Nick and Charlie's relationship changed. In the weeks that followed they spent every possible moment together, meeting each other from work and spending the night at either flat.
There was now an innocence to their intimacy and what was once driven by lust and hunger was now driven by love and care. Instead of feeling a slight emptiness after, Nick now felt blissfully happy and content as he snuggled with Charlie and stroked the hot skin on his back.
Nick didn't have to hide how he felt anymore and he loved that Charlie allowed him to shower him with affection because that's what Nick did best. He watched as Charlie started to become more comfortable showing affection back and soon, every second they were together they were completely wrapped up in each other.
🍂🍂🍂
"Darcy keeps asking me to go to Queer and Here again, will you come?" Nick asked as they laid in bed cuddling and the fog of their orgasms started to lift.
"Yeah." Charlie murmured, in that moment he would have agreed to go anywhere with Nick as he slowly drew a circle on his chest with his finger while the feeling of satisfied relaxation radiated throughout his body.
"Is tonight okay?" Nick asked.
"Yeah." Charlie said dreamily.
"Charlie." He giggled affectionately.
"Hmm?"
"Are you listening to what I'm saying?" He laughed.
"Nick I've just had mind blowing sex with you, my brain hasn't caught up yet." Charlie giggled.
"Mind blowing?" Nick chuckled softly, rolling on his side to face Charlie.
"Mmhmm." Charlie murmured, softly rubbing his nose against Nick's.
"I've had many compliments but never mind blowing." Nick teased.
"Many compliments?" Charlie challenged.
"Yep." Nick laughed.
"Well, you're not that good." Charlie said cheekily.
"Oi!" Nick laughed and kissed him softly.
"Will you come to Here and Queer with me tonight?" Nick asked again.
"I'd go anywhere with you." Charlie said as he gazed into Nick's eyes.
"Who are you and what have you done with Charlie Spring?" Nick teased.
"Sorry, the old Charlie can't come to the phone right now, he's too busy being in love." He laughed but quickly stopped as he realised what he just said and he started to panic a little.
"Charlie?" Nick said softly.
"I'm okay, just surprised myself." Charlie said quietly.
Nick kissed his forehead and Charlie started to feel guilty that he still couldn't just open himself to loving Nick.
"I'm sorry." Charlie whispered.
"Please stop apologising, it's okay I understand." Nick said gently.
"You do?"
"Yes, Charlie I studied psychology at uni. I work with children, I know that when you go through something traumatic in your formative years it can affect you way into adulthood and change how you form relationships."
"You're so sexy when you talk like that." Charlie giggled.
"Charlie." He laughed affectionately.
"Thank you for being so amazing."
"Amazing at what?" Nick asked playfully, rolling them so he was leaning over him.
"Everything." Charlie said dreamily.
"Hmm, everything?" Nick asked, deepening his voice and kissing Charlie's neck.
"Mmhmm..." Charlie murmured, breathing heavily.
As he kissed his neck he climbed on top of him and Charlie adjusted his lower half to give Nick access.
"Mmm you wanna go again?" Nick whispered seductively in his ear.
"Yes." Charlie breathed, quivering.
"Thought I wasn't that good?" He teased, gently nipping Charlie's earlobe.
"You are... So good... So so good." Charlie whimpered desperately, his voice shaking.
"Mmmm..." Nick murmured as he pushed into him.
"Ohh god." Charlie breathed.
"Is that what you wanted?" Nick whispered in his ear, slowly thrusting into him.
"Yes... Can't get... Enough..." Charlie said breathlessly, gripping his back as the intense pleasure only Nick could provide rippled through him.
🍂🍂🍂
Nick and Charlie had spent the rest of the day in bed together, unable to quench their thirst for each other until they were physically unable to go again.
They showered and headed out to Darcy's bar, getting chips on the way to the tube station because they had both forgotten to eat. Nick couldn't help but giggle at the fact Charlie was walking a little funny and Charlie gave him a side eye glance and they both burst into a fit of laughter.
Making Charlie happy made Nick happy and he'd dedicate the rest of his life to doing so if it meant he could hear that laugh. Nick had never been in love with a man before, he'd known he was bisexual for about ten years and had dated men but nothing ever seemed to stick until Charlie.
He wasn't even sure he'd ever even been in love with a woman. He'd had long term girlfriends but it was never like this. With Charlie it all felt so natural, so easy and they had a mutual understanding for each other that he'd never had with anyone.
