Ch8 is McDanno
Also, trigger warning for attempted rape/sexual assault – don't read past the boys' lunch date if you don't want that shit.
Danny jumped a little when a stuffed dolphin was thrust into his line of sight.
It was Saturday morning. He had been leaning on the railings overlooking Waikiki beach and waiting for Steve to arrive, and wasn't really expecting to be assaulted by plush marine wildlife.
"What the actual fuck?" He waved his arms out at the perceived threat before he even had a chance to realise it was just a child's toy and was, in fact, being wielded by his lover.
"Hey," Steve grinned at him and teased, "Don't tell me you're afraid of cute little dolphins!"
Danny glared, a little embarrassed at his reaction. "Anything shoved in my face like that is gonna freak me out, you animal."
The brunette chuckled. "I can think of something I can shove in your face that you might like..."
The Jersey man rolled his eyes and ignored the lame joke, resting his hips against the rail and pointing at the toy. "Is that your new mascot?"
Steve shrugged and ducked his head a little, cheeks taking on a pinkish tinge. "Nah, it's um... for Grace, actually..."
It was that point, more or less, that Danny decided this man was trying to kill him. He opened his mouth, not entirely sure what to say, and studied the taller escort in greater detail. Whatever was going on between them, this relationship they had, was brand new and so completely undefined as of yet. But here he was buying a gift for Danny's daughter, whom he hadn't even met yet, and getting adorably embarrassed about it.
The tattooed man shrugged when he didn't get a verbal response. "I mean, I can take it back if you don't... it's just... that rabbit was fucking hideous..."
The blonde burst out laughing, buoyed by his companion's opinion of step-Stan's present, and took the dolphin from his hands to have a closer look. He ran his palm over the taller man's fingers as he claimed the toy.
"She'll love this, it's perfect. She uh, she has this doll... Dolphin Trainer Annie. Now she has a dolphin to train, huh?"
Steve looked more than pleased with the coincidence, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets like a hesitant school boy talking to his date. "Good," he smiled, "I just... yeah..."
It was cute, this muscled, tattooed god not really knowing how to say that he just wanted to do something nice.
The Jersey man met his gaze and returned his smile. "Thank you."
Steve nodded stiffly and dropped his shoulders, turning and gesturing that they should go for a walk. Danny followed him, tucking the plush toy safely under his arm.
It was a hot day, and he'd got home late the previous evening after ensuring the Governor had got all the release he needed from political pressures, so when he had received Steve's text that morning asking if he wanted to meet for lunch he'd quickly thrown on a t-shirt and jeans and jumped at the chance. Then he had swapped his t-shirt for one that was a bit tighter to show off his pecs and biceps for his lover. Smitten? Him? Maybe...
"How did last night go?" he asked, sensing Steve wasn't so good with emotional gift giving and might need a change in topic.
"Good, she was very nice. Quite respectful actually, which was pleasant, and not bad looking. She certainly enjoyed herself..." He had put a little space between them as they strolled up the boardwalk, but his overall demeanour was loose and relaxed, and his gaze kept flicking to the Jersey man's broad shoulders. "Did your client survive their ordeal?" he joked.
The blonde snickered. "Nah, got too rough and had to bury the body this morning... Luckily I know all the best places for shallow graves..."
"Ah, the trick is to leave them out in the rainforest for the wild boars. They eat bone, too!" The brunette chuckled, his hazel eyes sparkling. God, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he was happy... It was beautiful.
"Remind me not to piss you off..." Danny gave him a look of faux suspicion.
Steve just grinned impishly in response and nudged Danny with his elbow. The blonde went to reach for his waist to pull him closer as they walked, but the tattooed man moved out of his grasp. He tried to disguise it by changing direction and heading for a coffee stand on the beach, but the Jersey native had seen the swerve for what it was.
He sighed and tried to hide his disappointment. Back to mixed signals, and so soon...
"Hot or cold?"
Danny glanced up at the ironic question, because if they were talking about his lover's moods then he just didn't know anymore.
"Hot," he said decisively, and he meant both the drink and his preferred version of Steve.
