The Next Morning

The best sight of any morning, ever, Kevin thought to himself, as he propped his head up on his hand and stared at Patrick, sleeping deeply, on his back, naked. It would be nicer obviously if he didn't have a bruised face and an arm that, even in his sleep, he kept cradled protectively on his chest. Poor Patrick. He had refused to take any of the pain medication the hospital had given him so he wouldn't 'miss anything' he'd told Kevin when they'd finally made their way up into his apartment. Kevin smiled. He'd found the best way to distract him from the discomfort. But eventually even Kevin's love-fueled lust hadn't been a match for the pain and he'd made Patrick take the meds, which had of course knocked him out almost immediately. God knows how long he'd sleep for.

Kevin didn't mind though. He was loving this. He had never got to watch Patrick sleep in the morning, with the sun streaming in, lighting up his beautiful face and body, the body that Kevin had been able to love and worship so much last night.

And what a fucking amazing night it had been. Patrick hadn't said anything about love, but it was clear in every kiss, every caress, every longing look that they had exchanged that Kevin's declaration was mutual. He couldn't wait to hear Patrick say the words, but he didn't really have any doubt. The man was crazy about him. Kevin smiled at the thought, and reached out to run his hand, very very gently, through Patrick's hair. It had only been a little more than two weeks since he'd last got to touch Patrick, but it still felt like he had years and years of lost time to make up for. He ran the back of his fingers across Patrick's shoulder and down his good arm, until he got to those magical fingers...the ones that drove him crazy when Patrick would use them on him, stroking him, clutching at him, pressing deep into his back or his arms when he was so frenzied with lust, deep enough that Kevin could see the imprints sometimes hours later.

How fucking fantastic that he'd never have to worry about hiding any of those marks on his body, ever again. Patrick had been smart enough to know that he couldn't leave visible love bites on him, but he couldn't help those fingers of his grabbing onto Kevin when he was coming, and Kevin hadn't had the heart, or the will, to make him stop, so he'd had some panicked moments of trying to keep Jon from noticing. But that was all over, and Patrick was a biter, and he loved using his mouth to lick and caress Kevin's entire body, so Kevin was looking forward to some major body marking in the very near future.

He himself had left marks all over Patrick last night, not just from his sucking mouth but also from his stubble. That was something new. He just couldn't help nuzzling Patrick all over, rubbing his face over every inch of his skin, as if trying to imprint Patrick's scent onto himself. So his poor baby was lying there, drugged, looking like he'd been beaten up and dragged through the bushes backwards.

God, he loved him. Even in pain, even with the emotional exhaustion of the funeral followed by the accident, even with the trauma of the past two weeks and most recently, of Halloween, Patrick had been...incandescent with joy. He'd forgiven Kevin without a moment's hesitation, had taken him into his home, his arms, his body, with so much acceptance, with so much obvious adoration...Kevin had been humbled. He'd put him through hell, and Patrick was just...happy to have him back. How the fuck did he get so lucky.

Of course there was going to have to be lots of talking about 'stuff' and soul searching conversations, and explanations given...and not just on Kevin's part. Kevin wanted to know how Patrick had been able to hide his feelings so well these last couple of weeks, given his relief at having Kevin back was so obviously overwhelming...But last night, thank god, after Patrick insisted that sleep was NOT on the agenda, they both had only one thing on their minds as to how they wanted to spend their time awake. And it had taken a little inventiveness and ingenuity on Kevin's part to figure out how to give them what they wanted without hurting Patrick's poor battered body more than it already had been. But necessity was the mother of invention, and Kevin had discovered that his armchair fantasy, where Patrick would blow him while he sat back comfortably and enjoyed it, worked very well when it was reversed.

That had been the first time of the night.

They had stopped kissing long enough to walk up the steps to Patricks' apartment, and Patrick had briefly explained about the accident, about his arm, about his medication. Kevin suggested once more that Patrick should take the pills and they could talk in the morning. The look Patrick gave him was priceless.

'As fucking if' he said, proceeding to drag Kevin into the bedroom.

