Like Vines We Intertwine (Part II) - Steve/Danny - NC-17
It takes a moment for Steve’s brain to catch up. He’s not straight then?
He captures Danny’s roving mouth for a deeper kiss; it’s warm and lush beneath his, parting to welcome him. They melt into each other, lips dragging against each other, pressing deliciously. It’s even better than Steve had imagined; his entire body is alight with excitement. Tastes of strawberry and cream linger in Danny’s mouth, and Steve chases the sweetness with his tongue, sweeping into the slick, inviting warmth.
“Wanted this for so long,” he murmurs against Danny’s lips before kissing his way across his jaw, into his hair. He buries a hand in Danny’s carefully maintained coif, delighted to make it mussed and disheveled. He’s harbored a little fantasy about that for the longest time. “It killed me when you stayed over here, watching you sleep on the sofa, knowing you were downstairs.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Danny held him at arm’s length, looking into his face.
“Danny, we’re best friends. I didn’t want to ruin it. I didn’t think you felt the same. I mean, you’ve been married, there’s all the stuff you’ve got with Rachel, and then you were going out with Gabby. Why would I think you’d want me?”
“Aside from the fact that you’re sex on a stick?”
Steve doesn’t know how to respond to that. He knows he’s attractive, but it’s surprising to hear that Danny sees him that way. After all this time working together - he had no idea.
“Why do you think I couldn’t sleep when I was staying here?” Danny continues. "All I could think about was you in your room upstairs, lying in bed with your shirt off. Didn’t have anything to do with the waves.”
“Really?” Steve grins, pleased and relieved that he wasn’t completely crazy. “You’re full of surprises.”
“You idiot. I’m nuts about you, always have been. I just...well, to be honest, I didn’t know you were into guys. You didn’t give a me a clue, what with you and Catherine...”
“That’s a friends with benefits sort of thing. She’s off for months at a time. We have an arrangement, good times when we’re together. That’s it.”
Danny cups the back of Steve’s neck, fingers his hair. “Okay.”
“Yeah. I was never into commitment. With my life the way it was, running off constantly on assignments I couldn’t talk about, I didn’t think it was fair to anyone else. Of course, now I’m settled, in one place...” He trails off and tightens his arm around Danny’s shoulders. Suddenly things seem very different.
“Let’s not talk any more,” he says, pulling Danny into a kiss. It seems to go on forever, tongues sliding against each other, Danny’s nose pressed against his, close, so close, closer than he ever thought possible. The unique smell of him, the rasp of his cheek against Steve’s - it all ratchets up the long-suppressed desire coiled inside him so his dick strains painfully against his shorts. When Danny’s hand inches up his thigh, he jerks at the intimate touch and orders himself not to come. That would just be embarrassing.
Warm fingers find their way under the hem of his shorts, all the way up to his briefs. They linger at the top of the thigh where the skin’s tender and soft. Steve holds every part of himself still, so still that his breath seems to have stopped.
Then the fingers dip into the valley between his legs. Danny’s breath hitches, a sharp inhale; his eyes darken to the midnight blue of the night sky. Steve’s desire sharpens to a keen edge and he tries desperately to hold on to his composure. He’s never done this with a man he’s already so close to, a man he knows as well as Danny. The intimacy of the moment is shocking and Danny hasn’t even touched his cock yet. It bulges insistently, a rigid column that’s a twin to Danny’s. Steve can’t wait to get his hands and mouth on that thickness, strip it of its blue denim sheath, and taste the bare skin.
Danny’s tongue in his mouth rouses him to action. It’s forceful, probing; soon Danny’s sucking on his mouth, nipping at his lips, driving Steve fucking crazy. Finally Steve palms Danny’s erection through the damnably thick denim, the shape and feel of it under his fingers making his mouth water. In a frenzy he grinds his ass into Danny’s thigh, licks at the little V of Danny’s chest that’s visible about his shirt. Danny’s pecs are firm under his roaming hand, the nipples hard and peaked against his palm. With the sling, he has only one hand free to touch and it's frustrating as hell. Even if it's with just one hand, Steve feels lightheaded at the prospect of stripping off Danny’s shirt and exploring all that skin and muscle.
When he falls to his knees between Danny’s legs, ignoring the stiff soreness of his whole body Danny’s eyes go wide and dazed. One hand clamps onto Steve's good shoulder and his breath comes in soft little pants. Steve smirks as he thumbs open the button of the jeans.
"Unbutton your shirt," he orders Danny, nuzzling into the opening of his jeans and inhaling the scent of his warm, exposed skin. Silent save for the rush of his breath, Danny complies. When he's done he drags Steve's free hand up his chest so the fingers trail lightly over his skin, over his stomach, through the smattering of hair up to his pecs and nipples. He lets the hand fall. Eyes fixed on Danny's, Steve drags the pad of his finger softly across one nipple, then the other, his hand cupping the solid muscle underneath. Danny bites his lower lip and Steve's belly tenses with burning want. Danny looks so fucking hot like this, shirt swept to the side to expose his naked chest, pants undone, lips red and swollen from kissing.
Steve brings his hand down slowly, lowers his head to swipe his tongue over Danny's taut stomach. He travels up to the belly button, circling it, then licking down the trail of hair to the waistband. Just for kicks, he bites down on the zipper opener, the metal rasping between his teeth, and tugs it down.
