Dark watched Krad more closely for the rest of the morning-- and a part of him wished he hadn't. There were moments that were... disturbing. Like when Krad stretched to reach a corner with his brush and his shirt slid out of his pants-- which were rather low cut and riding on his hips - revealing some inches of flat abdomen.

Nice view, Dark thought, gripping his own brush harder or he would have reached out, brushed his fingers over the exposed skin.

Then he found Krad looking at him, head tilted a little in a silent question.

Pure innocence.

Dark fought down the impulse to just grab the man and kiss him senseless. It was a hard fight and he nearly lost. Especially since Krad didn't put his shirt back Into his pants.

They hadn't been together for real since Hel. Sure, there had been touches and kisses, but not... They hadn't slept together. Krad hadn't pressured him, had followed Dark's lead, but Dark wanted more. Still, there was something like a last wall keeping him from that step. Whenever Krad came even close to touching him this intimately, something froze inside him.

He remembered Hel, her cold, impersonal touches, the pain... and while he knew that Krad wasn't her, the overlapping images were scary.

Things had changed recently. Dark was fighting for their relationship, for their intimate relationship, and while he knew that he wasn't human, his reactions were human. He was scared but determined.

He wanted Krad.

He wanted him inside him.

And now, looking at Krad's... teasing, he knew his lover was picking up on his readiness.

°

Work continued, but Dark was too distracted to do a lot of productive repairs.

"I think we should call it a day," Krad whispered, his lips so close to Dark's ears that the kaitou almost yelped.

How had he come that close? Why hadn't he heard him?

But he had felt him. This wasn't Hel and he hadn't felt the danger, the terror. This was Krad, the man he loved. His body recognized him.

Gentle fingers brushed over the nape of his neck and he screwed his eyes shut, feeling need and desire battle with common sense.

"Paint smudge," Krad murmured. "You should take a shower."

Preferably with you! Dark's mind cried.

"I'll be in the library," the demon added and pushed away.

Dark became aware of the cool air rushing in where the presence of his lover had just been and a sharp breath left his body, which was trembling.

Goddamn that man! Krad had teased him the entire day, and Dark was at the end of his rope.

He rushed after his lover with a low snarl, reaching him in the hallway. Pushing Krad against the wall, he put his hands on each side of the other man's head, careful not to really corner him. He had made that mistake once.

Damn we're a pair, he thought briefly.

Krad had his horrifying past and Dark had his terrifying memories of recent events.

But he pushed that thought aside, concentrating on what instinct and need dictated him to do.

"Krad," he growled, clawing into the wall to not just press himself against his lover and ravage him then and there.

Krad smiled sweetly.

And then he was pulled flat against the other man's body, lips searching his, hands carding through his hair, over his back, pressing their bodies together.

Dark moaned helplessly, feeling his self-control slip away as Krad not only thoroughly kissed but utterly devoured him, turned him inside out, scorched him with these sinful lips and tongue of his, fingers leaving fiery trails on his skin as his shirt was bunched up.

Opening his eyes he saw golden irises, dancing with mischief and clouded with something entirely different – and Krad ducked away under his outstretched arm. Dark could have screamed in frustration – and then Krad laughed. Standing only a few feet away, Krad smiled at him, slowly reaching up and minutely pulling the ribbon holding his long hair in place down. The blond strands cascaded over his shoulders as he shook them free, eyes never leaving his lover.

He turned to go.

"Krad! Come back and finish what you've started, damnit!" Dark growled and headed after his lover.

The kitchen was only lit in a semi-light from the street lamps, but enough to find one's way. Then again, he was the Phantom Thief and his eye sight in the dark was exceptional.

Dark frowned-- he had expected Krad to be sitting here, all innocent, grinning at him or something. Instead there was-- a movement in the corner of his eye! Whirling around he recognized Krad, a split second before he was pushed down onto the table.

In that same split second defenses flared, magic tried to rise, but it dissipated as foe became friend and lover, as Dark recognized his attacker.

"Krad... what...?"

Krad stood there, looking down at him, the same feral expression on his face he had had this morning, feline eyes almost glowing in the semi-darkness. His shirt was hanging open, revealing a nicely shaped chest and flat abdomen.

He stepped closer and Dark stared at him, watched him move slowly, gracefully, and for a brief second he wasn't sure that the hammering of his heart was only because of lust. His mind flashed wildly back to encounters that had been far from sexual or erotic, when a blond demon had tried to eradicate his life, when golden energy had lanced out at him with the intention to hurt.

Krad gently placed his hands on his legs, fingers brushing up and down his inner thighs before he pushed them apart rather roughly. Dark gasped - and then he had an armful of horny demon. Lips were crushing his, hands slid under his shirt and pulled-- somewhere Dark registered the sound of torn fabric but he couldn't get himself to care as he felt his lover's skin on his own, strands of his long hair tickling him, and he reached up to bury his hands in that hair, pull Krad even closer. He loved the long strands, how they felt alive under his touch, so silky and smooth, so ethereal just like the rest of the man they belonged to.

His arms were caught in mid-movement and pushed down on the table over his head. Krad didn't hold him down at the wrists, just ran his hands over his forearms in a clear indication, shaking his head. Still, there was a questioning look, checking Dark's reaction, but the kaitou wasn't objecting.

Not Hel, a voice whispered.

Not Hel.

Krad.