'Where's Agustin?' Kevin asked, between the kisses Patrick was pressing onto his lips, his eyes, his neck...kicking off his shoes, trying to get them both undressed carefully, which was a fucking challenge with Patrick's arm in a sling. His own clothes were off in seconds, but Patrick's shirt was going to be a problem, so he concentrated on getting his pants undone and out of the way.

'I don't know. At Eddie's?' Patrick replied, his mind clearly on other things. Specifically on running his good hand down Kevin's chest, lingering over his abs lovingly, then reaching further down so he could take Kevin's hard cock in hand and start stroking. Kevin gasped, his eyes closing as his mind shut down, and he heard Patrick moan as he started licking Kevin's neck. But wait...Kevin had been in the middle of something, right? Oh yeah...getting Patrick naked.

'Slow down' Kevin admonished Patrick, half-heartedly. He tried to start working on Patrick's shirt. 'You'll hurt your arm.'

'Shut up and fuck me' Patrick breathed into his mouth, biting Kevin's bottom lip to underscore his frustration, his impatience with Kevin's cautious handling, never letting go of his cock.

'Ow! And how exactly am I supposed to that with your arm in a sling, genius?' Kevin rolled his eyes. 'If I so much as touch it...'

'Be creative. But please, be quick. I'm so fucking desperate for you...I've waited for so long...' Patrick nuzzled the lip he'd bitten, lapping at it, his eyes half closed with passion. Kevin grabbed his mouth in a kiss, his hands moving to cup Patrick's face, to hold his head still, to position it just how he wanted it so he could taste Patrick's tongue, lick deep into his mouth. Fuck...he'd missed kissing Patrick. One of the seven fucking wonders of the world, what that man could do with that mouth.

He maneuvered Patrick to the armchair in the room, and pushed him down gently.

'What...' Patrick started.

'Shh. Let me love you like this. I want to suck you. I want you to cum in my mouth. Then we'll do more. We've got all night, remember? And all day tomorrow, and the day after and the day after...There's no need to hurry.' Kevin leaned over him, pressing kisses on his face, on his chest, his belly...

'Ok' Patrick eventually whispered, then, as Kevin's mouth reached his cock, as Kevin started teasing him with slow licks, his head had dropped back on the chair, and, reaching down to guide Kevin's head with his hand, he'd pushed his cock deep into Kevin's mouth.

'I missed you so much.' He heard Patrick say quietly, before he lost himself to the ecstasy, before he started moaning Kevin's name, begging him not to stop, to keep going, to suck him harder, to take him deeper... Kevin's eyes filled with tears as he reached up to take Patrick's hand, the one that was trying to find a way to grip onto Kevin's short hair. He clasped their hands together, their fingers entwined, and as Patrick finally came, shooting down Kevin's throat as he gasped and panted, Patrick's fingers squeezed his tightly. And Kevin felt like crying, he was so fucking happy.

He had moved Patrick to the bed after they had both figured out how to get Patrick's shirt off, and Patrick had been so exhausted he thought for sure he would fall right asleep. But he had underestimated the hunger that Patrick had stored up. Patrick had demanded that Kevin fuck him. He was absolutely adamant about it. He made it clear that if physically possible, he would totally be nailing Kevin bent over the bed this very minute, but since he couldn't do that tonight, Kevin had to oblige him and nail him instead.

'If I must.' Kevin said, stroking himself as he watched Patrick lying in the bed.

'I could maybe lie here with my arm out to the side?' Patrick offered helpfully, his eyes on Kevin's hard cock. He licked his lips unconsciously. Kevin smiled.

'I've got a better idea, if you've got the energy' Kevin countered. Patrick raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

'I'll lie down and you get on top. You only need to go as fast as your arm can take, and I can help if you get tired' he'd smiled, suggestively.

'You are such a prince.' Patrick returned the smile.

They had turned on only one lamp when they'd entered the bedroom, and Kevin wished he'd thought to turn every light available on, because he so wanted to see the full detail of Patrick's look of ecstasy as he took Kevin deep into his body.

