Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter LXIX - Food Wars

The night settled over London while a breeze moved lazily through the city, carrying the scent of damp stone and the distant murmur of life still awake. Pavements held onto the last sheen of rain, drying into faint, uneven patterns. The living room was illuminated by a soft light, its glow stretching over white sofas and colourful cushions. The silence felt deeper against the faint hum of the outside world, a quiet that settled in the corners, stretching the space between walls.

Sean glanced at his watch and, with a sigh, closed his laptop. It was past midnight, and Jay still wasn't back. Lately, it had become all too common, and while Sean missed him, he understood how critical this time was for Jay's career. So, he didn't complain, not wanting to add any more pressure. Still, Sean couldn't get rid of a lingering shadow on the back of his mind. But there was no need to worry, right?

Suddenly, the electronic lock beeped, and Jay pushed the door open, stepping inside unsteadily. He toed off his shoes in the middle of the hallway – something he never did – but barely seemed to notice now. Before Sean could react, Jay was on him, straddling his lap and burying his face in the crook of Sean's neck.

"Can you let me stay like this, please?"

Sean frowned slightly, the weight against him feeling oddly light, but he still instinctively embraced him and kissed his hair. "Of course, anything you need."

Jay melted into his arms with a soft exhale, and the tension that seemed to cling to him like a second skin finally dissipated. For a long time, he stayed still, letting his favourite scent envelope him, offering the only comfort he needed.

"Tired?"

Soft hair tickled his neck as Jay slightly shook his head despite the exhaustion written all over him.

"Oh? So you just missed me, then?" Sean asked teasingly.

To his surprise, Jay nodded before leaning in, kissing him slowly yet with an intensity that made his breath hitch. Jay's fingers slid into his hair, tightening just enough to pull him closer, deepening the kiss in a way that left no room for distance. Sean let himself sink into it, but as his hands moved instinctively down Jay's back, a sudden unease crept in. He could feel it now – how sharply Jay's shoulder blades pressed beneath his palms, how his waist felt just a little too narrow.

"I really want you right now," Jay muttered against his lips.

Sean smiled softly, pushing his worries aside. "I'm always yours."

"Bed?" he asked, though he made no move to get up.

With an amused chuckle, Sean stood up, lifting Jay effortlessly with him. But as Jay's weight settled on his hips, Sean's frown deepened. It was definitely off – worryingly so. Before he could say anything, Jay kissed him again, silencing his thoughts with a deep, passionate kiss.

As soon as they hit the bed, Jay flipped them over, his eyes narrowed with incredible tenderness. He loosened his tie with one hand, slipping it free and letting it fall to the floor without care. Then he leaned in, his lips brushed against Sean's in an unhurried kiss, savouring their closeness. The way his fingers traced over Sean's skin, the way he held him just a little tighter, said everything he didn't. He missed him more than anything.

Jay moved with deliberate slowness, his body pressed flush against Sean's, every motion drawing them closer and deeper. Their fingers remained entwined, tightening with each slow, measured thrust, each sensual kiss. Jay never looked away, his gaze impossibly soft, as if holding his whole world... it was the gaze which always told Sean how much Jay loved him, even if he wasn't openly saying it.

In that moment, there was no distance, no missed time, just this, just them, wrapped in the certainty that no matter how many long nights pulled them apart, they would always find their way back to each other.