Birthday fic for delilah_60 :D
Happy Birthday to a lovely, lovely LJ-er! I know I've probably missed you and you won't read this until Sunday, but hope you had a great day :D
Fic: Warming Up.
Pairing: Mark/Gary.
Words: 2000.
Summary: Pure Barlowen romantic fluff! Skiing, snow, hot-tubs, kissing and a little bit more ;)
Rating: R to NC-17.
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Mark yelped and flung his arms around the Gary’s neck as yet another skier hurtled past.
‘I thought this was supposed to be the beginners’ slope! Why are they all going at a million miles per hour?’
‘I don’t know about that,’ grumbled Gary, his voice muffled under the hood of his thick, winter anorak, which was zipped up to his nose. ‘But one thing I do know is that you’ve just given me back a right twinge - oh God, and now I’ve lost me stick! Again! Oh, bloody hell!’
Stooping down to pick up his ski-pole, Gary lost his balance and toppled over, landing sideways on his arse, and cursing loudly. Despite the thickness of his clothes, he could feel the icy dampness seeping through to his very bones. Mark offered him a hand to help pull him up. He was smothered under so many layers that it was hard to see him, but from what Gary could make out of his face, his skin had turned a blue-ish pale.
‘Somewhere out there,’ said Mark wistfully, pointing randomly ahead of them through a thick clog of white mist, ‘is a beautiful Austrian landscape, with mountains, and valleys, and gorgeous chalets...’
‘Yeah,’ moaned Gary, ‘and from what we can see of it, we might as will be stuck in a Manchester smog! Then again, I’m kind of glad I can’t see it - I hate heights! Agh!’ Gary yelped again as Mark grabbed him once more; a few metres away in the closing gloom, the dark form of a more experienced skier had whooshed by. ‘You know, I’d feel safer in the middle of the M25! I’m starting to think that Howard and Jason buying me this winter sports break for my birthday wasn’t such a lovely gesture after all...’
‘I’m sure they meant well,’ said Mark, between chattering teeth. ‘But... we’re not naturals that this, are we? And you know what?’
‘What?’ said Gary, still resolutely grumpy.
‘I’m so bloody cold, I think my feet have fallen off! Seriously, Gaz, I haven’t felt them for the past half hour...oh God!’
Yet another skier whizzed by, this one less than a metre away. On Mark jumping into his arms again, jolting his back for the umpteenth time, Gary made an executive decision.
‘Somewhere, out there through that mist, there’s a five star hotel in a beautiful log cabin, with gourmet meals and central heating...so what the bloody hell are we doing freezing to death out here?’
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‘Warmth! It’s so under-rated - I think I want to write a song about it!’
Gary staggered into their suite after Mark, and leant back on the door as it closed behind him; closing his eyes for a moment, he revelled in the beautiful glowing heat from the radiator.
‘S’lovely, Gaz,’ murmured Mark, throwing himself down on the bed; still fully clothed, he was wearing so many layers that he couldn’t quite lie flat, and his legs jutted up into the air. Seeing him, Gary burst into laughter.
‘You remind me of that time we put Howard’s tortoise over on its back, and the poor thing just lay there, waving its little legs in protest!’
‘C...can’t quite bring myself to take anything off,’ replied Mark, through still-chattering teeth. ‘Honestly, I might just climb under the covers like this. Not sure I’ll ever be warm again!’
‘Don’t be daft. You’ll be boiling in a few minutes. Come on!’
Throwing off his own outer layers, Gary sat down on the bed besides Mark, and grabbed hold of one well-padded arm to pull him up. Then he started to unwrap: first Mark’s gloves, then his second pair of gloves, then both the woolly hats, and then his outer-coat, then its fleecy lining and...
‘Bloody hell, Markie! Are you under here somewhere?’
‘I think so,’ giggled Mark, who was still well-hidden beneath a woolly jumper and a scarf. ‘Keep looking!’
‘Who’d have thought?’ ruminated Gary, as he persisted with his epic mission. ‘Twenty years ago, you couldn’t keep your clothes on, and when you did, it were a powder-pink crop-top and a pair of PVC hot-pants! How times have changed...oh, hold on, there you are!’
Pulling down Mark’s scarf so it tucked neatly beneath his chin, Gary finally located his mouth; Mark licked his lips and smiled, then poked some fingers out from the bottom of one of the overlong sleeves of his jumper and took Gary’s hand. Gary touched Mark’s pink-flushed cheek.
‘Bloody hell! You really are still freezing aren’t you?’
Mark nodded, clenching his teeth together. ‘Y...yes. Maybe a n...nice warm bath would help?’
‘Coming up!’ exclaimed Gary, jumping up and about to dash to the bathroom - but, to both of their dismay, there came a knock on the door.
‘Good afternoon, gentleman. Your hot-tub is ready!’
Gary, who had answered, blinked in surprise. ‘Well! That’s an impressive service - thanks! Erm, how did you know we wanted one?’
‘It’s all part of the five-star package your friends’ ordered for you,’ explained the concierge. ‘If you would like to change into your bath-robes, I’ll take you down.’
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When they were shown to the hotel’s back door, however, Gary stopped in his tracks.
‘Outside? For a bath? You’ve got to be kidding, mate!’
‘Sorry, sir, I assumed you realised that the hot-tubs were outside? Not to worry, we can show you to our indoor Jacuzzi facilities instead.’
Mark cringed at Gary, embarrassed. ‘We could just try it for a little bit, Gaz?’
‘Oh, no, no, no,’ snapped Gary. ‘I’m not having you going out there wearing just your dressing gown! You’ll catch your death of cold!’