'Fuuuuuck' he'd gasped as he'd lowered himself down slowly, so unbearably fucking slowly, his eyes wide, with that astonished look that Kevin loved. Kevin reached up to grasp the headboard, so he wouldn't be tempted to grab Patrick instead. He couldn't fucking believe it. He was inside Patrick, feeling him all around his cock, when he'd thought he'd never get to do this again. He was part of him again, filling him, possessing him as he'd wanted to do from almost the very first moment he'd seen him. And now, doing it with love...fuck cliches, it WAS different. It WAS special...It was pure fucking magic.

'Ohhhhhh.' Patrick had moaned, as he leaned back on his good arm, squeezing Kevin's thigh as he'd started a slow rise and fall.

'Oh god...this is so...fucking...good' he'd gasped. Kevin bit his lip, staring at Patrick's face as his eyes eventually closed and his head fell back. He wasn't going to last very long. The only thing that was saving him was Patrick's slow, slow movements. If he sped up even a little, Kevin would be done for.

'Oh shit...I have to go faster...I can't...help me' Patrick had begged. Kevin let go of the headboard and grabbed Patrick's hips, helping him move the way he wanted to, feeling himself get closer and closer as Patrick's gasps became more and more frantic.

Kevin's orgasm was so intense, he couldn't even make any sound. His breath caught in his throat as he forced himself to keep his eyes open so he could watch Patrick coming too. Fucking glorious.

As Patrick caught his breath, Kevin felt himself relax bonelessly into the bed. He should get up and wipe himself off, but he couldn't move. Patrick eventually broke their connection, a loss Kevin felt, and he'd coaxed Kevin into the shower. Another challenge with Patrick's arm, but again, Kevin worked it out, sponging Patrick's body down lovingly and using the hand spray to rinse him off. He couldn't help kissing Patrick constantly, and Patrick certainly never turned him away, so the shower took longer than needed, but eventually, they crawled back into the bed, wrung out.

Surely this time Patrick would just fall asleep, Kevin thought again. And he did...for all about half an hour, after which he woke up in pain, having started rolling onto his arm, and, since he still refused to take the pain pills, Kevin had felt it was his duty, again, to distract him from the discomfort. Which he did most thoroughly. He had kissed and licked Patrick's body all over, rubbing his nose, his cheek, his mouth over every inch he could access. When they were both nicely hot and bothered, he had tossed them off, kneeling astride Patrick, staring down at his beautiful face, as Patrick had encouraged him by telling him all the things he was going to do to Kevin when his arm was healed. And Patrick had a lovely list of things he had been storing up it seemed. Kevin was going to be fucked in every room, on every surface, in every position, each of which Patrick detailed gloriously as Kevin jacked them off. This time, as Kevin collapsed on the bed next to Patrick, they were NOT going to shower. He picked up his t-shirt off the floor, and wiped them both as clean as he could. Patrick was smiling, half asleep already. Kevin kissed him tenderly, then curled into Patrick's side, taking Patrick's good hand in one of his, laying his other on Patrick's chest.

'Go to sleep' he'd whispered in Patrick's ear. Patrick had nodded sleepily and was out seconds later.

'I love you' Kevin had whispered again, knowing Patrick couldn't hear him, but feeling the need to say the words again anyway.

They had made love once more during the night, when Patrick woke again in discomfort, and this time Kevin had found a way for them to be able to suck each other off while not hurting his arm. It was definitely creative, and they'd both giggled as Kevin contorted himself to get into Patrick's mouth, but it had been worth it, because the feeling of pouring himself into Patrick's throat, while he sucked Patrick dry...Jesus...it fucking blew his mind.

The next time Patrick woke up, at around five in the morning, Kevin made him take the pills. There was no fucking the pain away this time. Patrick's face had also started hurting, and Kevin had begged him to take the medicine. Patrick had done it for him. And so now, hours later, he was still fast asleep, and looking peaceful and beautiful, even with bruises across his face, and the marks of a night of sex on his body.