“Show off,” Danny says, eyes half-lidded. He cups Steve’s face, then outlines his lips with his thumb. Steve bites the digit gently before sucking it into his mouth. Lips parted, Danny watches intently as Steve circles the thumb with his tongue, sucks softly on the tip. Danny licks his lips and slides down in his chair so his crotch butts Steve’s chin. “Fucking tease,” he says, panting slightly.
Steve grins and releases Danny’s thumb, giving it another bite for good measure. “Impatient, are we?”
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
“Well, I’d like to get to know your asshole.”
“Lame, Steve. Very lame.” But Danny’s eyes grow more glazed. Steve can practically feel his pulse radiating through the crotch of his pants.
He draws his hand down Danny’s thighs, stroking the span of hard muscle. He imagines those thighs clenching around his waist, quivering with desire. And if the look in Danny’s eye is any measure, it won’t take very long.
“Steve. Damn it.” Danny takes Steve’s hand and shoves it onto his rock-hard cock.
Steve sucks in a breath, but manages to say, “Something you wanted?” He has half a mind to make Danny beg, but he’s just as anxious to get his mouth on the goods. His own legs tremble. Danny’s erection throbs under his palm.
“Babe, please.” Danny practically whines.
It feels so good. Solid and alive under his touch. He puts Danny out of his misery and mouths the length of his erection through the cotton of his briefs. Danny lets out a shivery sigh. Steve lingers on the wet spot at the top, pressing his mouth harder, and Danny arches up into the sensation.
Danny’s this hard for him. It’s not a dream, not another of the hundred and one fantasies he’s indulged in since they started working together. This is actually happening.
Danny’s hands are gripping Steve’s hair now, it would hurt if Steve wasn’t so overwhelmed by his own aching desire, by Danny’s scent, the feel of him under his tongue, under his hand...and he hasn’t even seen him naked yet.
He undoes his own pants to relieve some of the discomfort of his straining erection.
“Hey, hey, what are you doing?” Danny grunts. “That’s for me, not you.”
“Just need more space,” Steve says.
Eyes half closed, Danny nods. “Okay. Get back to what you were doing there. Feels good.”
“Mmm,” Steve half moans as he grasps the top of Danny’s underpants and jeans and pulls them down. Danny lifts up his ass to help. He's soon bare to his ankles, revealed in his full glory, dick completely erect and slightly bowed to the left, a lush dark beige with shades of deep red, nestled in dark blond pubic hair.
“Fuck, Danny,” Steve whispers, then bites his lower lip. He’s gorgeous. Steve runs a hand up Danny’s thigh, skimming the inside, then over his balls and up his cock. He grips it at the top and thrills when Danny’s thighs tremble at last. Danny throws his head back as Steve continues to caress him, the strong column of his neck displayed to full effect, his torso all golden skin and coiled muscle.
“Jesus, Steve, please,” Danny pleads.
Steve peers up at him with an arched brow. He’s more than ready but he wants to savor the moment, not take it too fast. He wants everything Danny has to offer, the toned thighs and that fucking fantastic ass. He sinks down onto Danny’s dick, licks it clear up and down, tasting it, soaking up the smell of him, rich and Danny-like and not like anyone else. He follows the line of a vein downward with his tongue, flattens it at the base before swirling down around his balls. The fine hairs of his balls slip under Steve’s tongue; when he sucks them in his mouth, the soft, slack skin tightens and Danny groans aloud. Steve moans in return, slides his one good hand up to Danny’s hip to clutch his hipbone, the cut of muscle right above. He tries to get his hand on Danny’s ass, but the position’s too awkward. Steve has lots of plans for that ass. The most he can do now is feel the swell at the top, dip his finger slightly into the valley between the butt cheeks.
At which Danny urges Steve’s head forward into his canting hips. Steve obliges, working his mouth and tongue up and down, bringing his free hand to the front to add a few deft twists to the mix. All along, he’s trying to judge what Danny likes, to make him moan embarrassingly loud.
Yeah, there, he thinks, when Danny suddenly tenses and sucks in a breath. Steve flicks fingers over his balls as he plunges Danny’s cock into his mouth, swallows it down and down. Danny pumps his hips, his dick hitting the back of Steve’s throat. Steve almost gags but manages to hold it back, so he can lavish Danny’s cock with more wet, hot pleasure as it thrusts even deeper.
Danny’s close, he can feel it; the tension in his legs, in his hips, the pressure of his hand on Steve’s good shoulder. He finds himself letting go his own moan with the intensity of it, the taste of precome bitter on his tongue. He slicks Danny’s dick with it and it’s so hot, to feel the slip-slide of it under his fingers. Danny grunts, yanks Steve’s hair hard so it hurts, and Steve pulls away just as white-hot come squirts up Danny’s belly.
“God,” Danny murmurs, hand stroking Steve’s hair, thumb brushing his cheek. Steve looks up at him in awe. He loves seeing Danny in the throes of pleasure, all because of him. It makes his chest tight, warmth seeping in his stomach. He leans against Danny’s thigh and holds him by the waist, thinking that now he has a lot more incentive to get this damn sling off so he can give Danny what he deserves.
“That was amazing,” Danny says, voice lazy and spent, his head lolling against the back of the chair. He looks down at Steve with half-lidded eyes and a small grin. “Babe.”
