Charles
The guilt didn't flash him like Charles had thought it would. It didn't crush over him like a big wave full of regret, threatening to drown him. No, it came slow and made its way through his whole body and mind in the following week.
When he had gone home that day, Moira had greeted him like always. She hadn't even looked twice at him to notice the beard burn or how askew his clothes were.
They ate dinner together with their children after Charles had taken a shower, getting rid of any sweat or cum on himself. It had been way too easy.
Charles had suspected that Moira would find out the second she saw him, already made his peace with explaining to her why certain things happened. It was so easy. Why was this so easy?
He had planned to not call Erik again. Why should he? His mind was working totally fine when he wasn't around the other man and every fiber in his body told him to not get in touch with Erik ever again. Charles didn't want to lose his family and still suspected Moira to find out any moment.
His heart however, was longing to see Erik again - feel him again. But Charles let his mind take control. He knew, he was hurting Erik, but he should understand. He needed to understand - Erik was in the same situation! But was he? He had told Charles that he shouldn't regret this, so he probably didn't feel bad about their encounter at all. Moira had told Charles that Erik and Magda had problems in their marriage - hell, even Erik had told him that they didn't have sex in ages!
Maybe their marriage was already doomed - but Charles' wasn't.
He tried to convince himself that it was the best not to call Erik again, but with every day that passed it became harder to resist.
It wasn't until after a fight with Moira two weeks later, that Charles finally grabbed his phone and called the number. His stomach was boiling with rage and anger and he almost growled into the speaker, but Erik's voice immediately soothed him.
"Charles?", he heard the hopeful voice of the other man.
"Hello." There was a long silence after that, until Erik finally spoke up again.
"Why are you calling?" - "I … can I see you?", he asked in a hesitant voice.
It was like he could practically see Erik smile on the other side as he answered "sure. Want me to go to the flower shop?"
"Hmmh, I'll be there in ten", he said and murmured a small goodbye into the speaker, before hanging up.
He already felt dirty again, guilt pulsing through his veins, but Moira had been so unfair. Everything was always about what she wanted.
'I want another baby, Charles' 'I want a big vegan cake for David's birthday, Charles' 'I don't want to move, Charles'.
She didn't even care what Charles wanted. So he decided, it was time to just take whatever he wanted. And Charles wanted Erik.
Erik
Erik had spent the last two weeks consumed with guilt.
Everytime he looked at his wife and daughter he felt terribly bad for what he had done. It's not like his marriage was beyond repair for him to go and destroy it like that. It was just Charles.
He had hoped and waited for the other man to call, but deep down he knew Charles wouldn't. It still hurt to see he was so hung up on an affair like that, and that he had lost someone with the potential of becoming a really good friend.
He was startled to say the least, when he got the phone call from Charles. It made him happy, like his heart was going to burst out of his chest, to know he wanted to meet up again.
If Charles had called two weeks after, it meant that he had been thinking of Erik, surely. That he had fought the battle to stay away but just couldn't resist. It was nice knowing that the pull he felt was two-sided.
His palms were sweaty, so he cleaned them at this jeans pants standing in front of the flower shop.
The plaque said 'Closed' but there was a light on and he knew the other man was in there. Erik pushed the door open and went inside stilling himself.
'Hey', he said softly and Charles was already looking at him. It was hard reading his expression, and Erik fidgted nervously not knowing what to do. Should he shake hands with the other man? Hug him? Kiss him? It had never been this hard to approach Charles. Erik took a few awkward steps forward.
'Hi', Charles finally answered when Erik settled himself on the opposite side of the counter, both leaning a little in unconsciously.
'Been a while', Erik said looking around, not meeting those piercing blue eyes.
'Yeah, I was busy', came the answer and it all just seemed off. The air wasn't right, they weren't comfortable around each other, and it was just weird. He hated this.
Erik nodded 'I'm glad you called anyway', he said. 'Me too', Charles answered in a low tone and Erik finally looked at him.
He couldn't handle that awkwardness and leaned in to kiss the other man across the counter, wanting them to connect somehow.
There was a flicker of doubt flashing on Charles' eyes, but Erik ignored it and pressed their mouths together.