Completely unaware of the double meaning, the brunette bought himself a coca cola, and a latte for his companion. He even dumped three sugars into it for him. Gifts, memorising the way he liked his coffee, playful flirting... and then dodging his touches and putting physical space between them... Danny was quickly feeling his headache returning.
But as they moved away from the stand with their drinks, he finally got the explanation he needed.
"Steve!"
The taller man spun on his heel and snapped to attention so quickly it made the blonde do a double take. Approaching them was an older man, bald and maybe in his fifties, wearing a naval uniform and carrying his cover under his arm. It wasn't an unusual sight so close to Pearl Harbour, but he seemed to know Steve from his smile.
"Sir!" Steve let out a surprised exclamation and then glanced at the Jersey man out of the corner of his eye and swallowed hard. His face looked like he was about to have an aneurysm.
His older friend didn't seem to notice the edge of panic. "Oh, you don't have to call me that anymore, son. I'm not your superior officer now you're out of the Navy... how's retirement treating you?"
"Uh, it's okay thanks Joe," the brunette shuffled uncomfortably and rubbed the back of his neck, "Just trying to settle in and sort out dad's debts, y'know..."
The older man nodded solemnly. "Yes, I still can't believe he's gone. Cancer is never a good way to leave this life... They did a good job of his funeral at least." He turned friendly eyes to Danny. "Who's your friend?"
"Uh, this is Danny," Steve waved a hand toward his companion in a broad gesture, but offered no further introduction.
The Jersey man transferred the dolphin to under the arm which held his coffee, and put his hand out and shook Joe's when he returned the greeting. "Danny Williams."
The silence spread between the three of them as both Danny and the older man looked back to Steve, who had flushed a healthy shade of pink but was trying to stoically disguise his discomfort. He finally spoke.
"Um, well we were just on our way somewhere Joe, but it was really good to see you," he mumbled hastily, "I'll see you around."
The Navy man nodded. "Yes, keep in touch McGarrett," he smiled at Danny again, "Nice to meet you."
The shorter man inclined his head in response, and Steve squared his shoulders and saluted. His former commander smiled at the obviously ingrained response and saluted in return. Then he was off down the boardwalk, placing his hat on his head as he went.
The two men were silent for a moment before the blonde shoved his free hand in his pocket and looked up at his lover expectantly.
Steve cleared his throat, but avoided eye contact with the shorter man and didn't say anything.
"Well, that was awkward," the Jersey man muttered and took a long sip from his coffee.
"Sorry Danny," the brunette looked down at his feet, and then finally met his lover's gaze, "That... is a long story..." His guilty expression told his companion that he thought he was going to be shot down over this.
The blonde cocked his head and reassessed the man in front of him yet again. He, of all people, could understand not divulging past professions to people in his current line of work, so he wasn't at all angry. Surprised, confused, and a little turned on, yes, but not angry. Just the opposite in fact, because things were starting to click into place, and solving puzzles soothed him.
"This explains a lot," he said simply, and at Steve's enquiring look he expanded on his statement, "Your uniform looked way too good to be fake."
He grinned broadly, knowing the humour showed in his eyes, and the tattooed man looked like at least some of the weight of the world had just dropped off his shoulders.
Steve sighed. "This doesn't scare you off?"
"Babe, you and I have a lot to talk about... but first I wanna ask you something. Because it's important for me and, I think, for us?" he waved his hand between them to indicate the two of them and placed his drink and the plush toy on a nearby picnic table.
The brunette looked a little hesitant, but nodded, so Danny powered ahead.
"These are just my thoughts, so bear with me..." His hands splayed and flexed as he spoke, arms gesturing between their bodies, "I've cottoned on to your mood swings by now, and I can't believe I didn't notice the trend before, but it's when we're in public. Out in the open when people can see us, that's when you close down... at the café with Chin and Kono you were fine, but out in the parking lot you moved away, and on Thursday night in the booth you had your hands all over me, but you had to drag me around a dark corner before you could kiss me when we went to the bar... even you not taking male clients... you don't want to be seen being intimate with a guy."
The taller man dropped his shoulders and gave the ground a guilty frown while twisting his coke bottle in his hands, acknowledging what Danny was saying with a short nod. "I don't even realise I'm doing it sometimes..." he sighed.