Steve grins back and dips his index finger in the mess on Danny’s stomach. “Mmmm, delicious.” It’s not, but since it’s Danny, it’s better than the finest meal in town.
“I’ll say,” Danny replies, looking utterly sated, as if weighed down with sandbags. “Come’ere,” he slurs, a lopsided grin on his face as he pulls Steve up, trying not to knock against his arm and shoulder. “You’re pretty good at that with only one hand. I can’t wait to see what you can do with two.”
Steve nestles into him as best he can, considering the significant difference in their heights. He can barely fit, he feels kind of silly, but Danny’s got a good grip on his leg and his arm around him is like steel. Steve wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now. “I think you’re going to find out as soon as I get this thing off.”
“I’ll take you up on that, definitely.” Danny’s hand skirts up Steve’s side then sneaks under his shirt to the warm skin underneath. Steve finds himself leaning in closer so their faces are almost touching, as Danny’s hand lazily drags over his bare skin. Steve bites Danny’s earlobe, tries to find a way to rub his crotch against Danny, kind of curls around his middle so he’s rubbing against his stomach, anything to get some kind of friction against his aching erection.
“Looks like you need some help there, buddy,” Danny says, arm clear up Steve’s shirt so he’s caressing his upper back, then sweeping it up and down the length of his back in a way that makes Steve sigh with pleasure. “Tell me what you want,” he murmurs before kissing Steve softly on the lips. He takes his hand out of Steve’s shirt to bring it up around the back of his neck, pulling Steve close to deepen the kiss. “Anything. I still haven’t forgotten that I’m the one responsible for this sling. Now I have new ways to make it up to you.”
“Mmm, you make a good point,” Steve says, his voice suddenly raspy. He can think of a few things. One in particular having to do with Danny’s spectacular ass. He grimaces when he thinks of his useless shoulder and arm. But maybe... “Danny.” He bites Danny’s neck, then soothes it with his tongue as Danny stretches it. “I wanna fuck you. Like, really bad,” he says throatily. “But my shoulder...”
Danny’s chest heaves, and Steve doesn’t miss his darkening eyes. “God, Steve. Me too. I want that.” He pauses. “Just hold on. I got an idea. Get up.” He summarily dumps Steve out of his lap and grabs a wad of napkins to clean himself up. Holding his pants up, still undone, he leads Steve by the hand inside. “You got...stuff?”
Oh god. Steve colors a bit. Okay, he’s a big boy, it’s entirely legitimate that he’d have “stuff.” Danny’s not the first person he’s had sex with. “Yeah,” he says gruffly. “Back in a sec.”
The errand gives him a moment alone to collect himself. Things are moving so fast, it’s almost unsettling. He’s had it bad for Danny for what seems like forever, but he hadn’t been lying when he told Danny he didn’t want to ruin their friendship or their work relationship. What if this totally fucked that up? Danny was the best work partner he’d ever had, despite all the bumps in the road and he genuinely relied on Danny’s law enforcement experience. At this point, they’d been through hell and back together and that wasn’t something to throw off lightly. Then he thought of the look in Danny’s eyes when he first kissed him, the feeling of wholeness and completion he felt when he brought Danny to an orgasm, saw the transported look on his face; he knew he couldn’t stop things here. He wasn’t that strong. Finding someone like Danny was something precious, maybe even a once in a lifetime thing. Life was too short to say no to that.
All the way back downstairs, he wears a smile as big as the mouth of Mauna Loa. Yeah. This is right. This is good.
When he gets down to the living room, his mouth goes completely dry. There’s Danny, butt naked, splayed out on the couch and languidly playing with his hardening dick. His eyes are closed, but as soon as he hears Steve approach, they pop open. “Hey. Got the stuff?”
Steve gulps. “Yeah.” It barely comes out, his throat’s so rough. He steps closer to the couch and hesitates, staring down at Danny looking like a fucking porn star. His cock feels like it’s been hard for five years. He drops his shorts and steps out of them, handing Danny the condom and lube.
“Yeah,” Danny exclaims excitedly, like he’s a teenager about to have sex for the first time and he can’t believe his luck. Steve half expects a high five. Danny slicks up his hand and then, eyes glued to Steve’s face, reaches behind and starts fingering himself. All of Steve’s blood supply promptly drains to his groin.
“Come here,” Danny says, all sultry-eyed as he keeps fingering himself. Steve gingerly sits on the couch next to Danny, wondering if he’s actually drooling yet and feeling somewhat self-conscious about the epic proportions of the erection jutting out from under his shirt.
Danny rubs his foot on Steve’s thigh, then breaks off to help Steve get his shirt off - he can't manage it by himself because of the sling. Once he's flung it off, Danny pauses, giving Steve a good slow once over. Steve can see his adam’s apple working. Danny clears his throat. “Okay, yeah. Just lie down and I’ll take care of everything. You don’t have to do a thing. Capice?”
Steve grins. He’s starting to get the picture. He gives Danny a small salute. “Aye, aye cap’n.” He’s still grinning like a lunatic when Danny manhandles him into a semi-reclining position on the end of the couch, his dick swinging in Steve’s face. He takes care to place a couple of pillows under Steve’s back and a couple more under his head and injured shoulder. With the excuse of being injured, Steve feels a little frisson of excitement at the way Danny’s taking charge, forcing his limbs this way and that.