It was stiff and dry, only their lips touching, but it was still heavenly to touch the other man like that.
He felt Charles starting to melt, and opened his mouth to lick his bottom lip, but as soon as he did that, Charles pulled away brusquely, pushing Erik's shoulder to separate them.
'No!', he said almost too loud, and the look in his eyes made Erik feel like he had just been shot in the heart. 'We can't, Erik! This is wrong', the way he was saying the words made Erik feel like he was the wrong one there, that it was all his fault. But it wasn't. It took two to cheat and even after, he had kept his distance, letting it be Charles' choice.
'Why did you call me then?', he asked feeling hurt. If there was something he figured out is that he couldn't be Charles' friend ever. If the other man didn't want them to be together, why would he call?
Charles
Charles ran his hands through his hair, pulling at it with mixed feelings. Why did he call? He didn't know!
He had called because he wanted Erik, he had called because he missed him. But the actual reason why he called, was his and Moira's fight. If they hadn't fought, Charles would have stayed strong and resisted to call.
And now he was in this sweet misery.
"I don't know, okay?", he blurted out, almost snapping at Erik, but trying to calm himself.
"I wanted to see you, because I missed you and after that stupid fight with Moira, it felt like a good idea", Charles explained, not even daring to look into the direction of Erik.
"So you called, because you wanted to get back at your wife?", Erik asked, sounding hurt. Charles turned around at that with wide eyes.
"No! I would never tell her-" - "This is not about her right now!", Erik snapped, before Charles could finish his sentence.
Everything went dead quiet afterwards and the two men eyed each other. And then, Charles could finally see it - the wall, the others had been talking about. Erik was closing himself off in front of Charles and he couldn't do anything but stare.
He watched as Erik's jaw clenched, his eyes turning into this cold stare and body tense as if he would be attacked by Charles any moment now.
"I am not your fuckboy, Charles. I am not somebody you can call to blow off steam and then push away like dirt. For God's sake,I have feelings too, I-", Erik said and cutting himself off, when the neatly built up wall seemed to crumble. Every single word cut deep into Charles' heart and he just wanted to reach out and soothe Erik.
"I know, I know you are not. There is so much more to you", Charles tried, but Erik only shook his head.
Erik
'I actually thought-', he started again, shaking his head. That right there was why he was always closed off. People hurt each other all the time. And when it came from Charles it was even worse.
He thought Charles had called because of him. Because of Erik. Not because he wanted to get back at his wife, wanted to do something rash and feel better.
Charles couldn't use him like that. Not when Erik felt so deeply for him.
He carefully put up all his walls and kept his stare as blank as he could. Charles didn't deserve seeing all the little parts of him that he kept even from his wife.
'I could say it was nice seeing you again, but it really wasn't', he said in a flat, dull tone, wanting to make Charles feel at least half as broken as he felt then.
He turned around and fled the flower shop, knowing he was never seeing Charles again. He didn't look back, not wanting to see those haunting eyes again. Not wanting to remember anything from Charles.
When the door closed behind him, he felt like crying but didn't. His walls were up, he only felt numb from now on.
He didn't go straight home, instead, he wandered around the streets until he found a nice park and sat on a bench, staring at his hands and thinking what the hell had just happened.
The important thing at that moment, was to forget about Charles. Never think of him, never talk about him, never see him.
Charles
When Erik left, he took a piece of Charles' heart with him. It was so hard for him to pull off a smile when needed those following days. He tried to be happy around his kids, talking normally with Moira, but it didn't take her long to figure out that something was off.
She had tried several times to approach him, but it didn't work - he would immediately block her off and say that it was just stress from work. Moira however, didn't suspect anything. She thought, Charles was still mad because of their fight and even apologised one night. He had told her that it was alright and when she began to kiss him, he started to calm down and made love to her.
She gave him a bit of his missing heart back - he loved her after all and she knew how to make him happy. His kids added to it, when they asked for Charles to read them something or play a few hours with them. It always raised his mood immediately.
He still missed Erik and more than ever, he wanted to see the other man, call him, to apologise for his behaviour. He never did.
Charles was more than aware that if something would have happened between them now, he wouldn't be able to stop anymore - however much he felt it was wrong.
