Chapter 10

Dean stepped inside his apartment just after six in the morning the next day. He passed Seth curled up on the couch with a blanket pulled over him, sleeping soundly. The television was on but the volume was turned all the way down to a very quiet whisper, while infomercials played.

He made his way to his bedroom and decided to strip off his clothes and hop into the shower. After he and Drew had sex, they had remained on the beach exchanging lazy kisses. Eventually Drew placed the blanket over both of them and they had drifted off to sleep with Drew holding Dean against him. It was interesting waking up in Drew's arms Dean thought as he turned on the shower and got in and pulled the curtain back in place. Even though they had stayed on the thick blanket the entire night, he still felt as if there was sand on his body. As the warm water gently pummled his back Dean reminisced about a few hours ago. He had woken just before daybreak to find Drew's arms holding him tightly as he slept soundly behind him. Dean managed to sit up without disturbing Drew and looked at the horizon where the purple of the night was starting to give away to pale blue of the morning. The Pacific rolled in calmly as the waves provided a pleasant soundtrack for the morning. Dean was a bit surprised that no one had spotted them or tried to rob them while they slept. Wonders will never cease in L.A.

He heard Drew waking up but he kept his eyes locked on the ocean. It wasn't a sight that he woke up to every day. He felt Drew's arms going around his waist and a kiss pressed into his cheek. " Morning."

He looked over at him, noticing that the blonde hair was a bit messed up and the new beard was starting to come in. Drew was looking at him and leaned in and kissed Dean softly on the lips. " Morning." Dean replied.

Drew smiled. " You feeling better now?"

Dean gave him a small smile as he remembered how worked up he had gotten. Looking back, it really wasn't that big of a deal but his temper sometimes managed to get the best of him. " Yeah I'm over it."

" Good." Drew laced his fingers through the ones on Dean's right hand. He then stated to place light kisses down Dean's neck.

Dean began to feel a bit uncomfortable. " Drew, about last night. I ..."

" I know Dean," Drew interrupted him. He stopped kissing Dean's neck and sat up to look at him. " I know that last night was just sex. I know that it doesn't change the relationship between us."

Even though Drew spoke clearly, Dean could still hear a trace of disappointment in his voice. But it was for the best. Dean squeezed the hand that was holding his, unable to find suitable words to say.

" One thing I would ask though."

Dean looked at him curiously. " What?"

" Just let me have this time, until the sun comes up. Please." Drew's blue eyes pleaded with him. Dean could see a man who was clearly enamoured with him, begging just for a few minutes to believe that the man who he had deep feelings for, felt the same way for him.

Dean nodded, feeling a little guilty for how Drew felt even though he knew that he couldn't control the other man's feelings. He kissed Drew deeply, allowing their tongues to swirl together once more. Afterwards, Drew shifted so that Dean was sitting between his legs and resting against his chest. The lighter blanket remained wrapped around them as they watched the sun rise together.

Dean finished his shower and stepped on to the bath mat and dried his skin with a grey towel. He secured the towel around his waist and made his way back to his bedroom.

" Where were you?"

Dean stopped and stared at Seth sitting on the edge of his bed. Seth looked at him as if he was a delinquent teenager, now getting home from a night of partying.

" I didn't know that you were waiting up on me." He went to take a clean pair of boxers out of his dresser.

" I waited up for you until like three, but then I fell asleep." Seth leaned back on his elbows and watched as Dean pulled on the boxers underneath the towel. " Why are you getting dressed like that? It's not as if I haven't seen a naked guy before."

" That maybe true," Dean replied as he snapped the boxers around his waist and pulled off the towel. He went to hang it back up in the bathroom and then came back into the bedroom. " But the only way you're gonna see me naked is if you're naked as well."

Seth groaned and rolled his eyes. " Whatever Dean."

Dean's eyes raked over Seth's near naked form. He was only wearing a pair of tiny red briefs. " If I knew this was what was waiting at home for me, I would've come straight home."

" Dean be serious. I wanted to talk to you." Seth narrowed his eyes at him. " Wait a minute, what are those marks on your body?"

