.

“Wanted to fondle these balls instead.”

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