With A Little Help From My Friends
Title: With A Little Help From My Friends - 31/47
Author: dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: NC-17
Summary: A joyful time takes an unexpected turn, and celebrating the great outdoors.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to my beta, frojane.
Special Thanks: To loki_girl for the exquisite banner that she has created, and to tarnishedhalo for loaning me her inspirational manip for the centerpiece. I am so thankful and appreciative of you both, and your generosity.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: There’s a warning of angst for this chapter, so some of you may want to keep a kleenex or two handy.
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30
Chapter 31
The next several days are a blur of pleasant memories made together, visiting the tourist attractions, and taking pictures of the sights in Glasgow. Thanks to all the reading Dom did with his travel book, as well as Billy having grown up there, they have plenty of things to see.
They visit the Glasgow Cathedral, marveling at the fact that it is the only medieval cathedral in Scotland’s mainland to survive the 1560 Reformation. They also see the Provand’s Lordship, the only house in the city to survive medieval times, and gives visitors a taste of what life may have been like at that time. A significant length of time is spent at The Lighthouse, exploring the six floors of architecture and design through the years.
When Billy mentions The Mitchell Library, Dom insists that they go see it. Not only is it one of the largest reference libraries in Europe, it’s also a stunning feature in it’s design. One afternoon is spent in Glasgow Harbour, the couple visiting The Tall Ship, one of only five tall ships to be built on the River Clyde, and the last one remaining. They also walk through the museum charting the ship’s history and restoration process.
Everywhere they go, Billy takes pictures or hands off the camera to Dom so he can take a few shots, not wanting to forget a single moment of this amazing trip. It’s getting later in the afternoon one day as they’re leaving Pollock House, an 18th century mansion described as having an insight into life in a country house right in the heart of Glasgow, when something catches Billy’s eye, and he takes an exit off the main road into an area of the city that Dom is unfamiliar with. Part of Dom wants to ask where they’re going, but something in Billy’s expression and body language keeps him quiet, so he sits back to wait and see instead. In less than twenty minutes, Billy eases the car into a parking spot in front of a small cemetery, and Dom doesn’t need to ask why. He understands.
Billy cuts the engine and sinks back into his seat, trying to take slow, even breaths, his body tense.
“I, uh, I haven’t been here for quite a while,” he says finally. “A few years, actually.”
“Take your time,” Dom replies softly, reaching over to give Billy’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll stay here.”
Exhaling sharply, Billy swallows and then turns his head to meet Dom’s caring gaze.
“You don’t want to come?”
“I don’t want to intrude,” Dom explains quietly.
Nodding in understanding, Billy looks down at their hands as he laces their fingers together, is silent for a long moment, and then finally speaks. “The thing is, Dommie, if you’re not there, I can’t introduce you to them. I know it’s not the same as meeting your mum and dad, but it’s all I can do.”
Breath catches in Dom’s throat, and his eyes glisten. “Bills-”
“So, will you?”
“Of course.”
When Billy opens his door, Dom does the same, and their hands part just until they can meet again at the front of the car. Billy gives Dom a weak, watery smile, and then leads the way into the cemetery. The further they walk, the tighter Billy’s gasp becomes, until they pause in the shadow of a huge tree, at the foot of a simple, stone grave marker.
“This is it,” Billy says. “This is them. My Mum and my Da.”
Dom doesn’t resist when Billy pulls his hand free, and instead slides an arm around the Scotsman’s waist to keep their bodies close, offering comfort and support.
“Mary Boyd,” Dom reads. “Pretty name.”
“Aye.”
For several minutes neither man speaks, Billy’s breath uneven, and an occasional tremble rippling through his body. When Dom holds him a wee bit tighter, Billy doesn’t protest, and instead seems to welcome the touch.
“It’s been over fifteen years,” he says quietly. “More than half my life. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. You get to the point where you can deal with it, day to day, but when I’m here, it all comes back like it was yesterday.”
“They’re your parents, Bills,” Dom soothes. “It’s understandable.”
“She was a good mum,” Billy whispers. “She worked so hard after- kept us together, as a family, but in the end she just missed him too much. I think she died of a broken heart.”
Suddenly, Billy turns so his pain-filled eyes lock with Dom’s. “They would’ve loved you, Dommie. I wish they could see how good we are together, how special you are to me.”
Dom blinks rapidly to clear his vision. “Oh, baby. C’mere.”
Their lips meet briefly, and then Dom draws Billy close, kissing the side of his head and stroking his ginger hair while they sway back and forth. As Billy sinks into Dom’s comforting embrace, Dom rubs the tense muscles in his back in a smooth, circular pattern, helping to ease the ache in his chest.
“Do you want some time alone?” Dom asks when they step back and turn to face the headstone once again. “I can go for a walk. Meet you back at the car.”
“Can we just sit under that tree for a bit?” Billy inquires, nodding at a spot to their left.
“Of course.”
Dom sits on the grass at the base of the tree and opens his arms, inviting Billy into them and kissing his hair when the older man reclines, his back resting against Dom’s chest.
“Is there anything I can do?” Dom whispers against Billy’s pale neck, lacing his fingers over the slight pooch of Billy’s stomach.
“You’re doing it, love,” Billy replies, then exhales raggedly as he turns his face away. “I just need a few minutes.”
“Take all the time you need,” Dom murmurs tenderly. “I’m not going anywhere, Bills.”
When Billy starts to sit up a while later, Dom loosens his hold, and together they get to their feet before grasping hands again and slowly walking back to the car. They are nearly there when Billy stops short and looks at his wristwatch, wincing when he realizes the time that has passed.
“Bills?”
“We missed that city bus tour you wanted to take this afternoon,” Billy explains. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Dom replies, shaking his head. “This is more important.”
“So, what do you feel like doing?” Billy asks, trying to change the subject. “There must be something in your travel book that you want to see.”
“Actually, I’m kinda knackered,” Dom tells him, rubbing the back of his neck. “Do you mind if we head back to the hotel? Have an early night for a change?”
A long moment passes between the lovers, Billy quickly realizing that Dom sees right through his poorly constructed façade. After nearly two years, they’ve learned to read each other very well, and can pick up what’s not being said.
“I’m sorry,” Billy says sadly. “I didn’t mean to ruin our honeymoon. I didn’t know-”
“Don’t be daft,” Dom interrupts. “You haven’t ruined anything, Bills. I don’t want you thinking that way. I’m here with you. Better or worse, yeah?”
Ducking his head for a moment, Billy nods unsteadily. “Aye.”
“Do you want me to drive?” Dom asks gently. “If you’re too tired-”
“You don’t know where we are,” Billy points out. “We’re off the maps you’ve been reading.”
“Yeah, but you could give me directions,” Dom explains with an easy shrug. “I’m just offering.”
“Thank you, Dommie, but I’m okay,” Billy says, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to Dom’s lips. “It’s not too far to the hotel.”
“Okay.”
Just over twenty-five minutes later, the couple enter their hotel room, and Dom isn’t surprised when Billy disappears into the loo to take a hot shower. Part of Dom wants to go with him, to be close in the event that Billy needs him, but he also respects Billy’s right to privacy, and gives him some space. He’s experienced more than enough of his own pain to know that sometimes you just need to be alone.
“Dom?” Bill calls through the door.
Suddenly worried, Dom hurries across the room, his hand on the door knob, ready to spring into action. “Yeah?”
“Do you need to loo? I’m going to take a bath.”
“No, I’m all right,” Dom replies. “Do you need anything?”
“No. Thanks.”
“Okay.”
A faint squeak is heard as the taps are twisted on, and the rush of water flowing from the faucet drowns out any other sound in the loo, giving Billy complete privacy. Dom steps away from the door and turns to survey the room, an idea forming in his mind. A moment later, he scoops up his wallet and a key to their room, and then silent slips out the door, letting it close with a soft click. He’ll be back in a little while. It’s unlikely that Billy will even notice he’s gone.
After stepping off the lift when it reaches the lobby, Dom’s first stop is the front desk, where a very helpful young woman listens attentively, thinks for a moment, and then gives him directions. When Dom returns to the hotel a little over twenty minutes later, a bag of takeaway is clutched in one hand, evidence that he found what he was looking for, and a carrier bag is held in the other. Briefly, he checks in with the front desk clerk to offer his thanks for a second time, and then heads back up to the room, where Billy is hopefully still soaking in the tub.
As quietly as possible, Dom re-enters their hotel room, breathing a sigh of relief as he hears a splash of water when Billy shifts in the bathtub, and he closes the door behind him before moving about the room, laying out the elements of his plan. After the takeaway is laid out on the table, the drapes are pulled closed, and Dom sets out a dozen, lightly scented candles around the room, giving it a soft, intimate glow, and a gentle, soothing aroma. Next, Dom turns down the coverlet and sheets, as to encourage Billy to slip between them when he emerges from his bath, and lays out a clean t-shirt and boxers for him to wear. A small bottle of massage oil is placed on the night stand, for easy access in the event that Billy needs help in relaxing, and after changing into a t-shirt and yoga pants, Dom sinks down to sit at the foot of the bed, to wait.
Dom is contemplating stretching out on the bed when the loo door opens, causing a swirl of steam to furl out like a moist blanket.
“It’s so quiet out here. What have you been doing?” Billy asks, tightening the belt on his robe before his jaw drops when he notices the changes to their room. “Dommie-”
“Are you hungry?” Dom inquires gently, rising to stand. “I thought it would be nice to eat in tonight. Just the two of us.”
“Thank you, love,” Billy murmurs before walking over and kissing Dom’s cheek. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
Wanting to be closer to his lover, Dom sides his arms around Billy’s waist and cuddles the older man, drawing in a slow, deep breath. They stay that way for endless moments, just reveling in the comfort of each others arms, and there is no need for words, their actions speaking loud and clear.
Finally, Dom inhales and then smiles. “You smell good.”
“Hmm.”
“C’mon.” Taking Billy’s small hand, Dom leads him over to the edge of the bed and turns him so they’re face to face. “Get into bed, Bills.”
Part of Billy wants to protest, to tell Dom that he doesn’t need this kind of attention lavished on him, but with the emotional upheaval of the day, he simply lacks the strength. Instead, he meekly allows Dom to continue to take care of him, peels off his robe, and draws on the clothing Dom laid out for him before slipping under the bed linen while the younger man walks over to the table to retrieve their dinner.
