Craig's hands stroked the softness of John Paul's face as his mouth pressed gently but firmly against John Paul's soft lips. They felt like they had been apart for a lifetime but they now had a lifetime to make up for it.

"About this shirt," Craig said as he began to unfasten John Paul's buttons.

"I thought you liked it."

"I do…" John Paul leaned forward as Craig eased the shirt from his back, "But I would like it a lot better over there." With that Craig balled the shirt in his hands and flung it across the room.

John Paul raised an eyebrow in query.

"It's our place," Craig reasoned, "We can make as much mess as we like!"

Seeing the logic in Craig's statement John Paul tugged at the edge of the man's t-shirt and then pulled it over his head, throwing the garment to the opposite end of the room with a laugh.

"Didn't that feel good?"

"Not as good as you feel."

John Paul gripped onto the firmness of Craig's back and pulled the man's naked chest tightly against his, feeling the heat radiate from the combination of their bare flesh as they held each other close.

John Paul's mouth tasted at the skin of Craig's neck. His tongue moving over it and his teeth biting into its sweetness as Craig rocked gently on his lap, the friction caused by his motion creating a pleasant sensation between them.

Craig hands stroked the warm skin of John Paul's chest, the man's nipples hardening as Craig's palms passed over them and a small moan escaping from his throat as Craig's mouth lowered to them, his tongue circling around the hard flesh as he bit at them gently.

Leaning back Craig held his palm to the centre of John Paul's chest. "Are you..?"

John Paul smiled. "Nearly all healed," he replied, "You'll just have to be gentle with me!"

"I can do that."

John Paul's hands moved up Craig's denim clad thighs. Their eyes locked together and the air between them seemed to crackle with electricity. "But not too gentle," he amended with a grin.

Craig returned his body to the heat of John Paul's as their mouths melded together and tongues swirled in the furnace between them.

John Paul's hands squeezed firmly at the tops of Craig's thighs and then slipped a little higher to press against the growing firmness of Craig's groin. Craig moaned into John Paul's mouth as the pressure against his erection was increased making him break breathlessly away from the kiss. His eyes were dark and heavy with desire as he looked down on the man who was arousing him so completely and yet so effortlessly.

"John Paul…" the name had never sounded so right before as it caressed his tongue and spilled over his lips, it sounded like perfection.

Wrapping his arms tightly around John Paul's body Craig toppled them both sideways onto the length of the sofa. Both men were laughing as John Paul wriggled himself into a more comfortable position, nestling his shoulders into the soft cushions, as Craig raised himself to his knees and trailed his hands down John Paul's chest until his fingers rested at the top of the man's trousers.

"Exactly HOW gentle do I have to be?" Craig asked with a lusty grin.

John Paul laughed. "Well as long as you don't plan on jumping on me from the top of a wardrobe I should be fine!"

Craig seemed to consider John Paul's reply before answering. "So we'll save the wardrobe jumping for another time then?"

John Paul was still laughing as Craig peppered his face with feather soft kisses, kisses that ran down his throat and over his chest making John Paul's skin quiver with excitement. Craig shuffled backwards on the sofa as he ran his trail of kisses lower until the arm of the furniture collided with his feet and halted his progression. He looked behind him with a sigh; they really needed a bigger sofa.

Not to be deterred Craig slipped from the sofa and knelt on the floor beside it. His kisses had reached John Paul's waist and the man was beginning to breathe heavily with anticipation. Craig's hands deftly slipped open the buckle of John Paul's belt as John Paul raised his hips to ease the progression of his jeans and boxers over his thighs and down past his knees, past his ankles, until the remainder of his clothing was scattered across the room.

Craig got to his feet and observed the beauty of the figure stretched out before him. Both his heart and his groin ached with desire for such a vision of perfection. John Paul's shoulders were broad and strong, his chest firm and his stomach taught. His legs were long with deeply muscled thighs and his cock, almost fully engorged, rested proudly against his belly.

John Paul breathed slowly as Craig's eyes travelled over him and he was surprised to find that he felt no hint of embarrassment or discomfort under that gentle gaze. There had been so many times when John Paul had felt ashamed of his body, it wasn't as muscled at this man or as toned as that man. Even with Spike he had been more comfortable when he had been able to hide his form beneath the duvet. But with Craig it was different, with Craig everything was different. With Craig he felt proud to be himself and the look of loved and lust in Craig's eyes were all the assurances he ever needed.

"God you're so gorgeous," Craig said hotly as his own clothing became strewn across the floor.

"You're not so bad yourself," John Paul replied lustfully as the lightly tanned form of Craig was slowly revealed.

Craig fell back to his knees beside John Paul and prepared to worship at the body he loved so much.

His mouth was hot as it passed over John Paul's thighs and it made the soft sensitive skin shiver as the tip of Craig's tongue pressed against it. Swirling his tongue slowly Craig lightly tasted as John Paul's balls to a gasp of pleasure that escaped from John Paul's lips. The hot tongue then ran the length of John Paul's cock in a single stroke as John Paul closed his eyes and arched his back. He moaned heavily as Craig's mouth opened to slip the head of his cock inside.