Winter came around and David's birthday came closer with big steps. The young boy was excited and kept telling his parents what he wanted for his birthday. Charles and Moira carefully took notes.
The morning of David's birthday, they set the alarm earlier than usual and went into the kitchen to get the big (vegan) cake out of the fridge and decorate it with candles. Charles carried it, while Moira opened the doors for him and they walked into David's bedroom, smiling widely.
Then they both started singing Happy Birthday, waking their son gently who beamed at them and the big cake.
"Happy birthday, Monkey", Charles said and let David blow out the candles. "Thank you!", his child grinned and hugged both his parents.
It was going to be a long day afterwards, as they had to prepare lots of food and clean the house, before the other children would arrive.
Charles however, didn't know yet that who was going to help them watch over the children later. But when Moira told him, his mouth was dangerously close to falling wide open.
Magda
"We're going to watch over the children later, hun", Magda told Erik, as she walked behind her husband and hugged him in the bathroom. He had just been brushing his teeth and she put gentle kisses on his shoulder blade, as he stiffened.
"Wha-?", Erik asked, his toothbrush still in his mouth and eyeing her through the mirror.
"I said, we're going to stay over for David's birthday party. I offered it to Moira, since we all know each other and I thought it would be nice to see them again, you know?", Magda repeated and hold the eye contact with Erik in the mirror.
Erik
Erik carefully held Magda's stare and kept moving his hand brushing his teeth.
Okay so he would see Charles today. That was fine, good even. He hadn't thought about the other man in… Well, he moped for the first day after their last meeting and then completely ignored his existence.
His walls were still up, so seeing Charles today would be the same as seeing an old colleague.
He spat the foam on the sink and washed his mouth before turning around in the embrace, letting his arms circle around Magda's waist. He had been giving her a lot of attention these last few days, trying to make it up for the cheating even if she didn't know about it. He also suspected he was giving her what he had wanted to give Charles, and their marriage hadn't been that good in years.
He pecked her in the lips and said 'It's nice of you to offer', with a small smile.
They went out to buy David a gift and then had lunch on a nice restaurant before going back home.
Erik played with Nina and put her down for a nap before it was time to get her ready and go out to David's birthday.
They arrived half an hour earlier, so Magda could help Moira with the final touches, and Erik could do stuff like blowing balloons or whatever.
When his wife rang the bell, Erik was proud to see his stomach didn't turn around and he didn't feel nervous.
His heart skipped a treacherous beat when the door was opened and Charles stood there holding Hannah in his arms.
'Charles', he greeted politely and stretched his hand to shake the other man's.
Charles expression wasn't one Erik could read, and when he went inside the house he put on his best guest behaviour and acted more politely than always but even more closed off.
Charles
"Ahh, Magda! Erik! It's good to see you two again", Moira came walking out of the living room, where she had been decorating the table with Charles before.
Charles watched his wife kiss the cheeks of their visitors and then crouched down to greet Nina with a warm, motherly smile on her face.
"Hallo, Nina", she tried her German and the young girl beamed at her. "David is in his room, if you'd like to play with him."
Nina let go of her mother's hand and ran into David's room, so Moira stood up again and smiled at Erik and Magda.
"Come in! We're just about to set the food on the table", she said and Charles stepped back to let them inside.
His eyes fixated on Erik who looked handsome as always. He even looked happier and one glance at Magda proved that they seemed to have made up again. It certainly hurt Charles, knowing that he still had a lot of problems going on with his own wife.
Charles said hello to Magda as well and the two women went into the kitchen to get the food ready, leaving Charles and Erik in the corridor.
The air immediately tensed up, even though Charles could see a thick wall behind Erik's eyes.
"Um, could you help me carry some glasses into the bedroom. We don't want any accidents", Charles said and Erik simply nodded at that, already starting to walk into the living room.
They didn't have much time until the doorbell rang again and the first kids were being dropped off. It began to be hectic around the house and their wives carefully watched the children. Charles was taken back by Erik almost ignoring him and he knew, today was the only chance for him to apologise. He just needed one private moment with the other man.