The Jersey man gave his arm a gentle brush with his fingers until he looked back up at him. "I get it, I do. The armed forces aren't the best environment for someone who isn't hetero... even with DADT being repealed, the attitudes don't change just like that," he snapped his fingers in demonstration, "so just... just know that I get it, yeah?"
Steve stared at him like he'd just told him the blonde had hung the moon itself, and Danny felt his cheeks heat up under that weight of emotion. So he decided it was time to offer up his own confession.
"It wasn't easy being pansexual in the New Jersey Police Department either..."
The tattooed man's brow furrowed. "In the... what?"
"Like I said babe, we've got a lot to discuss..." he offered him the ghost of a smile, "but maybe we should find some lunch to take out and head back to mine to talk?"
Steve snorted. "Yeah, I think that would be best..."
"Can I ask one thing?" The shorter man took a step closer, and the brunette eyed him cautiously, "This aversion to public displays of affection with men... can we work on that?"
"Now?" He sounded nervous, but he didn't back away.
"No, no. I'm not going to insist right this minute, it's a big thing... I was thinking more for the long term. But it's up to you."
Steve looked him up and down, looked out to the horizon and licked his lips in nervous consideration. Danny opened his mouth to tell the man there was no pressure, to forget it for now, but suddenly his lover was dropping his soda onto the table top next to his coffee and pulling him into a passionate kiss.
His large hands cupped the blonde's jaw and their eyes closed as their lips crashed together. The tattooed man whimpered against his cheek, releasing that same shuddering sigh from Thursday night that told Danny he was letting go of something long-held and difficult and restrictive, something which had dictated his actions, his attitudes – his very being – for too long.
The brunette's tongue licked across the line of the Jersey man's mouth, delving in deep the moment he was given access, and Danny's hands went around his waist to pull him in close as Steve threw his all into proving to his lover, and to himself, that he could be proud of who he was. The beach was his stage, the kiss his performance, but the audience were forgotten.
When he was eventually released, the blonde had to catch himself before he stumbled, slightly dizzy from lack of oxygen and the majority of his blood supply suddenly disappearing south. He cleared his throat and smoothed back his hair even though it wasn't put of place, just out of habit. That kiss had left him breathless for a multitude of reasons.
"Wow, I uh..." He hadn't really been expecting that kind of response. Evidently Steve didn't do challenges by halves...
The taller man gazed at him with low lashes for a moment, and then seemed to remember they were in public. He looked around them, almost marvelling at the amount of people surrounding them who were paying absolutely no attention whatsoever. He let out a dry chuckle, amused at his own doubts and fears being proven unfounded, and when he looked back down on the Jersey man he had fire in his eyes, and it made Danny catch his breath in his chest.
"Screw lunch," the tattooed man growled, "Home. Now."
Danny had walked to the beach that morning, which was good because Steve practically hauled him to the Marquis and more or less threw him inside. He felt like he was being bashed over the head and dragged back to the man's cave, and he was not at all upset about that. He didn't even really mind the multiple speed limits that his lover came close to breaching in his rush to get them home.
And by 'home', Steve had apparently meant his own, because the blonde was soon being led up the path to an unfamiliar house and pulled inside the front door. He barely had a moment to take in his surroundings before he was shoved into a wall and the brunette was continuing the kiss he'd started earlier while they kicked out of their shoes.
Danny's shirt was pulled over his head, but as soon as his arms were free again he was tracking his hands over as much of his lover's body as possible, pushing up under his shirt and feeling his warm, smooth skin. Steve threw the item of clothing across the room and it landed on the sideboard.
The tattooed man whipped his own shirt off and it joined Danny's, and he hooked his fingers into the blonde's belt loops to manoeuvre him towards the bottom of the stairs as they continued to make out, nipping at each other's lips. They managed to make it to the top without injury, although they did end up stumbling a few times, and Danny was backed through a doorway and into a room until the back of his legs hit a bed.
Hasty fingers tugged at zippers and buttons, and soon their jeans and boxers were pooled at their feet. The Jersey man reached between them to grasp Steve's cock in his hand, and inhaled sharply as the taller man simultaneously made the same move.
