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palacechristianChristian stuck his head around the bedroom door holding a pair of folded jeans in his hands. "These yours?" he asked, before scanning the room. "Where'd Johnny go?"
"He's outside talking to Liam," Adrian answered, taking the jeans with a nod of thanks. He'd been packing things slowly into his bag, his shoulders slumped, feeling like he was about to cry. It'd finally hit him that his visit was over, that he was leaving, and he didn't want to. Oh, he missed Charlie and Hal and the others, and it'd be good to be home and all, but he didn't want to go.
Feeling the sadness coming off Adrian in waves, Christian also noted the subdued manner and walked across to stand beside him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Hey," he said gently. "You'll be back."
"Oh, I know." Adrian tried to grin up at Christian, holding the mass of denim against his chest with both arms like a shield. "I'll give you two time to rest up and get your energy back and I'll be here again before you know it!" His voice was chirpy but his eyes were bleak.
Taking the clothes out of Adrian's hands and dumping them into the bag, Christian wrapped his arms around Adrian and pulled him close for a hug, kissing his hair. "Yeah, we could use the rest but it won't be the same round here without you, firecracker. Don't let my complaining fool ya. I'll miss you."
"Really?" Adrian asked, his voice muffled against Christian's shoulder. He hugged Christian back, hard.
"Really." Christian tipped Adrian's head up with a finger beneath his chin and kissed him. "In fact," he told him, "I got something for you to take home as a memento." He dug into his back pocket and pulled out a sorry-looking length of pink polkadot ribbon, still tied in a neat circle. He swung it around on his finger.
Adrian blushed bright red, but this time his grin was genuine. "We're gonna get you for that, you know?" He took the ribbon and wrapped the ends so the whole thing was a loop, then stuffed it into his toiletries bag where it'd be safe. "I have to admit, though, that it makes a great cockring -- that was a fantastic shag!"
Chuckling, Christian shook his head in mock-disbelief. "You're unstoppable, you are," he told him. "I really am gonna miss you." He ruffled Adrian's curly hair.
"You'll come see us, right? You and Johnny?"
"Soon as I can get away, yeah," Christian promised. "By then I'll be in dire need of some fresh air, good country cooking and an enthusiastic shag or two. Who knows, by then you might even have learned to preface your fucking with a little conversation." He grinned again and flicked the tip of Adrian's nose, the other arm which he had looped around Adrian's narrow waist tightened and he pulled him back in closer. "Do I get a kiss?" he asked.
Adrian stood on his tiptoes and swooped in, obeying Christian's hint with enthusiastic eagerness. He wound his arms around his neck and leaned close, pressing their bodies together from lips to knees.
Christian gave him a slow, proper and equally enthusiastic kiss, running his hands up and down Adrian's flanks as he conducted a leisurely exploration of his mouth with his tongue, gliding over tooth and gum and swiping softly and teasingly across the sensitive flesh of his inner cheek. "Mmm," he breathed. "Nice."
"Hmmmmm..." Adrian echoed. "Gonna miss this. You're a great kisser."
"Why thank you, kind sir." Christian pressed a kiss to his temple. "I suppose I should let you finish packing, go see what Johnny's up to." He lifted an arm to check his watch. "Got an... hour fore the car gets here."
"Only an hour?" Adrian's voice was low and dismayed -- only one hour? Then he looked up at Christian once more and tightened his arms, bringing the man's head a little closer. "An hour's more than enough, you know? I'm pretty much packed, so, I mean, if you wanted to we could...." Adrian blushed. What's wrong with you, stupid?! Ask him! You never had a problem before, so just do it! "One last shag? Umm, for the road, maybe?"
Dropping his arm back to Adrian's waist, Christian felt the request for closeness more than he heard the words. "Sure," he said softly, bending his head to worry gently at Adrian's bottom lip with the edge of his teeth. "We can do that." He moved them toward the side of the bed, the backs of Adrian's knees catching on the mattress. Christian didn't let him fall, but eased them both gently down, floating the bag off the bed and onto the floor out of the way. He rested his weight on his elbows and looked down into Adrian's eyes with a smile. "Me or you?" he asked.
