Johnny found himself wondering just what the hell he had been thinking, agreeing to this. It was entirely possible he was misreading Steven's signals, he supposed, but given the way the guy had been acting toward him since they'd met, that didn't seem likely.
Steven hadn't been flirting, exactly. Not the way a girl would flirt, but there were indications that Steven was interested in something more than just taking some pictures for his assignment.
Johnny had to admit that he was really starting to like the guy. Kind of a shame, really, that he wasn't going to stick around. But if whatever was about to happen between them went badly, maybe it would be better that way.
He followed Steven to his room and waited while he unlocked the door and let them in. "You can set your bag down on the dresser." Steven told him. "I'm going to clean up a little."
Johnny had a brief moment of panic before logic took over. Of course he wanted to clean up. They'd been out on the trail all day and it had been warm and dusty in spots.
He briefly wiped across the back of his neck and wasn't the least bit surprised when his hand came back dirty. Come to think of it, he should probably clean up a little himself if he was going to hang around for any length of time.
"There, that's better." Steven's voice startled him out of his thoughts as he came out of the bathroom, peeling off the long-sleeved shirt he'd been wearing all day and tossing it over a nearby chair.
He was more heavily built than Johnny had realized, and Johnny couldn't say he didn't appreciate the view. As if he didn't find Steven attractive enough already.
Steven caught his eye, and Johnny could feel that heat rising again. If he was wrong about Steven and he had caught Johnny checking him out, well, this could end very badly.
Instead, Steven flashed him a quick smile. "You probably want to clean up, too. Bathroom's all yours."
Johnny breathed a little sigh of relief as he ducked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He studied himself in the mirror. His hair was a mess, as usual, bits of it stuck to his forehead, and his cheeks and forehead were red from the sun.
He found a washcloth and wet it, running it over his face, neck, and arms before running his fingers through his hair. It would have to do. Hopefully he wouldn't put Steven off too much.
By the time he came out of the bathroom, Steven was hunched over the table, examining something. Probably those proof sheets he was looking over earlier. Johnny ambled over and leaned on the table, peering over Steven's shoulder.
Steven glanced back at him almost immediately. "Here, need your opinion on some of these."
"Steven, I'm flattered, but I don't think you really need my, uh, amateur opinion." Johnny told him, even as he took the eyepiece that Steven held out to him.
"You have a good eye." Steven told him. "And a layman's opinion is always valuable to me. This is going to another travel magazine, so I need to know what the general public would think of it."
"If you say so." Johnny muttered, holding the eyepiece to his eye and leaning over the table to examine the proof sheets. If he'd had to pick one, he would have had a hell of a time deciding.
He looked more closely, completely absorbed in the photographs themselves. "Are those seals?" He asked.
"Sea lions." Steven told him. "The islands are some of their favorite spots. Tourists go nuts for them."
Johnny couldn't believe the variety of wildlife in the photographs. Not just the sea animals, but the birds and others. "No bears, huh?"
"Those are further north." Steven answered. "They prefer the mountainous areas and the forests. I have some other photographs of those areas if you're interested."
Johnny couldn't help the short laugh that escaped him. "You really did invite me up here to see your photographs."
"Well, I admit that wasn't the only reason." Steven answered in a cautious tone.
Johnny wasn't sure if he was relieved or now more nervous. He hadn't misread Steven entirely, which was good, he supposed. But every time he'd tried to do something with a guy, it had ended in disaster. At some point Johnny had decided to shove those inclinations aside and throw himself at women exclusively.
Not that he was faring much better with women, either, but at least he didn't have to explain himself the way he would have otherwise.
Steven sat back in the chair, seeming to study Johnny. "And if you're not, well, inclined in that direction, I apologize."
Well, this was his chance, wasn't it? Piss or get off the pot, as the saying went. He took a deep breath and exhaled, staring at the proof sheets on the table. "Um, well, I've had…experiences with guys before. Just never seemed to go right, you know? I don't know if that counts for anything."
"You weren't forced into anything, were you?" Steven sounded a little alarmed.
"I wouldn't say that." Johnny replied carefully. "More like I didn't know what I was doing, or what I was supposed to do. I don't know. It's not like with women, you know? Everything kinda fits where it's supposed to."
"Hmm, yes." The chair scraped softly against the carpet as Steven pushed away from the desk. "If someone doesn't know what they're doing, they can do some real damage. And not just physically."
"Oh, no, it wasn't anything like that." Johnny quickly explained. "I mean, things never got that far."