“You don’t have to do that, Dommie. I can eat at-”
“No,” Dom interrupts firmly. “You stay there. Food will come to you.”
Once Billy is settled, Dom perches on the edge of the bed as he unloads the armful of small white boxes and chopsticks onto the coverlet beside Billy’s hip, and then he carefully opens a tall styrofoam soup container before offering it to the older man.
“Tom Yum Gai,” he says softly. “Your favorite, as I recall.”
Stunned at the lengths Dom has gone to, Billy shakes his head. “Where did you-”
“A girl at the front desk gave me directions to the best Thai place in the area,” Dom explains with a shy smile. “After I told her that someone special I know deserved a treat.”
“Are you going to sit there and watch me eat, or are you going to join me?” Billy asks, nodding at the spot next to him. “There’s lots of food, and I hate eating alone.”
“Can I have some of your soup?” Dom teases gently.
Billy can’t help but smile, albeit fleetingly. “I’m sure something could be arranged.”
When Dom leans closes, Billy tips his head to one side to welcome his kiss, their lips meeting briefly before Dom turns and settles into a comfortable position beside Billy, taking care not to jostle him and spill the spicy chicken soup.
Side by side, their shoulders touching, the couple eat their fill of the Thai food, sharing back and forth until the containers are nearly empty. When Billy sets aside the Pad Thai and exhales, Dom pauses, and then tips his head so it rests on Billy’s shoulder.
“How’s it going in there?” he asks softly.
“Where?”
“In your head,” Dom explains. “Seems likes there’s a lot going on.”
“Aye,” Billy admits. “But it’s getting better.”
“Good.”
Billy releases another heavy breath. “I’m sorry, Dommie. I’m sorry I ruined today.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s our honeymoon,” Billy replies. “We’re supposed to be kissing and shagging and having a great time, not sitting in a cemetery and crying over things that can’t be changed.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it can be sometimes, to love someone who appears almost perfect?” Dom asks suddenly, sitting up and turning so they’re face to face.
“Huh?” Billy arches an eyebrow in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s very rare for me to see you less than in complete control,” Dom explains gently. “In the last two years, I can count the times on one hand. Christmas, when you told me about Ali and Viggo, after I got back from Manchester and you had that flu bug, the night you apologized to me for paying to sleep with me, and the first time you had to go to London for the book shop after we became a couple.”
Billy watches as Dom counts the the four incidents off on his long fingers. “I’m not perfect,” he says softly.
“No, but those are the only times where I really thought you might need me,” Dom finishes quietly, his eyes a bit sad. “I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve reached out to you, knowing that I wasn’t sure I could get through something alone. You rarely let me see that part of you, and you make it hard to help.”
“I never meant to-”
“I know that, Bills,” Dom interjects quickly. “I’m just trying to say that I never want you to be sad or in pain, but when you are, I want to be here for you, help in any way that I can. Today is a prime example. I love you.”
“And I love you, my Dommeh,” Billy says hoarsely, his eyes bright.
When Billy leans forward, Dom does the same and wraps his arms around the older man, holding him close.
“I think we both need a good night’s sleep,” Dom murmurs. “Things will look better in the morning.”
Billy’s voice is muffled because his face is buried in Dom’s neck as he nods and replies, “Aye.”
“You’re still feeling pretty tense, love,” Dom comments. “How about a back rub?”
“You’ve already done so much,” Billy says in protest as he looks up, only to fall silent at the arch of Dom’s eyebrow. “But it would be nice, if you wouldn’t mind,” he adds.
“If I can help make you feel better, the answer is yes,” Dom tells him tenderly. “The fact that I get to touch you makes it even better. You don’t know how many times just having your arms around me helped. Made things bearable.”
“Love it when you touch me,” Billy murmurs softly. “Love your hands.”
“Then get comfortable,” Dom instructs. “I’ll just take care of these boxes.”
By the time Dom tosses the takeaway containers into the bin and returns to the bed, Billy is stretched out on his stomach, t-shirt balled up on the sheet next to him. Dom smiles fondly at the prone man before carefully straddling him, resting some of his weight on Billy’s arse and then reaching for the bottle of massage oil.
“I didn’t have many options to choose from, so I hope you like this one,” he offers as he flips open the cap and pours a small amount of the liquid into his palm.
“As long as it’s not cinnamon, I don’t care,” Billy replies, turning his head to smile briefly.
“It’s sandalwood, just like that night you gave me a massage.”
A soft kiss is pressed to Billy’s bare shoulder, and then warmth is spreading across his back as Dom caresses his tense muscles in long, smooth strokes, from the nape of his neck, all the way down to his tailbone. When a breathy sigh slips past Billy’s lips, Dom smiles, but doesn’t speak, hoping that he’ll be able to help Billy relax and fall asleep. He takes care to avoid the spots over Billy’s ribs that he knows can be ticklish, and continues rubbing the warmed oil into Billy’s pale skin, listening for changes in his breathing. In less than twenty minutes, the older man is limp beneath him, and his trademark whistling snore has begun, informing Dom that he’s been successful. With a wee bit of luck, he’ll sleep peacefully, and wake in the morning feeling much better.
Slowly, Dom lightens his touch, until it’s a feather light caress until he reluctantly withdraws completely, bracing his hands on either side of Billy’s torso in order to shift his slender body. Dom moves quietly around the room, extinguishing the candles and sending the room into darkness. At the edge of the bed, Dom debates about shedding his clothing, wanting to be comfortable, but not wanting to make Billy feel obligated to engage in sex in the morning if he’s not in the mood. He finally decides that since Billy is wearing boxers and has a t-shirt nearby, there’s no reason why he has to change his sleeping routine. Covering up may give Billy the wrong impression about his state of mind, which is the last thing Dom wants to do.
After peeling off his yoga pants and t-shirt, Dom slips beneath the coverlet and stretches out next to Billy, making sure he’s close, in case he’s needed, but not crowding the older man. From personal experience, Dom knows that just having the person you love close by can be helpful during difficult nights, but that Billy may need space, too. It’s up to Dom to keep the right amount of distance. Shifting into a comfortable position on his side, facing Billy, Dom slides his hand across the sheet until their fingers are touching, and after slowly exhaling, Dom closes his eyes, and surrenders to sleep.
Less than an hour later, he wakes up long enough to realize that Billy has shifted and curled in close so his head is tucked under Dom’s chin, and after sliding an arm around Billy’s waist and pressing a kiss to his hair, Dom falls back to sleep. He needs his rest, because it’s possible that tomorrow could be another difficult day.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It’s the sensation of soft, cherubic lips trailing moist kisses down his throat that start to tease Dom from his dreams, and automatically he tips his head back to give Billy more room to work. Small hands move over his chest and down to his belly, gently exploring, and it’s only when he’s gathered close and rolled on top of the older man that Dom opens his eyes, meeting Billy’s heated gaze.
“Hey,” he murmurs sleepily, and then their mouths are fusing in a warm, passionate kiss.
When Billy’s pointy tongue traces the seam of Dom’s soft lips, he eagerly parts them, moaning with enjoyment at the deepening of the intimacy, and shifting to brace his elbows on the mattress. Long fingers grip Billy’s firm biceps, and Dom vaguely wonders what happened to Billy’s boxers, but that thought is lost when small hands cup the sweet curve of his arse. While Dom was sleeping, Billy has evidently removed his clothing and is now rubbing his throbbing erection against Dom’s flat belly.
Mouths meet and part in lusty, wet kisses, Billy’s hands roaming endlessly over the irresistible display of bare skin before him, tongues tangling and murmurs of pleasure being exchanged. Dom shifts his legs apart so his knees are pressed against the mattress, and he’s pleased when the new position gives him the opportunity to roll his hips in an erotic rhythm, increasing their enjoyment. A few moments later, the tip of a finger is brushing across Dom’s entrance, and Billy’s intentions are made perfectly clear. The slicked digit breaches Dom easily, and a second finger joins it less than a minute later, Dom mewling into Billy’s mouth as he’s overwhelmed by the sensuous, intimate caress.
“Ride me, Dommeh,” Billy rasps when he finally allows their lips to part. “Want to watch you, love.”
Dizzy with passion, Dom pushes himself up on unsteady arms, panting when Billy guides their bodies together, and stretches him wide. The pleasure is so exquisite Dom can barely breathe, and he takes a few moments, allowing his body to adjust, and then Dom meets Billy’s heated gaze.
“Love you,” he whispers.
“I know,” Billy replies softly, hands clutching at Dom’s narrow hips to prevent himself from moving until Dom is ready for him. “Love you, too.”
Arching his back into a submissive bow, Dom takes a deep breath and then gently begins to rock, using his thigh muscles to raise himself up a few inches and then sink back down, taking more and more of Billy in until he’s finally buried to the hilt.
“M’ready,” he pants. “Let me feel you, Bills.”
Balancing himself on Billy’s forearms, Dom starts to move, slow at first, and then faster and faster, crying out in ecstasy when Billy’s erection finds his sweet spot. Unable to resist the tight, velvet clench of his lover’s body, Billy thrusts up wildly, watching the younger man ride him with abandon, his eyes smoldering with passion. It’s not long before the waves of orgasm are cresting high, threatening to overwhelm Billy, and it’s with a ragged cry that he lets go, filling Dom in long, deep thrusts. The image of his lover climaxing beneath him along with the sensation of his small hand pumping his leaking arousal pushes Dom over the edge and into the abyss of contented release.
Panting for breath, his chest heaving, Dom sinks down once again after Billy’s uses a corner of the sheet to wipe his belly, trembling from the exertion of their passionate lovemaking and craving closer contact with the man who has just lavished him with such immense pleasure. A breathy kiss is brushed across Dom’s damp hair as Billy’s arms slide around his limp, sated body, and they stay that way for long minutes until Dom raises his head so their eyes meet.
“And good morning to you, too,” he teases gently. “I see somebody woke up feeling rather randy.”
“Actually,” Billy says truthfully, “I wasn’t until I looked over at you, watched you sleep. The longer I looked, the more I wanted you, and when I couldn’t stand it anymore, I kissed you.”
“How long have you been awake?” Dom asks, suddenly concerned.
“Not long.”
“You should’ve woken me up,” Dom adds insistently.
