"Did you tell Ashley?" Darren asked as they cuddled up in bed later. They'd put all Chris' bedding in the washing machine and moved to Darren's bed after a much needed shower.
"Briefly, I said I'll call her. I might phone her tomorrow. I just told her you were the best fuck I've ever had, and that you're stuck with me now..even if you don't want me." Darren pulled Chris in closer.
"Oh, she'll love that. It'll appeal to her base sense of humour. At least I won't have her going on at me anymore about what a great couple we'd make," Darren grinned.
"She said that to you? She never mentioned it to me."
"I think she figured it was up to me to make the the first move. Every time we slept over at one of our apartments, which let's face it, was quite often, she'd be pushing me for information as to whether anything had been going on."
"I can't believe she'd do that..well maybe I can. I just can't believe I didn't realise.."
"She's actually very protective of you...you're a special person Chris, there are alot of people who love you.."
Chris looked up at Darren from where he was half laying on him, "including you," he whispered. Chris reached up stroking Darren's cheek gently.
Darren grasped hold of Chris' hand, holding Chris' fingers up to his lips and kissed his knuckles softly. "Especially me," he said lovingly, carding his fingers through Chris' hair.
Before Chris knew it they had just one day left in New York. He felt a tinge of sadness at the thought of this wonderful trip coming to an end. Not only had he been lucky enough to spend some time in the city he loved, but he'd also found love. Okay, he and Darren had had some teething problems in the beginning, but Chris figured that was because their feelings for each other were so intense...everything just seemed to matter so much to both of them.
Chris smiled to himself as he remembered how he and Darren had paid lip service to the idea of taking things slow in the beginning. There was no way that was ever realistically going to happen. Normally in a new relationship there would be weeks or even months of getting to know each other, but he and Darren already knew each other better than they knew themselves, so that initial part of the relationship had already, in effect, taken place.
Chris wondered how on earth he'd never noticed that Darren was gay, or at least had feelings for him beyond friendship, especially when everyone else around them seemed to have realised. Chris had thought before about how, in the past his best friends had always been girls, until Darren came along of course. He still did have lots of really good 'girl' friends, but with Darren it was different. Almost as soon as they started working together, they'd been inseparable. Chris thought about the number of times he'd just turn up unannounced at Darren's apartment for a sleepover, never even thinking Darren might have other plans or anything. Darren would just welcome him in with open arms, not even surprised to see him. In fact Darren would do the very same thing to him too, come to think of it.
Of course Chris had always been in love with Darren, but had just learnt to tuck those feelings away, grateful for even being able to have this man as his friend. Maybe they'd both been idiots somewhere along the way, but, he reasoned, their relationship had a good chance of surviving as they'd spent so much time being friends first.
Chris wasn't stupid. He realised that forging a relationship in a city of love, with a bed and lots of quality free time, wasn't how it was going to be once they got back to real life. They'd already had a small taste of outside pressures on their relationship, and that was probably nothing compared to what it was going to be like once they returned home.
If they were going to make the most of the time they did have left today, Chris knew they'd have to get up soon. They'd spent the day before cleaning the apartment and replacing food and other supplies that they'd used of Chuck's. They really didn't want Chuck regretting opening his home to them, as they truly had appreciated his generosity, and had wanted to leave the apartment just as they'd found it.
They'd decided to spend their last day exploring the city, or at least that's what they'd planned. Chris had ideas to fit in some shopping. He knew Darren wouldn't mind too much, even if he pretended to, and Chris did need someone to help carry his bags!
Chris looked at Darren, still sleeping, sprawled naked on his stomach, the thin sheet on him only just covering his bottom half. He really was beautiful to look at, Chris thought, as he ran his eyes over Darren's bare sculptured back and shoulders. His eyes moved up to Darren's face. He looked so peaceful, his long eyelashes fanned out gently against his skin as he breathed. Chris had seen Darren asleep loads of times before...why had he never noticed how beautiful he was?
Chris chuckled to himself as he looked at Darren's wild 'bed' hair. As much as it would need some serious taming once they were up, Chris loved Darren's hair. He'd always loved it, and since he'd been in New York he'd had the pleasure of spending copious amounts of time running his fingers through it.
Chris' eyes were drawn back to Darren's body. He wanted to slide his hands down the curves of his back, slipping down below the sheet to the firm roundness of Darren's ass. God..he was so turned on right now, without even any touching.
"I can hear you thinking, you know." Darren's sleepy voice searched Chris out as his eyes moved back to Darren's face again.
"What do you mean?" Chris felt himself blushing.
"Oh, you know. I can tell by your breathing what you're thinking about."