"Erik? Could you maybe get two more water bottles out of the basement? It's unlocked", Moira addressed Erik, because Charles had been on the toilet a few seconds ago. He still heard what she said and saw Erik walking towards the door to the basement and knew, this was his chance.
He slipped through the door, before it closed itself and followed Erik behind.
"Erik", he called, causing the other man stop dead on his tracks.
Erik
He turned around in the dark basement to see that Charles was in there with him, and he didn't even realise it.
His heart was being incredibly stupid being close to Charles again, and he was fighting with every fiber of his body to not just… Pull the other man in a hug or just beg for them to be friends again.
In the morning, when Magda had told him they were coming here, Erik didn't want to refuse because it would have been so very suspicious, but in hindsight he should have said no. Things were good with her, she wouldn't find out anything. He should have just stayed away.
'What?', he asked a little colder than he meant to, but in all honesty he was very frustrated with himself. The feelings inside of him were too hard to fight.
Charles seemed taken back by Erik's coldness and he tried not to let his walls crumble down at that.
'I uh…', he started and put a hand on the back of his head, messing his long hair nervously. God, Erik knew just how soft it was.
'I'm sorry for what happened, I…' - 'There's nothing to apologise for', he cut the other man and turned around to look for those water bottles.
'It clearly seems like there is', he said and Erik heard a sigh from behind him, followed by quiet steps.
Charles was approaching him now and Erik sent him a look that said 'Stay away'. The other man stopped and kept staring at him.
Then, he said with a polite tone of voice 'you needed someone to help you forget your problems, I was there', Erik picked the water bottles and faced Charles.
'But you're ignoring me', Charles stated and Erik raised an eyebrow.
'This is just who I am with everyone else, Charles', he explained.
He didn't want to hear the other man's apology because Charles couldn't possibly know what to apologise for. It's not like he had acted wrong or something. He had acted on the way people with affairs did. It was Erik's own fault for letting the attraction develop into feelings.
Charles
"Yes, but this is now who you are with me", Charles said and stepped closer again.
He was taken by a sudden need to be close to Erik again, a sudden urge to proof Erik that he was wrong. Erik had been wrong, when he said that Charles only needed someone to forget his problems. He needed Erik. Nothing more, nothing less.
"And what makes you so special from everyone else?", Erik asked with an icy voice, his whole body language defensive and telling Charles to step back.
But he didn't. Charles walked closer to Erik, until the other man started walking backwards. He bumped into the wall and Charles came to a stop right in front of him.
"Red tulips, chess games and long conversations in coffee shops", he gave reasons for Erik's question.
He had known it all along. He had know when he stepped in the basement with Erik - no, when Erik had stepped into his house - that Charles couldn't resist him anymore.
His feelings were too strong, his mind already foggy again just by being around Erik.
"Erik, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for how I've treated you", he tried to apologise again, but Erik raised a hand to cut him off.
"Stop Charles. What do you want with that apology? You know, I can't go back to being your friend", Erik said, his voice still cold but shaking a little bit.
"I want-", he started and realised, the only thing he wanted to do, was to kiss Erik now.
And so he walked the two steps separating them and pressed Erik against the wall, his lips landing uncontrollably on the other man's, teeth hitting together in a painful way.
Erik
It was embarrassing to admit that it took Erik all but two seconds to give in and drop the water bottles to the floor, before circling Charles' waist and bringing him impossibly close to his body.
Erik felt the other man's arms coming around his neck and bending at the elbow, their bodies pressed so close it was like they wanted to merge.
A needy sound escaped both their throats and Erik kissed Charles angrily. He pushed his tongue inside the other man's mouth like he was throwing a punch, he squeezed his waist almost too strong to leave bruises and he was biting his bottom lip harshly. Charles took it all, and kissed back just as strongly.
He pulled Erik's body away from the wall, before shoving him against it forcefully, Erik's back hitting it like it was some kind of punishment.
Their stubble were frictioning together, already making their sensitive skin ache pleasurably and their hands started exploring underneath their shirts, touching everything they could.
They pulled away, their breaths shallow and ragged and Erik was gasping for air, his chest moving in a fast rhythm.
