H50H50H50
Danny stood shin-deep, wearing his ridiculous hip waders in the warm water flats of Kaneohe Bay, casting out his line and reeling it back in.
He and Steve had been at it all morning, but so far, all Danny had managed to catch were some clumps of sand and other underwater detritus.
Steve, on the other hand, who stood about twenty feet from him and in deeper water, had bagged two nice sized bonefish…yes, he said bonefish…and looked to be reeling in his third, hopefully enough for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow…or, at least that's what Steve had wanted.
Danny would be happy with the hot dogs and buns they had packed and the eggs and bacon for the morning, because, come on…bacon.
"Ya, know," Steve said, tossing his latest catch into the weaved basket, that floated in the water nearby, tied off to a stick stuck into the sand, Steve had found on the banks, "you might actually catch something if you moved a little deeper into the water and worked on your casting technique."
Danny nodded, tossing out his line again, hearing the high pitch whine as the line uncoiled from the reel. "I suppose I could…but I've already caught what I really want."
And okay, that was a sappy thing to say, but the pleased smirk on Steve's face was worth any and all goofiness on his part.
This thing with Steve was so new…well, not all of it…they had been partners in almost every sense of the word for the better part of four years, but certainly, more intimate aspects had only been explored in the last few weeks.
Danny couldn't say what had finally brought them completely together…there were no life or death situations, no existential crisis', at least not on his part, and no sudden freakouts…just…somewhere along the way, he had developed deep and personal feelings for his very male, work partner and boss…and best friend…the best friend he had ever known, someone who always had his back, who genuinely cared about even the little things in Danny's life.
Who always, always helped in any way he could.
From sharing his free time with Danny and his kids.
Tagging along with them to the zoo.
Or the beach, building sandcastles, and tossing the kids around in the surf.
To offer to help Grace with her homework and school projects.
Or building an epic Lego space station with Charlie.
To just coming over when Danny was sans children and helping to cook a meal, bringing a six-pack of Long Boards and a rented movie to occupy Danny when his children spent their shared time with Rachel.
So, really, it hadn't been very hard on that Saturday evening, a few weeks ago, when Steve had been inspecting Grace's first place ribbon for her project and presentation on Heat Convection, and yes, Danny had helped too…a little, to lean forward, placing one hand on Steve's back, the other on the side of Steve's neck and pulled him in.
He had watched Steve, to see if he would need to quickly divert to a hug, but when Steve had tilted his head and closed his eyes, Danny had had all the permission required, so he closed the distance between them, went up onto his toes and gently kissed his partner and friend.
Steve had yanked him even closer then, pressing his body fully into him and deepened that first kiss, had parted his lips and glided his tongue along Danny's lips, had nibbled and teased until Danny had opened his mouth.
From that point on…there was no going back to just being work partners and the best of friends.
Now, Steve walked closer to him, the waters of the flats swishing around his boots and waders and pulled Danny in, leaning down to capture Danny's lips and that right there…that would never, ever, get old.
That night, a few weeks before, they had kissed and touched, explored each other's bodies with fingers and lips and teeth, and at some point, Danny had had his shorts and underwear around his knees and Steve's very talented mouth on his cock.
Steve had glanced up at him, his mouth popping off Danny's dick with a lewd slurp, tongue swirling around the head and sliding into the slit, before grinning like a loon and husking out, "it's about damn time, Danno… I've been wooing you for years now."
Now, Danny chuckled with the memory, breaking the heating kiss and Steve pulled back, giving him a look like maybe he was losing his mind, and asked, "what's so funny?"
"Wooed," was all Danny could get out and Steve actually punched him on the shoulder, but the subsequent rub and pat took away the sting and then Danny was hauled in again and thoroughly kissed, all teeth and roving tongue and he dropped his rod, but he didn't care.
Steve managed to scoop it up when he had worked his mouth lower, bending to his knees. For a brief, horrifying, yet exciting second, Danny had thought that he might just be getting a blow job right there and then. Still, Steve just grabbed the rod and dotted a few kisses to his belly, before standing back up and taking his hand, pulling him along and farther into deeper water.
Steve planted his rod in a hoop in the basket, for just such purposes and handed Danny's his again, stepping around to his side, taking Danny's hand and arm, helping him to cast his line.