Dean looked down and saw the evidence of his time with Drew all over his torso in little red marks.

" Are those hickies?" Seth broke into a big smile. " You actually got laid?" Seth laughed. " No wonder you're now coming home."

" Oh be quiet." Seth's fingers were tracing over the marks on his body as their owner grinned at him. Dean looked down at Seth and wondered when he would be able to leave some marks of his own all over that body.

Dean pushed Seth's fingers off of him and then walked around to the other side of the bed and got in. Seth turned around to face him. " Don't go to bed yet. I need to talk to you."

Dean turned his head on the pillow and looked at him. " Then talk."

Seth scooted closer to Dean until their bodies were only a few inches apart. Dean looked at Seth's hair which was a mass of waves and curls that looked like a fluffy cloud around his head. Seth always managed to look so innocent at the most inopportune times that made Dean feel like a pervert for desiring him so badly.

" Rome wants me to break up with Dae."

" You knew that this was coming Seth."

Seth came even closer to Dean, so that their chests were touching. Dean placed an arm over Seth's waist. They were so close that their lips could meet by moving the slightest of inches. But Dean could see that Seth was genuinely troubled and tried to concentrate on other things.

" I know but I didn't expect it so soon." Seth sighed and his breath touched Dean's lips, who swallowed hard. " I thought that I had more time but Roman says that he can't be with me if I keep going back to Damien."

" But Seth, you said it yourself. You want to be with Roman, so why is it so hard for you to let go?"

" Because Dae needs me," Seth's voice was so low that Dean barely heard him.

" Needs you for what Seth?"

He shook his head against the pillow. " You wouldn't understand."

" Okay fine, I wouldn't understand." Dean pulled Seth right up against him. This close body contact was driving him nuts but Seth looked decidely unaffected by it all. " But don't you think that eventually that Roman is going to grow tired of waiting?"

Seth didn't answer but looked at Dean. " I don't want to lose Rome." Dean could hear the fear in Seth's voice and he realized that maybe Seth did carry some deep feelings for Roman after all.

" Then don't." Seth looked up at him with those big brown eyes of his full of emotion and Dean felt himself losing the battle of controlling himself around Seth.

" How?" Seth lips actually brushed against Dean's for a second as he spoke. Dean felt that electric shock pulse through him. He could feel Seth's cock pressing against his through the thinness of the materials. This was fucking torture.

" Seth, you know what you have to do. It's not going to be easy but you have to do it." As Dean spoke he lightly skimmed his lips over Seth's. He had to know if Seth wanted him in any way.

Seth glanced down at Dean's lips that were resting against his cheek. He shifted his head slightly and pressed a closed mouth kiss against them. Dean's nerves were immediately on fire as soon as Seth's lips were against his. It was only for a couple of seconds but at least now he knew that Seth wasn't completely oblivious to his advances.

Dean was about to kiss him back when Seth moved and rested his head on Dean's chest. " Thank you." He said quietly. " I guess I just needed to hear what I already knew."

Dean placed both arms around Seth and held him. It had just been a thank you kiss. He knew that he shouldn't read anything more into it. Plus it would only complicate things even further. Dean continued to hold him and they both drifted off to sleep together.

Dean awoke later on in the day and immediately felt Seth's weight against him. He looked down to see that Seth's head was still on his chest and that he was in a deep sleep. Seth's right arm was across Dean's body and his crotch was pressed against Dean's thigh.

What drew in Dean the most was the peaceful look on Seth's face as he slept. He looked so innocent and pure that Dean could hardly believe that he such a handful when he was awake. Dean shifted a bit, carefully not to awaken Seth and picked up his cellphone off of the bedside table. He pressed the screen and it lit up. It was just after noon. It was only then that it hit Dean that he was a bit hungry because he didn't have any breakfast and it was time for lunch. He slowly lifted Seth's head and placed it against a pillow. He then untangled himself, feeling regretful that he could no longer feel Seth against him. He sat on the edge of the bed and watched him sleep for a while. Seth had kissed him. Sure he had framed it as thank you but Dean was beginning to think that there was a bit more to it. Seth had to have felt the same chemistry sparking between them that he had felt. Dean stood up and grabbed a clean pair of jeans and t-shirt from his closet. As he put them on, he was wondering if it was his mind wishing that Seth had also desired him or what his gut instinct was telling him was correct. It wasn't a kiss that anyone would brag about but he felt that Seth was holding back how he really felt about him. Dean got his wallet from the jeans that he had worn the previous night and decided that he'd go out and get them some lunch.