'I don't want to be someone for you to use', he clarified letting his barriers down for the minute. He let every little emotion show, his eyes raw and real, begging for Charles to understand.
'I'm not… I'm not using you', he answered breathlessly, like Erik's feelings had taken the air out of his lungs.
'Good', he answered. His walls were still standing there, but now they were starting to crumble down. It might take a little coaxing from Charles until Erik was completely open again, but if the other man was serious, then he wouldn't mind.
Charles smiled softly then and leaned in for another kiss. Their hold on each other was lighter now, tender.
This kiss was gentle and all lips just moving, tasting, learning.
Okay, maybe Charles wouldn't have to coax him too hard. He was already melting down just from this. He let his hand thread on the long brown locks and smiled in the middle of the kiss.
Charles
Charles heard Moira calling for Erik, probably already wondering where the water bottles were and he finally pulled away from the taller man. He was still out of breath and his emotions were bubbling up in his whole body, making him glow and wear a sunny smile.
Erik was smiling too, not as much as Charles and still careful, but Charles could already see that Erik was happy.
"Meet me tomorrow here. Moira is out with the kids", he said and put one last, lingering kiss on Erik's lips, before pulling away and taking the water bottles from the ground.
"Wait, Charles", he heard the other man's voice, just when he was about to take the stars up. Charles turned around and was startled that Erik was behind him. He smiled a sharky smile, making Charles want to kiss him again.
"What?", he asked with a grin on his face. "I take the bottles", Erik said and grabbed the water bottles out of Charles' hand, pushing past him and started walking up the stars.
Charles had a great view of a tight ass in fitting jeans.
When the kids ate all the food and were playing outside in the garden - all tucked into their winter clothes, so they wouldn't get a cold - Charles walked up to Erik who was watching Nina play with David in the snow.
He let his hand brush against Erik's, causing the taller man to break his stare on his daughter and look at Charles. A small smile appeared on Charles' lips which was mirrored by Erik.
Charles couldn't even find it in him to pull his hand away, when Moira approached them, not speaking about feeling guilty. He was happy and why would he ever feel guilty about that?
"Thank you so much for your help, Erik", Moira said, as she stood beside Charles and pressed herself against his body. He didn't react.
Erik
'I'm glad I came', Erik answered, ignoring the fact Moira was clinging to Charles. Their hands were still touching lightly and he felt giddy, like he was in high school all over again, trying to make out with someone behind the bleachers and scared of being caught.
Magda came closer as well, putting her arms around Erik's shoulders and beaming at him. He really made an effort with her after he and Charles had parted ways on the flower shop, but it was so clear to him now, that no matter how much he loved Magda they didn't have half the passion he had with Charles. That fire that came alive each time they looked at each other, had always lacked with Magda.
They were watching the kids play, and Erik was the only who anticipated that little blonde girl was about to slip and fall down. His reflexes were quick and precise, so he was by her side the same second she hit the floor with her knees and started to cry.
The other kids barely noticed it, continuing to play. Erik picked her up and held her in his arms as she cried, making shushing sounds and soothing her.
'Let's see that scratch', he told her and pulled away to examine her knee. There was barely nothing there but she was still sobbing.
'What's your name?', he asked softly, feeling his heart melt at how beautiful she was 'Emma', came the answer and he smiled lovingly.
'What a beautiful name! You're so brave, Emma! You're barely hurt from the fall', he said and she stopped sobbing, only her lips trembling slightly now.
'Why don't you go back to play with your friends? There's no need to cry'. Emma nodded and seemed thoughtful for a little second.
'Will you kiss it better?', she asked coyly and Erik chuckled, ducking his head and lifting her leg up to kiss her knee. 'There. Better now?'.
Emma nodded with a smile, and Erik put her down, only then realising Charles was standing right next to him. Both their wives had started paying attention on other kids when they saw Erik had it under control and now they were a little separated.
'You handled that pretty well', he praised and Erik grinned 'Want me to kiss some places better too?', he asked.
Charles
"Yes, my dick's been aching for hours now", Charles said dryly and Erik laughed.
"Of course. I'll take care of that tomorrow", Erik answered with a promising smirk and winked at Charles. "Care to drink a beer with me when the kids are gone?", Charles then asked and Erik seemed to think about it for a moment.
