Chapter 32

Once in their flat, John dropped his bag and pulled Sherlock close again, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug and burying his face in his shoulder.

Sherlock kissed the top of John's head, sliding his hands across his back. Then he sighed and buried his nose in his hair.

"I was holding the knife," John mumbled, as if he were making a confession to Sherlock's shoulder.

"Fitzroy?" Sherlock asked, stroking John's hair. "Is that what happened to him?"

"He almost disembowelled himself." John swallowed.

"Oh god." Sherlock held him tight. "It wasn't your fault."

"I know. But it happened, and he didn't deserve that. I mean, he was a nutter, and he made Thomas Elton steal the book, but he hadn't hurt anyone." John sighed. At least he finally felt safe in the warm embrace.

"Where did you get the knife?" Sherlock asked.

"Kitchen. He attacked us. Yes, alright, I know what you're going to say. But still, it wasn't necessary. If he had just kept still until the police came in, he would only be in prison now."

"So, he tried to hurt you with the knife?"

"Yes. Ian knocked me out of the way just in time."

"I must remember to thank him," Sherlock mused.

John looked up at him. "Perhaps you shouldn't. He's in love with you. It's quite possible that he regrets saving me..."

"I think you're exaggerating," Sherlock chuckled.

John shook his head. "He told me."

"That he regrets saving you?"

"No, that he's in love with you. He was hurt when I told him that you're - not free." John sighed.

"Yes," Sherlock said. "But that's not the same as wanting you dead, is it?"

"No. I'm just tired and taking things a bit too... You know. I need a shower to wash the blood away."

"Okay, love." Sherlock kissed him softly. "I'll make us a cup of tea." He hesitated. "Or do you want company?"

"Please join me." John realized that it almost sounded like begging, but he needed Sherlock with him.

"Of course." Taking his hand, Sherlock led him to the bathroom.

John quickly undressed, hardly taking his eyes off Sherlock. Not having seen him for a couple of days, he seemed even more astonishingly beautiful. Sherlock unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off. He too had a hard time looking away from John, but tore himself loose, long enough to turn on the water to let it run hot.

As soon as they were both naked and Sherlock had covered the cast around his arm, John pulled Sherlock under the hot spray and hugged him again. "I missed you," he whispered, even though Sherlock already knew that.

"I missed you too," Sherlock answered, holding John close. Then he pulled back just enough to bend down and kiss him.

John stroked Sherlock's neck as he kissed him back. Sherlock trembled at the touch, running his hands down John's back, letting them come to rest on his hips. John stroked down Sherlock's shoulders and upper arms while deepening the kiss, moaning softly.

"I've needed you so badly," Sherlock whispered against his lips. "That phone call only made it worse."

"You can have me now," John said hoarsely.

"I want you inside me, John," Sherlock whispered, nibbling at John's lip.

"Here?" John asked. He gently took Sherlock's hardening cock in his hand and stroked his fingertips along the shaft.

Sherlock hissed at the touch. "Why not?"

"Lube?"

Sherlock huffed in frustration. "It's in the bedroom."

"I could go get it... Or shall we just move?"

"I don't know..." Sherlock thought for a moment then grinned. "Go get it," he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"God, what are you up to?" John said, smiling and shaking his head while he got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around himself.

While Sherlock waited impatiently for John to return, he considered the options.

John needed less than a minute to get the lube and quickly padded back to the bathroom. Sherlock smiled at him. "How do you want to do this?" he asked, almost casually. "Against the wall or on the floor?"

"Wall." The speed of John's answer indicated that he had been thinking about this before.

"Perfect," Sherlock said, and then kissed him hungrily. He reached down and started stroking John slowly.

John soon pulled back from the kiss, too impatient to wait much longer. He pressed lube on his fingers and reached between the cheeks of Sherlock's arse. Sherlock gasped and smiled at him, increasing the speed of the strokes. John moaned and softly massaged until he felt Sherlock relax. "I can still hardly believe that I am allowed to do this to you," he said softly, pushing his finger in slowly.

"Allowed?" Sherlock almost snorted. "I would be demanding it, if you didn't do it so willingly."

John chuckled and kissed his neck. "You're mine, you're all mine," he said lowly, pushing a little further.

"I am," Sherlock agreed, his breathing growing faster as he pushed back against John's finger. "More," he moaned.

John carefully added another finger. His other hand smoothed over Sherlock's chest. "So beautiful..."

"Is that all I am to you?" Sherlock asked teasingly, bending down to nibble on John's ear. "A beautiful body for you to play with?"

John laughed and slightly stretched his fingers. "Fishing for compliments, are we now? I must say you are a very nice toy..." He felt infinitely better, being here with Sherlock after the miserable evening.

Sherlock moaned again. "Play all you like," he said, as he kissed his way down John's neck.

"Be careful..." John smirked, catching his mouth and brushing his fingertips over Sherlock's prostate.

"Why?" Sherlock asked, gasping. "Am I giving you ideas?"

"Perhaps..." John teased, scissoring his fingers a last time before pulling them out. "Turn around."

Sherlock quickly turned, bracing himself with his good arm against the wall.

John slowly kissed along his spine, his hands settling on Sherlock's hips to pull him closer. He teasingly brushed the head of his cock between the cheeks of Sherlock's arse.

