John Paul's fingertips ran lightly over the smooth shiny paper of the calendar that hung on his bedroom wall. His fingers paused over one date. The date had been circled several times in red pen. The red circle had then been coloured in with bright yellow highlighter pen. A while later the fluorescent yellow circle had had the name CRAIG written through the centre in black marker pen.

The date on the calendar was three weeks and four days away. Three weeks, for days and about twelve hours.

John Paul marked each day off his calendar with a cross, deleting the days as they passed and urging more quickly the one in a red circle, with yellow highlighter and black marker. The day Craig Dean was coming home. The day he was returning home, for good.

With a yawn John Paul rubbed his eyes and allowed his weary body, dressed only in his boxers, to collapse onto his bed. Finals were a matter of days away and he had been studying every moment that he could, sometimes until he fell asleep at his desk. As much as John Paul wanted to get a good degree for himself, he also wanted to make everyone else proud of him. He wanted to make his family proud. He wanted to make Myra proud. And above all, he wanted to make Craig proud.

Pulling a photograph from under his pillow John Paul smiled. He let his eyes roam lazily over the picture. First studying the gentle features of Craig's gorgeous face before moving down over the tanned bare chest, John Paul let his fingers touch at the bare skin in the photograph, wishing it wasn't just a picture he held in his hand. Finally John Paul's eyes fell to where he knew Craig's hand was located. His long strong fingers wrapped around the firm erection that John Paul had coaxed from him. John Paul felt his own body twitch in response to the picture. No matter how many times he looked at it he always felt the same. Always got the same deep ache in his flesh to be rejoined with the erotic figure in the picture.

"Miss you," John Paul whispered to the photograph, his lips touching lightly at its surface.

For a while John Paul had come to the conclusion that Craig was possibly psychic. Whenever John Paul was thinking of Craig it seemed that Craig chose that exact moment to send a text.

After some consideration John Paul realised that as he spent so much of his time thinking about Craig it only stood to reason that Craig's texts would, on occasion, coincide with these times.

As he looked at the sexy picture in his hand John Paul wasn't surprised to hear the text alert of his phone sound next to him.

Accessing his messages John Paul smiled at the name he knew would be displayed… Craig.

"Missing you…" Craig's message read. Maybe he was a little bit psychic.

"U 2… been thinking about you…" John Paul replied.

Craig's response seemed to arrive in seconds. "What U been thinking?"

Despite the fact that John Paul was only reading words on his phones display he could still hear the deep suggestive tone of Craig's words and his eyes flicked back to the naked photograph that was resting on his lap.

"Wish you were here so I could show you… looking at your photo."

"Wish I was too… tell me… got your pic here."

John Paul keyed a few words into his phone and then changed his mind. He needed more than static words on a screen. He needed Craig at his side but as that wasn't possible he would settle for hearing the man's voice.

"I was waiting for another text," Craig said as he answered his phone after only one ring.

"Thought I'd call instead… wanted to hear you," John Paul told him, his phone pressed tightly to his ear as he looked again at the photograph of his lover.

"Glad you did… where are you?"

"At home… in my room… you?"

"Same… what ya doing?"

"Talking to you!"

"John Paul!" Craig laughed gently, "I know THAT… what else are you doing…"

John Paul took a slow deep breath. "I'm looking at your picture… wishing I could touch you right now… wishing I could taste you… take you in my mouth…"

"God now I really wish I was there," Craig said in a husky voice. His eyes were locked on the image of the beautiful blue-eyed man posing seductively in the picture in his hand and he desperately wished that it was the man's flesh he was touching, holding, not just a photograph. "Are you still looking at me?"

"Yeah… you look gorgeous… so fucking sexy…"

"Are you hard?"

"You know I am."

"Are you touching yourself? I want to imagine you touching yourself…"

John Paul let his hand roam to the growing hardness of his groin, rubbing it lightly through the soft cotton of his boxers and a small sigh slipped from his lips.

"I wish I was there watching you right now," Craig breathed heavily into the phone. His eyes were fixed on the glistening tip of John Paul's cock that seemed to stand out in the photograph, beckoning him and tempting him. Without thinking Craig let the picture flutter to his side as his hand slid inside his own underwear to grasp at his growing erection.

"What would you do if you were here?" John Paul asked breathlessly as he freed his aching cock to the air and began to stroke it slowly.

