Time of Regret

Chapter Five

Strange Bedfellows and Even Stranger House Guests

Marco taught his classes, started to work on his thesis for his final class for his doctorate program and worked out in the gym before returning to the townhouse. Dylan wasn't there as he had predicted.

Marco settled in on the couch to await the return of his husband and to grade papers. In Marco's mind he was only admitting to the grading of papers, the waiting for the husband was like a Chihuahua jumping in the back of his mind. He was ignoring it but the damn thing kept barking anyway, despite being locked in the closet.

Dylan had a rough practice. He was tired, sore, hungry, and most of all moody. His coach was in a foul mood and took it out on everyone in the arena, including the girl who works the concession. Hell, she wasn't the only one to leave in tears though, but Dylan didn't feel comfortable that one of the goalies, and two of the defensive line were weeping when he escaped the locker room.

He pulled his car into a spot in front of the townhouse and sighed. He was coming home for the first time in five years. He gingerly got out of his car and walked to the front door. He pushed open the door and saw Marco sitting on the couch with his reading glasses on, flipping through papers.

Marco looked up as the door opened and then closed. He noticed how tired Dylan looked. He immediately got up and went to him. He pushed his glasses to the top of his head as he crossed the floor. "Are you alright?"

Dylan just groaned at the concern he heard in Marco's voice. "No, I'm not alright. I'm tired, hot, sweaty, and in a foul mood. Now please move so I can take a shower and get something to eat." Dylan snapped out at him.

Marco looked hurt and turned to walk back to the couch but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Marco turned around to face his husband once more with a raised eyebrow. He was too furious to even begin to think he could speak.

Dylan's eyes had softened and a tired expression overtook his features. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. Coach was a real nightmare tonight and I'm exhausted. I would love nothing more than to shower, eat and go to bed."

Marco felt the anger melt away. "Go take a shower, I'll fix you something while you're in there. Come back out when you're ready."

Dylan bestowed a grateful smile and went to take a shower.

Marco heated up leftovers from the prior evening. He heard the kitchen door swing open twenty minutes later. He turned around slowly and looked at Dylan standing in the doorway.

Dylan watched as Marco finished his dinner preparations and turned to face him. He knew Marco would be shocked to see him like this but he wanted him to know everything.

"Oh, Dylan." Marco gasped as he set the plate on the kitchen table. "What happened to you? Those bruises weren't there last night."

Dylan shook his head, "It was practice today. The coach was brutal. He made three of the players and the concession stand girl cry. Yes, I'm sore and it hurts but I'll be fine."

Marco gestured for Dylan to sit down in the chair in front of him. When Dylan sat, Marco ran his hands over Dylan's shoulders. He felt the muscles tense as if waiting for more abuse before relaxing under Marco's tender ministrations.

Dylan began eating slowly as Marco massaged his shoulders with such care. He closed his eyes as Marco drew away from him. "Where are you going?"

"Back to the living room. I'm going to give you a massage. You need it and I won't hear any protests. Just come back to me when you've finished eating." Marco commanded.

Dylan wasn't sure if he would've objected anyway but the command made a feral part of him want to obey and take Marco to bed.

Marco set up his massage table that he acquired a few years ago when he had some free time to learn the skill. He grabbed a bottle of oil and waited for Dylan to enter the room. He was getting restless so he switched on his stereo system and located the CD he wanted. He relaxed himself as the sounds of Enigma floated on the air.

Dylan followed the melodious strains of Enigma into the living room. He saw Marco sitting on the couch with his eyes closed, enjoying the music. He also saw a table in the middle of the room, one that looking very similar to the massage table in the locker room.

"Um? Marco?"

Marco opened his eyes, "Lie on the table face down. I'm going to massage you. Yes, I've been trained."

Dylan didn't think to question, he just did what Marco commanded. He soon felt liquid being poured onto his back and then gently spread by the small hands of his husband.

Marco looked down at Dylan's back and the tense muscles under the taut skin. He smoothed out the oil on his back before he began to caress the muscles into submission.

Marco felt Dylan's tension ease and his muscles relax under the ministrations of his hands. He knew Dylan had to be feeling pretty good at the moment.

Dylan moaned softly as his muscles went pliant under Marco's hands. He didn't know just how tense he'd become until he was truly relaxed.

Marco was feeling the effects of the massage as surely as Dylan was but they weren't the same effects. He was getting incredibly aroused but running his hands freely over his husband's body again.

Dylan felt a light smack on his butt and a voice telling him to roll over. He quickly obeyed.

Marco continued his massaged of his chest and shoulders before moving down to his abs. He couldn't help himself as he leaned down and captured Dylan's lips in a kiss.

Dylan's eyes fluttered open when the kiss was broken. He was astounded at the fact that Marco took the initiative to kiss him.

"What was that for?"

"I don't know. You looked so much like the man I fell in love with all those years ago. I couldn't help myself." Marco said with a shrug.

"I still love you, Marco." Dylan said as he levered himself into a sitting position.

"And I you but we've got five years to overcome, Dyl." Marco said as he sat on the couch.

Dylan hopped off the table and sat down on the coffee table with his knees encasing Marco's. "Will we be able to overcome it?"

Marco shook his head, "I don't know but I hope so."

Dylan's heart broke at the defeated sound in Marco's voice.

Marco stared at his knees until he felt himself being lifted up and onto Dylan's lap. He looked into the blue eyes that mesmerized him for so many years.

"Shh. Don't say anything. Can I just sleep holding you tonight?" Dylan asked.

Marco just nodded, "Yeah, I think I'd like that. I love you, Dylan."

"I love you too. Let's go to bed, I'm beat." Dylan said sliding Marco off his lap and into a standing position.

The pair went to bed and fell asleep after one more chaste kiss.