Decadent (15 page)

“I totally forgot.” Harper laughed as he put down his beer and grinned at his brother over the table. “Monroe has a job! He got head hunted by this advertising firm to be their new 'ideas' man. Mum says it's a brilliant opportunity. A decent wage, reasonable hours and he gets to work on his own, so he doesn't have to worry a
bout anyone getting used to him,” he explained excitedly. “He accepted the job and called up MIT to transfer his new semester. He's going to finish his course online while he's working.”

“Wow. Sounds amazing,
” Cormag agreed, taking a sip of his cold drink before digging his phone out of his back pocket and laying it on the table. “I'll have to give him a call,” he said, mostly to himself.

“You'll have
to do it tomorrow on your break,” Lachlan reminded him. Monroe didn't like getting unexpected calls in the evening. Once he got home he liked to enjoy peace and quiet. He couldn't help but wonder what it meant when Cormag glanced over at his big brother, who raised a curious eyebrow.

“I told him all about Monroe,” he said.

“Just as well. This one,” Harper began, pointing to Cormag. “was telling me about your mum. I'm glad you get it. Monroe is important to both of us,” Harper confessed.

Lachlan looked him straight in the eye. He knew exactly what he meant; to be with Cormag was to accept him and Monroe as well. The three brothers were a package deal if he expected their relationship to last. Which he did. “
Well, Cormag is important to me,” he promised, his smile turning softer when Cormag reached under the table to take his hand. They shared a look that said everything about how comfortable they were with each other, then he looked at his brother.

“See,
” Cormag said.

“I do. You don't mind if you and I have a private chat later, do you?” Harper asked, giving him the chance to back out.

“It doesn't have to be private unless you want it to. I don't have secrets.” Lachlan shrugged, not caring that his friends were at the same table. Harper could ask him anything; it might even help Konnor understand. Though he doubted it, because the minute he finished speaking he scoffed as if he thought the whole thing was a joke. “Ignore him. He has this really bad case of 'talking shit' syndrome,” he apologised for Konnor's rude behaviour.

Harper watched him closely. It seemed he
didn't approve of the scoff any more than he did, which was a good thing. Maybe someone older and wiser could get through his thick skull that he was digging around where he wasn't wanted.

“Ah. I know i
t only too well,” Harper accepted the apology.

A few tense moments passed, as everyone accepted their new companions and tried to ignore the way that Konnor was reacting to Cormag's arrival. Lachlan had already decided, before he even got out of bed that morning, that he wasn't going to let his attitude bother him. He wanted one day without the stress, without the chaos to enjoy Cormag's company and be with his friends.

“So…when do we get food?” Coly asked, rubbing his hands together and looking around the centre of the table for a menu. There were three different ones so he proceeded to occupy everyone else's minds with food, by handing the rest of the menu's out.

“I'm paying for this,” Harper claimed.

“No. It's my treat. I'm the one that broug
ht everyone here,” Cormag countered.

Lachlan smiled to himself in amusement; neither of them were going to win this argument.

“You're both wrong,” Coly objected, using a neutral tone. “Lachlan's paying,” he admitted.

“That's right,” h
e agreed, smiling at Coly in thanks for sticking up for him. As Cormag opened his mouth to protest, he spoke again. “Did I mention that I thought I'd pack in my job at the bar?” he asked, keeping his eyes on his menu and talking casually, as if picking up the thread of a previous conversation.

“No.”

“Well, I did. You meet the strangest people there…” He flashed a crooked smile at him and Cormag sighed, knowingly.

“Very funny,” h
e complained as he took a drink.

Harper started laughing and nodded his head to his brother.

“I see what you mean,” he said, drawing their attention. “He's good at distracting you,” he claimed.

Lachlan turned to Cormag with a curious raised eyebrow; he smiled unrepentantly.

“Too good sometimes,” he replied, then leaned in and whispered in his ear. “At least you're not asking me to take you home. That seems to be your favourite way of distracting me,” he reminded him.