"Nothing…"

"Nothing?"

"No… I'd just watch you… I'd watch you touch yourself… watch you wank yourself… watch as you make yourself come…"

John Paul swallowed heavily. He could almost feel Craig's presence in the room, Craig's eyes following his hand as it moved along the length of his cock and the thought of Craig watching him made his body shudder with excitement.

"You just wanna watch me?" John Paul asked as his breathing got heavier and his hand seemed to take on a life of its own, moving faster and gripping his cock firmer.

"I can picture you right now," Craig said, his eyes flickering half closed as he pictured John Paul lying on his bed pleasuring himself, an action that Craig was quickly mirroring himself. "God you would look so hot… I can hear you moaning louder as you get closer to coming… I wanna watch you come John Paul…"

"Fucking hell Craig," John Paul gasped as his entire body trembled with anticipation. "I wish you were here now… I wish you were watching me…" John Paul moaned into his phone as his cock throbbed with urgency.

"That's it John Paul," Craig encourage as his own cock pulsed heavily in his grip, his climax racing quickly towards conclusion. "I'm right there now… watching you… let me see you come John Paul… let me hear you…"

"Oh god Craig…" John Paul arched his back as a pressure that seemed to build from his toes tore through his body making him moan loudly as his climax erupted from him, coating him in the thick white heat of his passion.

Craig pressed his phone tightly to his ear as he soaked up the sounds of John Paul's orgasm, letting the moans wash over him as his hand moved harder and faster over his cock until he convulsed with pleasure and, crying out John Paul's name, came heavily, spilling over his belly.

The men listened to the sounds of each others breathing for a few moments before John Paul managed to regain his power of speech.

"Wow… that was…"

"Wasn't it…"

"I should so call you more often…"

"We'd never get any study done that way!"

"True… but it might be worth it." John Paul grinned as he spoke, trying to stifle a yawn that escaped from his mouth.

"You sound tired."

"It's you," John Paul accused, "You've worn me out."

"Just you wait till I get back home…. THEN I'm gonna wear you out!"

"Promises, promises…"

"You'd better get some rest," Craig said with a sigh, "Don't want you falling asleep at your desk again."

"I suppose… at least I know I'm gonna sleep well tonight."

"Yeah me too!"

"Goodnight Craig."

"Goodnight John Paul."

"Oh Craig?"

"Yeah?"

"Love you…"

"Love you too."

As the phone call ended John Paul's eyes lifted to his calendar. Three weeks, for days and about eleven hours. He could hardly wait.

---

The bright sunshine seemed to bathe John Paul's skin as he walked through the centre of Hollyoaks village. Its warmth coated his bare arms and seemed to tempt the fragrance from the early blooming flowers in a gentle scent that filled his nostrils as he breathed deeply.

Four days. Four days until Craig was coming him. Four days and they never had to be apart again.

John Paul swung his arms as he walked. His steps almost skipping over the cracked paving stones as he headed towards Drive N Buy. It might be four days until Craig came home but John Paul was stocking up on chocolates and snacks and beers now because, as soon as Craig Dean walked through that front door, John Paul wasn't sure how long it would be before he was prepared to let him exit it again.

Running his list of shopping requirements through his head John Paul suddenly stumbled. Closing his eyes for a second he shook his head and looked again. It couldn't be. Coming out of the alleyway was a dark haired man that looked remarkably like Craig. But Craig wasn't due home for four days…

The dark haired man had stopped as he saw John Paul and now, slowly and tentatively, the two men took careful steps towards each other.

When they were only a few feet apart John Paul stopped moving. His heart seemed to be racing uncontrollably and all conscious thought left him as his mind and body were consumed by the beautiful image that was still walking slowly towards him.

Craig's soft mouth curled into a deep smile as he reached John Paul and he took a moment to fall into the mystery of his bright blue eyes.

"Craig…" John Paul couldn't keep the amazement from his voice as he touched his hand against Craig's chest in an attempt to reassure himself that he wasn't dreaming.

"Surprise!" Craig said with a small laugh.

"You're early…"

"I needed to see you… don't mind do you?"

Rather that answer with his voice John Paul responded by kissing Craig deeply. His lips pressing hard against Craig's as his tongue sought out the taste he had been without for so long.