God, this was awkward. Maybe Johnny should forget the whole thing. All the more reason for him to just stick with women.
Johnny caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and he spotted Steven rising from the chair and moving closer to him. He traced along the back of Johnny's hand with one finger, sending a shiver through Johnny.
"Would you like it to?" Steven asked quietly.
The question threw Johnny momentarily until he caught on to what Steven was asking. "I…I don't know. Never have, so, you know, no idea what it's like. I've, you know, done all kinds of other stuff with guys. Not like I've never done anything with guys."
He was aware that he was starting to babble, the way he always did when he got nervous, but he was having a hard time stopping himself. His chances of getting anywhere with Steven were getting worse by the moment.
"Relax." Steven told him with a brief laugh. "I don't care what you have or haven't done. I only care that you're willing. The rest, well, we can figure that out."
Johnny took another deep breath and exhaled, willing his heart to quit beating so damn fast. He was good and willing. He just didn't know how to say so.
"John?" Steven asked gently.
Johnny turned toward him and nodded. In a flash, Steven's mouth was on his, their lips touching ever so briefly before Steven pulled back.
Johnny's nerves eased ever so slightly, and he let out a short sigh. Steven smiled ever so slightly in response. "Okay?" He asked.
"Okay." Johnny answered, leaning in and tentatively kissing Steven. Slowly, the kiss deepened, their tongues tangling up as they pulled each other closer. Steven's hands started tugging at Johnny's shirt, finding their way under, his hands sliding up Johnny's ribcage and around to his back.
Johnny let out a soft groan at the move, allowing himself to be completely carried away in the moment, his hands moving under Steven's t-shirt, finding coarse hair and solid flesh underneath. He ran his fingers up Steven's stomach to his chest, evoking a soft murmur from him.
Suddenly Johnny wanted very much to have as little as possible between him and Steven. He pushed Steven's t-shirt up his body, and Steven pulled back just long enough to allow Johnny to pull it over his head and toss it to parts unknown.
Now Johnny could get a good look at him. He was solidly built, the same dark red hair that was on his head covering his chest and stomach, and Johnny leaned in to plant a kiss right at the base of his throat.
"Don't stop there." Steven's voice was rough as he started working at the buttons of Johnny's shirt.
Johnny wasn't entirely sure what to do from here, but Steven seemed to like what he was doing, so he continued his path, leaving a trail of kisses along his collarbone as Steven finished undoing his shirt and pushed it off his body.
"God, you're beautiful." Steven murmured, pressing his lips near Johnny's ear, his hands sliding all over Johnny's body. "So beautiful."
Johnny couldn't formulate a response. He was too lost in Steven's mouth and hands, almost afraid to break whatever spell had been cast. God help him if he screwed this up now.
Steven pulled back slightly, brushing back some of Johnny's hair. "You want to take this to the bed?"
"Sure, sure." Johnny answered, even as he was increasingly unsure. This was right around the point where he usually chickened out, and he didn't want to do that this time. But he couldn't help the edginess he felt.
Steven tilted his head, frowning slightly. "If you want to stop, say so. I don't want this to be another bad experience for you."
Johnny kissed him quickly. "I don't wanna stop. Just, you know, nerves, I guess."
Steven traced down Johnny's torso with one finger, pausing at his belt buckle. "I'll go easy on you."
Johnny couldn't help letting out a brief laugh at that. "I appreciate it."
Steven laughed in response, drawing in close and kissing Johnny again, slow and tender, and Johnny found himself relaxing under his mouth and hands. He allowed Steven to guide him toward the bed, the back of his knees hitting the mattress as he fell back, shifting so that he lay across it.
Steven never let up, laying down beside him and kissing down his neck to the base of his throat, his hand working at Johnny's belt buckle and undoing his jeans. Johnny squirmed at the move but didn't do anything to stop him. It felt odd to feel a man's hand there, touching him, but it somehow felt right, too.
Johnny arched into his touch, grabbing Steven's wrist as he slid his hand further inside. Steven lifted his head and gave him a questioning look. "You want me to stop?"
"No." Johnny answered roughly.
"I can slow down." Steven offered, retracting his hand slightly.
Johnny closed his eyes, letting out a brief sigh as he collected his thoughts. "Don't need you to do that. Keep going."
Steven's hand moved again, this time taking hold of Johnny's rapidly hardening flesh and stroking lightly. Johnny inhaled sharply, arching upward, and Steven responded by stroking more firmly, continuing his line of kisses down Johnny's torso before shifting so that he was now between Johnny's legs.
