Always Another Side Read online

Page 13


  As soon as the words were out, Tyler wondered if he’d overstepped. Would Jack want him involved in the search for his new home? Before he had chance to stress about it, Jack met his gaze and smiled softly.

  “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  Tyler arrived back at the office in a much better mood than when he’d got there that morning.

  Aaron smirked but thankfully kept quiet this time. A couple of hours later, though, he sidled up to Tyler’s desk with two coffees and placed one in front of Tyler.

  “Thanks.” Tyler pulled it close and took a sip. “God, I needed that.” He rubbed his eyes, tired from staring at his computer screen all day.

  Aaron nudged him with his foot. “Still coming round later?”

  “Yep. Be there about eight. That okay?”

  “Yeah. I told Charlie to bring pizza, so text him what you want.”

  Tyler grabbed his phone and sent Charlie a text before he forgot, making Aaron laugh. “Done.”

  “Lunch go okay?”

  Aaron was staring into his cup, trying to appear nonchalant, but Tyler didn’t buy it for a second. “God, I’d forgotten how nosy you are.”

  Aaron huffed and kicked Tyler’s chair. “I’m not nosy. I’m a concerned friend.”

  “Uh-huh. Sure you are.” When Tyler didn’t elaborate further, Aaron sighed. Tyler huffed back at him. “Oh, for God’s sake, fine. Lunch was great, I’m seeing him on Thursday night and taking him to Deb’s on Sunday. Is that better?”

  With a grin, Aaron dropped his empty coffee cup in Tyler’s waste bin. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it.” He patted Tyler on the shoulder. “Right, I’ll see you later, then.”

  Aaron sauntered back to his own desk, leaving Tyler to his work.

  Thursday night was wet and miserable. The rain started at lunchtime and didn’t stop. As a result rush-hour traffic was even worse than usual and Tyler was in a foul mood by the time he got back home. The journey had taken twice as long as it normally did, and he’d narrowly missed being rear-ended twice.

  Why isn’t it Friday already?

  Thankfully, Jack appeared an hour later bearing takeaway and beer, and everything seemed a hundred times better.

  They sat on the sofa after eating their fill. Tyler’s eyelids were drooping despite his best efforts to keep them open.

  “Hey,” Jack nudged him. “You’re not falling asleep on me, are you?”

  “No.” Tyler had his eyes closed even as he said it. Jack laughed, and Tyler forced himself to sit up and open his eyes. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine. Let me show you this, then I’ll get going and let you sleep.”

  Tyler was about to protest that Jack didn’t have to go, but Jack was already doing something on his phone. Then he held it out for Tyler to see.

  “Oh.”

  “There’s two. They’re not on the market yet, but should be available to view in a couple of weeks or so.”

  Tyler scrolled between the two properties, taking in as much detail as he could. They were vastly different in appearance—one was a bungalow and the other a house, but both appeared to have a substantial garden. “They look great.” He handed Jack his phone back. “That was quick, though, I assumed it’d take longer than a few days to find somewhere. And how come you know about them if they’re not for sale yet?”

  Jack set his phone down on the table. “You remember my friend, Zena?” Tyler nodded. “The estate agent is her cousin.”

  “I see.” Tyler grinned. “So you get first dibs?”

  “Not exactly, but she can let me see what they’ve got coming in and set up appointments as soon as they’re available to be viewed.”

  “Sounds great.” Tyler yawned, making Jack smile. “God, sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight.”

  “It’s fine, don’t worry. I should get going anyway. I’m pretty knackered too.” He stood, and offered Tyler a hand, pulling him up from the sofa.

  Tyler slipped his arms around Jack’s waist and rested his head on his shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Jack smelled faintly of aftershave, something warm and spicy, and Tyler breathed him in as he let his eyes close.

  “As tempting as that is, I have an early start in the morning and you’re practically dead on your feet.” He cupped Tyler’s jaw and lifted his head enough so he could kiss him.

  The scrape of stubble and the slow, lazy way Jack’s mouth moved against his had Tyler moaning and pulling him close. “I’m awake now.” He slid his hands down to Jack’s arse and squeezed.