"I'll take that as a no," Craig said with a breathless laugh as John Paul finally let him go.

"I think I can cope with you being home early," John Paul said as he slipped his hand into Craig's, their fingers automatically curling together as they started to walk.

"Let's get a coffee," Craig suggested as the approached Il Gnosh, "I wanna sit down and talk to you."

Once the two men had ordered their drinks they sat looking at each other across the table, their fingers still interlocked as if they couldn't bare to stop touching each other even for a second.

John Paul was reminded of a time a few years earlier when he had sat at that very table with the young man he loved, their hands tightly grasped together, but hidden from view beneath the table top. Craig had been so afraid of other peoples reactions and other peoples opinions back then. What a difference John Paul saw in the man before him now. Craig's eyes were strong with a confidence that only experience can give you and John Paul was eternally grateful that he had been allowed the chance to be a part of Craig's life again.

"John Paul look… err… there's something I need to talk to you about," Craig said a little nervously, "Well something I need to tell you really… and I don't know what to say…"

John Paul felt the world go black as a cold hand reached into his chest and gripped his heart. He had always dreaded this moment, feared it more than any other terror in the world and his lungs seemed to contract as he struggled to get air into them.

"The thing is… I've met someone else… I'm really sorry and I never meant to hurt you… but I really love her and I want to be with her."

John Paul couldn't swallow, he couldn't breathe and he couldn't think. The restaurant seemed to be spinning uncontrollably around him and he didn't know how to make it stop.

"John Paul… John Paul are you alright?" Craig's hand tightening around John Paul brought the world back into sharp focus and the young man's dark eyes were looking at him in concern.

"What did you just say?"

"I said are you alright?"

"No before that…"

"I said there was something I needed to tell you…"

"You didn't say anything else?"

"Like what?"

John Paul laughed to himself as he realised the words he had always feared only existed in his head, not once had they touched Craig's lips.

"It doesn't matter," John Paul said feeling slightly foolish, "What was it you wanted to tell me?"

"Well the thing is… I've been offered a job!" Craig couldn't keep the pride from his voice, or his eyes, as he spoke.

"Even before your results?" John Paul remarked.

"Yeah I know… I mean I couldn't believe it myself… but that Company… you know the financial one that I've been doing some part time work for… well they've offered to keep me on!"

"Wow, they must really be impressed with you."

"Of course," Craig replied with a smug grin. "OK I would be starting at the bottom… the pay's alright… not brilliant… but not bad. But it's the opportunity… the potential… in a few years… god I could be… I could be right at the top."

"I don't doubt it," John Paul said with a deep smile, which faded as a thought occurred to him. "So… they've offered you a job… in Dublin?"

"Yeah…" Craig's smile faltered as he saw the doubt in John Paul's eyes.

"And you've taken it?"

"No," Craig said, holding John Paul's hand even tighter. "I said I had to talk it over with my boyfriend first… that's why I'm home early… they want an answer in a couple of days."

"Is that what you actually said?"

"What?"

"That you needed to talk to your boyfriend?" It still amazed John Paul how good it felt when Craig used that word to describe him.

"Yeah I did," Craig said with a laugh, "I was gonna say I needed to talk to the love of my life… but that sounded a bit pretentious!"

"You really want this job don't you?"

"It's an amazing chance… I might never get that again."

"Then I think you should take it…"

"You do?"

"Of course I do," John Paul said as he saw the deep happiness in Craig's eyes, "God just looking at you I can see how much you want it… I mean I'll miss you… but we can still do holidays and weekends and…"

"No." Craig interrupted John Paul abruptly.

"No?"

"That's not what I want…" John Paul felt the tightness in his chest again. Maybe Craig really did want to end things with him after all.

"It's not…?"

"Of course not… when I said I needed to talk it over with you… I didn't mean if I should take the job… I meant if you would come with me."

"Go with you? To Dublin?" John Paul was almost certain he must have heard wrong.

"Yes go with me," Craig laughed as he saw the confusion in John Paul's beautiful eyes. "John Paul you idiot… I've spent enough time without you… I'm not doing that any more…"

"What if I didn't want to go to Dublin?"

"Then we don't go."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that!"

John Paul shook his head. "But this job… it means so much to you…"

"Not as much as you do," Craig insisted. "From now on it's the two of us… I'm going nowhere without you?"