A smile curls up the corners of Billy’s cherubic mouth, slow and seductive. “I did, Dommie. With kisses, and then we made love, just as I hoped we would.”
“I, uh, I wasn’t so sure that you’d be in the mood this morning,” Dom admits. “I know yesterday was hard for you.”
“Aye, it was, but you made it easier,” Billy says softly, raising his head off the pillow just enough to kiss the tip of Dom’s squashed up nose. “I was so glad you were with me. ”
“You seem better. Are you?” Dom inquires.
“I am,” Billy replies. “I promise.”
“Okay.”
“So, do you want to do that city bus tour this morning?” Billy asks. “Since we missed it yesterday?”
Dom shrugs noncommittally. “If you want to.”
“Well, I was thinking that maybe it’s time to start fanning out a bit, see a bit more of Scotland. There’s a lot more to it than just Glasgow,” Billy tells him. “Edinburgh isn’t too far away, and I know there’s a lot to see there. Would you be interested?”
“Of course,” Dom says excitedly. “I read in my travel book that it has Scotland’s number one attraction: Edinburgh Castle.”
“Well then, I guess it’s decided,” Billy says with a smile.
“We’d better get moving then,” Dom starts to say as he pushes himself up, only to squeak in surprise as he’s pulled back down firmly. “What?”
“We have some shagging to catch up on, as I recall,” Billy explains, cupping Dom’s face in his small hands and bringing their lips together for a soft kiss. “Since it didn’t happen last night.”
“You don’t owe me sex, Bills,” Dom murmurs. “I just love being with you. Lying next to you, holding you.”
“Do you really want to get up, right this second, or can I tempt you into staying in bed for just a wee bit longer?” Billy asks huskily, letting one hand slide down Dom’s lithe body, caressing the soft skin at the small of his back.
Stunned by the naked hunger in Billy’s smoldering eyes, Dom swallows in an effort to regain the ability to speak, and finally says, “I’ll do whatever you want.”
Billy grins. “C’mere.”
Mouths fusing in a sensuous kiss, Dom doesn’t resist as he’s rolled onto his back, Billy’s wicked, pointy tongue delving in to taste as he settles into a comfortable position between Dom’s splayed thighs. When Billy starts to rock his hips in a lazy, sensual rhythm, Dom can’t hold back a whimper of enjoyment, his arousal starting to grow hard for the second time this morning.
“Again?” he murmurs between kisses, writhing at the sensation of his lover’s hands roaming endlessly over his body, stroking his skin and teasing his nipples into rosy peaks.
“There are a number of advantages to having a young lover,” Billy purrs in reply, kissing a line down the center of Dom’s chest while one hand reaches between their bodies, small fingers wrapping snugly around Dom’s growing erection. “Like an impressive recovery time.”
“Bills-”
Hearing a hint of uncertainty in Dom’s voice, Billy pauses and looks up, holding the younger man’s gaze for a long moment. And entire conversation is had with an arched eyebrow, a reassuring smile, and a lingering kiss to Dom’s chest, directly over his heart. Satisfied that Billy’s motives are not guilt related, Dom relaxes and surrenders to the need coursing through his veins.
“Now where were we?” Billy asks before resuming his journey down Dom’s lithe, now trembling body. “I was about to-”
When Billy’s mouth closes over his navel and begins to bathe it with the tip of his tongue, Dom’s control is lost, and he bucks helplessly, crying out his pleasure.
“S’all right, love,” Billy murmurs soothingly, petting Dom’s heaving belly and pressing moist kisses around the sensitive circle. “I’m here.”
“Don’t stop,” Dom begs shamelessly. “More.”
Acquiescing to his lover’s wanton request, Billy shifts a few inches lower, and after licking his lips, gently takes Dom into his mouth. The previous orgasm is still snapping along Dom’s nerves as Billy begins bobbing his head and swirling his tongue around the sensitive head of his thick shaft, overwhelming Dom with pleasure. Dom’s heels dig into the mattress as he struggles for leverage, lost to the needs of his body, unable to control his trembling limbs as he’s spun closer to the edge of bliss once again. Long fingers card through Billy’s tousled ginger hair while Billy’s hands grip Dom’s hips to control his thrusts, and a short time later, the younger man’s body spasms, his release pulsing down Billy’s throat.
Limp and sated, Dom can’t move as Billy gently withdraws and moves up to stretch out next to him, their eyes holding, both breathing heavily.
“I can’t wait to marry you,” Dom pants, cheeks flushed, his dark eyes almost delirious with happiness.
“It won’t be long now,” Billy reminds him. “A week.”
“Yeah.”
“So, are you ready to get up, or do you want a nap?” Billy asks gently, reaching over to smooth back Dom’s damp hair. “You’ve had quite a morning.”
“I’m okay,” Dom replies as he nuzzles into Billy’s touch. “I figure you’ll be the one driving, and I can sleep in the car if I get tired.”
Nodding in agreement, Billy pushes back the coverlet and takes Dom’s hand in his before leading the way into the loo to take a shower, smiling when Dom eagerly curls into his arms under the hot spray. It appears that all the sadness of yesterday has been smoothed away, thanks to Dom’s gentle care and understanding, and now they are looking forward to exploring more of Billy’s beloved Scotland.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
After a late breakfast and checking out of their hotel, they move east as Billy has suggested, spending hours that afternoon walking through Edinburgh Castle, since Dom has already read so much about it.
Both Dom and Billy are pleased when Billy manages to capture the firing of the One O’clock Gun with his camera, something that many tourists around them wanted to do, and a short time later, after Dom consults the brochure to decide their next stop, they spend some quiet time at the Scottish National War Memorial. The mood is somber in that part of the castle, people moving through quietly, knowing that the memorial contains the record of every single Scot who perished in the 20th century wars.
Hand in hand, the couple make their way around the grounds, soaking up the history, and just enjoying the time together. The decision is made to leave, check into the hotel, have an early dinner, and then return to the castle in the evening, to watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, after Billy suggests it. Dom has read about unique program that mixes music with marching and military precision in his travel book, and was initially disappointed when they’d arrived at the castle after the matinee performance. His smile is thanks enough to Billy, but he doesn’t protest when Dom insists on giving him a kiss as well.
Once they’ve registered with the front desk and deposited their luggage in their hotel room, it’s a short walk to a small, family run Italian restaurant that the desk clerk recommends to them. Dom is pleased when they’re given a quiet table in a back corner, and dine by candlelight. It’s just after their empty plates are taken away that Billy sits back, gazing at Dom thoughtfully.
“What?” Dom asks, suddenly unnerved at the scrutiny. “Have I got something on my face?”
“No,” Billy replies, smiling gently. “I just wondered if there was something specific in Scotland that you wanted to see, besides the Tattoo.”
“Bills, I’ve loved everything so far,” Dom tells him quickly. “Whatever you-”
When Billy gives him a pointed look, Dom sighs, and reaches for the travel book that’s never far away. “Okay, you win.”
“Tell me.”
Dom thumbs through the well-loved book until he reaches a marked page, and then turns it to show to the other man. “Here.”
After shifting the book into a awkward angle so he can read the page with the aid of the flickering candlelight, Billy’s mouth curls up into a wide smile. “You want to see The Highlands?”
“The pictures in the book look amazing,” Dom says quietly. “I can only imagine how incredible it would be in person.”
“Aye.”
“There seems to be all sorts of tours, on buses and whatnot, but I figured we could do them on our own, at our own pace,” Dom adds. “If you wanted to.”
“Dommie, I’d love to,” Billy says warmly. “I’m touched that you want to learn all this history, and get to know Scotland better.”
“Well, I’ve come to discover that Scots are good people,” Dom tells him, his eyes twinkling. “Rather sexy, too.”
“Dominic Monaghan, are you flirting with me?”
Slowly, Dom nods, and not so subtly moistens his lips, inviting Billy’s kiss. Billy is helpless to resist such a display, and he closes the travel book as he slides around the booth until they are pressed together firmly. Mouths meet in a soft kiss, lips parting briefly so tongues can touch, arms wrapping around one another to keep their bodies close. The urge to deepen the intimate affection is strong, but they resist, knowing that they’re in public, and fully aware that it’ll only be a short delay until they can be alone again.
“Mmm,” Billy murmurs. “Never get tired of kissing you.”
“Good, because I love it,” Dom replies, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks. “I love all the ways you touch me.”
The couple make what is supposed to be a brief stop at their hotel room, to grab Billy’s camera before heading back to Edinburgh Castle, only to be caught up in one another, and make love before heading out again. The rosy flush in Dom’s cheeks as a result of the intimate act only increases Billy’s desire, and while sitting in the stands in the Esplanade, waiting for the Tattoo to start, they snuggle up together, Billy’s small fingers stroking the nape of Dom’s neck in tender caresses. A few minutes later, the show begins, and immediately, Dom is transfixed, not noticing that Billy takes several photographs of him during the presentation.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It’s when they’re seated at a café not far from the hotel, sharing a piece of cherry pie for dessert, that Dom leans over and kisses Billy’s cheek.
“Thank you for suggesting that we go back to the castle,” he murmurs. “I really enjoyed it.”
“You’re welcome. So did I.”
“So, what should we do tomorrow?”
“I think we should have a nice lie-in, actually,” Billy replies. “No wake up call. Just stay in bed until we’re good and ready to get up.”
“Aren’t you worried that we’ll just spend the whole day in bed?” Dom teases as he snuggles closer, and his eyes widen when Billy smiles seductively. “Unless of course, that was your plan all along.”
“We are on our honeymoon, love,” Billy purrs, almost demurely. “One would expect that we’d be indulging in a fair amount of shagging, like we did this afternoon.”
“Absolutely,” Dom murmurs in reply, watching Billy’s eyes darken when the tip of his index finger traces the hard ridge of his lover’s growing erection. “Now let’s get out of here before we do something that’ll get us arrested.”
“Aye.”
Any thought of lingering over a cup of tea is abandoned in favor of tongue-tangling kisses and hands sliding over bare skin, and after Billy pays their waitress, the couple leave the restaurant, eager to return to their room. The walk back to the hotel seems to take forever, thanks in no small part to the fact that they pause in every dark doorway or alley along the way, unable to help themselves, desire making them reckless. By the time they finally stumble into the lift, Dom has been thoroughly groped, his nipples have been sucked into rosy peaks, and his pouty lips are swollen from passionate kisses.
