“How long does it take to get a divorce in the UK?”
I huffed. “Twenty weeks from first applying, then we apply for a conditional order, which basically means the court reviews our case, then tells us they don’t see any reason why we can’t divorce. That part can take several weeks. If all goes well, they send us a certificate, but we’ll still be married at that point. We’ll have to wait forty-three days after the conditional order is granted before we can apply to finalise the divorce and end the marriage. So all told? It’ll take about seven months.”
We stopped outside the door to Stefan’s building. He turned to me, smiling.
“And then you’ll be a free man.”
Something in me caught on that, but before I could say anything, my phone pinged. I pulled it from my pocket and glanced at the screen. I chuckled.
“It’s from Karl. He saysAm I forgiven for the deception?”
“Are you going to reply?”
I gave a half smile. “Later.” Right then I was still thinking about what Stefan had just said.
By the time we were inside his apartment, I knew I couldn’t let the moment go by. I waited until he closed the door before speaking.
I removed my boots, just as I’d always done. “You said downstairs that I’d be a free man. But… I don’t think that’s the right word.”
Stefan’s brow furrowed. “No?”
I shook my head, my chest tight. “Free makes it sound like there’s… space. Options. As if I’m stepping out of something and back into—” I paused, searching for it. “Possibility.”
He didn’t break eye contact.
“That’s not how it feels,” I said quietly. I swallowed. “I lied about not having a speech prepared. I’ve been practising something. In German.” Before he could say another word, I took a breath. “Ich liebe dich. Seitdem ich aus Berlin weg bin, war ich mit niemandem mehr zusammen. Ich will keinen anderen Mann außer dir.” I enunciated every word, not looking away, watching his face. “That’s what I mean.” My voice was quieter now. “I don’t feel… free.” I paused. “Not in that way. I chose this. I choseyou.” Another pause. “And I’m not looking for anything else.”
I didn’t want to put pressure on him, to demand anything of him, but I had to tell him the truth.
Stefan caught his breath, his eyes glistening. One hand cupped my cheek, the other was on my neck.
“I love you, Kieran Walsh. And since you left, I too haven’t been with anyone else. And as for that last part? I don’t want any other man but you either.”
A heartbeat later, his lips locked on mine, and I looped my arms around his neck, moulding my body to his.
“I got tested in Manchester,” I murmured between kisses.
“I was tested last week.”
I didn’t waste a second. I shrugged off my jacket, Stefan removed his coat and scarf, and we were right back to kissing again. I gave him a shove, until his back met the wall, and seconds later I was on my knees, his jeans unzipped, his cock in my mouth, his balls in my hand.
“Oh, fuck.” Stefan closed his eyes. “I’ve missed that mouth.”
“And I’ve missed how you smell.” I breathed him in. “You’re still using that citrus body wash.” I took him deep, pulling moans from his lips as I bobbed my head, his hands resting on my hair, stroking and tugging.
He slipped his hands under my pits and hauled me to my feet, spinning me around until I faced the door jamb. “Grab hold,” he ground out. He slid his hands around my waist, unfastened my jeans, and tugged them and my briefs to the floor.
“You’re wearing underwear,” he said with a catch in his voice.
“I didn’t know I’d be meeting you, or that I’d have a bare arse within an hour of landing.” Then he knelt behind me, pressed his face into my crease, and holyfuck, his tongue was exactly where I wanted it.
Where I’d been dreaming about it being since I’d boarded the flight back to Berlin.
Stefan paused. “Mention Julie Andrews and I stop.”
I made a choking sound. “I had no intention of… that name passing my lips.” I tilted my hips, reaching back to hold his headright fucking there, and my groans filled the air. “Please…for the love of God… tell me you’ve got lube handy.” I heard a drawer open and close, thesnickof the cap, and another heartbeat later, the warm, blunt head of his dick demanded entrance.
Getting fucked standing up was about to be added to my list of?—