Chapter 19

“Sorry,I should have helped.Here,let me.”Andy reached for the belt and cinched the robe closed.

Luke had hoped he’d get a hug,but Andy retreated back to the kitchen.

Andy returned a moment later with a tray containing fruit,nuts and a bowl of yoghurt.He put the tray on Luke’s lap and told him to“Tuck in.”There was also a huge glass of milk,which he set down on a table to Luke’s left.

“This looks great,but I don’t normally eat this much.”He didn’t ordinarily drink milk,either.

“You’ve got to build yourself up,”Andy said,after swallowing a mouthful of his own breakfast.“You need calcium for your bones.That’s what the milk is for.Don’t worry,it’ssemi-skimmed.I wouldn’t want you to put weight on.”

Luke smiled.“Have you ever met my mam?You two would get on like a house on fire.”

Andy grunted.

Luke picked up his spoon and began to eat.Andy had even segmented the grapefruit for him.Luke felt a lump form in his throat,making it difficult to swallow.No one,save his mother,had ever taken as good care of him.

It wasn’t until Luke had finished—and to his surprise he had cleaned his plate—he realised the meal had been eaten in silence.At the time it hadn’t felt uncomfortable,but thinking about it as he got up to take his plate into the kitchen,he wasn’t so sure.

“I’ll do that.You go and get ready for your shower.Do you have any bin liners and tape to protect your cast?”

“Er,yeah,they’re in here.”Luke set down his plate on the worktop and opened a drawer.

****

The hot water,the steam,the feeling of finally getting clean was fabulous.The washing of hishair was particularly welcome.Yet throughout it all,Luke became increasingly aware of some kind of separation between the two of them.The small bathtub meant they could never be more than an arm’s length away,but Andy seemed to do all he could never to brush up against him.With the exception of when he was shampooing Luke’s hair,Andy didn’t touch him directly,always using either a sponge,a loofah or a face flannel.Luke didn’t think it could be the differences in their bodies;after all,he’d told Andy the previous night that such things didn’t bother him.Looking over at his naked shower partner,Luke saw solidity,strength and protection.Yes,there were scars;the worst were on Andy’s right leg.Though not a doctor,Luke could see where flesh had been torn away and the surgeon had stitched up the ragged ends.No wonder the man had a limp.

“You finished?”

Luke admired Andy’s broad muscular back as he rose from his knees after washing Luke’s feet.He pondered telling Andy that he’d not washed his privates.He was sure the man was studiouslyavoiding them.Once Andy was on his feet,Luke noticed his dick was also showing major interestin the proceedings.

“I said,I think we’ve finished,”Andy said.

“Oh,uh,yeah.”

“Just hang on there while I get a towel.”Andy disappeared round the shower curtain.

When he returned moments later,Luke noticed the man’s cock was flaccid.Andy hadn’t had timeto wank.Luke winced;he must have flicked the tip or something to get it to go down so soon.

“Can you manage to get out by yourself?I don’t want to put any pressure on your ribs by carrying you.”Andy’s voice was full of concern.

Luke held out his good arm;Andy took it.“Thanks,”Luke said,once he was standing on the bath mat.

Andy began to dry him,taking care not to press too hard on his bruises.Luke let out a purr of contentment,which Andy mistook as a sign he was hurting him.

“No,honestly,I’m fine.You’re doing a great job,”Luke assured.

Once dry,Luke sat on the toilet while Andy took a brief shower.Luke wished he could have helped;he so wanted to touch those awesome muscles.He knew they had been achieved through hard physical labour and not from pumping iron in a gym.

When Andy had dried himself,Luke followed him into the bedroom,marvelling at the play of muscles in Andy’s firm,full arse as he walked.

Behave,he told his dick.

Dressing was fun,Luke trying—albeit unsuccessfully—to lighten the mood.

“I’d best wear something loose;it’ll be easier to get in and out of.Though I usually buy stuff that’s tight and shows off my body.”

Andy didn’t say anything.

“But if you look in that bottom drawer,there should be some track suits that should be loose enough.”

Andy helped him dress,but again there was a minimum of touching.Luke tried to dismiss the small voice of doubt in his head.

“Will you help me pack a suitcase?”Luke asked,once they were both dressed.

“No problem.”

Luke admired Andy’s muscles as he wrestled the case down from the top of the wardrobe.

“What should I pack?”Andy asked,setting the case on the bed.

“There should be jeans hung up in there,”Luke pointed to the wardrobe,“and shirts,too.”

Andy opened the doors and peered in at the tightly packed racks.

“Sorry,I know I’ve got loads of stuff.Can’t help it.”

“Won’t these jeans be too tight for you to get in and out of?”Andy held up a pair of stonewashed Wranglers that Luke remembered were particularly skin-hugging.“I mean,when youneed the bathroom.”

“Oh,uh,yeah.”Luke hadn’t thought of that.Although having Andy helping him each time he needed to pee had its advantages.

“Take all the track suit bottoms,then.And maybe a few of my jeans will be loose enough.That black pair for a start.They’re not quite as snug on me.”

Andy pulled out various items,Luke saying‘yes’or‘no’to their inclusion.

When the suitcase was about half full,Andy lifted out a flannel western-style shirt.

“Oh,God,I’d forgotten I had that.Recognise it?”Luke couldn’t help smiling.

“Er,no.”

Luke could tell from the expression on Andy’s face he was lying.

“It was part of my costume for that DVD you have.”

“It’s not mine.It’s Tom and Paddy’s.”Andy’s voice was gruff.

“Uh,yeah.Well,anyway,they often let us keep stuff if the production company doesn’t thinkit’ll be used again.”

Luke saw that Andy packed the shirt.Interesting,he thought.

“Will you open that top cupboard for me?At the back,to the right I think.”Andy reached in and pulled out a Stetson.“I knew I’d kept it.”Luke took the hat from him and put it on his head.“Remember now?”

Andy looked at him,then turned away,but not before Luke saw a strange expression on the man’s face.

“Andy?”Luke took off the hat,threw it on the bed and then put his hand on Andy’s shoulder.“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”Andy shook his head;he even found a smile from somewhere,but Luke could tell there was something bothering him.

“Okay.”Luke didn’t want to push;he knew Andy was an intensely private man.“Underwear now,I think.”

“Where is it?”Andy seemed relieved at the change of subject.

“In that drawer over there.”Luke pointed.

After adding underpants,plus socks,a couple of pairs of shoes and Luke’s toiletries,Andy zipped up the suitcase.

“Thanks,”Luke said,managing to kiss Andy’s right cheek when he came within range.“This really does mean a lot to me.”

Andy touched his cheek.“I’m just doing what any friend would do.”

Luke was delighted that Andy thought of himself as his friend.“And you’re a really special friend.”

Andy cleared his throat.“You’ll have to tell me where the police station is,so we can stop off there on our way back up to Yorkshire.”

“Okay.”Luke went with the abrupt change of subject.“Doubt it’ll do any good.As I said,they didn’t seem that interested when I gave them a statement.”

“We’ll see.”

****

Before Luke could get into the van,Lassie jumped in and parked herself next to Andy on the bench seat;despite Luke’s coaxing,she wasn’t about to give up her place.

Andy laughed,which thrilled Luke to hear.“She’s a stubborn old bitch,you’ll not shift her.”

He’d been right.On the journey to the police station,Luke kept trying to move closer to Andy,but each time Lassie would push him back with her bottom.