“I was thinking,” Billy murmurs between kisses to the slender length of Dom’s neck, his small hands cupping the sweet curve of Dom’s arse. “Maybe I could convince you to have breakfast in bed with me tomorrow morning.”
Sliding his fingers through Billy’s mussed ginger hair, Dom raises his head until their eyes lock.
“Pancakes?” he whispers, body arching into Billy’s touch, writhing with pleasure.
“Aye,” Billy agrees. “Anything you want.”
“I just want you,” Dom tells him, then brings their lips together in a wet, passionate kiss.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Pausing to shift his backpack and admire the view, Dom gazes out at the incredible sight before him, shaking his head in amazement. When Billy’s fingers slide across his palm and lace their digits together, he smiles and turns.
“You all right there, Bills?”
“Aye, just like to follow you so I can admire more than one view,” Billy replies with a suggestive grin. “What about you?”
“Just looking.”
Hand in hand, they gaze out over the hills and valleys leading down to a river that stretches out further than the eye can see, puffy white clouds above dotting the hillside with slow moving shadows.
“This was a great idea, Dommie,” Billy murmurs quietly, not wanting to break the spell. “I’m so glad you suggested it.”
Nearly an hour ago they’d parked the car and donned backpacks to hike into the hills for a picnic, and a view of the highlands that couldn’t have been seen from the road, or a tour bus. Today is their last day before starting to head home, and it was mutually agreed upon that they wanted to spend the day alone. Just the two of them.
“That looks like a good spot to sit down and take a break,” Dom says after finally tearing his eyes away and looking a short distance away to a flat spot. It seems to be somewhat sheltered, so they won’t be caught in the wind, but they’ll still have a magnificent view. “I’m getting hungry.”
“Me too,” Billy replies. “Let’s go.”
Within a few minutes, the tartan blanket that was a Christmas present to the couple has been spread out and lunch unpacked from a small cooler that they had borrowed from the hotel kitchen, thanks in no small part to Dom’s charm. Sandwiches and other snacks had been purchased at a nearby shop, run by a husband and wife who had been there for forty years, and then they were off. Now, tucked away from everything modern, it feels like they could be the only two people on earth. There’s no sign of industry, like buildings or cars. There’s only untamed land for miles, pure and untouched.
“Are you going to sit there and stare, or are you going to eat, Dommie?” Billy teases gently, offering him a sandwich. “And where are the cups?”
“In here,” Dom tells him, revealing his surprise for the trip. After reaching into his backpack for a moment, he produces a bottle of wine, and two small wine glasses. “They’re plastic, sorry. I didn’t want to have to worry about first aid because of broken glass.”
A tender, lingering kiss is shared, and then Billy uncorks the wine, filling their glasses and then raising his in a toast.
“To us, on our honeymoon,” he says warmly. “And my future partner.”
“And to mine,” Dom adds before tapping glasses together and taking a sip.
Food then takes priority and the couple fall silent for several minutes, chewing and looking around at their surroundings. When Dom slides close and lays his head on Billy’s shoulder, the older man smiles.
“You okay, love?”
“Yeah. It’s just-”
“What?”
“We’ve been in Scotland almost two weeks now, and everywhere I look, I see something that reminds me of you,” Dom admits. “I wonder why you left, why you stayed away, and why you don’t come back, when there’s so much here that is a part of you.”
“Dommie, I love Scotland,” Billy replies. “I really do, and now that we’ve had this trip together, I hope that we can come back again. Scotland will always have a special place in my heart, but-”
Dom can’t quite suppress the flinch that shoots through his slender body.
“But,” Billy repeats. “It’s not where I live anymore. I share a flat over my book shop with you. A place that I have thanks to years of sacrifice and hard work. It’s where I want to be, and where I belong. I love you, and I’m not going to leave you.” Billy cups Dom’s cheek and gently guides his head up so their eyes meet and lock. “Do you think you would mind if we came back here once or twice a year?”
“With you?” Dom asks quietly, then smiles at Billy’s nod. “I’d love to.”
“Good.”
Billy wraps an arm around Dom’s back to keep him close and finishes his lunch one-handed, his fingertips stroking the nape of Dom’s neck and toying with fine strands of blonde hair. Caught up in his surroundings, Billy doesn’t realize that Dom has stopped eating until he curls into Billy’s lap and starts trailing kisses down his neck, lapping at his suddenly erratic pulse.
“Dommeh,” he groans. “What are you doing?”
“What does it feel like?” Dom fires back cheekily, deftly sliding his long fingers up Billy’s inner thigh to cup his growing erection. “I’m trying to tempt you.”
“Here?” Billy asks. “Now?”
“We’re alone,” Dom points out. “There’s nobody around for miles. And-”
“What?” Billy prompts, reclining back onto the blanket with the younger man, smoothing his hair off his forehead and gazing into his dark, passionate eyes.
“It would be a first for me,” Dom admits shyly. “Making love. Outside.”
“For me too,” Billy adds, touched at the vulnerable sweetness of the man he loves.
“You’ve never-”
Billy slowly shakes his head. “Not once.”
“So, do you? Want to, I mean?” Dom asks, gnawing on his lower lip. “With me?”
Billy’s answer is to gather Dom up in his arms and kiss him until they’re both breathless and Dom is mewling wantonly, hands clutching at Billy’s shirt, desperate to touch the warm skin beneath.
“I’m not sure we’ll be too warm,” Billy warns him. “The weather can change pretty fast, and the wind can be-”
Reaching over, Dom pushes their backpacks and the lunch cooler onto the grass before grabbing a handful of the tartan blanket and tugging in over their entwined bodies, enveloping them in a protective cocoon.
“How’s that?” he asks. “And besides, I think we’ll be able to generate some heat of our own, too.”
“Most definitely,” Billy replies huskily, and then makes short work of getting both of them naked as quickly as possible, peeling away clothing amid tongue-tangling kisses and long, sensuous caresses.
Thankful that Dom seems to have prepared for everything, Billy ensures that Dom is stretched before slicking his erection and sliding together, Dom on his back, arms flung above his head and long legs wrapped around Billy’s waist. The stunningly submissive display of trust only increases Billy’s desire and Dom’s soft cries of pleasure dance on the air as they rock together, friction causing sweat to form on aroused skin. At Billy’s breathy request, Dom’s arms slide around his torso, fingertips clutching, keeping their bodies as close as possible, mouths meeting and parting in hungry, moist kisses, every thrust causing Dom to writhe with pleasure.
One particularly deep thrust finds Dom’s sweet spot, and after bracing his weight on his knees, Billy increases his speed, watching Dom thrash about wildly, overcome with ecstasy. Arching his back into an obscene bow, Dom cries out as orgasm crashes over him, and his release slicks their stomachs. His breathless pleas push Billy over the edge a moment later, and he thrusts deep before letting go, filling his lover with his intimate warmth. For endless minutes they stay curled up together, bodies locked, Billy’s face tucked into the side of Dom’s neck as their hearts begin to slow. Dom is dozing on the edge of content bliss when he feels butterfly kisses being trailed across his collarbone and along his shoulder.
“What’re you doing, baby?” he murmurs quietly, fingertips sliding up and down the length of Billy’s back in tender caresses. When Billy doesn’t answer right away, Dom opens his eyes to discover Billy watching him, his expression one that Dom has never seen before. Dom is about to open his mouth and ask Billy what is wrong when he lifts a hand and smoothes back Dom’s mussed hair.
“You’re extraordinary,” Billy breathes. “So beautiful.”
Blushing sweetly, Dom ducks his head for a moment, and then looks up into Billy’s reverent gaze once again. “What you see is a reflection of your love,” he offers as explanation.
Watching the rays of sunlight dance with the blonde strands of Dom’s hair, Billy presses a kiss to the tip of Dom’s nose and smiles. “No, I think it’s more than that. I think that beauty was always inside of you, and it just waited for you believe that it was there.”
“If I’d never met you, I never would’ve found it,” Dom says gently. “So I think that makes us both right.”
“Aye, I can deal with that,” Billy replies with a teasing smile before shifting his weight and rolling onto his side so he’s is no longer on top of his lover. When Dom snuggles closer, fitting their bodies together, he sighs with contentment and cradles the younger man in his arms.
“Hey Bills?”
“What, love?”
“Happy Birthday,” Dom says, looking up at him and smiling warmly. “I hope you like your present.”
“This is the best birthday I’ve ever had,” Billy tells him, the truth of his words clear in his deep green eyes. “I’ve never been so happy and felt so lucky in my entire life.”
“You’re crazy, Bills,” Dom teases softly, tipping up his chin to welcome Billy’s kiss as he dips his head.
“In love with you,” Billy adds simply.
“Love you, too.”
Lips meet and part several times, the lovers content to be close and spend time together, in this private, peaceful place.
“Dommie?”
“Yeah?”
“Could I take your picture?” Billy requests.
“You mean right now? Like this? Starkers?”
“Aye. Just as you are, like this,” Billy replies tenderly. “I want to remember the way you look right now for the rest of my life.”
“Get the camera,” Dom tells him softly, reclining back to stretch out, the blanket covering him to the waist, his eyes following the play of muscles beneath the pale skin of Billy’s back as he rummages in his backpack.
Finally, Billy turns back, and his breath catches at the nakedly vulnerable, yet trusting expression on Dom’s face. Feeling his heart skip a beat, he can only stare in wonder, utterly transfixed.
“Bills?” Dom murmurs, a blush coloring his cheeks. “Take the picture.”
Obediently, the older man lifts the camera to his eye, takes a moment to focus, and then lowers it a few inches so he can look over the top.
“God you’re beautiful,” he whispers reverently, and snaps the picture in time to capture Dom’s sweet, shy smile. “Perfect.”
“C’mere, Bills.”
Setting the camera aside, Billy sinks down onto the blanket and into Dom’s embrace, kissing his hair and stroking the soft skin of his lover’s slender back. The couple remain curled up under the blanket until the sun starts to drop lower in the sky, and they’ve added several new ‘firsts’ to their impressive list, as well as taken many more photographs. It’s with some reluctance that they finally pull their clothes back on and make the trip back to the car, thankful that it’s all downhill.