Dean returned home about half an hour later with a shopping bag full of Chinese takeout. As he walked into the kitchen Seth came out into the living room clad in a pair of dark grey sweatpants. When he saw Dean he quickly came over. Dean placed the bag on the counter. He could smell the fresh scent of the soap that Seth used while in the shower.

" You left me again." Seth said accusingly, taking a seat at the counter pulling the plastic bag towards him.

" Excuse me?" Dean opened the fridge, wondering what to drink with the Chinese.

" You left me," Seth reiterated. " When I woke up you were gone and I didn't know what happened."

" Oh, I went to get us some lunch." Dean grabbed two cans of soda and closed the fridge door.

Seth had already gotten two plates and was piling a whole container of noodles onto his plate. He then took out another container and smiled when he opened it and saw that it contained sweet and sour chicken. " Still you could've sent a text." Seth dumped the entire serving of chicken on top of his noodles. " I don't know why you are so inconsiderate sometimes."

Dean looked at him to see if he was joking but Seth's face was quite serious as he started to eat. Dean placed a can of soda in front of Seth. " You're calling me inconsiderate? Well isn't that rich?" Dean took the remaining two boxes out of the bag. He picked up the container that held the chicken and peered in. " Seth! Did you take all of the sweet and sour chicken?"

" Yeah." Seth replied with his mouth full.

Dean sighed and opened the other container of noodles and emptied it on to his plate. He then opened the final box. " Well I guess this ginger shrimp is all mine then."

Seth's eyes opened wide. " You have ginger shrimp? Why didn't you tell me?"

Dean laughed and slid down to the other end of the breakfast bar. His food out of Seth's immediate reach. " If you weren't being so selfish, you would've known." Dean emptied the shrimp on top of his food and started to dig in.

" No fair Dean. You have to share with me." Seth complained.

Dean plopped a fat shrimp into his mouth. " Well as you said, I'm inconsiderate. It comes with the territory."

Seth pouted and ate his chicken as if he was now disgusted by it. A few minutes later Seth leaned across the bar and plucked a couple of shrimps from Dean's plate and ate them with relish. Dean laughed at his antics.

When they had finished lunch, Dean cleared away the plates and containers. As he was drying his hands, Seth came up to him.

" I'm going to see Damien tonight."

Dean was a bit shocked to hear Seth say that. " You're going to tell him that it's over tonight?"

Seth nodded and looked down at the tiled floor a bit sheepishly. " Yeah. I mean I guess there is no sense in prolonging it. I want to be with Rome." Seth exhaled sharply fixing his eyes on Dean. " I really like him Dean. I really do."

Dean leaned against the counter top. " Are you sure that you're ready for this? You are giving up a lot."

" Do you want me to do this or not?" Seth yelled. There was a lot of confusion and sadness in Seth's eyes that Dean didn't quite understand.

" I want you to do what you feel is right for you but when you're ready to do it." Dean crossed his arms across his chest, wondering why Seth looked as if he was making a life or death decision.

" If I don't do this now, I will keep on putting it off." Seth said firmly.

" Are you sure that Roman is the one that you want to give up your cushy lifestyle for?" Dean didn't want to come straight out and say it but he knew that Seth had some very expensive shopping habits that Roman couldn't keep up with.

Seth bit his bottom lip gently and then step forward and uncrossed Dean's arms. Dean took this has his cue and embraced Seth as he leaned against his chest with his head resting on his shoulder.

" Well Rome, isn't exactly poor. But I want a real relationship Dean. I think that I deserve that." Seth confessed softly.