The handmade, tied fly sailed through the air, landing a good ten feet farther than Danny had managed on his own, and then Steve slid around behind him, hands caressing his hips, his chin resting on Danny's shoulder as he began to slowly reel the line back in.
If he hadn't already been half hard from Steve's mouth in the proximity of his junk, just moments ago, those hands on his hips would have done it for him.
As it was, now, he was heading for a full erection, and the more Steve moved his hands on his body, pressed his chest into Danny's back and breathed hot, moist, air over his cheek and ear, the more Danny's cock needed attention.
He glanced around because, as far as he could see, he and Steve were the only ones out at this spot today, and since it was a weekday, he had hoped that that would be the case.
They had only arrived this morning, Steve had rented a camp spot and loaded up the gear, including a two-man tent and their rods.
After arriving, he had set up the campsite and tent, had stowed their supplies, as Danny nibbled on his fast-food breakfast sandwich, that Steve had stopped and got for him, before entering the park.
He was shit when it came to camping and after the disastrous Aloha girl's fiasco, in which he got shot…yet again…he had vowed to never brave the great outdoors with a sleeping bag and tent again.
Steve obviously had had other plans…a do-over of sorts, for both their aborted deep water fishing attempt and trying to share his love of camping and being outdoors in general.
Steve's hands inched around his sides now, coming to rest over the button of his jeans and Danny drew in a quick breath, because, yes, he wanted what Steve was obviously thinking of doing.
That, and so much more, which would hopefully come to fruition on this trip.
Steve had told him weeks ago that he had been attracted too and slept with men before, but Danny was still pretty new to man on man love and had only ever fooled around a little in his younger years.
Then, last week, Steve had asked Danny to fuck him, and it was incredibly hot and fucking awesome…the smells and the sounds, the little aborted noises Steve had made…just thinking of it now caused his dick to twitch, and he could feel Steve's chuckle reverberate through his back and settle somewhere in the vicinity of his heart.
Since then, Steve hadn't pressured him, had only asked if he had ever done it before and when he shook his head, told him, no pressure, Danno…when you're ready, I'll be here, and of course, of course, that had been all that Danny'd been able to think about for the last, excruciatingly slow, workdays.
They both had lots of time off saved up, and since it had been relatively quiet on the work front, Steve had breezed into his office on Friday, announcing that they were taking off three days and then wouldn't tell him what his plans for said mini-vacation were. Still, Danny had hoped it would involve lots of sex, and now, it looked like he wasn't going to be disappointed.
Steve's fingers nimbly undid his button, pulled down his zipper and slid his fingers into Danny's jeans, using the palm of his hand to press at the base of Danny's dick, before pushing at his jeans so that they hung low around his hips and his cock popped out, for all the world…or maybe just some fish to see.
Steve stroked him gently, his fingers a loose circle around Danny's cock, but Danny didn't urge, tried to stay still and patient because when he had in the past, the rewards were well worth waiting for.
Over the past weekend, Steve had been taking the time to pay more attention to Danny's ass then before …he'd kissed and nibbled it more often, squeezed it in both hands every chance he got. Last night, after he had watched Steve pack a small drawstring bag with lube and a whole box of condoms, they had ended up making out on the couch.
Once the petting had turned heavy and clothes were being taken off and tossed, Danny had tried to get his hand on Steve's cock…wanted so badly to suck him off, taste him, feel Steve flood his mouth and swallow until he was dry.
Still, Steve had just bodily flipped him over and bit down hard on his ass, then had lathed his tongue over the tender bite, and Danny couldn't remember his cock being so hard before and then…that talented tongue had moved down the crevice between his cheeks, and gentle fingers had drawn them apart, waiting to see if Danny would want to pull away, but he didn't, he couldn't, because he was so fucking turned on…he had thought that he might come just by Steve's gentle touches alone.
So, of course, he couldn't muffle the breathy, squeal that escaped his throat when Steve had leaned forward again, mouth brushing over Danny's puckered hole. And forget about the nonsense he had sprouted when Steve had licked him slowly, tongue swirling around his opening before gently pressing in.
Even now, he remembered the feel of his hips bucking, trying to get more of Steve's tongue in him while pressing his dick into the couch cushions below. Before long, he was coming, shouting Steve's name while Steve darted his tongue in and out, in and out, working him through the most forceful orgasm he had ever had.
