And so they laid there, side by side, staring up at the sky in mutual silence. The sky was lacking any real clouds, but that didn't really matter. It wasn't as though the only reasons for lying back and relaxing in a field of gently rolling grassland was only so you can stare at clouds and point at funny figures to your companion. As far as Nick was concerned, blue as far as the eye could see was perfectly fine. The sun was still shinning and there was a gentle wind that made the air maybe a little brisk (it was February, Alabama or not) but nothing that was uncomfortable. The air was crisp, clean… untainted.

Everything was just… gentle. Quiet. There were soft sounds of birds all around, but it lacked any real noises. There were no cars or airplanes, no loud and obnoxious human activity that drowned out everything Mother Nature offered. There were just the undisturbed sweet and friendly calls of songbirds in the distance. It was almost too strange, almost too quiet.

It was hard for Nick to decide if the 'unnatural' quietness all around was a sad thing or not. Sure, it meant that things were still far from normal, but it was also oddly serene. He had spent much of his life in the big cities and the constant loudness of it never really bothered him… but he had a home in Oak Ridge for a reason too—it was quiet and simple. But, still, this was a different sort of silence. They were the only people around for probably miles and miles. Was that unsettling thought? Should he be upset or worried? Or was this an opportunistic time? Nick being Nick settled on the latter most.

"Hey…" the conman said gently, tilting his head towards the other. Ellis was lying there so cutely with his arms crossed over behind his head. Ellis blinked once and looked to him, beautiful blues all focused and rapt with attention—all that attention just for him. Nick felt a smirk on his lips. "So… did you ever figure out how you were gonna make up for last night?"

At first Ellis looked confused. His eyes narrowed with thought, one eyebrow lifting slightly… but a few seconds later a sudden grin stole his lips. The young man chuckled embarrassedly. "Ah, man, I almost fergot 'bout tha'..."

"Well… it's just the birds and bees around," Nick said, trying to sound offhanded and matter of fact. His eyes returned to the sky above and in the corner of his eye he could see that Ellis was starting to get his drift. The young man rolled onto his side to face the older man and he began to play with the grass between them.

"So, Nick… are we jus' gonna talk or…?" The little mechanic was smiling shyly as he twisted the grass between his fingers and when he lifted his gaze Nick was smirking back at him; Nick said nothing and made no indication that he had any desire to become intimate. Slightly confused, but more intrigued than anything, Ellis let out a little laugh. "Are you bein' coy, Nick? Seriously? You?"

"You're the one that promised great things," Nick replied mysteriously.

Ellis let out a little laugh before reaching over to tilt the mans face towards him and then he placed a gentle kiss to his lips. Each time he pulled away and returned, he scooted just a little closer until he found himself climbing on top of the other. Both of his hands threaded obsessively through Nicks hair as he kissed him over and over.

Now, Nick had meant that Ellis was left to do everything and at first Ellis found it frustrating by how Nick simply laid there as he smothered him with kisses. But then Ellis realized something; he was being given full reign of their lovemaking. Ellis was going to make the best of this absolute power.

And so Ellis took his sweet time—it may be hard to believe, but Ellis could be patient when he wanted. The fact that Nick was watching him so intently made everything seem more dramatic, more arousing—but Ellis didn't at all feel pressured. Quite the opposite in fact. He basked under the intense stare of those oh so lovely green-gold eyes, delighted by the fact that they greedily took in every little movement he made.

Ellis' lips came to Nicks neck and pressed a warm and wet kiss there before drawing away and placing another one a little further away. And now that he wasn't so pressed to tear Nicks clothes off, Ellis found his ability to undo those annoying buttons greatly increased. In fact he didn't break any, not one!

Upon having his shirt unbuttoned fully Nicks breath seemed to pick up slightly. His chest rose and fell with deep slow breaths and Ellis dropped his chin down onto the exposed flesh, eyes searching Nicks. Nick tried to not smirk under that gaze, but it was impossible. Ellis just looked so god damn… naughty.

Ellis grinned back, kissing Nicks chest once, eyes unwavering as they held the others gaze. Then he slowly drew himself up onto his hands and knees—Nicks body between him—and leaned down to kiss him on the corner of the mouth, then down his jaw and finally just below his ear. He felt Nick shudder under him—ah, so that was a sensitive spot for him? That was good to know. Ellis teased the area with several hot and wet kisses before giving it a parting nip. He sat back, straddling the others waist. He paused in his movements, grinning down at the man lying so compliantly under him. It was so interesting to find Nick being so submissive….

Now, Nick was a patient, patient man—but there was something so impossibly irresistible about Ellis. Ellis shifted his hips slightly against his just to test him and the little teasing smile betrayed the intent behind that subtle movement. Oh, and how his eyes were so seductive. It was just too fucking much.

Nick drew in a shaking breath and his hands reached up for the others waist but to his surprise the others hands came down to grab his wrists and pin them back to the grass.

Ellis shifted closer, licking his teeth slowly. "Uh-uh. Patience, love."

