Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Leicester Square Underground station was busy. Ten times more than usual. Aron and Paul were barged one way to the other as they did battle with the tourists spilling out onto the famous landmark like ants.

“Are you crazy?” Aron said. “Leicester Square on Christmas Eve? This is worse than Harrods the other day.”

Paul just smirked. He took hold of Aron’s hand and guided him away from the main surge of people. They found themselves down a small side street bordering on Soho. Aron didn’t even want to know what nefarious activities had happened down here over the years. London’s Soho district held many secrets.

“If you’ve brought me all the way into town for a knee trembler, you’re going to be disappointed.”

Paul threw his head back and laughed.

“It’s a little too cold for that. Hit me up in the summer.”

They wandered to the opposite end of the alley. Another busy street beckoned.

The lurid lights of Chinatown shimmered in the distance. The unmistakable bassline of the gay area almost drowned out the endless chatter of the crowds.

Many saw this as the beating heart of the capital city. Most residents wouldn’t be seen dead here. Aron was one of them.

“This is not what I signed up for,” he grumbled.

“Come on,” Paul said. “Have a bit of patience.”

He guided Aron toward a massage parlour. It nestled between a celebrity chef’s new sushi restaurant and an artisan coffee house. It gave off the impression of the last soldier standing in the war against gentrification.

“What on earth are you playing at?” Aron cried out.

Paul wasn’t listening. He led Aron into the small building.

They were met with a tiny reception area that had two plastic seats and a stunningly attractive woman behind the cash desk.

“Hello, Mr Higgs. So nice to see you again.”

What the fuck? He’s been here before?

“Twice in two days,” she continued. “You’re very keen.”

“I certainly am.”

Aron’s heart rate pulsed. If this was Paul’s idea of spicing things up, Aron was not on board.

“Is this where you sloped off to yesterday afternoon?” Aron said.

Paul nodded. “Just wait.”

He tried to pull away but Paul held firm.

“Have you got the key, Chariya?”

She nodded and reached under the counter. Chariya produced a set of keys that she handed to Paul.

“You know the way,” she said.

“Have you been busy?”

She shook her head. “All the customers are Christmas shopping.”

It was a depressing response. Aron didn’t have time to reflect. He was more worried about what else Paul had in store.

Paul led him through into the rear of the building. Aron managed a weak smile for Chariya who seemed totally nonplussed at his presence.

There was a steep staircase to the left. In front were sets of doors in an L-shape.

They scaled the stairs. The next floor had another set of doors. The third floor seemed to be a staff area. Changing rooms and a small kitchen were empty.

“What the hell is going on?” Aron asked.

“You’re out of breath?” Paul replied. “I thought you lived in the gym.”

Aron had been focusing on weights recently to pump up his muscles. He regretted neglecting the cardio.

That left one more flight of stairs with a steel door at the top. Paul started to ascend.

“If you’re planning on murdering me or keeping me here as your sex slave, can I please attend Granny’s wedding first?” Aron said, still in the grip of Paul’s hand. “She would be so annoyed.”

Paul sniggered. “Duly noted.”

He unlocked the heavy door and pushed it open. He gestured Aron to come up the last few steps and through the doorway.

What greeted him knocked Aron for six.

Paul had revealed a massive loft space which spread the length of the building. The walls were exposed brick. They were at the top of the building with large beams and a high ceiling. Light flooded in through a number of small windows.

This time, Aron dragged Paul over to them. The view was exceptional. Famous London landmarks dotted the horizon like a personal I-Spy game.

Inside, a kitchenette lay at the back of the huge room. A door led off that, which Aron presumed to be the bathroom.

A large king-sized bed and wardrobes sat at one end and a corner-shaped sofa in the other. There was even room for a dining table as well as a small work area.

“What the fuck?”

“You reckon it’s me?” Paul asked.

“You?”

“Yeah. I’m going to rent it for a while. See if London suits me again.”

“When did you arrange all this?”

Paul shrugged. “I’ve got a mate in the letting business. He emailed me about this place. It’s perfect for what I want.”

The first thing that struck Aron was the silence. The hubbub of central London was kept at bay by triple-glazed windows.

“I love it,” Aron said. “I hope you’re taking it.”

“I reckon so. I wanted your opinion on it first.”

Aron ignored the frisson of excitement that the last statement elicited.

Paul cleared the floor space between them and took hold of Aron’s hips.

“Thing is,” he continued. “I thought it might be a good idea to test it out first.”

“Oh did you?”

Paul kissed him. “I certainly did. It doesn’t hurt to be totally sure.”

Aron leant into it. The minutes between kisses were becoming endless. He ran his fingers through Paul’s hair.

Then he sprang away. He walked over to the bed, pulling his jumper off. The problem with winter was there were far too many clothes.

Still he made short work of getting his clothes off. Paul had also been busy. He was just in his jeans as Aron crawled onto the bed fully naked.