"You, please." Adrian beamed up at him, feeling like he'd been given one last gift and not quite understanding why. But it'd been a couple of days since Liam had come and he hadn't had a chance with Christian in that time and he'd been afraid he wouldn't and that had... hurt, kind of. Christian was a great guy and Adrian had figured out during his visit why Johnny loved him -- aside from being gorgeous and a great shag, he was a good man and obviously loved Johnny back. Adrian approved.
"My pleasure." Christian's hand skimmed up under Adrian's T-shirt in a gentle caress. He was in no hurry at all, wanting to take his time and savor this and it seemed Adrian concurred for there was none of his usual urgings or frantic haste. Divested of their clothes, Christian set about a leisurely exploration of the younger man's body, finding new spots to tease and taste, licking a slow, wet line along his collarbone, nudging into the side of his throat, his kisses slow and thorough while his fingers dipped between the spread thighs with tantalizing slowness, slick and warm and probing gently, opening the way.
Adrian sucked in a hissing breath, his eyes squinching closed, then relaxed slowly. "Fuck, you're good at this! Mmm, right there!" Adrian's fingers traced the width of Christian's shoulders, stroked the back of his neck, glided down his chest to tease his nipples. The whole time he kept up a quiet stream of sounds and words -- moans and gasps and whines, endearments and curses and encouragement and pleading. He wrapped his legs around his lover's thighs and hung on, feeling like he was floating on pleasure and needed an anchor to keep him from drifting away.
Moving to lay between Adrian's thighs, Christian knelt up and positioned himself, his cock nudging at the entrance to Adrian's body. He slid his hands up Adrian's thighs, just enjoying the sense of anticipation, even pausing to plant a kiss on the tender skin behind his knee before pressing forward, his hands on Adrian's hips to steady him and slowly burying himself full length inside the tight heat. "Oh yeah," he breathed, continuing his forward motion until his hands were on either side of Adrian's head and he could bend down for a kiss. "Feel so good."
Adrian kissed him back enthusiastically, exploring Christian's mouth with his tongue. He felt stuffed full with the cock inside him, still an unfamiliar sensation, but fuck, it felt good! He moaned and rocked his hips back and forth, meeting Christian's slow thrusts, feeling the heated pleasure going straight to his swollen cock with each nudge of his sweet spot.
It was brilliant, Adrian following his lead, concentrating more on the sharing of affection rather than the actual act. Christian felt a real connection to him and it stayed true even when the pace picked up and the emphasis changed as orgasm became the imperative. He moved back onto his knees a little, thrusting a little harder and Adrian's legs wrapped around his waist although their kisses never faltered. Christian lifted one hand and wrapped it around Adrian's leaking cock, stroking it in time with each push of his hips, thumb folding over the tip and sliding down the underside.
A long, whining moan escaped when Christian's hand tightened around him and all Adrian could do was lie there and feel, wrapped around Christian, his body, his self intermingled with Christian's, like they were just two people in a tiny space of their own.
They'd fucked before but this felt different, like a first time almost. It was brilliant like it always was, but there was more to it. Adrian felt like all of Christian's focus was on him, on being with him and sharing pleasure with him and making sure it was wonderful for him. That's it! The thought exploded into his mind -- he felt taken care of. Like this wasn't just fucking, just a shag. And it hit him that this was how it felt to Johnny every time.
"Come for me, lover." Christian whispered into Adrian's ear. He halted the movement of his own hips, his cock buried deep inside Adrian's body, pressed against his prostate and tightened his hand around the base of Adrian's cock, letting him set the pace he needed for completion. "C'mon lover," he urged, pressing his suit with a kiss to the side of the exposed throat.
Adrian felt tears flooding his eyes for no reason at all as pleasure rolled across him in waves and spurted out his cock. He hung on with arms and legs and jerked helplessly, wrapped in affection and caring and warmth and light.
Rolling to one side, Christian held Adrian close, stroking his hair, his face, and kissing his temples and cheeks until the aftershocks waned and he was quiescent in his arms. "Okay?" he asked in a whisper.
Adrian sniffled and nodded. "Uh huh." He couldn't move, couldn't think, and only part of it was post-orgasmic tiredness. With one shag, everything had changed. No, not a shag, not just a shag. He wasn't sure what to call it, but he and Christian hadn't just fucked. They'd shared... something. Something cool, something important, something he wanted to have again but he wasn't sure how.
