Micky unlocked the door and went inside. The cab journey had been a nightmare. Davy and Barbara continued their foreplay, whilst Micky sat making polite conversation with the driver. They had made it to the house - just. As they entered the pad, Davy and Barbara sprinted to the downstairs bedroom, shutting the door behind them.

Micky sat down on the couch. Cheryl made herself a drink and sat down next to him. They could hear giggles and moans coming from the bedroom. ‘Barbara certainly wasn't one to be quiet’ thought Micky.

"Shall I put some music on?" he asked.

"Good idea."

As Micky selected a record, he wished that Mike or Peter were there. He was hoping that one of them would have been after all it was late. This meant that Peter was probably going to stay at Steve's again and Mike... well, Mike could be anywhere. He went back to the couch and sat down. His butt had barely sunk into the cushion when Cheryl made her move. She straddled him, hovering over his lap, teasing his face with kisses. She moved down onto his crotch, pushing her body against his. Micky was trapped. She kissed him again on the mouth. He kissed her back, although he wasn't enjoying it this time. All he could think of was Mike. Cheryl began to kiss across his neck, undid his the buttons on his shirt and continued her journey south. She reached for his belt buckle...

"Um...can we take a break?" Micky breathed heavily.

"What? Come on, cowboy. I've been dying to get you out of these all night." She reached again for his zipper.

"Wait!... I'm sorry. I can't do this."

The moans coming from Davy's room were growing louder. Micky could hear them over the music. Cheryl climbed off his lap.

"What's wrong with you?" she accused. “D’ya not fancy me? Is that it?”

"No…it’s not that. I think you’re great, it’s just me."

"Too fuckin’ right it’s you," she spat.

Cheryl strode across the room and hammered on the door. "Babs, I wanna go home." She was close to tears by now.

Barbara appeared at the door, half dressed and with a flushed face. "What's happened?" then she glared at Micky. "Bastard!"

Davy emerged from the room too, wearing his shorts and a grin. He saw how upset Cheryl was. What had Micky done now? He tore over to where Micky was sitting and quickly demanded an explanation.

"Micky! What's got into you?"

"Davy, I can't....I'm sorry....I know I’ve ruined your night, but it's not my fault."

"Whose fault is it then? Mine? Cheryl's? Man, I don't get you."

Micky knew he had upset everyone. He hated himself for it, but he wished they would all leave him alone.

"My cousin not good enough for you?" shouted Barbara. "Jeez, Davy, you sure can pick ya friends, can't you?"

Davy knew he would lose her if Micky didn't give an explanation soon. He grabbed Micky by the arm and pulled him up from the couch. Despite his height, Davy was much stronger than Micky and he had no problem in beating an answer out of him.

"So, come on, Mick. The girl deserves some sort of reason."

"It's just…Well…I’m in love with someone else," Micky sobbed, his eyes now raining tears.

"Who? I've never seen ya with a bird. So come on, tell us another one?"

"It's true Davy. Please don’t ask me to explain right now."

That is when it dawned on Davy. How could he have been so dumb? A sly smile crept over his face. He wasn't going to keep this one quiet.

"Holy shit!...It's Mike, isn't it?"

Micky said nothing but nodded dumbly. Barbara and Cheryl both looked at each other and started to laugh.

"Thank God. I was thinking it was me," laughed Cheryl. "Hey, whatta ’bout yours, Babs. He isn't one too is he?"

"Well now that ya mention it....He was kinda selfish. You know, only there for himself. Maybe he prefers to be the one who gets fucked."

"Now wait just a minute," said Davy, his temper rising. "There's nothing wrong with me."

"Sure honey, you keep telling yourself that." And the girls left the pad in a fit of giggles.

Davy was pissed now. His pride had been hurt and he wanted revenge. How could Micky have dropped that bomb like that? Tonight of all nights. He looked over to see him still sobbing, clutching a cushion to his chest.

"I s'pose you’re really proud of yourself?"

"Davy, I...."

"Never mind. I don't want to hear it. In fact, I don't even know why I am talking to a little prick like you. You’re all the same. It's bad enough to have to live with one, but two....

I’ll have to start locking my door at night."

"And it's all about you isn't it?" Micky’s outburst caused Davy to stop on his train of insults. "How this is gonna affect you? How it ruined your night? Well the world doesn’t revolve around you, Davy. I’m not one bit interested in you."

"Lucky for me then isn't it? Come on Mick, this isn't you. Mike has railroaded you into this just as he tries to do with everything else he gets his hands on. ’E’s a control freak."

Micky had had enough. He tore at Davy knocking him to the ground. Davy held his own. He twisted Micky's arm till he cried out in pain as he pinned him down, using all his strength to draw his fist back.