This was his Patrick. And he couldn't be any happier.

Kevin was working on Patrick's laptop in the kitchen when he heard Patrick calling out for him. Patrick was getting louder each time he called Kevin's name, sounding more frantic. Kevin ran into the room, to find him struggling to get out of bed, clearly still dazed and groggy from the drugs.

'Hey, hey, hey. What are you doing? Get back in bed you idiot.' Kevin moved swiftly to steady Patrick as he wobbled on his feet.

'You're here!' Patrick said, his eyes barely focused. 'I didn't know if you were here. If you were gone.' he continued weakly.

'Of course I'm here. I'm just in the kitchen, working. Get back in bed, let me get you some water. Is it time for more pills?'

'God no. No more...I hate the way they make me feel. Oh shit...' he whimpered as he crawled back in the bed. 'My whole body is sore'

Kevin tried to hold back a smile, but couldn't.

'Sorry. That might not all be from the car crash' he said. Ahh...now Patrick was smiling too...a sly, sexy half smile...the one that usually meant Kevin had a full green light for ever he wanted to do.

'So I didn't dream the whole thing then. I really came four times last night. Wow...should I apologize for working you so hard?'

'It was my total fucking pleasure, in case you couldn't tell.' Kevin grinned at him.

They stared at each for a few moments, and Patrick's expression gradually turned serious.

'I woke up and didn't see you here. I thought...maybe you'd gone.'

'Not going anywhere. If you'll have me.' Kevin spoke quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed, taking Patrick's good hand in both of his. Patrick automatically started stroking Kevin's knuckles with his thumb. Fuck...Kevin had to keep it together. He couldn't lose it every time Patrick showed him those little signs of affection he'd missed so much.

'What happened?' Patrick asked eventually.

'Are you sure you're up for this now? You should probably get more sleep. Have the drugs worn off yet?'

Patrick nodded, staring into Kevin's eyes.

'Please talk to me. I'm so fucking happy you're here, but...I don't understand. And...I'm scared that maybe I REALLY don't understand and this isn't what I hope it is, so...please...' Patrick trailed off, his voice betraying his anxiety.

'It IS what you think it is. It's what I told you last night. If you'll have me, I'm yours. Fully. No more Jon. I ended it, yesterday.' Kevin said simply.

'Yesterday? And then you came straight here?' Patrick sounded incredulous. Did he think Kevin would wait? He really hadn't quite understood the part about Kevin being in love.

'I left in the morning and then I was waiting for you all day. I just wanted to...fucking TELL you so I kept calling but you never picked up.' He didn't mean it to sound like a criticism, but Patrick flinched anyway.

'I'm sorry...I was at the funeral...and I, I couldn't...handle thinking about you. I was trying so hard NOT to and then you were calling so I...'

'It's OK. I didn't mean it in a bad way...I understand...really. I just meant...I couldn't wait to be able to tell you about Jon and to see whether you'd...have me back.' Kevin tried to soothe the agitated Patrick.

'Did you think I wouldn't? Patrick asked in wonder.

'Patrick, you told me one week ago that I should start behaving like a grown up, that you were relieved it was all over, and that you were not hurting. And this was AFTER I told you that I was a fucking wreck. The only thing that gave me some hope was that you seemed to want me to stay rather than to get the fuck out of your life completely. But yeah...I had some doubts.' Kevin tried to chuckle, but the memory of all of that, the memory of the pain and the uncertainty and confusion...it was still too raw.

'But you left Jon anyway?' Patrick couldn't seem to grasp his head around this.

'I couldn't keep pretending. Even if you didn't want me, I couldn't be with him when all I could think about was you. I tried it...for too long...and it just...didn't work.'

Patrick's eyes filled with tears, and he started chewing his lip.

'What did he say?' He asked, but Kevin just shook his head.

'Let's not talk about it. Not now. It's my problem, not yours, OK? I just want you to be happy that I'm here, and to concentrate on getting better.' Kevin brought Patrick's hand to his mouth to kiss it softly.

