16. August

Chapter 16

August

A fter convincing Ava that the kitten, which she had named Lulu, would be fine on her own inside while they ate lunch, AJ found himself being told to sit and relax as Bailey organised their meal. It was nothing like the roasts and glazed hams he’d grown up eating back home. Instead, Bailey arranged large bowls of salads —a green salad, a pasta salad, and a potato salad— and a bowl of cooked prawns on ice over the surface of the outdoor dining table, then added a platter of sliced ham as well. As if that weren’t enough food, he also fired up the barbeque and sizzled sausages and steaks, and sliced pineapple rounds, too.

“You do realise there are only three of us and Ava’s barely going to eat any of this,” AJ said, stunned at the feast which had accumulated within what seemed like only minutes.

“Haven’t you heard of Christmas leftovers?” Bailey rolled his eyes and poured them each a glass of white wine, and Ava one of apple juice. AJ watched as the glasses fogged over with condensation nearly immediately in the heat of the Queensland summer.

Bailey took his seat across from Ava, with AJ between them at the head of the table and held up his glass for a toast. “Merry Christmas!” he declared. “Thank you for sharing your first Christmas as a family with me.”

AJ moved to clink their glasses together, but Ava said, “But you’re our family, too.” She pinned AJ with an imploring look. “Right, Daddy? That’s why Bailey sleeps in your bed sometimes, too?”

Bailey made a strangled sound at the back of his throat while AJ stared back at his daughter, agog. “Well…that’s…it’s just…”

“It’s okay,” she smiled brightly and stretched her little body over the mountains of food, tapping her plastic cup against Bailey’s suspended wine glass, then AJ’s. “My friend Bernie where I used to go to school had two daddies, too. I was jealous, ’cause I had no daddies. But now I have two, too. I asked Santa at the shopping centre if I could call Bailey my daddy, too, and he said yes, and then Bailey gotted me Lulu and only mummies and daddies buy their children kittens and puppies, so that proved it.”

Bailey was distinctly choking on air at that point, but all AJ could say was, “Got. Bailey got you a kitten.” Then he gave himself a little shake and turned to face his lover, not sure what to say. It wasn’t as though Bailey hadn’t said that he loved Ava, or that he hadn’t known that proclaiming a desire for a serious future with AJ would include his daughter, too. But to go from dating a dad to being considered one? Within the span of a couple of months? “You don’t have to—”

“It’s not too fast for you?” Bailey asked him, and AJ was stunned by the hope and genuine yearning in his striker’s eyes. “I know it hasn’t been that long, and I’ve overstepped a lot already, so—”

“Just kiss already,” Ava demanded. “I’m hungry.”

AJ snorted, and grinned at his…boyfriend? Partner? “You heard our princess,” he joked, though his voice was thick with emotion.

Bailey leaned in and pressed their lips together. They kept it G-rated, mindful of the sharp stare of the five-year-old in their presence, but AJ didn’t think he’d ever shared a more loving kiss with anyone before.

“Yay!” Ava cheered. “Now can we eat, daddies?”

Bailey chuckled wetly and pulled away first, and AJ caught the sheen of moisture in the younger man’s eyes. “Let’s eat, princess. Merry Christmas.”

“Jesus Christ,” AJ moaned, and Bailey laughed wickedly. “I’m too full. I can’t take any more.”

“Pity,” his young lover teased, “I guess I’ll have to take care of this by myself, then.”

“What about me?” Ava’s voice pitched even higher than usual with indignation. “I want pudding, too!”

Bailey sighed and set the enormous confection he’d created down on the tabletop. It had been cleared of their lunch feast, and AJ worried that he’d need to be rolled back inside by the time the whole celebratory meal was over.

“I guess I’ll share with you,” Bailey said to Ava, as though he was being quite put-upon. “But only because you’re so sweet.” She giggled and he winked, then asked, “Have you ever had pavlova before?”

She scrunched her little nose and shook her head.

Bailey practically bounced on the balls of his feet. “You’re gonna love it. It’s a meringue —I’ve made this one nice and crispy on the outside, with a good bit of chew in the middle and a little bit of softness, too— and it’s covered in whipped cream and topped with fresh fruit.”

His description was perfect for what sat in front of them. The fruits he had chosen appeared to be chunks of mango, kiwi fruit, strawberries and blueberries, with a drizzle of passionfruit over the top. AJ had to admit, it did look visually appealing; bright and summery. And, when he took a forkful and put it in his mouth, he had to admit that the explosion of sweet and tangy flavours and variety of textures worked well together. It was a light, cool, refreshing dessert — perfect for the summer heat.