"I bet you like this don't you? You sick bastard."

"Davy, stop it. You’re hurting me...please."

Suddenly a hand grabbed Davy from behind, pulling him up by his collar. Davy turned round to see two ebony eyes flashing back at him.

"Mike....Hi."

Micky rolled up from off the floor, still shaking and sat down on the couch clutching his injured arm.

"What’s goin' on, Davy?" Mike asked, his calm tone unnerving Davy as his grip tightened.

"Nothin' , Mike. Micky and I were just having a discussion."

Mike turned and looked at Micky. He was now curled up on the couch, hardly daring to breathe.

"Mick....Come on and tell me the truth?"

"Davy kinda knows about us....” Micky mumbled into his cushion. “I ruined his date and he got a little pissed at me.”

Mike directed his stare back to Davy, who was beginning to feel very frightened.

"Now Davy. Surely you weren't goin' to hurt Micky, were ya?"

"No....no Mike....I was just burning off some energy....Sorry Micky."

"It's okay."

"Now that ya burned off ya energy....Get outta my sight."

He pushed Davy towards his bedroom. He scurried off thankful of a lucky escape. He had seen the damage Mike could do and he could have come off a lot worse. Quickly, he undressed and got into his bed. He could still smell the mix of Barbara's perfume and sex, as he pulled the covers around him. Davy smiled to himself as he closed his eyes.

* * * * * *

Micky sat still clutching the cushion, hiding his tear-stained face from Mike’s view. His arm felt sore but Micky didn’t care about that anymore. Despite his efforts to hide away under his new security blanket - the cushion, Micky knew that the final blow had been struck. There was no escaping the truth now.

“Hey…Come on.”

Micky looked up to see Mike staring at him. He tried to force a smile, but the tears streaming from his eyes made it difficult for him to lie.

Mike could see how upset he was. All the anger, all the hurt that he had felt towards Micky melted away. He saw the fragile figure sitting across from him and walked over to sit besides him. Mike slipped a comforting arm around the heaving shoulders.

“I’m sorry Micky…I shoulda known this would happen.”

“It was awful Mike….Why would Davy say those things? I…just…” Micky buried his face into Mike protective arms. He was so glad he was here.

“I know buddy…Davy’s thoughts are one-dimensional. He never gives anyone a chance Man, I shoulda landed him one.”

“Wouldn’t have done any good…Besides, at least we can be together now.”

Mike was slightly shocked by Micky’s sudden change in attitude. Maybe tonight hadn’t been such a disaster after all. It seemed that this was the confidence boost Micky needed.

* * * * * *

The next morning Mike woke first. He looked down at the sleeping figure in his arms. Micky looked so peaceful…so innocent. How could he have thought that Micky would have been remotely interested in that girl? Then he remembered last night…. Rich…Was he mad? He needed to fix this, and fast. He tried to remove himself from Micky’s grasp without disturbing him. Not an easy task, but Micky, was a heavy sleeper. Mike was able to slip out without so much as a mumble from his lover.

As he made his way downstairs, he noticed how quiet the pad was. Peter was never there. It was becoming a regular occurrence to find his bed not slept in, but Mike was surprised that Davy’s was empty too. The little prick musta snuck off…’Too ashamed to show his face,’ thought Mike…’And a good job too.’ He grabbed himself a quick cup of coffee and headed back to the bar… He needed to speak to someone.

* * * * * *

Fortunately for Mike, John was there. Mike had guessed he would be. After all, John had nowhere else to be. He liked to get a front row seat to the fresh young men that would frequent the bar at all hours during the day. He’d found him sitting in the corner. A coffee pot sat on the table in front on him, cigarette protruding out the corner of his mouth.

“I thought you’d be back,” he drawled. He kicked a chair out from under the table towards Mike, who gratefully sat down.

“Mornin’.”

“So, did ya little matter get resolved then?”

“Yeah…Kinda….I mean Micky told the truth. Davy knows now… But there’s something else”

“What?” asked John, leaning in to listen carefully.

“After I left here last night, I met this guy.”

“Mike, your life is one long chain of problems, ain’t it? So you met a guy….And?”

“And nothing…Really…It was just a bit of fun.”

“But now you feel guilty about Micky,” John concluded.

Mike nodded replying “What should I do?”

“You didn’t fuck this guy did ya?”

“Well….No…But…”

“So what’s ya problem? Jeez Mike, what’s happened to you? You were never bothered by fidelity before.”

“Hey, now come on, John. I never cheated and you know that.”

“Yeah…I’m only teasing ya, but you’ve gotta admit, this isn’t you.”