He picked up each nuance of thought, the confusion and the joy and Christian smiled a little, leaning in to whisper softly into Adrian's ear. "It's called making love," he told him. "More than just fucking, it's something you get with a person you care for." He kissed him and stroked the damp strands of hair from his face. "Like I care 'bout you."
"Really?" Adrian felt shy and it wasn't a familiar feeling. He snuggled close and hid his face in the crook of Christian's neck. "Thanks," he whispered. "I like you, too. I mean... yeah." He felt his face heating and knew he sounded like an idiot but this was new and weird and he couldn't seem to find his balance. "I'm gonna miss you, a lot."
"Same here." Christian wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tight. "You need anything, anything at all, you call, you hear me? You're Johnny's family, and mine. Don't you ever forget it."
All Adrian could see just then, on the inside of his eyelids, was the pitying look on the Citizen Services lady's face when she'd told him his father -- his own blood father -- didn't want him. And now Christian, this incredible man who could have anything and anyone he wanted, claimed him, wanted him, wanted to be his family. Adrian burst into tears and could only cling, sobbing and gasping into Christian's chest.
"Hey! Hey!" Christian just held him, rocking a little and soothing as best he could until the storm was past and Adrian was sniffing and sucking in little gasps of air. He floated across a packet of tissues and gave him one, then another, not minding that his chest was wet and sticky and not at all embarrassed by the outburst. He threw the tissues aside as they were handed back and then lifted Adrian's chin with a finger so he could see his face. "Meant that," he reiterated in a level voice. "Every word of it. Now, how 'bout a quick shower, eh? Then I'll give you a hand with what's left of the packing."
Adrian nodded, still sniffling a bit but determined to shut off the plumbing. "Good idea," he said, giving Christian a rather watery smile. A shower'd be good, and now he was actually looking forward to the long ride home; he had a lot of stuff to think about.
"The car's here." Christian strode out the Gatehouse door toward where Johnny, Liam and Adrian were standing by the gate. Shannon and Obie were lying on the grass to one side, Obie subdued for once as if he sensed something, which was quite likely. Willow was sitting on the faux fencepost, stoically ignoring the electronics' attempts to push her off, as the grip her claws had in the wood testified. Christian grinned at the look she gave him, as if she blamed him personally for the indignity. He stopped at Liam's side and wrapped an arm about Johnny's waist. "Driver's stowed the bags already. He's ready when you are."
"I've got everything," Liam said with a nod. "Adrian?"
Adrian nodded. "Ready, I guess." He looked up at Christian with a small smile, then stepped up into a three-way hug that ended with his feet dangling in the air. "Thanks, both of you," he said. "I had a great visit."
Christian kissed his cheek, spoke low into his ear. "Loved having you," he said. "Remember what I said. Anything, anytime." He let him go and stepped back a little, giving him and Johnny space.
Adrian and Johnny just stood there for a few moments, rocking back and forth together. Then Adrian said, "You hang on to him, 'kay? He loves you to bits and he... just... just hang on to him, yeah?"
Johnny grinned and said, "Of course!" and was about to sneak in a tickle when he took a good look at his friend's face. He went quiet for a second, then nodded. "I will. Of course, I will."
Christian had moved across to stand by Liam. "They're gonna miss each other," he said as he turned to face the other man. "Like I'll miss you." He smiled and wrapped an arm about Liam's shoulders, drawing him in for a hug. "It's never long enough," he added with a squeeze.
"No, it never is. But Duty's a bitch of a mistress, and we both knew that when we agreed to keep her." Liam gave him a rib-creaking hug and a long, searching kiss. "Your turn to visit next, then. Maybe bring Johnny out for his birthday? He'd like that, I think, and the others would love to see him."
"And I'd love the chance to get away." Christian joked, ignoring the tightness in his chest that farewells always seemed to bring on. "Especially after holding the fort for dad. I'll take you up on that if I can get away." He dropped one arm as Johnny and Adrian approached, slipping it once again around his lover's waist. "What do you think, Johnny? If we can wangle the time, want to spend some time at Liam's?"
"Sure!" Johnny looked instantly happier, beaming up at Christian. "That'd be great, if we could!"
Adrian grinned too, and nodded.