  Jack laughed softly. “Is that so?”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  They kissed again, but all too soon, Jack pulled away. “I need to go so we can both get some sleep. I’ll see you Sunday.”

  “Yeah, okay.” Tyler followed him to the door, unashamedly watching his arse. “Will you stay, then?”

  Jack glanced back over his shoulder, looking confused. “What?”

  “Sunday. Will you stay the night then?” Tyler grinned as Jack stopped and turned to face him. “Or we could go to yours. Either works.”

  Jack swung his car keys around his finger and let his gaze travel the length of Tyler’s body and back up. “Already looking forward to it.”

  Jack’s heated look, combined with the roughness in his voice, had Tyler adjusting himself with a frustrated groan. “That’s not fair.”

  “I’ll make it up to you on Sunday.”

  Tyler cocked his eyebrow. “Is that a promise?”

  Jack smiled and started to walk backwards to his car. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jack smiled as they pulled into Tyler’s aunt’s driveway. The garden sort of wrapped around from the front of the house to the back. “It’s bigger than I was expecting.”

  Tyler turned to him, eyebrow raised. “She’s not in her nineties or anything, and after living next to a main road for the past ten years, I think she wanted to be surrounded by a bit of greenery.”

  Jack coloured a little. Admittedly he’d assumed the reason Tyler had asked for his help was because his aunt was too old to do it herself. The garden was in a sorry state, though. “How old is she, then, if you don’t mind me asking?” He parked in front of the garage and turned off the engine.

  “She’s fifty-six.”

  Not old at all, then.

  Tyler sighed. “I think the idea of sorting it out herself was a bit daunting, and when I suggested she get some help, she was very keen on the idea.”

  Jack didn’t get chance to ask anything else because the front door opened and an attractive older lady—obviously Tyler’s auntie—came out carrying an armful of plastic bottles. She deposited them in a white recycling bag and walked over to the car, smiling widely. She looked so much like Tyler, with her dark unruly hair and the same blue eyes, that she could have been his mother.

  Tyler grinned. “Come on, let me introduce you.”

  “So, Jack. What do you think?” Deb, as she insisted Jack call her, led the way out of her French doors onto a patio that had seen better days.

  Jack surveyed the area with a practised eye. He liked Tyler’s aunt—she was smart, funny, and above all had made him feel incredibly welcome in her home. They stood on the stone slabs, mugs of tea in hand, and Jack wondered why she was here on her own. He knew she was still Mrs. Stewart. He’d seen a pile of mail on the table when they walked in, but as it was none of his business, he kept the thought to himself.

  Toeing at a clump of grass next to his shoe, Jack turned to face her and smiled. “I think it’s a great space, with a lot of potential.”

  Deb laughed, the sound loud in the relative quiet of the garden. “You mean it’s going to be a lot of work and cost loads?”

  “Not necessarily.” Jack smiled back at her. “But depending on what you want, it probably won’t be cheap.”

  She clapped him on the shoulder. “Good job I have plenty of money, then.”

  Again, Jack was c
urious but didn’t say anything. “Why don’t you tell me what sort of things you like, and we can start jotting down a few ideas.”

  They spent the next hour walking around the garden, with Jack making notes and drawings as Tyler and Deb asked questions and discussed what might work. By the time they’d done a full circuit of the house, Jack had several pages of ideas. He closed the pad and handed it back to Deb. “I know a couple of companies I could suggest to you. I’d be more than happy to contact them on your behalf, and be here for the initial consultation if you like?”

  He hoped he hadn’t offended her by his offer. It wasn’t that he thought she was incapable, more that he’d offered to help and wanted to make sure she got the best deal. Much to his relief, Deb beamed at him.

  “That would be fantastic, if you’re sure you don’t mind?”

  Jack shook his head. “Not at all. It would be my pleasure.” He glanced over at Tyler to find him looking back, a soft smile on his lips.

  Deb squeezed his arm. “Thank you.” Jack turned to her, and she looked back and forth between him and Tyler. He had the feeling she wanted to say something more, but instead she ushered them both inside. “Let’s go have some cake. Your mum brought it over yesterday, Tyler, and I’ve already eaten a third of it. Somebody needs to take it off me.”

