Always Another Side Read online

  Jack opened his mouth, then stopped. What did he say to that? So much had happened between him and Tyler; it would take him all night to explain. And he didn’t want to share it with anyone, not yet. It felt too new, too personal, as if talking about it out loud would jinx it, and after last Sunday, they didn’t need anything else to deal with. But they’d moved past that. From the texts Jack had received from Tyler this week, he was looking forward to Friday night as much as Jack was.

  He looked up at her and smiled—and maybe it did feel bigger and easier than it had recently. “Yeah. Things are going great.”

  She reached out and squeezed his hand. Jack thought he saw tears in her eyes, but she quickly let go of him and swiped up the menu before he could comment. Her obvious happiness for him touched somewhere deep inside, making his chest constrict. She and Mark had been a mountain of support for him since his split with Simon. Well, they always had been, but more so over the past months.

  Your true friends were there for you when you were at your worst, and Jack had been at his very worst for those first few weeks.

  “So.” He clapped his hands together and then plucked the menu out of Zena’s hands. “I don’t know why you’re even looking at that. You always have the same thing.” Mark laughed, and she turned to glare at him. Jack set the menu down. “Tonight’s on me, guys. As a thank-you for putting up with me.”

  Zena opened her mouth to protest, but Mark spoke first. “We’re glad we could help.” He grinned and nodded at the menu. “And I’ll have the peppered steak, please.”

  After that, the conversation moved on. Much to Jack’s relief, his love life didn’t come up again. It felt good to sit with his friends and chat about life in general. They hadn’t done it nearly enough recently, and that was totally down to him. He wanted to change that. He and Simon had had a big social circle when they were together, but since the split, Jack rarely saw any of the others. The reminder that their friends still had their partners had been too painful at the start, and the pitying looks they couldn’t help but send his way had pissed him off. It had been better for everyone if he kept to himself for a bit.

  Maybe it was time to reconnect with them too.

  By Friday afternoon, Jack was restless and full of excess energy. He felt like a teenager looking forward to their first date. Neither of those things were true, but Jack sat at his desk, tapping his pencil on the edge of his keyboard and getting increasingly irritated looks from his co-workers. His phone buzzed at five past two, and Tyler’s name flashed up on the screen. Jack opened the message with a smile he couldn’t hold back. God, he hoped no one was watching him.

  Just finished. Should be back around 4.15 according to satnav.

  Ok. See you later. Drive carefully. Jack stared at the message he’d just sent. He sounded like his bloody mother. Rolling his eyes, he set his phone on his desk. It wasn’t as though he could unsend it, and he did want Tyler to be careful. The M25 on a Friday afternoon wasn’t the best of roads to be on, and then he had the M4 to deal with. Two hours seemed a little optimistic.

  It didn’t make him feel better when an hour and a half later, he got a text from Tyler saying traffic was a nightmare and he was stuck on the M4 just past Reading, not moving. Tyler still had over an hour’s driving to go. Jack glanced at the clock. At best Tyler would be home by about five, but chances were he’d hit rush-hour traffic coming past Swindon and then again when he reached Bristol. Jack replied by saying traffic sucked, and he asked Tyler to keep him updated.

  Fortunately, Jack managed to lose himself in work for a bit instead of watching his phone for updates on Tyler’s progress. He’d had one message at four fifteen to say traffic was moving again, but nothing since. Hopefully that meant Tyler was too busy driving to use his phone and there weren’t any more delays.

  Five o’clock arrived, and Jack yawned, thankful the working week was finally over.

  He grabbed his coat, phone, and wallet and headed out to the car park, a spring in his step as he thought about his evening. They were only staying in and having dinner, but Jack had been looking forward to it all week.

  Sunday’s events still played on his mind. He wanted to spend the evening with Tyler and not talk about relationships, past or present, just relax and have a good time. Marks & Spencer’s was on his way home, and so Jack pulled in as an idea struck him. He was tired; Tyler would be tired. Why waste time cooking when he could pick up something equally as tasty—if not better—than anything he could whip up?