Lachlan realised that he wasn't lying. He almost wanted to say it to see how he'd react.
“It works, doesn't it?” he countered his argument with one of his own.

Cormag kissed his earlobe, so he retaliated to that too. He caught his face in his hands and gave him a kiss of appreciation for how wonderful he was. He was indescribably attached to Cormag now and all he wanted was to be alone with him. Random kisses in public were fine
, but he couldn't help but wonder…what did he have to do to get more?

Everyone seemed to be getting along fine. Coly and Harper talked as they sat next to each other and the rest of their friends seemed to like Cormag quite a lot. Lachlan enjoyed some whispered, quiet conversations with him, and sharing the occasional kiss when no-one else bothered them. Cormag barely instigated anything, except holding hands under the table or moving food from his plate to Lachlan's. Neither said a word about it.

After dinner and an hour of talking, Justice came back from the bathroom with some news. “Guys, football's on in the bar,” he exclaimed happily.

Everyone turned to look at Lachlan, including Harper.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked, laughing as everyone got up on his agreement and disappeared to go watch the game. He knew they'd given up the chance to sit at home and watch it so they could go to the rugby match instead. He didn't mind if they disappeared into the bar to watch the game; they had been loyal friends all day, it was time for them to enjoy themselves. Harper smiled at him and he knew it was time for the interrogation.

“Do you want me to go too?” Cormag asked.

“No. This is about you, so you get to stay.” Harper didn't take his eyes off him as he talked. “I'm not going to stay long. I want you to know that I'm okay with you two being together. I appreciate that you're taking care of him, Lachlan.” He smiled and Lachlan returned it. It was good to know that he thought he was a positive influence. He'd been worried that Harper would become one more person trying to get between them.

“He's been hurt too much over the years. He needs someone to put him first
and I can see that you do that,” he confessed, staring at Cormag intently.

Cormag
looked a little shocked by the claim and the support, but Lachlan wasn't. He was more grateful than he could put into words. They had both expected a question and answer interrogation and it seemed like he wasn't going to have to face that.

“And I might as well tell you that Coly thinks a lot of you. He knew I wanted to talk to you, so he took the time to tell me the things that maybe you wouldn't. Or maybe it's the opinion of you that you don't know about. Your friends love you and since you
make my brother happy, so do I,” Harper accepted Lachlan into the family fold, much to his shock.

“Thank you. I don't know if you understand how much that means to me.” Lachlan nodded to him, feeling like if he smiled any wider he'd break his face.

“Hmm. Well, Coly told me about Konnor too, so maybe I have an idea,” he said, with a sigh. “Why don't you two have a minute in peace?” he suggested as he lifted his beer bottle and went off to watch the football in the bar.

Lachlan turned to Cormag, uncertain about what to say about Harper or what he'd said. For a minute they looked at each other and then he was kissed very softly. Soft was fine when they were in public with a dozen people staring at them, but they were alone. He caught Cormag's t-shirt in both hands and pulled him back in for another kiss. He nipped his bottom lip a little until his lips parted. Then he kissed him deeply, caressing his tongue with his own, while letting his arms slip over his shoulders and around his neck.

Finally Cormag kissed him back, cupping his head in one hand and leaning into him. “You did a great job today.” Lachlan beamed as they parted from their kiss.

“Thanks. It was a bit distracting knowing you were watching though. I didn't w
ant to ruin your favourite game,” Cormag teased, kissing him again briefly. “Justice tells me you can't cook for shit. So tonight we're making dinner together and you're going to learn to cook. I won't be the only one slaving away in the kitchen,” he said.

“Fine.” Lachlan had no problem with that, but he wasn't quite done enjoying their moment alone either. He kissed him again, brushing his tongue into his mouth to enjoy their privacy while they had it. Cormag moaned and caught his lower lip between his teeth in a playful bite. “I can't wait until we get home.” He sighed happily.

“Hmm,” he hummed in agreement.

Lachlan bit his lip and tried not to
be blue when Cormag got that look that killed him. It was a look he was learning to love; one that said he was trying to keep himself quiet and under control, and that all he wanted was to pounce on him there and then. He decided some serious distraction was needed.