Love you. Love you so much. Want you. Krad...

The blond was satisfied with what he could read in the violet eyes and returned his attention back to his body. Dark moaned, feeling teeth scrape over his neck as Krad bit down – not too gentle, but not hard either, just enough to spike his arousal - before he worked himself down his body. A moment later his pants were gone.

Golden eyes gazed at him as tender fingers caressed him. Those eyes watched him so closely, for each and every reaction, and Dark just whispered, "I love you."

Krad leaned down, kissing him gently. Dark answered the kiss and groaned into the hot mouth.

Oh gawd... yes!

Krad wouldn't -- not here, he wouldn't? On the kitchen table, where either Satoshi or Daisuke could walk in on them any second?

Oh yes, he would.

His face was cupped in gentle hands, golden eyes bore into his.

"Dark..." Krad whispered, and then his lips were captured again.

There was so much love and need in there, so much want, that it took Dark's breath away. Literally.

"Please, Krad..."

"Slow..." was the answer.

°

Three rooms away blue eyes opened lazily.

"Tell me they're not trying to christen the kitchen table," Satoshi murmured into his lover's neck, voice slightly muffled.

"Yep," came the equally murmured reply.

"Too bad they're too late."

Daisuke chuckled and let his fingers slide down his lover's back, making the other man purr.

°

Dark wrapped his arms around the lithe body of his lover, pulling him even closer, letting his scream be swallowed by Krad's kiss and followed him over the edge, fingers clutched in his hair. Breathing heavily he rode out the afterglow of their shared passion.

°

"Hope they clean up after themselves," Satoshi whispered between nips at Daisuke's neck, leaving a few tiny marks.

"I sure hope so... ah... at least I wanna have breakfast at that table tomorrow... uhm... right there..."

Satoshi was only too eager to follow his lover's moaned request, his ministrations growing more intense as he stimulated small hot spots he knew so well.

"Sato?"

"Hm?"

"Did you ever share Krad's passion?"

That stopped him for a second and ice blue eyes met chocolate brown ones that were sparkling slightly.

"Ex-cuse me!" he exclaimed.

Daisuke grinned, fingers brushing over Satoshi's chest and back, trailing patterns that did little to soothe.

"You know what I mean..."

"You're implying I'm sleeping with him?" Satoshi teased.

"Well, no." Daisuke smirked. "Why? Do you?"

"Niwa Daisuke!"

Daisuke laughed and pulled Satoshi into a kiss. "Kidding."

Satoshi snorted.

His lover tilted his head, mischief in his brown eyes. "Then again, I wouldn't fault you for it. He's good on the eyes."

Satoshi stared at him as if he had lost his mind. "No more sex for you," he muttered. "This fried the last of your braincells."

Daisuke laughed with amusement and sheer mirth.

"And to answer your question: I wouldn't. I'm a one man kinda guy and I found mine." Satoshi caressed the suntanned features. "I'm very happy with my catch."

Daisuke looked close to purring. "I second that."

After a while Satoshi muttered, "It's quiet."

"They're done," Daisuke remarked.

"Hmpf. That's only what you think..."

°

Dark felt the man in his arms stir hesitantly, and he tightened his hold.

Not yet, he thought. Please. Just stay with me a little longer.

He wanted this to last. It was like a final mending process, the two of them together, sharing more than just an embrace in their realm. As much as they could have this pleasure even there, the physical aspect heightened it all. It was needed, it was craved, and it was fulfilling.

"Dark, we're in the kitchen," Krad hoarsely whispered in his ear.

"That didn't stop you before," Dark murmured.

"Not really... but if you want Daisuke to find you in the morning... stark naked and, well..."

He had a point there, though there was little that could really shock his host in that department. Gone was the innocent, blushing boy of fourteen years who had had trouble even writing a love letter. In his place was a very much matured and grown-up Daisuke who had a steady love life.

Still, Dark opened his arms slowly, letting his lover go.

"I don't know if I can get up, Krad, you took me... hey!" He yelped in surprise when Krad simply grabbed him and picked him up. "You're not carrying me like this!" he protested, but Krad simply smiled.

It was almost angelic.

"Are you worrying about your reputation? Don't, they've heard us."

Dark gasped as Krad carried him out into the hallway, up the stairs and into his bedroom, laying him down. Of course they had probably heard them. The house, while old and made of brick, was not large enough to ignore cries coming from the kitchen when the bedroom wasn't so far away.

Kneeling over him Krad bent down to steal a soft kiss, and Dark let his fingers stray over soft skin and hard muscles.

"That was... unexpected but hot, Krad."

"Good, because I'm not done with you."

Violet eyes widened. "Krad, I... "

"Shhh... "

A sole finger was placed on his lips, shutting him up. Krad straddled his hips, and Dark couldn't do anything else but stare. His lover leaned back, golden eyes flashing, the soft illumination of the moon turning his body into a pale moving statue of utter beauty.

°

Satoshi moaned and sank down on his lover's pliant body, shivering with the last waves of his own release.

"Think they're done now?" Daisuke whispered, stroking sweaty dark-blond hair and pulled Satoshi closer into his arms, feeling very much relaxed after the second round himself.

"I really hope so... I don't think I can get it up again."

"It has never affected you-- us-- this way before," Daisuke mused.

"Koi-- it didn't this time, too. I just felt like it."

"Sato!"

"What?"

tbc...