  “Thanks for doing that.” Tyler clicked his seat belt in and set his hand on Jack’s knee. They’d stayed at Deb’s for another hour or so, chatting and eating far too much cake. Not that Jack had minded in the least. “And for offering to contact them for her.”

  “It’s no trouble, honestly.” Jack turned on the engine, and looked over his shoulder as he backed out of the driveway.

  “I mean, I’m sure she would have been okay to speak to them herself, but I know she’ll be a lot more comfortable with you there.” Tyler absently rubbed his hand back and forth on Jack’s leg, glancing out the window as he did it.

  Jack wondered if Tyler even realised how high his hand was getting. Any farther up and Jack would have trouble driving. “What do you want to do now?” He’d automatically headed for his house, but realised Tyler might have other plans.

  “Hmm?” Tyler glanced back at him, and then his gaze dropped to his hand still resting on Jack’s thigh.

  All of a sudden, the air in the car seemed to crackle with tension, and Jack swallowed. He shifted in his seat as his cock thickened, and he reached down to try and adjust his jeans a little without causing an accident. “Tyler?”

  “Were you taking us back to your house?”

  “I was, but I can take you home if you want?”

  Tyler gave Jack’s thigh a squeeze before letting go and settling back in his seat. Jack tried to hide his disappointment.

  “I don’t want to go home.” Tyler’s voice came out low and rough, and when Jack stole a quick look over, Tyler sat there with his eyes closed, his lips slightly parted, and a hand resting on the bulge in his jeans.

  Christ.

  “Okaaay, then. My house it is.”

  Thankfully the roads were clear, as if other road users knew Jack needed to get home as quickly as possible. He turned onto his driveway a little too sharply, and they jolted forward when he braked.

  “Shit, sorry.”

  “In a bit of a hurry?” Tyler grinned at him and Jack glared back.

  “Yes. I wonder why?” He tried to appear angry but failed miserably when Tyler bit his lip and ran a thumb back and forth over the length of his cock. Jack stared at Tyler’s lap, wishing it was his hand doing that.

  Why the hell are we still in the car? “Out.”

  Tyler chuckled at Jack’s gruff command but did as he was told. It wasn’t that late, only just after six o’clock, but as soon as they got through the door, Jack grabbed Tyler’s hand and led him down the hall to his bedroom. Neither of them said anything until they crossed the threshold.

  “This okay?” Jack gestured at the room, hoping Tyler got his meaning.

  Tyler nodded, and reached for the hem of Jack’s T-shirt. “Yeah.” He ran his hands over Jack’s stomach, then pushed the material up until Jack raised his arms enough for Tyler to pull it over his head. “You were so good with my aunt, she liked you a lot.”

  He dropped the T-shirt on the floor and stepped closer, putting his hands back on Jack’s abs. “In fact she told me she thought you were a keeper.”

  Jack smiled, warmed by her words. “Is that so?”

  “Mm-hmm.” Tyler leaned in to trail soft kisses along Jack’s jaw, moving down his neck and eventually resting his forehead on Jack’s shoulder. “I think she’s right.”

  Tyler whispered the words so softly Jack wondered if he’d meant to say them at all.

  Too soon.

  The words slipped into his mind unbidden, but Jack ignored them, concentrating on the feel of Tyler’s mouth and hands. There were no hard-and-fast rules in relationships, and Jack refused to panic over a few words said in the heat of the moment. Besides, it felt good to hear it.

  They undressed each other, trading kisses between each piece of clothing removed until both of them were naked. Tyler shivered and then laughed when Jack pulled him close. “Cold?” Jack wrapped his arms around Tyler’s back, unable to suppress his own shiver when his dick brushed up against Tyler’s.

  “I’m tempted to say something corny like ‘not now,’ but yeah, I am a little.”

  Jack grinned, pressed a kiss to Tyler’s shoulder, and gave his bum a squeeze. “Come on, let’s get in bed.”

  They climbed under the quilt, and Jack wasted no time pulling Tyler down with him.

  “Better?”

  Tyler shuffled closer and slid his hand up Jack’s thigh. “Much.” He trailed his fingers across Jack’s hip, making Jack suck in his stomach with a laugh.

