There was only one thing left for him to do. Now that the nursery workshops were all set up, he was determined to get Adam at the dance studio, alone. Maybe they could be together there. They'd be taking the photos out of hours. There would be no one there but them. The idea gave him delightful shivers.
"I'm glad things are going well," Adrianna said, breaking into his thoughts. "I'll see you on Monday, okay?"
"Bright and early," Luc assured her, before hanging up the call.
Luc stayed where he was, staring at his laptop screen. He had work to do for Adrianna, but he suddenly begrudged doing it. Not that he could blame her for wanting him back in the office. She paid him more than the going rate for what he did, and she had been really good about letting him take time off without any notice. He couldn't abuse her generosity by delaying any longer. It just seemed so unfair that, after years of desiring Adam, he'd finally managed to get his hands on him—and his mouth—and now he had to leave again.
He forced himself to work, allowing the tasks he needed to complete for Adrianna to consume his thoughts as much as possible, in an attempt to ease the ache that was starting to form in his chest.
He emerged from his room around the time he knew Adam and their parents would be heading off to the dance school for the evening's lessons. Sure enough, he found them all in the kitchen, preparing the lunches and drinks that would see them through five hours of teaching.
"Hi, Luc," his mum said when she noticed him leaning against the doorframe. "You look thoughtful."
Adam swung round, a smile on his face at first, but it quickly faded.
"Adrianna needs me back in the office on Monday," he told them. "So, I'll have to get a train home on Sunday." He tried not to look at Adam as he spoke, but he couldn't resist the smallest glance at his stepbrother.
Adam's lips had parted and tension had flooded his body. He turned away, roughly buttering bread as though he was determined to kill it with the dull knife he was using.
"I'll keep helping out, though," he assured his parents. "I can chat with you in the evenings about how things are going and I'll keep coming up with promotion ideas." He took a breath, before hurrying on, needing to speak so he didn't concentrate too hard on Adam's angry motions. "I was thinking you could do some free performances in shopping centres and arcades. Only two or three routines, but maybe repeated every couple of hours throughout the day. Hand out flyers whilst your students are dancing—"
"With free lesson coupons?" Ken asked.
Luc replied with a dry laugh. "Yes," he agreed. "With a free lesson coupon. Everyone wants something for free, Dad. It's one of the best ways to hook people. Just make sure you don't set your expectations too high. You won't manage to hold onto every potential student."
"We know," his mum assured him. "Thank you for everything you've done."
"It'll take time to build momentum," he said. "The nursery workshops are your best chance for an immediate boost of students." He paused and picked at some flaking paint on the doorframe, watching the speckles fall through the air. He wished he could give them definite assurances that everything would be okay, but the truth was marketing involved a lot of throwing darts into the dark, whilst hoping several hit the bullseye. "If you let me know how long it would take you to come up with some routines, I'll organise the shopping centre thing for you."
"I'm not sure about putting our students on display like that," Ken muttered.
"We might have to," Luc's mum said, sidling up to Ken so she could wrap her arms around him. "Besides, I think they'd enjoy the chance to show off. And as long as we have permission from their parents, where's the harm?"
Luc was glad his mum was taking his side. They needed to try out his ideas to see if they could turn things around, something he knew they needed to do as fast as possible.
"I thought Adam and I could go to the studio tomorrow morning, so I can take those photos of him dancing," he went on, realising he was talking too fast only after the sentence had rushed out of him.
"Great idea," Ken said, in a more positive tone. "Should I come with you to help?"
"I think we can handle it, Dad," Adam said, speaking for the first time. Not that he turned around to look at any of them, as he slapped sheets of ham, cheese and lettuce leaves onto the bread he'd buttered.
"I'll just keep snapping photos," Luc said in the brightest tone he could muster. "One or two are bound to come out fantastically and that's all we need."
"Okay," Ken said, his chin dimpling as he glanced between them.
Adam shoved the sandwiches onto foil and wrapped them up, before finally turning around. "We'd better go, or we'll be late."
"We're not in that much of a rush," their mum said.
"I'll go get my coat," Adam said, before stalking out of the room.
Their mum gazed after him. Their dad bit his lower lip thoughtfully.
"I thought you two were starting to get along better," Ken said.
We are, Luc thought, which was precisely why Adam was so angry.
"Sometimes." He forced himself to laugh. "Maybe he's glad to see the back of me."
"I don't think so," his mum said, softly. "I think he's upset that you're going, when you're finally starting to mend your relationship."
They'd done a whole lot more than 'mend' their relationship.
Luc cleared his throat. "Yeah, you might be right. I'll chat with him about it tomorrow. It's not like I'll be gone for good." He looked at them seriously. "I promise I'll be better at keeping in touch and visiting. It's been great spending time with you. With all of you." He really meant that and was determined to never let such a big rift come between them again.
