Lying on his stomach, arms wrapped around the pillow under his head, blanket resting low around his calves, kicked down during the hot night, Darren watches Chris as he lies on his back and sleeps. Even, quiet breaths pass his partially parted lips that are pink and tempting him to lean over and kiss them. His chest rises and falls with every breath he takes. And it's right then and there, watching Chris peacefully sleep, that Darren realizes he's fallen hard for the man in this bed. It's not love, though it's close to verging on it. All it took was eight days and everything changed for him.

Eight days! he thinks as he continues to gaze at Chris.

Eight days and his world tilted in a way he never expected. Everything that was once clear and easy to understand seems fuzzy and unimportant. None of what mattered eight days ago doesn't matter now. He doesn't care about the girl whose number he received he was planning to call. He doesn't care about hanging out with friends to pick somebody up. None of that matters.

Why worry about someone else unimportant when he has what he wants and needs less than a few inches from him looking gorgeous as he sleeps.

Reaching over and ghosting his fingers up Chris' chest, smiling when he reacts to the touch by shifting, he grazes his fingers up his neck and to his mouth. Lightly tracing his soft lips with his forefinger, feeling Chris' warm breath as he breathes out, remembering how they felt pressing kisses all over his body, he scoots closer and props his head up on his arm. Looking down at Chris as he turns his head and sighs, still sleeping, Darren sees as the morning sun perfectly shows off the many freckles dotted over Chris' face that he never really took into notice before then.

Touching his fingertip to one, he softly drags it along Chris' skin as he traces a random pattern on his face. From freckle to freckle, Darren wonders how long it would take for him to kiss every freckle on Chris' face.

Smiling when Chris tries to bat his hand away in his sleep, quickly averting his hit, he leans down and barely brushes his lips to Chris' in a soft kiss. Placing ghost of kisses along his cheek, he stops by his ear and whispers, "Wake up, Chris."

Fluttering his eyes open, the bright sun immediately making him squint, Chris looks up at Darren as he gazes down at him with a warmth flooding his eyes. The rhythmic stroking of his thumb back and forth on his chest, making his heart beat wildly in his chest, wondering if Darren can feel it under his hand, he smiles up at him.

"You better have a good reason for waking me up," he playfully chastises him.

"I have a great reason."

Feeling as Darren slides his hand down his stomach and stops right below his bellybutton and strokes his thumb over the skin. Playfully rolling his eyes, he lets out a small laugh. "I'm not surprised that is the reason," he says as he reaches down and takes Darren's hand, interlacing their fingers.

"What?...Oh, that's not the reason," Darren replies as he smiles, small blush creeping up his neck. "Although, if you want to later, we can."

"Do you even have to ask?" Chris grabs behind Darren's neck and brings him down into a kiss.

"Mmm," Darren moans, pulling away. "Apparently not. But that's not what I was referring to."

"What is it then?"

"I've been thinking," Darren tells him. Chris arches an eyebrow and gives him a look that says what he thinks about those words. "Yeah, yeah," Darren chuckles. "It's never a good idea when I do that. But this time is different."

"How so?" Chris curiously asks.

"I think we should stay a bit longer." Darren stares at him with a small smile on his lips and hope in his eyes.

"Why?" he quietly asks.

"You know why," Darren tells him.

Extending on this stay at the house is something Chris would love; it's something he wants to so desperately to agree to. But he knows it wouldn't be a good thing. They've already crossed a line just by doing this, and extending on their stay would only cause feelings he's pushed deep down inside him to burst free and take over. He doesn't want the possibility of falling even more for Darren knowing they would leave this place as they came: as best friends.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," he tells Darren, seeing his face drop instantly. Smile disappearing and the light dimming in his eyes, seeing a hurt replacing it, Chris wishes then he could have told him the answer they both wanted.

"Why?" Darren asks him with a voice filled with sadness.

"Because-Because...this shouldn't have even happened."

"Do you regret this?" Darren suddenly asks, Chris seeing the worry take over his face as he moves away from him.

"No!" He is quick to tell him, scooting back to him, needing him close, and brushing his nose along Darren's cheek. "No," he softly reiterates in his ear. "I will never regret this."

"What do you mean then?"