Dean realized that it was probably the first time that he was getting to see the real Seth. Dean began to understand that Seth wasn't as contented with his relationship with Damien has he portrayed. He stroked Seth's soft hair as the younger man thought over his decision. " I think that you deserve a real relationship too Seth."

Seth pulled back to look at him. " Do you really mean that?"

" Yup." He kept his hands joined loosely around Seth's back. He was still a bit amazed at the fact that he and Seth had gotten so close that Seth didn't mind him touching and holding him. " But a word of advice."

" What?" Seth perked up.

" Don't ever attempt to steal food off of Roman's plate. You'd be lucky if you got your hand back."

Dean was outside washing his Mustang, while Seth was in his room trying to decide what to wear for when he saw Damien later on in the evening. Dean dipped the sponge into the bucket of water and wiped across the bonnet of the car. He loved his car. He and Mark had spent many long hours building the turbo charged engine and now whenever he swung the key it purred like a dream.

When Roman arrived home he saw Dean wiping down his car. Ever since he had gotten with Seth, he had wondered if he had found other men attractive. He actually tried paying closer attention to his male counterparts but came back with nothing. He was simply not interested in other men.

As he got out of his car, he kept his eyes focused on Dean. A pair of worn out jeans were slung low on his hips and he was bareback. Roman watched how Dean's muscles moved underneath his skin as he wiped down the car. He turned as he saw Roman approaching him and smiled at him. He had a nice smile, Roman figured. He wasn't as pretty as Seth but he was definitely attractive in his own right. He recalled that Dean had told him that he was bisexual but he had never hit on him since Roman had known him. Maybe he just wasn't Dean's type.

" Hi. How's it going?" Roman said as he stopped by the rear bumper of the car.

Dean wiped down the driver's door and then stood up to answer him. " It's going good. Can't complain. Just here giving my car a little wash before work tonight."

Roman took in the light smattering of dark red hair across Dean's chest. It looked quite soft to touch. He caught himself and shook his head. Thankful that he was still wearing his sunglasses so that Dean couldn't see his eyes. He was actually checking Dean out. To his surprise, he did find Dean appealing after all but he couldn't see it working. Both he and Dean had dominant personalities who wouldn't give in to each other easily. Unlike him and Seth who just fit together so perfectly.

" Rome? Are you okay?" Dean was looking at him quizzically.

" Yeah, I'm fine." Roman cleared his throat and adjusted his sunglasses. " I was just thinking about something."

" Something or someone?" Dean grinned.

Roman laughed softly. " Is it that obvious?"

" Well you were staring at the ground smiling to yourself. So I would say that it's a fair guess."

" Yeah, well," Roman took off his sunglasses and tucked them into his shirt pocket. " I like being with him." He turned to look at Dean who was standing there with the evening sun casting a golden glow on his skin. Never before had he found him so damn attractive until that moment. His auburn hair looked as if it was ablaze with a copper glow. His blue eyes looked clearer than glass. Roman caught himself again staring at Dean but this time he noticed that Dean was also looking at him slightly bewildered. He broke his gaze and looked at his apartment. " I really hope that this turns into something more ya know."

" Yeah I hope that you get what you want." Dean lifted up the bucket that contained the used water and threw it into the hedge. " So how are you dealing with this whole thing?" Roman raised an eyebrow at him. " You know, being with a guy and all."

Roman swallowed tightly as Dean came to stand in front of him as he had done many times before. But many times before, he hadn't been checking him out. " It has been interesting to be honest. I don't know how else to describe it. It's like finding a whole new part of you and you have to get accustomed to it."

Dean nodded his head in agreement. " It is a journey and trust me, I know that it's not easy. You'll eventually get used to it though."

" That's good to know. Sometimes I feel so awkward with him." He confessed blushing.

Dean chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. " It's like that at first but once you just let it go and stop concentrating on the fact that he's man and more on the fact that he's another human being that you happen to like, all of that shit just goes away."

" I guess you're right." Roman started to walk towards his apartment. It was a lot easier to digest it by looking at it from Dean's point of view. " Thanks for the advice."

