The Law of Attraction

After they’d both finished with teeth and a half-arsed clean-up, they climbed back into Ed’s bed, still naked. They settled naturally on their sides, Alec behind Ed, with an arm possessively around his waist, holding him close.

Ed settled back against him with a satisfied smile. Worry and uncertainty lurked at the edge of his consciousness, but he ignored them. They could wait for the morning.

Ed slept like the dead. Even in an unfamiliar bed with another body beside him, he had no recollection of waking in the night. The next thing he knew, it was morning—admittedly early, because it was still dark outside, but the hotel clock told him it was six. That was the time Ed normally got up for work, so his brain was on a timer to kick into consciousness around then.

He rolled onto his back, stretching his muscles. His dick stirred as he remembered why he was aching all over. Oh yeah. It had been totally worth it. Alec was completely still beside him save for the rise of his ribcage, his breathing soft and slow. He was obviously fast asleep.

Afforded the luxury of a lie-in, Ed closed his eyes and let himself sink back into oblivion for a while.

The next time he woke, it was light outside. Alec was still asleep beside him, and Ed rolled onto his side to study him. Dark lashes fanned out on Alec’s cheekbones and his jaw was shadowed with morning stubble; his lips were soft and slightly parted as he breathed. Ed could happily watch him for hours, but the clock was ticking towards the time when they had to leave Edinburgh and return to London.

Ed’s heart clenched painfully at the thought of that. He wasn’t ready to give this up. He had to hope Alec would want to make the most of the last few hours they had together before reality intruded and stripped away the beautiful intimacy they’d shared.

Ed rolled onto his side, putting his arm over Alec’s chest. He kissed Alec’s shoulder, then his neck, then his jaw.

“Mmmm,” Alec hummed. “Ed?”

“Yep.” Ed smiled as Alec cranked his eyes open and squinted at him. He breathed a silent sigh of relief as Alec returned his smile and reached for him.

This wasn’t over yet, then.

They lay together, kissing with their bodies entwined as slow, lazy, morning arousal grew and thickened between them. It was nothing like the sex they’d had before. There was an innocence and a sweetness to it. It felt like a first time as they kissed and stroked each other to climax. Ed came first, his groans muffled against Alec’s neck. Alec followed soon after, adding to the mess between them. Even when they were done, they carried on kissing long after, as though neither of them could bear to stop.

Finally, Ed’s stomach interrupted them by rumbling.

Alec pulled away, laughing. “Sounds like someone’s hungry.”

“Yeah,” Ed admitted ruefully. “Damn the need to eat.”

“We could order room service breakfast, unless you’d rather go down?”

“Oh, I’d like to go down.” Ed waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “So yes, room service sounds good. I want a shower first, though. I feel a bit disgusting.”

“Me too.”

Alec showered while Ed ordered food, and then Ed took his turn in the bathroom.

When he came out, he found Alec on the phone, dressed only in the black boxers he’d been wearing last night and pacing around the bed with the look of a caged tiger. Ed caught a glimpse of the scars on Alec’s back as he turned away, and Ed’s stomach lurched when he remembered what had caused them.

Alec’s brows were drawn down tight. Ed felt a prickle of anxiety, wondering whether this was work-related drama that might affect him.

Then Alec said, “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll be there.” There was a short silence. “I’m not sure about Belinda. I’ll need to check whether she’s free. I’ll let you know tomorrow.” Another silence. “We’re not joined at the hip. It’s not that kind of relationship.” He caught Ed’s gaze and rolled his eyes. Ed smiled in sympathy. “Yes, all right, Mother. See you next weekend.” He ended the call with a harassed sigh.

“Sorry,” he said to Ed. “She’d already left me two messages while we were still asleep, so I thought it was best to get it over with.”

“No worries.” Ed didn’t like to pry, but Alec filled in the gaps for him.

“It’s my father’s seventieth birthday party next weekend. I’m expected, obviously, but Mother wants to know whether I’m bringing Belinda. They haven’t seen her in a while, and my mother’s like a dog with a bone. I think she smells grandchildren.” He snorted. “If only she knew. I’ll need to bribe Belinda to come with me. She doesn’t mind coming to work do’s in London, but I don’t think she’s going to be very keen to travel to Berkshire and stay overnight.”