They have a quiet dinner at a restaurant not far from the hotel, and then turn in early, knowing that they have a long drive ahead of them tomorrow. Their reward for the journey is that before they know it, it’ll be their wedding day.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Chapter 32
Author: dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: NC-17
Summary: A joyful time takes an unexpected turn, and celebrating the great outdoors.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to my beta, frojane.
Special Thanks: To loki_girl for the exquisite banner that she has created, and to tarnishedhalo for loaning me her inspirational manip for the centerpiece. I am so thankful and appreciative of you both, and your generosity.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: There’s a warning of angst for this chapter, so some of you may want to keep a kleenex or two handy.
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30
Chapter 31
The next several days are a blur of pleasant memories made together, visiting the tourist attractions, and taking pictures of the sights in Glasgow. Thanks to all the reading Dom did with his travel book, as well as Billy having grown up there, they have plenty of things to see.
They visit the Glasgow Cathedral, marveling at the fact that it is the only medieval cathedral in Scotland’s mainland to survive the 1560 Reformation. They also see the Provand’s Lordship, the only house in the city to survive medieval times, and gives visitors a taste of what life may have been like at that time. A significant length of time is spent at The Lighthouse, exploring the six floors of architecture and design through the years.
When Billy mentions The Mitchell Library, Dom insists that they go see it. Not only is it one of the largest reference libraries in Europe, it’s also a stunning feature in it’s design. One afternoon is spent in Glasgow Harbour, the couple visiting The Tall Ship, one of only five tall ships to be built on the River Clyde, and the last one remaining. They also walk through the museum charting the ship’s history and restoration process.
Everywhere they go, Billy takes pictures or hands off the camera to Dom so he can take a few shots, not wanting to forget a single moment of this amazing trip. It’s getting later in the afternoon one day as they’re leaving Pollock House, an 18th century mansion described as having an insight into life in a country house right in the heart of Glasgow, when something catches Billy’s eye, and he takes an exit off the main road into an area of the city that Dom is unfamiliar with. Part of Dom wants to ask where they’re going, but something in Billy’s expression and body language keeps him quiet, so he sits back to wait and see instead. In less than twenty minutes, Billy eases the car into a parking spot in front of a small cemetery, and Dom doesn’t need to ask why. He understands.
Billy cuts the engine and sinks back into his seat, trying to take slow, even breaths, his body tense.
“I, uh, I haven’t been here for quite a while,” he says finally. “A few years, actually.”
“Take your time,” Dom replies softly, reaching over to give Billy’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll stay here.”
Exhaling sharply, Billy swallows and then turns his head to meet Dom’s caring gaze.
“You don’t want to come?”
“I don’t want to intrude,” Dom explains quietly.
Nodding in understanding, Billy looks down at their hands as he laces their fingers together, is silent for a long moment, and then finally speaks. “The thing is, Dommie, if you’re not there, I can’t introduce you to them. I know it’s not the same as meeting your mum and dad, but it’s all I can do.”
Breath catches in Dom’s throat, and his eyes glisten. “Bills-”
“So, will you?”
“Of course.”
When Billy opens his door, Dom does the same, and their hands part just until they can meet again at the front of the car. Billy gives Dom a weak, watery smile, and then leads the way into the cemetery. The further they walk, the tighter Billy’s gasp becomes, until they pause in the shadow of a huge tree, at the foot of a simple, stone grave marker.
“This is it,” Billy says. “This is them. My Mum and my Da.”
Dom doesn’t resist when Billy pulls his hand free, and instead slides an arm around the Scotsman’s waist to keep their bodies close, offering comfort and support.
“Mary Boyd,” Dom reads. “Pretty name.”
“Aye.”
For several minutes neither man speaks, Billy’s breath uneven, and an occasional tremble rippling through his body. When Dom holds him a wee bit tighter, Billy doesn’t protest, and instead seems to welcome the touch.
“It’s been over fifteen years,” he says quietly. “More than half my life. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. You get to the point where you can deal with it, day to day, but when I’m here, it all comes back like it was yesterday.”
“They’re your parents, Bills,” Dom soothes. “It’s understandable.”
“She was a good mum,” Billy whispers. “She worked so hard after- kept us together, as a family, but in the end she just missed him too much. I think she died of a broken heart.”
Suddenly, Billy turns so his pain-filled eyes lock with Dom’s. “They would’ve loved you, Dommie. I wish they could see how good we are together, how special you are to me.”
Dom blinks rapidly to clear his vision. “Oh, baby. C’mere.”
Their lips meet briefly, and then Dom draws Billy close, kissing the side of his head and stroking his ginger hair while they sway back and forth. As Billy sinks into Dom’s comforting embrace, Dom rubs the tense muscles in his back in a smooth, circular pattern, helping to ease the ache in his chest.
“Do you want some time alone?” Dom asks when they step back and turn to face the headstone once again. “I can go for a walk. Meet you back at the car.”
“Can we just sit under that tree for a bit?” Billy inquires, nodding at a spot to their left.
“Of course.”
Dom sits on the grass at the base of the tree and opens his arms, inviting Billy into them and kissing his hair when the older man reclines, his back resting against Dom’s chest.
“Is there anything I can do?” Dom whispers against Billy’s pale neck, lacing his fingers over the slight pooch of Billy’s stomach.
“You’re doing it, love,” Billy replies, then exhales raggedly as he turns his face away. “I just need a few minutes.”
“Take all the time you need,” Dom murmurs tenderly. “I’m not going anywhere, Bills.”
When Billy starts to sit up a while later, Dom loosens his hold, and together they get to their feet before grasping hands again and slowly walking back to the car. They are nearly there when Billy stops short and looks at his wristwatch, wincing when he realizes the time that has passed.
“Bills?”
“We missed that city bus tour you wanted to take this afternoon,” Billy explains. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Dom replies, shaking his head. “This is more important.”
“So, what do you feel like doing?” Billy asks, trying to change the subject. “There must be something in your travel book that you want to see.”
“Actually, I’m kinda knackered,” Dom tells him, rubbing the back of his neck. “Do you mind if we head back to the hotel? Have an early night for a change?”
A long moment passes between the lovers, Billy quickly realizing that Dom sees right through his poorly constructed façade. After nearly two years, they’ve learned to read each other very well, and can pick up what’s not being said.
“I’m sorry,” Billy says sadly. “I didn’t mean to ruin our honeymoon. I didn’t know-”
“Don’t be daft,” Dom interrupts. “You haven’t ruined anything, Bills. I don’t want you thinking that way. I’m here with you. Better or worse, yeah?”
Ducking his head for a moment, Billy nods unsteadily. “Aye.”
“Do you want me to drive?” Dom asks gently. “If you’re too tired-”
“You don’t know where we are,” Billy points out. “We’re off the maps you’ve been reading.”
“Yeah, but you could give me directions,” Dom explains with an easy shrug. “I’m just offering.”
“Thank you, Dommie, but I’m okay,” Billy says, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to Dom’s lips. “It’s not too far to the hotel.”
“Okay.”
Just over twenty-five minutes later, the couple enter their hotel room, and Dom isn’t surprised when Billy disappears into the loo to take a hot shower. Part of Dom wants to go with him, to be close in the event that Billy needs him, but he also respects Billy’s right to privacy, and gives him some space. He’s experienced more than enough of his own pain to know that sometimes you just need to be alone.
“Dom?” Bill calls through the door.
Suddenly worried, Dom hurries across the room, his hand on the door knob, ready to spring into action. “Yeah?”
“Do you need to loo? I’m going to take a bath.”
“No, I’m all right,” Dom replies. “Do you need anything?”
“No. Thanks.”
“Okay.”
A faint squeak is heard as the taps are twisted on, and the rush of water flowing from the faucet drowns out any other sound in the loo, giving Billy complete privacy. Dom steps away from the door and turns to survey the room, an idea forming in his mind. A moment later, he scoops up his wallet and a key to their room, and then silent slips out the door, letting it close with a soft click. He’ll be back in a little while. It’s unlikely that Billy will even notice he’s gone.
After stepping off the lift when it reaches the lobby, Dom’s first stop is the front desk, where a very helpful young woman listens attentively, thinks for a moment, and then gives him directions. When Dom returns to the hotel a little over twenty minutes later, a bag of takeaway is clutched in one hand, evidence that he found what he was looking for, and a carrier bag is held in the other. Briefly, he checks in with the front desk clerk to offer his thanks for a second time, and then heads back up to the room, where Billy is hopefully still soaking in the tub.
As quietly as possible, Dom re-enters their hotel room, breathing a sigh of relief as he hears a splash of water when Billy shifts in the bathtub, and he closes the door behind him before moving about the room, laying out the elements of his plan. After the takeaway is laid out on the table, the drapes are pulled closed, and Dom sets out a dozen, lightly scented candles around the room, giving it a soft, intimate glow, and a gentle, soothing aroma. Next, Dom turns down the coverlet and sheets, as to encourage Billy to slip between them when he emerges from his bath, and lays out a clean t-shirt and boxers for him to wear. A small bottle of massage oil is placed on the night stand, for easy access in the event that Billy needs help in relaxing, and after changing into a t-shirt and yoga pants, Dom sinks down to sit at the foot of the bed, to wait.
Dom is contemplating stretching out on the bed when the loo door opens, causing a swirl of steam to furl out like a moist blanket.
“It’s so quiet out here. What have you been doing?” Billy asks, tightening the belt on his robe before his jaw drops when he notices the changes to their room. “Dommie-”
“Are you hungry?” Dom inquires gently, rising to stand. “I thought it would be nice to eat in tonight. Just the two of us.”
“Thank you, love,” Billy murmurs before walking over and kissing Dom’s cheek. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
Wanting to be closer to his lover, Dom sides his arms around Billy’s waist and cuddles the older man, drawing in a slow, deep breath. They stay that way for endless moments, just reveling in the comfort of each others arms, and there is no need for words, their actions speaking loud and clear.
Finally, Dom inhales and then smiles. “You smell good.”
“Hmm.”
“C’mon.” Taking Billy’s small hand, Dom leads him over to the edge of the bed and turns him so they’re face to face. “Get into bed, Bills.”
Part of Billy wants to protest, to tell Dom that he doesn’t need this kind of attention lavished on him, but with the emotional upheaval of the day, he simply lacks the strength. Instead, he meekly allows Dom to continue to take care of him, peels off his robe, and draws on the clothing Dom laid out for him before slipping under the bed linen while the younger man walks over to the table to retrieve their dinner.
