Preston Tucci lay on his back, one arm folded behind his head, the other resting on his stomach. Antoine was fast asleep, breathing slow and regular. Preston mashed his pillow around, trying to find that sweet spot. He wasn't restless, quite the opposite he felt deeply, deeply content. Apparently his brain just wasn't ready to sleep yet, despite the Xanax he'd taken not too long ago.

Instead, he found himself replaying the day's events.

All of them!

He'd gotten home from work around seven thirty that evening. Later than usual, but since he didn't have to carpool with Antoine that night he took the advantage of the after-hours quiet to finish up a few projects he'd been working on. He'd been surprised not to find Antoine waiting for him, but not fifteen minutes later Antoine had arrived, hanging his bike on the hooks in the garage.

Antoine had taken a shower, then they'd talked about the day. Antoine seemed remarkably calm about it, but Preston wasn't sure if that was a matter of acceptance, or denial. His housemate was difficult to read, and rarely talked about what was on his mind. Despite his exuberance and outwardly social mien, Antoine was exceedingly tight lipped about personal affairs.

Preston wondered if it was a matter of Antoine's less-than-stable childhood, or if the man would've been that way even if he'd been raised from birth in a loving home.

Probably the latter, Preston decided. Even if my parents had been stay-at-home parents, I'd probably have still grown up this way. By that, Preston meant quiet, and reserved. That, among other aspects of his nature were most likely coded in his DNA, and something that would've never changed.

Not that he would've wanted them to.

When he and Antoine had sat across from each other, holding hands over the dining room table, he hadn't been completely surprised that Antoine wore nothing more than a bath towel around his waist. Antoine was never the most modest, even at the best of times. He was a fan of sunbathing, au natural, by the pool. Thank god for that privacy hedge!

Antoine's tendency towards nudity was not an uncommon occurrence.

What was unexpected though was the little tease he did as he got up. He pulled the towel away from his waist, and slung it like a scarf about his neck.

Preston tried to keep his eyes on Antoine's face, but it was impossible. His gaze followed every curve of Antoine's full frame, from his muscular arms, to his soft belly, his solid thighs... and everywhere in between.

He felt the blood rush to his face, and down at the same time, tightening his loins. His pants had become unbearably tight, yet he dared not reach down to readjust.

Antoine seemed to enjoy the attention. He twirled and pranced, a deliberate display; even went so far as to blow Preston a kiss and make a 'come here' gesture as he traipsed off to the bedroom.

It was another one of those Antoine-things that made Preston wonder what the intent was. There were a dozen things it might mean, and an equal number that it probably did not.

God, why do you tease me so, Preston lamented. He stared at the ring on his hand, and felt his lips curve in a mischievous grin.

Oh hell, he decided, sliding his chair back from the table. If you want to play those game with me, Antoine... You're crossing into dangerous territory. He licked his lips, rubbed his hands together and stiffly followed Antoine's path.

It hadn't been what he'd expected, as he came in and found Antoine on his stomach, lying across the bed with a rose in his teeth. "I was wondering when you'd show up," Antoine purred, not bothering to remove the rose from his mouth.

He was still naked.

Preston felt his mouth suddenly go dry. The temperature of the room seemed to have increased by several dozen degrees.

"Guhhh?" he said, in shock.

Jeeze, Big Guy, way to sound intelligent. Mentally he slapped himself. "Uh, what are you doing Antoine?"

"Waiting for you!" the blue-haired man (with no tan lines) replied. Antoine rolled on his side a bit, patting the bed next to him. "Come join me. Feel free to take off a few layers."

Preston pulled the sweatshirt off over his head, tossing it on the dresser. He'd just started unzipping his bulging jeans, then paused, a sense of uncertainty welling up from some dark recess of his mind.

Antoine noticed.

Of course he would.

He waved Preston over, closer, and deftly removed the rose from his mouth. "What was that look for, Prep?" he asked as he ran the flower lightly up the center of Preston's mostly smooth chest. Antoine pushed himself up to a sitting position and tucked the rose behind Preston's ear. Lightly he ran both hands through Preston's hair, down his shoulders to his hips, before tucking his thumbs into the waistband of Preston's pants.

It was as if Antoine's touch ignited every nerve ending they touched, bringing a paradoxically fiery chill to his skin. Preston shivered involuntarily as goosebumps rose the hair on his arms.

Antoine tugged Preston closer, pulling him by a belt loop. "You really should take these off," he suggested. Preston stumbled for a second as Antoine gave him another tug. It was easy to forget how strong his housemate was. The soft layers of Antoine's body concealed the strength of a bear. Preston had no doubt Antoine could've scooped him up like nothing if he wanted to.

Preston reached down, fussing hastily with the top button of his fly as he undid his pants. As he'd done had so many times before, though never with Antoine, and definitely not with this level of anxiety (save for his first time), he pulled his jeans and briefs down in one fluid motion.

He kicked his feet out of his pants, nothing left to conceal his arousal; not that his trousers were doing a good job of it when he'd had them on anyhow. Antoine threw his arms around Preston, nearly yanking the thin man off his feet.

Preston threw a hand out, grabbing Antoine's shoulder for balance.

Antoine pressed the side of his face against Preston's stomach. Preston felt his housemate's cheek and thick beard just above his naval, Antoine's lips perilously close to the scar of his old bullet wound. His housemate was clearly aware of this. Antoine kissed his way across Preston's flank, tracing lightly over the indented skin. The sensation there was different than the touch on his unmarred flesh; and Preston found he didn't mind.