"Sure you can." Chris glanced down at himself, having completely forgotten that he was higher up the bed than Darren, and whilst the sheet comfortably covered Darren's ass, Chris had a nice little erection standing up above the sheet. He hoped Darren hadn't seen.. Oh! Darren's eyes were on him..
"I hope that's for me," Darren soothed, running his hand on top of the sheet, along Chris' thigh, stopping short of actually touching his cock.
Chris huffed. That's what happens if you start daydreaming about your boyfriend when you think he's still asleep. Could he be any more obvious!
"You don't seem your normal chirpy self," Darren commented, watching Chris carefully. He was used to Chris' moods, and knew when things weren't right. In the past he'd sorted many 'diva' moments in Chris' trailer, only for Darren's eyes, and had also seen him a lot more vulnerable than most people realised he actually was. Darren was pretty sure Chris trusted him..he hoped he did at least.. "Chris," Darren said softly, tracing a small pattern on Chris' stomach, "do you want to talk?"
"Mmm...okay," Chris sighed, moving down the bed and into Darren's waiting arms. "Sorry", he mumbled, "there's nothing wrong.. I just feel miserable that this is all coming to an end. I mean, I know we're going to my parents - I do want to - but I've loved us having this time together..."
Darren hugged Chris tightly, as he continued. "I know I'm being totally irrational.. After all you're coming with me, and then we'll be going back to work together." Chris paused. "So feel free to ignore my stupidity."
Darren rubbed comforting circles on Chris' back. "You're not being stupid.. I don't want this vacation to come to an end either," he said quietly, "but you know what? We're going to be fine. We have those few days with your parents to ease us gently back into reality.." Darren trailed his hand down to Chris' pert ass, ghosting his finger along Chris' crack. It was the barest of touches, but the most sensuous of actions, causing Chris to whimper weakly. "And just remember that I love you. That's really not going to change."
Darren repeated his previous action, this time pressing his finger a little more firmly as he ran it along Chris' crack. "I thought we were talking," Chris breathed in a big gasp if air, involuntarily pressing his erection against Darren's thigh.
"We can talk darling," Darren said, pulling away slightly to kiss Chris chastely on the lips. "I meant it when I said nothing's going to change. We've always spent a lot of time together.. It's just that when we get some time on our own, we may be doing something a little different than we used to. At the end of the day though, it's no use worrying about anything else, especially when we don't know what's going to happen." Darren stroked Chris' arm reassuringly.
Darren could sense Chris relaxing a little bit as he reached for Darren's hair, running his fingers gently through the soft curls. "I just love you so much Darren," Chris sighed. "You're right of course.. It's just that I can't imagine my life without you.."
"You've got me," Darren soothed as Chris moulded against him. Feeling Chris more relaxed, Darren resumed his previous action on Chris' bare backside, desperate to hear that sexy whimpering that Chris did that turned him on so much.
"Oh Darren," Chris whimpered, digging his toes into the mattress, so he could spread his legs. "Oh please.. I love you.. " Darren circled his finger around the edge of Chris' puckered entrance. Oh. "Oh..Darren. I love..your cock. Please please Darren.. Oh." Chris knew he was babbling, but how could he help it?
Darren's erection was throbbing painfully at all this pretty begging Chris was doing. Chris hooked his leg up around Darren's waist - allowing Darren to push his finger inside Chris' entrance, crashing his mouth against Chris' for a searing kiss.
"Chris," Darren groaned. He was so turned on right now. He looked at Chris' flushed face and kiss swollen lips. "Can you.. Will you ride me. Please?"
"Mmm.. Could do." Chris said slowly, dizzy with arousal, but trying to sound nonchalant. It earned him a playful slap on the backside before Darren swiftly flipped him over, slinging Chris' legs over his shoulders. Chris' next witty retort was quickly forgotten as Darren leaned across to pick up the lube and condom from beside the bed.
Chris' knuckles were white as he hung on to the headboard. He'd been riding Darren's cock for a good thirty minutes, and his thighs were burning, but he didn't care. He was slowly sliding up and down, rising so high only the tip of Darren's cock remained inside him, before flexing his thighs and being guided back down by his lover's hands, hitting that 'oh so perfect' spot each time. They'd been at this stage several times before, building up speed as things became more desperate, slowing down again just as they were both about ready to come.
This time Chris' didn't think he'd be able to hold off again. His untouched cock was rock hard, dripping pre- come on Darren's taut stomach. "Do you need to come baby?" Chris panted, picking up speed helplessly.