'I am happy. I am so...so...happy. I wanted to be over it but I couldn't stop wanting...what we had. I just had to pretend, for myself. Yesterday at the funeral I cried hysterically, like a baby, just thinking about how shit my life was going to be if you left completely...and then last night...fuck...there you were, like...I don't even know what. I never imagined, never even hoped that you would...come back...' Patrick trailed off.

'I am so fucking sorry that I put you through this. So. Sorry. If you let me, I will make it up to you, every day. I fucking promise you.'

Patrick sat up carefully, wincing, and stared straight into Kevin's eyes.

'Stop saying sorry, and stop saying 'if'. I already said yes. And unless you've changed your mind, or are looking for a way to back out of this, then as far as I'm concerned...we are now together. Ok?'

Kevin grinned, his eyes still a little cloudy from the unspilled tears.

'You're bossy when you're drugged out of your mind. Did you know that?' he joked, sniffing.

'I'm actually bossy quite a lot, I've been told. And annoying...so...get ready.'

'I'm so fucking ready.' And now it was Patrick's turn to grin like a fool. But Kevin could see the exhaustion in his eyes so he pushed him gently back into the bed and stood up to leave. Patrick held on to his hand.

'Where are you going?' Patrick asked, sleepily.

'Well, I think I ought to go out to get some supplies, because I've got absolutely nothing with me except the clothes i'm wearing, my wallet and my phone, and I don't much fancy going back to...Jon's apartment...right now, so.'

'Don't go. Wait for me, please. I'll be fine in a couple of hours. What time is it anyway?' he asked, clearly half asleep already.

'It's almost one. I'll just pop down to the drugstore...'

'No. Stay...We'll go when I wake up. I want to go with you...' Patrick interrupted hazily.

'To get a fucking toothbrush?' Kevin asked.

'Just stay...I don't want you to not be here when I wake up.' Patrick insisted. Kevin sighed.

'I won't go anywhere. I'll be in the kitchen. Using your laptop. Which you should have a password for, by the way.' Kevin reassured him. Patrick just smiled as his eyes closed, still holding Kevin's hand. Kevin sat there, happy to watch him, happy to know that he'd made Patrick happy. Love really made you silly, he reflected. But...he wasn't going to fight it anymore. Cos it also made you feel really really really fucking great.

It was a couple of hours later that Kevin heard the front door of the apartment opening, and he realized that he'd totally forgotten about Agustin. Shit. This was going to be very...awkward. He contemplated escaping into Patrick's bedroom before Agustin found him, but then...fuck it. This was going to be just the first of a whole set of difficult conversations. Still...he wished Patrick was there with him. Seconds later, Agustin walked in, and came to a dead stop as he saw Kevin sitting at his kitchen table.

'What...the fuck.' was all he said.

'Hello again' Kevin attempted a fake smile.

'You have got to be fucking kidding me. Where is Patrick?' Agustin was already bristling, getting ready for a fight.

'He's sleeping. He was in an accident...'

'I know about the fucking accident, Kevin. Dom called me this morning. He said he was OK though. Why is he sleeping?' Agustin snapped.

'It's the drugs. They knocked him out.'

'Ok, so why the fuck are YOU here?'

There was little that Kevin hated more than having people know his business, but he knew Agustin was important to Patrick, and he was going have to tread carefully. He couldn't tell him to mind his own fucking business as he would like to, but he was hardly going to pour his heart out to someone who was a virtual stranger to him. Still, for Patrick's sake, he would make an effort to be...conciliatory. Friendly. NOT aggressive.

'I came by last night. Jon and I are...no longer together. And erm...Patrick took me back' he said as plainly as could.

'Oh hell no. Your boyfriend threw you out because he found out you were fucking around, and you think we're going to let you just move in on Patrick again? You are out of your fucking mind if...' Agustin started, throwing his backpack onto the table and advancing on Kevin.

'Jon didn't know anything about Patrick until I told him I was leaving him. For Patrick.' Kevin interrupted him. He wasn't going to have anyone think that Patrick was anybody's second choice.