Pulling back just enough to stare into Darren's eyes, smiling at him so he knows he's happy right here, he softly runs his thumb along Darren's plump lower lip. "This changes things between us," he tells him. "We leave this place and go back home knowing more about each other in ways many friends never do. Doing what we did these past few days already pushed us past just being friends. We know each other intimately now, and that...that will make it difficult to just be your friend again. And…and staying here risks us going further than we should; developing feelings that would make it difficult," he says that even though he's had feelings for Darren for some time; even though in these past days those feelings have deepened even more. "But I'm gonna do it because I need you in my life in any way I can have you. Even if it's just as my friend."

"Then let's do this," Darren tells him with a hint of enthusiasm to his voice. "Let's try this beyond the few days here. Let's not be just the friends we are when we go back."

Sitting up and throwing his legs over the side of the bed, not able to look at Darren when he says what he has to, he looks down at his hands in his lap. "No," he says, trying to speak with a firm voice, but hearing it tremble the slightest. "We agreed to only be great together for these few days. This can't go beyond this house. It's for the best."

"Best for you? Or best for me?"

He can hear the slight anger and frustration in Darren's voice as he talks, and he doesn't blame him. At this moment, he hates himself for refusing the one thing he's wanted and longed after for years. But it's best, like he told Darren, that that relationship doesn't happen.

Staring at his back as he sits on the edge of the bed, skin glowing as the sun falls around him, knobs of his spine visible down his back, Darren wants to reach out and skim his fingers down Chris' spine. He wants to feel him shudder if he were to do that; wants to pull him back to him and kiss every inch of his skin. But he can't right now.

At this moment he wants to burrow under the blankets and hide away for a few hours. It seems like a great plan, and he's tempted to do just that, because the first guy he wants more from doesn't want it from him.

Hearing Chris rejecting him hurt more than he thought it would...Hell, he didn't even think he would get rejected. Based off these past several days, and how happy Chris seemed, he thought he would have an armful of an ecstatic Chris eagerly agreeing to his proposal. Instead, Chris sits on the edge of the bed as he lies there looking at him, more space between them than there has been in the last few days. And he hates it. He hates not having Chris close; not having him lying in his arms and being completely happy looking like he's been the other mornings they've woken up together.

Sitting up, one hand planted to the bed for support, he looks into Chris' tear filled eyes when he looks over his shoulder at him.

"Trust me, Dare," he quietly tells him. "It's just for the best."

That sight alone has him scrambling to pull Chris to him and into his lap. Bringing him close to him, feeling long legs wrap around his waist, he holds Chris as he sniffles and fights back his tears.

"It's okay," he soothingly says into Chris' ear. "I will respect your choice."

"I wish I could, Dare. I really, really do," Chris mutters as he stares into his eyes. "But I can't be selfish. I can't do that to you."

"Do what?" Darren confusedly asks.

Realizing he's said too much, Chris hastily moves to climb out of Darren's lap, and off the bed. Wiping the tears from his cheeks, he shakes his head and says it's nothing.

Walking into the bathroom, closing the door behind him, he turns on the faucet of the sink and splashes his face with cold water. Needing to stop thinking about the pain that will come from walking away from what he is sharing with Darren here, feeling cold water run down his heated skin, he turns off the faucet and steps into the shower. Maybe a hot shower will clear his head and make things a smidgen better.

Hearing the shower turn on, wishing he could join Chris, but knowing they need some time alone for a bit, he climbs out of bed and walks out of the room. Going down the hall to the bathroom, he closes the door and steps into the shower.

The hot water helps calm and soothe him. It washes away everything that troubles him at the moment. He doesn't want to deal with that right now. With less than two days left here with Chris, that's all he wants to focus on.

Once in his second year of college, during spring break, he had a short fling with a girl he met when he and some friends went for the week to Florida. That was fun and something he enjoyed. When it ended and it was time for him to go home, he had no problems telling her bye and moving on. But these days with Chris don't feel anything like that.

This doesn't feel like a fling he will be easily able to walk away from. This isn't a few days of fun and excitement for him. It is. But it's so much more than that. It's thrilling and exciting and phenomenal and new and bringing out things in him he didn't know, or think, he had.

Yeah, there were thoughts and tendencies before this, but those were nothing. Those were always brushed off as occurring because he was drunk or because he was happy to oblige someone on a birthday. It was never more than that. But now that it is more than that, he wants to have what he has with Chris for longer than five days.