"Oh fuck..." he moaned as the brunette's huge hand wrapped around his shaft and smoothed upward with a firm grip.
He mimicked the action with his own dextrous fingers, drawing a rough groan of pleasure from his companion when he added a little twist at the end.
"Yes, fuck, just like this..." Steve breathed, tucking his face against Danny's neck and huffing hot air over his skin, "I want it just like this..."
The blonde kissed his cheek and used his grip on the tattooed man's hip to shift them until they were next to the bedside drawers, where he'd correctly guessed the lube would be. Steve raised his head again and they kissed passionately while the Jersey man squeezed some of the clear gel onto his hand, stroking some onto his own dick for the taller man to use before returning his attentions to his lover's erection.
They gasped and moaned into one another's mouths as they indulged in a mutual hand job, a slight element of competition beginning to build between them. For every noise that was pulled from Danny's mouth, he determined to achieve a similar reaction from the brunette, and Steve seemed to have the same plan on his mind because his movements grew firmer, longer, faster with each passing second.
The taller man smiled against the blonde's lips, and then he was throwing his weight into him and taking them both down to the mattress where they continued to massage each other's dicks and squirm against one another's bodies with abandon. The tattooed man ended up with his knees in between his companion's, using his weight to hold him to the bed.
Danny pushed Steve's chest up away from his, ducked his head and sealed his mouth over his lover's nipple. He hissed and bucked against him as he began to use his teeth to gently scrape over the sensitive flesh, and the Jersey man had to use his free hand to grip tight on Steve back to stop him wriggling away.
The brunette was releasing a litany of desperate noises, his head thrown back and eyes squeezed tightly shut. "Oh Jesus, Danny your mouth... fuck..."
The shorter man growled happily and switched his attentions to the other nipple, being rewarded with a whimper from his companion. Then Steve's hand left his cock, causing him to whine with the loss of stimulation, and batted his own hand away where he had been stroking up his thick length. The tattooed man's hips dipped down, their dicks gliding against each other, and Danny reactively bit down at the glorious and unexpected sensation.
"Oh fuck!" Steve shouted as sharp teeth closed over his nipple, and his back bowed making him rut up against his lover.
Danny made a small mental note that his partner in crime liked teeth, and began nipping across his collarbone to draw more sensual noises from the man. Then that big, slick hand was back, wrapping around both of their cocks simultaneously, and the blonde placed the soles of his feet on the bed and thrust up, through his lover's grip and against his erection. They both cried out, and Steve stripped his hand downward in contrast to the Jersey man's movements.
They found a vague pattern to follow, a jerky, halting pace where nothing was perfect but it didn't matter because any action sent sparks of electricity up their spines and into their brains. The brunette's hips rolled, his smooth undulations belying his desperation as he whimpered and gasped and huffed against Danny's throat where he was kissing and teasing the stubbled skin.
The Jersey man curled his fingers into the back of Steve's hair while he continued his upward drives, varying the length and speed until they were both panting and groaning. His other hand fisted the sheets and pulled at the fabric while he tried to ground himself. The intensity of emotion coming from the man above him washed over and through him, because he could almost feel the brunette's resolve and determination coming off him in waves.
They were truly beginning to understand one another, and somehow knowing the ins and outs and whys and wherefores, seeing how each other worked, made all the difference to their love making.
Steve was leaning on his elbow, and the hand that wasn't massaging their cocks made its way into Danny's hair. His head was pulled sharply to one side, and the taller man's teeth closed over his exposed throat. Nails scraped down the back of his scalp as the tattooed man bit down gently, and Danny's cry of completion echoed off the bedroom walls.
He erupted between them, cum striping across their stomachs, and he pulled on Steve's hair and dug his fingertips into his hip, muscles contracting and twitching as his orgasm rolled through his body.
His voice was raw and rough as he called the other man's name. "Steve!"
The taller man let out a strangled moan against his neck, thrusting against him as his own climax hit, and his spilled heat joined Danny's between them while he repeated the blonde's name through the waves of ecstasy.
He eventually flopped to one side, and they let their heavy breathing slow and return to normal while the endorphins relaxed them until they melted into the sheets.