His body was rigid, twitching involuntarily with every caress. He glanced down at Antoine, expecting to see the same.

The man was relaxed... in every sense of the word. Not completely limp, but nowhere near as eager as Preston.

Preston felt a twinge of disappointment.

Antoine gave him a gentle pat. "Hey, it works if that's what you're worried about; but we all know this stuff's involuntary. Don't think it's you. C'mon, Prep. Lie down and cuddle with me."

Preston removed the rose from behind his ear, set it in his water glass on the nightstand, and slid onto the bed beside Antoine.

Their next moments had been slow and cautious. Preston could see there was no hesitation in Antoine's actions when it came to stroking his chest, back, limbs. Antoine didn't even seem to mind running his hands along Preston's thighs and backside. Nor, much to Preston's quivering delight, was there any resistance in Antoine's kisses.

Antoine traced his fingers from Preston's naval downward, but never quite made his way further; his trepidation evident. Once upon a time, were this any other man, Preston would've simply grabbed that hand, and put it where he needed it to go. But this was Antoine, and the fact that they were lying like this at all was a huge gesture on his fiancé's part.

Trying to push anything with Antoine would've been too much for his blue-haired man.

Instead, Preston met Antoine's kisses with a closed mouth, and when he tried to do more, he felt Antoine tense slightly. Not enough to make him feel offended, but enough for him to tell it wasn't something Antoine was completely comfortable with yet.

The same was true as he touched Antoine's body. Any parts were fair game, as long as he avoided that certain area.

At one point, Antoine had actually taken him by the wrist, and guided Preston's hand down. As he got lower, he let go. His eyes were wide, almost scared. He lay perfectly still as Preston stroked him for a moment before gently but firmly moving Preston's hand away.

"I'm not... not really into that," he confessed. "But you know what I do like?"

Preston shook his head. He had no idea. "What's that?"

Antoine looked away, but Preston could see him blushing. "Would you... do you mind... Would you rub my belly?" He looked up to Preston, expression both hopeful and bashful at once. "I'd really like it if you did that."

Preston smiled, and propped himself up on an elbow. "Okay."

He ran his hands through the thick hair on Antoine's chest, along the trail of fur that connected chest to belly... and lower.

At least Antoine didn't dye this hair blue, Preston mused. Antoine was a natural blond, a very light shade excellent for holding a colour, but Preston was glad he'd stopped at the hair on his head and face. He found himself almost entranced by the textures of Antoine's soft, kneadable belly. There was something relaxing about running his hands over Antoine's skin.

Antoine clearly seemed to agree. His eyes were closed, and Preston could almost swear the man was purring slightly. As his hand moved down, but within the limits Antoine had set, he noticed that some part of his 'well-insulated' companion must've found the belly rub stimulating in more ways than one.

As Antoine had said, and Preston himself knew, certain acts of the male body were truly involuntary.

It still gave Preston a giddy little thrill though, to see the affect a simple belly rub was having on Antoine. He smiled to himself, and committed the view to memory. It was something he'd have to recall later, on his own private time.

After a spell, his hand had grown tired, and Antoine appeared to be almost asleep. Preston leaned over, kissed Antoine lightly on the cheek, and got up. Antoine stretched, and rumbled with contentment, but didn't open his eyes.

"You sleep," Preston whispered. "I'm going to go get something to eat before bed, and put this rose in a vase."

"There's one in the bottom of the cabinet with the serving bowls," Antoine replied, voice slow and mellow. "I ate at my folks' place. And after all this, I don't feel like going anywhere. I'm just gonna go to sleep. It's been an exhausting day for me."

Preston shook his briefs free of his jeans and yanked them on over his still firm body. He decided jeans weren't worth the discomfort. He had a spare pair of sweats in Antoine's bathroom. He'd put those on instead, and not bother with his sweatshirt. It was positively roasting in Antoine's room.

"Hey Preppy," Antoine called as Preston got dressed.

"S'up, Antoine?"

"I just wanted to say, thanks for respecting my boundaries, you know? Because I do love you, but this is kind of a lot for me."

Preston chuckled. "It's okay Antoine. I enjoyed that."

"You did?" There was genuine surprise in Antoine's voice.

"Of course, you big deck ape," Preston replied, the old nickname lovingly used. "I'm probably going to take a shower before I come to bed tonight, but yes! Of course I enjoyed that!"

Antoine stretched again, and rolled onto his side. "That's good," he replied, back towards Preston. "I like it when it's good." With that, he wrapped his arms around a pillow, and was snoring softly before Preston had even made it to the kitchen.

Preston padded down the hall to his bathroom, smaller than Antoine's but more private. He let the water run to warm up, testing it with his hand.

When it was to his liking, he'd stepped in, with intent to do a bit more than bathe to satisfy himself. He had little doubt Antoine knew what he was doing, taking a slightly longer shower at the opposite end of the house. Clearly Antoine didn't mind.

He's a grown man, Preston reasoned as he turned the water off and grabbed his towel off the rack. Wasn't that what a relationship was about, compromise? Well, it didn't have to be conventional. If it worked for them, it was good enough for him.

Preston had a quick dinner, a bowl of whatever organic cereal Antoine had picked up from the Co-Op, brushed his teeth, then went to rejoin his non-traditional (but incredibly sexy) lover for a good night's sleep.

He knew there was no way he'd be falling asleep right away - too much had happened that day - but he felt relaxed, and deeply content. Sleep would come in time. There was no reason to rush anything.