He may have had even blacked out, because the next thing he had known, Steve had had a single finger in his ass hole, running it in circles, pressing in now and again, until he hit Danny's prostate, which had made Danny pant and squirm, had made Danny beg Steve not to stop.
And if a tongue and finger could feel so good, bring so much pleasure, Danny couldn't wait until Steve would bury his cock into him, up to the hilt, flesh slapping flesh and his balls and cock bouncing with each thrust, Steve's bruising grip on his hips…
He moaned, throwing his head back to rest on Steve's shoulder in the here and now, panting as Steve's grip tightened. His wrist twisted and flicked when he got to the head of Danny's dick, but the pace was maddeningly slow, and Danny jerked his hips, pressing into Steve's hand and then back to feel the bulge of Steve's cock at his lower back, "please, babe, please, please, please…"
Steve's hand moved a little faster, and he was close, so close, but then the rod in his hand jerked forward, almost pulling him with it.
Steve grabbed his waist and held him steady, telling him, "reel it in, Danno…reel it in."
Danny shook his head, because hello, hand on cock was better than fish in frying pan, but Steve grabbed his dick again, whispering low in his ear, "reel it in, baby…I got you."
Danny felt Steve's fingers tighten on him again as he got both hands onto his rod and started to slowly turn the spool.
Steve's hand squeezing and tugging harder as he worked to bring in the fishing line with a bonefish.
He wouldn't be able to explain how he felt right then, Steve's big hand working his cock hard and fast while he tugged and yanked on the rod, reeling in the fish…
It was surreal…
…wrangling his first fish while Steve jerked him off…and if fishing were always going to be this enjoyable, he vowed to go every chance they got.
Soon, the fish was within five feet of them, flopping on the line, trying to get away, and Danny felt the tugging of the rod, and the tugging of his cock, quicken…panted harsh breaths as a familiar pressure built low in his belly, exploding and flowing downward through his hips and groin as Steve's hand jacked him faster, harder, longer, and told him, "now, baby."
Two things had happened then.
Danny yanked the line, pulling the nice sized bonefish from the water and Steve yanked his dick one final time. Danny was coming and coming and coming, his cock pulsing in Steve's skilled hand…three, four, five times…the creamy flow spurting between Steve's working fingers and into the water between his feet.
Steve let go of him then, reaching for the line and the writhing fish as Danny leaned back against the stable weight of Steve's chest and tried to breathe again.
By some unknown means, Steve had shifted Danny to his side, wrapping one steadying arm around him.
He opened the basket with his other hand, tossing the fish in and somehow unhooking the lure one-handed, sticking Danny's rod in the other hoop. Then turned back to Danny, pulling him into his chest, kissing his jaw and nibbling at his lower lip, asking, "you okay, Danno?"
"Um-hmm," was about all he could manage.
What could he say, good sex addled his brain and was a sure-fire way to shut him up, which he worried Steve had already figured out.
"Okay, then," Steve laughed, using both hands now to steady Danny on his feet, then tucking him back in and zipping his jeans, not bothering with the button. "Let call it a day. It'll take a bit to get to the canoe and back to camp."
Steve grabbed up the rods and basket, pulling it along in the water toward the shore and the waiting canoe.
The campsite was a short paddle over the east flats and to a thinner channel that ended in a little outlet where they had set up for the next three days.
Danny started to follow, feet suddenly slipping out from under him.
One foot had hit a slick, something along the bottom of the flats and the other a rocky surface.
He had ended up doing a very ungraceful split in the water, twisting his bad knee on his way down.
He gasped and maybe hollered, "fuck!" before hitting the water, going entirely under and sputtering on his way back up.
Steve was running toward him, the fish forgot, reaching down with incredible strength to pull him up under both arms and to his feet, raising both hands to Danny's shoulders to steady him.
When he finally looked up, pushing his wet hair out of his eyes, Steve's face was a weird mixture of concern and humor.
Danny was wet…all over, the waders doing fuck all to stop the water from slushing in over the tops of them, his flannel shirt sticking to his chest and his hair…his hair was surely sticking up all over the place. Still, he couldn't help the small smile that broke across his face and the little chuckle that had fallen from his lips.
Then Steve was laughing too, and not a little, haha, you tripped over your own feet, but a deep belly laugh, bent slightly at his waist, trying to catch his breath and talk at the same time.
Finally, he wheezed, "are you okay, Danno?"
Danny sighed, saying, "just peachy…now go get our dinner before it floats off, I'm okay."
Steve gave him a once over, eyes roaming from the wet head to his soggy jeans, to his shins and the wetness he stood in before turning and splashing through the water to grab up their rods, hooking the basket.
Steve made a point to watch Danny as he started to make his way toward the shoreline again. This time he carefully looked at the water and picked his way through the coral and rockier bottom nearer the shore.
Steve got to the canoe first, securing the rods in a bracket made to hold them and fastening the basket to the back, so that the fish would still be in the water until they were ready to eat them.
As he made his way closer, tiny twinges of pain skirted his right hip and knee, and his groin felt a little tender.
He winced when he swung his leg up and into the canoe, and Steve's head had shot up to look at him.
"I ah…I sorta twisted my knee and maybe my hip, but I'm okay," Danny assured.
Steve moved around the canoe, looked like he might just demand that Danny drop trousers and show him his hurts right now, but in the end, he only ran his hand across Danny's bum knee, looking at Danny's face to see if what he was doing was hurting him.
"Really, babe… I'm okay,"
"Okay," Steve said, "Let's get back to camp and hit the showers, get you warmed up and dry, maybe some hot chocolate in ya, and then I'll start dinner and dessert."
"Dessert," Danny asked, watching as Steve's eyebrows wriggled and who was he to argue with that solid plan.
It would be dark soon anyway, and he was already shivering because even though O'ahu was warm year-round, the nights could get chilly. Especially since they were on the water, so he picked up his oar and helped Steve guide the canoe across the eastern flat and down the channel and to the little outlet where the tent was waiting and soon a warm campfire too.
All in all, he could say, his first foray into bonefishing was a success.
H50H50H50
Steve took a few minutes to get the fire going, leaving a still wet Danny to stand by its warmth as he got out their packs and rummaged for the towels and toiletries and a set of soft sweats for each of them.
He also grabbed his and Danny's slippers, although Danny refused to call them anything but flip flops and sat his bundle in one of the camp chairs.
"I'm going to get some water going for hot chocolate unless you want coffee?"
"Either is fine."
He turned to Danny, who stood in such a way that he seemed to be favoring his right knee. Steve was glad that he had brought along some ice and heating packs because you just never know, and even though they weren't all that far away from civilization, he really hadn't wanted to cut their time together short.
Now that he got to have alone time with Danny, he was always greedy for more…much more.
These past few weeks…they had meant everything to Steve, because after years of covertly dating Danny, the man had finally, finally caught on…had figured it out.
Now, after setting the grill bar over the fire, he got out the kettle and dumped several bottles of water into it, saying, "the water should be warm enough when we get back from showering…ready?"
Steve didn't wait for Danny to answer, he just grabbed up the bundle of cloths and passed the towels and toiletries bag to Danny, before grabbing up his hand and leading him up the trail to the bathroom and bathhouse.
This park had indoor facilities and even a wet room for fishermen to hang waders and wash off gear, a place for their boots to dry overnight so that they could be used the next day again.
When he had called to make the reservation, he found out that there had only been a small group booked for the week and that they were on the other side of the campgrounds, so in theory, they may run across a few other fishermen. The group was full of tourists, and Steve had learned that their guide liked to fish the western flats.
Their bathroom and other amenities would only be shared with the adjacent campsite, and since that was empty, they had the place to themselves.
Steve pushed Danny into the wet room ahead of him, directing him to the bench along the far wall, taking the towels and other things from Danny's hands telling him, "get your wet stuff off Danno, dump your waders and hang them on the hooks, toss your clothes in the washing machine and I'll be right back."
Danny sat as Steve opened an interior door that led right to the shower room, and on the other side of those, the bathroom stalls.
He was impressed with how clean the tiled walls and floors looked and were pleased with the fresh smell of whatever cleaner had been used before he and Danny had arrived.
He put towels on the hooks outside one of the stalls and opened and hung the toiletries bag on another.
He pulled out some soap and shampoo and stuck it on the shelf in the stall, leaving the rest to sort out later.
By the time he got back to the wet room, Danny had taken off his boots and waders and was working on the buttons of his flannel shirt.
Steve got his own boots and waders off, hanging them by Danny's and then slipped off his jeans and shirt and tossed them into the washer. He bent to peel his socks off, jamming his feet into his flip flops, and threw them in too.
Hopefully, the washer would be done if he selected the quick wash option, by the time they were done in the shower and then he would be able to toss everything into the dryer before heading back to camp.
He could get their stuff after dinner or even in the morning because tomorrow he wanted to hike a little and then maybe hit the flats again, but four fish was a pretty big haul and should feed them well over the next few days.
Danny had his shirt off but was still sitting in his soaked jeans.
"Need some help, baby?" It was a joke, but since Danny didn't call him on it, maybe he really did need help.
He had some Aleve in the toiletries bag and planned on plying Danny with some once they had made it over to the showers.
"Here," Steve said, moving closer and dragging Danny to his feet.
He hadn't missed the little wince of pain on Danny's face, so he helped Danny shuck the wet pants, carefully guiding his right leg out of the soggy material, looking to see if maybe there was some swelling, but Danny's knee looked okay, perhaps a little puffy, but all in all, it could have been much worse.
He guided Danny back down and bent to pick up his feet, taking off the sodden socks and tossing them toward the washer, making sure Danny put on his flip flops before standing again.
Once, Steve got a bad strain of fungus from a shower on a mission. Still, he swore he would never step barefoot into a shower that wasn't his own ever again, except for maybe Danny's, because he had helped clean Danny's house reasonably regularly, and had known that Danny's shower was just as clean as his own.
Steve opened one of the three little boxes of Tide and upturned the powder into the machine, turning it on.
"Ready, Danno?"
Danny smiled at him, taking his offered hand and said, "lead the way."
The handicapped stall was bigger. Since they were the only campers here, Steve hadn't felt guilty about making a beeline for it and turning on the faucet. He set a temperate slightly hotter than he liked, yet still somewhat colder than what Danny was used to, all too willing to compromise if it got Danny naked and in his reach sooner.
"Come on in, Danno."
Danny shuffled forward and under the spray, turning away from him and facing the showerhead, sighing when the hot water hit and cascaded down his back.
Steve grabbed the soap and a washcloth, lathering it up for both of them, starting to feel the slight swell of his dick as he smoothed the cloth all over Danny's broad shoulders and back. Then down over the curve of his perfect ass, taking his time to clean each cheek and then the center crease, the puckered hole and then pressed the cloth up against the back of Danny's balls, listening to the little needy noises that fell from Danny's lips.
Steve was making it his mission to pamper Danny's ass. To worship it if you will because even though he loved it when Danny had fucked him, wanted that part of their lovemaking to happen, again and again, he also wanted, no, needed to be able to sink into Danny's hole and claim him.
He wanted to be the first to plunder Danny's ass, and just that thought alone made his cock slowly fill.
He turned Danny toward him, his chest was facing Steve's so that he could lean into him as Steve took great care to move the soft, soapy material up and under each of Danny's arms, across his hairy chest and peddling nipples…not being able to resist, he leaned in to suck one to a hard peak, watching as goosebumps raced across Danny's skin, and damn if his hard-on wasn't poking Danny in the side, rubbing against the wet skin.
Earlier, while he was jacking Danny off, just the sounds and smells and Danny's ass pressing back against him was enough to get him off, and it seemed like he was ready for round two.
Not that Danny had noticed after taking a dunk into the drink…
… and really, he shouldn't have laughed, but once Danny smiled, it was all over…
Steve always, always laughed when someone fell.
Not like from a tree or something, but tripping or stumbling set him off.
He didn't know why, but it had been true of him since he was tiny.
It was some kind of default setting, wired into him, but the whole situation had kind of changed the mood.
He had been hoping to tease Danny some more on the way back to camp, keep his lover on edge for things to come.
But right now, Danny moaned against Steve's chest, quickly getting back into the mood as Steve's hand had moved down to Danny's straining cock, only washing, but wanting more.
He quickly knelt and washed down both of Danny's legs, front and back, and then turned him again, chest back under the spray, water running down all that glorious pale and freckled skin.
Damn…
Danny was so fucking hot.
Tight and compact and his…
A sudden feeling of possessiveness washed over him, and he grabbed Danny's ass with both hands, pushing him forward a little, telling him, "lift your arms baby, rest your head on them."
Danny leaned forward, resting his head on his bent and crossed arms, against the shower wall, stretching and arching his back, parting his legs invitingly, wiggling his ass against Steve's kneading fingers.
All for me.
He had really hoped for a blow job tonight, then taking his turn to suck Danny off, but since Danny had tweaked his knee, he hadn't wanted him bending and putting any unnecessary pressure on the joint, he would just have to wait until they were in the tent…or maybe in one of the camp chairs…or even the bed of the truck…
He shook his head, soaping up his body as fast as he could, stepping closer to Danny, guiding his dick between Danny's ass cheeks, telling him, "close your legs a little, baby."
Danny had, sending a spike of hot pleasure rushing up Steve's cock and into his groin, up to his spine and along his nerve endings.
He moaned, hearing Danny's own grunts and groans, as he began to rock into Danny, letting the slip-slide of the soap help smooth the way, his dick running over and along Danny's perineum, pumping harder and harder into the back of Danny's balls with each thrust. He could just imagine how much better it would be buried into Danny's tight ass hole, gripped by those stiff muscles, filling Danny up with his cock and then with his come.
He was so close…
Danny panted and moaned, little, "ah, ah, ah," noises falling from his open mouth. Steve moved in even closer, draping himself over Danny's back, wrapping one arm possessively over Danny's chest, the other bruising Danny's hip as he held on and set up an excellent and fast rhythm, rocking both of their bodies forward.
Danny slipped one arm out, reaching down to grab his own cock, but Steve let go of his hip, slapping his hand away, saying, "mine," and Danny shivered and whined when Steve grabbed him hard, stroking Danny through another orgasm, letting him press back into Steve and squeeze his dick with muscular thighs.
Steve held still, both his body and hand, until Danny started to come down from his high. Then he picked up the pace again, working Danny's sensitive cock. Straining and pushing his dick between those perfect ass cheeks and thighs. Listening to Danny, babble, and grunt, gone in a sea of sensations as Steve thrust hard one more time. Going up onto his toes, pushing against Danny with all he had, feeling his cock pulse and spray come over Danny's balls and hole, pulling out a little and gripping himself, watching his come paint Danny's ass and damn, if he couldn't go again. However, the water was cooling, and Danny seemed almost asleep where he stood and swayed, one hand still bracing himself against the wall. So, Steve used the cloth to clean them both off, pushing them both under the cooling spray to rinse, and then he had Danny out and wrapped in a towel.
"Oh, god, Steve," Danny slurred, "I think you broke me."
Steve laughed, turning Danny toward the bench, smacking him on the ass and giving him a little push, "put your clothes on, Danno."
He almost mentioned his after-dinner plans, but if Danny were truly too tired, they had all day tomorrow and the next.
Danny got his sweats and long-sleeved shirt on while Steve checked the washer, still wrapped in a towel.
The cycle was done, so he tossed the load into the dryer, turned it on, and went back to the shower room to find Danny holding his sock, seeing the problem immediately.
"Sorry, baby, I forgot the shoes. Both our sneakers and boots are still in the tent, but we can manage in our slippers, and I'll bring them back up here when I come to get our clothes in the morning."
Danny nodded, flinching as he stood.
Steve pulled his shirt over his head, asking, "is it the knee?"
Danny sorta shook out his leg, then shook his head, telling him, "my hip feels a little weird…I think I might have jammed it and maybe tweaked my groin muscle."
Steve got his pants on and moved closer, resting his hand on Danny's right hip, asking, "are you hurting, baby…"
"A little," Danny confessed, so Steve pulled out a bottle of over the counter pain killers from their bag. Shaking two out into his palm and passing them to Danny, along with one of the bottles of water he had brought with them. In case either was feeling a little dehydrated after their shower.
"Thanks, babe," Danny downed the two tablets and chased them with his water, finishing off half the bottle in one go. "It's not hurting, really…just feels a little…stiff."
Steve nodded, moving to the sink, digging out their toothbrushes and the paste. He loaded both brushes up, handing Danny's his, turning on the tap water, saying, "I was going to ask you to help me scale and gut the fish, but how about you work on the sides, that way you can sit at the picnic table and keep your weight off your leg."
He didn't wait for Danny to answer, because he knew Danny would do anything he asked of him…eventually, anyway.
Danny moved up beside him and passed his brush under the running water, sticking it into his mouth and brushing, a small frown on his foamy mouth.