“You don’t have to do that, Dommie. I can eat at-”
“No,” Dom interrupts firmly. “You stay there. Food will come to you.”
Once Billy is settled, Dom perches on the edge of the bed as he unloads the armful of small white boxes and chopsticks onto the coverlet beside Billy’s hip, and then he carefully opens a tall styrofoam soup container before offering it to the older man.
“Tom Yum Gai,” he says softly. “Your favorite, as I recall.”
Stunned at the lengths Dom has gone to, Billy shakes his head. “Where did you-”
“A girl at the front desk gave me directions to the best Thai place in the area,” Dom explains with a shy smile. “After I told her that someone special I know deserved a treat.”
“Are you going to sit there and watch me eat, or are you going to join me?” Billy asks, nodding at the spot next to him. “There’s lots of food, and I hate eating alone.”
“Can I have some of your soup?” Dom teases gently.
Billy can’t help but smile, albeit fleetingly. “I’m sure something could be arranged.”
When Dom leans closes, Billy tips his head to one side to welcome his kiss, their lips meeting briefly before Dom turns and settles into a comfortable position beside Billy, taking care not to jostle him and spill the spicy chicken soup.
Side by side, their shoulders touching, the couple eat their fill of the Thai food, sharing back and forth until the containers are nearly empty. When Billy sets aside the Pad Thai and exhales, Dom pauses, and then tips his head so it rests on Billy’s shoulder.
“How’s it going in there?” he asks softly.
“Where?”
“In your head,” Dom explains. “Seems likes there’s a lot going on.”
“Aye,” Billy admits. “But it’s getting better.”
“Good.”
Billy releases another heavy breath. “I’m sorry, Dommie. I’m sorry I ruined today.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s our honeymoon,” Billy replies. “We’re supposed to be kissing and shagging and having a great time, not sitting in a cemetery and crying over things that can’t be changed.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it can be sometimes, to love someone who appears almost perfect?” Dom asks suddenly, sitting up and turning so they’re face to face.
“Huh?” Billy arches an eyebrow in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s very rare for me to see you less than in complete control,” Dom explains gently. “In the last two years, I can count the times on one hand. Christmas, when you told me about Ali and Viggo, after I got back from Manchester and you had that flu bug, the night you apologized to me for paying to sleep with me, and the first time you had to go to London for the book shop after we became a couple.”
Billy watches as Dom counts the the four incidents off on his long fingers. “I’m not perfect,” he says softly.
“No, but those are the only times where I really thought you might need me,” Dom finishes quietly, his eyes a bit sad. “I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve reached out to you, knowing that I wasn’t sure I could get through something alone. You rarely let me see that part of you, and you make it hard to help.”
“I never meant to-”
“I know that, Bills,” Dom interjects quickly. “I’m just trying to say that I never want you to be sad or in pain, but when you are, I want to be here for you, help in any way that I can. Today is a prime example. I love you.”
“And I love you, my Dommeh,” Billy says hoarsely, his eyes bright.
When Billy leans forward, Dom does the same and wraps his arms around the older man, holding him close.
“I think we both need a good night’s sleep,” Dom murmurs. “Things will look better in the morning.”
Billy’s voice is muffled because his face is buried in Dom’s neck as he nods and replies, “Aye.”
“You’re still feeling pretty tense, love,” Dom comments. “How about a back rub?”
“You’ve already done so much,” Billy says in protest as he looks up, only to fall silent at the arch of Dom’s eyebrow. “But it would be nice, if you wouldn’t mind,” he adds.
“If I can help make you feel better, the answer is yes,” Dom tells him tenderly. “The fact that I get to touch you makes it even better. You don’t know how many times just having your arms around me helped. Made things bearable.”
“Love it when you touch me,” Billy murmurs softly. “Love your hands.”
“Then get comfortable,” Dom instructs. “I’ll just take care of these boxes.”
By the time Dom tosses the takeaway containers into the bin and returns to the bed, Billy is stretched out on his stomach, t-shirt balled up on the sheet next to him. Dom smiles fondly at the prone man before carefully straddling him, resting some of his weight on Billy’s arse and then reaching for the bottle of massage oil.
“I didn’t have many options to choose from, so I hope you like this one,” he offers as he flips open the cap and pours a small amount of the liquid into his palm.
“As long as it’s not cinnamon, I don’t care,” Billy replies, turning his head to smile briefly.
“It’s sandalwood, just like that night you gave me a massage.”
A soft kiss is pressed to Billy’s bare shoulder, and then warmth is spreading across his back as Dom caresses his tense muscles in long, smooth strokes, from the nape of his neck, all the way down to his tailbone. When a breathy sigh slips past Billy’s lips, Dom smiles, but doesn’t speak, hoping that he’ll be able to help Billy relax and fall asleep. He takes care to avoid the spots over Billy’s ribs that he knows can be ticklish, and continues rubbing the warmed oil into Billy’s pale skin, listening for changes in his breathing. In less than twenty minutes, the older man is limp beneath him, and his trademark whistling snore has begun, informing Dom that he’s been successful. With a wee bit of luck, he’ll sleep peacefully, and wake in the morning feeling much better.
Slowly, Dom lightens his touch, until it’s a feather light caress until he reluctantly withdraws completely, bracing his hands on either side of Billy’s torso in order to shift his slender body. Dom moves quietly around the room, extinguishing the candles and sending the room into darkness. At the edge of the bed, Dom debates about shedding his clothing, wanting to be comfortable, but not wanting to make Billy feel obligated to engage in sex in the morning if he’s not in the mood. He finally decides that since Billy is wearing boxers and has a t-shirt nearby, there’s no reason why he has to change his sleeping routine. Covering up may give Billy the wrong impression about his state of mind, which is the last thing Dom wants to do.
After peeling off his yoga pants and t-shirt, Dom slips beneath the coverlet and stretches out next to Billy, making sure he’s close, in case he’s needed, but not crowding the older man. From personal experience, Dom knows that just having the person you love close by can be helpful during difficult nights, but that Billy may need space, too. It’s up to Dom to keep the right amount of distance. Shifting into a comfortable position on his side, facing Billy, Dom slides his hand across the sheet until their fingers are touching, and after slowly exhaling, Dom closes his eyes, and surrenders to sleep.
Less than an hour later, he wakes up long enough to realize that Billy has shifted and curled in close so his head is tucked under Dom’s chin, and after sliding an arm around Billy’s waist and pressing a kiss to his hair, Dom falls back to sleep. He needs his rest, because it’s possible that tomorrow could be another difficult day.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It’s the sensation of soft, cherubic lips trailing moist kisses down his throat that start to tease Dom from his dreams, and automatically he tips his head back to give Billy more room to work. Small hands move over his chest and down to his belly, gently exploring, and it’s only when he’s gathered close and rolled on top of the older man that Dom opens his eyes, meeting Billy’s heated gaze.
“Hey,” he murmurs sleepily, and then their mouths are fusing in a warm, passionate kiss.
When Billy’s pointy tongue traces the seam of Dom’s soft lips, he eagerly parts them, moaning with enjoyment at the deepening of the intimacy, and shifting to brace his elbows on the mattress. Long fingers grip Billy’s firm biceps, and Dom vaguely wonders what happened to Billy’s boxers, but that thought is lost when small hands cup the sweet curve of his arse. While Dom was sleeping, Billy has evidently removed his clothing and is now rubbing his throbbing erection against Dom’s flat belly.
Mouths meet and part in lusty, wet kisses, Billy’s hands roaming endlessly over the irresistible display of bare skin before him, tongues tangling and murmurs of pleasure being exchanged. Dom shifts his legs apart so his knees are pressed against the mattress, and he’s pleased when the new position gives him the opportunity to roll his hips in an erotic rhythm, increasing their enjoyment. A few moments later, the tip of a finger is brushing across Dom’s entrance, and Billy’s intentions are made perfectly clear. The slicked digit breaches Dom easily, and a second finger joins it less than a minute later, Dom mewling into Billy’s mouth as he’s overwhelmed by the sensuous, intimate caress.
“Ride me, Dommeh,” Billy rasps when he finally allows their lips to part. “Want to watch you, love.”
Dizzy with passion, Dom pushes himself up on unsteady arms, panting when Billy guides their bodies together, and stretches him wide. The pleasure is so exquisite Dom can barely breathe, and he takes a few moments, allowing his body to adjust, and then Dom meets Billy’s heated gaze.
“Love you,” he whispers.
“I know,” Billy replies softly, hands clutching at Dom’s narrow hips to prevent himself from moving until Dom is ready for him. “Love you, too.”
Arching his back into a submissive bow, Dom takes a deep breath and then gently begins to rock, using his thigh muscles to raise himself up a few inches and then sink back down, taking more and more of Billy in until he’s finally buried to the hilt.
“M’ready,” he pants. “Let me feel you, Bills.”
Balancing himself on Billy’s forearms, Dom starts to move, slow at first, and then faster and faster, crying out in ecstasy when Billy’s erection finds his sweet spot. Unable to resist the tight, velvet clench of his lover’s body, Billy thrusts up wildly, watching the younger man ride him with abandon, his eyes smoldering with passion. It’s not long before the waves of orgasm are cresting high, threatening to overwhelm Billy, and it’s with a ragged cry that he lets go, filling Dom in long, deep thrusts. The image of his lover climaxing beneath him along with the sensation of his small hand pumping his leaking arousal pushes Dom over the edge and into the abyss of contented release.
Panting for breath, his chest heaving, Dom sinks down once again after Billy’s uses a corner of the sheet to wipe his belly, trembling from the exertion of their passionate lovemaking and craving closer contact with the man who has just lavished him with such immense pleasure. A breathy kiss is brushed across Dom’s damp hair as Billy’s arms slide around his limp, sated body, and they stay that way for long minutes until Dom raises his head so their eyes meet.
“And good morning to you, too,” he teases gently. “I see somebody woke up feeling rather randy.”
“Actually,” Billy says truthfully, “I wasn’t until I looked over at you, watched you sleep. The longer I looked, the more I wanted you, and when I couldn’t stand it anymore, I kissed you.”
“How long have you been awake?” Dom asks, suddenly concerned.
“Not long.”
“You should’ve woken me up,” Dom adds insistently.
A smile curls up the corners of Billy’s cherubic mouth, slow and seductive. “I did, Dommie. With kisses, and then we made love, just as I hoped we would.”