“There,” Danny says. “Now just lie there. Don’t move your arm or that doc’ll be after me. Something tells me she’ll know exactly how it happened too.” He starts sweeping his hands up Steve’s chest, dipping down to place a line of kisses from his neck to his stomach, all the time his hands kneading Steve’s waist, his thighs, touching everywhere. Steve hasn’t had this much attention paid to him in a long time. It feels good, damn good. And best of all, Danny’s making these little satisfied noises, like he’s thoroughly enjoying himself. But if he doesn’t get on with things, Steve’s going to sneak decaf into his morning coffee every day for a week.
Danny grazes Steve’s cock with his lips, just a teasing touch, enough to make Steve buck his hips and practically cry with frustration. He can see Danny smirking, the bastard, his head ducked down, heading for Steve’s balls. He proceeds to lick them like they’re coated with powdered sugar, his eyes closed in concentration. His finger pets one of Steve’s nipples, drawing slowly back and forth over the tightened bud of flesh, and how did Danny know how sensitive Steve is there, how that little movement sends sparks of heat straight to his groin?
“You’re killing me here, Danny.” Steve draws a hand through Danny’s disheveled hair. It lops over his forehead, making him look ten years younger.
“I’m getting there. The Danny Williams approach takes time, like a fine wine.” Steve chuckles lowly. He’s practically panting now.
“But if you insist.” Danny reaches for the condom and with a filthy grin, makes a big display of opening the packet and unrolling it onto Steve’s aching hard-on. He looks unfocused by the time he’s finished, licking his lips. Steve notices he puts the lube on much more quickly than the condom. “Okay, babe, spread your legs.” Danny smoothes his hands up Steve’s inner thighs, puts a slight pressure on them to encourage the movement. “Yeah, that’s it.”
Steve feels exposed, his erection suited up and on display, legs splayed wide and wanton. This is the moment of truth now. His eyes gravitate to Danny’s and linger. What he sees there is nothing but love and acceptance. A bubble of happiness floats up inside him. Somehow he’s happy to let Danny order him around this way - usually he has to be in control. But there’s something about Danny that makes it feel good to let go.
The next thing he knows, Danny’s turned around, squirming onto his stomach and chest so they’re facing the same way, his left arm snaked around Steve’s neck. “Here,” he says, pulling Steve’s good right arm around him. He tucks it under his arm so Steve’s hand can spread over his chest and nipple. Danny’s breath is coming short now, rough little pants of anticipation. Steve loves the feel of his weight pressing on him, his compact body snug up against his. In this position Steve can look down at Danny’s cock, sticking up his belly like a thick arrow, the tan expanse of sleek musculature. He reaches for Danny’s cock and draws his hand up it. He can still taste it in his mouth. Danny trembles slightly as Steve touches him.
Danny scoots up Steve’s chest so he can line up the head of Steve’s cock with his hole. The movement robs Steve of breath. It feels so intimate. Even though he wants this desperately, he’s still nervous. He’s not a virgin in this department, but it never felt as important before.
“Ready?” Danny’s voice is close, low in Steve’s ear. His fingers curl around Steve’s neck, warm.
“Yeah,” he whispers, focused on the proximity of his dick and Danny's asshole. Steve can barely get out the word. His pulse pounds.
Danny slowly lowers himself onto Steve. When the blunt tip first breaches his hole, he makes a helpless little noise, then pauses.
“You okay?” Steve asks. “We don’t have to...”
Danny cuts him off. “No. Please. I want to. Just been awhile.” He rests his head against the side of Steve’s then kisses his cheek, open-mouthed and wet, breath harsh against Steve’s skin. “Want to feel you inside me.”
Steve isn’t about to argue with that. Danny’s hand clings to Steve’s neck and his entire body is pulled tight as a bow as Steve’s cock slowly, slowly enters him. It’s the most erotic thing Steve’s ever seen. The snug, hot embrace of Danny’s body around his erection leaves him breathless. As Danny lowers himself further, they both pant with tension and anticipation, the process excruciating in the way of any great pleasure, squeezing and pushing in turns.
Steve kisses Danny’s cheek, then flings his head back with clenched eyes as Danny finally seats himself fully on his dick. They both are still for a moment, adjusting to the feeling. Sweat slicks their skin where their bodies meet. Steve knows he’s making some kind of embarrassing noise already, but the feeling is too intense to keep quiet. “God, Danny,” he pants. Danny just grunts in response, already moving against Steve’s cock, grinding his ass into Steve’s stomach, his whole body melded against Steve’s, and Jesus, it’s the hottest thing Steve has ever experienced.
Steve reaches to grip Danny’s dick, hard velvet in his palm and Danny’s movements become more frantic as Steve jacks him, pre-come slick. Steve’s dick feels like it’s being squeezed in rhythmic ripples of pleasure as Danny works himself up and down. Danny’s fingers are probably leaving bruises on Steve’s neck, he’s clutching so hard, but Steve could care less, because now he can feel the pulsing tide of an orgasm building. Jesus, fuck. Danny turns and grabs his mouth in a sloppy wet kiss, their bodies squelching together in an erratic beat, the sounds positively filthy. They don’t even pretend to kiss anymore, their mouths open wide and faces wet with saliva, barely pressed together, breathing the same hot air.
Steve comes first, in a heady rush, the pleasure exquisite and blocking out everything else. His cock pulses inside Danny. Inside Danny. God. His hand stills on Danny’s cock as he comes, then Danny takes over, bringing himself off with just a few strokes.