"Not sure, I mean... Nina needs to go", the other man then answered, biting down on his bottom lip.
"Magda can take her", Charles said in a heartbeat and looked at Erik with begging eyes. "C'mon,we haven't had a chess match in forever."
Erik laughed at that and crossed his arms in front of his chest as a cool breeze hit them. Charles pulled his cardigan closer and then Erik nodded.
"Okay, but I have to see what Magda thinks about it first", he said.
Charles nodded enthusiastically and they both walked back to their wives.
Magda immediately put her hands around her husband's neck and kissed Erik, causing Charles to look away with a sudden burn of jealousy.
"Playing the hero again", Magda said in her polish accent and they kissed once more.
Charles couldn't help but watch them, also seeing the small glance Moira gave him. He knew, she wanted him to do the same, but it hurt enough to see Erik kissing his wife. He certainly didn't want to make Erik feel the same. The doorbell rang, probably the first parents to pick up their kids, so Charles gladly took that opportunity to walk inside the house again, opening the door.
Magda
Magda smiled when she stopped kissing Erik and ran her hand through her husband's hair. It was silky and she silently begged for Erik to shave his beard, so he would feel all soft.
She loved how he invested more time and effort into their marriage, making her feel appreciated again. Who knew that all Erik needed, was a friend. Ever since Charles, Erik was a total different man and Magda hoped this wouldn't change any time soon.
"I love you", she whispered, her arms still around Erik's neck.
Erik
Erik had been this close to push Magda away when she kissed him, but he knew it would be really suspicious. He knew he would have almost died with jealousy if it was the other way around, but he also knew Charles understood there wasn't much he could do about it.
He heard the words she whispered to him, and wasn't hit by a wave of regret and guilt like he thought it would happen. He just felt nothing.
"I love you too", he answered back because it was the truth. But right at that moment, she wasn't the one he longed for. His heart didn't ache for her.
"Is it okay if I stay over here after the party?" - "What for?", she asked cocking her head, but only looking curious.
"Charles invited me to play chess", he explained and Magda, - to his surprise - smiled. "Of course! I can take Nina", she answered.
Erik smiled back at her and didn't try to ask if she was sick or something, not wanting to lose the opportunity to stay over.
When Charles came back from the front door, he was accompanied by two other people, who called out "Jasper!", and a tall boy ran towards them.
From there on, the bell didn't stop ringing and the kids starting going home gradually. He didn't get another moment alone with Charles, but he did tell him he was staying when they were close to their wives. Charles' smile had been rewarding and Erik felt happy. He had to remind himself of still keeping a little of his walls up, and not dive in head first. He needed to test the waters.
Moira
"What was that, about Erik staying over?", Moira asked raising her eyebrows when she and her husband had a second alone at the door of their house.
"I invited him to play chess", Charles answered like it was the most simple thing ever.
But he didn't really understand, did he? Moira had just spent a whole day cooking, making decorations and taking care of dozen wild kids. It was tiring. All she wanted to do when they were gone was make herself a bubble bath and relax, while her husband took care of the kids and put them down for sleep.
Then, she wanted to crawl naked into their bed and have sex. Was it too much to ask? Now Charles had invited his friend to stay longer, meaning she would have to entertain someone else instead of taking a minute to herself.
"You should have asked if I was okay with it first", she hissed, not wanting to speak too loud and risk the other man listening to it.
"What is the problem here?", Charles asked crossing his arms. Moira sighed before answering "Nothing. We can talk later, I'm just tired, so I won't be entertaining him ok?" - "We're going to stay in my study playing", he explained and Moira nodded.
"And I'm going to take care of our children while you do that", she said because she couldn't help herself and turned around, going back to where the remaining kids were.
Charles
Charles sighed at Moira's reaction. He had seen Magda reacting to it when Erik told her and wished for Moira to be just as understanding. Erik's wife had done the same thing as Moira and she even offered to take her daughter home and bring her to bed.
When all the kids were gone and Magda had just said goodbye as well, Charles walked up to Erik. His face was already showing his happiness, but also how tired he was.