That stopped Agustin in his tracks, but he didn't look any happier.

'Can't you just leave him alone?' he asked quietly...almost sadly. 'Patrick's one of the best. He doesn't need to have his heart broken again, ok? Just...stop fucking around with him'

Kevin looked at the floor while he chewed his lips. He knew Patrick's friends would hate him, but...he didn't know how shitty that would make him feel.

'What's going on?'

Kevin and Agustin both snapped round to see Patrick standing in the kitchen doorway, naked except for a pair of boxer briefs, his arm in his sling and with the worst case of bed-hair Kevin had ever seen.

'Jesus...look at you! Dom said you were fine! You look like you've been trampled by horses!' Agustin exclaimed.

'I'm ok. The bruising looks bad but it's really just my sprained arm that hurts like fuck.' Patrick reassured him. Then he turned to smile at Kevin.

'I need to shower and I need something to eat. Could you help me again?' he asked

'Sure. I need to shower too but I've got nothing else to wear.'

'I've got underwear and t's that will fit you. Come shower and we'll get clean.' Patrick beckoned him.

'Hold on. What the fuck is going on?' Agustin protested. 'Are you serious with this, Paddy? He just turns up and all is forgiven? You're not thinking straight.'

'Agustin, I know you're worried about me, but everything's fine. Or it will be when I've brushed my teeth, showered, had some coffee, some food, and then probably more fucking coffee. So...just back off, ok? We're going to take a shower and then we need to go shopping, right?' Patrick turned back to Kevin. He just nodded.

'Paddy...'

'No Agustin. You don't get a say in this. If you want to be helpful, you can make us some sandwiches so we can eat something before we go shopping, otherwise, just put up and shut up.'

'Make 'us' sandwiches? You think I'm going to make food for...' Agustin couldn't even finish his sentence, just pointing at Kevin.

'Yeah, Agustin. Us. Me and boyfriend, Kevin. I think you've met.'

'Boyfriend? Seriously? I can't fucking believe this...' Agustin shook his head in bewilderment.

'Believe it, and get used to it. Come on Kevin. I so fucking need to get clean. And I haven't eaten anything since the funeral reception so I'm fucking starving too.' Patrick turned and walked back out towards his bedroom.

Agustin looked at Kevin, who was barely surprising a smile. He couldn't help it.

'He warned me he was bossy, but...jesus.' Kevin grimaced.

Agustin just continued to stare at him, his concern showing clearly on his face.

'I'm not here to...hurt him. I don't want him hurt either. Ever. Not by me.' Kevin said simply. And that was as close to an admission of his feeling as he'd make. To Agustin. Then he got up to follow his boyfriend into the bedroom. Patrick had called him his boyfriend. Fuck. Yeah.

A clean and fed Patrick followed Kevin round the drugstore, chatting like a magpie. He was telling Kevin about the funeral, about the days in Modesto, about some gay bar they'd gone to. He was telling Kevin about the accident, how he was driving and they'd got rammed into by some big SUV-type thing, bloody huge stupid American cars...how Dom had been shouting out to the graves, hoping his dead father would hear his 'coming out' declaration. Patrick's idea apparently.

Kevin tried to focus on picking up the basic supplies he would need until he could arrange to get back into the apartment, but it was hard with Patrick distracting him.

'We have to go over to that section.' Patrick whispered in his ear, pointing to an aisle a few feet away from them. Kevin looked at him.

'Why are you whispering?' he asked, bemused.

'It's stuff...you know...for...sex' he mouthed the last word, making a face.

'And again, why are you whispering?' Kevin laughed.

'It's sex stuff. You know...stuff to...get clean and...lube and...stuff' Patrick grimaced.

'Are you blushing, Patrick Murray?'

'No. It's the bruises. Anyway, all I'm saying is we need those supplies too because I don't have much at the house, so...add it to your list.'

Kevin grinned at him and saluted, like the obedient little soldier he was.

'Why are you getting shampoo...and body wash?' Patrick asked, looking into Kevin's basket.