Rubbing a peep-hole in the steamed-up glass of the door, Mark squinted out - and gasped. The fog had cleared and he could see miles across the valley towards snow covered peaks, and all were washed in the soft light of a yellowy-pink winter sun. The hot-tub was in the foreground and Mark could see the steam rising off the piping-hot water; in the snow around it, dozens of little candles had been carefully planted, their flames darting and quivering in the light winter breeze.
It looked magical. Mark caught Gary’s arm, pulled him over and showed him.
‘But...but...’
‘You’ll just have to make sure I stay warm,’ grinned Mark; he planted a soft, wet kiss on Gary’s lips. ‘Go on. You know you want to?’
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‘That...that was cold!’ panted Gary as he plunged himself into the pool. ‘You know what? I don’t think Jason and Howard like me very much - they sent me on this holiday to torture me!’
‘The air was pretty chilly,’ agreed Mark. ‘But this...mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! This is perfect!’
The pool was indeed perfect: glistening in the candlelight, it was also lit from below, and so hot that the rising steam made the air above it almost tropical. It was also just large enough for Mark to lean back and float, which he instantly tried. Not quite able to resist, Gary reached up and tickled Mark’s neck, making his arms and legs flail suddenly and causing him to sink.
‘I were enjoying that!’ protested Mark.
‘I know,’ replied Gary cheekily. ‘But this is my birthday present, and I want to enjoy you...and, erm, make sure that you’re warm enough of course!’
Curling an arm around Mark’s waist, he pulled him so near that their bodies pressed together; Mark coiled his arms around Gary’s neck, and snuggled so close that he could inhale the scent of Gary’s breath, sweet from the hot-chocolate they’d grabbed on the way in from skiing.
‘Warm enough?’ asked Gary.
‘Uh huh,’ replied Mark. ‘But, you know, I think you’d better check if, erm, you know...’
‘Better check you’re warm everywhere, eh?’ replied Gary, nodding sagely. ‘How about...here?’
Mark’s lips parted before Gary even finished the word, and their mouths crushed together, each kissing energetically. Gary explored every inch of Mark’s mouth as if it was their first time. There had been many beautiful romantic moments in their life; but, as Mark’s tongue slid sweetly against his, he decided that none compared to this.
By the time they pulled away they were both panting and breathless.
‘I liked that,’ murmured Mark, running his tongue slowly and suggestively over his shiny, wet lips. ‘And you?’
‘I’m not sure...shall we, erm...try it again?’
Mark didn’t need asking twice and this time the kiss was imbued with a fire that could have melted the icy landscape around them; Gary’s fist seized a handful of Mark’s hair as his tongue plunged ever deeper towards Mark’s throat; Mark planted his hands over the firm contours of Gary’s chest, caressing and smoothing their way over his well-muscled flesh and down towards his taut abs.
‘Eh, not there!’ said Gary, pulling away suddenly. ‘I don’t want you noticing the bulge! I ate too much cheese last night...’
‘Not likely,’ panted Mark. ‘You’re like a Greek God, Gaz! But I can...um...feel a bit of a bulge down here though...’
Gary’s eyes were bulging in a second, as Mark found his very needy erection and looped his hand around it.
‘Shall I see to it?’
‘Here? What if...’
‘Somebody sees?’ Mark winked. ‘Nah. There’s some controls over there. Now, if we just turn these up a little we can create a few more bubbles. Nobody will see a thing!’
In seconds, the pool was fizzing so hard that it was impossible to see through the surface, and Gary shuddered with pleasure. The sensation of the bubbles brushing over his already aroused member was almost too much, too soon - and then Mark’s clever hand returned, and he was unable to contain a moan.
‘Now,’ said Mark huskily. ‘Kiss me and look innocent!’
Gary nearly squeaked: ‘I’m in a hot-tub with a naked, willing Mark Owen! How is it possible to look innocent?’ But he decided to try, because he never wanted this to end.
This time, Mark didn’t just kiss Gary’s mouth, his lips explored all over his skin, softly pressing against Gary’s eyelids, licking the droplets of spray from his forehead and cheekbones, and nibbling along the stubbled line of his jaw. And, slowly at first, Mark’s fist started to pump at Gary’s shaft, his thumb caressing the too-tender tip, pushing Gary closer and closer towards ecstasy every second.
Gary squeaked: he could help it. ‘I’m going to...I’m going to...’
‘Shhhhhhhhhhh,’ hushed Mark, and plunged his tongue down Gary’s throat at just the right moment. Their limbs and tongues entwined, Gary came, the fireball of bliss exploding inside of him a hundred times as scorching as the hot-tub. And Mark kept kissing him, softer now, with a tenderness that spoke of love as well as passion - until they found themselves flopped back against the edge of the pool, panting and holding each other, staring exhaustedly towards the first twinkling stars in the night sky.
‘That was...amazing,’ breathed Gary.
‘Glad you enjoyed it,’ whispered Mark, nestling his cheek into the crook of Gary’s neck, and stroking his chest. ‘Warm enough?’
‘Yeah!’ laughed Gary. ‘You?’
Mark winced. ‘To be honest, I think the night air’s starting to seep through. What I could really do with is a nice meal, a nice bottle of wine and then...’
‘...a nice warm bed?’
Mark nodded enthusiastically, and Gary hugged him tightly, pressing a kiss into his damp hair.
‘I think that can be provided,’ he mused. ‘And you know what?’
‘What, Gaz?’ murmured Mark dreamily.
‘Seeing as you’ve shown me just how scorching it can be outside, I think it’s only right if I make that bed even warmer than this hot-tub, eh?’
After that, they indulged in just one more kiss, before the evening really began.
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