"Then it's a date. I'll twist dad's arm if I have to." Christian grinned. The smile faded as he realized that time really had gotten away from them and he dropped his arm from Liam's waist. "Time to go, I suppose."
Liam nodded. "I'd love to stay, but I'd really like to be home by dinner." He stepped up to Johnny, bent down and swooped him up into a hug. "You take care of yourself, lad."
"You too, and tell everyone hi for me." Johnny hugged him back and kissed him on the cheek.
Christian walked with them as far as the public lifts. Much as he'd like to go down to street level, at this time of day he risked turning their farewells into a bit of a circus if he did, so he was staying upstairs. Pressing the button made the lift door open instantly and he only had time for another quick hug and kiss for both Liam and Adrian before they were forced to get in. Johnny was going down with them and Christian waved goodbye as the lift door slid shut, turning away with a sigh as he contemplated not only how quiet the place was going to be now but the horrible reality of having to now go do his father's job for however long Marton was away.
Adrian pulled away from Johnny and piled into the car after Liam while still waving over his shoulder, but bumped into Liam's back when he was only halfway into the back seat. "Oof! Sorry!"
"Quite all right," Liam said in a low and rather bemused voice. "I don't suppose you have any idea what all this is about, do you?" He shoved a large, overloaded sack onto the floor of the car and shifted over, giving Adrian room to get in the rest of the way and sit down.
Adrian stared at the sack. It looked like a... a pillowcase. A king-size pillowcase. He untwisted the top and peered in. Plastic packets. Packets.... He grinned and pulled one out. Yep. Pina colada lube.
Liam'd been investigating the other one and had found a letter. He glanced at it, then passed it to Adrian.
Hey, Adrian -- as promised, every fucking packet of pina colada lube I could find in the building. Let me know when you need more, yeah? Guy
Adrian smirked, then poked his head back out the window at Johnny, who'd been peering in, trying to figure out what was wrong. "If you see Guy, tell him thanks for me, okay?" At Johnny's questioning look, he stuck a hand into the pillowcase and waved a handful of packets at him. Johnny cracked up and nodded, waving goodbye.
"That's it," said Liam. "Let's get out of here before anything else shows up." He knocked on the partition and waved to the driver, and then they were on their way home.
"He's outside talking to Liam," Adrian answered, taking the jeans with a nod of thanks. He'd been packing things slowly into his bag, his shoulders slumped, feeling like he was about to cry. It'd finally hit him that his visit was over, that he was leaving, and he didn't want to. Oh, he missed Charlie and Hal and the others, and it'd be good to be home and all, but he didn't want to go.
Feeling the sadness coming off Adrian in waves, Christian also noted the subdued manner and walked across to stand beside him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Hey," he said gently. "You'll be back."
"Oh, I know." Adrian tried to grin up at Christian, holding the mass of denim against his chest with both arms like a shield. "I'll give you two time to rest up and get your energy back and I'll be here again before you know it!" His voice was chirpy but his eyes were bleak.
Taking the clothes out of Adrian's hands and dumping them into the bag, Christian wrapped his arms around Adrian and pulled him close for a hug, kissing his hair. "Yeah, we could use the rest but it won't be the same round here without you, firecracker. Don't let my complaining fool ya. I'll miss you."
"Really?" Adrian asked, his voice muffled against Christian's shoulder. He hugged Christian back, hard.
"Really." Christian tipped Adrian's head up with a finger beneath his chin and kissed him. "In fact," he told him, "I got something for you to take home as a memento." He dug into his back pocket and pulled out a sorry-looking length of pink polkadot ribbon, still tied in a neat circle. He swung it around on his finger.
Adrian blushed bright red, but this time his grin was genuine. "We're gonna get you for that, you know?" He took the ribbon and wrapped the ends so the whole thing was a loop, then stuffed it into his toiletries bag where it'd be safe. "I have to admit, though, that it makes a great cockring -- that was a fantastic shag!"
Chuckling, Christian shook his head in mock-disbelief. "You're unstoppable, you are," he told him. "I really am gonna miss you." He ruffled Adrian's curly hair.
"You'll come see us, right? You and Johnny?"
