They were quiet for most of the drive up the coast.
Once inside his hotel room, Martin had been able to think up hundreds of excuses to say no to Danny. Each of them sounded worse than the previous one, and basically boiled down to one conclusion: he was scared. He wasn't brave enough to take this step with Danny, with anyone. He wasn't even brave enough to want to do this for himself. But somehow, he'd done it anyway. Without letting himself think too much, he'd put some clothes into a bag, had grabbed his toothbrush and sat down to wait. It was only when he glanced at his watch and saw that forty minutes had already passed that he realized just how much time he'd spent sitting on the edge of his bed thinking up ways to chicken out. But it was the memory of Danny's kisses, of the way he'd felt being held in Danny's arms that drew him out of his thoughts. As a last thought he called in a quick message to Washington and locked the hotel room behind him before he could think up another excuse to stay.
Thankfully, Danny was already waiting for him along the curb when he came outside. Martin was entirely sure that if he'd had to wait for him that every second that went by would make it easier for him to turn around and go back inside. But Danny smiled warmly at him, took his bag and threw it into the trunk of his car and motioned Martin inside.
Danny looked at him for a few moments and Martin blushed, meeting his eyes for only a second before turning away. He jumped when he felt Danny's hand on his, fingers threading their way through his own. He drew in a shaky breath and looked at the other man again, saw promise and patience in those brown eyes, and he suddenly felt…better. Calmer. Not quite brave enough to speak, but brave enough to stay in the car, to let Danny take him away.
"We're here," Danny said softly, breaking the silence they had imposed since he had picked Martin up almost an hour and a half ago.
Martin looked over at him, startled. He had been so lost, gazing out the window at the darkness of the unlit countryside, the small sliver of moonlight glinting off the ocean, peeking through the darkness here and there. Occasionally, an oncoming car's lights would illuminate the roadway; a dim light from a house would intermittently break the span of darkness. So Martin was surprised now when they had just sort of stopped, no real destination visible.
"We are?" he asked skeptically.
Danny laughed and turned off the ignition before stepping out of the car and stretching his arms over his head. Martin took a few moments to let his eyes adjust to the surrounding darkness as he got out of the car. He blinked a few times and looked around. He could hear the rush of the ocean nearby, could smell the sea air in the warm breeze, but there was nothing around for miles that he could distinguish as anything but countryside. He jumped when Danny's hand grabbed onto his arm, blushing at Danny's low laugh. "Come on," he murmured, pulling Martin along with him, both of their small bags slung over his other shoulder.
It was a short walk down a small hill to where Danny's house laid, nearer to the beach but not right along it, closer to the edge of a sand dune, an open field before it. Martin shivered as Danny's hand slid down to lace their fingers together and pull him closer.
"Danny…" Martin whispered, swallowing hard as the moonlight found its way around a cloud and gave him a better glimpse of the small house. He was scared. Any closer and it would all become so real. He shut his eyes for a moment and took a few deep breaths. He wanted this. He really did, whatever it was…he still wasn't entirely sure. Danny had stirred feelings in him that he'd long since tried to repress. And earlier, when Danny had kissed and held him he hadn't wanted to let go; he wanted more even if he didn't know entirely what more would entail.
He heard Danny set their bags down, heard him sigh softly; he shook a little when he felt Danny's hands on his face and he didn't resist when the other man pulled him into his arms. "Martin, look at me," he said softly. Trembling now, Martin opened his eyes and met Danny's gaze, surprised when he saw softness there. "We'll take this all at your pace," he murmured, fingers running through Martin's hair. "If there's anything you're not ready for, anything you're not comfortable with…just tell me."
Martin looked at him for a few minutes, still nervous, still wary…but ultimately trusting what he saw in Danny's eyes. He took a deep breath and nodded, leaning a little further into Danny's embrace.
"Okay?" Danny asked softly.
Martin nodded again, smiling bravely. "Okay."
The inside of the house was different than what Martin had expected. He'd only been to Danny's family's home in Havana a few times. Mostly they spent time out together or occasionally at Martin's hotel. But Danny's home was flashy, rich…a notable sign of their wealth and standing and that they didn't want it to escape anyone's notice. But this house was different. It wasn't exactly humble but it was softer, more modest and much more welcoming. Danny turned on a few lights and set their bags down on a chair, turning to face Martin with a smile, his arms outstretched.
"I like it," Martin said warmly. Danny smiled more fully in response, his eyes proud. "You said your father left it to you?" he asked, stepping closer to him.
Danny motioned him closer, sitting down on the couch and nodding for Martin to join him. He sat down next to Danny, but not so they were touching, something Danny changed quickly, slipping his arm around Martin's shoulders and pulling him a little bit closer. Martin stiffened at first but just for a moment before he remembered that he wanted this and that Danny wasn't going to be angry, that no one was around to watch him with scorn.