"I'll have to put Hannah to sleep first. Moira will do David, but I can't make her do both. Do you want to join?", Charles asked, getting rid of his cardigan and throwing it into his and Moira's bedroom.
"I don't want to bother", Erik said politely, but Charles waved it off. "You won't."
They walked into Hannah's room, where his daughter was already lying in bed.
"Hello, princess", Charles said and sat down on the edge of the bed. He skimmed through her dark hair, making her giggle.
"I can't read something to you today, because we still have visitors", Charles apologised and his daughter automatically pulled a sad face.
"You know what I always do with my daughter when I put her to sleep?", Erik asked, talking to Hannah.
Charles' daughter shook her head and watched him with big eyes.
"I sing her a German lullaby. Would you like to hear one?" Hannah nodded and buried herself deeper into the bedsheets.
Erik sat down on the bed next to Charles and started singing in a soothing voice.
"Schlaf Kindchen, schlaf. Der Vater hüt' die Schaf. Die Mutter schüttelt's Bäumelein, da fällt herab ein Träumelein. Schlaf Kindchen Schlaf."
Charles glanced from his daughter to Erik who was looking at Hannah. His eyes were soft as he watched Charles' daughter and he knew, Erik remembered Nina being as old as Hannah. Now, his daughter was probably changing her night time rhythm and his singing wasn't appreciated anymore.
When Hannah was finally asleep, they walked out of the room, closing the door quietly.
"You have a beautiful voice", Charles said with a lowered volume, not wanting his daughter to wake up again.
Erik
"Thank you", Erik breathed, feeling a little self-conscious. He loved singing for his daughter, but for other people to hear it, made him feel a little embarrassed.
His cheeks felt hot and Charles chuckled, obviously noticing it. "Shall we?", the other man asked, cocking his head to point at his office.
Erik nodded and they walked towards the room, closing the door behind them. It was simple and effortless for them to just sit across from each other and start to set up the pieces. They didn't spend any uncertain time staring at each other, thinking of what to do next. They honestly just wanted to stay close and play a little, enjoying their companies.
After Charles had done his first move with his white pawn, Erik reached out moving his own, and said "I'm sorry about, uh… the kissing", still feeling a little bad.
"It's okay. I guess we have to get used to it", the other man answered not looking pleased. "I know. I just wouldn't have liked it the other way around" - "It wasn't nice, I'll give you that", Charles said studying the board.
After he made his next move, he looked up to Erik "Did you guys make up?", he asked and Erik shrugged.
"I've been nicer to her lately, I think she's happy", he said "What about you and Moira?" - "We're having ups and downs", Charles answered.
They were both silent for a little after that, solely focused on the game in front of them. Playing with Charles was challenging, and sometimes they just needed to give all their attention to the board, before being able to speak up again.
"You said she's happy. Are you happy?", the other man broke the silence, and their eyes locked. "I am now", Erik answered honestly. His hand itched to reach out and hold Charles' fingers between his own, but he couldn't yet. And that subject was getting too personal already, and Erik wasn't ready to be so deep with Charles, so he changed it, wanting to make things lighter and protect himself.
"The party was a success", he commented looking at the set again and calculating his next move.
Charles
"Oh yes it was", Charles granted Erik the change of the topic. He didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, talking about his private life with Magda. It wasn't any of Charles' concerns and he knew it.
."All kids are happy, David has all the presents he wanted, I got mine", Charles grinned and Erik looked up with a small smile.
"When is Nina's birthday?", he asked, playing with a threat that was hanging from the hem of his shirt.
"In May. It's your turn", Erik answered and Charles looked at the board again.
He quickly sat his knight at D4 and stood up from his chair, walking to the wooden door of his office.
"What are you doing?", Erik asked, but his question was answered by Charles simply locking the door and walking back to him.
"Okay, what are you doing, Charles?", Erik tried again, this time sounding even more confused.
Charles simply chuckled and sat down on the couch next to Erik, rather than on the chair, he'd been sitting on before. He pressed Erik's body, with a hand on his chest, backwards until he leaned against the back of the couch. Then he snuggled up to him, nuzzling into the crook of the other man's neck and breathing in the scent of Erik. His hands rested on top of Erik's chest and he pecked the skin on Erik's neck gently.
