3
Andrew was a few years younger than Jonty and lived with his parents in Seahouses, not far from Devan and Jonty’s place. He and Jonty had been to the same school and although Jonty didn’t remember him, Andrew remembered Jonty. Jonty had wanted to ask why, but decided not to, in case it was something he didn’t want Devan to hear.
But Jonty had liked Andrew when Devan had interviewed him, because of how much he loved Northumberland. Anyone who adored the county as much as him was a winner in Jonty’s mind. He was torn between wanting to tell the world how fabulous it was, and keeping quiet about its beauty to stop the world from visiting.
Andrew opened the door of the small semi-detached house and beckoned Jonty inside. “They’re going to be so excited,” he whispered. “Come on.”
Jonty followed him down the hall and into the lounge. Charlotte was lying in front of the wood-burning stove and Winnie was in his bed, on his back, everything on display. Such a tart. Winnie noticed Jonty first, barked, then twisted over twice in his desperation to get to his feet. He practically flew across the room to Jonty’s side. Jonty dropped to his knees and Winnie leapt into his arms, whining and crying, as he pawed and licked at Jonty’s face. Jonty’s heart filled with love. Being greeted like this was such a delight. If he’d had a dog when he was younger… Charlotte joined in, pushing her head under Jonty’s arm to get him to stroke her too, and Jonty ended up on his back with both dogs on top of him.
“Guess you’re glad to see me,” he said laughing.
Andrew’s parents were in the room and Jonty waved his hello. “Sorry. I know I’m supposed to ignore them and greet people first, but…”
He pushed to his feet and scooped Winnie into his arms. It was like trying to hold an eel, he was wriggling so much. Jonty put him down, only for Winnie to jump at him wanting to be picked up again.
“I know, I know. I’ve missed you too. I hope they’ve not been too much trouble.”
“They’re as good as gold,” said Andrew’s mother.
“Thanks for looking after them. I don’t know how long we’ll be back for. Devan’s mother is ill, so we’ll have to stay in the UK until she’s better.”
Jonty piled their beds, food, leads and other paraphernalia into the boot, then put the dogs in the passenger footwell. It wasn’t the ideal way to transport them, but the flat wasn’t far away.
Fortunately, Winnie, who was the most likely to decide to crawl onto Jonty’s lap at the wrong moment, stayed where he was. Until he stood up, trying to get onto the seat.
“Do not move, Winston Kennedy,” Jonty said, full-naming the excited little dog, who was named after Winston Churchill and President Kennedy, injecting as much authority into his voice as he could. “Lie down. If you scratch the leather, Devan will be pissed off. And not with you but with me, since I let you get up there. Do not tell him I’ve let you sit on a seat.”
He sighed with relief when Winnie settled down again, and he drove back without incident. He put the car in the garage and carried everything into the house, then donned his coat and took the pair for a walk on the beach. The moon was out, so there was plenty of light and no one around. He let both dogs off their leads and Charlotte bounded off along the surf line while Winnie stayed by his side.
Jonty had hoped the walk would make him feel better, and it sort of did, but anxiety still gnawed at his stomach. He couldn’t manage the hotel on his own. He was barely going to be able to organise the Halloween event. He might be good with people—mostly—but he was almost clueless on the admin stuff. Alan wouldn’t be happy that Bruce had walked out. He might even sack him. Bruce wouldn’t risk that, would he? It seemed like a massive overreaction to being told that someone else was organising an event in the hotel. Hotels brought in outside people all the time to do specialised stuff, like wedding fayres. So, was there some other reason Bruce had stormed off?
Don’t tell Devan. He’d find out soon enough anyway, but Jonty didn’t want to worry him. He could manage until Devan arrived. Anyway, Bruce might be sitting at his desk tomorrow as if nothing had happened.
He whistled for Charlotte and set off back to the house.
By the time he’d settled the dogs down for the night in the main room, and made a card for Devan’s mum, because he felt guilty Devan was having to deal with everything, Jonty was so tired, he could hardly keep his eyes open. He got ready for bed, set his alarm for six, which was in seven hours, and called Devan on Zoom.
“Hello, beautiful boy.” Devan smiled and just like that, Jonty’s spirits lifted, and so did something else.
“Hello, gorgeous guy.” Out of sight of the camera, Jonty banged one can of beans against another, to make the noise of horses’ hooves. “Oops. There he goes. Bye horsey.”
Devan laughed. “Everything okay? Apart from the horse doing a bunk.”
Don’t tell him. “Mmm.”
The less he said the better.
“What’s happened?”
Don’t tell him. “I’m naked. Look.” Jonty showed him his foot, his knee, then skipped to his chest.
“So you are. Apart from two tins of beans. What’s wrong?”
“Why do you think something’s wrong?”
“Because.”
“Because what?”
“Just because.”
“Because it’s me?” Jonty couldn’t help bristling.
“No, because you sound tired and anxious.”
“It’s been a long day.” Jonty yawned. “Sorry. The car is fine, by the way. I drove it perfectly. Hand-brake turns are easy-peasy. I did the gears in the right order 1-3-2-4.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Are you naked?”
“Yes. Excited to see the range of equipment you promised. Particularly the horsey hooves. Call the horse back.”
“Amazon cocked up. I was pretending. Sorry. I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Devan laughed.
“Show me your nakedness,” Jonty said. “But wait a moment.” He grabbed a Flake from the bedside table and tore it open. “Okay. Now I’m ready.” He put the end of the Flake in his mouth.
As Devan angled his phone to show Jonty his body, Jonty moaned and sucked the chocolate. When Devan looked at Jonty’s face, he groaned.
“Can’t you use your laptop?” Devan asked. “I can’t see enough of you.”
“What are you most interested in? My hands, my cock or my face? Or my arse?”
“You want me to choose?”
“Yes.”
“Your face. I miss your smile.”
“Correct answer. I’ll get the laptop.”
“Don’t scoff that Flake!” he heard Devan call.
Jonty set the laptop up at the bottom of the bed, adjusted the pillows and once he’d made sure Devan would see what he wanted him to see, he called him.
“Jesus, Jonty!”
Jonty had curled up and brought his knees to his shoulders so that he could get the top of his cock in his mouth, along with a second Flake because he’d eaten the first. I am a pig. He sucked, writhed and moaned, and Devan let out a strangled sound.