He relaxed against Danny and heard the other man sigh happily, pulling him closer still, reaching out to grasp Martin's hand with his free one. "My brother hates that I got something that he has no access to," Danny said. "Of course, if he owned this house he'd never come here. He hates it here in fact. Even when we were younger, when my father was still alive and he brought us both here, Rafi would complain for hours about how far away from the city we were, how there was nothing around for miles and what were we supposed to do stuck out here in the middle of nowhere?" His voice was soft, but Martin could hear a mix of nostalgia and bitterness in it. "I never minded. In fact I liked it here better than the city…it was so quiet and peaceful."
Martin shifted slightly so he could look up into Danny's eyes, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. "But Danny, you like the city," he protested. "The noise, the craziness, the way nothing ever stops…you thrive there. I've watched you," he said, blushing slightly.
He nodded. "I know, you're right. But back then…and well, even now…I like being able to escape, to just be on my own for a while."
And that was something Martin had no trouble understanding. Absently, he nodded, his eyes drifting from Danny's eyes to his mouth and then his neck. Reaching out, he placed his hand on Danny's neck, fingers trembling slightly as they moved over that soft, golden skin. He heard Danny sigh softly and he looked up sharply, yanking his hand back as if burned.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Danny quickly grasped his hand and squeezed it tightly. His eyes were intense and Martin found it impossible to look away. "You can touch me Martin," he said, voice low. Slowly, Danny let go of his hand, eyes never leaving Martin's wide-eyed gaze. His fingers ached to touch Danny again; he'd just been suddenly afraid that he'd overstepped a boundary, wasn't sure what was okay and what wasn't. Shaking slightly now, he bit his bottom lip and put his hand on Danny's neck again, fingers sliding gently over the soft skin and then into his hair. He had to bite back a whimper as he thread his fingers through the silky, dark strands.
Danny's eyes darkened and he shivered at the soft touch, slowly sliding his other arm around Martin's waist and pulling him closer. He leaned down until their foreheads were touching and Martin felt his breath catch in his throat. "Danny?" he whispered, licking his lips nervously.
"Hmm?"
"I want…" he swallowed hard, unsure how to get the words out.
Danny shifted slightly, moving so they were pressed even closer together. He ran his hand through Martin's hair, letting it rest at the back of his neck. "What do you want?" he prompted softly.
"I…I want you to…would you…kiss me again?" he asked shyly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as well as desire.
He felt Danny shiver against him and it sent a wave of longing through Martin's body. Because Danny was looking at him like there was nothing else he wanted in the world. Danny was holding him like he was something special and something Danny wanted…badly. And when Danny finally complied, Martin's eyes fell shut and he whimpered as their lips touched.
It was slow at first, picking up where they had left off before as Danny's arms came around him. But Martin was beginning to feel more, wanted more as Danny made the kisses deeper. He moaned softly when Danny's tongue touched his, his kisses more insistent than before, deeper. He felt Danny's hands move slowly down his back, pulling him closer. Martin gasped as he felt Danny's hand slip beneath his shirt and press against the small of his back. Their kiss broke and he found himself panting for breath, staring up at the other man desperately.
He watched as Danny shut his eyes for a few moments and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again he kissed Martin gently, one hand on his neck now, the other still pressed firmly against his back, burning against his skin. Martin couldn't help the moan that escaped his lips as Danny began kissing his neck, shivered when Danny's tongue licked his skin, all the while Danny's hand kept rubbing his back, his other hand tugging gently on his hair. They broke apart again and Martin put his hands on Danny's shoulders, breathing heavily and looking into his eyes.
Gently, Danny brushed the back of his hand over Martin's cheek. "Too fast?" he whispered.
"I…no, not really just…maybe a little…" Martin answered, his words disjointed, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment. He wanted to be more confident, more sure of himself and what they were doing. But this was all so new to him, and everything that Danny was making him feel was both incredible and frightening. "I don't want to stop," he added, looking at Danny earnestly.
Danny smiled softly and nodded. When he kissed Martin again it was still deep, still full of desire and passion and everything Martin wanted but was still wary of…but it wasn't quite as pressing. Martin felt himself melting into Danny's embrace, still so amazed that the other man was being so careful with him, so patient. He knew Danny's reputation and knew that he'd been with plenty of people sexually. He had no reason to do this, to wait, to go at Martin's pace. He could've had anyone he wanted; someone who would've been willing to give him what he wanted without any hesitation. But Danny was here with him instead, giving no indication that he'd rather be anywhere else. And Martin believed that.
They made out for a long time, kisses alternating between light and sweet to desperately passionate. And the longer it went on, the more Martin found himself wanting more, and he wasn't quite so nervous. He let his hands wander – just a little bit – over Danny's body, wanting to know what he felt like. When Danny shivered from his touch, it made Martin grin into their kisses, surprised that he had such an effect on Danny.