"You'd give up that opportunity for me?"

"There'll be other jobs…"

"But you'd give up that one?"

"Without a second thought," Craig said, "Look you don't have to decide now… we've got a couple of days…"

Lifting himself from his seat John Paul leant over the table until his face was only inches from Craig's.

"When do we go?" he asked before pressing his lips softly against Craig's mouth.

---

"Well you've obviously not got dressed up for me," Craig said letting out a low wolf whistle as he entered the flat and saw Linda applying the final touches to her makeup.

"Craig!" she squealed excitedly as she rushed over to hug him and planted a large pink kiss against his cheek. "You're home early!"

"So I've been told," Craig replied returning Linda's embrace fiercely, "I guess I just couldn't keep away from you!"

"Yeah whatever," Linda said with a giggle as she pushed him away and returned to the mirror to replace her lipstick.

"So who's the lucky man?" Craig teased as he took a seat on the sofa. "Come and tell your Uncle Craigy all about him." As he spoke Craig patted the cushion next to him.

"Much as I would loved to stay in and chat with you love birds," Linda replied, giving John Paul a quick hug as she headed for the door, "I have a date… I will see you two tomorrow… don't wait up!"

John Paul slumped onto the sofa next to his boyfriend as they both watched the young woman skip merrily from the room.

"So tell me," Craig said in a serious tone. "What's this fella of hers like?"

John Paul thought for a moment. "Patrick… he's a nice guy… quite cute… Lin really likes him."

"Hmm… and is he good enough for our girl?"

Looking at the empty doorway where his flatmate had just been John Paul shook his head. "Not really… but then I don't think anyone would be would they? But he makes her happy… so I haven't had to hurt him yet!"

Craig laughed as he rested his head against John Paul's shoulder, the man's arm quickly slipping around him to pull him in close.

"Suppose I'm gonna have to let Lin know I'm moving out," John Paul said with a hint of regret. "You know I was only asking her today if she'd mind you moving in here when you got home."

"What did she say?" Craig asked as he snuggled deeper into John Paul's embrace.

"She said she'd always assumed you would!"

"She knows us too well…"

"Yeah," John Paul sighed softly, "I'm gonna miss her…"

"I know," Craig paused before continuing, "You are sure… that you want to come with me… move to Dublin?"

"Craig Dean," John Paul smiled, his eyes the brightest blue known to mankind, as he looked down on the gentle face of the man he loved. "I would travel to the ends of the earth to be with you… You're never getting away from me again."

"Good," Craig replied as he rested an arm across John Paul's middle and closed his eyes in contentment, "Cause I don't want to!"

---

Craig seemed to have drifted off to sleep with his head resting lightly against John Paul's shoulder and the younger man's arm holding him close. John Paul's eyes flickered constantly between the film that filled the TV screen and the man who was leaning against him.

The young blonde man couldn't have named the film if anyone had asked, nor could he have named a single character or even briefly outline the plot. Even when his eyes were focused on the TV his attention was still entirely consumed by Craig.

Craig was there, he was REALLY there. And this time it wasn't for a weekend, or a week or any extended visit. Craig was there, with John Paul, they were together and John Paul smiled as the realisation hit him, they weren't just together but they were actually planning a future. It didn't seem all that long ago that John Paul wasn't certain if he would ever get to see, get to hold Craig ever again and now, now they had their whole lives to look forward to and nothing was going to get in the way of it ever again.

Leaning his head towards Craig's John Paul breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of Craig that always managed to make his heart race that bit faster. Unable to resist John Paul touched his mouth softly to the top of Craig's head.

Long dark lashes flickered open as the deep chocolate pools of Craig's eyes turned to look up at John Paul. A smile filled his face as his sleepy eyes drank in the sight of the most wonderful man he had ever known.

No words were spoken as the two men looked into each other. There had always been times between them when words hadn't been necessary and this was on of those times. No verbal language has ever been created that could have expressed the intense volume of love that filled those two hearts as they basked in the love that looked back at them.

Letting his eyes close again Craig nestled deeper into John Paul's chest as his arm snaked across the man's middle and his fingers curled into John Paul's tightly.

John Paul could soon hear Craig's slow deep breaths and feel the soft rise and fall of the man's chest as sleep seemed to take him again.