“Let's go wa
tch the game with the others,” he decided. He got up, took Cormag's hand and led him through to the bar to watch football with his friends. He needed something mundane to do to get his mind back on track.

***

Lachlan wasn't the only one stunned by Harper's reaction. Konnor had turned around when he realised Lachlan wasn't following them into the bar, only to overhear the whole thing. Harper spotted him, hovering a few feet away, only to walk on by as if he was okay with his eavesdropping. It was unnerving.

It was even worse when he finally popped his head around the corner again to find Lachlan and Cormag kissing heatedly. It was as if they couldn't get enough of each other. He wanted to go over there and break them apart, to scream the truth at them, but he didn't dare. Lachlan was happy; that was going to have to be enough.

He overheard everything they were saying and it tore him apart. Konnor ducked back around the corner into the bar, trying to pretend he'd been watching the game the whole time, as Lachlan and Cormag got up to join everyone. He didn't know what to make of what he'd overheard, but he knew enough to know that he didn't approve of it.

He didn't know or understand why or when life had got so complicated. One minute everything was fine and the only thing he had to do was stop Lachlan from being a loved up twat and proposing to his girlfriend. Now everything was up in the air; he was 'pansexual' and he was dating a guy who he couldn't keep his hands off.

It wasn't supposed to be this way.

Lachlan waved goodbye to his friends from the stadium parking lot, waiting until they had gone before getting in Cormag's car and getting comfortable. He'd had to admit to Cormag, during the football match that he'd taken a taxi to the game because of Konnor. He had his suspicions that either Coly had told Harper already or someone would accidentally let it slip when they left. He hadn't taken it well, but since it was done there wasn't much he could say about it.

“You were amazing today,
” Lachlan told him, as Cormag turned on the engine and drove off. He frowned at him so innocently as they left the stadium parking lot. “I mean it. You were really good with them. Even Konnor. I think we might have managed to convince him to back off.” He smiled, even though he could tell he wasn't quite as convinced.

“I hope so. I don'
t like the effect he has on you,” Cormag complained.

“Isn't that part of the problem?” Lachlan asked. When he glanced at him with that curious, wounded look as if he was accusing him of something he offered him an understanding smile. He had done nothing wrong. “He doesn't like th
e effect you have on me, either,” he clarified, glad to see that his frown quickly dissipated into a short laugh as they both turned their attention back to the road.

Although they talked for nearly twenty minutes as they drove back to Cormag's house Lachlan was getting impatient. He spotted a nice little turn off a few minutes up the road and decided to make a move. He leaned over the space between their seats and whispered in Cormag's ear, “Pull over,” he asked.

Cormag frowned at him curiously and, spotting the trail leading off the road, checked his mirrors for traffic before pulling down the track. They were in the middle of nowhere, now parked in the dark trees leading into a nature walk. Since the rain was pelting down, as predicted by the weather stations, he doubted anyone would be around to see them.

“What are you doing?” Cormag wondered, as he undid his seatbelt and moved out of his seat. Before he could make a protest, which he knew he would, he shifted to sit over him and leaned in for a kiss.

“I need you,” he whispered. Cormag gave in instantly, meeting him in a heated kiss as he allowed his hands to wander. Tongues tangled, hands fumbled and he had never been happier. He smiled when Cormag caught the back of his thighs and moved him into a more comfortable position. Lachlan took the chance while he was willing to indulge him, teasing him with lingering kisses as he slid his hand up under his t-shirt.

So far in their two and a half days together that was as far as he'd been allowed to go and, strangely enough, he was happy with that. Yes, ever since Cormag had woken up that side of him he had wanted to explore the more intimate side of their attraction; he did eventually want more, but he wasn't in a rush. They had all the time in the world.

Lachlan brushed those sweet lips again and left a trail of kisses along Cormag's jaw to his neck. He could happily stay there all day, enjoying velvet kisses and being so close. But there was one thing he wanted more.