  With an M&S meal deal for two wedged safely in his boot, Jack drove home to get ready for his date. The word sounded odd in his head. He felt too old to be going on ‘dates,’ but he couldn’t think of what else to call it. Whatever it was, he had about two hours before Tyler was due to arrive. When they’d spoken earlier in the week, Tyler had told Jack he would go home first to shower, change, and drop off his stuff, and he’d be round about seven thirty.

  Jack wished he’d told Tyler to come straight to his house.

  Did they need to get ready? Did Jack give a shit if they were in their work clothes? No. No, he did not. He pulled his phone out as he locked his car, trying to juggle it, his keys, and the bag of shopping he was carrying without dropping anything. Typing with his left hand was next to impossible, so Jack let himself in and took his bag through to the kitchen before texting Tyler.

  Why don’t you come straight here? No point going home. You can have a shower here if you like.

  He pressed Send, then immediately typed another one.

  Unless of course you wanted to go home first, because that’s fine too. I just want to see you.

  Jack ran a hand through his hair, wondering if he’d just made an arse of himself via text.

  He put his shopping in the fridge and put the kettle on. As soon as he sat down with a mug of tea, a text alert sounded.

  Just got your text. I’m glad you feel that way, because I read it standing on your doorstep. Can I come in?

  Jack grinned as he walked into the hall and pressed the security button to let Tyler inside. His smile was so wide his cheeks hurt, and a few minutes later, a tired but happy-looking Tyler stood waiting when Jack opened the door.

  Tyler held his phone in one hand and the handle of a small suitcase in the other. “I wanted to see you too.”

  Jack was done second-guessing himself, and he was done with heavy conversations. He’d missed Tyler this week, and having him standing on his doorstep all rumpled and sleepy was too much temptation for him. He cupped Tyler’s face and pulled him forward into a kiss. Tyler’s oomph of surprise made Jack smile, and then Tyler smiled and pretty much ruined the kiss, but they were both laughing when they pulled back.

  Tyler yawned and slapped a hand over his mouth. “Sorry. I’m really knackered. That is not a fun drive.”

  “I can imagine.” Jack reached for Tyler’s suitcase and stepped back with it in hand. “Come on in.” He waited for Tyler to get inside, then closed the front door and set the case down in front of it.

  With a sigh, Tyler leaned back against the wall in the hallway. The combination of dim lighting and his half-lidded eyes gave him a seductive appearance that was probably miles away from how he felt. But Jack felt a stirring in his groin nonetheless.

  He closed the distance between them, only stopping when the tips of his shoes brushed against Tyler’s. This close, it was hard to meet Tyler’s gaze. The intensity in his blue eyes made Jack want to look away as a too-intimate feeling crept over him. He didn’t, though. Instead he felt for Tyler’s hands and linked their fingers. The solid grip of Tyler’s hands in his, grounded him, and Jack drew in a deep breath.

  “Do you want to shower before dinner?”

  Tyler’s mouth curved up at the edges. “Together?”

  “I—”

  Jack faltered, momentarily taken aback. He glanced down between their bodies where only an inch of space separated them. Tyler’s trousers fit snug across his hips. The outline of his cock was easy to see
—not fully hard but definitely interested.

  Jack’s dick stirred in response, and suddenly the idea of the two of them in his shower was all he could think about. “It’s big enough,” he blurted.

  “I know that.” Tyler’s grin spread wide, and he put his hands on Jack’s waist, with his thumbs smoothing back and forth over the front of Jack’s black trousers.

  Jack laughed and ignored the heat rushing to his cheeks. “I meant my shower. It’s surprisingly large considering the size of the rest of the place.”

  He swallowed down the nerves threatening to take hold.

  Tyler had seen him with his shirt off, but Jack hadn’t been naked in front of anyone other than Simon for years.

  What the hell am I even doing?

  Tyler tugged him closer, his grip tightening on Jack’s waist. “Whatever doubts you’re having right now, let me say this.” He rubbed his considerably hard length against Jack’s flagging semi, perking it right back up. “I’ve had a long boring week, topped off with an awful drive home. The thought of getting under a stream of hot water, naked, with you, sounds like heaven.”

  Jack felt his insecurities loosening their hold with each word Tyler uttered. He pushed back, loving the way Tyler’s breath caught as they touched from chest to thigh. “Okay.”

