Chapter 18

Luke sighed and shook his head.“You’re right,you can’t.This fact for instance.”Luke cupped his own groin.There was a definite bulge.

Andy was amazed.This man,this perfect,gentle,special man had a hard on for him.He shook hishead in confusion.

“Andy,I think you’re great.Hell,you’re a fucking hero.Not just‘cause you used to be a soldier,but because you were the only one who dropped everything and came down here when you found out that I’d been attacked.”

Andy was lost for words.

“The first time we met,remember?You put me first.You saw that I was cold,so what did you do?You gave me your coat.That sort of thing means a lot to me.Most people when they find out what I do are either disgusted,or they fawn all over me,just out for what they think they can get.Then there’s you being uncomfortable about sleeping with me.This is gonna sound really big headed,but half the gay men in London would want to be in your shoes now.But your first reaction was that you didn’t think it was right,that you weren’t good enough for me.”

Andy still couldn’t say anything.

“Well,here’s a news flash,Andy Johnson.You aregood enough.”In a quieter voice,he added,“If anything,I’m the one who isn’t good enough for you.”

Andy found his voice at last.“Fuck no!You are good enough!”

“Thanks.”Luke seemed to lose most of his burst of energy.“Look,you’re tired,I’m tired,tired of being in this bloody cast.And plus,I can tell you’re uncomfortable talking about all of this.”

“Yeah.”

“So we’ll just go to bed,talk,and,I hope,cuddle a bit.Then we’ll sleep,all right?”

Andy nodded.

“So shut up and give me a kiss.”

Luke’s lips were soft,full,and just so perfect.Andy wanted to go further,but remembered Luke’s ribs,so reluctantly kept things light.

“Now,”Luke said,once he’d pulled back and was staring at Andy’s crotch,“do you want to use the bathroom first?”

Andy nodded and gratefully escaped.

****

In the bathroom,Andy loosened his trousers and allowed them to fall to the floor.His underpants soon followed.His dick appreciated the freedom and slapped up against his belly before sticking out straight ahead.“Jesus,what happened in there?”he asked his reflectionin the mirror.

Feeling a little odd doing it—though he wasn’t sure why—Andy grabbed hold of his cock and began to stroke.Closing his eyes he had no problem in conjuring up an image of Luke,but the Luke in his imagining wasn’t bruised,nor did he have an arm in a cast.Less than a minute after starting,Andy felt a tingling in his groin.Usually he would slow down and enjoy the sensation,but this time it was more about releasing pressure than enjoyment.So he sped up andsoon painted the bathroom tiles with his semen.

“Fucking hell,”he groaned.He did feel a little better,and fortunately his dick began to wilt.

He wiped up his mess and turned on the extractor fan to get rid of the incriminating smell.After taking off his clothes,but deciding to leave on his underpants,Andy brushed his teeth.All this activity allowed the rest of his hard-on to go down.

Andy found Luke in the bedroom,trying to undress.

“You okay?”Luke asked.

Andy grunted.

“I never thought getting dressed or undressed with one hand would be so difficult.”

“Here,let me.”Andy knew he was always better with actions rather than words.

“Thanks.”

As he helped him undress,Andy tried not to look or touch Luke’s naked skin.Despite the bruising around his ribs,Luke’s tan and his gym-honed physique were still evident.

Andy paused at Luke’s boxer shorts.“These too?”

“It’s up to you.”Was that comment accompanied by a smile?Damn Luke for putting him on the spot like that!

“Stop it,”Andy growled.

“Sorry.”Luke kissed Andy’s cheek.“You’re right,it might be better to leave‘em on.Nowyou get into bed and I’ll do my thing in the bathroom.”

Andy watched Luke leave,wondering how he’d got himself into such a situation.Luke was right.Loads of gay men would kill to be where he was.So why the unease?Andy thought it was because hehad real,genuine feelings for Luke,and not just lustful thoughts of being with a porn star.Before he could worry about it any further,Luke emerged.Andy couldn’t help it,his gaze automatically strayed to Luke’s crotch,which was no longer bulging.Luke noticed the direction of Andy’s gaze.

