Page 73 of Best Supporting Actor

Tag stood staring at him, both hands over his mouth, eyes wide. And then he let out a burst of appalled laughter. “Oh my God, are you okay?”

“Ow!” Jay said, touching his cheekbone, half laughing and half glaring in embarrassment at the bloody lamp post he’d walked into. “Who the hell put that there?”

“I thought people only did that in movies,” Tag said, still laughing as he came closer. “Let me see.” He pulled Jay’s hand from his cheek. “Have you got a bruise? Henry will do his nut if you do.”

“I’m fine.” More than fine, in fact, with Tag gently probing his face.

“You need to look where you’re going.”

“You need to stop distracting me.”

Tag chuckled softly. “How was I distracting you?”

“By being so…” Jay met Tag’s smiling eyes and grinned helplessly. “God, you have no idea how much you distract me.”

“Yeah?” The humour in Tag’s expression shifted into something more intimate. “Good. I like distracting you.”

“And you’re very good at it,” Jay murmured.

“I am, and I plan to distract the hell out of you later on.” Tag waggled his eyebrows outrageously. “But first, let’s get you home and put some ice on that cheek.”

Jay really didn’t think he needed ice, but once they were back in the flat, Tag insisted on getting half a bag of frozen peas, wrapping it in a towel, and pressing it to Jay’s cheekbone.

“To stop any bruising,” he explained, kneeling on the sofa next to Jay. His other hand rested lightly on Jay’s thigh. It probably wasn’t intended as a sexual thing, just a casual intimacy, but nonetheless, Jay was suddenly tensely aware of his touch and his closeness.

The tension was frustrating. He and Tag were often physically close in rehearsals, touching and holding each other as the play dictated, and Jay was fine with all of it. But once they got home, it took him ages to relax back into being intimate again. If only he could be more like Tag, who was always so at ease with himself, so present in the moment.

“I think that’ll do for now,” Tag decided eventually, setting the bag of peas on the coffee table and leaning forward to kiss Jay’s cheekbone. His lips felt warm against Jay’s chilled skin. “No permanent damage.”

“Thank you,” Jay said, finding himself a little choked up by Tag’s ministrations. He wished he could articulate why, but he couldn’t find the words, so he just covered Tag’s hand where it still lay on his leg and squeezed.

Turning his own hand over, Tag threaded their fingers together. “Are you worried that Giles might have guessed about us? I know we’re trying to be discreet, but when I saw him pressuring you like that…” He gave a self-conscious shrug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go all caveman.”

Jay laughed, and it released some of his tension. “Youwerea little possessive. But I quite liked it, to be honest.”

Tag gave him a teasing look. “Didyou?”

In answer, Jay leaned forward and brushed his lips against Tag’s in a gentle kiss that swiftly deepened as Tag’s hand came to rest on the back of Jay’s neck, holding him in place. Instinctively, Jay’s body resisted slightly, but when Tag responded by gentling his hold, Jay felt himself start to relax, the stresses of the day easing from his muscles as he lost himself in the feel of Tag’s mouth moving against his own, Tag’s fingers flexing in his hair.

“Better?” Tag murmured after a while.

Jay’s eyes flickered open to find Tag watching him with an affectionate, tender expression that made his chest ache. “Yes, much.”

Tag kissed him again, gentle and warm. “You’ve been stressed today.”

“I know.” He sighed, disappointed that he’d let it show. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologise.” After a pause, Tag asked, “What’s up, though? I mean, other than Giles. And your mum’s party. And the fact that we’re opening next week.” He mimicked a gasp of horror. “OhmyGod!”

Nextweek. Jesus.

Jay’s answering smile felt as watery as his guts. He couldn’t think about opening night. He knew that he should, that hehadto, sooner or later, but right now, he couldn’t.

Instead he said, “I was thinking that I like how easy you find all this.”

“All this what?”

“This.” Jay squeezed Tag’s hand. “Us. It doesn’t freak you out or anything, does it?”