End of the line?
Jake later learned that Dan had somehow managed to convince his wife was one of his mate’s ideas of a joke.
He was very much still in the doghouse, though and Jake had heard nothing from the stud for weeks.
Not wanting to make the situation worse, Jake had got his dad to tell Dan he would no longer be available to work for his firm.
Rob wasn’t impressed but, when his son refused to budge, he agreed.
He remarked that Dan would be disappointed, and Jake so wished he could tell him the news would almost definitely be a relief.
Jake spent his days moping around, lovesick for Dan and longing for him to get in touch.
But it wasn’t until his mum informed him one Thursday night that they were going to a barbecue at Dan and Rachel’s the following evening – Jake included – that the idea of being reunited with his lover became a reality.
As he prepared himself to see Dan again, Jake couldn’t stop the anger he felt towards him.
Of course, he knew the days and weeks following that phone call from his wife would have been hell for Dan.
But Jake still felt that he’d deserved at least a text from his former boss – something to let him know where they stood now.
He felt sick with nerves when he and his parents pulled onto Dan’s drive on Friday night.
The tension inside him increased when Dan answered the door and gave him a brief and polite handshake before busying himself talking to Rob.
Dan was wearing only a pair of tight black shorts, his hairy body and usual bulge on full display, filling Jake with lust.
And things only got worse for Jake when he realised he and his parents were the only guests that evening.
He sat awkwardly at the large table in the garden while his mum and Rachel gossiped and the men took charge of the food.
Every now and then Dan would leave the grill to mess around with his son. Dan Jr was two and his daughter Isabella was almost a year old, contently sleeping in a swinging crib.
Jake had never seen Dan around his kids and couldn’t help smiling as he watched the beefy man kicking a small football around with his son.
At one point Jake was heading back from the bathroom when he ran into Dan, who was carrying two bottles of wine. They stared awkwardly at each other before Dan broke the silence.
“How are you?” he asked quietly. Jake saw red. “How am I? How do you think, Dan? It's been weeks and nothing. I get you’ve had a lot to deal with, but a text would have been nice.”
Dan sighed. “I know. I’ve been an arsehole. I’ve just been trying so hard to smooth things over here, but I don’t blame you for being angry.”
Jake wanted to continue making his lover feel bad but couldn’t help asking: “How are you doing?”
Glancing behind him, Dan said: “It’s not been great for me, I won’t lie, but she’s calmed down now, and I think she’s over it.”
Unable to help himself, Jake asked: “So what does that mean for...?” “Us?” Dan looked pained as he replied: “I don’t know, Jake. That was a close call and what if we’re not so lucky next time?”
Suddenly wishing he was alone so he could give in to the tears, Jake simply nodded.
But Dan could obviously tell how Jake was feeling. He placed the bottles on the counter and, once again looking behind him first, took Jake’s face into his hands. “This... us... has already got more complicated than I ever thought it could. Don’t think that I’m happy about where we are, because I’m not,” the man sighed.
“All I want to do is take you upstairs to bed right now. But we’re playing with fire, Jake. And someone is going to get burned.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Jake let the tears flow down his cheeks – refusing to accept that he was losing Dan forever.
Gently wiping Jake’s cheek with his thumb, Dan said gently: “Hey... come on now, you don’t really want a forty-year-old with two kids who needs to renew his gym membership. You can do a lot better, Jake.”
But Jake looked into Dan’s deep brown eyes and said: “You’re all I want, Dan. To me you are perfect.”
Dan’s face screwed up before he replied: “You’re killing me here, little Woody. I can’t stand that I’m making you feel like this.”
Before Jake could speak, they heard Rob walking through the bi-fold doors saying: “Dan, mate, have you got lost in your own house? I know it’s big but...”
Rob stopped when he saw his obviously upset son, looking from Jake to Dan. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Dan looked terrified but Jake, thinking fast, said: “Nothing dad, I’m just being stupid. I was apologising for letting Dan down by quitting my job.”
Rob’s eyes narrowed as Dan added: “And I’ve told him he’s welcome back any time, whenever he’s ready.”
Apparently convinced, Jake’s dad said: “Right, well enough of this then! Dan, we need you back on burger duty.”
After that the evening passed by without any more close calls. Jake kept his distance from Dan and was relieved when his mum announced it was time for them to leave.
Before Jake headed out of the front door, he and Dan were momentarily alone in the living room.
Speaking quietly, Dan said: “What are the chances you can sneak out in about an hour?”
Jake, knowing he would do whatever it took, replied: “Just tell me when.”
Sure enough, Jake’s phone buzzed with a text from Dan a little over an hour later. “I’m parked on the corner of your street.”
Luckily Stella had already passed out on the sofa after one too many wines and Rob was tucked up in bed.
Jake felt like he was on autopilot as he made his way towards Dan’s car, his mind racing at a million miles an hour.
Dan put his foot down as soon as Jake had jumped in, driving them to the car park that had been the location of many of their late-night rendezvous.
Jake was caught off guard when Dan told him to get in the back, assuming they were meeting to officially call things off.
The hunk pulled Jake into a passionate kiss before taking his head in his hands and looking him in the eye.
“I know we should call this off, deep down I know the right thing would be to walk away – but I can’t,” Dan said. “Tonight, I realised what this means to you, and I need you to know I feel the same way.”
Jake was lost for words, but Dan wasn’t finished. He continued: “Six months ago I would never, in a million years, have believed I’d feel the way I do about another man.
“I was an idiot to think this could only ever be about sex. I honestly don’t have the answers or know where this is going to take us, I just know I won’t be the person who breaks your heart.”
He kissed Jake again, before adding: “I need time, though. Can you give me that?”
There were so many things Jake wanted to say, but instead he just leaned in for another kiss, struggling to believe he was hearing these words from Dan.
Pulling away slightly, Dan said: “Listen, I’m going to Liverpool next weekend to price a new job. Fancy keeping me company? It would give me a chance to take you on a proper date.”
Raising his eyebrows, Jake replied: “So we’re dating now?”
Dan laughed, quipping: “Unfortunately for you, I’d say you’re stuck with this old man now.”
Sliding his hand slowly up Dan’s leg until it rested on his sizeable bulge, Jake said: “Why don’t you show me what you can do, old man.”
Groaning, he managed: “Happy to, baby... but I need to be quick, I’ll make it up to you next week.”
Wasting no more time, Dan pulled his shorts and boxers down and lifted Jake up so the teen was straddling him.
Jake slipped his trousers down so his bare bum made contact with Dan’s huge cock. After using his fingers to open Jake up, Dan coated his dick with spit and lined it up with his hole.
“You ready, baby?” he asked seductively. Jake responded by grabbing the base of Dan’s eight inches and pushing down on it.
Once Dan was all the way in, he guided Jake up and down until they found a steady rhythm. “I’ve missed this, and I’ve missed you,” Dan said between pants.
Jake couldn’t hide his grin as he rode the sexy man, feeling happier than he could ever remember.
Dan wrapped a big hand around Jake’s dick and wanked him in time, saying: “I’m close, little Woody. Cum with me.”
Moaning, Jake managed: “Fuck, Dan. I’m going to cum.” The car was filled with strangled groans of pleasure, as Jake shot in Dan’s hand and the stud filled him up. Not wanting the moment to end, Jake put his head on Dan’s shoulder – his softening cock still inside him.
Before he could stop himself, Jake said: “I love you, Dan.”
Dan kissed the top of Jake’s head, replying: “I know, baby. I love you, too.”
