PENALTY, Annika Sturm [best books to read for self improvement .TXT] 📗

Tom was in charge and Alex obediently followed instructions. He opened a bottle of red wine and poured two glasses. He smiled at Tom cooking. 'I feel bad now. All I served you in Hamburg last time was frozen pizza!' Tom laughed. 'I know but I wouldn't expect anything else from you! Ouch,' he giggled when Alex hit him playfully with the kitchen towel. Tom put him in charge of the wine, the fire and the music, 'hopefully you can cope with that.' He winked at him.

Alex dutifully laid the table and stocked up the fire. He chose one of their favourite albums on Tom's iPod and could hear his friend whistle approvingly from the kitchen. They enjoyed their dinner and their wine and talked for hours about everything and anything. After Alex had gone into the kitchen to top up their glasses, he came back into the lounge to find Tom sitting on the floor by the fire. He looked up at Alex and gave him a beaming smile, patting the floor next to him with his hand. Alex laughed as he sat down and carefully placed the wine glasses in front of them. He put one arm around his friend and kissed his hair. Alex closed his eyes inhaling his scent. 'You smell so good,' he said stroking his hair, 'did you know that?' He giggled. 'No as a matter of fact I didn't!' Tom laughed. They were both relaxing looking at the fire roaring in front of them, silently enjoying their wine and listening to their favourite music. Both wished time could just stand still.

Then Tom sat up and looked at Alex. He climbed on top of his legs and sat on his thighs facing him. He stroked his cheeks and lips. Alex rested his head against the sofa behind him and smiled. Tom leant forward and kissed him longingly. 'Are you seducing me again?' Alex whispered lustfully into his friend's ear. Tom smiled at him cheekily and closed his eyes. Alex took control this time. He pulled up Tom's jumper and started kissing his stomach. His friend was breathing harder and trembled at every kiss. Alex carefully pushed him on to his back on the floor. He slowly undid his belt and opened his jeans as he was still kissing his upper body. Feeling wild with lust now, he was undressing his friend and could hear him moan quietly at his every touch. The taste of his skin and the smell of his scent was all Alex could focus on and he thoroughly enjoyed making Tom feel good.

The boys were wrapped in each other's arms, slowly catching their breath, when the music stopped and all they could hear was the fire spitting and crackling. 'Hold me closer.' Alex whispered and Tom hugged him more tightly. 'Hey', Tom stroked his hair, 'are you alright?' Alex clung on to his friend and forced a laugh. 'Yeah. I just don't want to ever lose you.' He smiled at him sadly. 'Hey', Tom checked his face, 'I'm afraid you're stuck with me,' he laughed, 'I love you Alex. I always will,' he kissed him gently, 'let's get some sleep. We have another busy day tomorrow.' Alex smiled back at him and nodded. Tom took his hand and led him up to the bedroom. They let themselves fall into the big bed and Alex curled up against Tom's chest. 'I'm so tired now.' He mumbled. Tom giggled and kissed him and within minutes the boys had both fallen asleep.

The next day Tom was pleased to see that Alex's snowboarding skills had improved considerably so he took him straight up the mountain. The boys continued their adventure and made sure they covered all the runs of the area. Around mid-afternoon they boarded to a nearby little restaurant and this time they were lucky that it was quiet and no-one recognised them. They ordered cakes and coffee and Alex contently enjoyed the rest break.

Tom checked his phone and his face turned serious. 'For God's sake.' He mumbled. Alex looked at him. 'What?' He asked alarmed. 'She is playing the guilt game,' Tom frowned re-reading the message. Alex ate his cake and waited for his friend to elaborate. Tom packed his phone away and smiled, 'it doesn't matter,' he looked at Alex's empty plate, 'my God you were hungry!' He laughed and started eating his piece. 'Tommy. It does matter. What did she say?', Tom shook his head as his face turned serious again. Alex touched Tom's leg under the table, 'remember what I said to you yesterday?' Tom grinned cheekily. 'That you love me?' He whispered quietly. 'No’, Alex tutted, 'that I'm still your friend and that I want to know what's on your mind, you idiot.' He kept looking at him expectantly. 'It's nothing, she's just giving me grief because I dared to go on a trip with you.' Alex smiled sadly. 'So what are you going to do about it?' 'Nothing.' Tom finished his cake and sipped his coffee.

Alex hadn't thought of saying goodbye yet but this conversation painfully reminded him that their time together was coming to an end.

'Hey, I'm certainly not intending to leave any earlier if that's what you're thinking.' He was searching for Alex's hand under the table and squeezed it hard when he found it. 'Are you sure?' Alex asked quietly. Tom beamed at him. 'Totally.' He said and squeezed his hand again.

The boys got underway, refreshed after their rest break, and enjoyed a couple more long runs in the afternoon sunshine. They increased their speed and raced each other down steep black runs. Alex was having so much fun, he tried not to think about their earlier conversation. But by the time they reached the house, he had become very quiet. Tom noticed his pensiveness but didn't want to pry. Alex silently started the fire again for the evening. He could hear his friend speaking on the phone to Christine in the bedroom but didn't catch every word he said. Tom's voice swung between gentle and frustrated. 'I'll see you tomorrow.' Alex heard him conclude before he opened the door towards the lounge.