When he leaves this house to go back home to a place where he's no longer the person he was before the beach house, he actually so desperately wants to continue this with Chris past their time here. Exploring this thing between them beyond what they've discovered is something he wants more than he thought he would.

Stepping out of the shower after several minutes, quickly drying off, he wraps a towel around his hips. Walking back to the room where his bags are, surprised to find Chris sitting with his knees to his chest on the middle of the bed, he goes over to the bench in front of the bed where his bag sits. "You okay?" he asks as he pulls shorts and a shirt from the bag.

"Yeah," Chris mumbles. "I'm sorry about earlier."

"Why are you apologizing?" Grabbing a pair of underwear, he drops his towel without an ounce of shame or embarrassment. He likes knowing Chris is looking at him; likes to feel his eyes roaming over his body. It makes him feel wanted, even though he knows he is. But it also makes him feel beautiful in a way nothing else ever has. "You don't have to apologize." He pulls on his boxers.

It's unfair how great Darren looks naked and standing less than two feet from him. When he lost the towel, standing there with confidence, and looking sexy, Chris had to control his mind to not run rampant with thoughts of crawling the few inches to him and pulling him on top of him.

It scares him to know that he's running out of time with Darren to do things like that. Their moments together are becoming fewer and fewer; their hours melting away like ice cubes in a glass of water sitting out in the sun. That's why refusing Darren's offer earlier hurt so much. To know he could have more moments and more hours with Darren; that they were right there for the taking makes him sad. He was so close to having this like he wants, but it's for the best, like he knows, that this doesn't leave the house.

Once they leave, though, he'll still cherish the time he had here with Darren. No matter what happens, these days will forever be some of the best days of his life.

"I know," he sighs. "But I still feel terrible about it all."

"Don't." Feeling the bed dip when Darren sits in front of him, he crawls into his lap when he opens his arms in invitation. Being in Darren's strong arms makes him feel safe and warm and comfortable. Tucking his head right under Darren's chin, breathing in the smell of vanilla on his skin, knowing that scent will forever more make him think of their time here, he wishes Darren and he could stay and live in these ten days forever.

"Let's not worry over this anymore," Darren whispers into his ear. "Let's enjoy our last hours together."

"Okay," Chris mumbles, barely loud enough for Darren to hear.

Holding him in his arms, body warm and soft and skin still damp from his shower, Darren knows that letting him go in a few days will be difficult.

It's always hard to let go of something you care for deeply. But this will be unlike anything he's ever experienced before. This will be him letting go of something he tries desperately to cling to only still have it slip out of his fingers like water. Although gone, drops will still cling to his hands to remind him of what he once held.

"Besides," he softly says into Chris' ear. "I have an idea." He smiles when Chris chuckles at that, hearing him murmur that that's never a good thing.

He isn't too surprised by Darren's idea.

After having a late lunch, and briefly making out on the couch...okay, making out for an hour, but who's counting anyways, he went with Darren to the store in town. Watching as he filled the cart with plastic pails and shovels, seeing him getting more excited by the minute, he began to wonder if Darren would ever lose that five year old in him that liked to emerge like an animal out of hibernation. And really hoping he doesn't. Because that's one of the things he always found adorable about him. Knowing the guy who could go shot-for-shot of tequila with him also had a side to him that enjoyed playing in the sand had him falling for him just that bit more. He chuckled as the cashier checked them out, giving Darren a strange look at all the plastic pails he had. It was only as they walked out on to the beach did he figure it out what Darren wanted to do.

That's how he finds himself sitting on the beach, sand warm beneath his skin, as Darren and he build a sandcastle. It's their second one. The first succumbing to the water when they built it too close to the shore. The mixture of frustration and sadness on Darren's face at watching all their hard work being destroyed in less than a few seconds made Chris want to kiss him until he was happier.

Dumping handfuls of wet sand into the green pail he has, firmly packing it down, he looks to Darren as he does the same. Watching the way the muscles of his arms flex and move, glad he got rid of his shirt, staring at the bead of sweat that rolls down his chest, and over the lean muscles of his stomach, Chris is glad for wearing his Aviator sunglasses at the moment. To be caught staring wouldn't be horrifying; to be caught with eyes filled with want and lust, which he's pretty sure fills them at the moment, would mean they would never finish this sandcastle.