“I, uh, I wasn’t so sure that you’d be in the mood this morning,” Dom admits. “I know yesterday was hard for you.”
“Aye, it was, but you made it easier,” Billy says softly, raising his head off the pillow just enough to kiss the tip of Dom’s squashed up nose. “I was so glad you were with me. ”
“You seem better. Are you?” Dom inquires.
“I am,” Billy replies. “I promise.”
“Okay.”
“So, do you want to do that city bus tour this morning?” Billy asks. “Since we missed it yesterday?”
Dom shrugs noncommittally. “If you want to.”
“Well, I was thinking that maybe it’s time to start fanning out a bit, see a bit more of Scotland. There’s a lot more to it than just Glasgow,” Billy tells him. “Edinburgh isn’t too far away, and I know there’s a lot to see there. Would you be interested?”
“Of course,” Dom says excitedly. “I read in my travel book that it has Scotland’s number one attraction: Edinburgh Castle.”
“Well then, I guess it’s decided,” Billy says with a smile.
“We’d better get moving then,” Dom starts to say as he pushes himself up, only to squeak in surprise as he’s pulled back down firmly. “What?”
“We have some shagging to catch up on, as I recall,” Billy explains, cupping Dom’s face in his small hands and bringing their lips together for a soft kiss. “Since it didn’t happen last night.”
“You don’t owe me sex, Bills,” Dom murmurs. “I just love being with you. Lying next to you, holding you.”
“Do you really want to get up, right this second, or can I tempt you into staying in bed for just a wee bit longer?” Billy asks huskily, letting one hand slide down Dom’s lithe body, caressing the soft skin at the small of his back.
Stunned by the naked hunger in Billy’s smoldering eyes, Dom swallows in an effort to regain the ability to speak, and finally says, “I’ll do whatever you want.”
Billy grins. “C’mere.”
Mouths fusing in a sensuous kiss, Dom doesn’t resist as he’s rolled onto his back, Billy’s wicked, pointy tongue delving in to taste as he settles into a comfortable position between Dom’s splayed thighs. When Billy starts to rock his hips in a lazy, sensual rhythm, Dom can’t hold back a whimper of enjoyment, his arousal starting to grow hard for the second time this morning.
“Again?” he murmurs between kisses, writhing at the sensation of his lover’s hands roaming endlessly over his body, stroking his skin and teasing his nipples into rosy peaks.
“There are a number of advantages to having a young lover,” Billy purrs in reply, kissing a line down the center of Dom’s chest while one hand reaches between their bodies, small fingers wrapping snugly around Dom’s growing erection. “Like an impressive recovery time.”
“Bills-”
Hearing a hint of uncertainty in Dom’s voice, Billy pauses and looks up, holding the younger man’s gaze for a long moment. And entire conversation is had with an arched eyebrow, a reassuring smile, and a lingering kiss to Dom’s chest, directly over his heart. Satisfied that Billy’s motives are not guilt related, Dom relaxes and surrenders to the need coursing through his veins.
“Now where were we?” Billy asks before resuming his journey down Dom’s lithe, now trembling body. “I was about to-”
When Billy’s mouth closes over his navel and begins to bathe it with the tip of his tongue, Dom’s control is lost, and he bucks helplessly, crying out his pleasure.
“S’all right, love,” Billy murmurs soothingly, petting Dom’s heaving belly and pressing moist kisses around the sensitive circle. “I’m here.”
“Don’t stop,” Dom begs shamelessly. “More.”
Acquiescing to his lover’s wanton request, Billy shifts a few inches lower, and after licking his lips, gently takes Dom into his mouth. The previous orgasm is still snapping along Dom’s nerves as Billy begins bobbing his head and swirling his tongue around the sensitive head of his thick shaft, overwhelming Dom with pleasure. Dom’s heels dig into the mattress as he struggles for leverage, lost to the needs of his body, unable to control his trembling limbs as he’s spun closer to the edge of bliss once again. Long fingers card through Billy’s tousled ginger hair while Billy’s hands grip Dom’s hips to control his thrusts, and a short time later, the younger man’s body spasms, his release pulsing down Billy’s throat.
Limp and sated, Dom can’t move as Billy gently withdraws and moves up to stretch out next to him, their eyes holding, both breathing heavily.
“I can’t wait to marry you,” Dom pants, cheeks flushed, his dark eyes almost delirious with happiness.
“It won’t be long now,” Billy reminds him. “A week.”
“Yeah.”
“So, are you ready to get up, or do you want a nap?” Billy asks gently, reaching over to smooth back Dom’s damp hair. “You’ve had quite a morning.”
“I’m okay,” Dom replies as he nuzzles into Billy’s touch. “I figure you’ll be the one driving, and I can sleep in the car if I get tired.”
Nodding in agreement, Billy pushes back the coverlet and takes Dom’s hand in his before leading the way into the loo to take a shower, smiling when Dom eagerly curls into his arms under the hot spray. It appears that all the sadness of yesterday has been smoothed away, thanks to Dom’s gentle care and understanding, and now they are looking forward to exploring more of Billy’s beloved Scotland.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
After a late breakfast and checking out of their hotel, they move east as Billy has suggested, spending hours that afternoon walking through Edinburgh Castle, since Dom has already read so much about it.
Both Dom and Billy are pleased when Billy manages to capture the firing of the One O’clock Gun with his camera, something that many tourists around them wanted to do, and a short time later, after Dom consults the brochure to decide their next stop, they spend some quiet time at the Scottish National War Memorial. The mood is somber in that part of the castle, people moving through quietly, knowing that the memorial contains the record of every single Scot who perished in the 20th century wars.
Hand in hand, the couple make their way around the grounds, soaking up the history, and just enjoying the time together. The decision is made to leave, check into the hotel, have an early dinner, and then return to the castle in the evening, to watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, after Billy suggests it. Dom has read about unique program that mixes music with marching and military precision in his travel book, and was initially disappointed when they’d arrived at the castle after the matinee performance. His smile is thanks enough to Billy, but he doesn’t protest when Dom insists on giving him a kiss as well.
Once they’ve registered with the front desk and deposited their luggage in their hotel room, it’s a short walk to a small, family run Italian restaurant that the desk clerk recommends to them. Dom is pleased when they’re given a quiet table in a back corner, and dine by candlelight. It’s just after their empty plates are taken away that Billy sits back, gazing at Dom thoughtfully.
“What?” Dom asks, suddenly unnerved at the scrutiny. “Have I got something on my face?”
“No,” Billy replies, smiling gently. “I just wondered if there was something specific in Scotland that you wanted to see, besides the Tattoo.”
“Bills, I’ve loved everything so far,” Dom tells him quickly. “Whatever you-”
When Billy gives him a pointed look, Dom sighs, and reaches for the travel book that’s never far away. “Okay, you win.”
“Tell me.”
Dom thumbs through the well-loved book until he reaches a marked page, and then turns it to show to the other man. “Here.”
After shifting the book into a awkward angle so he can read the page with the aid of the flickering candlelight, Billy’s mouth curls up into a wide smile. “You want to see The Highlands?”
“The pictures in the book look amazing,” Dom says quietly. “I can only imagine how incredible it would be in person.”
“Aye.”
“There seems to be all sorts of tours, on buses and whatnot, but I figured we could do them on our own, at our own pace,” Dom adds. “If you wanted to.”
“Dommie, I’d love to,” Billy says warmly. “I’m touched that you want to learn all this history, and get to know Scotland better.”
“Well, I’ve come to discover that Scots are good people,” Dom tells him, his eyes twinkling. “Rather sexy, too.”
“Dominic Monaghan, are you flirting with me?”
Slowly, Dom nods, and not so subtly moistens his lips, inviting Billy’s kiss. Billy is helpless to resist such a display, and he closes the travel book as he slides around the booth until they are pressed together firmly. Mouths meet in a soft kiss, lips parting briefly so tongues can touch, arms wrapping around one another to keep their bodies close. The urge to deepen the intimate affection is strong, but they resist, knowing that they’re in public, and fully aware that it’ll only be a short delay until they can be alone again.
“Mmm,” Billy murmurs. “Never get tired of kissing you.”
“Good, because I love it,” Dom replies, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks. “I love all the ways you touch me.”
The couple make what is supposed to be a brief stop at their hotel room, to grab Billy’s camera before heading back to Edinburgh Castle, only to be caught up in one another, and make love before heading out again. The rosy flush in Dom’s cheeks as a result of the intimate act only increases Billy’s desire, and while sitting in the stands in the Esplanade, waiting for the Tattoo to start, they snuggle up together, Billy’s small fingers stroking the nape of Dom’s neck in tender caresses. A few minutes later, the show begins, and immediately, Dom is transfixed, not noticing that Billy takes several photographs of him during the presentation.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It’s when they’re seated at a café not far from the hotel, sharing a piece of cherry pie for dessert, that Dom leans over and kisses Billy’s cheek.
“Thank you for suggesting that we go back to the castle,” he murmurs. “I really enjoyed it.”
“You’re welcome. So did I.”
“So, what should we do tomorrow?”
“I think we should have a nice lie-in, actually,” Billy replies. “No wake up call. Just stay in bed until we’re good and ready to get up.”
“Aren’t you worried that we’ll just spend the whole day in bed?” Dom teases as he snuggles closer, and his eyes widen when Billy smiles seductively. “Unless of course, that was your plan all along.”
“We are on our honeymoon, love,” Billy purrs, almost demurely. “One would expect that we’d be indulging in a fair amount of shagging, like we did this afternoon.”
“Absolutely,” Dom murmurs in reply, watching Billy’s eyes darken when the tip of his index finger traces the hard ridge of his lover’s growing erection. “Now let’s get out of here before we do something that’ll get us arrested.”
“Aye.”
Any thought of lingering over a cup of tea is abandoned in favor of tongue-tangling kisses and hands sliding over bare skin, and after Billy pays their waitress, the couple leave the restaurant, eager to return to their room. The walk back to the hotel seems to take forever, thanks in no small part to the fact that they pause in every dark doorway or alley along the way, unable to help themselves, desire making them reckless. By the time they finally stumble into the lift, Dom has been thoroughly groped, his nipples have been sucked into rosy peaks, and his pouty lips are swollen from passionate kisses.