It was only when Steven stopped stroking him that he lifted his head. "Why'd you stop?"
Steven merely looked amused. "Patience, friend."
"Some friend." Johnny muttered, laying his head back again as Steven started tugging at his jeans, finally pulling them off his body. Johnny felt Steven's hands run up his legs, his thumbs pressing into his inner thighs.
"What are you…oh." Johnny let out a breath as Steven's mouth closed around him, warm and wet and that damn tongue of his dragging along the underside. He couldn't do anything but clutch at anything he could find, including a handful of Steven's hair.
Steven murmured something that Johnny couldn't hear, but could definitely feel, sending another shock wave through him. He was close to finding that release, so close he could feel it coming on.
And that was when Steven suddenly stopped. Johnny let out a rough groan, and he heard Steven let out a soft laugh before he felt Steven's mouth on his inner thigh, his tongue darting out before lightly sucking at it. He involuntarily twitched at the move, and again when Steven found another spot and repeated the move.
"Goddammit." Johnny blurted out. "You're killing me."
"Just wait." Steven answered. Soon his mouth found another spot, dipping lower. That was a whole new sensation, one Johnny hadn't quite been ready for, and he let out a sharp gasp.
Just as he was getting used to that, he felt pressing at that spot, then probing. He tensed up at that, his breath getting shorter as he curled his fingers into the bedding.
Steven had moved so that he was kneeling between Johnny's legs, one hand splayed out across Johnny's stomach while the other slowly and steadily moved back and forth inside him. "You tell me if I'm hurting you, okay?"
"Doesn't hurt." Johnny managed to get out. And it didn't, exactly. It felt a little strange, but not altogether unpleasant. Now that he was starting to relax into it, he was starting to enjoy it somewhat.
Steven probed deeper and stretched further, and Johnny felt him hit a spot deep inside that sent a shock through him, causing him to arch upward. It wasn't long before Steven found that spot again, and it was nearly his undoing.
All too soon, Steven stopped again, once again leaving Johnny right on the brink, and Johnny let out a huff in frustration. Steven let out another short laugh, seeming to enjoy Johnny's state.
"Hang in there." He told Johnny as he slid off the bed and started to take off his own jeans. "I'll be right back to finish you off."
"You'd better." Johnny rolled to his side to watch Steven finish undressing.
Steven's face split into a full smile at that. He found a small container in his bag and soon climbed back on to the bed, leaning over to give Johnny a quick kiss. "You sure are demanding all of a sudden."
"Not demanding." Johnny answered defensively. "Just seems you should finish what you start, that's all."
"I fully intend to." Steven replied. "Roll over for me."
"Woof." Johnny couldn't help responding.
Johnny felt a light smack on his ass. "Good boy."
That stirred something in him, but he didn't have it in him to think about it right then. He could feel Steven's hands on his hips, pulling him towards him, followed by those fingers sliding deep inside him again, finding the spot that sent those electric pulses through him, over and over.
"Okay." Steven had one hand on Johnny's back now. "Breathe in, and then breathe out when I tell you to. Try to relax."
Easier said than done, Johnny figured. But he inhaled deeply anyway, holding it for a long moment until he heard Steven behind him. "Okay, now."
He exhaled forcefully, and felt Steven push in hard, nearly taking what was left of his breath away. Johnny briefly saw stars and let out a sharp gasp, his breath coming short and fast until he found his bearings.
Steven paused for a long moment, his hand never leaving Johnny's back, lightly rubbing in some sort of comforting gesture. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Johnny answered, somewhat surprised that he was now.
Steven's hands settled on Johnny's hips, and he slowly started moving back and forth inside him, finding a steady rhythm, and that sensation slowly started building again.
If Steven dared stop this time, Johnny thought he might just kill the guy.
"That's good, John." Steven's voice was rough as his fingers gripped more tightly. "Goddamn, that's good."
Johnny was so close now, so damn close. He could feel Steven's mouth on his back, leaving brief kisses here and there, his breath coming out in warm puffs as he continued to drive into him, faster now.
The release came sharp and fast, sending a shudder through Johnny as he buried his face in a pillow, muffling the long groan he let out.
Steven was still going, he realized, and he just rode it out, the sensations still going through him until Steven let go with a rough gasp, his fingers digging hard into Johnny's hips until he finally relaxed with a sigh. He slid his hands along Johnny's ribcage and left a kiss right in the middle of his back before pulling out.
Johnny rolled to his back as Steven lay on his side next to him, drawing in close to him and briefly kissing him. "How was that?"