He doesn't have to look up to know Chris is watching him. Over the past hour he's caught him staring more than once, and smiling about it. Hell, in the past hour he's stared just as much at Chris as well. He watched as he wiped his brow of sweat, laughing at how cute he looked with grains of sand stuck to his forehead. He watched him stand in the ocean as he filled one of the pails with water, the water lapping around his ankles, the rays of sun shining off the water and making him look beautiful in the sun shine. So, yeah, he's been staring just as much.

He knows when they go back that will be one of the more difficult things for him to control. Not staring at the beauty of Chris will be something hard for him to figure out, but he knows he will have to.

Carefully placing the compacted sand on top of the castle, he slowly removes the bucket. Proud of himself for not fucking it up like before, he goes about smoothing out the sides, and adding little details. He isn't sure what it is about building sandcastles, but something about it always makes him excited and eager to do it.

"It's finished!" Darren exclaims beside him twenty minutes later.

Staring at Darren's masterpieces, thinking it doesn't look half bad, sort of, Chris nods his head in approval at the finished product. Almost an hours work of tedious labor, and they have a half-decent sandcastle.

"I should take a picture," Darren states.

"With what, genius?" Chris teases, smiling at him, laughing when he playfully hits him on his hip.

"My phone, dumbass," Darren jokes.

"Oh, you mean the phone you didn't bring?" Chris jokingly reminds him.

"I still have yours," Darren informs him.

"What happened to no technology?"

"It would take like five minutes. Tops. So...I'll be right back."

Watching Darren run into the house, staying put, Chris looks at their sandcastle and realizes he enjoyed these days without his phone. Having peace and quiet was something he really needed. Not having his phone go off every two seconds was a welcoming sound. Going without his phone, it seems, was easier than he thought. It also helped having Darren distract him from it.

Noticing Darren running back to him with phone in hand, he just shakes his head and chuckles.

"Does it even have any battery power left?" Chris asks him.

"It was fully charged when I shut it off," he informs him. Turning it on, seeing it's got enough to do what he needs to, he takes notice of the messages from Chris' ex. Pissed at just the sight of them he deletes them all and then opens the camera. Snapping a few quick pictures, he opens Chris' twitter app. "You're about to tweet, just so you know."

"Am I? What am I tweeting?" Chris asks with intrigue.

"Your amazing artwork."

Hitting send, Darren exits the app and turns off the phone. Putting it in his pocket, he looks to Chris and smiles. "Surprised you didn't try to wrestle it out of my hands again," he tells him.

"I'm actually good without it. Although, if you stuffed down the front of your shorts and told me to grab it, I would have no problem doing just that this time."

"I wouldn't stop you." Winking at Chris, he chuckles when he playfully hits him on the shoulder.

"So, what did my tweet say?"

"It said 'Keeping my day job, because being a sand sculptor is out of my future.'"

"That it is." Chris laughs next to him, snorting a few times.

"It's not that bad," he says with a semi-sad voice.

"It's not," Chris laughs. "It's just...it looks like a castle after it's been attacked by an enemy."

"Thanks…I think," Darren mumbles, seeing Chris smile at him. "Come on," he takes Chris' hand in his, "let's go inside."

Heading back to the house, sand clinging to their legs and feet and hands, in crevices of skin that is uncomfortable, Darren smiles as he hears Chris complain about it.

"...and I think I got it down my shorts," Chris gripes, trying to wipe off most of it from his arms and legs. "How is that even possible? I could never understand how this stuff gets everywhere. Ugh."

"Come on," Darren tells him when they stand on the deck in front of the sliding door. Lifting Chris up into his arms, making him release a small scream, he slides the door open with his foot. "Let's take a shower."

"And how does that warrant you picking me up and carrying me?" Chris playfully asks, settling against Darren and resting his head on his shoulder. He really doesn't care why Darren is carrying him; it could be for any reason at all, and he wouldn't mind. He's going to reap the benefits of being in Darren's strong arms, and being pressed close to him.