“Aw, man, sorry,” Steve mumbles, like he fell down on the job. Danny’s body is slack against his, everything is moist, gobs of Danny’s come sprayed on both of them. They’re a mess. Steve laughs. God, he feels so good right now.
“‘S all right,” Danny says, almost inaudibly, damp head leaning against Steve’s. “Jesus Christ. That was...um.” He trails off, apparently not having the energy for words. Steve feels a small chuckle against his neck. “Yeah. I feel like the world exploded or something. Is this even for real?” He rotates his ass around Steve’s dick then starts to pull off with a grunt. Steve’s diminishing cock plops onto his belly as Danny scoots to his side, stretching out next to Steve with an ah of pleasure. Steve makes room for him, as much as he can on the narrow couch, and pulls off the condom. Danny ties it off and flings it aside for future disposal.
He settles back down and plays with Steve’s bare cock, his fingers lingering on the tender, softening skin. “Beautiful.”
Steve snorts. “Yeah, right.”
Danny levers himself up to look at him. “It is, you dope.” They gaze at each other for a moment then Steve lowers his eyes. “Like the rest of you,” Danny continues, voice soft.
“You’re crazy,” Steve says. He’s not used to anyone talking like that about him. This is all so new. It feels raw, scrapes at his consciousness. And yet it isn’t new at all. The old way is still there. This is like building a new layer on top, finding a new dimension to their relationship.
“I’ll be honest, this feels scary,” Steve forces himself to say. Now that they’ve dived right in to the deep end, may as well keep going.
Danny looks down at Steve’s chest, where his hand roams quietly over the sparse hair. “It doesn’t have to be. It’s still you and me. Just different.”
“I suppose.”
“You said you felt this way for awhile. So just look at it as, we can finally be honest with each other.”
Steve captures the hand on his chest. “Yeah. I like that.” It’s true. It’s just an adjustment. He’s been hiding his feelings for so long. It’s still a shock that Danny feels the same way. It’s unreal, to tell you the truth. He squeezes Danny’s hand and looks up into his eyes, a small grin stealing over his features. “This is real, right?” He feels dumb saying it out loud, but he wants Danny to say the words. He needs it in a bone-deep way.
Danny looks at him for a moment, eyes darting over his face, then leans in to kiss him on the lips. “You betcha,” he says. “No way you’re getting out of my clutches now. We’ve got some things to try out when you get that sling off. And I still need to mother-hen you for awhile to get rid of my guilt. You wouldn’t deprive me of that, would you? A good boyfriend wouldn’t.”
“Boyfriend?” Steve nearly squeaks.
Danny settles back down on the sofa pillow with a self-satisfied air. “That’s what I said.”
Steve sighs. “When Kono finds out about this, she’s gonna say I’m whipped, isn’t she?”
“Oh, she already knows that. That’s been clear from day one when you gave me those swim with the dolphins tickets.”
Steve not so accidentally knocks Danny’s head with his elbow.
“Ow!”
“Just wait until I have my other arm back.”
“Oh, I can’t wait.” Danny rolls over onto Steve and rocks their hips together suggestively. “Can...not...wait.”
*
The morning starts slowly. In light of everything that had happened with Grace's kidnapping, Steve had given Danny the day off and of course Steve was on sick leave. So they had nowhere they had to go and could wake up in a leisurely manner. By the time Steve wakes up, the sun is high and burning brightly through the scrim of the curtains in his bedroom. Steam rises from a mug of coffee on his night table; the smell is like ambrosia. The bed is empty but there's a Danny-sized imprint on the sheets and a pile of Danny's clothes in the corner the room. It makes Steve's heart do a funny little flip-flop.
He could get used to this.
Danny appears with a tray full of breakfast things. "Hey," he says. "You're finally up. How're you feeling?"
Steve's head is pounding and he's afraid to move his shoulder too much. "About like you'd expect. Could be better. Those aren't eggs, are they?"
"No, you idiot. Got us malasadas. And a protein smoothie and pain meds for you. Breakfast of champions."
Steve's face breaks into a smile. "You did? Awesome. Pineapple banana?"
Danny nods. "Your favorite. Although, again, the pineapple thing? Not so much. I'd stick with strawberry." He places the tray on the bed in front of Steve. "You saw the coffee, right?"
"Danny, you're gonna spoil me with all this."
"It's just until you get better. Then you're on your own."
Steve casts his eyes down at the tray, getting the sneaking feeling that he's not going to like being on his own again. "Yeah, okay." He takes a sip of the smoothie. He can feel the life coming back to him already. "Don't suppose there's any chance you'd get back in bed, is there? I was kind of looking forward to waking up with you."
Danny beams at him for a moment before replying. "Well, as tempting as that is, can it wait until I call Rachel and see how Grace is doing?"
Grace…Steve had almost forgotten. Danny must still be worried about her. And if he knew Danny, he'd be wracked with guilt about what happened.
"You should ask her if Grace can come over here this afternoon. You guys can swim at the beach, relax, then maybe we can watch a movie." It would be good for the two of them to unwind, and Steve could lie on the beach, maybe take a nap.
"Really? You'd do that?" Danny asks. "I think she'd really like that. Will you let her make you chocolate chip cookies?"
"Yes, Danno, I'll let her make me chocolate chip cookies."
"You might have to watch that Justin Bieber concert movie. Just so you know."