“Comfy,” he said.

His cock already hard, Aron stretched out. Something not lost on Paul, who bit his bottom lip. Whilst maintaining eye contact, he unbuttoned his jeans and let them fall to the floor. That left him in a pair of black briefs. Aron broke the gaze by taking in Paul’s bulge. His dick straining against the confines of the underwear.

The briefs were soon on the floor and he fell on top of Aron, who wrapped his legs around Paul’s waist. God he was so hot and feeling the weight of him only made Aron hornier. If that were possible.

They kissed and Paul’s hard-on rubbed against Aron’s hole.

“It’s my turn tonight,” Aron whispered in Paul’s ear. “No teasing. I need you inside me.”

Nodding, Paul leant over and produced the essential items from the pocket of his jeans. He fiddled with the packets. Usually Aron found this part of sex a mood killer, but watching the muscles in Paul’s body as he moved mesmerised Aron. Lazily, he played with his cock until Paul rolled a condom onto his own.

Squeezing a liberal amount of lube onto his fingers, Paul ran them over Aron’s hole, the cool liquid making him jump.

Then Paul slipped a finger inside him.

“Fuck me, please,” Aron pleaded. “I can’t wait much longer.”

He pulled his finger out and immediately replaced it with the fat head of his dick. Aron spread his legs wider, his hunger for Paul like a hurricane. Out of control and raging.

Paul gripped Aron’s ankles and slid all the way inside him. The exquisite burn seared through Aron’s body. He gasped for air as he revelled in the way Paul absolutely filled him.

“Okay?” Paul asked.

Aron nodded.

Slowly, Paul fucked Aron. It seemed he was as worked up as Aron, as he didn’t linger on much of a build-up. Soon he pumped him hard. It took Aron’s breath away, leaving him clutching at the bedsheets.

Then Paul withdrew until his cock was just on the rim of Aron’s hole before he plunged back in again. He pressed Aron’s knees against his chest and kissed Aron hungrily.

“Get on your hands and knees,” Paul instructed.

He stood away. Robbing Aron of the sensation he craved more of. Quickly, Aron spun over and spread his legs.

“Wow,” Paul said.

Aron cried out as Paul pushed his cock inside him once again. He held it there for a second, reaching forward and snaking his arm around Aron’s torso. He straightened him up and placed the gentlest of kisses to the back of Aron’s neck.

Aron’s body no longer felt like his own but a device of pleasure for Paul.

“When I fuck you,” Paul whispered, “come for me.”

Aron nodded.

He bent forward. Securing his position on the bed.

Paul really pumped him. He favoured long strokes to give Aron the most pleasure. When he could stand it no longer, Aron took hold of his aching cock.

Obviously seeing this, Paul fucked him faster. Before long, Paul grunted and squeezed Aron’s hips hard.

Then Aron came as though his whole body was under Paul’s control. The sensation flooded every part of him. Paul, still filling him, made his orgasm all the more powerful. Aron had to bury his face in the duvet for fear of screaming the building down.

They both collapsed onto the bed.

Aron listened to his heart rate returning to normal.

Yes, Paul having a place of his own in London is a very good idea indeed.

It had grown dark when they got out onto the street. The gay bars were overflowing. Drinkers had replaced shoppers. Soon most people would be reporting for family duty as the young and single crowd came on shift. Making sure the capital city’s heart kept pulsing.

Aron took Paul’s hand as they retraced their steps. They stopped every now and again to peer in shop windows at various things.

“You hungry?” Paul asked.

“Not right now,” Aron replied. “Shall we get takeout when we’re back at yours?”

“In bed?”

He caught Aron’s eye.

“Sounds good,” he replied. “Don’t shout if I spill.”

They carried on toward the nearest tube station. After the grid system of New York, Aron had almost forgotten how to traverse the spider’s web of the London Underground.

Once safely inside the train, amidst all the other people, the real world came crashing back.

“This has been a wonderful day,” Aron said. “All of it. Thank you.”

Paul squeezed his hand. “No, thank you. When I heard we were both coming home, I kind of knew this might happen.”

“You said.”

“Don’t tell me it didn’t cross your mind.”

Aron shrugged. “Easy come, easy go.”

Paul cackled. “This devil-may-care act doesn’t work, you know.”

Aron rewarded him with a one-fingered salute which only brought out more amusement. He wasn’t about to tell Paul how happy he was. He’d learnt his lesson last time.

As they passed through the stations, he watched the travellers getting on and off. Other people’s lives always seemed so simple. Deep down, Aron knew they weren’t but at that moment his own world had never been so complicated.

Paul.

His mother.

His work.

All of it was in a state of flux. Yet there was only one he had any control over. He desperately wanted to discuss the British Library option with Paul. Yet, he couldn’t trust him not to panic and head for the airport.

Aron would be forty in a few years’ time. Would life ever become easier?