Charlie's struggles hadn't made him love him any less and even though he wasn't ready to outwardly say it, Nick knew Charlie loved him just as much. He could see it in his eyes when he looked at him and he could feel it when they hugged and Charlie nuzzled into him like Nick was his home.
As they walked from the tube station to Darcy's bar, Nick lit up a cigarette and out the corner of his eye he saw Charlie gazing at him.
"What?" Nick giggled.
"Nothing." Charlie said suddenly going all shy.
"Tell me." He laughed, throwing his arm around Charlie's shoulders and smoking with the other hand.
"When we first kissed... You tasted of whiskey and cigarettes so when you smoke... I dunno the smell of it... Comforts me..." Charlie said a bit awkwardly.
And as he said that, Nick realised that all this time Charlie and felt the same way he had felt and he couldn't help but smile.
"Charlie that's adorable." He said softly, kissing his cheek.
"Is it?" Charlie giggled.
"Yeah... And slightly problematic because I really should quit." He laughed.
"I'll just have to bottle your smell before you do then." Charlie giggled.
"My smell?"
"You always smell of a mixture of cigarettes and Floris. I love it so much."
"Good." Nick chuckled softly.
"Apart from when you smell of sweat and sex but I also love that." Charlie laughed.
Nick stopped and stubbed out his cigarette on the bin outside the bar. He gently pulled Charlie in front of him and placed one hand on the back of his neck, the other hand on his waist and lent his forehead on his.
"Please don't freak out when I say this." He said softly.
"What?" Charlie giggled slightly nervously.
"I am so in love with you." He whispered and Charlie's eyes filled with tears as they kissed slowly, their lips moving gently against each others.
"Nicholas!" Darcy's excited voice broke their kiss and they both looked at them dazed.
"Hey." Nick said, unwillingly letting go of Charlie and hugging them.
"Sorry did I interrupt something?" They giggled.
"Just a bit." Nick laughed, letting go of them.
"Christ you can't get enough can you." They laughed looking at both their necks that were covered in red marks and light bruises.
"I'm so sorry about Darcy, you'll get used to it." Nick chuckled, putting his arm around Charlie's shoulders and Charlie hugged him around his waist, snuggling into him.
"You love me." Darcy teased, turning to go back inside and gesturing for Nick and Charlie to follow them.
Before they went inside, Nick turned to Charlie's ear and whispered.
"You okay?" Realising that he still seemed slightly dazed.
"Yeah." Charlie breathed and smiled at him.
🍂🍂🍂
Once inside the bar Nick and Charlie ordered their drinks, found a table and settled down, sitting close with their fingers interlocked.
"Can I try some?" Charlie asked, moving his hand towards Nick's whiskey.
"Go for it." Nick said, moving it towards him and Charlie took a tiny sip and made a disgusted face and quickly passed it back which made Nick laugh.
"I thought you liked the taste." Nick said, taking a sip.
"Only when it's in your mouth." Charlie giggled.
"I know something else you like in my mouth." Nick said seductively and kissed him.
"Nick!" Charlie giggled.
"What?" Nick said innocently and smiled.
"I'll just stick to fruity." Charlie said taking a sip of his cocktail.
"Well... I didn't wanna say..." Nick teased.
"Oi! You're just as gay as me!" Charlie laughed, choking on his drink a little.
"Am I?" Nick said, kissing Charlie's ear.
"You are when you're sucking my dick." Charlie laughed.
"Charlie!" Nick giggled.
"You started it!" Charlie said defensively and they both laughed.
When Nick had said what he did outside the bar, Charlie had freaked out a little and was thankful for the distraction of Darcy.
But as he sat with him, drinking their drinks, laughing and indulging in flirty banter he started to feel all his panic melt away. Charlie had never believed in soulmates until he'd met Nick but he was now certain he'd found his.
Nick was his everything and exactly his type in every way possible. He was the perfect mixture of adorable and sexy, had a body that drove Charlie absolutely crazy and the most perfectly beautiful face he'd ever seen. He was also a genuinely a lovely, kind person and so funny.
How could Charlie not fall completely in love with him and the more time he spent in his company the more he fell and the less it scared him. Nick was his safety net that he could fall into and know he wouldn't get hurt.
"Hey gays." Darcy said, sitting down at their table.
"Shouldn't you be working?" Nick teased.
"That's the beauty of being the owner Nicky, I choose when I work." They laughed.
"That's the only reason you opened a bar isn't it?" Nick laughed.
"Maybe... So what have you two been up to today?" They asked.
Nick and Charlie exchanged a look and started sniggering because before coming here they'd only done one thing all day.
