The flat above the Dog was quiet as the credits of a half watched film scrolled across the TV screen.
John Paul McQueen sat slumped on the sofa with his head resting against it's back. His leg was leaning lightly against the solid warmth of the leg next to his, the leg belonging to the person that he loved most in the world, Craig Dean.
It had been a struggle to get their relationship to this point. So many obstacles had been in their way, the biggest one being Craig's denial of how he really felt.
There were times when John Paul had felt like giving up convinced that Craig would never be his. But love and hope had kept him persevering until was Craig not only in his arms and his bed, but he was happy to stay there.
Craig looked over at John Paul as he felt his friend shuffle in his seat, with a rustle of plastic a small purple bag was pulled from the pocket of the jacket that was resting on the arm of the sofa.
Craig raised his eyebrows as John Paul proceeded to open the packet and pop a small chocolate disc into his mouth with a smile.
"Share," Craig said moving in closer.
John Paul smiled a wicked smile as he shook his head, slipping another chocolate button between his lips, sucking noisily as the chocolate melted over his tongue.
"No fair," Craig complained, "you have to share."
He tried grabbing for the bag but John Paul was too quick and moved them from his reach.
"They're mine," he chuckled stuffing a handful into his mouth and munching them loudly.
Craig laughed softly, "Don't make me come over there and take them," he warned.
"You think you could?" John Paul challenged passing another button into his open mouth.
"Oh I know I could," Craig answered as he watched several more buttons disappear past the soft curve of John Paul's lips.
"Try it then," John Paul challenged.
Poking his tongue out slowly from between his lips John Paul placed a single button on its tip and then just as slowly retracted his tongue back into his mouth.
Without warning Craig's mouth crashed against John Paul's, his tongue pushing between those soft lips, savouring the taste of chocolate mixed with that other flavour, the taste of John Paul.
Craig's tongue swirled inside the heat of John Paul's mouth, but it was too late, the chocolate had already melted and was out of his reach.
Craig sat back on the sofa with a pout at his unsuccessful chocolate raid.
"You have to give me another chance," he insisted.
John Paul laughed softly, "Come on then," he teased, placing another button on his tongue and reaching into the pack for a second.
Craig quickly pounced before John Paul had time to pop the second button into his mouth, pressing his lips tightly against John Paul's and running his tongue once more inside that delectable opening.
As he ran the tip of his tongue over the length of John Paul's he came across the button. Pressing his tongue down hard Craig savoured the sweetness of the melting chocolate inside the heat of John Paul's mouth.
They sat locked in the sweetness of the kiss until the last of the chocolate had melted away and Craig pulled back with a satisfied smile. He might not have stolen the button but he had found a much more enjoyable way of consuming them.
John Paul raised his hand to Craig. The chocolate that he had been holding between his finger and thumb had turned liquid as they kissed and was now a sticky mess.
Craig looked questioningly at John Paul as the chocolate goo was moved closer to his face.
With a triumphant flourish John Paul painted Craig's lips into a chocolate smile before raising his fingers to his own mouth to clean off the remaining confectionary.
Craig grabbed tightly onto John Paul's wrist and, whilst staring unblinking into the soft blue pools of his eyes, he slowly took the chocolate smeared finger into his mouth.
Craig ran his tongue along the length of the digit before sucking it deeply into his mouth, watching all the time as John Paul's eyes began to widen.
An audible whimper escaped from John Paul as his finger was gradually released from the heat of Craig's mouth.
John Paul leaned forward to lick at the chocolate that was still smeared across Craig's lips before pulling him closer to kiss him deeply, holding on tightly as the desire in him continued to build.
Abruptly Craig broke away from the kiss and stood up holding out his hand.
"Come on," Craig's voice was breathless as he spoke.
"Where to?"
"My room."
With a smile John Paul rose to follow his friend.
"And don't forget the buttons."