Page 34 of Edge

The truth was good, butit was scaring Damian. What could Jory have done that was so bad hefelt Damian would judge him? He was feeling pretty good about therelationship comment though. It was one positive coming out of theconversation. Proof Jory was as into Damian as Damian was intohim.

“Then tell mewhat you need to,” he said softly. “I promise me I’ll keep an openmind. I’m not the judgey type anyway. You know me well enough toknow I’m not that person.”

Jory sighed softly.“Fuck, I’m going to need something stronger than coffee for this. Iknow it’s not midday yet, but screw it.” He cocked an eyebrow.“Have you got anything to drink? Scotch would be good.”

Damian opened a cupboard,revealing a wide assortment of alcohol. Jory gave a low whistle.“Damn, you look like you’re ready to party.” He came closer andsquinted at the contents, then grinned. The sight cheered Damian noend.

“I’m sensing afestive theme here.” Jory was barely holding back his laughter. “D,have you been stockpiling every bottle you’ve been given forChristmas for the last decade?” He reached in and took out abottle. “Dude, you have so much glitter here you could start astrip club.” He snorted and returned Damian’s treasured Todley’sNutcracker Gin Liqueur to the cupboard. “There must be twentybottles of booze here. Oh fuck, look at this one. Atwenty-two-carat shimmer vodka one. You even have Prosecco allsparkly and Christmassy. Who knew, hey?” He turned to starewickedly at Damian, who flushed. He’d never thought his secretobsession would become public.

“I collectspecial edition bottles at Christmas, all right? I like the sparkleand the seasonal flavours.”

Jory reached out andcaressed his cheek. There was affection in his eyes and Damian felta sense of belonging. “My fella likes sparkly things, does he? I’llhave to remember.”

Jory leaned in closer andDamian lost himself in the blue of Jory’s eyes. As their breathmingled and as their lips touched, Damian closed his eyes. The kisswas soft and sweet, Jory’s hand cupping Damian’s face, and for amoment he lost the urge to breathe.

He wanted to keep thismoment in his memory, hold it close and jealously dwell on it whenhe was alone in his room. Jory’s mouth was firm and demanding, andtheir tongues twisted and slicked together. His lover tasted ofmint, cigarettes, and coffee, and Damian had never savouredanything so sweet.

When they pulled apart,Damian aching and needy, Jory gestured to the cupboard. “I’ve beendying to do that all day. Now, I suggest we take the bottle of,” hepeered inside the cupboard, “purple glitter Jack Daniels over tothe couch, and we can fortify ourselves. Deal?” He waited forDamian to nod before freeing the treasured booze, then he and thebottle headed for the lounge. Damian stared sadly at the space inhis cupboard but consoled himself with the fact Jory seemed better,and if this was all it took, then so be it.

I can alwaysbuy another one. I hope. It wasa special edition.

Settled with a drink,with Jory beside him, Damian readied himself for the rest of thestory.

“So, as Isaid, Roger took over raising me from fifteen to seventeen, when Ileft school.” Jory pursed his lips. “I acted out a lot because homelife was so fucking oppressive and rigid.” He sniggered. “From thetime my buddy Aaron and I took a joyride in Roger’s mid-life crisisBMW Z4, to the time we ran away and caught a bus to Brighton for adrag show and didn’t come home for a week, I kind of drove himcrazy. I didn’t skip school though because I wanted to go to uniand study music.”

Damian’s phone rang andhe excused himself to answer it, a little annoyed he was missingJory’s tales of his past. “Hey, Dibbs, what’s up?”

His uncle’s voice boomedthrough the phone. No doubt Jory could hear everything. “Nothingserious. Are you upstairs right now?”

Damian sighed. This wasthe disadvantage of living over the place where you worked. Youwere always on call. “Yeah, I’m here with Jory. Why, what do youneed?”

His uncle chuckled. “Hey,I don’t always need something when I call you. You’re getting jadedin your old age, Damey Boy.”

“Ugh. Don’tcall me Damey. So what is this call about then?”

“I wanted toask if you’d come down a bit earlier tonight for your shift, sayaround six pm? I’ve got a Health and Safety visitor coming at fiveand I don’t know how long he’ll keep me. You know what they’relike.”

Damian did indeed know.He dreaded the annual inspection and had made it clear it was hisuncle’s remit. “No problem. I can do that.” He grinned at Jory, whowas making a sad face. “My date isn’t happy about it, though. Ithink he had other plans for me tonight, but he’ll have to take arain check.” He stuck his tongue out at his lover, who pretended tograb it.

“TMI, lad,”Dave said dryly, amusement in his voice. “Tell him I say hello andif he has any tickets to spare to his next gig, I’d love a couple.I’ve got a lady friend I need to impress.”

Jory motioned to Damianto give him the phone. “Hey, Dave. The next big gig is in Octoberin Liverpool at the M and S Bank Arena. Fancy some VIP tickets? Ibet your lady friend would be very pleased to be in abox.”

“Oh my God, Iwasn’t expecting such a gift. Yes, that would be superb. Thank youso much.” Dave sounded overjoyed. “And all tickets to The Animusare free of charge for you from now on. You’ll beour special VIP guest forlife.”

Damian rolled his eyes.It sounded like Jory was going to be his uncle’s lifelong friendnow.

Jory winked at him. “Noproblem, I’ll get my manager to send you a couple of tickets beforenext month rolls in. And thanks for the free movie offer. That’scool.”

He handed the phone overto Damian, smirking as he did.

“I’m in hisgood books now,” he mouthed and rubbed his knuckles against hischest.

Damian shook his head inaffectionate exasperation and raised his phone to his ear. “I’llsee you later then. Bye.” He clicked off his phone and set it onthe side table. “Thanks for the tickets, it was a fab gesture.” Hefrowned. “I didn’t know he had a special friend. He’s been keepingit quiet.” He sat and pulled Jory down next to him. “Let’s haveanother drink and you can finish your story if you’re still up toit?”

Jory shifted closer tohim. “Sounds like a plan to me, lover.” He snuggled into Damian andghosted his lips against Damian’s ear. “And I’ll give you a passtonight on raunchy sex because you have to work,” he whispered.“But tomorrow night, you’re all mine.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN