TOMMY

I wake up slowly to the feel of lips roaming my neck and a very warm, very comfortable body pressed against my back. I freeze for a moment before I remember that Zedd came home last night. I relax back into him, tilting my head slightly to give him better access. Oh yeah I definitely missed waking up like this. Not that I don't appreciate Goldar's help while he was gone, but sleeping in his bed just wasn't workable and the couch while big enough was not really that comfortable. Still trying to wake fully I barely hear the whispered words. "Missed you."

"Missed you too."

He stops but I'm not sure why. "Say that again."

Suddenly I realize what happened. He spoke in Eltarian - and since I wasn't quite awake, I answered the same way. I curse even as I feel my face heat up. "Damn it."

I can't identify the tone in his voice when he says, "Dar's been teaching you Eltarian?"

I sigh, disappointed at the ruined surprise. "Not exactly" I answer reluctantly. "I mentioned to him some time ago that I wanted to learn it so he got me some computer programs so that I could."

"How long have you been working on it?"

"Since before you left and after you and Dar were using it to talk about your client" I admit. "It was supposed to be a surprise and that definitely wasn't the first thing I wanted you to hear me say when you found out."

I'm grateful when he foregoes the obvious question, probably guessing what I wanted the first thing to be. Instead, he hugs me tightly, voice sounding choked as he says, "I love you, Thomas - and even more for that."

And he's getting mushy again. I'm starting to think that he's a closet romantic, rather than it being from a combination of lack of sex, flu and a blocked bond. Mentally, I shrug. As long as he's my closet romantic, I think I can deal. After all, I have a romantic streak of my own and I learned the hard way to let it out, thanks to Kat. I don't really want to think about any of my exes right now, so I return my attention to my current mate. I let my tone sound upset and worried as I say, "I'm sorry, Zedd. I didn't mean to upset you. I thought you'd like it if I surprised you with it. You're not mad that I kept it a secret, are you?"

I'm a little surprised myself when he suddenly pulls back, turns me to face him and kisses me tenderly. "I'm not mad and I'm not upset and don't be sorry. It's just- It's been a very, very, very long time since I've had a mate that does something nice for me just because I'd like it and not because they'd get something out of it."

"Well, I do get something out of it, but it's not why I did it."

He pauses. "What do you get out of it, Thomas?" Well aside having a clue what the hell you're talking about half the time…

I kiss him just as gently as he kissed me. "A happy mate."

He smiles slowly - and oh man is it sexy. "I guess you do get something out of it after all" he agrees.

I kiss him again. "Welcome home, Zedd." I start running my hands over him even as I nibble my way to his throat. I focus on him, ignoring my wants for now. I'm doing everything I can think of to make him feel as good as I can before I ever even consider turning my attention southward.

"Thomas" Groaning my name and hands gripping at the bed covers, it really is highly amusing to see how easily I can get him to start whining like a cat in heat.

Not letting up from where I'm working on his neck, I do however acknowledge his whining to a degree. "Hmm?"

"You're such a tease." Right, I'm the tease. We'll see about that.

It takes less time than I'd dared hope for him to become incoherent from pleasure. Much like he'd done for me before, I tease as much as I arouse him before I finally relent and very slowly run my tongue along him before I slip him into my mouth, using what I'd learned that morning only a week ago to increase his pleasure.

And, judging by his cries, I've done a very good job indeed. Pleased with myself, I slowly release him as the last of his passion disappears down my throat. I crawl back up beside him and gently rub his torso as he recovers. Once he does, he reaches for me, but I pull back. "No, Zedd."

His confusion is obvious as he asks, "Why not?"

I kiss him lightly. "Because I don't want to right now. This is about you - making you feel good and showing you how much I missed you."

"But I do enjoy making you feel good too."

"I know you do and you'll get your chance - just not now, okay?" I can sense his disappointment through the bond. "Besides, I'm not done welcoming you home yet."

He raises an eyebrow. "Is that so? Then perhaps in the future when I have to leave the planet, I should plan to take an extra day off when I return?"

I kiss him firmly. "I think that would be a very good idea."