“This must have crippled your back.”

  “Sure did. I could do with a massage now.” His eyebrows waggle up and down as he stares at me, and the bob of his Adam’s apple tells me he’s serious.

  Weeks of frustration burst free and I need no further encouragement. I’m straight on him and much as it takes us both by surprise, he doesn't flinch. Our lips connect, my tongue forcing his mouth open and finding its way to tangle with his. He’s freshly shaved, and smells all woodsy, all Kyle. His hands clasp my hips, his fingers running up the back of my t-shirt and scraping down my spine. The heat running under his touch shoots into my pants and I’m already throbbing, begging to take and be taken.

  “You’ve been bad this week,” he groans into my mouth.

  “Oh?”

  “You’ve been an asshole in fact. You need to make it up to me.”

  “I was planning to.”

  “This is as good a place as any to start.”

  He pulls away, rips his top over his head and strips his jeans down to his ankles before stepping out of them right there in the dining room.

  “Strip,” he orders.

  “Whoa, I like this.” The grin plastered over my face tells him I’m not joking as I almost trip getting out of my fleece lounging shorts.

  He stands facing me, appraising my appearance. “Now, it’s time for you to show me the bedroom and make your apologies Mister Beaumont-Judd.”

  Excitement bubbles inside me. “Oh, I love it when you’re forceful Mister Beaumont-Judd.”

  I grab his hand, leading him through the tiny lounge area to the bedroom where he lets go and lays face down in the center with his legs straddled wide so his feet hook over both edges.

  “That’s a downside with our huge bed. I don’t get this view.” I clamber on top of the bed, running my tongue up his calf, and laboring behind his knee. He bites back a moan as his leg twitches under my touch as I nip his thigh and work up to the firm flesh of his buttocks where I suck.

  His heated moan kicks my senses up to another level and I suck harder, really fucking enjoying tasting him, branding him. I release his butt cheek with a loud pop and survey the pink mark developing on his flesh, my cock shudders, upset at having spent a week away from my man.

  But then he speaks, “You sound like you’re having too much fun to pay for being a prick this week. Get yourself seated on my ass and give me that massage.”

  “I can do that.” I bite my bottom lip as I shift position to do as I’m told, lodging my cock between his dark crack and putting a little more pressure than is necessary on as I lean over him and start to knead his tired shoulders.

  Kyle

  I was expecting to sleep in on Saturday. In my mind I had us eating breakfast in bed, followed by a little more appreciation of the pleasures of the skin.

  I’m still dozing when Elliott nudges up behind me. I can feel he’s fully awake already and as he nibbles gently down the side of my neck, I know sleep is now beyond me.

  “Morning,” I groan.

  “You need to get up. I have a surprise for you.”

  My eyes spring open. It’s still only half-light outside, “What time is it?”

  “Half-past five. Come on, we’ll be late.”

  “How can we be late for anything at half-past five in the morning?” I push the base of my hand into my eyes, trying to rub away any remnants of sleep.

  “That would be telling. Come on.”

  “You’re not kidding, are you?” I roll over and look at him and I can feel my brow scrunching in disbelief.

  He hovers over me shaking his head as he cups my face in his hand and leaves a lazy kiss on my lips. I wrap my hand around his waist, but he’s onto my game.

  “Stop that; we have all weekend. Get up and stop playing for time. It won’t work.”

  To be fair, Elliott’s surprises are usually spectacular, but I’d just not considered that it may be an option after his week has been so self-obsessed.

  However, when we pull up outside his new office, I begin to wonder whether this may be the day that he fails to impress.

  “What are we doing here?”

  He taps his nose and I swear, at that particular moment, I could swing for him. He dragged me out of bed to bring me to his fucking office. Cock! The mist is still swirling in tattered rags against the peachy morning sky for goodness’ sake.

  “Follow me...” He jumps out of the car and stands, beckoning me through the hazy windscreen.

  I sigh, but what choice do I have. I haul my ass out of the passenger door and slip down from the high cab to the ground. He takes off before I’ve even landed, locking the car with the remote without even turning to face me.

  When he reaches the edge of the factory building, he swivels on his foot and waits for me. I swear he could be tapping his toes, such is the impatience scrawled across his every feature. I speed up to a jog and when I reach him, I lay my arm over his shoulders. “This had better be good.”

  “Oh, it is.” He wraps his arm round my back and steers me around the corner.

  Oh, wow! He has outdone himself once again. Waiting at the back of the factory is a hot-air balloon. “Are we going in that?”

  “Yes, do you like it?”

  “I love it. Thank you.” I drag him into me and give his jaw a chaste kiss.

  “I said I’d show you around, and I couldn’t think of a better way to do it. Welcome home.” His voice is soft, this is the Elliott who has been missing for the past few weeks, the one whose head has been totally lost up his own ass.

  Elliott

  I couldn’t be prouder. Kyle said I’d outdone myself, but it’s more the look of wonderment on his face that told me I’d made a good choice. I’m buzzing with a cacophony of positive energy. I’ve been walking around completely oblivious to what he’s been going through the past few weeks and today that has changed. I want Kyle to feel that this is a special time for us, not just me. I need him to look back on this pivotal time with happy memories, for this place to be full of positivity for both of us.