"Soon as I can get away, yeah," Christian promised. "By then I'll be in dire need of some fresh air, good country cooking and an enthusiastic shag or two. Who knows, by then you might even have learned to preface your fucking with a little conversation." He grinned again and flicked the tip of Adrian's nose, the other arm which he had looped around Adrian's narrow waist tightened and he pulled him back in closer. "Do I get a kiss?" he asked.
Adrian stood on his tiptoes and swooped in, obeying Christian's hint with enthusiastic eagerness. He wound his arms around his neck and leaned close, pressing their bodies together from lips to knees.
Christian gave him a slow, proper and equally enthusiastic kiss, running his hands up and down Adrian's flanks as he conducted a leisurely exploration of his mouth with his tongue, gliding over tooth and gum and swiping softly and teasingly across the sensitive flesh of his inner cheek. "Mmm," he breathed. "Nice."
"Hmmmmm..." Adrian echoed. "Gonna miss this. You're a great kisser."
"Why thank you, kind sir." Christian pressed a kiss to his temple. "I suppose I should let you finish packing, go see what Johnny's up to." He lifted an arm to check his watch. "Got an... hour fore the car gets here."
"Only an hour?" Adrian's voice was low and dismayed -- only one hour? Then he looked up at Christian once more and tightened his arms, bringing the man's head a little closer. "An hour's more than enough, you know? I'm pretty much packed, so, I mean, if you wanted to we could...." Adrian blushed. What's wrong with you, stupid?! Ask him! You never had a problem before, so just do it! "One last shag? Umm, for the road, maybe?"
Dropping his arm back to Adrian's waist, Christian felt the request for closeness more than he heard the words. "Sure," he said softly, bending his head to worry gently at Adrian's bottom lip with the edge of his teeth. "We can do that." He moved them toward the side of the bed, the backs of Adrian's knees catching on the mattress. Christian didn't let him fall, but eased them both gently down, floating the bag off the bed and onto the floor out of the way. He rested his weight on his elbows and looked down into Adrian's eyes with a smile. "Me or you?" he asked.
"You, please." Adrian beamed up at him, feeling like he'd been given one last gift and not quite understanding why. But it'd been a couple of days since Liam had come and he hadn't had a chance with Christian in that time and he'd been afraid he wouldn't and that had... hurt, kind of. Christian was a great guy and Adrian had figured out during his visit why Johnny loved him -- aside from being gorgeous and a great shag, he was a good man and obviously loved Johnny back. Adrian approved.
"My pleasure." Christian's hand skimmed up under Adrian's T-shirt in a gentle caress. He was in no hurry at all, wanting to take his time and savor this and it seemed Adrian concurred for there was none of his usual urgings or frantic haste. Divested of their clothes, Christian set about a leisurely exploration of the younger man's body, finding new spots to tease and taste, licking a slow, wet line along his collarbone, nudging into the side of his throat, his kisses slow and thorough while his fingers dipped between the spread thighs with tantalizing slowness, slick and warm and probing gently, opening the way.
Adrian sucked in a hissing breath, his eyes squinching closed, then relaxed slowly. "Fuck, you're good at this! Mmm, right there!" Adrian's fingers traced the width of Christian's shoulders, stroked the back of his neck, glided down his chest to tease his nipples. The whole time he kept up a quiet stream of sounds and words -- moans and gasps and whines, endearments and curses and encouragement and pleading. He wrapped his legs around his lover's thighs and hung on, feeling like he was floating on pleasure and needed an anchor to keep him from drifting away.
Moving to lay between Adrian's thighs, Christian knelt up and positioned himself, his cock nudging at the entrance to Adrian's body. He slid his hands up Adrian's thighs, just enjoying the sense of anticipation, even pausing to plant a kiss on the tender skin behind his knee before pressing forward, his hands on Adrian's hips to steady him and slowly burying himself full length inside the tight heat. "Oh yeah," he breathed, continuing his forward motion until his hands were on either side of Adrian's head and he could bend down for a kiss. "Feel so good."
Adrian kissed him back enthusiastically, exploring Christian's mouth with his tongue. He felt stuffed full with the cock inside him, still an unfamiliar sensation, but fuck, it felt good! He moaned and rocked his hips back and forth, meeting Christian's slow thrusts, feeling the heated pleasure going straight to his swollen cock with each nudge of his sweet spot.