  He’d meant to step back and lead Tyler down the hall to the bathroom, but Tyler licked his lips, capturing Jack’s attention, and then Jack had to kiss him.

  It felt so new still—the way they fit together so differently to what Jack was used to. Then Tyler slipped his arms around Jack’s back, tilted his head to kiss him deeper with the barest hint of tongue across Jack’s lower lip, and it struck Jack how wrong he was. Kissing Tyler wasn’t different to what he was used to—it had been so long since he’d kissed Simon like this he couldn’t remember what it had been like. And for once that thought didn’t cut him to the quick.

  Jack relaxed into Tyler’s embrace, reached up to bury his hands in Tyler’s hair, and pushed all thoughts of Simon to the back of his mind. A few more times doing this and it wouldn’t feel so new either. That sent a thrill through him, and Jack groaned and pressed his hips into Tyler’s. “I want to get you out of these clothes.” He muttered the words against Tyler’s mouth, surprising himself.

  “Fuck. Same.” Tyler eased Jack back with his hands on his shoulders. “Still up for that shower?”

  “Yes.” Jack smiled, fixated on Tyler’s red, slightly puffy lips as he imagined them wrapped around his cock.

  “Lead the way, then.”

  Jack snapped his gaze back up to find Tyler watching him with a small smile. He looked as though he knew exactly what Jack had been thinking about. Without saying another word, Jack took Tyler’s hand and led him along the hallway to the bathroom at the end.

  Chapter Ten

  Tyler looked around as he started to undo his shirt. Jack hadn’t lied about the size of the shower—it took up the whole back wall of the bathroom and the pair of them would easily fit. The hallway had been a lot darker than the bathroom, and the harsh light took the edge off Tyler’s arousal. He didn’t need it to be dark to get naked, but….

  He squinted up at the light.

  “Oh, hang on.” Jack moved beside him, and the next minute soft lights came on in the ceiling above the shower, and the overhead light switched off. “Better?”

  A warm light now filled the room, illuminating everything without the glare of before.

  “Yeah,” Tyler murmured. Jack walked over and started the shower running. As Jack turned back, Tyler undid the last of his buttons and shrugged his shirt off. It fell to the floor with a whisper, and he glanced at Jack. “Much better.”

  Jack’s hands were on him in an instant, sliding up over his skin from his belly to his chest. Tyler fumbled to get Jack undressed as Jack found his nipples and thumbed them until they stiffened. “You’re making it really hard—” Tyler complained.

  Jack laughed and rested his forehead against the side of Tyler’s neck. “I should hope so.” He kissed along the base of Tyler’s throat, and Tyler closed his eyes with a groan.

  “If you keep that up, you’ll be undressing yourself.” Tyler gave up on Jack’s buttons and gripped his hips instead, pulling him close until their groins brushed.

  Jack hummed against Tyler’s collarbone. “Given your efforts so far, it’d definitely be quicker.”

  Tyler felt the accompanying smile and didn’t complain when Jack put his hands on his shoulders and backed him up against the wall. Steam filled the bathroom, and the wall behind Tyler felt cool on his naked skin. “Yeah, definitely.”

  Jack went back to exploring Tyler’s body, trailing a hot line down Tyler’s chest with his hands and mouth. Jack dropped to his knees and Tyler bit his lip, sliding his hands into Jack’s hair.

  “I should probably undress us both in that case.” Jack’s words were muffled, lost in the fabric of Tyler’s waistband, but Tyler heard them clearly enough.

  He glanced down to see Jack looking at him, and he grinned. “You might as well while you’re down there.”

  Jack raised an eyebrow but then brushed his cheek along the bulge in Tyler’s trousers. That added bit of pressure felt so good, and Tyler pushed forward for more. He wanted Jack’s mouth on him. They looked to be heading that way as Jack reached up to undo his button followed by his zip, but then he stopped with Tyler’s trousers half-open.

  “Christ—” Jack let out a heavy sigh. The warm gust of breath seeped through Tyler’s boxer briefs, making him shiver. “—my bloody knees are killing me.”

  It took a second or two for the words to register. Then Tyler laughed, more at the expression on Jack’s face than anything else. He looked both betrayed and surprised his own body could let him down like that. Tyler offered Jack his hand and pulled him up.