***
Luc sat at the edge of the dance studio, taking as many photos as he could, whilst Adam moved around the space. All of his steps looked effortless, even the jumps seemed to take no effort at all. It was only when Adam started to work up a sweat that Luc could tell he was exerting any energy. Adam looked beautiful. There was a serene expression on his face and his gaze was soft, as though he wasn't really looking at anything at all; as though there was nothing but him and the music. It was captivating, breath taking, but also a little heart breaking. Dancing was what Adam was born to do. Not alone in a dance studio, or in a cellar, but on stage, in front of an adoring audience. He kept his thoughts to himself and lost himself in the show his brother was putting on, just for him.
"Did you get any good ones?" Adam asked, breathing heavily. He stood in the centre of the room, his hands on his hips.
Luc looked through the photos on the small camera screen. "Hard to tell. One or two." He grinned. "Maybe you should dance some more, just to make sure."
"You just like seeing me in tights."
Luc let his gaze linger on Adam's crotch. "What can I say? They leave nothing to the imagination." He licked his lips.
"Do you ever think about anything other than sex?"
Luc nodded as he stood. "I think about you." He wandered up to Adam and kissed him. "I think about having sex with you all the fucking time."
Adam laughed and turned away, but Luc grabbed his arm and pulled him back, into a tight embrace.
"I want you," he said huskily. "Now."
Adam placed his hands on Luc's chest and pushed him away gently, but forcefully. "I want you too, but not here. We can't fuck each other in a place where kids come to learn how to dance."
Luc growled with frustration. "Then where, Adam? You don't want to screw in a darkroom because it's too seedy and you don't want to screw here because what? Our deviant sexual behaviour might somehow rub off on a bunch of kids who aren't even here?" He dragged his hand through his hair. "I'm leaving in a few days."
"Do you think I don't know that?" Adam demanded. "Do you think I'm happy about it?"
"No." Luc sighed. "Of course not."
Adam turned to face him, his eyes wide and sorrowful. "How do we even know this is anything other than lust, Luc?"
Luc pressed his lips t
ogether. As far as he was concerned, he'd been in love with Adam for years. But then, his stepbrother had changed a lot. There was a possibility he was in love with the person he remembered Adam being, rather than the adult he’d become. He wanted his feelings for Adam to be more than carnal, but he couldn't be sure.
"We don't," he said sullenly. "It'll take time for us to figure that out."
"But we don't have time, do we? We live three hours apart," Adam reminded him. "I know this past week we've made an effort to act like we're making up and getting along, but Mum and Dad will be suspicious as hell if I suddenly decide to visit you every weekend."
Luc stared at him. "You'd do that?"
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a double bed?"
Luc nodded.
"Then fuck yeah, I'd do that."
This time, it was Adam who closed the distance between them. Adam who grabbed Luc and pulled him into an aggressive kiss.
"God, I want you," Adam whispered, as their lips parted. "These past few days have been killing me."
"And me," Luc agreed with a humourless chuckle. "Are you sure this place is off limits?" He asked. "I've got a fantasy about taking you over one of the barres."
Adam winced. "That doesn't sound massively comfortable." He shook his head. "It wouldn't be right, Luc."
Luc threw his arms up and stalked several paces away. "I guess I'm more of a deviant than you because I really don't see a problem with it. No one would know."
"Haven't we spent long enough fighting?" Adam asked, his voice weary. "Do we have to fight now, when we've only got a few days left together?"
"But we're not together, are we?" Luc said. "We're like two ships passing in the night. We can see each other's lights and hear each other's horns, but we can't get too close in case we crash and sink."
Adam did nothing but stare at him, which drove Luc insane. He wanted—no, needed—Adam to react in some way, even if it was just to stamp his foot and complain that it was so unfair. He'd take the childish gesture, or another kiss, or steamy embrace. He'd even take Adam yelling in his face, telling him not to be so fucking petulant.
"Maybe we should tell Mum and Dad," Luc said, when he couldn't stand the silence any longer.
Adam took a step back, shaking his head. "We can't."
"Why not? At least then everything would be out in the open. We wouldn't have to hide or sneak around. They might understand."
"Or they might not," Adam hissed. "Maybe when we're a few months down the line and we know we want to be together, and we’re sure this isn't just lust. But not now. I can't risk them hating us over something that might not last, Luc."
"Well that's just fucking great," Luc muttered sarcastically. "It's wonderful to hear how much fucking confidence you have in us."
"Don't be ridiculous," Adam said, as Luc stomped over to where he'd left the camera. "You admitted not five minutes ago that you didn't know if what we had was real. Now you're getting childish because I'm agreeing with you?"
To himself, Luc was happy to admit that he was being pathetically stupid, but he wasn't going to say it out loud.
"If this is nothing more than lust, why are we even bothering?" he shot back, before grabbing the camera.
"Where are you going?"
"Home. I've got work to do for the woman who actually pays me."
"Luc."
Luc didn't look back. He needed to be angry, even though it was unfair of him to direct his anger at Adam. He was mad at their situation; at how difficult it was always going to be for them to be together in any capacity. And yes, he shared Adam's fear that their parents would hate them if—when—their relationship came out. Because it would. Secrets always had a nasty habit of coming of out and theirs was an incredibly hard one to keep.
Chapter Nineteen
Adam
"Do you have your stuff ready?" Adam asked Luc, as he waltzed into the kitchen for breakfast.