"I know. But hey, the guy gets to you. Something about him makes ya wanna protect him. Keep him safe and now I’ve done this to him."

A slow smile spread across John's face. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"

"Love? Don’t be so fucking stupid. We haven't even slept together yet."

"Have you ever thought why that is?"

"Yeah....Micky wanted to take it slow. Jeez, I’m hardly gonna pounce on the guy. Don't you think he's confused enough?"

"You see? You're talking like a guy in love."

Something suddenly struck a chord with Mike. Was this why he had been so patient? Was this why he had a sudden change in mood towards people? Could John be telling the truth? Mike couldn’t believe it. For the first time in his life he had feelings for someone. Deep emotional feelings. He knew the moment he first kissed Micky that he was the one and John’s words were only amplifying that to him.

"I am, aren't I?" Mike’s face was beaming. He loved Micky. He loved him. He wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Scream it from his lungs. He reached over and hugged John. Then turning to leave the bar, he stopped in his tracks - whatta ’bout Rich? He turned to speak to John again.

“Don’t say anything, there’s no point….Now go and be happy.”

John interrupted Mike before he had a chance to speak. He knew that Mike was searching for that little bit of guidance that he only trusted John to give. He was almost looking for approval and John had given him the green light. He left the bar and headed home.

* * * * * *

Mike almost sprinted through the door calling to Micky. ‘He must be still asleep’, he thought, as he bounded up the stairs to their room. The curtains were still shut, causing the room to be encased in darkness. Mike headed across the room to open them and in doing so knocked into the dresser.

“Shit,” he whispered.

“Mike..is that you?” Micky called out from the bed.

“Yeah…..Sorry I was just goin’ to get some light in here.”

“Nah…, leave them closed…It’s too bright” Micky rolled over in the bed as Mike sat down on the edge. He leaned forward and kissed the left side of Micky’s face. It was the only part exposed to him under the curls that fell on the pillow.

“So, where’d ya go?…I missed ya.” Micky mumbled, still with his back to Mike.

“Just out…I needed a walk…I didn’t know I disturbed ya. Sorry.”

Micky turned and faced him. He smiled rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Mike thought he looked so beautiful. He couldn’t help himself from kissing those soft lips. Micky returned the kiss allowing Mike to climb in beside him under the covers.

“Micky,…I...”

There was something about the way that Mike was staring at Micky that made him feel so wanted. Micky knew how he felt and he could almost sense from Mikes’ eyes what he was trying to say. He didn’t need him to finish the sentence.

Micky showed initiative, quickly removing Mike from his clothes. Then he wriggled out of his own striped pajamas. The fear he had experienced before had been removed and replaced with excitement. Mike kissed down his back and gently turned Micky over to face him. He lightly ran his fingers down to Micky’s waist reaching his shaft which was now fully aroused. He rubbed his hands along the side and teasing the tip, making Micky cry out, almost bringing him to the edge. He slowly rested his body on top of Micky allowing his own erection to rub against his thigh. Mike reached over to the bedside drawer and took out the lube cream.

“Are you sure about this?” he whispered.

“Uh-hum….”

“I promise I won’t hurt ya…You know that don’t ya?”

“Yeah…I know.”

Mike straddled himself over Micky, arching his body forward to give his neck and face loving kisses. As he pressed his body against Micky’s back, he slipped his finger deep inside, feeling the tightness within.

Micky drew breath as the sensation of each thrust from Mike sent waves rippling up his body. He closed his eyes and tried to stay relaxed.

Mike pushed a second finger inside. Each time trying to be as gentle as possible. He felt he had to take extra care of Micky. He was so delicate, Mike was scared to push him too hard. He took some of the lube and applied it to his now fully aroused cock, he rested it on the cleft of Micky’s backside and slowly maneuvered himself up parallel to him. He then began to inch himself down, pushing slowly he allowed himself to enter. That was what Mike loved….That closeness of being with someone….The fact he loved Mick.

Micky felt a pain that he had never experienced before. It made him gasp for breath. A red hot burning sensation that was pleasurable as well as painful. He gripped the side of the bed and moaned as Mike began to increase his pace. As the thrusts continued longer and harder, Micky forgot about the pain. He moved as he felt Mike’s hand on his own erection moving him in time with each thrust. Micky couldn’t take anymore. He came with an explosive cry which was soon echoed by Mike’s own. He collapsed on top of Micky. They both lay still for a while. Mike couldn’t hide the smile on his face. He removed himself from Micky and pulled him close, brushing those escaping curls from his now sweaty face. He looked deep in his eyes.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I know,” said Micky, as he fell into a deep slumber whispering: “I love you too.“