  Jack shook out his legs, with a wince. “Obviously it’s been a while since I did that.”

  Tyler eyed the tiles on the bathroom floor. He was about to add that it probably wasn’t the best place for it either, but Jack slipped a hand inside Tyler’s boxers and wrapped it around his cock, and Tyler lost his train of thought. “Fuck.”

  Jack kissed him, coaxing him into opening up with teasing strokes of his tongue.

  God, Tyler had missed kissing. James hadn’t been keen on it, preferring to get down to the main event. Jesus, Tyler should have known—but now wasn’t the time for that. He held Jack close, kissing him back, and moaned in protest when he pulled away.

  “Come on.” Jack tugged Tyler’s trousers and underwear down so that he could step out of them. “Shower’s ready.”

  Tyler stood naked in the middle of Jack’s bathroom, prepared to watch as Jack undressed. Tyler had expected to feel self-conscious, exposed like that, but he was too busy following Jack’s fingers as he deftly undid the buttons on his shirt. He’d already seen Jack with his top off, but the sight was just as impressive second time around.

  Tyler swallowed as the shirt fell to the floor and Jack started on his trousers.

  Glancing up with his thumbs tucked under the waistband, Jack paused. He raised an eyebrow; two spots of colour appeared on his cheeks. “Are you going to stand and watch?” Jack’s tone was playful, and Tyler smiled.

  “It’s a good view.” Tyler was already stepping forward as he spoke, setting his hands on Jack’s waist. “But I’ve always been more of a hands-on kind of guy.” He laughed, unable to keep a straight face after delivering that line.

  Shaking his head, Jack grinned back at him. “Good to know.”

  Warmth settled deep in Tyler’s chest. Had the build-up to sex ever felt so easy before? Tyler couldn’t remember. Things with Jack were relaxed and fun, and Tyler felt himself falling for him fast.

  Fuck it. It would either work out or it wouldn’t, but Tyler was all for it.

  Jack’s naked skin was warm under Tyler’s palms, and Tyler slid his hands around to Jack’s arse, helping him push his trousers and underwear down. Giving his ar
se cheeks a squeeze, Tyler leaned close, his cock nudging Jack’s where they brushed against each other. Tyler couldn’t resist grinding a little. He kissed Jack, loving the way he immediately opened up, deepening the kiss. The barest hint of stubble grazed Tyler’s lips and he wanted to feel more of it, and in more places than just his lips. Maybe later.

  With one last sweep of his tongue, Jack pulled back and grabbed Tyler’s hand. “Let’s get in. I’m starting to feel bad about wasting water.” He walked backwards towards the shower, tugging Tyler with him.

  After sliding the shower door open, Jack stepped inside and under the spray. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes as the water cascaded over him. Tyler stared, transfixed. Jack might have turned forty, but he’d looked after himself. Broad shoulders tapered to a slim waist and a nice arse. Tyler followed him in and closed the door.

  Showering with someone else wasn’t something Tyler had done much of—the shower in his own house was great but nowhere near big enough for two grown men—and he wasn’t sure of the etiquette. Should he offer to wash Jack? Was that a thing? Christ, he felt like his teenage self—as eager as a puppy but unsure of what his next move should be.

  Jack wiped water out of his eyes and then reached for Tyler and pulled him close. The showerhead suspended above them was huge, and the hot spray felt fantastic on Tyler’s tired body. He sighed and closed his eyes for a second, enjoying the aches of the day being soothed away. Jack set soapy hands on Tyler’s shoulders and started to rub, and Tyler hummed in approval. “God, that feels good.”

  “Yeah?”

  Tyler let himself be turned around, and Jack moved his hands down Tyler’s back, pressing hard enough to make Tyler moan. “Yeah.”

  Jack moved in close, his erection fitting snugly between Tyler’s arse cheeks as he reached around to wash Tyler’s front. His hands slid down, and anticipation tightened Tyler’s stomach; his cock ached to be touched as Jack’s wandering fingers got nearer. Finally, Jack wrapped a slippery hand around Tyler’s dick and rested his chin on Tyler’s shoulder.