Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“No. I’ll get the Tube.”
“So, tomorrow….” Alec dug in his pocket and pulled out two keys on a simple loop as he approached Ed. “I’ve been carrying these around all day, waiting for a chance to give them to you. This one does the front door, and this one is the inner door to my flat. Let yourself in tomorrow, and I’ll get there as soon as I can. I’ll text you the address—assuming you can’t remember where it is?”
“I’m not that much of a stalker.” Ed tried to sound offended but completely failed. His breath caught as he stared at the keys Alec was holding out to him. He put his hand out and Alec placed them in his palm. The metal was warm from being in Alec’s pocket. Ed closed his fingers around them. “Thanks.”
“Those are for you to keep, by the way.” Alec’s usual smoothness had deserted him and uncertainty lurked in his eyes. “If you want?”
“Yes. I want.”
Alec’s expression relaxed a little. “Given the hours we work, we won’t see each other much unless we spend time together in the evenings. And I know it’s early days, but I hope you’ll stay at mine often. It’s closer to work, anyway.”
Ed grinned. “Excellent. With the promise of a shorter commute, you’ll never get rid of me.”
Alec moved closer and reached out to straighten Ed’s tie. “I have no desire to get rid of you, Mr Piper. Quite the opposite, in fact.” He put his hands on the lapels of Ed’s coat and tugged him closer. “I want to kiss you goodbye.”
“Here?” Ed glanced around. The streets were still busy with people leaving offices late, but they were all walking head down with purpose, or talking on phones. Nobody was paying them any attention.
“Yes.” Alec wrapped his arms around Ed and kissed him with a determination and a thoroughness that took Ed’s breath away. When Alec drew back, he was smiling. “That’ll keep me going till tomorrow. See you in the morning.”
He turned, his coat flaring out behind him as he raised his arm and called “Taxi!”
A black cab cut across a lane and screeched to a halt. “Sleep well tonight,” Alec called back over his shoulder, “because I’m planning on keeping you up late tomorrow.”
And then he was inside the taxi, pulling the door shut with a bang.
Ed touched his mouth with his fingers, still feeling the ghost of Alec’s lips.
Tomorrow couldn’t come quickly enough.
Ed’s phone rang at six on Tuesday, just as he was finishing for the day. When he saw it was Alec, he picked up immediately.
“How did it go?” he asked, hoping and praying that Alec’s news was good.
“I got it!” Alec replied.
Ed could hear the smile in his voice. Alec sounded breathless with excitement. “That’s brilliant. Congratulations!”
“Thanks. Even though I was half expecting it, I still can’t believe it’s really happening. I’m so relieved it’s in the bag. I’ll be signing the final paperwork on Friday.”
“And when you told them—” Ed paused and then lowered his voice. “—about… you know?” He glanced around at his colleagues but nobody was paying attention.
“Not a problem. A couple of raised eyebrows and cleared throats. One of the old goats queried the appropriateness of what he called an ‘office fling.’ But then Katherine reminded him there are at least two married couples at Baker Wells where both spouses work for the firm. They shut up after that.”
“That’s brilliant. So, we’re celebrating tonight, then?”
“Yes. I’m going for a quick drink with Katherine now, but I’ll come straight home afterwards. Will you meet me there?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. I’ve got to go. See you a little later.”
“Bye.”
Ed felt strangely guilty as he let himself into Alec’s building with the keys Alec had given him the day before. He half-expected someone to challenge him, but there was nobody around, apart from a rather self-important grey tabby cat on the doorstep.
The cat tried to push past him as he opened the door, but Ed blocked it with his leg. “Hey, I don’t even know if you live here, so I’m not letting you in. Shoo!”
The cat glared and then turned its back on him, holding its tail high with disdain as it stalked off.
Inside, Ed crossed the hallway and let himself into Alec’s flat. As he closed the door behind him, memories of the only other time he’d been here slammed into him.
“What a night.” Ed smiled to himself, putting a hand out to touch the wall by the front door where he’d blown Alec on their first night together. He remembered how Alec had come all over his face, and he chuckled. That was so fucking hot. His cock was hard just thinking about it. He adjusted himself as he walked down the corridor to Alec’s bedroom.
This room was full of memories too. That amazing fuck, the weird intimacy between them in the night… and then the less pleasant memory of Alec ditching him the next morning without so much as a coffee. But things had turned out okay in the end, and Ed was determined they’d be making lots more good memories tonight—and all the other nights that stretched into their future.