Steve rolled off the bed after a few minutes, stumbling to the bathroom and returning with a damp cloth to clean them both off, and the Jersey man hummed happily while their combined juices were wiped from his cooling skin. The tattooed man threw the cloth in the vague direction of the door, and lay down to kiss Danny's lips, offering him a little smile before laying his head on the blonde's chest.
"I'll get better at it..." he whispered.
The Jersey man chuckled. "I'd say you were pretty damn good at it already, babe!"
The brunette leaned up and smacked him playfully on the chest. "No, not that! The intimacy thing... the public stuff and the hand holding and... that stuff..."
Danny slid his hand over the man's cheek and cupped his jaw, tilting his face upward so they could look into each other's eyes. "I know you will, but there's no pressure. I just want you to be happy." Even as he said it, he knew every word was true. He wanted this man to smile, the one that lit up his features and crinkled the corners of his hazel eyes, the one that made Danny's stomach do a little flip.
Steve gazed at him with something unreadable on his face.
"Listen, this..." the blonde struggled for a moment to find his words, and he laid his head back on the bed and fixed his sight on the ceiling, "It's more than sex and more than need. It's you and it's me and it's important..."
Steve bridged the gap between them by leaning over the shorter man and kissing him again. "I can't promise I'm gonna get good at this straight away, but what I can promise is that I'm in for the long run..."
Danny smiled and thought about the plush dolphin he'd left on the dash of the Marquis outside, the idea that his lover was thinking about his daughter, that he could see how important Grace was to Danny, made his heart twist.
He pulled the tattooed man down to press their lips together again. "Yeah, I gathered..."
They dressed themselves in whatever clothes they could find in the bedroom, and Danny went to find their shirts in the living room while Steve made them both a coffee.
While he was pulling his t-shirt back on, his eyes flicked over the photographs on the sideboard and on the wall above it. The one hanging right next to the archway into the kitchen intrigued him the most.
"What's this about?" he called out to Steve, who appeared at his side and handed him a mug in exchange for his shirt.
The brunette smiled wistfully. The photo was of a family; mother, father, son and daughter, and the young boy was unmistakably Steve. They were standing in front of the house, holding a big cardboard sign that read 'Five-0ers' in large, black handwritten letters.
"Is that a sports team or something?"
Steve shook his head. "No... It's what my dad used to call us. Because we weren't native Hawaiians but we still felt like this place was home, he wanted to make us feel like we were still a part of the island, and Hawaii is the fiftieth state, so..."
"Five-0ers... I like it," Danny grinned, and gazed at his lover.
"It was about being part of something. Choosing to be part of a family outside of our own blood." This was the first time Steve smiled when he'd spoken about his dad, the happy memories of his childhood outweighing the pain of the man's passing. "You'd have liked him, I think... he was a cop too."
Danny stroked his fingers down his lover's arm. "Tell me about your dad?"
The taller man smiled and nodded slowly. "Yeah, you know... I'd like that..."
They spent their lunchtime chatting about their past lives – the Navy and Steve's family, and Danny's reasons for leaving New Jersey and giving up his career as a cop. They ordered takeout, and Steve let Danny borrow his laptop to check his work emails after they'd eaten.
While the brunette called his own agency, the Jersey native ran through a couple of options and chose the most interesting one.
The file he opened contained details on a client for that night, the location being up on the north shore, and it looked like a job he could relax with after the intense domination work he had done the night before. The guy was a visiting Russian diplomat looking for a date to his champagne shmooze fest, so it would be easy; business as usual.
The tattooed man dropped into the seat across the table. "There's not much on tonight," he placed his phone on the table, "Looks like I get the night off... you?"
Danny nodded. "I've got something... it's up near Kahuku, so it'll take me an hour and a half to get there. I need to wash up and go into the agency to get the info."
The brunette chuckled. "Then I guess it's time I introduced you to my shower..."
The shorter man grinned and flipped the laptop screen closed, standing to bend over his companion and give him a gentle kiss, sliding his hand under his jaw as it deepened.
"Lead the way, babe..."
Steve dropped his lover home so he could change, and then Danny went into the Top Class offices to pick up the information on his date for the evening, Alexei Petrov, and fuelled up the Camaro before heading up to the northern part of the island. Tonight was a boyfriend experience with sleepover, and Alexei's notes were pretty standard for likes and dislikes, so Danny was confident that everything would go well.
Shortly after he arrived in Kahuku, the Jersey man received a little text from his lover.
[S] How's the north shore?
[D] Only just got her, but it's got nothing on you. Danny grinned to himself. Whether that line was smooth or just plain cheesy, it was true.
[S] Call me tomorrow when you're back, came the reply, We can pick up where we left off.
Then the phone buzzed again.
[S] Miss you.
He stared at those seven little letters for a few moments, and his heart felt like it lifted in his chest.
[D] Miss you too, he typed back, See you tomorrow.
He was so glad that it didn't seem to be an issue for either of them to just carry on with their jobs. He had been wary, after knowing what happened between Chin and Malia, and witnessing the aftermath of other relationships with people in his profession, where most seemed to fall apart under the pressure.
Maybe it was because they were new, maybe it was because they were both in the escort business and therefore understood it a bit better, or perhaps it had something to do with the fact that their connection seemed so much deeper than sex, but Danny had a feeling Steve's clients wouldn't be competition for him... and he knew his customers wouldn't match up to his tattooed god.
On paper Petrov appeared distinguished and professional, and he certainly gave that impression in person as well.
Danny met him at a café near the hotel, after he'd dropped into the room to leave their supplies and his bag ready and changed into his suit, and they chatted over coffee so they could get to know each other before the scheduled event. Their relationship would look more natural if they were comfortable together when they walked in the door.
Alexei was dark-haired and attractive, refined, confident and charming; a diplomat in every sense of the word. His accent was thick, but his English was spot on, and Danny entertained him with his ability to say 'this vodka tastes like urine' in Russian (although he avoided telling him he'd learned that while working as a cop in New Jersey and dealing with the Russian mafia).
They walked to the party, the taller man telling him all about his hometown and how it compared to American cities, and the moment they entered the event they were handed champagne and vol-au-vents.
The absence of a standard bar, free or otherwise, meant the Jersey man's usual trick of ordering water during the night was out of the window. Throughout the night it seemed like every time Danny's glass was emptied, a fresh full one was placed in his hand - usually by Petrov - and he took to pretending to sip the fizzy alcohol because he didn't want to drink more than he should. He wasn't going to be driving that evening, as the hotel was only around the block from the venue, but he still needed to perform, after all.
He was vaguely aware of the official talk but mostly ignored it, listening only for important cues on when he should speak, acting like many of the other partners and spouses at the meet and greet and making sure to keep his hands somewhere on or near his client.
Otherwise he let his mind drift back to the man who seemed to invade his thoughts pretty much permanently now; the way he had looked in that uniform last week, his deep, honest eyes and the gasps he made when Danny's tongue sought out exactly the right spots. And the Jersey man was determined to find every single one of those spots and mark them on the erotic map in his head that was Steve McGarrett.
He was brought back to focus on the evening when Petrov pressed yet another glass of fizz into his hand in exchange for the half empty one he'd been nursing for the last hour.
"Come on baby, have a little fun," Petrov gave him a charming smile, "It's not often you get champagne for free…"
He took a small sip as a gesture of goodwill, but then just held it in his hand so he wouldn't be offered another one.
11pm came and went, and Alexei had done his allotted pleasant diplomacy so he slipped his hand into the blonde's and led the way to the accommodation.
Danny quickly decided that he had drunk too much champagne when the cool evening air hit his face and made him feel a little dizzy. He took a deep breath and let the oxygen filter into his bloodstream and clear his head a little.
When they got to the hotel room he had his key card ready like usual, but Alexei got to the door first and opened it, holding it open for him like a gentleman. Danny smiled at him and slipped his own card back into his jacket pocket.
Once the door closed, he slid his hands under the taller man's jacket to drift fingers up over his sides through his shirt. The dark-haired man moaned a little and leaned into the blonde, allowing him to slide the jacket off his shoulders.
As per his usual pattern, Danny kissed his client's cheek and spoke low and softly. "Ground rules-" he began.
"I know the ground rules," Petrov interrupted him a little sharply, but his tone immediately softened, "I've hired escorts before."
Despite the slightly rude interjection, the Jersey man smiled at him. "Yes, but different escorts and agencies have different rules. We set our own limits at Top Class."
Alexei glared down at him and his accent seemed to deepen along with his darkening mood. "I asked your company for someone who would do everything I asked, they said Daniel Williams is the best. Are you telling me they lied?"
Danny tried to keep his cool, but this sudden change in demeanour was grating on him and the alcohol was beginning to make him feel a little more fuzzy than he'd like.
"No, I can assure you they didn't. My only rules are condoms, and you have to respect my wishes if I say no to something," he let the sensual tone leak back into his voice, still trying to smooth over the situation as he unbuttoned Petrov's shirt, "But it's not often I say no..."
Alexei smiled confidently and relaxed again as he began to remove the shorter man's jacket, letting it drop to the floor. He leaned into him and kissed him hard, undoing his tie and popping the buttons on his shirt open as well, while Danny undid his belt and flies. Then he pushed the blonde back into the wall and his grip on the escort's biceps tightened.
"No," he said simply.
"Pardon?" Danny was really feeling strange now, his world tilting slightly and the fact his pulse beginning to speed up wasn't helping. He screwed his eyes shut for a second to try to get a grip.
"No condoms. I don't like them," the taller man growled and reached down with both hands to grab at the blonde's ass roughly.
He shook his head. "That's a deal breaker, I'm afraid." Danny tried to push at the other man, but it didn't feel like his muscles were working properly and he grunted with the effort.
"No problem," his client smiled slyly at him and purred sickeningly, "Your last drink should relax your inhibitions a little. Maybe we can change your mind, da?"
Fuck. No wonder he was feeling out of it. He knew he hadn't had enough to make him feel this way, only maybe two and a half glasses or so. He wasn't used to champagne, but he was no lightweight. The guy had put something in that last glass, and god knows what would be happening right now if he'd had more than a sip.
"No, hell no." He shoved firmly at the taller man, pushing him backward, but he was quickly on him again and hauling Danny across the room to the bed with both hands fisted in his shirt front.
The blonde stumbled as the room spun, but he managed to keep his feet under him and gripped Petrov's arms hard when his thighs met the side of the mattress. The man seemed surprised by the fact his escort was fighting back, maybe thinking Danny had drunk more of the drugged alcohol than he actually had.
The blonde's elbow connecting with his face made him shout out, and he lashed out with a heavy fist and caught the Jersey man across the cheek. Danny went down, the chemicals in his system playing havoc with his balance, and he was dragged to a kneeling position by the collar of his open shirt until his face was in line with Alexei's bulging hard on.
He put his hands out against the man's thighs, but then one strong hand grasped a fistful of his hair and something sharp and cold was at his throat. He froze. He had a knife. A small one, but they could do just as much damage when they were as close to an artery as this one was.
"Suck me, you little whore," the Russian man hissed, "and then I will fuck you until you beg me to stop..."
How did this day end like this? He'd spent the morning with a beautiful man; a man who was soft and tender and solid and strong and just wonderful. A man who bought his daughter gifts and had overcome so much in such a short space of time, and who was in it for the long run... a man he was pretty sure he might actually be in love with after only knowing him for one fucking week. And now he was the other side of the island – may as well be the other side of the planet – with a blade against his neck and some dirty would-be rapist trying to force him to do something he didn't want to do.
He looked up at Petrov, the dark man with his lips curled into a snarl, treating Danny like something he could take and use, like he wasn't even a human being.
He thought about the dolphin and the kiss on the beach and Steve's arms wrapped around him in amongst warm sheets.
No. Hell no. His day was far from over yet.
He slowly moved his hands to tug Alexei's pants down around his thighs, acting like he was giving in, and the second the man relaxed his grip even a little Danny grasped his wrist and tore the weapon away from his throat. Simultaneously he thrust the heel of his hand into his attacker's crotch, forcing him to let go of his hair. His scream of pain was extremely satisfying, but the blonde wasn't about to hang around to wait for more.