Tom joined him by the fire. He watched him light the wood and newspapers and put his arm around him. 'What's the matter?', he asked him. Alex focussed on the task in hand, 'hey,' Tom said tenderly, 'are you angry with me?', he nudged him, 'for boarding faster than you?' He winked at him. Alex laughed out loud. He looked into Tom's gentle eyes and couldn't help but kiss him again. 'I just don't want to say goodbye again Tommy.' He gulped. Tom cast his eyes down and nodded. 'I know,' he said gently, 'but we've still got tonight.' He gave his friend a cheeky smile. Alex played along and laughed. 'Yes we do,’ he kissed him, 'and all this food to eat!' Tom's eyes lit up. He hugged him and jumped up to put some music on. He rushed into the kitchen and started cooking.

Alex decided to keep himself occupied. As he laid the table and attended the wine Tom told him a silly story from his club, which genuinely made Alex chuckle. He reminded him of things to look forward to like the training camp in the Mediterranean in a couple of days they both would attend with their respective clubs and the internationals in only a few weeks when they would meet again. 'Are we not playing against you the weekend before?' Alex asked him. Tom was trying to remember the schedule. 'Possibly!' He nodded. 'One day we'll beat you!' Alex challenged him confidently. Tom tickled him. 'No chance mate.'

They sat down at the dinner table and enjoyed their food. Alex was feeling a little better. 'I never knew what a good chef you are.' 'Years of bachelor experience.' Tom winked at him. 'I'm sorry about earlier.' Alex shook his head. 'It's okay,' Tom said with a straight face, 'you’re allowed to kiss me.' Alex burst out laughing and kicked him under the table. 'Ouch,' Tom giggled, 'will you stop hitting me!' 'You deserve it!' Alex laughed. 'So ungrateful!' Tom complained as he took another sip of his wine. Alex turned serious again. 'I didn't mean to be negative. Christ, you had enough to deal with with Christine,' he paused and looked at him, 'was she alright?' Tom finished his wine and went into the kitchen. 'Well, as much as she can be I guess,’ he came back with a new bottle in his hand, 'Emma doesn't seem to be as possessive. And you have a child!' Alex smiled at him gently. ‘Christine has always been quite demanding though Tommy. She’s an actress, remember?’ Tom nodded and laughed exhaustedly.

The boys silently enjoyed the crackling of the fire and their wine. 'Oh man. I wish it could always be like this.' Tom said. Alex smiled mischievously. 'You have read my mind,' he got up and pulled his friend up from the chair. He kissed his cheek and pulled him closer, 'we really haven't made enough of that massive bed upstairs yet,' he whispered in his ear. Tom giggled amused, 'don't you think?' Alex asked resting his forehead against Tom's. 'Are you seducing me now?' Tom asked and kissed Alex's lips with desire. They stroked each other gently before Alex grabbed Tom's hand and dragged him upstairs. He felt wild with lust again. He pushed Tom onto the bed and started undressing him fast. 'Easy.' Tom said holding his head. Alex was breathing hard. 'Did I hurt you?' He asked worried. 'No, idiot,' Tom chuckled and stroked his hair, 'just slow down a bit,' he smiled at Alex, who tried to control himself, 'do you want to try it?' His smile turned mischievous and it took Alex a moment to realise what he meant. He hesitated and bit his lip. Then he shook his head. 'Tommy,' he kissed him, 'I don't think I'm ready for this.' 'But you want to?', Tom smiled, 'don't you?' he whispered in his ear, 'be really close to me?' Alex shivered and continued undressing Tom more carefully kissing his neck, chest and arms. Tom moaned with pleasure. 'Tommy,' Alex sat up, 'I don't think this is a good idea.' But Tom's lustful eyes and demanding kiss quickly convinced him otherwise and ultimately made him stop fighting his own desire.

'How good was that?' Tom quietly asked kissing him. 'Pretty good,' Alex smiled as he was still catching his breath. Tom clung on to his friend's arms, gently kissing his shoulder, 'sounded like you enjoyed that too?' Alex asked and grinned cheekily. 'Not at all.' Tom giggled. 'Told you it was a bad idea.' Alex winked at him. They held, kissed and stroked each other reassuringly.

Suddenly Alex burst out laughing and shook his head. 'What's so funny?' Tom asked amused. Alex rested his forehead against Tom's. 'Who would have thought this was going to happen when we played together.' Tom laughed too now. 'All innocent and clueless we were.''If we had known then how we would feel for each other...' 'Then we would have not made the choices we made.' Tom finished his sentence. 'When did it happen?' Alex asked him. Tom smiled gently and held him closely again. 'I think it was always there,' he whispered, 'we just couldn't see it.' Alex kissed him. 'I wish we did.' He lay down next to his friend, who curled up against his chest.

Alex stroked Tom's arms and shoulders as he was looking outside the window admiring the snowy mountains again. To him, this felt like the safest, most relaxing place, where the boys could just be themselves. He could hear Tom breathe gently and smiled. 'Good night.' He whispered and kissed his hair. He held him tightly and Tom stirred in his sleep. Alex enjoyed the last few minutes of another perfect day