Nuzzling his nose along his neck, breathing in the scent of vanilla mixing with sweat, making desire curl in his belly, and almost wanting to skip the shower, Chris places a tender kiss right to the spot where Darren's pulse races beneath his lips. Knowing he can do that to him; that he can make his pulse race just by being this close has a bit of pride rising up in Chris. Never before has he known anyone he's had this great of an effect on. Never before has he felt extremely wanted and desired than he has when he's been with Darren.

The same can be said for how Darren makes him feel. Just being close to him, being held or kissed or touched, makes his pulse race and heart beat wildly in his chest with how much he wants this man. It's almost a constant ache that swims through him, and is only soothed by having Darren's body naked and pressed close to his. Once he has that, once he gets Darren under him or over him, does he feel better. Almost like a junkie in need of a fix, except Darren is a drug he always knew he would become addicted to; and not caring about the side-effects of not having it once it's gone from him. Because, for right now, he has it to keep him satisfied.

"Why do I need a reason to carry you?" he playfully teases Chris, hearing him laugh and smile against his skin. "Maybe I want to be chivalrous."

"Chivalry is dead," Chris tells him, lifting his head and looking into his eyes. Darren can see Chris' eyes filled with a mixture of joy and desire. "Or so I thought."

"What's got you changing your mind?"

"A particular curly headed guy who likes to build sandcastles," Chris laughs, eyes crinkling at the corners as he does that.

"Well, I know a great guy that brings that out in me," Darren replies with a small laugh.

"Among other things."

"Among other things," he agrees, knowing Chris is referring to their time together.

Setting Chris down on the tile floor, giving him a quick kiss, he starts to undress. Pulling his shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor, biting his lip against a grin when he sees Chris staring at his body, he reaches out for Chris' shirt. "Arms up," he softly commands him.

Tugging the shirt up and over Chris' head, wrapping an arm around his naked waist and pulling him forward when he drops his arms from the material of his shirt, he does smile when Chris lays his palms flat over his stomach, roaming his hands. To know he is desirable to Chris, somehow, makes him not care how others might be attracted to him. As long as this one person, this person who has quickly climbed his way to the top of people who matter most to him, is enough for him. As long as Chris wants and desires him, no one else is it for him.

Knuckles brush his lower abdomen when Darren's fingers work to undo his shorts. Feeling hands slip their way past the waistband of his shorts and underwear, the clothing pushed off his hips, Chris steps out of them when they pool around his ankles. After doing the same with Darren, taking his hand, he steps into the shower.

Turning on the water, hearing the glass door close with a soft click, smiling when Darren steps up behind him and wraps his arms around his waist, thumb softly stroking over his belly, Chris feels better once the hot water starts to fall around them and wash away any remaining sand on his body.

The water hits him and slides down his body. Still holding Chris as he hums a song, pressing a kiss behind his ear, he lets him go when asks him to. Arms falling to his sides, and feeling a bit colder than a second before even with the hot water falling around him, he watches as Chris stands with his back to him and tips his head back.

Laying his palm flat at Chris' lower back, skin hot to the touch, noticing Chris still, he smiles at him when he turns around to face him. Cupping the side of his face, he leans into him and takes his mouth in a slow, languid kiss. Lips part beneath his and he tentatively pushes his tongue past Chris' lips, then gently delving and licking into his mouth. Wrapping his arms around Chris' small waist, pulling him close to his body, Darren knows he has to take advantage of the short amount of time he has left with him. And that's precisely what he plans to do at the moment.

Draping his arms over Darren's shoulders, feeling as he strokes his thumb over his lower back, body easily responding to Darren's naked, wet body so close to his, Chris pulls in a deep breath and softly whimpers as Darren starts to kiss down his neck. Threading his fingers through wet curls, he tips his head back and goes when Darren pushes him up against the glass of the shower door. Back coming into contact with the warm, wet glass, seeing Darren plant his hands on either side of his head, keeping him there, Chris stares into his eyes to find them dark with a hunger that has heat coiling in his belly.

"I don't know how I'll manage to not have you when we leave," Darren whispers as he nuzzles his nose along his neck. Those words make Chris' heart race, and have want overtaking him, making it difficult to focus on anything else. "But I'll try. That's why, for now, I'll get as much of you as I can."

Moaning into Darren's mouth when he hungrily kisses him, the kiss all tongue and teeth, Chris grips at his hip and brings him forward into him. Partially opening his legs, whining low in this throat when Darren gently rolls his hips into him, he breathes deeply when he pulls his mouth away from him.

