Matthew knocked on the familiar door, and prayed to God that the same person as last time didn't answer. He couldn't take that. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the attack of that sickeningly adorable voice. The door opened and Matthew opened one eye. At his eye level, there was a broad chest. He breathed a sigh of relief.

He'd barely had time to take that breath before he was being hugged tight. He didn't say anything, just hugged back. Berwald picked Matthew up, carrying him inside and shutting the door behind them with his foot.

"Matthew... " Berwald said breathlessly, "Ya came ba'k. Thank ya. I was scared tha' ya'd jus'... Leave..."

"I wouldn't do that... I couldn't go unless I was sure you didn't love me..."

"I love ya... I loved ya fr'm the firs' night..." Berwald sat down on the sofa with Matthew in his lap.

Matthew was able to look his lover in the eye properly now. He hadn't shaved since Matthew had left, and a rough blonde stubble had made an appearance on his face. Somehow it only made him look sexier.

"Wow..." Matthew whispered inadvertently.

"Wha'?"

Matthew blushed. "I was just thinking... You look really good like that."

"Oh, ya mean.." He rubbed his jaw self consciously.

"Don't worry, it looks..." Matthew searched for a way to describe it. There was studliness combined with a bit of a bad boy look and a slight overtone of viking. Something about Matthew especially liked the viking bit. "Well, I like it."

"If ya like it, it can't be all bad.." Berwald smiled.

"Can we... Talk?" Matthew said shyly.

"Please don' leave me..." Berwald whispered.

"That's not what talking means, I promise. I just want to get the whole story..."

"Abou'?"

"About Tino... Why he was here..."

"Ah, I see..."

"So...?"

"Tino doesn' live 'round here. He comes by fer w'rk a coupl' times a year ma'be..."

"Why was he staying here..?"

"He talk'd me int' it when he firs' came over. T' save on th' hotel. I let 'im, 'cause I'm jus' too nice."

"What about him sleeping in the same bed...? I don't like that..."

"Ah, believe me, I don' eith'r! He always does tha'. Goes t' bed on th' couch lik' he promises, an' then sneaks int' my room while I'm sleepin'." Berwald grumbled, "I've 'bout 'alf a mind t' toss 'im out th' window nex' time he tries- Ah! But there won' be a nex' time. I tol' him t' nev'r come ba'k..."

"You must really be mad at him..."

"Only fer what he did t' yer feelin's when he op'ned the door an' gave ya the wron' idea. It's not so much as I've f'rgiven 'im for th' past, as I jus' don' care 'nymore..."

"What did he do in the past?"

"'Bout a month aft'r we were married, I caugh' 'im in bed wit' some oth'r guy."

"Ouch... I'm sorry..."

"It's compl'cated... We've got an int'restin' story t'geth'r...

"Want to tell me..?"

"Yer not goin' t' get hurt by it...? Yer sure ya wan' t' hear it all..?"

"I don't want to hear it more than once, but I want to know the whole story..."

"Well... We grew up t'gether, see? Childhood friends, ya could say. Everyone was always sayin' 'ow we'd grow up t' get married... Aft'r a while wha' they said start'd t' stick. I fel' like I'd be dissapointin' everyone if I didn' date 'im..."

"Other people are no reason to be with someone..."

"I know tha' now... But I tried hard t' love Tino. He trust'd me, an' he needed me. It always felt a littl' off, though... Like it was bein' shoved where it didn' belong..."

"He can't have needed you too much if he cheated..."

"Tha's compl'cated too. I didn't really... Ah... Have much o' an... Appetite? Sexu'lly, I mean... He got a littl' deprived."

Matthew just looked at Berwald.

"Wha'..? Did I say somethin' wron'..?" Berwald asked.

"Are you lying to me Berwald...? You don't have to do that... Especially if it's to try and save my feelings..."

"But I'm not lyin'. Not about anythin'. I swear, Matthew."

"I honestly can't see you not having an appetite sexually." Matthew said plainly, making Berwald flush.

"Yer just... A special case. Er... I'm rath'r cold oth'rwise..." Berwald was obviously unaccustomed to being asked about his sex drive.

"For real..?"

"Yes. Yer th' person I can't really control m'self aroun'..." He averted his eyes from embarrassment.

Matthew just looked awed. "But you're always ready to go with -me-..."

"Yer always bein' seduct've. A man can't help 'imself when 'xposed to all tha'..."

"You're making me want to try being seductive on purpose now.." Matthew smiled softly.

"Ya mean ya weren't doin' it on purpose? Ya could'a fool'd me."

Matthew giggled. "Thank you for telling me the whole story. And for the sweet talk at the end..."

"Ah, tha' wasn't sweet talk. Tha' was just true." Berwald kissed Matthew and pushed him gently onto his back underneath him. He nipped at Matthew's throat. "Let me show ya how true.."

** Again, this is where the sex would go IF FF. net DIDN'T SUCK SO MUCH. You can find it right here :D - goo. gl/V2A2Na**

Then he mustered up the last bit of strength he had to carry him to the bedroom and collapse onto the bed. "I'd love t' talk some m're, but I need a rest, love.."

Matthew had already fallen asleep in his arms.

-x-

It may continue.