Steve brushed too, but he rose an eyebrow in question, and once they both had spit, Danny asked, "if we still need to eat dinner, why are we brushing our teeth now?"
Steve rinsed off his brush, taking Danny's from him and doing the same, telling him, "because I am lazy and don't feel like coming back up here just to brush my teeth…also, I brought some of those disposable finger sleeves you like to use after lunch, so we're covered…"
He just knew that Danny was going to make some crack about him admitting he wanted to be lazy, but instead, Danny just shrugged, and his belly rumbled loudly, and he grabbed Steve's arm and dragged him toward the door, saying, "then let's go…someone promised me bonefish, and I'm starving."
Steve followed Danny back down the path, the two of them holding hands and swinging their arms like they were teenagers again, but Steve didn't care, he liked it…he liked it a lot.
He had already fallen head over heels for Danny, had tried to be a part of Danny's and his kid's lives as much as Danny would let him. Yes, maybe if he had pushed a little more, they may have had been together, together, way before Danny decided to up and kiss him a few weeks back, but the wooing was fun, and the wait was so worth it.
Once back at the camp, Steve steered Danny toward the table and grabbed some bags from the back seat of the truck.
"Figure out what you want with the fish and then go sit by the fire…I have an ice pack for your…" he waved his hand around in a circle, encompassing Danny's right hip and lower, "…whatever is hurting."
Steve brought over the cooler, too, sitting it on the end of the table. He had some fresh veggies in there and cool beer.
He watched as Danny dug into the plastic grocery bags, looking to see what the options were while Steve checked the water over the fire.
It was hot, but not boiling, so he grabbed two mugs and pulled out the coffee, it was instant, but that, he would tell Danny, was all a part of the camping experience.
Turned out that Danny hadn't even noticed, he'd just took the mug Steve offered, while he wrapped two potatoes in foil and pushed them toward Steve, who took them over to the grate and set them on top, close to the embers.
The timing should work, because it would take a while to gut and scale the fish and then get it fileted and into the frying pan.
Danny sipped his hot drink and pulled a tomato and a ball of fresh mozzarella cheese from the ice chest, finding the cutting board and a sharp knife in with the other sundry cooking supplies, while Steve pulled on his socks and tennis shoes, going back down to the water and grabbing a fish.
Danny was just drizzling some olive oil over his sliced tomatoes and cheese when Steve got back.
He wrapped the tray in foil, sliding it back into the icebox, and went to sit over by the fire as Steve took up another knife, moved to the other smaller table, and started working on the fish.
Once he had it cleaned and fileted, seasoned, and ready to go, he grabbed the cast iron skillet and put it on the grill grate, adding some oil.
Steve sat the plate aside, and while he waited for the oil to heat up, he went to get the big first aid kit from his truck, digging around the contents until he found a chemical ice pack.
He came back and dropped down next to Danny in the other camp chair, unwrapping the pack and snapping it in the middle to release the chemicals inside, which made the whole thing cold in seconds.
Danny smiled as he took the offered cold pack and rested it in his lap, toward the right.
Steve watched him squirm for a few seconds, trying to get it where he wanted it and then went back over to the fire.
He carefully laid each filet into the bubbling oil, turning them over after a few minutes to crisp the other side.
Once he was happy with the texture and firmness of the fish, he used his tongs to pull them out to rest, checking the doneness of the potatoes still baking in their foil.
From the corner of his eye, he saw that Danny had started to shift up, but he said, "I got it, Danno…you just stay put and let that ice pack work."
Danny sank back into the chair as Steve got plates and forks out and on to the table.
He pulled the butter and sour cream from the cooler, happy to see that the ice and ice packs were still cold, knowing that after breakfast, he would have to go up to the camp store to get some more.
He brought the fish over to the table and grabbed the potatoes off the grill with a mitted hand, putting one on each plate.
"You want butter and sour cream, baby?"
"Yes, please," Danny answered, finishing off his coffee and putting the mug in his cup holder in his chair's armrest, asking, "and a beer, please?"
Steve told him, "you got it," and pulled two beers out of the cooler, slitting the tops of both potatoes and squeezing the ends to open the slit he had just made, plopping on the butter and sour cream and then salting and peppering each one.
He scooped a few sliced tomatoes and cheese and finally a piece of fish on each plate, carrying them both over, giving Danny's his dinner and sitting the other plate in his chair.