“It’s yummy,” Ava declared around her own mouthful, before digging into her serving with gusto. “Can Lulu have some?”

“Nope,” Bailey answered with a rueful shake of his head. “All that sugar and cream isn’t good for cats. But I did bring some kitten-safe milk for her. You can give her a little bowl of that later.”

AJ sat back in his chair and watched the pair of them interact, his heart as full as his belly. A salty breeze drifted in from the nearby ocean —sadly his home was not close enough to see the beach, but it was close enough to catch the ocean winds— and it tempered the humidity of the day somewhat. He was startled to realise that he’d almost grown accustomed to the discomfort of the Queensland summer heat. He still loathed it, but, as he sipped at his refreshed glass of wine, he had to admit that a Christmas like this was better than freezing his bollocks off back in London.

And… huh. He hadn’t thought of London as ‘back home’.

A giggle from Ava, matched by Bailey’s own rich chuckle, gave him an answer as to why.

This was his home now.

The humidity, the flies, the stretches of rainy weather which did absolutely nothing to temper the heat or mugginess, and the bizarre sensation of listening to songs about snow during a heat wave…none of that mattered when he felt happy and content for the first time in his entire life.

“So, I was thinking,” Bailey’s musings pulled him from his reverie, and he lazily offered his young lover his attention with a tilt of his head, “wanna go to the beach tomorrow? Boxing Day on the beach is kind of a thing for me. My family always does Chrissy at home, then Boxing Day on the beach…when the weather is good for it, anyway.” He ducked his chin. “I’d like to go for a bit, just to feel like I’m with ’em, y’know?”

“Of course,” there was no question about it. AJ smiled. “Maybe we’ll pack a picnic from the leftovers and make a day of it.”

The discomfort he’d face in the full heat of the sun and the ick of the sand was well-worth the beaming look of adoration his answer earned him.

Yes, this had definitely become his home.

Later that night, after Ava was tucked into bed with a purring kitten curled on top of her gently rising and falling belly, AJ tugged Bailey against him in his own bed and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

They’d shed their clothes, but there was no rush to the finish line for them this time. They had expressed their love for each other and were going to make a relationship work. How, exactly, was yet to be determined, but AJ had enough money saved from his professional career that, if he was careful with it, he’d never have to work again. If it came to it, he would choose actual retirement over letting Bailey go in a heartbeat. But that was something they would work out later.

For the moment, he wanted to revel in having his cake —no, having his pav— and eating it, too.

“I never thought I’d have this, you know,” he said after they’d exchanged a new round of lazy, sweet kisses.

“What? A boyfriend? Because, yeah, I figured you thought you were straight.”

Thrilling at Bailey so easily calling himself his boyfriend, AJ almost missed the rest of his reply. He snorted. “Well, that too, I s’pose. But I meant… this. ” He waved his hand around the air above them vaguely. “A family of my own, outside of my nieces and nephews. Love. Domestic fucking bliss. The whole shebang.”

Bailey rested his head on AJ’s shoulder and nuzzled. “But you do.”

“And that’s all thanks to you.” He felt Bailey tense up, and he rubbed his smooth shoulder soothingly. “I was drowning when I got here. Even more when Ava turned up. Then you nosed your way in and made everything better. Even Christmas, which I thought would be impossible, but…you did it.”

“Yeah, well, you anchored me, too,” Bailey told him softly. “I was homesick. Like, really fucking homesick, and you gave me a family here. I still miss my mum, and my sister and my brother, but…it doesn’t hurt when I’m with you and Ava. Not that you’re just a distraction,” he hurriedly added, and it made AJ melt a little more for him, “but…I mean, Ava’s treating me like a stepdad, and you’re my family now, too, August. I know it’s happened fast, but you’re kind of stuck with me now.”

AJ couldn’t hide his pleased smile, or the rush of arousal that had his cock twitching to meet with Bailey’s. “Best Christmas gift ever,” he declared.

This time when their lips connected, he rolled onto his back, pulling Bailey with him before wrapping his legs around Bailey’s waist. He rolled his hips invitingly, then teased, “I know I gave you your gift earlier, but maybe…” he grabbed for his lover’s wrist and guided his hand down between them, past his cock and to his hole. He smirked as Bailey inhaled sharply, having found the flared base of the plug AJ had worked inside when he’d excused himself to the loo earlier. “You’ll open this one now?”

