Irvine woke up with Squall's arms around him again, this time sinking into their warmth with glee. The sun was barely peeking into their room, splashing pale golden rays across the bed and its occupants.

Squall was nestled between Irvine's arms, head resting against his chest. The boy's hair tickled his bare flesh. Irvine kissed his forehead; he wanted to wake the boy up and kiss him all over, feeling his naked flesh pliant against his own.

He wanted to strip him down and have 'crazy-naked man sex' all morning.

He wanted to taste him finally, like he had wanted to since he first met the boy.

He wanted to stay in bed all morning with the boy

(I've fallen head-over-heels for ... )

Hyne, he needed a shower.

A good long cold one.

Irvine stroked Squall's shoulder a moment before rolling over and away from his warmth.

Squall curled up in a tight ball, sighing with disappointment in his slumber. Irvine kissed his head once again before turning for the bathroom.

He stripped quickly, eager to get under the water. He turned the water on high and stepped under it, letting it splash down his face and chest.

With a sigh, he ran his hands through his long hair and combed shampoo through it with his long fingers. He turned around to rinse it out as he ran soapy hands down his chest.

As his hands got lower, he closed his eyes and saw Squall. His thoughts turned to the letter the boy had written him, but instead he reversed their roles, Squall pressing him to the tile and nibbling at his neck.

Irvine leaned against the wall and moaned as he wrapped his hands around his solid erection. In his daydream they were Squall's hands, stroking him as he pressed their lips together with pure need.

The dream boy's hands followed the same path as Irvine's own. Squall fell to his knees in front of him and kissed his thighs. His hands never stopped their moving, one stroking gently down his length and the other playing his balls around his fingers.

Dream-Squall's movements were that of his own. But so much better because it was Squall.

Irvine groaned and faced up to the ceiling. Behind his closed eyes, though, he was looking down at his lover, whom was presently moving his mouth deliciously near his erection. Water was pouring down over Squall's back as he snaked his tongue out to tenderly lick up the underside of Irvine's manhood.

Irvine's thumb was inducing the physical pleasure dream-Squall's skilled tongue was. His breath caught in his throat. Squall's mouth wrapped around him, enveloping him with tongue, teeth, and sheer heat. With one last sigh, Irvine came in his hands. His fantasy dissipated as he did. Irvine sank down to the floor of the tub, breathing hard.

He shut his eyes against the shampoo bubbles streaming down his face. He tilted his head back and let the soap run from his hair and swirl around his body on the way to the drain. As the water began to run icy, he stretched and got out of the shower.

He felt better having cleaned up - ready for breakfast, he realized as his stomach rumbled.

He quickly toweled off and padded down the hall into the bedroom. Squall was still asleep, his breathing gentle and steady in the still morning air. Irvine grabbed random articles of clean clothing from the dresser and pulled them on in the dim light.

He tiptoed out to the kitchen and dug around the fridge for food. He pushed aside soda cans and peeked in the freezer. It was pretty empty, but he did find a can of orange juice.

Sounds good.

He located a pitcher and long-handled spoon and squeezed the can of frozen pulp in the pitcher over the sink. He was stirring in some water when he heard the light scuffling of feet on the tile behind him.

He turned his head as Squall wrapped him in a hug from behind and rested his head between his shoulder blades.

"'Mornin', luv," Squall mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

"Good morning," Irvine answered, turning to look at the boy from the corner on his eye. Squall looked up briefly and kissed him, lightly running his tongue over Irvine's lips.

Squall yawned and hugged Irvine tighter. "Whatcha doin'?" He looked over the boy's shoulder. "Oo - homemade orange juice!"

Irvine laughed. "Hardly. Straight from the can, man."

With a shrug, Squall replied, "You made it though. With your hands. At home." He wrapped his hands around Irvine's and followed his movements as the cowboy stirred the pitcher and poured two glasses of frothing juice.

Irvine grinned to the boy at his back and gently moved one of his hands from the glass he was touching, leaving Squall to pick it up.

The smaller boy sighed as he backed away from Irvine and hoisted himself up to sit on the countertop. Irvine moved to stand between his legs, looking up into Squall's deep blue eyes. "'Mornin', luv," he repeated.

"And a good morning to you, my Cowboy." Squall felt Irvine's smile against his mouth as they kissed. Irvine snuggled between his boyfriend's legs and sucked eagerly at his tongue and thick lips.

Squall pulled back, batting his eyes at Irvine as he tilted his glass to his lips, flushed and tender looking from their kissing. "We have work today, luv."

"What?" Irvine asked with an exasperated sigh.

"Yup. We should get going soon. Get breakfast on the way, okay?"

"Sounds good," Irvine said as he drained his glass.

Squall cocked his head as he glanced down at Irvine's shirt. "Isn't that mine?"

Irvine looked down too. It was a worn black Nine Inch Nails shirt.

"Oh. It is, huh."

"Looks great on you," Squall murmured into his ear. It sent warm shivers down Irvine's spine.

Squall leapt from the counter, exhibiting his innate grace nicely for his captivated audience. He grinned and pressed his body against Irvine, cupping the taller boy's butt in his hands. He leaned close to Irvine's face and whispered, "Too bad you already showered ..."

Already showered ...? Aw, crap! Irvine thought as he realized that Squall was offering him everything he had dreamt about earlier. Squall's hands were gently moving around his hips to the front of his body. They played against his crotch, echoing what Irvine had dreamed about mere moments ago.

"Gimme five?" Squall requested.

"Yah." Irvine breathed as he kissed him lightly on the cheek. As Squall pulled away and started down the hallway, Irvine called out of nowhere, "I'll miss you!"

"Mutual, luv," Squall purred over his shoulder.

Irvine collapsed against the counter behind him as Squall rounded the corner. The bathroom door clicked shut and water began running hard.