When Danny kissed his neck again, Martin tilted his head to the side giving him better access. He trembled as he felt Danny's hand slip beneath his shirt, trailing upwards from his stomach and around to his back again. He moaned into Danny's mouth and arched upwards before he could stop himself. Danny growled softly as he felt Martin's hips press against his own, felt how hard he was. And before fear or embarrassment could set in, Danny sucked Martin's tongue into his mouth and made things more potent. His head was spinning, he felt dizzy and out of control, afraid yes, but not enough to make him stop. He wasn't sure he could.
"Danny…" he moaned, hands pressing into the other man's back, needing him closer.
And Danny came closer willingly, his mouth on Martin's neck again, sucking, nibbling the soft skin there. Martin knew he was trembling, knew Danny could feel him, and it was still amazing to him that Danny seemed as affected by all of this as he was.
"Martin…" Danny whispered, eyes dark, passionate as they peered into his own. Their faces were inches apart and they were both breathing heavily, lips swollen and wet from their kisses. Martin couldn't look away as Danny held him captive with his gaze. His arm was tight around his back, his other hand pressing gently against Martin's stomach. Martin whimpered as Danny kissed him again, softly for just a moment and then deeper, licking his way into Martin's mouth, their tongues touching as Danny explored his mouth.
And suddenly the heat was more, it was insistent and powerful and he felt his whole body tremble. White-hot heat as Danny cupped his erection through his pants, sucking insistently on his tongue, pulling him closer…all at once, too much. He moaned into Danny's mouth as he came, fingers digging into his back as he fought to keep Danny as close as possible, his body shaking as the orgasm washed over him.
Danny's kisses softened, gentle swipes of his tongue into Martin's mouth and then against his lips, calming. His held Martin tightly with one arm, the other hand still pressed against him, making the pleasure last longer. Martin whimpered softly when Danny finally removed his hand, moving to pull Martin completely into his arms, tangling their legs together as they half lay, half sat on the couch. He slid one hand gently through Martin's hair and let it rest at the back of his neck, pressing soothing kisses along his jaw, his chin and then to his lips.
"Open your eyes," Danny murmured, his breath warm against Martin's already-flushed skin.
Martin did as he was asked, still not sure if he should be thrilled or mortified with what had happened so far. He met Danny's eyes for only a second before looking away, brought back immediately by the gentle insistence of Danny's hand on his cheek.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly, forehead creased in concern.
"I…I didn't…expect…that…I've never…" he stuttered, biting his lower lip and blushing again. He knew it wasn't a secret that he was inexperienced with all of this, but he'd hoped to have Danny think that he'd done at least a little. But twenty-six years of life had yet to afford him any real sort of sexual experience. Until now, it seemed.
"That," Danny whispered, "Was one of the hottest things I've ever seen."
Martin looked at him quickly, curiously and Danny kissed him again. "But I…Danny I've never…" he trailed off again, helplessly.
Danny nodded, his eyes calm and patient. "It's okay baby," he said softly, voice low. Martin trembled in his arms. "I know."
And Martin watched him curiously for a few moments, sensing that maybe Danny really did know, that maybe Martin had given himself away in that alley in Havana. How he'd been so flighty and desperate, whispering his insistence that what they were doing was wrong, yet contradicting his words with how much he wanted Danny.
Sighing, Martin buried his face against Danny's throat, kissing the skin softly as Danny tightened his hold on him. "Thank you," he murmured.
They sat there a while longer and it was nearly dawn when Danny stirred, pulling Martin to his feet. "Come on," he whispered, tugging Martin after him into another room.
A small wave of apprehension washed over Martin as he realized that this was Danny's bedroom, but he was so tired and sleeping in a bed rather than in a half seated position on the couch – no matter how comfortable he felt in Danny's arms – was very inviting. Danny rummaged around in one of the drawers for a few moments before handing Martin a pair of pajama pants and a white t-shirt and then grabbing a set for himself. They changed clothes in silence and Martin's nerves only returned when he actually thought about the fact that he was crawling into bed with Danny.
"Danny?" he asked tentatively, perched on the edge of the bed, watching as Danny settled himself beneath the blankets and fluffed his pillow a few times to make it more comfortable.
Danny looked up at him and reached out his arm, gently pulling him down into bed, lifting the blankets for Martin to crawl beneath. Once he was there, Danny slid closer, wrapped an arm around him and kissed him tenderly. And there was no way Martin could resist – even out of fear – not when Danny made him feel so safe and secure. And despite the Martin of a few months ago – even weeks ago – who would have insisted this was wrong, he snuggled closer into Danny's embrace and felt peaceful…happily anticipating what would come next.