At the mention of the pet name, not something Chris had been brave enough to do much of yet, Darren bucked his hips higher, picking up Chris' rhythm. "I do darling.. And I can see you do." Darren glanced at Chris' erection, grasping it in his fist. "You've been so good for me, lasting this long.." Darren slid his hand up and down Chris' shaft firmly.. One.. Two.. Three, and that was enough. Chris threw his head back, as he clenched around Darren's cock with each pulse. "Darren.. Darren.. Oh my god.. Oh.."
Darren came swiftly after Chris, crying out Chris' name in a desperate voice he would never have recognised as his own.
After, there was lots of kissing, both of them too tired to talk, the need for a shower ignored. They really should get up soon if they did want to go out today Chris thought to himself as he lay his head on Darren's chest, eyes heavy with a need to sleep.
"This is what I always imagined it would be like on my honeymoon," Chris stated. He felt himself blushing as he realised that, yes, he'd said that out loud.
Darren looked at him from across the restaurant table where he was sitting. A small smile was on his face, thankfully not the look of horror Chris had been half expecting as he met Darren's eyes.
They were in the cosy Italian restaurant they'd come to on their first night together in New York, and also on Christmas Eve. It seemed as if it was unintentionally becoming 'their' restaurant.
They definitely hadn't made a conscious decision to come here tonight. They'd set off from the apartment as daylight had begun to fade, disbelieving that the day was almost over. There'd been no exploring of the city in the end today, choosing to spend their time exploring each other instead, and it was only hunger that had drawn them to be standing outside the restaurant door in the early evening, smiling at each other when they realised where they were.
An eventual shower this morning had led to some serious shower sex, with them both fucking each other up against the cold tiles. They'd both crawled back to bed, completely sated, only to wake a few hours later and start all over again.
Darren raised a questioning eyebrow across the table, breaking Chris' thoughts. "Especially today," Chris said quietly. He'd opened his mouth and said about the honeymoon thing, so he may as well tell Darren the whole thing... Darren was a reasonable guy after all.
"You know, the things we've been doing, the way I'm feeling.. " Chris continued. Darren had seen him at his best and worst, so anything he said wouldn't be that bad. In fact Darren had seen him through quite a few 'lows', even when they were just friends, and that obviously hadn't put him off..
Darren reached and held his hand that was laying on the table. "I know you love romance, Chris," Darren smiled talking quietly, "and I wish I could have wined and dined you and that we could have done some proper dating.. You know, done some romantic things. I still want to do all that."
"But Darren," Chris urged, "you ARE romantic. Maybe you can't see it but you're everything I've been looking for. You just make me feel so special and you're so kind and thoughtful..and that's the type of relationship I've always dreamed of."
Darren grinned at him brightly, squeezing the hand he was still holding. "That's kind of lucky really. I'm so in love with you, I don't think you'll be able to get rid of me now."
It actually was good to be back home, Chris thought to himself as he sat at the kitchen table with his mom a couple of days later. It was just the two of them, as Darren, true to his word, was off in Hannah's room, singing and playing guitar for her. If he listened carefully, Chris could just about hear Darren strumming a piece of music, although he couldn't actually make out the song. Chris smiled to himself at the thought of two of the most important people in his life, getting along so well.
"So, you and Darren, huh?" Chris' mom broke Chris from his thoughts.
Chris couldn't help the broad smile which came on his face. He'd wanted to appear mature and nonchalant about it, but he really couldn't pretend to be anything but delighted about his boyfriend. "Yeah..me and Darren."
"I honestly don't think I've ever seen you so happy Chris," his mom smiled, squeezing his hand across the table. "It's really nice to see you like this.."
"He makes me happy, mom. He's a special person.."
"I must admit we had always wondered if there was something between you before, but.."
"Wait." Chris interrupted. "What do you mean? Something between us?"
"Well, you know.. It's just that you always seemed so, well, close. We'd come and visit you and Darren would always be there too. Sleeping over at your place usually. We love Darren...there's nothing wrong with that. You just seemed closer than normal friends."
Chris sighed. "I think everyone saw the signs, apart from me, but there really wasn't anything going on before."
"You nearly always brought him back home here with you too. He really feels like part of the family already. I can tell he's good for you though..and I have to say you make such a cute couple."
Chris groaned. "Everyone's saying the same thing. Why couldn't I see it? Darren says most of the Glee lot thought we were already in a relationship too." He ran his hand through his hair. "I thought he was straight," Chris said quietly, looking up at his mom. "Obviously you didn't?"
"I didn't really think about it," his mom confessed. "It was more how you were together. You're quite different to each other in a way, but seemed to compliment each other. Also, I'd never seen you so...cuddly, touchy with anyone, apart from Hannah of course."
