Claire shook her head. “No, I’m going back to—”
“Yes, she is.” Oliver set his cup down and all eyes turned to him. “No way are you going anywhere after just getting here. I can kip on the sofa or—”
“Or you can stay with me,” Ed said, voice soft but firm, and Oliver felt that oh so familiar flutter in his belly.
He’d been about to suggest going to his mum’s, but Ed’s offer had him biting his tongue. He grinned, not even bothered by the amused and knowing looks being sent his way, eyes only for Ed. “That’d be great. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ed’s gaze held a promise of just how welcome he was going to make Oliver, and Oliver had every intention of showing Ed how grateful he was.
“YOUR MUM and Claire aren’t how I imagined them at all,” Ed mused as they walked up the drive to his bungalow.
They’d left when Betty started yawning, Claire and his mum more than happy to shoo them out the door. Oliver wouldn’t be at all surprised if his mum ended up on the sofa tonight. “It’s the hair, isn’t it?” Oliver glanced over, eyebrow raised. “You were expecting a more conservative do.”
Ed laughed, pulling out his keys when they reached the front door. “Well, yes, I was, but it suits her. Suits both of them. They’re so... young. In their outlook on life mainly. I guess I’m not used to it with my mum being a generation older.”
“She’s always been that way. They both have for as long as I can remember.” He chuckled. “I reckon they’ll still be like it at Betty’s age.”
Ed hummed in agreement, unlocking the door and ushering Oliver inside. “Must be hard to maintain a friendship like that now Claire lives so far away, though.”
Oliver tensed, the conversation a little too close to what he’d been thinking about all night. “Oh, I don’t know. It’s hard work for sure. They each have to make the effort to keep in touch. You’ve seen how close they are, even after Claire’s been out there for almost ten years now.” He looked up to meet Ed’s gaze. “Some things are worth the effort.”
Ed moved towards him after pushing the door closed, hands sliding around Oliver’s waist. “Yes, they are.”
Were they talking about his mum and Claire still? Oliver didn’t think so, desperately hoped not. But he had to know for certain. “What about us?” He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Are we worth the effort?”
In answer, Ed backed him up against the hall wall, body pressed flush against Oliver’s. He leaned in, mouth so close to Oliver’s he felt every breath. “Yeah,” he whispered, lips brushing Oliver’s, sending a shiver down his spine. “I really like you, Oliver.”
“I like you too.” The kiss that followed had Oliver clutching Ed’s shoulders, a myriad of feelings flooding his body—want, need, a happiness he struggled to contain—reaching all the way out to his fingers, making his toes curl inside his shoes. “A lot.”
Ed chuckled against his lips and Oliver clung to him, wishing they were already naked in his bed but not willing to let him go.
“Same,” Ed whispered as he finally pulled back, laughing softly when Oliver tried to steal another kiss. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”
He took Oliver’s hands and led them towards his bedroom, both of them kicking off shoes and shedding coats as they went.
There was a lot they needed to talk about, Oliver knew that. But for now, just knowing that neither of them was willing to give this up, even if they had to work that little bit harder for it, was enough.
Was more than enough.
Clothes littered the floor, Oliver helping Ed peel off his T-shirt when he took too long to get naked.
The sheets felt cool against his skin as they crawled into bed, and Oliver shivered.
Ed was quick to cover him with his body. “You cold?”
“Not anymore.” Sliding his hands down to grab Ed’s arse, Oliver smiled up at him. “You’re incredibly hot.”
Ed laughed, his eyes alight with both amusement and a neediness that fanned the flames building inside Oliver. “Thank you.” Dipping his head for a kiss, Ed rolled his hips, slow and easy, and Oliver groaned.
“So hot...”
They ground against each other, slow and easy, a laziness to their movements that spoke of growing familiarity and comfort. Oliver liked it.
Like it a whole lot.
His orgasm approached in steadily building waves, taking him over the edge in a long drawn out ride that seemed to last ages.