Standing there staring at Darren, lips slightly parted as he breathes, hot water falling near them and hitting their skin, steam rising and swirling around them, Chris doesn't care what Darren does, just as long as he does something. Anything.

Seeing how much Chris wants him in that moment, how much he would give into anything he asked him to do right then and there, Darren watches as his chest rapidly rises and falls as he breathes, obviously waiting for him to do something. Fingers at his hip dig in and Chris minutely rolls his hips forward, seeking any kind of friction and sending a flicker of pleasure up his spine. Curling his fingers against the glass of the shower door, seeing Chris grin at him in a way that shows he knows what he's causing, Darren finally decides to do something about wanting him.

"What do you want?" he seductively asks as he brushes his lips to Chris'.

"Y-you," Chris gasps.

"I'm yours for the next day and a half," Darren reminds him, kissing along his jaw to his ear. "So, tell me, Chris," he softly demands, feeling Chris tremble against him. "What do you want?"

Hearing Chris sigh, and clutch at his hips, his voice comes out wavering when he speaks. "Anything. I-I...don't care."

Pressing a sweet kiss to Chris' lips, he smiles as he puts a minute amount of space between them. "I can work with anything."

Body thrumming with want, needing to have anything happen to him, Chris watches as Darren sinks to his knees right in front of him. Dropping his head back to the glass door with a loud thump, arching his body forward some, he releases a mixture of a moan and whimper when Darren's hot, wet, silky mouth envelopes his cock. Carding his fingers through wet curls, gently tugging and whimpering, feeling fingers dig into his hip, he loses himself in all the sensations running through his body at that moment.

Having Chris heavy and hard on his tongue is something in and of itself. It's unlike anything he's ever done with another person. When he did it the first the day before, it drove him wild. Just like now. Never before has sexually pleasing someone with his mouth been so arousing as it is now. Yeah, he can feel as his knees start to hurt from kneeling on the hard tile, an ache starts to form in his jaw, and he can feel where Chris pulls a little too hard on his hair. But it's all worth it when he looks up through his lashes to see pleasure on Chris' face; it's worth it to hear the noises he makes. It's all worth it.

Whimpering as Darren slowly sucks on his cock, gently tugging on curls, he closes his eyes and lets the amazing sensations and pleasure swim through his body.

Something about having Darren kneeling in front of him, his silky, warm mouth wrapped around him, and hearing him moaning as he sucks him off has the heat quickly pooling in his belly. Lifting his head and looking down, watching red lips move up and down on his cock, feeling fingers digging into his hip, only pushes him closer to his release. Locking eyes with Darren's when he looks up, seeing his swimming with his own pleasure and excitement, is what has him falling over the edge.

Biting his lower lip as he comes down Darren's throat, feeling him swallow everything, he clutches his other hand on Darren's shoulder. Needing something to hold on to so he doesn't fall to the floor, he digs his fingers into wet skin as he minutely thrusts his hips forward into the heat of Darren's mouth, making sure he gives everything that he can.

Noticing Chris slump against the glass as he stands back up, giving him a deep, sensual kiss, letting him taste himself on his tongue, he moves to stand under the water for a few seconds. Arms wrapping around his waist from behind, Chris pressing his hips close into his ass, Darren chuckles as he notices Chris slowly walking his fingers down his lower abdomen. Lips press to his neck.

"Want me to return the favor?" Chris whispers into his ear.

Grabbing Chris' hand and lifting it to rest on his chest right above his heartbeat, Darren just shakes his head. "I'm good. I can wait 'til later."

"Are you sure?"

Turning around and cupping the back of Chris' neck, slightly tipping his head back, gazing to his red and full lips, he leans down and kisses him. Hands rest against his chest, fingers slightly curling into his skin, as Chris whimpers into his mouth. Water hits his back and slides down his body, it is turning colder by the second, but all he cares about is kissing Chris. All he cares about is the mouth pressed to his as it moves against his in a tender, gentle kiss.

"I'm positive," he softly says when he pulls away, wiping his thumb along Chris' bottom lip. "There's more fun in waiting."

"That there is." Chris brushes his nose along his cheek, sending a small shiver down his spine that has nothing to do with the water. "Guess we should get out before we prune."