"Oh my god! Forget I asked!" Darcy laughed wrinkling her nose.
"Honeymoon phase, sorry." Charlie giggled and Nick looked at him adoringly, surprised by what he said and proud of the fact he was starting to seem comfortable around his friend.
They held eye contact for a few seconds and then kissed, melting into each other and forgetting they were in a public place as hands started to wander over bodies.
"Urgh, don't make me get my spray bottle out!" Darcy said.
"Sorry." Nick giggled, breaking their kiss.
They finished their drinks and Nick went out for a cigarette, Charlie instinctively got up to go with him, not worrying about seeming clingy.
He watched as Nick placed a cigarette between his lips and lit it. Everything Nick did was so effortlessly sexy and he couldn't help but stare.
"Stop looking at me like that." Nick laughed as he took a drag of his cigarette which made him cough a little.
"I can't help it." Charlie said flirtatiously.
"If you carry on I'll end up having to take you in the toilet." Nick chuckled.
"I'm fine with that." Charlie said, stepping closer to him placing his hand on his chest.
"Darcy would actually murder me." Nick laughed.
Over Nick's shoulder Charlie noticed a man walking towards them who didn't look very friendly. He started to feel a little worried and moved to stand by Nick's side.
Nick looked over his shoulder and protectively put his arm around Charlie's waist, pulling him into him.
As the man passed them he glared at Charlie as he went into the bar which made him nervous. He looked up at Nick and saw he was glaring at the man, his nostrils flairing a little and Charlie relaxed, realising he was safe.
"Don't worry, if he starts Darcy will kick him out. They can be pretty scary." Nick laughed but Charlie could tell he was agitated.
"Come on." Nick said as he stubbed out his cigarette and took Charlie's hand, leading him back inside. Charlie knew Nick was protective of him but he'd never seen him in action and he liked it a lot. Another thing to add to his mental list of reasons why Nick was amazing.
"I'm gonna go get us another drink." Charlie announced as Nick sat down.
"Do you want me to come?" Nick asked.
"No, I'll be fine." Charlie said smiling, wanting to show Nick he made him feel comfortable and confident.
"Okay." Nick said smiling and as Charlie walked to the bar he could feel Nick's eyes on him.
Charlie stood at the bar waiting to be served, it was a lot busier now. The man from outside walked over and stood near Charlie, waiting for a bartender to become available and Charlie looked back at Nick who looked like he was ready to pounce.
"Same again?" A smiley woman with blonde streaks asked Charlie, taking the empty glasses from him.
"Yes please." Charlie said.
"I've known Nick since school, it's nice to see him so happy." She said smiling and Charlie smiled back.
She made Charlie's cocktail and put it in front of him and he heard the man from outside snigger but he ignored it.
"Makes sense." The man said to himself laughing.
"What?" Charlie snapped.
"You two, your drinks." He laughed and stepped towards Charlie.
Before he could react, Nick was by his side.
"Do you have a problem?" Nick said flatly, moving in front of Charlie.
"Hey, none of that in here." The woman with blonde streaks said as she brought Nick's drink over.
"I was just saying you can always tell who the bottom is." The man sneered.
"What?!" Nick said through gritted teeth, squaring up to him.
"Nick, leave it." The woman said and then Darcy appeared.
"What's going on?" They asked.
"Just some twat who can't keep his mouth shut." Nick said irritated, moving away from the man and putting his arm around Charlie's shoulders.
"Not my fault if you can't take a joke." The man said.
"Not a joke if no one's laughing mate." Nick said loudly and his voice was deep. Charlie put his arm around Nick's waist and moved as close as possible to him. He'd never seen him like this and he was surprised by how intimidating he could be.
"Alright, out!" Darcy said to the man who started complaining but quickly left when he saw Darcy meant business.
"You can have these." The woman said.
"Thanks Imogen." Nick said, smiling at her.
They took their drinks and went and sat back down. Charlie was in complete awe of Nick and he'd also found the whole thing very attractive.
"You okay?" Nick asked softly.
"Yeah." Charlie breathed, looking at Nick in amazement and cupped his face, kissing him softly then rested his forehead on Nick's.
He gazed into his eyes, his lips slightly parted and his breathing staggered.
"Whiskey and cigarettes?" Nick giggled.
"I love you so much." Charlie whispered and kissed him again, sliding his hands to the back of his head and he felt Nick's hands on his back, pulling him close as they kissed slowly but passionately.
Charlie started to cry softly as they kissed, not because he was scared but because he could finally let himself be completely in love with Nick and it wasn't scary, it was beautiful.