Craig cupped John Paul's balls in his hand as he sucked lightly on the head of his cock, taking it into him a little deeper as the intensity of John Paul moans increased. Sinking his hands into Craig's hair John Paul submerged into the exquisite pleasure that Craig created with the heat of his mouth and the swirling of his tongue. Craig sucked harder, tasting the drops of precum and spreading it over the head of John Paul's cock with his tongue.

John Paul let out a distressed whimper as Craig's mouth gave up its hold of his cock and Craig turned his eyes to his disappointed lover as his mouth curled into a deep sexy smile.

"Let's get this room christened then!" Craig said with a grin as he climbed back onto the sofa and once again straddled his knees across John Paul's.

John Paul raised a hand and stoked over the tightness of Craig's belly and brushed over the firmness of his cock. Craig closed his eyes for a second as John Paul's fingers curled around him, his thumb pressing against his sensitive tip and moving in a slow deliberate circle.

Craig reached behind him to grip onto John Paul's cock that was still slick with saliva and precum. Slowly and carefully Craig began to lower himself until he could feel the head of that pulsating cock pressing against his tight opening. Craig gasped as he pushed himself down further and John Paul's cock breached him, making him gasp with the sudden pain and then the indescribable pleasure.

John Paul raised his hips to meet Craig's decent, his cock slipping further into the tight heat of Craig's body until he was completely engulfed and Craig was sat against his lap.

The electricity in their eyes sparkled with fire as their gaze locked together.

John Paul reached to Craig and pulled the man down against him, their mouths crashing together with desire as their bodies started to rock in time to the music only they could hear.

With John Paul's arms tight around his back Craig pulled himself upright, raising John Paul with him until they were facing each other.

Craig lifted and lowered himself against the hard cock deep inside him, relishing each inch of his body that it touched as it filled him perfectly. His own cock was trapped between their bodies and the friction of his movements brushed over it.

John Paul's hands grabbed at the back of Craig's head as they kissed, pressing their mouths together hard and sucking deeply on the tongue that pushed its way between his lips.

The room was filled with soft moans and heavy pants as they moved together. John Paul's cock thrusting deeper and harder into the body that craved its presence making Craig cry out as it touched again and again at the perfect target.

John Paul's fingers clawed at Craig's back, pulling at his body as he raised himself hard against the man above him. The aching pressure in his cock was building so fast that he couldn't resist its demands much longer and he moaned loudly as he buried his face into the crook of Craig's neck.

Craig tightened himself around the throbbing of John Paul's cock, increasing the pressure and riding it hard as John Paul's panting grew louder and his body began to shake.

John Paul pushed his hand between their bodies and gripped tightly onto Craig's cock, running his hand hard and fast over its length as his own desire finally became too much to withstand.

Calling out Craig's name John Paul thrust upwards as he came and his cock pulsed out its heat deep inside Craig's body.

Still trembling from the force of his climax John Paul sought out Craig's mouth and kissed him deeply as he continued to stroke the length of the cock that throbbed hotly in his hand.

It wasn't long before Craig's body tensed and he broke from the kiss to cry out his pleasure as he came hard in John Paul's grip and his lust poured hotly over John Paul's hand and covered both men's bellies.

They collapsed back against the sofa in satisfaction and lay in a tangle of limbs as the racing of their hearts slowed and their breathing began to return to normal.

"One down," Craig said with a laugh, "Just how many rooms does this flat have?"

John Paul rested in the comfort of Craig's arms. They hadn't quite managed to christen every room in the flat but had made a good start and were now snuggled deeply underneath the duvet that covered their brand new bed.

Craig stroked John Paul's hair and kissed the top of his head gently. He felt a moments unease and knew why. It had to be done. He didn't want to do it but he had learned from bitter experience that these things had a way of coming out when you least expected them to, and at least this way he had some control.

"John Paul..?"

"Hmm?"

"I need to tell you something… and you're not gonna like it." Craig chewed nervously at his lip as John Paul's blue eyes turned to look at him. Craig smiled as he remembered – or rather remembered being told about - all of the times he had drunkenly raved on about those eyes, and with just cause he decided.

"The thing is," Craig began carefully, "I mean it wasn't like… and I didn't even…"

John Paul's brow furrowed. "Craig what is it?" He asked carefully, "You can tell me…"

"I kissed Adam," Craig blurted out, "Again…"

John Paul sat upright in the bed causing the duvet to fall from him. "OK…"

Craig's hand pressed into the small of John Paul's back. "It didn't mean anything… he was drunk and upset coz he's just had a fight with Catelin and…"

"HE was drunk?"

"Yeah."

"But you weren't?"

"Well no but…"

"So you were completely sober when you kissed him?"

John Paul climbed out of the bed and padded barefoot to the window, looking through the net curtain at the almost empty street outside.

Craig scrubbed his hands through his hair as he tried to explain what had happened.

"It just took me by surprise… one second we were talking and then…"

"And then you had your tongue down his throat?"