  “Tickles,” Jack muttered, already lying back and shutting his eyes as Tyler’s hand closed around his cock.

  Soft lips nipped at the base of Jack’s throat as Tyler stroked him in a slow, lazy rhythm. “What do you want?”

  It took Jack a second or two to process the question, and then a wave of heat rolled through him as several ideas sprang to mind. “I’d like you to fuck me, if—”

  “Yeah, I’d like that too.”

  Jack laughed at Tyler’s eagerness. Good to know they were on the same page. “Second drawer down.”

  Tyler propped himself up on one elbow, still stroking Jack’s cock, and peered down at him. “What?”

  “Lube, condoms.” Jack nodded at the chest of drawers next to the bed. “Second drawer, left-hand side.”

  “Oh, right.” Tyler shuffled over to the edge of the bed, and scooted back a minute later armed with supplies. “How do you want…?”

  Jack grabbed a pillow to shove under his hips and spread his thighs in answer. Tyler smiled as he crawled between them.

  With careful fingers, Tyler teased and coaxed until Jack had both hands fisted in the sheet. Tyler kissed Jack’s hip, mouthing along the taut skin until he reached Jack’s cock where it lay hard against his belly. One lick up the shaft had Jack hissing and pushing at Tyler’s head. “Fuck, come on already, or it’ll be all over.”

  He was barely hanging on as it was.

  The once-chilly room now seemed like a sauna. The covers were already pushed to Jack’s thighs, with Tyler half under them, and Jack kicked them the rest of the way off as Tyler kneeled up to slide the condom on. The cool air felt great against his skin. He spread his legs as wide as possible, watching Tyler position himself. The anticipation had him biting his lip. “Tyler….”

  “Yeah…” Tyler pushed inside, holding Jack’s thigh with one hand and guiding his cock with the other. When he was all the way in, he paused, and dropped his head so Jack couldn’t read his expression.

  “Hey.” Jack waited for Tyler to glance up. “No need to wait on my account. I’m good.”

  Tyler withdrew a couple of inches and then slowly slid back in. “Yeah?”

  Jack groaned when he did it again. “Oh y
eah.”

  Keeping the same steady rhythm going, Tyler leaned forward, braced his arms to either side of Jack, and gazed down at him. They kept eye contact as they fucked, and Jack found it exponentially hotter looking at Tyler while Tyler buried himself inside him over and over again.

  The familiar signs swept through Jack’s body as Tyler took him closer to the edge with each thrust of his hips. Jack wrapped his legs around him and dug his heels into Tyler’s arse cheeks to encourage him to go faster.

  Tyler huffed out a laugh. “Not gonna last.” Jack smirked and clenched around him. “Oh God… so not helping.”

  “That’s the point.” Jack reached down to wrap a hand around his cock, stroking it in time with Tyler.

  Tyler’s gaze dropped to Jack’s hand. “Oh fuck….”

  Jack came first, striping his belly as Tyler watching him. He milked out the last few drops and let his head fall back onto the pillow as Tyler stilled above him and followed him over the edge.

  Then nothing but harsh breathing filled the room.

  Jack had his eyes closed, one arm above his head, as he basked in the afterglow of great sex. Tyler lay next to him, one hand slung over Jack’s waist, narrowly avoiding the mess there. The silence was comfortable and relaxed, and to Jack it seemed as though they’d been doing this for months, not weeks. His earlier panic had vanished, whether due to his sex-dulled brain or the fact that he’d never given a shit about timescales. They didn’t have an agenda, no milestones they needed to pass before feeling a certain way.

  Tyler mumbled something next to him, and when Jack glanced over, he saw Tyler’s eyes were closed. His glasses were on Jack’s bedside table, alongside the book Jack was currently reading. For some reason the sight sent a pang of longing through him—he liked seeing their things jumbled together around his home.

  He reached down to rest a hand over Tyler’s, linking their fingers.

  Tyler stirred at the movement and Jack shushed him. “Go back to sleep.”

  “’M not asleep.” Tyler’s voice came out rough and a little slurred, and Jack laughed at him. “Just resting my eyes.”