" Anytime." Dean started to head back up the stairs swinging the bucket in his hand. Roman watched as those long legs easily took the stairs and then chastised himself for checking out Seth's roommate. It would be an incredibly messy situation if he ever got involved with Dean.

" Seth, I'm sorry for unloading all of this on you."

" It's okay Dae." Seth placed his arm around Damien's shoulder as they sat together in the back of Damien's Porsche Cayenne. They were parked near to a local park not too far from the famous Santa Monica Pier. Before Seth could tell him about ending their relationship he started to vent about his latest fight with Caroline.

" I just don't understand her." Seth could see that Damien was frustrated and if he didn't know better he would have sworn that those amber coloured eyes looked a bit glassy. " I told her everything before we got married and she agreed to it. She knew what it was going to be like. So why in the world is she angry at me now?"

" Maybe now she realizes that she isn't cut out for it." Seth stroked Damien's jaw and then kissed his cheek.

" Well it's kind of late for her to now come to that conclusion. I chose her because she was smarter than the average filly roaming around Santa Barbara." Damien picked at his fingernail. A nervous habit of his. " Well I guess I was wrong."

" Maybe you guys could separate for a while, and she could cool down and stuff." Seth suggested.

" No. We have image to maintain. If word got out that we were having marital problems, Caroline would never forgive me and make it even worse than it already is."

" I'm so sorry Dae." Seth wrapped both arms around Damien's shoulders and kissed him on the lips. " You'll get through this. I know you will."

" I'm sorry to lay all of this on you Seth but you're the only one who truly knows me. Not my wife, not my friends from university or the golf club." Sandow wrapped his arms around Seth's waist and pulled him on to his lap. " You're the only one who accepts me without any harsh judgements." He kissed Seth forcefully on the lips. " I don't know what I would do without you Seth."

" Seth! I didn't expect to see you tonight." Roman said when he opened his front door. " Come on in."

" Thanks." Seth walked into the living room. He had just gotten back from seeing Damien.

" So what brings you by?"

Seth turned around and looked at him and tried to muster up a smile. " I just wanted to see you."

Roman smiled and pulled Seth gently against him. " Well here I am."

Seth leaned in and pressed his lips against Roman's. The larger man responded and started to kiss him back immediately. His tongue traced Seth's bottom lip, teasing him. Seth groaned and parted his lips so that Roman's tongue could slip in. Their tongues curled over each other as their lips remained fused together. The kiss was so intense that Seth barely noticed as Roman lifted him up and his legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. Roman sat on the couch while still in liplock. Seth was on his lap with his legs still around his waist. Roman tugged at the hem of Seth's black shirt. The kiss broke momentarily for Seth to pull the shirt over his head, tossing it carelessly on the floor. Their lips reattached immediately. It seemed as if they couldn't get enough of each other. They attacked each other's lips hungrily, hands roaming all over the other's body. Seth sucked the tip of Roman's tongue and the larger man moaned in response. He cupped Seth's ass through his jeans as Seth started to grind against his crotch.

" Fuck." Roman pulled away from Seth's inticing mouth. " I want you so badly Seth."

He ran his hands up and down the sides of Seth's exposed body. He leaned forward and sucked one nipple into his mouth and then the other one, lavishing his tongue over it. " Seth..." Roman breathed out huskily. He planted a kiss right in the center of Seth's chest. He sucked the tender flesh between his lips. " I want you."

His grey eyes flicked up to Seth taking in the way how his lips were parted and his eyes closed. He was simply lost in the sensation of what Roman was doing to him.

" Have you made your choice?"

Seth's eyes opened and he looked down at the sensual grey eyes staring up at him. He nodded his head and bit his bottom lip. " Yeah." His voice coming out as a whisper.

Roman looked at him expectantly. Seth exhaled sharply and pushed his fingers through Roman's dark hair. " I choose you Rome. I choose you."

A/N: Do you think that Seth had hidden meaning behind that kiss for Dean? Do you think that it's really over between Seth and Damien? I would really like to know what you guys think and what else caught your interest.