"Yes... NO… I don't know… as soon as I realised what I was doing I stopped it… I told him it couldn't happen again. It wouldn't happen again."

Craig got up from the bed and joined John Paul at the window, slipping his arms around the naked man.

"It was nothing… you do believe me don't you… I don't want there to be any secrets between us… not anymore…"

"Do you love him?" The question took Craig by surprised and it was a moment before he answered.

"No of course not… I mean yes… I do… but only as a friend… I swear… Christ John Paul you've gotta believe me."

As John Paul turned to face Craig he was smiling and his shoulders shook with a gentle laughter.

"You know what Craig," he said with a giggle, "We're gonna have to do something about your tendencies to snog other men!"

Craig was wide-eyed for a second. "You knew!" He accused.

"Adam phoned me a few days ago to explain…"

"But I told him…"

John Paul punched Craig playfully in the ribs. "You told him not to say anything."

"You'd been through enough… I was trying to protect you… but I did tell you in the end." Craig pouted as John Paul continued to laugh. "I can't believe he called you."

"Oh you know Adam… he always lets his mouth run away with him," John Paul looked pointedly at Craig's lips, "Well YOU know that better than most!"

"And we're OK?" Craig ran his hands over John Paul's arms as he spoke.

"Just promise me one thing."

"Anything…"

"Next time you fancy a snog… come and find me!"

"Deal," Craig agreed with a grin as he pulled his lover into his arms and kissed the only mouth he would ever need to taste for the rest of his life.

John Paul nestled back into the warmth of the bed and Craig's embrace. It had been a little cruel to let Craig suffer like that but John Paul thought it was the least he deserved for kissing that sexy green-eyed man for a second time.

"John Paul..?"

"Hmm."

"There was a third time that I kissed Adam."

John Paul's head snapped around to look into the deep brown of Craig's eyes, if this was some kind of joke then he would kill him… if it wasn't a joke… well he might just kill him!

"A third time?"

"Yeah…"

"And that was...?"

"This morning… when we said goodbye… but that's all it was… just a goodbye kiss."

"That's all?"

"I promise."

"You do realise what all this means don't you?" John Paul's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"What?" Craig asked with trepidation.

"I'm gonna have to go and snog Spike twice more… just to make us even!"

"You wouldn't!"

"Wouldn't I? Or I suppose we could go and visit Adam and I could snog him!"

"You're enjoying this aren't you?"

John Paul laughed. "A little bit yeah," he said as he ducked from the pillow that Craig aimed at his head.

Placing his head back on the comfort of Craig's chest John Paul sighed with contentment.

"Craig?"

"Yeah?"

"Is this it now? Is this us… forever?"

Craig considered his answer. It would have been easy to make that promise. To tell John Paul that nothing would ever come between them again. But he couldn't know that, not for certain and he wanted no more lies between them, whatever the cost.

"I hope so," Craig replied truthfully, "Right now I can't think of anything I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you… and I hope that never changes."

"Right answer," John Paul said touching his lips to Craig's chest. "I've just realised, this is our first home, should I have carried you over the threshold or something?"

Craig laughed at the thought. "We're moving in together… we haven't just got married!"

"Why Craig Dean is that a proposal?"

"You never know," Craig said kissing the top of John Paul's head, "You really never know!"

"Craig?"

"Yeah…"

"Tell me that you love me."

"You know that I love you…"

"But tell me anyway."

Craig tightened his hold around the beautiful blonde haired man in his arms.

"John Paul McQueen I love you," he said with conviction, "With every atom of my being, with every breath in my body, with my heart and soul and my body and mind… I love you."

John Paul gripped tightly onto the man he had dreamed of his whole life as Craig's words held him as closely as his arms did.

"You are my strength and my weakness Craig Dean and I love you too," he said against the soft skin of Craig's chest, "More that I ever knew I could."

As darkness fell two men lay wrapped together in the warmth of their bed and the comfort of each other's arms. It had been a struggle to get to this day and they had overcome many obstacles along the way. But each battle had only made them stronger and each new difficulty had only brought them closer.

There had been a time when John Paul McQueen and Craig Dean couldn't imagine being together. Now they couldn't imagine being apart.

---

I still remember the day I told him to get out. The day I told him to leave me alone. That day I thought it was over because I couldn't risk letting him hurt me anymore.

I still remember the day I told him to get out because he came back and he kept on coming back until I knew that he wasn't there to hurt me, but to love me.

Before him I hid from the world, without him I feared the world but with him I can embrace the world, the world that he makes perfect just by being a part of it. Craig Dean was the love of my life from the moment that I met him and I know he will be until the day that I die.

---

For a long time I thought that I had lost him. I'd done so many things to hurt him that I didn't think I deserved another chance but he gave it to me anyway.

I didn't know who I was until I found him. I didn't know what I wanted or who I wanted until he showed me. I didn't know I was alive until he kissed me.

John Paul McQueen turned my life upside down and I will spend the rest of my life thanking him for it. Until him the world was grey. Now it shines with the brightest colours, especially that beautiful shade of blue buried deep in his eyes where only I have ever seen it.