Syed walked up to the door of the flat. Another day had gone by. Another day spent running around trying to do too much. Running his new London merchandise business, with help from his ex that was less than helpful and more of a headache. Also, keeping his hand in at the salon, with a sense of loyalty and affection to the regular clients that relied on him to soothe their physical aches and often their mental woes too, despite the salon's dwindling profit in recent months, understandable under the circumstances of course, it's manager and his friend, having more important things to worry about. He was also still trying to offer his support where he could in the running of the Argee Bhajee. His brother and sister-in-law needed help now more than ever after his mother's latest revelation, things once again having fallen apart, just after they had started to put the pieces back together. All this, but still it wasn't really enough. Not enough to fill the empty space.
6 days. Not that he was counting of course.
As he put the key in the lock he paused briefly. A feeling of familiarity washing over him. He liked coming home. The evidence, the knowledge, the memories, the sights and smells of his life all around him, of their life together. The reality of it. He could feel Christian's presence, even when he wasn't there. Though at night the bed seemed a whole lot bigger and emptier without Christian's large form and weight, occupying more than it's fair share of it, not to mention the lack of longed for heat. He had had to resort to sleeping on Christian's side of the bed, breathing in what he could of him, whilst imagining those strong but gentle arms around him, and may have woken up hugging Christian's pillow on more than one occasion. Though he wouldn't dare admit that to Christian of course, he'd never hear the last of it.
As he stepped into the flat he felt it. Felt the air bristle with an energy that made his nerves come alive in the way nothing else did. He felt it before he stubbed his toe on the suitcase that sat unceremoniously in the middle of the floor and that made him cry out.
'Shit!' He exclaimed, before looking up.
Christian was standing in the kitchen area, the broadest smile shining from his bronzed features. His hair was slightly longer and flecked with gold, he looked different, but the same. Syed watched mesmerised as Christian's eyes glowed with such an intensity of warmth and love that Syed feared he might actually melt. His heart stopped and his breath caught in his throat, rendering him momentarily speechless and unable to move a muscle.
"Well, I thought I might get a better greeting than that!" Christian teased, the lines at the corner of his eyes creasing as the joy of his smile spread through his entire being.
He's beautiful.
It was the only coherent thought Syed seemed capable of as he drank in the sight of him, stood mere metres away. A sight which had been lacking and desperately needed for so long. They had used Skype during Christian's time away, but the limited, flat screen image was nothing compared to the real thing, the real sensations of having Christian within arms reach.
He's here, he's mine, and he's so goddamn beautiful.
"Are you just going to stand there staring at me?" Christian asked, eyebrows raised, the happiness that radiated from him diffusing into something else, a need.
That was when Syed saw it, the softness, the vulnerability, that which drove rivulets of tenderness through that powerful body, and made his touch and heart so gentle. Suddenly it was something Syed wanted to feel, needed to feel. He needed Christian's touch, there was nothing more instinctual and natural in that moment, nothing more craved by the very essence of who he was.
Syed smiled. It was a smile that came from deep within, a smile that seemed to stretch into every corner of their life together and gained it's strength from the knowledge of what they had.
He went to him. Arms enveloping and bodies connecting with a heat that was so familiar and yet never failed to ignite anew. Feeling like an eternity since they were last together and yet at the same time feeling like they had never been apart.
Christian's hands glided and fingers stroked over cherished flesh, and with the movement Syed let out a sigh, almost of relief. With parted lips pressed against the skin of Christian's neck, his words came out in a whisper.
"You weren't supposed to be back until next week."
"I know."
Syed felt moist air against his ear. Without conscious thought his body pressed itself further into Christians, the hard contact making his blood pump faster, sending his heart into a quickening, dancing rhythm and causing little thrills to shoot down his nerve endings.
"Last night, I just… I got someone to cover my final shifts, they owed me a favour anyway, and I was lucky to get a cancellation on a flight, and, well… here I am."
Christian's last words were spoken into the corner of Syed's mouth, as his face nuzzled against Syed's cheek, stubble brushing roughly against stubble, breath falling heavy over soft skin.
"Yes…" Syed turned his head slightly until their lips were almost touching. "…here you are."
Their eyes locked.
"I'm ok you know." Syed said as his lids grew heavy, "You didn't have to come back."
He couldn't stop his gaze dropping to Christian's lips as his arms snaked further around Christian's shoulders, fingers nestling into the hair at the nape of his neck.
"I know. I wanted to."
"I'm glad you did." Syed whispered, as he watched Christian's gaze trail over his face.
"Yeah? How glad?" Christian's voice had dropped low, as he made eye contact once more and his mouth curved leisurely upwards.
Syed leaned that little bit closer until his lips brushed against Christian's.
"Very." he breathed, as the sensations overwhelmed him until the point where he couldn't hold back even if he wanted to. But why would he want to? In that moment there was only one thing on his mind and one thing he wanted to do…