Chris thought for a moment. "Mmm. That's Darren really, or what he does for me, and it's actually quite liberating, being with someone like that."
Chris' mom got up from the table to put the coffee machine on.
"I miss our chats together," Chris commented above the noise of his mom dragging mugs out of the cupboard. She stopped what she was doing, looking over at him.
"I do too," she said earnestly. "I've tried to give you your own space now you're out there in the big wide world, but you know you can always talk to me. Phone me anytime, or if it's something more serious - come home for a weekend."
"I hadn't really realised how much I'd missed it until now. It reminds me of when I used to come home from school, and we'd just talk about things while having a drink and a snack.."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of laughter, followed by loud thundering footsteps coming down the stairs. Chris rolled his eyes affectionately as Hannah burst into the kitchen, dragging Darren by the hand close behind her.
"Chris!, Hannah screeched, "you've got to come upstairs now. Darren's refusing to do anymore songs unless you come and sing with him. Please come up."
Darren winked at Chris as Hannah finished her rant. It didn't go unnoticed by Chris' mom.
"Calm down sweetheart," Chris' mom urged Hannah. "Why don't you give Darren a little rest first. I'm just making some coffee for Chris and me, and I'm sure Darren would like one too."
Darren nodded in silent agreement, giving Chris a kiss on the cheek before sitting down next to him at the table. "I missed you," he said quietly close to Chris' ear, as Chris' mom sorted out a cold drink for Hannah. Darren placed his hand on Chris' thigh applying gentle pressure as he slid his hand dangerously close to Chris' groin, meaning his mom had to ask him three times if he preferred milk or cream in his coffee before he could concentrate enough to answer. Chris spent a considerable amount of time trying to bend Darren's finger back in revenge, promising Darren he'd get his own back properly later.
Darren raised an eyebrow at Chris, making Chris almost regret having made Darren that promise. He knew Darren would hold him to it, and Chris' stomach felt a little knot of excitement forming, before he remembered they would be in his parents' thin walled house.
"So, do you boys know how long you're staying for?" Chris' mom asked, as she and Hannah came and joined them at the table. She smiled to herself as she noticed the little scuffle they'd been having under the table, choosing not to mention it.
Darren piped up, "I actually needed to talk to you about that Chris - I think we may have to go back a couple of days after new year. I have a meeting the day before we're due back on the Glee set. So...at least I have to get back for then.." He glanced sideways at Chris questioningly.
"I didn't know you had a meeting.." Chris raised his eyebrows.
"No, I just checked my emails earlier - I hadn't had a chance to tell you. It's just with my agent. It's probably nothing.. Just a catch up or something." Darren played it down, but if the truth be told, he was a little worried - his agent rarely requested face to face meetings, usually happy to deal in emails, phone calls and the occasional text. She'd offered to come and take him for lunch to a restaurant local to Darren's apartment, which was definitely out of character. Darren had emailed her back, confirming lunch, and asking what it might be about. He didn't truly expect her to say, but it was worth a try. If she'd felt a meeting was necessary in the first place, then she was unlikely to tell him before then.
After a day of constant activities with Hannah, the boys were exhausted. She'd spent the days before they'd arrived, devising a list of things to do and places to go, determined to make the most of Chris while she had him. Finally after sitting through Hannah's choice of movie for the evening, they'd pleaded tiredness and headed up to Chris' room.
They brushed their teeth at the same time in Chris' ensuite bathroom, smiling at each other in the bathroom mirror. "This feels very domesticated," Chris said, when he was free of toothpaste.
"I hope that's a good thing." Darren rinsed off his toothbrush.
"It is a good thing. I love it," Chris snuck his hand up the back of Darren's t- shirt, rubbing the bare skin just above the waistband. Darren relaxed into Chris' touch, loving how just the smallest action could make him feel so special.
It had felt funny, last night, sharing Chris' teenage bed for the first time. It was smaller than the bed they'd shared in New York, and coupled with the fact that they were in the same house as Chris' parents made them feel like they were doing something they shouldn't be doing.
They'd spent the night wrapped around each other, and both of them had admitted this morning that they'd slept really well, probably being the first night they'd shared a bed and done but sleep.
Tonight though, Darren caught Chris' eye as he reached for his pyjamas. Darren shook his head, "no," moving to hook his iPod up to Chris' old music system he'd had when he was younger. "No clothes," he smiled.
"We can't do anything here," Chris said warily, knowing how very hard he found it to refuse Darren anything. "They might hear."