"Hmm." Johnny was starting to drift off. "Still recovering. I'll let you know."
"Jerk." Steven laughed. "I'll be right back."
Johnny smiled a little in response, closing his eyes and throwing one arm over his head. It had been good, really good. Even if he never saw Steven again after this, he at least had this to remember him by.
He felt the mattress dip as Steven climbed back in next to him, laying an arm across him, his body pressed up against Johnny. "I was thinking about ordering up something from room service. You want anything?"
Johnny glanced at his watch. It wasn't nearly as late as he thought it was. "Suppose I could do with something."
Steven rolled away to find a menu, and they soon had food ordered. It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door. "Hold on." Steven called out as he tugged on a pair of jeans to answer the door.
Johnny couldn't help watching as Steven spoke to whoever was on the other side of the door. Did whoever it was have an inkling of what had just happened in this room?
There was something in Johnny that was pleased at having that secret, something that was just between him and Steven and no one else. He damn sure was never going to say anything to his crewmates. If there was so much as a hint as to his proclivities, he could kiss his whole career goodbye.
It wouldn't matter anyway. Likely he was never going to see Steven again.
Steven closed the door and crossed back to the bed with a large paper bag in his hand. "All right, dig in."
"Appreciate this, thanks." Johnny told him.
"It's the least I can do after…well, after everything today." Steven answered. "I don't know about you, but I got a lot out of it."
Johnny couldn't help smiling at that. "Suppose we both did."
Steven let out a short laugh. "You're something else, John. You know that?"
"So I've been told."
Steven's smile faded a little. "I'm serious about getting you up to Alaska. We've got to make that happen one of these days."
"I'm sure you say that to everyone."
"Not everyone." Steven responded quietly. "A few, but not many."
"Just the ones you've slept with?"
"Hey now, that was a little uncalled for." Steven answered defensively. "And no. Sometimes I, well, connect with people, but you're different. We connect on a different level."
Johnny was getting the feeling he should really get out of here. Things were getting a little too deep for his liking. "How do you know that? We just met."
"I don't know." Steven shrugged. "Just a feeling I have."
Johnny scoffed at that. "Still think you should get to know me a little before saying things like that."
Steven smiled broadly at that. "I'd like to if you'd let me."
Johnny didn't have a response for that, falling silent as he finished his meal. Once done, he started to find all the clothing that had somehow gotten scattered all over the room.
"Leaving so soon?" Steven asked.
Johnny paused for a moment. "Well, yeah. Haven't you had enough of me?"
Steven rose from the bed, meeting Johnny where he stood and lightly taking hold of his arms before leaning in for a quick kiss. "Not even close to enough."
Johnny couldn't explain the feeling that coursed through him just from that simple move, but he wanted more of it. Hell, he wasn't likely to see Steven again after this, despite what Steven had told him. Why not get what he could, while he could?
He leaned back in, sliding his hands to Steven's waist and pulling him in close, capturing Steven's mouth full on. Steven's response was immediate, and the two of them were wrapped up in each other again, neither one of them seemingly willing to let go.
It was Steven who finally broke it off first, meeting Johnny with a hint of a smile. "Seems you haven't had enough of me, either."
"Sorry." Johnny muttered. "Kinda lost my head."
"Good." Steven replied quietly.
After a beat, Steven spoke again. "Why don't you stay the night? Maybe head back out with me tomorrow."
"Are you serious?"
"Very." Steven answered with a short laugh.
Johnny barely had the presence of mind to debate this with himself. "Well, I don't wanna keep you from what you're supposed to be here for."
"You're not." Steven replied. "Time with you is a nice bonus. And I'm sure you have other places to show me."
Johnny was sorely tempted to say to hell with it, to hell with any plans he might have had for this last day off. What was awaiting him at home, anyway? Nothing that couldn't be put off for another day.
Finally, he nodded. "I'll stay. Suppose I can just swing by my place before we head back out to…wherever."
"I like the sound of that." Steven told him, his hands sliding up to cup Johnny's face, his thumbs stroking Johnny's cheekbones.
He leaned in once more for a slow, lingering kiss, and with that Johnny was gone. Completely, utterly gone. In that moment, any doubts were whisked away, and all Johnny wanted was what was right in front of him.
Sure, maybe tomorrow Steven would be gone, and Johnny would never see him again. But that didn't matter now, not while Steven's hands were all over him and he was pushing Johnny back down on the bed.
Johnny would take this however long it lasted.