"Uh, she doesn't like Iron Man? I was kind of planning to watch that. I didn't tell you about this before because, well…you know." Steve gestures vaguely. "I kind of have a thing for Robert Downey, Jr."
Danny just looks at him. "No, Steven, little girls do not like Iron Man. It's either Justin Bieber or Enchanted."
Steve sighs. "Who's in that?"
"Amy Adams? Redhead?"
"Okay, I'll take that one."
"But you can tell me about all your Iron Man fantasies after Grace goes to bed."
Steve leers. "What time's her bedtime? Six thirty?"
"I could still make you eggs for lunch, you know."
Steve holds up his hands and laughs. "No, no, anything but that. I can wait 'til eight."
He captures Danny’s roving mouth for a deeper kiss; it’s warm and lush beneath his, parting to welcome him. They melt into each other, lips dragging against each other, pressing deliciously. It’s even better than Steve had imagined; his entire body is alight with excitement. Tastes of strawberry and cream linger in Danny’s mouth, and Steve chases the sweetness with his tongue, sweeping into the slick, inviting warmth.
“Wanted this for so long,” he murmurs against Danny’s lips before kissing his way across his jaw, into his hair. He buries a hand in Danny’s carefully maintained coif, delighted to make it mussed and disheveled. He’s harbored a little fantasy about that for the longest time. “It killed me when you stayed over here, watching you sleep on the sofa, knowing you were downstairs.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Danny held him at arm’s length, looking into his face.
“Danny, we’re best friends. I didn’t want to ruin it. I didn’t think you felt the same. I mean, you’ve been married, there’s all the stuff you’ve got with Rachel, and then you were going out with Gabby. Why would I think you’d want me?”
“Aside from the fact that you’re sex on a stick?”
Steve doesn’t know how to respond to that. He knows he’s attractive, but it’s surprising to hear that Danny sees him that way. After all this time working together - he had no idea.
“Why do you think I couldn’t sleep when I was staying here?” Danny continues. "All I could think about was you in your room upstairs, lying in bed with your shirt off. Didn’t have anything to do with the waves.”
“Really?” Steve grins, pleased and relieved that he wasn’t completely crazy. “You’re full of surprises.”
“You idiot. I’m nuts about you, always have been. I just...well, to be honest, I didn’t know you were into guys. You didn’t give a me a clue, what with you and Catherine...”
“That’s a friends with benefits sort of thing. She’s off for months at a time. We have an arrangement, good times when we’re together. That’s it.”
Danny cups the back of Steve’s neck, fingers his hair. “Okay.”
“Yeah. I was never into commitment. With my life the way it was, running off constantly on assignments I couldn’t talk about, I didn’t think it was fair to anyone else. Of course, now I’m settled, in one place...” He trails off and tightens his arm around Danny’s shoulders. Suddenly things seem very different.
“Let’s not talk any more,” he says, pulling Danny into a kiss. It seems to go on forever, tongues sliding against each other, Danny’s nose pressed against his, close, so close, closer than he ever thought possible. The unique smell of him, the rasp of his cheek against Steve’s - it all ratchets up the long-suppressed desire coiled inside him so his dick strains painfully against his shorts. When Danny’s hand inches up his thigh, he jerks at the intimate touch and orders himself not to come. That would just be embarrassing.
Warm fingers find their way under the hem of his shorts, all the way up to his briefs. They linger at the top of the thigh where the skin’s tender and soft. Steve holds every part of himself still, so still that his breath seems to have stopped.
Then the fingers dip into the valley between his legs. Danny’s breath hitches, a sharp inhale; his eyes darken to the midnight blue of the night sky. Steve’s desire sharpens to a keen edge and he tries desperately to hold on to his composure. He’s never done this with a man he’s already so close to, a man he knows as well as Danny. The intimacy of the moment is shocking and Danny hasn’t even touched his cock yet. It bulges insistently, a rigid column that’s a twin to Danny’s. Steve can’t wait to get his hands and mouth on that thickness, strip it of its blue denim sheath, and taste the bare skin.
Danny’s tongue in his mouth rouses him to action. It’s forceful, probing; soon Danny’s sucking on his mouth, nipping at his lips, driving Steve fucking crazy. Finally Steve palms Danny’s erection through the damnably thick denim, the shape and feel of it under his fingers making his mouth water. In a frenzy he grinds his ass into Danny’s thigh, licks at the little V of Danny’s chest that’s visible about his shirt. Danny’s pecs are firm under his roaming hand, the nipples hard and peaked against his palm. With the sling, he has only one hand free to touch and it's frustrating as hell. Even if it's with just one hand, Steve feels lightheaded at the prospect of stripping off Danny’s shirt and exploring all that skin and muscle.
When he falls to his knees between Danny’s legs, ignoring the stiff soreness of his whole body Danny’s eyes go wide and dazed. One hand clamps onto Steve's good shoulder and his breath comes in soft little pants. Steve smirks as he thumbs open the button of the jeans.
"Unbutton your shirt," he orders Danny, nuzzling into the opening of his jeans and inhaling the scent of his warm, exposed skin. Silent save for the rush of his breath, Danny complies. When he's done he drags Steve's free hand up his chest so the fingers trail lightly over his skin, over his stomach, through the smattering of hair up to his pecs and nipples. He lets the hand fall. Eyes fixed on Danny's, Steve drags the pad of his finger softly across one nipple, then the other, his hand cupping the solid muscle underneath. Danny bites his lower lip and Steve's belly tenses with burning want. Danny looks so fucking hot like this, shirt swept to the side to expose his naked chest, pants undone, lips red and swollen from kissing.