"That we should," Darren laughs.

Stepping out of the shower and drying off, dropping the towel on the floor and walking to the room, blushing when Darren wolf-whistles behind him, Chris smiles. "Shut up," he teases, looking over his shoulder at him. The sight of Darren with wet hair and damp skin, white linen towel hanging low off his hips, perfectly showing off his V, Chris moans at the sight. To know he could walk up to Darren right there and drop the towel to the floor, and do whatever he pleased, makes him itch to do just that.

He doesn't miss the look that crosses Chris' eyes. It's a look he's noticed quiet a bit these past few days. It's a look he just witnessed in the shower not fifteen minutes before. It makes it a bit difficult not to lose the towel and push Chris to the bed and bury himself deep inside him like they both want.

But he fights from doing that, because the waiting only adds fuel to the fire. Waiting to have Chris will only make it that much better when they fall into bed later that night.

Rummaging through his clothes and pulling on a black cotton shirt, and some sweat pants, he watches as Chris pulls on an oversized shirt and boxers. Going up to him, he suddenly places a sweet and gentle kiss to his lips.

"You probably shouldn't kiss me right now," Chris politely warns him.

"I know. But I couldn't help myself. You have very tempting and delectable lips." He presses another kiss to his lips; this one quick and chaste.

"Come on," Chris whispers to him. "I'm hungry. Let's cook before we give in to each other."

"Sounds good to me."

In the kitchen making dinner, the smell of the food cooking filling the air, pouring wine into two wine glasses, he hands one to Darren. Smiling when he gives him a quick kiss, he licks his lips when he pulls away. Taking drink of the wine, the alcohol smooth and sweet on his tongue, he lets out a small laugh when soft, slow music starts playing. Closing his eyes and gently swaying back and forth to the music, he enjoys the quiet moment.

After this morning, after what Darren and he talked about, he appreciates that nothing bad happened. He is glad that they are still able to share these remaining hours together; that they can still go on being like they have been for the past few days. He loves that they can still do something as cook dinner and listen to music without worry of the other being mad at them.

Going up to Chris as he stands there and swirls the wine in his glass, slowly moving to the song playing, seeing him lost in his thoughts, he takes the glass from his hand and places it on the counter. Taking one of Chris' hands, interlacing their fingers and resting it on his chest right above his heart, he takes Chris' other hand, pulling him close, and wraps it around his waist, hand resting at his lower back.

"Dance with me?" he asks as he stares into Chris' eyes bright with joy.

"I'd love to."

Taking a few steps away from the counter, standing in the middle of the kitchen, he slowly starts to dance with Chris.

It's little things like this that make it difficult for him not to fall for Darren. Even before all this there were times he would surprise him out of nowhere and ask him to dance, or hold him when he somehow knew he was having a bad day and soothingly sing into his ear. It's those little moments Chris cherished the most. Those little moments that would brighten his whole day and make him smile.

When they go back, he knows those little moments will be gone. Having one of those moments would entail being held close to Darren, like right now, and he knows he won't be able to do that without wanting him and giving in to that.

So, for now, he'll cherish and live in this moment. He'll remember how Darren's heartbeat feels beneath his hand; he'll remember how he's being held so close to Darren; he'll remember how Darren is humming a soft, melodic song into his ear as they sway together. But most of all, he'll remember how he realized, right here and now, he's in love with the man in his arms.

Dancing with Chris comes natural to him. Just like everything else about their relationship together.

Holding him close, feeling him brush his nose along his cheek, he realizes how much he's going to miss this after they leave. Being able to hold Chris close, being able to kiss him whenever he wants to, and witnessing how gorgeous he still manages to look after a night of sex.

Time is running out, and he knows that. Hours, minutes, and seconds tick away and he has no way of stopping it. Has no way of adding more sand to the hourglass to give him the time he wants with Chris. No matter what he does, though, he can't stop time; he can't get what he wants. And what he wants is Chris beyond this.

It suddenly feels as if his world has shifted the slightest, because everything is still the same but he takes notice of how the little things are different. The way Darren smells of soap and sweat is clearer and stronger and more sensual than before. How his body pressed close to his is more noticeable; the hard muscles and soft flesh of Darren's body more pronounced against his body. How his heartbeat feels beneath his hand. How Darren's voice is soft and soothing in his ear as he hums a song. It's all the same, but so different at the same time.