  “Hi, Elliott and Kyle I presume.” A young guy with hair the length of mine, sunglasses, and a beanie waves from where he’s setting up the fans. “I’m Jack. Pleased to meet you guys.”

  “Sure. Pleased to meet you.” I wave.

  “Hi,” Kyle says.

  We stand around, arm in arm, waiting for the burners to lift the balloon from the ground.

  “We’re ready,” Jack shouts over the din.

  “Great.” That’s Kyle, and he’s already leading me forward toward the basket.

  Once we’re inside, the noise is deafening as enough fire is discharged to rock the cage back and forth, before we shift off the ground at an angle.

  “Shit.” I’m laughing right the way down to my belly and Kyle is joining me.

  Jack appears delighted that he’s not ferrying a pair of screamers as he informs us, “It gets a bit rocky now and then, but it’s not far to fall from here.”

  “Hopefully we won’t be falling anywhere,” Kyle says.

  “Other than for each other,” Jack replies.

  “Ah, good one. You’ve used that before, haven’t you?” Elliott asks.

  Jack has the good grace to admit when he’s been caught. “Once or twice, perhaps.”

  We all have a good laugh as the basket rises higher and we begin to stabilize. I say stabilize, but this by no means feels secure in any way. We’re literally bobbing through the sky.

  “Look at the factory.” I point below us. Seeing our investment for the first time from up high is a big deal.

  “It’s huge isn’t it? I didn’t realize.”

  “No, me neither.” And that’s the moment we look at each other and know we have achieved something amazing together. “I couldn’t have done this without you, Kyle. Thank you for always being there and for having my back.”

  “That will never change.”

  “Champagne?” Jack asks as I’m about to go in for one of those long and meaningful kisses.

  “I don’t know. It’s a bit early, isn’t it?” Kyle answers, but he doesn’t look convinced.

  “Why not? What do we have to lose; we’re celebrating aren’t we?” I tip my head and Kyle’s mouth breaks into a wide grin.

  “Sure, that would be lovely.”

  I don’t know how long we’re up there because once we’ve taken off, time stops. We’re floating through the sky in silence.

  Utter silence.

  The air scrambles past us every now and again, snagging our thoughts back to the present. But, other than those short bursts, we forget that Jack is even with us. He disappears into the background and we stand facing out from the basket, surveying the vista as the sun turns the horizon a dazzling shade of winter yellow.

  Kyle

  It’s not like we drink a lot, and the early morning wake-up call followed by a healthy dose of exhilaration mixed with champers means I’m feeling the effects. Elliott has well and truly made up for being such a dick this week. His missing in action routine is forgiven.

  When we land, it’s just as rocky as the take off and I hold on to the edge of the basket tighter than I’m comfortable letting on for fear that we may actually fall out this time.

  All is well though, but that doesn’t stop me from hopping over the high edge a few seconds after we land. I don’t want this thing going up again with my leg half in and half out.

  I turn to help El, but he’s already half out. “See your athleticism is intact. It’s good to see.” I hold out a hand he takes but doesn't need.

  He laughs. “That’s a different story to the one you told of me being overweight last night.”

  “Ah, I was just teasing.”

  “On that note, do you want to check out the staff gym facilities in here? They could do with some renovations. I was thinking that’s something you could take charge of in your spare time?”

  “Sure, I’d love to.” One of the things that Elliott and I both love is our fitness. We have a gym at home we adore. It’s our favorite room.

  Elliott takes me to an outbuilding that’s seen better days. It’s a prefab space with a series of long windows, none of which look like they open and two fire doors at the end. There are machines and free weights, a selection of medicine balls and even one TV in the corner, but this is not a space where champions are bread.

  “There’s some work to do here, right?” El turns to me, needing to say little else.

  I sigh. “Sure, you need the technology, but if the team doesn’t have the equipment to keep them in optimal condition, they’re going to mess up the pit stops, and it doesn’t matter how fast a car you have. I can’t believe this place.” I walk in, touching a few machines. They just feel old.

  “I know.” Elliott nods, slowly, biting the inside of his cheek.

  “Is there even a personal trainer?” I ask as I turn to face him.

  “No, and I’d like you to recruit one. Do you think you can get away with that without ending up in hot water at your work?”

  “It should be OK. I’d love to try them out first, see what they have to offer. They could come for interviews at our house, so everything will be kept quiet.”

  “That’s what I thought. It’s just a shame you can’t meet the staff, but it doesn’t matter. There’ll be a Christmas party or something you can attend at some point and by then the hype will have died down around you. Hopefully.”

  Within the space of one early morning start, I have a place. One week in and Elliott is making me feel secure in the knowledge that this venture is still ours.

  Elliott

  The end of our weekend comes too soon. Before we know it, I’m seeing Kyle off at the door.