“I do it left-handed.”

Andy didn’t comment.

Luke turned off the light and got into his side of the bed.Andy remained on the other side,not sure what,if anything,he should do.

“Would you,um,hold me for a bit?”Luke’s voice was quiet,even unsure.This was so different from the confident man of a few minutes earlier.A man who had been filmed doing every imaginable gay sex act.

Andy worked his arms around Luke’s body,careful not to press on any of the bruised areas.

“Thanks,”Luke sighed into Andy’s chest.“Each time I close my eyes I start remembering.”

“The attack?”

Luke nodded.

“Easier said than done,but try not to think about it.You’re safe now.”

Luke sniffed.“I know.”

The room fell silent but for the occasional whisper of traffic moving on Notting Hill Gate.Theheat of Luke’s body,the weight of the bedclothes,plus the long day he’d had,lulled Andy toward sleep.

“Andy?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”Luke kissed Andy’s chest.

“You’re welcome.”

Luke shifted in Andy’s arms.Within moments his breathing evened out and he began to snore softly.

Andy kissed the top of Luke’s head before joining him in sleep.

His ribs hurt.He’d forgotten to take his pill the previous night.Sniffing an armpit,Luke also knew his personal hygiene wasn’t what it should be;in other words,he stank.Taking a shower one-handed had been next to impossible.But now he had Andy.

Luke turned in the bed to find it empty.He hadn’t dreamed that his big strong protector had driven down from Yorkshire,had he?Then he smelled food cooking;his stomach rumbled.After easing himself out of bed and wincing at the pain,Luke padded into the living room.Lassie greeted him with tail wagging and tongue licking.

“Hey,girl.”He patted her head.

Looking toward the open kitchen door,he saw his Andy standing at the cooker.

“Morning.”Andy smiled over at him.“Did you sleep well?”

Luke thought about it for a couple of seconds.“Yes,thanks.”In fact he’d not woken at all during the night.Since the attack he had often dreamed about being chased and would wake with a pounding heart and his skin cold and clammy.

“I went out earlier,found a corner shop and bought breakfast makings.”Andy continued to stir the contents of the frying pan.“Lord knows you didn’t have anything in.”

“No,sorry.”Luke hadn’t felt like going out,what with the pain and the way he looked.He also feared being attacked again.He shuddered;it was the first time he’d admitted this to himself.

“You okay?”Andy asked,putting down the spatula and moving toward him.

Luke smiled.“I’m fine,thanks,now at least.”

Andy put a hand on his shoulder.“You go sit down;it’s almost ready.I managed to find some bacon and sausage at the shop.What a price!Daylight robbery!And it’s factory farmed imported pork,too.”

Something must have shown on Luke’s face,because Andy added,“I got you some grapefruit,berries,nuts and some of that yoghurt stuff you like.”Under his breath he added,“Though how anyone can eat that muck.”

Luke suddenly felt overwhelmed.He sniffed back his tears,reached out for Andy with his good arm,pulled him closer and kissed him lightly on the lips.

Andy looked confused.

“Thank you…well,for everything.”Luke let go and felt a little foolish at his outburst.Andy really cared.He’d gone out and made sure Luke had something to eat,even though he disapproved of Luke’s choice of breakfast foods.

Andy shook his head.“Go on,put some clothes on.You’ll catch your death.”He moved back to the kitchen.

Luke watched him go.Remembering his stinky body,he said,“After breakfast,could you give mea hand to get showered?It’s not been easy with this.”Luke lifted his cast.

“Well,yeah,I suppose,”Andy frowned,looking up from the frying pan.

At Andy’s hesitancy,Luke back-pedalled.“If you’d rather not,I could—”

“No,don’t be daft.‘Course I’ll help you.Now go on,put on a dressing gown or something.I’m about to dish up.”

Before Luke turned away,he saw Andy lifting the frying pan from the hotplate and sliding its contents onto a plate.It smelled heavenly;part of him wished he was having some.

Moments later Luke came back into the living room.Andy’s eyes fixed on the open dressing gown.“I can’t tie it,”Luke admitted.