Darren set the music playing, humming as he turned round to face Chris. "You'll just have to keep quiet then, won't you?" Darren moved forward until he had both hands on Chris' waist. "I know you can do it, Chris."
Chris felt a hot thrill surge through his body. God, Chris loved it when Darren asserted himself like this, but here in his childhood home, he wasn't sure he was going to survive. "I really don't know.." Chris whispered, already knowing the answer. "I don't know how quiet I..we can be.."
"You can do it Chris. You can be quiet for me." Darren pulled Chris closer to him massaging his fingers into the base of Chris' hair. Darren had already learnt, in the short time they'd been together, how to make Chris go weak at the knees. A few simple touches and actions, leaving him feeling powerlessly turned on. "And you did promise me a little something earlier.."
"That's before I remembered where we were," Chris mumbled, "and this bed creaks.."
"That's not a worry," Darren smiled, gently starting to unbutton Chris' shirt. Once the buttons were fully opened he used both thumbs to circle Chris' nipples into stiff peaks, leaving Chris groaning into Darren's neck.
Of course, creaking beds really didn't matter when you were on your hands and knees on the floor. Chris had his face buried in a pillow from the bed to muffle the noises he couldn't stop himself making, as he stuck his ass high in the air to obtain the perfect angle for Darren's slow and rhythmic fucking. He really hoped they were being as quiet as they thought they were, as Chris was fully aware he was not being completely silent in spite of the pillow. Then there was the regular slapping of skin each time Darren hit against Chris' ass, a sound he normally loved, but today he just wished they'd put on some louder music to cover the noise, instead of the romantic slushy ballads that usually enhanced their love making. He may never be able to look any of his family in the eye ever again.
Darren pressed his face into the small of Chris' back, biting his lips together to stop himself from crying out. He was breathing heavily, but given the circumstances, he thought he was doing quite well. He also knew Chris would kill him if he dare make any noise, it was just so difficult, it was all so good..
"I heard you breathing loudly," Chris huffed as they lay recovering in a heap on the floor a few minutes later.
"Sorry... Are you cross with me? Darren asked cautiously after a few moments of silence.
He felt Chris give a huge sigh against him. "No..no I'm not," Chris turned to look at him, " but just be sure you know that if anyone says anything in the morning, I'm leaving the room and you can do the explaining."
Darren laughed loudly, pulling Chris in for a tight hug. "I love you."
"I love you too.. But can we please get up off this floor now? The bed may be creaky, but it's definitely a lot more comfortable than the floor."
Laying in Chris' bed on their first night back in LA, waiting for Chris to come to bed, felt strange but comfortingly familiar all at the same time Darren mused to himself. He'd spent enough time in this apartment over the past few years, and he actually felt comfortably at home here. It was just being in Chris' bed which felt slightly alien. He had slept in the bed a couple of times when they'd both been too drunk to think, both times following the after party of awards ceremonies. Mainly though they would both fall asleep on Chris' big plushy couch, surrounded by big plushy cushions, usually while watching movies on a television of gigantic proportions, the size that only a film obsessive would have. As long as he was with Chris, Darren didn't care where he slept. He was just happy he was here.
They hadn't really discussed where they would spend their first night back in LA, although Darren had been meaning to bring the subject up. He had of course made it known to Chris that he'd prefer them to both stay in one of their apartments when they could, and whilst he'd worried as soon as he'd said it that it sounded a bit possessive, Chris had seemed to like the idea. So as soon as they'd jumped in a cab at the airport on the way home today, Chris had simply given the cab driver his own address, turning to Darren to ask him what he'd like to do when they got home. Darren had squeezed Chris into a quick excited kiss and then spent the rest of the journey home grinning like a silly idiot.
Chris had laughed quietly at Darren's antics. "Did you really think I was just going to drop you at your apartment? You're not going to get rid of me that easily!" Darren had no desire to be separated from Chris for any length of time, so that suited him just fine.
Chris was just seeing to beloved cat, Brian, who he knew Chris had missed enormously while they'd been away. Brian wasn't bothered, having been fed by a neighbour, but Darren knew he had some stiff competition for Chris' affections with the ridiculously spoilt cat. Darren didn't mind really, he was actually quite fond of it, but had always teased Chris mercilessly about things he was going torture it with whilst petting and stroking it whenever Chris wasn't looking. Chris could never quite fathom why Brian loved to come and curl up on Darren's lap when, in Chris' mind, Darren was nothing but awful to it.
Darren stretched his freshly showered, naked body out, under the cool cotton sheet in anticipation of Chris coming to join him shortly. Everything seemed perfect ...was perfect. Then why did he have a nagging feeling that all this seemed to good to be true?