Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

sucking on his neck, and the soft, but strong hold Steve had on his body, and by the oh so artful way in which he was grinding his hips into Mike's.
    Without conscious thought he surged into Steve's body, needing more of what Steve was giving him. He groaned louder, becoming lost in the sensations, even though a part of him was beginning to worry about getting caught.
    When Steve moved his mouth back up to Mike's he instantly forgot about where they were and whimpered, his cock now rock hard and desperately wanting what Steve was heading toward; release. Then Steve stopped, his body stilling, his mouth lifting. Mike blinked his eyes open, a protest forming on his lips, but Steve's smile robbed him of all but the ability to smile back.
    "You make the sweetest sounds when you're turned on," Steve murmured.
    "I do?" Slowly coming to his senses, Mike squirmed a little until Steve lowered him, holding on until he'd regained the use of his legs.
    "Are you okay?" Steve's concern was sweet, but Mike was too embarrassed by his wanton display to do more than nod.
    "Sure?" Steve looked at him for a moment, then stroked down Mike's face, his hand warm and tender.
    "I'm fine." He straightened his shirt and ran a slightly shaking hand through his disheveled hair, hoping Steve wouldn't notice how unsettled he was. This was so different from what he expected. The way Steve gently touched and kissed him was not the quick rough and tumble he'd assumed Steve would dish out, and Mike wasn't sure how to take it.
    "Good, then I'll take you to your car." Bending to give Mike a quick kiss, Steve curled his hand through Mike's and led him out of the alley.
    Overly conscious of who might spot them, Mike didn't look around, but kept his gaze glued to his feet. It wasn't as if he was ashamed of being seen coming out of an alley looking like he'd been thoroughly kissed, it was just that he didn't want to look like he wanted to go back and do it all again.
    ****
    The flat Mike stood outside was a scruffy, dirty, unkempt mirror image of its neighbors, all of which hardly looked good enough to house animals, let alone people. Standing in the middle of an industrial area, Mike had at first thought this block of dwellings were storage facilities, until he'd noticed the washing hanging off the outside balconies, and the children's toys scattered like so much flotsam among the cracked and litter-ridden expanse of concrete that was a sorry excuse for a communal garden.
    Steve's text asking him to come to his house instead of the restaurant they'd agreed on was the furthest thing Mike had expected. He'd thought Steve had wanted to try and impress him after the fiasco at the pub. Changing venues at short notice wasn't a way to do that, but it wasn't the change so much that dismayed him, it was where the hell he was. He checked the address again. This was definitely the right place, but surely Steve didn't live here?
    Disillusionment curdled through his stomach along with a little bit of apprehension. A gang of youths had moved into place at the far end of the building, looking like they were ready to rob anything that wasn't nailed down. Mike eyed them for a moment, wondering if Steve would be prepared to help him back to his car. A big man like him wouldn't be afraid of the skinny-looking thugs, or at least Mike assumed he wouldn't, but he wondered why Steve lived in an area like this, surely he could afford something better.
    Wincing, because he knew better than to question people's living arrangements, Mike still hesitated in knocking on the door. Steve was nothing like the type of man Mike usually associated with, and though he'd already decided to date Steve, specifically because the man attracted him like no one else he'd met, he was worried Steve was too singular, and they would never really find a common ground. Unless their attraction to each other was the common ground.
    Confused, uncertain, Mike hovered, his hands clenched at his sides. How far did Steve want to take this? He said he preferred dating than hooking up, but how many times did he date before he took a man to his bed, and did he then drop that man once he'd had enough? Mike wasn't really expecting a long term relationship with Steve, but he certainly would like to have more than just a few short nights with him. But he wouldn't even get that if he didn't take the plunge and knock on the damn door.
    Emboldened by the memories of Steve's sweet kisses, gentle touches, and the hard,