It was brilliant, Adrian following his lead, concentrating more on the sharing of affection rather than the actual act. Christian felt a real connection to him and it stayed true even when the pace picked up and the emphasis changed as orgasm became the imperative. He moved back onto his knees a little, thrusting a little harder and Adrian's legs wrapped around his waist although their kisses never faltered. Christian lifted one hand and wrapped it around Adrian's leaking cock, stroking it in time with each push of his hips, thumb folding over the tip and sliding down the underside.
A long, whining moan escaped when Christian's hand tightened around him and all Adrian could do was lie there and feel, wrapped around Christian, his body, his self intermingled with Christian's, like they were just two people in a tiny space of their own.
They'd fucked before but this felt different, like a first time almost. It was brilliant like it always was, but there was more to it. Adrian felt like all of Christian's focus was on him, on being with him and sharing pleasure with him and making sure it was wonderful for him. That's it! The thought exploded into his mind -- he felt taken care of. Like this wasn't just fucking, just a shag. And it hit him that this was how it felt to Johnny every time.
"Come for me, lover." Christian whispered into Adrian's ear. He halted the movement of his own hips, his cock buried deep inside Adrian's body, pressed against his prostate and tightened his hand around the base of Adrian's cock, letting him set the pace he needed for completion. "C'mon lover," he urged, pressing his suit with a kiss to the side of the exposed throat.
Adrian felt tears flooding his eyes for no reason at all as pleasure rolled across him in waves and spurted out his cock. He hung on with arms and legs and jerked helplessly, wrapped in affection and caring and warmth and light.
Rolling to one side, Christian held Adrian close, stroking his hair, his face, and kissing his temples and cheeks until the aftershocks waned and he was quiescent in his arms. "Okay?" he asked in a whisper.
Adrian sniffled and nodded. "Uh huh." He couldn't move, couldn't think, and only part of it was post-orgasmic tiredness. With one shag, everything had changed. No, not a shag, not just a shag. He wasn't sure what to call it, but he and Christian hadn't just fucked. They'd shared... something. Something cool, something important, something he wanted to have again but he wasn't sure how.
He picked up each nuance of thought, the confusion and the joy and Christian smiled a little, leaning in to whisper softly into Adrian's ear. "It's called making love," he told him. "More than just fucking, it's something you get with a person you care for." He kissed him and stroked the damp strands of hair from his face. "Like I care 'bout you."
"Really?" Adrian felt shy and it wasn't a familiar feeling. He snuggled close and hid his face in the crook of Christian's neck. "Thanks," he whispered. "I like you, too. I mean... yeah." He felt his face heating and knew he sounded like an idiot but this was new and weird and he couldn't seem to find his balance. "I'm gonna miss you, a lot."
"Same here." Christian wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tight. "You need anything, anything at all, you call, you hear me? You're Johnny's family, and mine. Don't you ever forget it."
All Adrian could see just then, on the inside of his eyelids, was the pitying look on the Citizen Services lady's face when she'd told him his father -- his own blood father -- didn't want him. And now Christian, this incredible man who could have anything and anyone he wanted, claimed him, wanted him, wanted to be his family. Adrian burst into tears and could only cling, sobbing and gasping into Christian's chest.
"Hey! Hey!" Christian just held him, rocking a little and soothing as best he could until the storm was past and Adrian was sniffing and sucking in little gasps of air. He floated across a packet of tissues and gave him one, then another, not minding that his chest was wet and sticky and not at all embarrassed by the outburst. He threw the tissues aside as they were handed back and then lifted Adrian's chin with a finger so he could see his face. "Meant that," he reiterated in a level voice. "Every word of it. Now, how 'bout a quick shower, eh? Then I'll give you a hand with what's left of the packing."
Adrian nodded, still sniffling a bit but determined to shut off the plumbing. "Good idea," he said, giving Christian a rather watery smile. A shower'd be good, and now he was actually looking forward to the long ride home; he had a lot of stuff to think about.
"The car's here." Christian strode out the Gatehouse door toward where Johnny, Liam and Adrian were standing by the gate. Shannon and Obie were lying on the grass to one side, Obie subdued for once as if he sensed something, which was quite likely. Willow was sitting on the faux fencepost, stoically ignoring the electronics' attempts to push her off, as the grip her claws had in the wood testified. Christian grinned at the look she gave him, as if she blamed him personally for the indignity. He stopped at Liam's side and wrapped an arm about Johnny's waist. "Driver's stowed the bags already. He's ready when you are."