Turning his attention back to the TV John Paul was surprised to feel his hand suddenly being pulled towards Craig's face as Craig then pressed a soft kiss against each fingertip.

John Paul smiled as the warmth of Craig's kisses touched against his skin. A smile that turned into a sharp gasp as Craig's lips parted and John Paul's forefinger was sucked inside the wet heat of his mouth.

Holding his breath John Paul turned his gaze to Craig's face, his eyes fixed on Craig's lips, which distended out in a pout as they covered John Paul's finger entirely and his soft hot tongue ran up and down its sides.

Letting his breath out in a sound that was a mixture of a sigh and a moan John Paul squirmed in his seat as his trousers started to get uncomfortable. Uncomfortable in the most wonderful way possible.

"Craig that is so not fair," John Paul said quietly.

"I don't know what you mean," Craig replied around John Paul's finger, his teeth gripping it gently as he spoke so that it couldn't escape him. Just before Craig's lips clamped back around John Paul's finger Craig managed to manoeuvre a second into his mouth and sucked on them both with the enthusiasm of a young child and a lollipop.

"Oh god Craig…" John Paul swallowed heavily as Craig's mouth consumed his fingers with a hot pleasure that made him ache delightfully. "That really is too much…"

"I can stop if you want," Craig teased, sucking John Paul's fingers even harder to the soft sounds of John Paul's whimpers.

"I… I didn't say that," John Paul stammered as he started to wonder just how much tighter his trousers could get before he either split them or caused himself some serious damage.

Craig smiled to himself as he filled his mouth with the wonderful flavour of John Paul's skin. He could already see the man straining against his trousers and with each flick of his tongue Craig could hear a fresh gasp slip from John Paul's lips.

Just as John Paul was wondering how much longer he could take Craig's teasing he felt the grip of the man's mouth relax and his damp fingers were released to the cool air. Craig quickly turned his attention to John Paul's neck, licking and nipping at his skin before breathing hotly in his ear as he spoke.

"You remember our phone call a couple of weeks ago?" Craig asked in a low seductive voice.

"Phone call?" John Paul asked in faked innocence, as if he hadn't entertained himself with memories of that call several times since.

"Oh well if you don't recall," Craig said pulling back slowly.

"I remember…" John Paul replied quickly, "God I remember…"

Craig smiled at the urgency in John Paul's voice. "I want to see it," Craig breathed, his mouth only a fraction of an inch from John Paul's neck. "I want to watch you… I can see how hard you are John Paul… let me see what you do about that when I'm not here…"

John Paul breathed deeply as Craig's mouth connected with his neck again, pulling the skin between his teeth and biting hard enough to cause pleasurable tremors to run down John Paul's spine.

John Paul's hand seemed to wander to his groin of its own accord, brushing firmly over his imprisoned erection as Craig's mouth sucked against his neck.

Slipping open the buttons of John Paul's shirt Craig let his palm breeze over the man's bare skin, pausing at his belly and then pulling away.

Resting back against the arm of the sofa Craig looked at John Paul with expectation. The man's soft exposed chest looked so edible that it took great restraint for Craig to hold back but ever since that phone call he had been imagining this moment. Not taking his eyes from Craig's John Paul shrugged off his opened shirt and threw it to the floor before gesturing at Craig's top.

"Do I not at least get some incentive?" he asked with a grin.

With a smile Craig quickly pulled his own top off over his head and threw it to the floor but, as John Paul reached out to touch him, he held out his hands in a gesture of denial.

"Uh huh," Craig tutted, "It's not ME I want you to touch… at least not right now!"

Looking at Craig's naked chest, his rich olive skin that John Paul knew tasted so good, John Paul slowly unbuckled his belt before undoing his trousers and easing them, and his boxers, down past his knees before pulling them from his feet, leaving him completely naked under Craig's appreciative gaze.

Craig's eyes drank in every drop of John Paul's milky skin, the pale dusting of fine hair that grew darker and thicker as it ran in a trail down towards the man's, now fully engorged and delicious looking cock. John Paul sat motionless as he enjoyed the sensation of Craig's admiring looks. In anyone else's presence John Paul would have felt very exposed and vulnerable being totally naked and completely observed. But having Craig look at him with undisguised adoration and lust only fuelled the fire that was already burning like a furnace in John Paul's groin.