He went back to the table to grab the beers and utensils and watched as Danny put the beer in the other drink holder and forked up a bite of fish.
He worried that maybe O'io was an acquired taste, but Danny said, "mmm…this is really good, babe," and took a few more bites before he started in on his potato.
Steve enjoyed his own meal, mostly because of the company and once they were done, he tossed the paper plates and plastic forks into the trash bin, then filled a utility bucked with the rest of the hot water from the kettle, adding some dish soap and letting the mugs and the cutting board and knives soak.
When he was done with those, he would dry them and put them away, dump the rest of the water over the small table to clean up the scales and blood from the fish, but now…now he planned on enjoying some more of Danny's company and the rest of his beer.
He shifted his chair a little, noting that Danny's feet were still in his flip flops and legs crossed at the ankles, toes close to the fire for warmth.
His lover seemed relaxed, his head resting back, gazing into the night sky, and his hands linked and laying on his belly.
Steve shifted a little closer, asking, "are you cold, Danno?"
Danny lifted his head, looking at Steve bleary-eyed, but answered, "no…it's nice by the fire …It's just…the day is catching up to me."
The sun had set a while ago, and the night heavens shone with a million stars, but they couldn't hold his attention, weren't nearly as beautiful as his Danno.
Steve reached forward and carefully picked up Danny's feet, letting him adjust as he swung them up and into his lap. Flicking off the flip flops and massaging them both, pressing his fingers into the heels, rubbing each individual toe, tickling the soles from time to time just to see Danny wriggle and squirm.
He thought about bringing one to his mouth because Danny's feet were a thing of beauty, but Danny was clearly tired, and tomorrow was another day…or maybe even later tonight.
He knew that they were still in the honeymoon phase, feeling like they couldn't get enough of each other and wanting to try new things, try everything, and he had hoped that this phase never passed.
Looking at Danny now, his golden hair and face illuminated by the fire and starlight, his body nearly boneless and so relaxed, he couldn't help but think of spending the rest of his life with this man.
Danny sighed, sinking back into the chair, seemingly enjoying Steve's fingers on his feet, his hands moving to massage his calves and gently teasing the back of his left knee, telling Steve, "you're spoiling me, babe."
Steve nodded, knowing that there was more spoiling to come, but he only said, "you deserve it, baby…and so much more…"
Danny shifted a little, lifting his head and looking at Steve again and he saw the question there, saw emotions flash through his eyes, but in the end, Danny only said, "you deserve a little TLC too…are you ready for bed?"
Steve, just as carefully put Danny's feet back on the ground, standing and holding out his hand to help Danny up.
He was still a little concerned about the small grimace on Danny's face as he stood, but he would pull out the hot water bottle and hoped that its use would help Danny's muscles to relax and not stiffen up overnight.
"You go ahead and get comfortable while I clean up and take care of the fire." Steve leaned in and pressed his lips to his partner's. Savoring the taste of dinner and something uniquely all Danny, gliding his tongue over his bottom lip before pulling away, knowing that if he hadn't stopped himself now, he would follow Danny in.
Danny reached up and pecked his lips a few more times before turning and going into the tent.
Steve cleaned up quickly, using a little of the water from the kettle in the hot water bottle and by the time he got into the tent, Danny had laid himself out on top of the sheet-covered air mattress, naked as the day he was born, asking, "where's that dessert I was promised?"
Steve tossed him the bottle, hurriedly pulling his shirt over his head, hopping from foot to foot as he tried to pull his pants over his shoes and listening to the best sound…Danny laughing and happy, content in a way that Steve had never witnessed, and he was going to keep Danny that way.
Steve dove for the bed, making Danny bounce and giggle and once he had him in his arms, he reached for the blanket and pulled it up and over their bodies, thinking, if it's the only thing I ever do, the only thing I ever accomplish, I'm going to keep you happy, Danno, because…because I love you.
Danny snuggled into him, cold feet on his shins, but Danny's hot mouth on his neck took the chill away, and before he even realized, he was mumbling, "I love you, Danno," into Danny's shoulder.
Danny tensed in his arms, just for a second and then he started to kiss his neck again, started to suck along his jawline and moved to bite and tease his ear lobe, hot, moist breath against his skin, a soft voice saying, "I love you, too, babe."
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