Steve brings his hand down slowly, lowers his head to swipe his tongue over Danny's taut stomach. He travels up to the belly button, circling it, then licking down the trail of hair to the waistband. Just for kicks, he bites down on the zipper opener, the metal rasping between his teeth, and tugs it down.
“Show off,” Danny says, eyes half-lidded. He cups Steve’s face, then outlines his lips with his thumb. Steve bites the digit gently before sucking it into his mouth. Lips parted, Danny watches intently as Steve circles the thumb with his tongue, sucks softly on the tip. Danny licks his lips and slides down in his chair so his crotch butts Steve’s chin. “Fucking tease,” he says, panting slightly.
Steve grins and releases Danny’s thumb, giving it another bite for good measure. “Impatient, are we?”
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
“Well, I’d like to get to know your asshole.”
“Lame, Steve. Very lame.” But Danny’s eyes grow more glazed. Steve can practically feel his pulse radiating through the crotch of his pants.
He draws his hand down Danny’s thighs, stroking the span of hard muscle. He imagines those thighs clenching around his waist, quivering with desire. And if the look in Danny’s eye is any measure, it won’t take very long.
“Steve. Damn it.” Danny takes Steve’s hand and shoves it onto his rock-hard cock.
Steve sucks in a breath, but manages to say, “Something you wanted?” He has half a mind to make Danny beg, but he’s just as anxious to get his mouth on the goods. His own legs tremble. Danny’s erection throbs under his palm.
“Babe, please.” Danny practically whines.
It feels so good. Solid and alive under his touch. He puts Danny out of his misery and mouths the length of his erection through the cotton of his briefs. Danny lets out a shivery sigh. Steve lingers on the wet spot at the top, pressing his mouth harder, and Danny arches up into the sensation.
Danny’s this hard for him. It’s not a dream, not another of the hundred and one fantasies he’s indulged in since they started working together. This is actually happening.
Danny’s hands are gripping Steve’s hair now, it would hurt if Steve wasn’t so overwhelmed by his own aching desire, by Danny’s scent, the feel of him under his tongue, under his hand...and he hasn’t even seen him naked yet.
He undoes his own pants to relieve some of the discomfort of his straining erection.
“Hey, hey, what are you doing?” Danny grunts. “That’s for me, not you.”
“Just need more space,” Steve says.
Eyes half closed, Danny nods. “Okay. Get back to what you were doing there. Feels good.”
“Mmm,” Steve half moans as he grasps the top of Danny’s underpants and jeans and pulls them down. Danny lifts up his ass to help. He's soon bare to his ankles, revealed in his full glory, dick completely erect and slightly bowed to the left, a lush dark beige with shades of deep red, nestled in dark blond pubic hair.
“Fuck, Danny,” Steve whispers, then bites his lower lip. He’s gorgeous. Steve runs a hand up Danny’s thigh, skimming the inside, then over his balls and up his cock. He grips it at the top and thrills when Danny’s thighs tremble at last. Danny throws his head back as Steve continues to caress him, the strong column of his neck displayed to full effect, his torso all golden skin and coiled muscle.
“Jesus, Steve, please,” Danny pleads.
Steve peers up at him with an arched brow. He’s more than ready but he wants to savor the moment, not take it too fast. He wants everything Danny has to offer, the toned thighs and that fucking fantastic ass. He sinks down onto Danny’s dick, licks it clear up and down, tasting it, soaking up the smell of him, rich and Danny-like and not like anyone else. He follows the line of a vein downward with his tongue, flattens it at the base before swirling down around his balls. The fine hairs of his balls slip under Steve’s tongue; when he sucks them in his mouth, the soft, slack skin tightens and Danny groans aloud. Steve moans in return, slides his one good hand up to Danny’s hip to clutch his hipbone, the cut of muscle right above. He tries to get his hand on Danny’s ass, but the position’s too awkward. Steve has lots of plans for that ass. The most he can do now is feel the swell at the top, dip his finger slightly into the valley between the butt cheeks.
At which Danny urges Steve’s head forward into his canting hips. Steve obliges, working his mouth and tongue up and down, bringing his free hand to the front to add a few deft twists to the mix. All along, he’s trying to judge what Danny likes, to make him moan embarrassingly loud.
Yeah, there, he thinks, when Danny suddenly tenses and sucks in a breath. Steve flicks fingers over his balls as he plunges Danny’s cock into his mouth, swallows it down and down. Danny pumps his hips, his dick hitting the back of Steve’s throat. Steve almost gags but manages to hold it back, so he can lavish Danny’s cock with more wet, hot pleasure as it thrusts even deeper.
Danny’s close, he can feel it; the tension in his legs, in his hips, the pressure of his hand on Steve’s good shoulder. He finds himself letting go his own moan with the intensity of it, the taste of precome bitter on his tongue. He slicks Danny’s dick with it and it’s so hot, to feel the slip-slide of it under his fingers. Danny grunts, yanks Steve’s hair hard so it hurts, and Steve pulls away just as white-hot come squirts up Danny’s belly.