Sherlock groaned. "Don't keep me waiting," he pleaded.

"Or what?" John growled behind Sherlock's ear, before softly sinking his teeth in the muscles of his lover's shoulder. He knew he couldn't keep teasing for long, because his own impatience was growing as well, but it was fun as long as it lasted.

"Just don't," Sherlock answered. "We've both had to wait long enough, don't you think?"

John kissed the spot he had just bitten. "You do have a point." He took the lube again and slickened his cock, almost hissing at the cool feeling in the steam of the hot water. He slowly guided himself inside Sherlock, gasping and moaning as he went. "God, Sherlock," he whispered.

Sherlock rested his head against the wall and groaned softly. John kissed a line on his neck, holding still for a moment, before he slightly pulled out. He moaned loudly as he pushed back in.

"Fuck," Sherlock exclaimed, and then almost laughed. "That feels amazing."

"You bet it does," John panted, placing his hands on Sherlock's hips and repeating the movement. Sherlock moaned and pushed back against John. John sped up his thrusts, pressing his face into Sherlock's back. He let his left hand slip to his front and softly stroked his cock in the same rhythm. "Mine," he managed, sounding muffled.

"Yours," Sherlock gasped.

John moaned and pressed a kiss to his back. Sherlock whimpered with pleasure, arching his back and again pushing back against John to take him as deep inside him as possible. John gasped and tightened his grip on Sherlock's erection, hoping to bring him off before things got too much for him. He rocked his hips, only thinking of how amazing Sherlock felt around him, so close, finally his again without anyone else talking about him as if the possibility existed that they could have him.

"Oh god, John," Sherlock gasped. "I can't last much longer if you keep that up..."

"You're not supposed to last much longer," John growled, thrusting hard.

"Well, in that case," Sherlock gasped, "just continue what you're..." He didn't get to finish the sentence, because at that moment, the combined sensations became too much, and he was completely overwhelmed by the force of his orgasm, crying out John's name.

John moaned as Sherlock clenched around him. "God, yes, Sherlock," he breathed, giving a few last thrusts before he too tipped over the edge.

Sherlock rested his forehead on the arm against the wall, which seemed to be the only thing keeping him up at the moment. "I love you," he gasped. "And I'm all yours."

John collapsed against his back, wrapping his arms around Sherlock's stomach. "Too," was all he could breathe out.

Sherlock twisted round within John's embrace so he was facing him. He laid his arm around his shoulders and held him close.

John closed his eyes and just held him, catching his breath. Sherlock clung to John, feeling ridiculously happy and content.

John hummed and kissed Sherlock's clavicle. "I really love you so much."

"I know," Sherlock answered with a smug grin. "I love you too."

John smiled and stood upright, rather than leaning his full weight against Sherlock. "Shall I wash your back?"

Sherlock smiled and nodded.

John turned him around and took the soap, gently stroking Sherlock's back with it. As he got on to his shoulders, he started properly massaging them, putting more pressure on the muscles. Sherlock leaned back into the touch. "Oh, that feels good," he purred.

John smirked and went on, pressing his hands flat on Sherlock's shoulder blades making circles, then massaged the muscles next to his spine with his thumbs. "I love touching you."

"Then please continue," Sherlock said. "But perhaps we should move this to bed?"

"Hmm, yeah, we'll soon be running out of hot water." He took Sherlock's hand to make him face him again and pulled him in for a kiss with his other hand on Sherlock's neck.

Sherlock kissed him back, while reaching over to turn off the shower. "I have a plan," he said.

"Hmm?"

"Let's not get out of bed before the police releases those two books."

John chuckled. "It sounds like a good plan, as long as I can make an exception tomorrow morning to get us both breakfast."

"How trivial," Sherlock said with a grin. "But fine. As long as you promise not to get dressed."

"Of course not, that would be rude," John grinned back, kissing his chest before starting to dry them both off.

"Extremely," Sherlock agreed. "I will probably also allow a number of trips to the bathroom."

"Yeah, you should. Do I have to sign a contract, or do you trust that I will keep me to our agreement?" John laughed.

"No, I'll just use brute force to get you to comply," Sherlock answered.

"Hmmm, sounds interesting," John purred. "Come on, bed. I'm too tired to stand much longer."

Sherlock nodded and then spun John around pushing him towards the door. John chuckled as Sherlock pushed him forward. "I think I still have the orientation to find the bedroom."

"Yes. But you're being awfully slow about getting there," Sherlock replied as he continued pushing John ahead of him.

"Really." John shook his head, but let Sherlock do as he wished.

Once he had steered John to the bedroom, Sherlock pushed him down on the bed. "That's better," he said, as he climbed in next to him and pulled the covers up.

John wrapped his arms around Sherlock and pulled him half on top of him. He sighed happily, closing his eyes. "Much better. I'm starting to hate sleeping without you."

"Me too," Sherlock said, nuzzling John's neck lazily. "It's even worse alone."

"I don't think there's anything bad about sleeping now, though," John smiled, trailing his fingers through Sherlock's curls.

"Definitely not," Sherlock said, and then yawned.

John turned his head and softly kissed Sherlock's forehead. "Sleep well, love."

Sherlock mumbled something that might have been 'you too', and promptly fell asleep for the first time in many days.