Author's Note: This story was previously under the name "Sneaking into a Thief's Apartment"- however I have edited & revised a bit of the story to re-publish it. It's set in season 2-ish. Please enjoy & comment!

~luv kidneythieves ;)

"I want you to love me, love me with your own free will...

You know I want you to love me baby,

Love me & don't get me killed..."

~Muddy Waters "Mad Love"

Chapter 1: Sneaking into a Thief's Apartment

Peter felt kind of guilty doing this. Sneaking into Neal's apartment like some thief. He snorted at the thought, sneaking into a thief's place. He closed the door lightly behind him. He wasn't really sneaking in- he had been invited over for dinner tonight by Neal. Except Peter had been bored at work without his side-kick hovering around to annoy and entertain him. So he decided to cut out early and see what Neal had cooking in the kitchen.

Neal suggested the dinner to celebrate their first, completed year together as a team at the FBI since his release from prison. Peter was instantly excited by the idea when Neal brought it up. He agreed that they needed to pay respects to their successful partnership which could've easily ended in absolute ruins for Peter. And of course, Neal. Yet Peter had worked hard to gain his position at the head of the white collar division in New York and having someone as untrustworthy as Neal Cafferey on his team, felt pretty dangerous. It was a risk that at the time, he wasn't sure was worth it.

Yet he took a leap of faith on Neal and it paid off. They were solving more cases then he ever had on his own and Peter actually felt for the first time in his career at the bureau that he was finally doing something important. And it helped having such an incredible partner like Neal to reinforce his good fortune on a daily basis.

Neal had become part of his life in ways he never imagined. Peter smiled at the memory of Neal gazing at him with those startling blue eyes and handsomely smug smile as they closed yet another case, saving lives and putting the bad guys behind bars for good. He trusted this semi-former con-man with his life.

Peter let his eyes wander to the kitchen but instead of seeing Neal whipping up their dinner, it was empty. Peter knew Neal liked cooking. Maybe he decided to order out and eat in?

He glanced around. Peter had been familiar enough with Neal's apartment to know that nothing looked out of place or tossed through, so no one had broken in. Except there was no sign of Neal.

"Neal?" Peter called out as he walked toward the windows where it led to the balcony which overlooked New York City.

No response. Peter felt awkward walking around Neal's apartment without him present. He loosened his tie, feeling it constrict around his throat. He pulled out his cell phone and knew he should call him. He began dialing Neal's number but paused when he heard something.

He froze. Ears keen to the slightest movement. A rustle and suddenly a low, guttural groan. Peter's eyes widened, knowing exactly what kind of groan that was. Sexual. Unable to stop himself, Peter walked toward the noise.

Neal's secret closet room door was slightly ajar. It was a place Peter heard about through June, when she told him that Byron would discretely change back there in that hideaway. Peter lightly nudged it open to peek inside. He took an instant step back and let out a surprised gasp.

Neal was stretched out on a lounge, plush red couch with ear phones plugged-in and connected to his ipod, completely relaxed and utterly naked. Peter's face blushed red, embarrassed on walking in on Neal. He must have not heard him call out with the ear phones in, he thought. Before Peter had a chance to sneak out he saw something that made his world suddenly tilt off its axis.

Neal pulled long and slow on his towering erection. His gloriously beautiful naked body had distracted him from the sight of Neal's hand at first, now, Peter's gaze was riveted to it. He watched as Neal cupped his balls briefly before ascending upwards over the full length of his well-endowed cock, as he tugged on the stiff flesh before slipping the pad of his thumb over the sensitive tip of the erection. He moaned, rolling his thumb over and over. His thick, long penis made Peter stand back in awe. No wonder Neal walked around with an arrogant smile on his face all the time, Peter thought, he had that dangling between his legs.

He watched, hypnotized as Neal masturbated. The man was stunning, especially naked. Neal's jet black hair was a neat mess, his toes curled tight and his body tense. His butt clenched and his back arched ever so slightly off the couch. Suddenly through parted lips he let out a low, desperate moan as he pulled slow up to the tip, repeating it several times, dragging out his pleasure.

"Fuck…" he groaned from the back of his throat as Neal dug his heels into the cushions, continuously stroking his shaft. Up and down, harder to slower. His eyes were closed tight, his body growing tenser by the moment, on the verge of climax, when Neal suddenly gasped out in a choppy breath, "Peter…"

Peter's eyes widened in utter shock. Neal had just panted his name while… masturbating. He couldn't believe his own ears. He felt paralyzed in the doorway. He stared openly at Neal's sculptured body, with his toned muscular abs and rippling, strong arms. Everything about Neal screamed out pure male sexuality. And Peter felt a sudden overwhelming urge to go to Neal, lying so tense and ready to cum on that sinfully red couch. A primitive side of Peter. One he rarely encountered. Yet in this moment, he saw himself striding into the room without fear and grabbing the back of Neal's neck and pushing his lips down hard onto those incredibly soft, beautiful lips.

Neal's groans grew louder and wilder as his hand now pumped with quicker strokes. Suddenly Peter felt the stiffening of his own cock from the sounds of Neal's desperate moans and the idea that he was the one he was jerking off to.

Neal finally gasped out Peter's name one last time before erupting into his hand. Peter's erection grew unbearably hard at the sight of Neal's face at his orgasm. A mixture of relief and absolute bliss. The man was breath taking, Peter thought, feeling himself being drawn in. But Peter knew he couldn't stay. No matter how conflicted he felt.

Peter quickly slid back out the door and headed for the exit. He suddenly couldn't breathe. His whole partnership with Neal crumbled apart around him. Peter had always secretly been attracted to that overconfident con-man. Except he thought it was because he was just jealous of the man's overall charm and good looks- who wouldn't be drawn into a man like that? That confident swagger, his beautiful smile and unbelievably vivid blue eyes…

Oh God, Peter panicked, realizing he had been denying it to himself the whole time. Seeing Neal aroused and cum, with the expression of sheer ecstasy made Peter hard as a fucking rock and he couldn't deny that proof.

What was he suppose to do now? Peter ran an unsteady hand through his hair as he let the apartment door close silently behind him.

TBC