Fuck. I'm hard again.

He sighed and rinsed the glasses and popped the pitcher of juice in the fridge. He was in the bedroom putting on his feather necklace and straightening his hat when Squall walked in. He was wearing just a towel.

His legs were long and firm under the soft, deep green cloth. And a little tan, actually, surprising on someone who didn't go outside without a full- body casing of leather. He looked at Irvine from across the room, eyes soft as they peeked from under his wet bangs. He smiled, suddenly shy.

Irvine smiled back. He didn't move closer for a sudden fear that Squall might turn tail and run like the timid rabbit he looked like.

Irvine continued to watch Squall as the boy hunted through a dresser drawer, finally producing a pair of, surprise, second-skin-tight leather pants, but these were worn to the point of fading, especially around the knees and butt. He threw the leather over his shoulder and rummaged deeper for a soft, sleeveless black shirt.

Still turned sideways, back more towards Irvine, Squall dropped his towel.

...

He shimmied into the pants commando - the leather was far too tight for anything else. He pulled his shirt on over his head as he turned around.

Irvine was standing, mouth slightly open and eyes gawking at Squall. The smaller boy blushed profusely as he sauntered slowly over to his comatose friend. Irvine swallowed hard, trying not to stare ... at Squall's tighter- than-sin pants, top button loose, belly showing in tiny flashes under the short shirt ...

"Do I make you speechless, Cowboy?" Squall purred in his deep, throaty voice.

"Always."

Squall grinned, satisfied, and backed a step away. He grabbed Irvine's hand and led him from the room. He picked up his belts and Irvine's boots, discarded carelessly on the living room floor the previous night. He swung the thick bands around his waist and sat down to buckle the three around his thigh. Irvine pulled on his boots and watched as Squall sprawled over the back of the couch to get his own pair.

I could just yank those pants down his body and straddle that beautiful waist, tear off his shirt and ...

His thought was interrupted as Squall leaned back and rested his head in Irvine's lap.

Irvine leaned down and claimed Squall's mouth with his own happily. Squall's hands wound up behind his neck, locking him in place for a moment. Their mouths separated, but Squall did not free him. Instead, he looked straight into Irvine's eyes and said, "I love you."

And Irvine, totally honestly, answered, "I love you, Squall."

I do. You're what I need, I'm what you want. I've never been more happy in my life. I never want to leave you, want to stay here forever ...

Reluctantly, Squall mentioned, "Any more of this and we'll be really late ..."

"So let's be late," Irvine snuggled into the crook of Squall's neck, nuzzling his collarbone happily.

Squall nibbled on the tender lobe of Irvine's ear, running his tongue around and through his small hoop earring. "No breakfast then," he breathed.

That wouldn't have mattered if Irvine's stomach hadn't chosen that moment to let loose a loud grumble.

Grinning wide and releasing his hold on the taller boy, Squall sing-songed, "A hungry Irvine's got no energy for later sex ..."

Later sex? Score!

Slowly, Squall sat up, sitting properly next to Irvine. He even had his hands clasped on his knees, looking innocent and sweet. But something unknown kept him from looking feminine. Irvine couldn't help but to plant a chaste little kiss on the definitely-male boy's cheek. He watched Squall pull on his boots, buckling them in a hurry. "Well, then," he stood up, lending a hand to Irvine to do the same. "Are we off?"

Irvine linked arms with Squall and led him out of the house. Squall locked the door behind them and pocketed the keys. He leaned on Irvine's shoulder and hugged his arm all the way to the coffee shop.

Squall ordered their drinks and Irvine turned to the pastry display and added a fresh chocolate croissant to their bill.

"Looks good."

Irvine leapt at the voice behind him. He spun around to face the auburn- tressed sorceress. "What - what are you doing here?" he squeaked. "Do I have to go back?" he whispered, scared of what her answer may be.

"Did you answer your questions?"

He gulped. "Yah. I think so." He was nervous, barely able to voice his thoughts.

"You think, or you know?" she asked gently.

Irvine looked over at Squall, standing by the counter, minding his own business to let Irvine talk alone for a moment.

Hyne, I do love him.

"I know." He wasn't going to elaborate, but he was tense, and he tended to yammer on when his nerves were worked. "I want him. I need him. He's perfect in every way, and I'm not sure I could go without him now that I've had 'im."

The girl leaned back on the display case. "Yah. He's gorgeous. Too bad he's taken, huh?" She was smiling innocently. "You've had him already? Hyne, you're quick."

"No, I didn't!" Irvine snapped, defensive. Squall looked at him from the corner of his eye, though he tried hard not to. Irvine blushed and lowered his voice. "I wouldn't ... not our first day - uh, my first day with him. That just, doesn't seem right."

"But it's okay to pick up on random skanky chicks in bars?"

"Squall's ... different ..."

The girl nodded. "Okay. Let's say I'll give you one more day. Then," she shrugged, "Everything's up to you."

"O-okay." Irvine watched as the odd girl turned and left, offering a friendly wave over her shoulder.

"Who was that?" Squall asked politely as he handed Irvine his cardboard to- go cup and pastry.

"A girl I knew," Irvine shrugged. Squall accepted this half answer and led his boyfriend outside.

They walked to work quietly, sipping hot coffee carefully as they went. Squall leaned casually against Irvine's strong side; the cowboy had an arm slung loosely over his shoulder.

The Garden was as busy as ever as they meandered back to Squall's office. Irvine dropped him off with a clandestine kiss before continuing to see Quistis about his day's duties.

"Wait, wait!"

Irvine turned to see Squall poking his head out of his doorway.

"Still on for that training session later?"

"Yup. Come get me when you're done, Commander!"

Squall rolled his eyes at the mention of his title and disappeared into his office.