"Stupid thing to say, but how are you feeling?" John had placed his palm over Kippy's hand, a light touch so as not to press on the drip.
Kippy found himself lost in those brown eyes, the kindness and purity of them. How people could talk with their eyes!
"Better," he said, and smiled. He had little memory of the last few days, the hours congealing together into hazy sickness, marked out with agonising bright lights of pain when the morphine wore off.
It flooded his system now. This was what the heroin addicts must get, a rush of wellbeing and happiness so intense the first time, you spent the rest of your life desperately searching for it.
Morphine, or was it just pure and beautiful love?
John leant in close. "I have changed my mind, and now I'm first in line."
In his head, Kippy said the reply. "Honey, if you're still free, please take that chance on me."
But they stuck there, too much of an effort to repeat. He nodded, dismayed that his eyes had filled up. Honestly, some kind words and here he was greetin' like a wee lassie.
John held up fingers, gently wiping the tears away before they could get started.
"You'll need regular visitors," he said. "And someone to nag you when you get out. Make sure you do your physio. And you know, so I'm still here when the pretty boys have flown..."
Kippy blinked his eyes at that. It seemed important to convey that he would need no help at all steering clear of Justin and his like. And then there was Adriana and her threat to remember. You didnae want to mess around with the brother of Adriana.
John's palm was still on top of his own. He moved his own hand and then summoned his nerve. This time, he would speak.
"Just wan' you. Nobody ellsss."
It was too much effort to keep his eyes open. They longed to, drinking in the sight of John beside him, but the painkillers had kicked in with their sedative side effects.
"Sleep," John said. "I'll stay for a while." He stood up slowly, and bent over Kippy, kissing him on the forehead. Kippy's eyes flickered open at that, carrying on the fluent conversation they were managing with John's.
He got it straight away, and lowered his mouth onto Kippy's.
YOU ARE READING
The Art Guy (18+) COMPLETE, FREE to READ
RomanceMATURE READERS ONLY - CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT It's the 1990s, and 21-year-old Alan Kirkpatrick (aka Kippy) is starting art school and his new life away from the small town he grew up in where no-one knew he was gay. Art school in Glasgow offers ple...
