Page 57 of Poles Apart
Jacob’s heart soared hearing these words, and he couldn’t help hugging him that little bit tighter until Dom started to wheeze.
“Fuck, Jacob. You’re crushing me,” Dom squeaked.
“Sorry, sorry. I got carried away there for a minute. I have to go though, finish packing for tomorrow. I’m sorry we don’t get to see each other this weekend, but maybe I could call you?”
“I’d like that. Now kiss me like you won’t see me for three days, my little toastie boy.”
And he did, thoroughly and completely, until neither of them could breathe, and as Dom walked into the apartment block, Jacob sighed, knowing that he loved that man more than ever.
Chapter Thirty-One
Dom
To say his Friday night and Saturday were eventful would be a complete understatement. He’d finally got to see Joe at the nightclub on Friday and had to admit that he was indeed a very fine specimen of a man. He could fully understand why Seb was so entranced by him. He looked like someone, but he couldn’t quite remember who. Someone from a tv show, maybe?
As he and Seb had danced, he’d watched Joe’s reaction. Dom had his theories but wasn’t sure he was comfortable sharing these with his friend. But the way Joe had watched Seb? Dom was sceptical of Seb’s insistence that Joe was one hundred per cent straight. No man watched another like that without there being some sort of interest. After the conversation he had with Seb on Saturday morning, where his friend had got more and more upset by the whole situation, he didn’t think it was fair of him to raise his hopes, so he kept his opinions to himself.
Saturday afternoon pushed Dom to his limits. The stalker had increased his creepiness, sending a note and a drink over to Seb when they’d gone for a bite to eat. It had thrown his friend into a panic. How Dom had managed to hold on to his temper and keep Seb calm, he didn’t know.
He called his brother to tell him what was happening, but it went straight to voicemail.
“Hi, Jordan. It’s me. I’m staying over with Seb again. He’s had a rough weekend. His stalker’s at it again, fucking arse! I should be home tomorrow, though. Love you.”
He sat on the sofa, thinking. Seb had so much going on, the stalker, Joe, Nat going down to London. It was starting to take its toll on him. He was losing weight, not eating, and Dom could see him retreating into himself. If only Seb weren’t so stubborn. He and Nat had spoken to him numerous times about going away for a while, leaving the area, but he refused to go.
After Seb had gone to bed, Dom stayed up for a while, tidying around the apartment, cleaning the kitchen and filling the dishwasher.
He was too wired to sleep, and his thoughts kept returning to Jacob and last night. His smile widened as he thought of how romantic Jacob had been; setting the table, cooking, then afterwards on the sofa… It had been just what they’d both needed. It had proved to him that he didn’t need sex with him, that they had more than that between them.
He’d worried at some point that sex was all they had, that without it, their new relationship wouldn’t last. But they were older now, if not necessarily wiser, and last night had gone some way to alleviate those feelings.
He hadn’t heard from him the past couple of days, but Jacob had warned him that the signal was sketchy and he might not be able to get in touch. He wasn’t too worried, but he was a little surprised when his phone rang at about eleven. It was Jacob.
“Hi, sorry I haven’t been in touch, but I did say the signal would be bad.”
“Hi, I wasn’t expecting you to call, but I’m glad you did. How’s it going?”
“All good. I was thinking about you and wanted to hear your voice. I’ve had to walk up a big fuck-off hill to get a signal, but it was worth it.”
Dom felt himself grow warm and fuzzy at his words. Knowing Jacob was thinking about him too and the fact that he’d called him made it all the more special.
“I was thinking about you too. It’s been a difficult day.” Jacob started to interrupt, but he carried on. “Nothing to worry about, but Seb’s stalker has been at it again. I’m staying with him tonight. He needs me.”
“I love that you’re a good friend to him when he needs you most, but that’s you, baby. You care so much about others, and now you have me to look after you.”
Dom didn’t know how to respond to that. He had been there for everyone lately, and the more he thought about it, the more he realised his brother and his friends were right. He’d held himself back for the last twelve months. Jordan had Charlie now, and he knew he was being well looked after, so why shouldn’t he take advantage of that? Now that he’d come to that decision in his own mind, the next words came easily to him.
“And you have me, Jacob. I’ll be here. I promise, and I can’t wait to see you when you’re home. You’re back Sunday, right?”
“Yes, but not until late afternoon, then I have to wait around for the children to be picked up. It might not be until later by the time I’ve had something to eat and shower.”
“Oh, OK, it’s fine. I’ll be checking up on Jordan anyway. I’ve been with Seb for the past two nights, so I think I should probably spend some time with him.”
He was a little disappointed, but when he thought about it, he’d probably be knackered too if he’d spent three days with a load of kids. So, as much as he wanted to see him, he’d cope.
“Are you sure? We could meet up later on.”
“No, it’s fine. You’ll be tired anyway. How’s it been? Any problems with the kids?”