Very slowly John Paul ran his hand over his thigh, noticing that Craig's eyes followed the movement exactly, running it higher until it reached his erection. John Paul gasped slightly as he allowed his fingers contact with the hard aching of his cock, wrapping them slowly around its girth and easing back the foreskin to reveal the deep coloured head that glistened with precum beneath.

Craig licked his lips as he watched the tip of John Paul's cock being revealed, his mouth watered at the memory of how good it tasted, how good it felt when it filled his mouth, or his arse, and he breathed deeply as his own cock throbbed its response to the erotic sight before him.

John Paul's eyes were half closed as he gripped himself tighter and stroked the length of his cock. Through his half closed lids he could still see Craig watching him with an intense look of desire on his face and that look made his body tremble as his hand moved faster.

"God you look incredible," Craig gasped as John Paul ran his free hand over his chest, stroking his erect nipples as his hand moved harder and faster along his cock. As much as he wanted to touch John Paul and to be touched by John Paul the sight of the beautiful man pleasuring himself was something beyond compare and Craig felt frozen to the spot as John Paul's breathing began to get heavier.

John Paul couldn't hold back the deep throaty moans as his climax began to build inside him and he slid his hand over his belly until it reached his heavy swollen balls. Rolling his balls softly in one hand John Paul pulled his cock faster, knowing that this wonderful pleasure wasn't going to last much longer.

Craig could hear the depth of John Paul's moans increasing and he knew that the man would soon explode in his satisfaction. Craig eyes flicked between John Paul's throbbing cock and the look of ever increasing excitement on the man's face. Craig had always expected that sitting watching John Paul like this would be a wonderful experience but he had never expected it to be so intoxicating. Despite not touching John Paul at all Craig still felt that he was involved in giving John Paul the pleasure that was getting ever closer and he urged John Paul onwards towards his final release.

"God John Paul you are the sexiest thing I have ever seen," Craig moaned as he pressed his hand against his own aching cock, "Let me see you come, show me just how good it feels… let me see you come… I wanna see it… I wanna hear it…"

"Oh god Craig…" John Paul's eyes sprang open as his body began to shudder violently and could see Craig's gaze fixed upon his cock and that vision was enough to finally push him over the edge. Crying out as he came John Paul pressed his back hard against the sofa, bucking his hips and curling his toes into the carpet as his cock pulsed heavily in his hand, the thick hot evidence of his joy spattering over his belly.

With a final moan and shudder John Paul's body went limp and relaxed into the sofa's cushions as he sighed in contentment. It was definitely the best orgasm he had ever given himself and he knew that was due entirely to the presence of his audience.

"Wow," Craig said with a smile. Taking hold of John Paul's hand he dipped one of his fingertips into the sticky white liquid on his belly before sucking it deeply into his mouth, savouring the flavour he knew and loved only too well.

John Paul's eyes shone as an amazed smile played over his lips. "That was amazing… thank you…"

Craig laughed. "It WAS amazing… but I didn't do anything… you don't need to thank me."

"It was amazing because of you."

John Paul sat forward and reached out to cup Craig's face in his hands, kissing him deeply as the man's tongue delved into the heat of his mouth.

Craig moaned into John Paul's kiss as a hand left his face and massaged into his still fully aroused, and exceptionally desperate, groin. John Paul made short work of divesting Craig of his trousers and, as their kiss deepened, he gripped Craig's cock in a mirror of the act he had just performed on himself.

Craig's moans grew louder as John Paul's hand moved over his length harder and faster as John Paul's tongue explored every inch of his mouth.

Within minutes Craig's body was shuddering with the urgent need for satisfaction and John Paul pulled back from the kiss to experience the pleasure of watching Craig's climax hit him. With a loud cry Craig shook as his cock's need exploded from it, its heat hitting against John Paul's belly and mixing with the spattering that was already there.

Once Craig's orgasm had subsided John Paul touched his mouth against Craig's lips again in a gentle loving kiss as their breathing began to slow down.

"Come on," John Paul said getting to his feet and holding out his hand to Craig.

"Where to?"

"I think we need to get cleaned up… besides it's late… time for bed." John Paul flicked off the TV.

Craig dragged himself upright and claimed John Paul's hand as the two contented men made their way towards the bathroom before spending a blissful night in each other's arms.