“I was thinking,” Billy murmurs between kisses to the slender length of Dom’s neck, his small hands cupping the sweet curve of Dom’s arse. “Maybe I could convince you to have breakfast in bed with me tomorrow morning.”
Sliding his fingers through Billy’s mussed ginger hair, Dom raises his head until their eyes lock.
“Pancakes?” he whispers, body arching into Billy’s touch, writhing with pleasure.
“Aye,” Billy agrees. “Anything you want.”
“I just want you,” Dom tells him, then brings their lips together in a wet, passionate kiss.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Pausing to shift his backpack and admire the view, Dom gazes out at the incredible sight before him, shaking his head in amazement. When Billy’s fingers slide across his palm and lace their digits together, he smiles and turns.
“You all right there, Bills?”
“Aye, just like to follow you so I can admire more than one view,” Billy replies with a suggestive grin. “What about you?”
“Just looking.”
Hand in hand, they gaze out over the hills and valleys leading down to a river that stretches out further than the eye can see, puffy white clouds above dotting the hillside with slow moving shadows.
“This was a great idea, Dommie,” Billy murmurs quietly, not wanting to break the spell. “I’m so glad you suggested it.”
Nearly an hour ago they’d parked the car and donned backpacks to hike into the hills for a picnic, and a view of the highlands that couldn’t have been seen from the road, or a tour bus. Today is their last day before starting to head home, and it was mutually agreed upon that they wanted to spend the day alone. Just the two of them.
“That looks like a good spot to sit down and take a break,” Dom says after finally tearing his eyes away and looking a short distance away to a flat spot. It seems to be somewhat sheltered, so they won’t be caught in the wind, but they’ll still have a magnificent view. “I’m getting hungry.”
“Me too,” Billy replies. “Let’s go.”
Within a few minutes, the tartan blanket that was a Christmas present to the couple has been spread out and lunch unpacked from a small cooler that they had borrowed from the hotel kitchen, thanks in no small part to Dom’s charm. Sandwiches and other snacks had been purchased at a nearby shop, run by a husband and wife who had been there for forty years, and then they were off. Now, tucked away from everything modern, it feels like they could be the only two people on earth. There’s no sign of industry, like buildings or cars. There’s only untamed land for miles, pure and untouched.
“Are you going to sit there and stare, or are you going to eat, Dommie?” Billy teases gently, offering him a sandwich. “And where are the cups?”
“In here,” Dom tells him, revealing his surprise for the trip. After reaching into his backpack for a moment, he produces a bottle of wine, and two small wine glasses. “They’re plastic, sorry. I didn’t want to have to worry about first aid because of broken glass.”
A tender, lingering kiss is shared, and then Billy uncorks the wine, filling their glasses and then raising his in a toast.
“To us, on our honeymoon,” he says warmly. “And my future partner.”
“And to mine,” Dom adds before tapping glasses together and taking a sip.
Food then takes priority and the couple fall silent for several minutes, chewing and looking around at their surroundings. When Dom slides close and lays his head on Billy’s shoulder, the older man smiles.
“You okay, love?”
“Yeah. It’s just-”
“What?”
“We’ve been in Scotland almost two weeks now, and everywhere I look, I see something that reminds me of you,” Dom admits. “I wonder why you left, why you stayed away, and why you don’t come back, when there’s so much here that is a part of you.”
“Dommie, I love Scotland,” Billy replies. “I really do, and now that we’ve had this trip together, I hope that we can come back again. Scotland will always have a special place in my heart, but-”
Dom can’t quite suppress the flinch that shoots through his slender body.
“But,” Billy repeats. “It’s not where I live anymore. I share a flat over my book shop with you. A place that I have thanks to years of sacrifice and hard work. It’s where I want to be, and where I belong. I love you, and I’m not going to leave you.” Billy cups Dom’s cheek and gently guides his head up so their eyes meet and lock. “Do you think you would mind if we came back here once or twice a year?”
“With you?” Dom asks quietly, then smiles at Billy’s nod. “I’d love to.”
“Good.”
Billy wraps an arm around Dom’s back to keep him close and finishes his lunch one-handed, his fingertips stroking the nape of Dom’s neck and toying with fine strands of blonde hair. Caught up in his surroundings, Billy doesn’t realize that Dom has stopped eating until he curls into Billy’s lap and starts trailing kisses down his neck, lapping at his suddenly erratic pulse.
“Dommeh,” he groans. “What are you doing?”
“What does it feel like?” Dom fires back cheekily, deftly sliding his long fingers up Billy’s inner thigh to cup his growing erection. “I’m trying to tempt you.”
“Here?” Billy asks. “Now?”
“We’re alone,” Dom points out. “There’s nobody around for miles. And-”
“What?” Billy prompts, reclining back onto the blanket with the younger man, smoothing his hair off his forehead and gazing into his dark, passionate eyes.
“It would be a first for me,” Dom admits shyly. “Making love. Outside.”
“For me too,” Billy adds, touched at the vulnerable sweetness of the man he loves.
“You’ve never-”
Billy slowly shakes his head. “Not once.”
“So, do you? Want to, I mean?” Dom asks, gnawing on his lower lip. “With me?”
Billy’s answer is to gather Dom up in his arms and kiss him until they’re both breathless and Dom is mewling wantonly, hands clutching at Billy’s shirt, desperate to touch the warm skin beneath.
“I’m not sure we’ll be too warm,” Billy warns him. “The weather can change pretty fast, and the wind can be-”
Reaching over, Dom pushes their backpacks and the lunch cooler onto the grass before grabbing a handful of the tartan blanket and tugging in over their entwined bodies, enveloping them in a protective cocoon.
“How’s that?” he asks. “And besides, I think we’ll be able to generate some heat of our own, too.”
“Most definitely,” Billy replies huskily, and then makes short work of getting both of them naked as quickly as possible, peeling away clothing amid tongue-tangling kisses and long, sensuous caresses.
Thankful that Dom seems to have prepared for everything, Billy ensures that Dom is stretched before slicking his erection and sliding together, Dom on his back, arms flung above his head and long legs wrapped around Billy’s waist. The stunningly submissive display of trust only increases Billy’s desire and Dom’s soft cries of pleasure dance on the air as they rock together, friction causing sweat to form on aroused skin. At Billy’s breathy request, Dom’s arms slide around his torso, fingertips clutching, keeping their bodies as close as possible, mouths meeting and parting in hungry, moist kisses, every thrust causing Dom to writhe with pleasure.
One particularly deep thrust finds Dom’s sweet spot, and after bracing his weight on his knees, Billy increases his speed, watching Dom thrash about wildly, overcome with ecstasy. Arching his back into an obscene bow, Dom cries out as orgasm crashes over him, and his release slicks their stomachs. His breathless pleas push Billy over the edge a moment later, and he thrusts deep before letting go, filling his lover with his intimate warmth. For endless minutes they stay curled up together, bodies locked, Billy’s face tucked into the side of Dom’s neck as their hearts begin to slow. Dom is dozing on the edge of content bliss when he feels butterfly kisses being trailed across his collarbone and along his shoulder.
“What’re you doing, baby?” he murmurs quietly, fingertips sliding up and down the length of Billy’s back in tender caresses. When Billy doesn’t answer right away, Dom opens his eyes to discover Billy watching him, his expression one that Dom has never seen before. Dom is about to open his mouth and ask Billy what is wrong when he lifts a hand and smoothes back Dom’s mussed hair.
“You’re extraordinary,” Billy breathes. “So beautiful.”
Blushing sweetly, Dom ducks his head for a moment, and then looks up into Billy’s reverent gaze once again. “What you see is a reflection of your love,” he offers as explanation.
Watching the rays of sunlight dance with the blonde strands of Dom’s hair, Billy presses a kiss to the tip of Dom’s nose and smiles. “No, I think it’s more than that. I think that beauty was always inside of you, and it just waited for you believe that it was there.”
“If I’d never met you, I never would’ve found it,” Dom says gently. “So I think that makes us both right.”
“Aye, I can deal with that,” Billy replies with a teasing smile before shifting his weight and rolling onto his side so he’s is no longer on top of his lover. When Dom snuggles closer, fitting their bodies together, he sighs with contentment and cradles the younger man in his arms.
“Hey Bills?”
“What, love?”
“Happy Birthday,” Dom says, looking up at him and smiling warmly. “I hope you like your present.”
“This is the best birthday I’ve ever had,” Billy tells him, the truth of his words clear in his deep green eyes. “I’ve never been so happy and felt so lucky in my entire life.”
“You’re crazy, Bills,” Dom teases softly, tipping up his chin to welcome Billy’s kiss as he dips his head.
“In love with you,” Billy adds simply.
“Love you, too.”
Lips meet and part several times, the lovers content to be close and spend time together, in this private, peaceful place.
“Dommie?”
“Yeah?”
“Could I take your picture?” Billy requests.
“You mean right now? Like this? Starkers?”
“Aye. Just as you are, like this,” Billy replies tenderly. “I want to remember the way you look right now for the rest of my life.”
“Get the camera,” Dom tells him softly, reclining back to stretch out, the blanket covering him to the waist, his eyes following the play of muscles beneath the pale skin of Billy’s back as he rummages in his backpack.
Finally, Billy turns back, and his breath catches at the nakedly vulnerable, yet trusting expression on Dom’s face. Feeling his heart skip a beat, he can only stare in wonder, utterly transfixed.
“Bills?” Dom murmurs, a blush coloring his cheeks. “Take the picture.”
Obediently, the older man lifts the camera to his eye, takes a moment to focus, and then lowers it a few inches so he can look over the top.
“God you’re beautiful,” he whispers reverently, and snaps the picture in time to capture Dom’s sweet, shy smile. “Perfect.”
“C’mere, Bills.”
Setting the camera aside, Billy sinks down onto the blanket and into Dom’s embrace, kissing his hair and stroking the soft skin of his lover’s slender back. The couple remain curled up under the blanket until the sun starts to drop lower in the sky, and they’ve added several new ‘firsts’ to their impressive list, as well as taken many more photographs. It’s with some reluctance that they finally pull their clothes back on and make the trip back to the car, thankful that it’s all downhill.
They have a quiet dinner at a restaurant not far from the hotel, and then turn in early, knowing that they have a long drive ahead of them tomorrow. Their reward for the journey is that before they know it, it’ll be their wedding day.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Chapter 32