'For my hair and body?' Kevin replied.

'But I have those. We don't need any more.'

Kevin stopped dead, and looked at Patrick. Did he know what he was saying? Of course he knew, but...did he...'know'? Patrick was impulsive and he was excited and happy, and he might think this was a good idea for now...but...Maybe he wasn't really thinking it through. Kevin felt the need to traverse these waters cautiously. There was still so much to sort out in his life, from getting his stuff out of the apartment, to finding a new place to live, to figuring out how he was going to navigate the HR issues they might face, and that wasn't even taking into account the human element in all of this. The inevitable calls from Jon's family and friends, the fallout Patrick might face with his sister's husband, Gus...Kevin wasn't sure that Patrick should be exposed to all of this. Their relationship was so new, so fragile...

'Well...erm...I was looking up some moderate hotels nearby that I could rent a room in...' he started.

'Why are you staying in a hotel?' Patrick looked confused.

'Patrick, I'm homeless now, since I walked out of the apartment I shared with my ex-boyfriend. Remember?' Kevin continued, gently.

'But I thought you were staying with me?'

Obviously.

'Patrick, it might take weeks for me to find a new apartment...'

'It doesn't matter how long it takes. I want you staying with me. It's crazy to spend money on a hotel room for weeks anyway.'

They looked at each other silently for a moment, Patrick's expression a little anxious, a little uncertain...did he think Kevin didn't want to stay with him? Did he think Kevin was feeling 'casual' about them? He really did NOT get the whole 'I love you' thing at all.

'Babe, listen. There's so much shit that's going to happen over the next few days, so many conversations I'm going to have, and you don't need to be subjected to that. And your friends will go fucking ballistic if they think I'm...'

'Did you just call me 'Babe'?' Patrick interrupted him. Kevin had to think for a second.

'Err, yeah, I think I did.' Kevin nodded slowly, confused. Patrick grinned.

'That's a very boyfriend thing to call someone.' he said, obviously delighted.

'Is it? I suppose so...'

'Well now you're definitely staying with me. Let's go to the sex aisle. I'm feeling inspired' Patrick started dragging Kevin away from the toiletries.

'Patrick, Agustin will...' he tried again, a new approach.

'Fuck Agustin.' Patrick said firmly, leading the way to the aisle he was so fascinated by. 'He's never liked any of my boyfriends, and he hasn't paid rent in months, so...fuck him. And his opinions.'

Kevin laughed. Patrick was fucking fantastic when he was taking charge. He loved seeing him with this confidence, this assuredness in the rightness of them, together. But still...he had to make sure he wasn't just being carried away...it could be weeks after all. He pulled on Patrick's hand to stop him.

'Patrick, listen...'

'No. It's your turn to listen.' Patrick had turned round and walked right up to Kevin, so close he could feel his breath on his face. 'You said something last night, and if it's true and you still mean it, I want you to stay with me while you look for an apartment and sort out your life. If it's not true anymore, or if it never was, then tell me now.'

Kevin stared at him, gazing into his eyes. Well, that was simple then.

'I can't wait for you to tell Agustin.' He smiled at Patrick. Patrick grimaced, then smiled back.

'Come on. Let's go to your special sex aisle so we can buy some of those things you can't mention and don't want to think about. Wanker.' Kevin teased him, leaning forward to kiss Patrick gently on the lips.

'I love it when you talk all dirty to me in your sexy foreign accent with your sexy foreign words.' Patrick growled, low and seductively in Kevin's ear. Then, as Kevin laughed, he bit down on Kevin's ear lobe, and gave it a quick soothing lick before he shut Kevin's mouth up with his own, in a long luscious kiss. Kevin pulled back reluctantly, knowing he had seconds before he embarrassed himself publicly in this brightly lit, ever so suddenly busy drugstore.

'Let's get out of here quick. We'll go home, order some food and you can rest a bit more, get your energy up for the night.' Kevin said.

'Pizza night.' Patrick stated promptly.

'Whatever you want, babe. Whatever you want.'