It wasn't supposed to happen. He didn't come here intentionally looking to fall in love with his best friend. But truth be told, looking back on it, he's known he's been in love with Darren for some time now. He's just done a great job of suppressing that feeling way down inside him. But here, now, in this moment, it broke free and hit him like an unexpected wave. It washes over him and he drowns in the feeling. It makes it harder for him to breathe, his heart races with the realization of what happened, his pulse quickens the longer it goes on after he realizes. And just like being thrown under by a wave, he needs to break the surface and breathe. But experiencing all that doesn't stop him from placing a kiss to Darren's neck and smiling against his skin, because it feels amazing.

Slowly turning in circles as he still dances with Chris, no longer humming, Darren wants to tell Chris that he fell for him. He wants to tell him he the truth, and maybe get the time he wants with him.

Pulling back and staring into Chris' eyes, something akin to an electric spark runs through him. It leaves him breathless and has him wanting Chris unlike before. This feeling leaves a tingle under his skin and his pulse racing with desire.

Staring into Darren's eyes, feeling his pulse racing and mind filled with ways to tell him, he opens his mouth to do that. "Dare," he whispers. It's right there on his tongue, heavy like an anchor to remind him of what he carries unsaid. But he can't say it. Maybe it's out of nerves or fear or being scared of what would be said in return, he keeps his lips sealed.

Just the way Chris' voice sounds as he says the nickname that drives him crazy has him leaning forward and taking Chris' mouth in a slow, languid kiss. Hearing him moan and sigh, he tentatively licks into his mouth when he parts his lips. Backing him up against the closest counter, he pulls back to take Chris' shirt off.

The want between Darren and he in this moment is greater than anything they've experienced so far. It leaves him unable to think of anything else but having the man right in front of him.

Reaching to pull Darren's shirt over his head, he drops it to the floor without a second thought. Running his fingers through slightly damp curls when Darren starts to kiss down his chest, flicking his tongue over one of his nipples, he tips his head back and moans at the jolt of pleasure that goes through him at the small touch. Hungrily kissing Darren when he stands back up, fingers pushing past the waistband of his boxers and slipping them off his hips, stepping out of them when they pool around his ankles, he does the same with Darren.

Getting furthered turned on when Darren grabs him and turns him around, pushing him against the counter. Lacing his fingers with Darren's hand that covers his chest right over his heart, he moans when Darren presses his hips into his ass. Dropping his head down, squeezing Darren's fingers, reaching behind him and grabbing at Darren's hip, whining low in his throat when a hand skims down his stomach, sending shivers through him, he gasps when Darren takes him in hand.

Kissing at the side of Chris' neck, feeling his pulse beating strongly beneath his lips, smelling lemons, slowly working his hand up and down his cock, thumbing the head when he strokes upward, he moans when Chris rocks his hips back on him. Instant white, hot pleasure crawls up his spine and has desire to do so much more than what they are doing right now. Slowing the movement of his hand, he smiles as Chris groans.

"Ple-please, Dare," Chris begs, using the nickname he knows drives him crazy.

"Tell me," he says into Chris' ear. "Tell me what you want?"

"Just you," Chris whimpers, sounding like anything else doesn't matter; voice dripping with want and desire and need, heart hammering beneath his hand.

That answer has Darren burying his face in the curve of Chris' neck and breathing heavy. It's in that moment, holding a naked, trembling Chris close, that he knows he will give Chris anything he ever asks for in the future. And if one day, he asks for him, he will happily give himself over. "Okay," he mumbles against Chris' neck.

Turning him around and capturing his mouth in a heated, hungry kiss, he starts to walk them out of the kitchen and to the closest one of their bedrooms. Both chuckling when they stumble some as they walk, Darren holds Chris close and knows he will never let him fall. Nuzzling his nose along his cheek, feeling the warmth there from his blush, holding his body close to him, he falls a little bit more for this man.

As they walk, all thoughts of everything leave their mind except for the person in their arms.


Hopefully y'all enjoyed this chapter. I think it's not as great as the previous ones, but that's my crazy mind telling me that. It could be different for everybody else. Thanks for reading!