“I want more,” he whispered against his lips. “I want…” Cormag cut him off with an intense, deep kiss. Lachlan moaned in approval; if he ever had to be told to shut up that was the perfect way. But he wasn't so easily silenced. “I want you to make l
ove to me. I want you inside me,” he confessed, gazing up into those big brown eyes, so full of affection. “Not right now. Not even today. But one day. Eventually,” he confessed.

For the longest time Cormag looked at him, blinking in surprise as if it had come completely out of the blue. He let him look, he let him wonder and try to make sense of his words and while he did that Lachlan gently brushed his fingertips through the hair at the base of his neck.

“I…yes,” he said, breathing the words out hesitantly.

Lachlan smiled back, feeling quite dizzy from the things he felt for him. Kissing Cormag was intense and powerful; he could only imagine the immense, erotic pleasure of making love to him. He had never wanted to take things so far with anyone else. He had never even dreamed of wanting the things that Cormag made him want, but he wanted them now. With him. It excited him just to think about it, which didn't help his equilibrium any.

He waited for him to say something, but he kept gazing at him with eyes full of love. “One day. Until then, I think it's important for us to wait,” Cormag confessed. Wasn't that kind of what he'd been saying?

“So do I,
” Lachlan agreed with him, laying his arms over his shoulders. “I know we said we weren't going to do anything that would put pressure on us, but I want to be able to call you my boyfriend. It already feels like we are, so why can't we use the word?” he asked, needing to be clear about what he wanted. It was so silly to keep avoiding the word because it seemed like they were putting expectations on each other.

“Agreed. I've been struggling to not use it.” Cormag chuckled and kissed his lips softly.

“So you're my boyfriend and I'm yours. No more of this 'seeing where it goes' thing,” he insisted. He was going to be calling him his boyfriend from then on, so he wanted him prepared.

“Absolutely.
” He nodded his agreement and leaned in to kiss him again.

Lachlan smiled into the lingering kiss and made the first move by climbing back onto the passenger seat. Cormag's eyes were smiling at him, as if he found the whole thing amusing. He'd let him away with it for a while, but not for long.

Lachlan let out a sigh as he sat back in his seat, watching the scenery go by as Cormag drove back to his house. “I wish I didn't have to go home tonight,” he confessed, a little deflated that he couldn't stay one more night.

“Me too.” Cormag smiled at him as he reached across with his left hand and held it out, palm up. Lachlan took it in his own hand and held it tight. “But you're coming by during the week, so think how pleased I'll be to see you,” he hinted softly. He lifted his hand and placed a soft kiss on his fingers, as if in goodbye. He hated those kinds of kisses; the serious, heartfelt, quiet kisses that spelled doom.

“You better be,” he teased, raising his left hand to the window, trailing his fingertip over the lines of the scenery that passed by. It was turning into a beautiful day; the rain had passed and now the sun was shining bright and clear.

Cormag kept quiet for the rest of the ten minutes it took them to drive to the house, but it was a comfortable silence. And when they finally reached the house, Lachlan made it into the living room he sank onto the sofa and lay there on his back, gazing up at Cormag as he followed him in.

“We have a problem,” he confessed suddenly.

Cormag frowned and perched on the arm of the sofa, reaching down to lightly caress his ankle.

“I am seriously incapable of moving. You must be a heck of a lot worse. If you can remember where you dropped your bag I could go find my phone so I can let my folks know I won't be home tonight,” he asked, waiting for the penny to drop.

“You won't?” Cormag asked.

“No, I won't. You're going to kick your feet up and be lazy. If you get hungry later, I'll attempt to make you something to eat. You only have to decide what you want to do tonight,” he decided.

Cormag raised an eyebrow at him, looking intrigued.
“Hmm. Sounds like you've got it all worked out,” he commented casually.

Lachlan nodded, agreeing with his plan until Cormag beckoned him closer. He sat up and moved onto his knees in front of him, curious to see what was going through his mind.