"I've got everything," Liam said with a nod. "Adrian?"
Adrian nodded. "Ready, I guess." He looked up at Christian with a small smile, then stepped up into a three-way hug that ended with his feet dangling in the air. "Thanks, both of you," he said. "I had a great visit."
Christian kissed his cheek, spoke low into his ear. "Loved having you," he said. "Remember what I said. Anything, anytime." He let him go and stepped back a little, giving him and Johnny space.
Adrian and Johnny just stood there for a few moments, rocking back and forth together. Then Adrian said, "You hang on to him, 'kay? He loves you to bits and he... just... just hang on to him, yeah?"
Johnny grinned and said, "Of course!" and was about to sneak in a tickle when he took a good look at his friend's face. He went quiet for a second, then nodded. "I will. Of course, I will."
Christian had moved across to stand by Liam. "They're gonna miss each other," he said as he turned to face the other man. "Like I'll miss you." He smiled and wrapped an arm about Liam's shoulders, drawing him in for a hug. "It's never long enough," he added with a squeeze.
"No, it never is. But Duty's a bitch of a mistress, and we both knew that when we agreed to keep her." Liam gave him a rib-creaking hug and a long, searching kiss. "Your turn to visit next, then. Maybe bring Johnny out for his birthday? He'd like that, I think, and the others would love to see him."
"And I'd love the chance to get away." Christian joked, ignoring the tightness in his chest that farewells always seemed to bring on. "Especially after holding the fort for dad. I'll take you up on that if I can get away." He dropped one arm as Johnny and Adrian approached, slipping it once again around his lover's waist. "What do you think, Johnny? If we can wangle the time, want to spend some time at Liam's?"
"Sure!" Johnny looked instantly happier, beaming up at Christian. "That'd be great, if we could!"
Adrian grinned too, and nodded.
"Then it's a date. I'll twist dad's arm if I have to." Christian grinned. The smile faded as he realized that time really had gotten away from them and he dropped his arm from Liam's waist. "Time to go, I suppose."
Liam nodded. "I'd love to stay, but I'd really like to be home by dinner." He stepped up to Johnny, bent down and swooped him up into a hug. "You take care of yourself, lad."
"You too, and tell everyone hi for me." Johnny hugged him back and kissed him on the cheek.
Christian walked with them as far as the public lifts. Much as he'd like to go down to street level, at this time of day he risked turning their farewells into a bit of a circus if he did, so he was staying upstairs. Pressing the button made the lift door open instantly and he only had time for another quick hug and kiss for both Liam and Adrian before they were forced to get in. Johnny was going down with them and Christian waved goodbye as the lift door slid shut, turning away with a sigh as he contemplated not only how quiet the place was going to be now but the horrible reality of having to now go do his father's job for however long Marton was away.
Adrian pulled away from Johnny and piled into the car after Liam while still waving over his shoulder, but bumped into Liam's back when he was only halfway into the back seat. "Oof! Sorry!"
"Quite all right," Liam said in a low and rather bemused voice. "I don't suppose you have any idea what all this is about, do you?" He shoved a large, overloaded sack onto the floor of the car and shifted over, giving Adrian room to get in the rest of the way and sit down.
Adrian stared at the sack. It looked like a... a pillowcase. A king-size pillowcase. He untwisted the top and peered in. Plastic packets. Packets.... He grinned and pulled one out. Yep. Pina colada lube.
Liam'd been investigating the other one and had found a letter. He glanced at it, then passed it to Adrian.
Hey, Adrian -- as promised, every fucking packet of pina colada lube I could find in the building. Let me know when you need more, yeah? Guy
Adrian smirked, then poked his head back out the window at Johnny, who'd been peering in, trying to figure out what was wrong. "If you see Guy, tell him thanks for me, okay?" At Johnny's questioning look, he stuck a hand into the pillowcase and waved a handful of packets at him. Johnny cracked up and nodded, waving goodbye.
"That's it," said Liam. "Let's get out of here before anything else shows up." He knocked on the partition and waved to the driver, and then they were on their way home.
