Page 47 of Sweet Thing

Sim stood stock still, drinking in the sensation, and dropped his toothbrush in the sink. “Gaah, Bast! Not helping. Pleeease, we gotta go!”

Bastian surrendered and stepped aside. He ripped the new toothbrush from its packet and brushed quickly. He and Sim eyed one another in the mirror. Despite the need to rush it was nice; it felt comfortable, familiar to be sharing the bathroom. Sim spat and rinsed, then scurried from the bathroom to find socks and trainers.

By the time he’d found them and put them on, Bastian was standing fully clothed in the living room. He and Marcus exchanged awkward nods of greeting as he slipped his feet into patent leather shoes.

“I’ll be downstairs. I’m keeping the keys. Don’t make me come back up!” Marcus warned with narrowed eyes and a wagging finger. His London accent made the warning sound deadlier than intended.

Bastian slipped his suit jacket on and palmed his phone. “Lewis, 30 Minuten am Brandenburger Tor“, he instructed severely, then ended the call as swiftly as it had begun. Sim looked over quizzically as he fitted the buds of his iPod into his ears.

“I need to walk. Lots to think about.“ Bastian took a stride closer to Simeon and pulled him into an embrace.

“Last night was extraordinary. Next time—“

Sim’s brows rose playfully. “Next time, hmm? Someone‘s keen“, he teased “Yes, next time we can officially kiss,“ Sim promised, blushing. “I’m back in two weeks for my birthday. I'll text you.“ And with that Simeon turned and headed for the door, shooing Bastian out of his apartment.

****

Marcus and Simeon stood opposite one another on the street outside Sim’s house. They placed hands on each other’s shoulders for support and began their routine of warm-up stretches. Simeon was distracted, watching Bastian walk away down Tucholsky Strasse. Marcus smirked.

“Had fun letting off steam?” he asked, his brows waggling suggestively.

Simeon’s lips pinched together as he tried to keep his feelings secret, but then a smile stole across his face. “Yes, we had fun, but not what you’re thinking”, he replied cryptically, blushing.

“Oooooh. Kinky, is he?” Marcus prodded in his best mocking, effeminate voice.

“I don’t kiss and tell—anymore.” Simeon couldn’t believe those words actually left his mouth. What startled Simeon more was that he meant it. He didn’t want to talk to anyone about Bastian. It was as if talking about him would give parts of what they shared away, and he wanted every moment for himself. Marcus followed Simeon’s gaze.

“Cor, Sim, if I was ten years younger…” Marcus joked, sporting a dirty old man leer.

“Then I would rip you to fucking shreds. He’s mine, and I’m not done playing with him yet”, Simeon retorted with a petulant laugh.

“So what’s Blondie’s name?”

“Bastian.”

“WHAT! That’s Mr. Spanky? Are you fucking kidding me?” Marcus roared, stopping his stretches. He glared in disbelief, his face crimson with rage. Simeon stopped stretching and stared, hands on his hips, amazed at the man’s reaction.

“It’s okay,” he reassured “We talked it out. He’ll never do that again. We have an understanding and were taking it slow. There is no need to worry.”

Marcus had heard ‘He’ll never hurt me again’ a thousand times from clients who had been assaulted by their lovers. He remembered the bruises that the man had inflicted on Sim’s butt and wanted to lay Bastian out with a swift right hook. Simeon was still so fragile; he needed to be with a good guy. Marcus glared questioningly.

“Look, he’s had a rough ride in the past few years. His boyfriend was killed—a lot of shit—I’m trying to help him turn the page. Marcus, it’s okay, I know what I’m doing, and I like him—a lot.”

Marcus ran a hand through his cropped dark hair and held Simeon in his vision for a moment. Sim was actually thinking of someone else's needs before his own; this was a good thing, right?

“Okay, I’ll let it lie, but if he hurts you again, I know what he looks like, and I’ll fucking kill him.” From the look in the ex-soldier’s eyes, Simeon didn’t doubt him.

“Okay, deal.”

****