“What if I did this?” he asked, not giving him the chance to speak before his mouth was covered with hot, insistent lips. He kissed back eagerly, cupping his neck in both hands.

“That's unfair,
” Lachlan complained with a pout. “I so badly want to let go and lose a few hours kissing you, but if I do, someone is going to call and ruin everything. My plan is better,” he confessed, making him smile in amusement. “Let me send a text or something first,” he asked, pecking his lips lightly. “Or else you're going to have Konnor at your front door again,” he objected quietly. That made an impact.

“We don't want that,” h
e agreed. Konnor had ruined their time together once before. He wasn't going to let it happen again. “You're going to wait on me hand and foot because I played a rugby game?” Cormag wondered, looking amused.

“Of course. You carried the whole team today and you had to put up with Konnor. You have do
ne more than enough for one day,” he argued his case lightly.

Lachlan scored himself an extra point for the way Cormag bit his lip. He didn't want either of them to get up, but he knew his offer was irresistible.

“Do you know how hot you are when you get all demanding like that?” Cormag asked, with that mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He smiled in approval, kissing those lips one last time before getting to his feet.

“
Tea, coffee, water or a beer?” he asked, as he headed into the hall, looking for his phone. Cormag had dropped it into his sports bag along with his own phone when they left the restaurant because he'd almost dropped it on the way out of the stadium. It was safer in the bag, but now he had to find it amongst his sports kit.

“Coffee for me,” Cormag called back.

That suited his own taste; he fancied a coffee himself, so as soon as he got his phone he headed to the kitchen at the end of the hall and switched on the kettle. “Fancy a film?” he asked in a shout.

“Yeah. You can pick one,” h
e shouted back. He didn't care what they watched. He pulled out two cups and the milk, getting their coffees ready as he thought about what a cracking day it had actually turned out to be.

Konnor had been a pain in the ass, but other than his little tantrums everything had gone smoothly. The boys had accepted Cormag and Harper as if they were part of their group, the game had brought him and Konnor together for a while and he felt as if they were going somewhere. He had finally got Cormag to admit that they were boyfriends and not 'seeing how it went'. He knew it was his own fault that they'd been stuck there because those had been his words. He had said it, but he'd been a little coy about coming straight out with the right words. When Cormag said what he did about the pressure it created he was too afraid to bring it up again in case it frightened him off.

It felt so special to be in a relationship that he knew, without a single doubt or hesitation, was so right for him. He hadn't had one negative thought about their relationship since it started and he wasn't sure he ever would. Cormag fit him in so many ways that he wasn't even surprised by what he found when he returned to the living room with their coffees. His boyfriend – how he loved using that word – was sitting on the sofa with his feet up on the coffee table. He was watching a black screen on the TV, as if it was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen.

“Did you pick something?” h
e wondered, handing over his cup. Cormag hummed in the positive, swinging an arm up behind his head as he got comfortable. Lachlan chuckled to himself to see that he was actually doing as he said, taking a moment to relax and accept that he deserved to have someone waiting on him.

“A classic,” h
e claimed, cheekily. Lachlan looked up at him, unconvinced, especially when he laughed. “Don't worry, it's in no way, shape or form, anything to do with Dracula. I went with the Lord of the Rings,” he said, pressing play and dropping the control onto the coffee table.

“Hmm, okay,” h
e agreed, downplaying how happy he was to hear that. It was one of his favourite film series of all time, though he still didn't think it matched the genius of the books, and Cormag knew it. He had a feeling this was some sort of compromise because he didn't want, or think, he deserved to have all the attention.

When Cormag sat back and settled into his seat as the film started, he noticed that he was holding his cup in his dominant left hand. He gently took his hand and lifted his arm around
his neck. “You are such a sook,” he said, with a quiet laugh.

“Shut up.” He laughed with him, not bothered by that accusation. It wasn't something he had a problem with. Especially when he'd sent a text to his mother while he was in the kitchen, letting her know that he was going to stay the night. Her first reaction had been to call him 'cute' and say that he was smitten with Cormag. And he wouldn't deny it.