“Oh, fuck,” Bailey groaned and slid down the mattress, “I need to see.” He spread AJ’s thighs and AJ heard his audible swallow. “Babe…August, look at you. ” AJ shuddered at the sensation of Bailey’s finger trailing down his taint and around the base of the toy. “Can I—?”

“Yes. Fuck yes. Now. ”

The plug wasn’t small, but it wasn’t uncomfortable so much as just teasing AJ with the potential for pleasure. He needed it out, and to feel Bailey inside him. To feel the man he loved inside him.

Oh, God, he was going to come if he kept thinking thoughts like that.

Bailey gave the toy an experimental tug, making AJ whimper at the slight movement. “It’s gonna be easier for you if you’re on your hands and knees the first time,” he murmured, but AJ shook his head, then peered down the length of his body to meet Bailey’s gaze.

“Too impersonal,” he explained, not embarrassed or ashamed to sound so emotional or needy. “I want…I need to see you. To kiss you.”

It was a rush to see the same feelings reflected his way as Bailey pressed two matching kisses to the insides of his thighs and then crawled back over him, still teasing and toying with the plug.

It took AJ a dazed, frustrated moment to work out what his lover was doing as he pulled the bulb out just enough to stretch him with its widest point before nudging it back inside him over and over again.

“I’m—I’m ready, pet,” he panted, squirming under the ministrations. “Bailey, love, please…”

“I could get used to hearing you beg,” Bailey’s smirk reminded AJ of his arrogance on the football pitch, confident and infuriating, but this time in all the best ways. Then the expression smoothed out, replaced by his warm, loving smile. “I’ll take care of you, babe. I promise.”

“Fucking now, ” AJ demanded as the toy stretched him again, shutting his eyes and then letting out a strangled, disappointed sound as it was removed completely.

“Hang on,” Bailey told him, “Just gotta grab the lube.”

AJ grabbed for his hips. “I used half a fucking bottle getting that thing in me. You’re good. Just…get inside me.”

Bailey let out a short bark of surprised laughter, bending to brush his lips over AJ’s. “Knew you’d be a bossy bottom.”

“ Bailey… ” It was supposed to be a growled, demanding drawl of the man’s name. What came out was more of a whine.

“Shh, honey, I’ve got you.”

AJ melted at the new, even sweeter pet name and then stiffened as the sticky head of Bailey’s cock nudged against his hole.

“Easy,” Bailey soothed. “Relax. I’ll take it slow.”

And he did, murmuring sweet words of encouragement as he pushed himself inside, kissing AJ’s face, neck and shoulders in what AJ assumed was a bid to distract and relax him from the almost-too-painful burn and discomfort of the intrusion.

The plug had not prepared him for this.

When Bailey was fully seated, his balls pressed against the curve of AJ’s backside, he stayed still and patient, waiting for AJ to acclimate.

“You doin’ okay?” he asked gently, and AJ forced himself to take a few measured breaths.

The pain was slowly fading, and he was able to relax a bit further. Nodding, he answered, “I’m good. You can move.”

Bailey kissed him again, his tongue coaxing AJ’s out to play, and he rocked his hips so minimally at first that AJ almost thought he hadn’t gotten the memo. Until Bailey found his mark.

AJ gasped into his lover’s mouth in surprise and pleasure, and Bailey chuckled against his lips. “There we go.”

He didn’t speed up, though, just continued to rock their bodies together, kissing AJ with the same sensual, loving energy. Eventually, he leaned his weight on one arm so he could reach between them to stroke AJ in time with their languid, though definitely more pronounced, movements.

AJ had no idea how long they moved together for, filling his bedroom with quiet groans and moans of pleasure, but it didn’t feel like anywhere near long enough when his orgasm seemed to take him by surprise. He’d felt the pleasure building, had known that he was close, but it still seemed to come out of nowhere, making him cry out into Bailey’s mouth.

“Fuck, August…” Bailey’s voice was strained with awe and desperate need. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”

He pulled out from AJ’s still spasming body, and AJ watched through glazed, hooded eyes as he stroked himself to completion, until his release met the mess on AJ’s belly in hot splashes. The whole experience had AJ wishing he was fifteen years younger and able to go again.

Bailey kissed him as he collapsed back against his pillow and, as he drifted off to sleep, he felt the warmth of a damp washcloth dragging over his stomach before strong arms pulled him into their embrace.

“Merry Christmas, August,” Bailey whispered into his ear, and AJ smiled.

“Merry Christmas.”