He used the momentary break in the fight as Petrov struggled with his pants tangled around his legs, and launched himself towards the door. He grabbed his suit jacket from the floor and practically ripped the door off its hinges as he ran out of the room. And he kept running, taking the stairs rather than risk waiting for the elevator, not stopping until he hit the hotel's reception where there would be witnesses if Petrov decided to follow him.
People stared as he walked at high speed through the foyer, out of breath with his shirt open and his tie hanging loosely around his neck. He managed to fix a couple of the buttons closed as he exited the building and the cool air hit him full force again, dizziness making him stagger and have to pause to shake his head clear.
He thought about heading to his car in the hotel parking lot, but there was no way he was going to be driving. He pulled his phone from his pocket and had 911 up with his thumb hovering above the dial button before he stopped himself.
How exactly was that going to go? He was effectively a prostitute as far as the law was concerned, because whereas the escorting was legal the 'sleeping with the client for money' part definitely wasn't. Alexei couldn't go to the cops on Danny and claim assault, but in the same vein he couldn't report the attack either; the risk was too high, the grey areas of soliciting had put them at a stalemate.
He cancelled the call and went into his contact list. It brought up his 'last numbers' list and there was Steve right at the top with Danny's last text showing next to it. Miss you too, see you tomorrow.
The Jersey man wanted so much to hit that button, have that man come and hold him until he felt human again, but there was no way he could do that to him. They weren't even two days into this relationship, he couldn't drag him an hour and a half across the island to pick him up, couldn't throw all of this pressure on him. It could break them when they were so delicate and new, and he wasn't about to lose the best thing he'd had in a long, long while.
He stumbled down the street as he scrolled down a little way to Chin's number and hit dial, slowly beginning to register a stinging sensation under his jaw which was now beating out the thundering headache and throbbing cheek for his attention. His hand came away with blood on it, and he realised Alexei's knife must have caught him in the struggle. The damage was minimal, but it had begun to stain his shirt collar red where the hot liquid had dripped down his throat.
The few people present in the hotel foyer must have gotten quite an eyeful; some guy with messy hair, half dressed, bloody and bruised running through the room would be a memorable sight. God only knew what they thought, but he honestly didn't give a shit right now.
Chin's phone rang a few times and then went to voicemail, and Danny hung up without leaving a message. He must be with a client tonight, leaving his cell on silent. The only other person he could think of to contact was Kono, because there was no way he was ringing his ex wife on a Saturday night to pick him up from a ruined escorting job.
The Hawaiian woman picked up on the third ring. "Hey bruh, howzit?"
Relief washed over him, and he found a wall to sit down on near the beach, wind whipping up his hair as well as the surf. "Kono, I'm sorry babe, I need your help... tonight has been one fucked up mess and I can't drive. I need someone to come get me..."
He scrubbed at his face with his free hand, regretting it when he just ended up rubbing drying blood up his cheek.
"Where are you?" His friend suddenly sounded very concerned and alert, and he appreciated her no end for just being there for him, no questions asked. She knew that when something went wrong in his line of work, it could have serious consequences.
"I'm in Kahuku... I'm sorry, I know..." His train of thought drifted a little as a wave of nausea hit him and he leaned over the wall and dry heaved.
"Danny? Danny, are you okay?" Kono's worried voice was tinny but loud as she called his name.
"I'm here..." The Jersey man had to take a long breath in, frustration and desperation threatening to overwhelm him and coming through in his voice, "He put something in my drink, babe, he fucking drugged me..."
God, he felt like an idiot. Embarrassed and sick to his stomach, and now everything was spinning again as his body tried to cope with whatever he'd been given.
"I'm coming to get you. Where are you? Specifically, Danny, I need to know where to find you." She was an absolute rock, obviously concerned for him but calm and dependable. He could hear her door slam and her car keys jingling as she rushed to his aid. How did he manage to get such good friends?
The blonde gave her the hotel address, told her he was at the beach down the street, and when she had to hang up she assured him she would be there as soon as possible.
Everything was so hazy, and he sucked in as much oxygen as he could in an attempt to still the whirling sensation and settled himself on the sand with the wall to his back. He pulled his jacket over him like a blanket, knowing it would be over an hour before his friend arrived, and he let his eyes close to block out the world.