"I just want to be close to you", he murmured, his long hair falling into his face, but he couldn't find it in him to care.
Erik
Erik felt himself melting, and completely gave in to the embrace. His arms rounded Charles' body, one of his hand flying towards the other man's face to push that soft hair away from it.
He kissed the top of Charles' head repeatedly and let his hand wander up and down his arm on a gentle caress, while the other man's fingertips were drawing silly patterns on his chest.
Erik breathed in that manly scent, mixed with cinnamon and apples and thought that it felt strangely like home.
"This is nice", he said, forgetting completely about the chess game. Charles only hummed in approval, and Erik let his fingers thread through his long hair, massaging the scalp and making the other man purr.
"Hmm.. you make the best noises", Erik said softly, his eyes fluttering shut as he let the sounds coming out from Charles take over all his senses.
"You make the best massage", he answered, making Erik chuckle. "I really do have a talent with my hands", he joked and Charles snorted.
"You'll have to prove that sometime", was the answer.
Talking with Charles was like a nature to him. There wasn't any awkwardness and Charles was never hurt when Erik made fun of him. In fact, he would tease Erik back just as badly, and they would both end up laughing. It made Erik feel peaceful and happy.
"What time should I come by tomorrow?", he asked already craving the time to come.
"In the evening. Moira is going to a friend's house with the kids", Charles said and Erik nodded.
"Should I bring…?", he trailed off a little unsure. Charles lifted his head then, and rested his chin on Erik's chest. It hurt a little, but he never wanted the other man to move. He locked eyes with him, and saw amusement in the blue orbs.
"Oh, why Mr. Lehnsherr, do you plan on throwing me on my desk and ravishing me?", he asked with laughter in his tone of voice. Erik only snorted and rolled his eyes so Charles continued a little more seriously.
"I only hm… with my wife, so I'm clean", he said and Erik nodded "Me too". Charles smiled a little.
"But you should bring lube. Just in case, of course" - "Of course", Erik said and kissed the other man's forehead. Just in case.
Charles
Only when the distant sound of Charles' grandfather clock was mixed with footsteps pacing in front of his room, they both realised how much time had passed. It was almost past midnight and both men had work tomorrow. Charles reluctantly freed himself from the other man's warm embrace and stretched his tired muscles. Erik did the same and both men got up, Erik searching all his things and Charles putting the chessboard back into his shelf again.
He didn't want to risk speaking now, not knowing if Moira was still outside the room. Instead he settled with tugging Erik closer by his shirt and kissing him gently. A shiver ran down his body as he felt Erik close to his body and he didn't want to let go.
But they did and they smiled silly at each other, before Erik grabbed his stuff and they both left the room.
Moira was indeed standing not that far from the office, looking a bit annoyed, but putting on a polite smile as Erik wished her a good night.
"See you", Charles said, nodded at Erik. "Yes. Goodbye, Charles."
Erik walked out of the door and Charles turned to walk into the bedroom. He was tired and wanted nothing more than sleep. He mechanically striped down to his boxers and crawled underneath the sheets.
Moira went into bed a moment later and she started kissing his shoulders.
"Moira, I'm really tired", Charles said exhausted and turned away from his wife.
Moira
Moira froze in the middle of her kisses and stared at the back of Charles' head. Unbelievable! She had waited for hours while her husband had played chess, only to be turned down? No.
She tried again, kissing Charles' naked back, and sucking on the skin.
'Moira', he said in a warning tone and snuggled even further down on the mattress before Moira could even mark his skin, pulling the sheets on top of him tightly 'I said I'm tired'.
'Yeah, I heard', she answered, her voice sounding strange to her own ears.
Ever since Charles had started socializing with Erik, she had been worried about her husband. What she hadn't expected was for his behaviour towards her to become the same as Erik's towards Magda.
Except that now the other couple seemed good, Magda looked happy. Moira sighed and felt jealous of the other woman, - something she thought wasn't possible.
She let her body fall to bed again and didn't try to conceal her sigh. Charles didn't turn around to fix it, and eventually she fell asleep, feeling frustrated, angry and sad.