They'd barely spoken to each other since their argument at the dance school, mostly because they couldn't talk things through whilst there was any chance of their parents overhearing. At least, Adam hoped that was the reason Luc had chosen to give him the cold shoulder.
Luc stared at him like he'd spoken in Martian or something. "Yes, but my train isn't for three hours."
Adam shrugged, painfully aware that their parents were sitting at the table with him. "Yeah, well, I've got something I need to do after I drop you off. You don't mind if I take you early, do you?"
"Adam!" their mum scolded.
Adam stared pointedly at Luc, hoping to convey in his expression what he couldn't in words: Trust me.
"You can drop me off early," Luc said, his voice hesitant. "I should be able to catch an earlier train."
"You could get a taxi?" Deborah suggested. "That way you don't have to rush off, just because Adam has double booked his time."
Luc waved his hand. "It's fine. I should probably have thought about leaving earlier anyway. I'm all packed." He eyed up Adam again. "Do I have time to have some toast, or are you eager to get off now?"
Adam wanted to go, but he nodded. "Yeah, whatever."
Thankfully, Luc was quick about eating something and then jogging upstairs to grab his suitcase and rucksack.
"It's been lovely having you here," Deborah said, giving Luc a big hug, whilst Adam stood awkwardly on the doorstep. "You'd better keep your promise about visiting more regularly." She buried her face against Luc's shoulder.
Adam could see tears brimming in his stepbrother’s eyes. Luc caught Adam’s stare and lifted a questioning eyebrow. In response, Adam tapped the car keys against his thigh.
"Thanks for all your help," their dad said, shaking Luc's hand once Deborah had released him.
"I'm not done yet," Luc assured him. "I got a couple of amazing shots of Adam the other day. Jane is looking at them to see what kind of promotional material she can make for you."
Their dad pursed his lips. "I haven't seen any kind of bill from this designer friend of yours."
Luc shrugged. "She owes me some favours, don't worry about it."
At the last second, their dad pulled Luc into a hug. His chin quivered and Adam was sure his brother was about to break down, but somehow he held it together.
“I love you,” Luc said, as their dad released him. “All of you.” His voice was rough and on the edge of cracking. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
“You’d better be,” Deborah said, wrapping her arms around him and her husband as she started to cry.
“Don’t,” Luc pleaded. “You’ll set me off too.” He stepped away from their parents and wiped the back of his hand roughly over his eyes. “Let’s go,” he said to Adam. “Before these two have me blubbing in the middle of the street.”
Adam pressed his lips together to smother the smile that wanted to be set free. Luc picked up his suitcase and walked alongside Adam to the car, which was parked a little further down the street.
They drove in silence to start with, Adam tapping the steering wheel with his fingertip as he navigated through the streets.
"This isn't the way to the train station," Luc said. He had been staring out the window, his chin balanced on his palm. But now he turned his head to face Adam and stare at him questioningly.
Adam remained silent. They'd broken free of the outskirts of the city and were driving through the first vestiges of the countryside.
"Where are we going?"
"Just enjoy the ride," Adam said. "You said it yourself, you've got plenty of time before your train arrives."
He eventually stopped the car at the end of a service road, that had at one time served a logging operation. Now the area was completely abandoned and, when Adam turned the engine off, there were no sounds except the rustle of the wind in the trees, the tweet of birds and their own breathing.
"I owe you an apology," Adam said, using the lever to push the driver's seat back as far as it would go. "And it was one I couldn't give you at home."
&nbs
p; Curiosity made Luc's eyes sparkled. "Have you been here before?"
Adam shrugged. "Maybe. Do you really want to know? I get the feeling you're the jealous type."
Luc grabbed the collar of Adam's jacket and dragged him close, their mouths slamming together.
"When it comes to you, yes, I'm jealous as hell," Luc said, releasing Adam. "So, what kind of apology were you thinking of giving me?"
Adam grinned as he undid his seatbelt. He leaned across, for once glad of the weird position of the gearstick on the dashboard, as he began to unbuckle Luc's belt. "This kind." He glanced up as he popped Luc's button and unzipped his fly. "I couldn't let you go home all frustrated, could I?" He hooked his fingers under the waistband of Luc's boxers and tugged.
"What about you?" Luc asked. "Aren't you frustrated?"
"Very," Adam assured him. "And horny as hell. Now are you going to let me get my mouth on you, or not?"
Luc gestured towards the back seat with his head. "No reason we can't both get off, is there?"
The car wasn't exactly roomy, buy Adam guessed that fooling around on the back seat would have to be easier than straining his back leaning over to suck Luc off in the passenger seat. He clambered over into the back, taking his trainers, socks, jeans and boxers off whilst he waited for Luc to follow him.
"You're sure no one comes down here?" Luc asked.
"No one," Adam assured him. "Well, maybe other horny couples, but probably not at this time of day."
He tugged on Luc's jeans, dragging them and his boxers round his knees, before pulling his groin to his mouth. He buried his face in Luc's crotch, feeling his stepbrother's rough pubic hair against his face, breathing in the scent of cock and balls.
"Fuck, you smell good," he said, before moving his face, so he could suck Luc's balls into his mouth.
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