Nick chuckled. "I'm being about as patient as I can possibly be, dear."

"Then be more patient," Ellis said, shrugging slightly—oh and how he grinned. Nick decided he could wait for a little longer… maybe. But then again, he didn't seem like he would need to wait too long. The moment Ellis undressed him completely, their pace had changed quiet quickly—and it was probably because Ellis found himself suddenly overwhelmed with all that naked skin at his fingertips. It wasn't about patience anymore—but need. And Ellis' needs were great.

Ellis reached down for the other and pulled him into a sitting position and when he did there was a moment when Nick hesitated—as if asking for permission to move. Unable to stop himself from grinning Ellis nodded. Instantly Nicks hands shot out to grab the ends of Ellis' shirt and he tore it him in one smooth motion—leaving Ellis' hair a fluff of tousled curls. Nick grinned broadly at those beautiful locks. Nicks hand strayed to brush them from his eyes and the slightly surprised look Ellis gave him upon the gentle gesture made him have to kiss the kid fiercely.

In a flash of clothing the rest of Ellis' garments were tossed away and Nick all but devoured Ellis in kisses. He pinned the young man to the grass, hands roaming and grasping, touching and fondling aggressively. The air was cold on their naked skin, more so as sweat began to glisten on their flesh as their heart rates climbed and their bodies began to pump out adrenaline along with feelings of pleasure and excitement. But shit, despite the goosebumps and shivers from the soft wind—neither could really complain; it was kind of sexy.

Tongues clashing still, Nick tugged Ellis insistently so he could move closer to his pants lying nearby. He reached blindly out for them and his fingers caught them and he racked it closer, free hand immediately taking up to searching through the pockets until—well-ah! He found exactly what they needed.

Nick forced them apart and Ellis still tried to come at him eagerly, way too engrossed with their fondling to even begin to think to stop. "Ellis, Ellis, what are we—" Ellis snatched the lotion right out of his hands before he could finish. Without a word Ellis returned his mouth to Nicks as he initiated a very fiery tongue lashing, all the while slathering a handful of lotion up and down Nicks stiff member. Well, there was his answer.

Again Ellis pulled away, tugging at Nick until he had coaxed the conman onto his knees. He pressed their bodies back together and Nick took the opportunity to graze his teeth across Ellis' throat. Ellis reached up to take Nicks face between both hands and kissed him roughly before he pulled away again and turned around.

Nicks hands moved to guide Ellis' hips back. He entered him with barely any preparation as Ellis pressed hard against him, eager to be filled with his lover. The young man let out a soft hiss that sounded pleased and his back curved enchantingly as he pressed his shoulders blades against Nicks chest. Ellis let out a soft groan and dropped his head against his lovers shoulder. Instantly Nicks arms came about his chest, pressing him as close as he could as his lips found Ellis' neck over and over, gently nipping and sucking.

Although bottom, Ellis was far from being out of control. In fact he ruled their entire lovemaking position. It was his movements, his firm and unrestrained rocks, his dip and jolt of his hips that set the pace. Ellis grinded their bodies together, one hand coming back to wrap about Nicks neck and his fingers gripped the mans hair in a vice-like hold that practically forced Nick to draw his lips away from Ellis' neck just so the kid didn't tear his hair out. But that was fine, Nick pressed his forehead into the back of Ellis' head, face nuzzling into the curls, hands grasping Ellis' warm, toned flesh in his palms, feeling every tremble, every little gasp the man took. And dear God, he couldn't have asked for a more sensual lover.

Did they have any regrets at all as they made love in the middle of an abandoned field barely a stones-throw away from a main highway? Nope. Not a single one. In fact all that open space simply seemed to beg for them to be as loud and vocal as they possibly could be. And Ellis was all for that, absolutely all for it. Call him a screamer for it, but he didn't care; the louder he seemed to be the more emphatic their movements became. It was well worth a hoarse voice later. Absolutely… Absolutely worth every single passionate moan…

As they continued their way towards Charlotte, North Carolina, Ellis was back in the drivers seat and Nick was back to faithfully giving directions. Nick was very satisfied with the fact that Ellis had returned to his chatty never-done-talking-barely-even-taking-a-breath self. The more Ellis blathered on about nothing in particular, the more Nick found himself grinning. A lot of his mirth had to do with the fact that Ellis' voice would often crack and the young man would clear his throat and continue undaunted.

And although his chances of experiencing silence again for the rest of their roadtrip was probably near zero, Nick found himself perfectly content with that fact. Ellis was back to being Ellis, and that was exactly how Nick preferred it.

A/N: ALWAYS LUBRICANT CONVIENENTLY NEARBY! I said it before and I'm sticking with it—we won't talk about how long I spent trying to find some thing other than what they usually use as a substitute… It became way too much of a project and a distraction. Nick's prepared. Like a boy scout… but… that sounds creepy… Just… just never mind.

…It seems that I can't go a handful of chapters without them banging… I'm not sure if I should be apologetic about that or not LOL… Then again, I'm not really that fond of this chapter C_c