  “I can’t believe how quickly time passes when all you want is for it to slow down,” Kyle whispers into my ear as he envelops me within his bear hug.

  “I know. It’s like the time Gods have a sick sense of humor and do the opposite to what you want.” I graze my teeth over his jaw.

  He tilts his head and swallows. I run my lips under his ear, and up to kiss his temple as he melts into me, grasping my shoulders for support as his back arcs. I inhale his familiar woodsy soaped smell as he runs his hands down my spine and their warmth connects to my spirit and I pull him into me, our bulges connecting as I grab his bum and tug him toward me.

  “I’m going to miss you Kyle, don’t you forget that. Just because I’m busy, it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about you.”

  His eyes dip. “I know.”

  “I have a gift for you, so you don’t forget that.” I reach to the console table where I’ve hidden his small package, fingering the edge of the tissue before handing it over.

  “What’s this?”

  “Just something I want you to cherish.”

  For an unknown reason, as he pries the paper apart, my heart stops. I know he’ll like this, and if he doesn’t it’s not the end of the world; it’s only a token. But, this juncture is important.

  He pulls the keyring out of the wrapper and holds it up. “It’s a key chain,” he says, more underwhelmed than I’d hoped, turning it over in his palm. Then he notices my inscription on the back of the silver. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Ah, that’s nice, thank you.” He pulls me to him and kisses me, but I have to stop him short. He’s missed the point.

  “Look.” I pull away and take his gift from him, turning the metal over so he takes in the image on the front. “It’s the UK. And that heart there is where I am.”

  Now he gets it. He snatches it back, examines his gift more closely and runs the pad of his thumb over the other heart placed at his location and the connecting dots between.

  His eyes well up as he tends to when he’s overwhelmed, creating a mirror effect in my own. My big softie. Who’d have thought, at almost six foot and 210 pounds of muscle, he’d be so sentimental. “This is the most special gift I’ve ever received.” His voice wavers on the edge.

  “Come here.” I tug at his waistband. “I love you.” I slip both arms under each of his, pulling him close so I can nuzzle into his chest listening to the soft thumping of his heart. We stand like that for an intimate moment, him resting his face in my hair, caressing the back of my neck and kissing the top of my head.

  We both know this intimacy has to end, at some stage, soon, we have to part and reconnect with the chores of the life we are creating together. But for now, this minute is everything.

  Kyle

  I’m back home late, but all the way back I’ve been running through ideas about how to recruit a personal trainer. What would be the best strategy to avoid me getting into hot water at work?

  I decide that I should interview someone to train me and then if they meet the mark, I can suggest later that they move to operate in a more official capacity for Elliott. He can then deal with transferring them to the business. That way, I’m kept out of things.

  Being involved drives my adrenaline, and despite a stab in my heart when I throw my new keyring on the side, I can’t wait to boot up the PC to start my hunt when I should be padding straight to my bedroom. I make the compromise and take the laptop to bed.

  I search the sites that I’ve pre-planned, and it doesn’t take long to narrow down my selection to three trainers who stand out for having not only the experience, but the drive to move forward at the speed we will demand. I've selected two females and one male and I make no delay in firing off emails, stating how I’m looking for someone to work with me on making sure I’m in optimal condition for my job and also to make sure that Elliott is doing what he needs to in order to ensure that racing again next year isn’t too much of a physical challenge. I stress that flexibility on location is a must.

  That’s it. Job done. For now.

  Secure in the knowledge that all I need to do now is sit back and wait a few days for replies, I settle down under the covers and have the first full night’s sleep since Elliott left. I still bank the pillows up on his side of the bed though.

  The next morning, I wake early. My eyes ping open and my brain is engaged. This strange feeling has me bouncing out of bed. The palpitations upon waking are gone. My heart is beating at a normal speed and as I notice that it’s turning light already. Not only have I slept late where until last night, sleep had eluded me, but I am refreshed.

  Despite needing to rush though, I can spare just one minute to check whether I’ve had any replies to my emails. My blood pumps as I wait for my phone to tick over to my inbox and then refresh. A bunch of junk appears, and I scroll through it, hoping that one of these personal trainers keeps odd hours. One may have replied already. It’s worth checking, right?

  Sure, it is. Boom! I have one reply.

  It’s the male trainer.

  That’s great. It shows me that he’s not only enthusiastic but a hard worker to be logged on before I’ve even woken. I look at the time stamp; he sent it at 5am this morning.

  Perfect.

  He doesn’t say much. “Thanks for your message; I’m really interested. I’ve attached some testimonials and if they are to your liking, it would be great to chat with you to find out more about your goals and how I may assist.”

  It’s succinct. I like that too. The tone is friendly, but he’s also professional. This is looking promising. But I don’t have time to look through everything now, so I haul my ass off to my en suite and get myself ready for my day job. It can wait until tonight.

  Elliott

  When I call Kyle after work, he’s full of excitement. This weekend was good for him, for us. We’re back on track and he’s super excited about finding a personal trainer.

  He’s got one guy in mind although he’s had a reply from a female and is still waiting on another response.

 

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