“God,” Danny murmurs, hand stroking Steve’s hair, thumb brushing his cheek. Steve looks up at him in awe. He loves seeing Danny in the throes of pleasure, all because of him. It makes his chest tight, warmth seeping in his stomach. He leans against Danny’s thigh and holds him by the waist, thinking that now he has a lot more incentive to get this damn sling off so he can give Danny what he deserves.
“That was amazing,” Danny says, voice lazy and spent, his head lolling against the back of the chair. He looks down at Steve with half-lidded eyes and a small grin. “Babe.”
Steve grins back and dips his index finger in the mess on Danny’s stomach. “Mmmm, delicious.” It’s not, but since it’s Danny, it’s better than the finest meal in town.
“I’ll say,” Danny replies, looking utterly sated, as if weighed down with sandbags. “Come’ere,” he slurs, a lopsided grin on his face as he pulls Steve up, trying not to knock against his arm and shoulder. “You’re pretty good at that with only one hand. I can’t wait to see what you can do with two.”
Steve nestles into him as best he can, considering the significant difference in their heights. He can barely fit, he feels kind of silly, but Danny’s got a good grip on his leg and his arm around him is like steel. Steve wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now. “I think you’re going to find out as soon as I get this thing off.”
“I’ll take you up on that, definitely.” Danny’s hand skirts up Steve’s side then sneaks under his shirt to the warm skin underneath. Steve finds himself leaning in closer so their faces are almost touching, as Danny’s hand lazily drags over his bare skin. Steve bites Danny’s earlobe, tries to find a way to rub his crotch against Danny, kind of curls around his middle so he’s rubbing against his stomach, anything to get some kind of friction against his aching erection.
“Looks like you need some help there, buddy,” Danny says, arm clear up Steve’s shirt so he’s caressing his upper back, then sweeping it up and down the length of his back in a way that makes Steve sigh with pleasure. “Tell me what you want,” he murmurs before kissing Steve softly on the lips. He takes his hand out of Steve’s shirt to bring it up around the back of his neck, pulling Steve close to deepen the kiss. “Anything. I still haven’t forgotten that I’m the one responsible for this sling. Now I have new ways to make it up to you.”
“Mmm, you make a good point,” Steve says, his voice suddenly raspy. He can think of a few things. One in particular having to do with Danny’s spectacular ass. He grimaces when he thinks of his useless shoulder and arm. But maybe... “Danny.” He bites Danny’s neck, then soothes it with his tongue as Danny stretches it. “I wanna fuck you. Like, really bad,” he says throatily. “But my shoulder...”
Danny’s chest heaves, and Steve doesn’t miss his darkening eyes. “God, Steve. Me too. I want that.” He pauses. “Just hold on. I got an idea. Get up.” He summarily dumps Steve out of his lap and grabs a wad of napkins to clean himself up. Holding his pants up, still undone, he leads Steve by the hand inside. “You got...stuff?”
Oh god. Steve colors a bit. Okay, he’s a big boy, it’s entirely legitimate that he’d have “stuff.” Danny’s not the first person he’s had sex with. “Yeah,” he says gruffly. “Back in a sec.”
The errand gives him a moment alone to collect himself. Things are moving so fast, it’s almost unsettling. He’s had it bad for Danny for what seems like forever, but he hadn’t been lying when he told Danny he didn’t want to ruin their friendship or their work relationship. What if this totally fucked that up? Danny was the best work partner he’d ever had, despite all the bumps in the road and he genuinely relied on Danny’s law enforcement experience. At this point, they’d been through hell and back together and that wasn’t something to throw off lightly. Then he thought of the look in Danny’s eyes when he first kissed him, the feeling of wholeness and completion he felt when he brought Danny to an orgasm, saw the transported look on his face; he knew he couldn’t stop things here. He wasn’t that strong. Finding someone like Danny was something precious, maybe even a once in a lifetime thing. Life was too short to say no to that.
All the way back downstairs, he wears a smile as big as the mouth of Mauna Loa. Yeah. This is right. This is good.
When he gets down to the living room, his mouth goes completely dry. There’s Danny, butt naked, splayed out on the couch and languidly playing with his hardening dick. His eyes are closed, but as soon as he hears Steve approach, they pop open. “Hey. Got the stuff?”
Steve gulps. “Yeah.” It barely comes out, his throat’s so rough. He steps closer to the couch and hesitates, staring down at Danny looking like a fucking porn star. His cock feels like it’s been hard for five years. He drops his shorts and steps out of them, handing Danny the condom and lube.
“Yeah,” Danny exclaims excitedly, like he’s a teenager about to have sex for the first time and he can’t believe his luck. Steve half expects a high five. Danny slicks up his hand and then, eyes glued to Steve’s face, reaches behind and starts fingering himself. All of Steve’s blood supply promptly drains to his groin.
“Come here,” Danny says, all sultry-eyed as he keeps fingering himself. Steve gingerly sits on the couch next to Danny, wondering if he’s actually drooling yet and feeling somewhat self-conscious about the epic proportions of the erection jutting out from under his shirt.
Danny rubs his foot on Steve’s thigh, then breaks off to help Steve get his shirt off - he can't manage it by himself because of the sling. Once he's flung it off, Danny pauses, giving Steve a good slow once over. Steve can see his adam’s apple working. Danny clears his throat. “Okay, yeah. Just lie down and I’ll take care of everything. You don’t have to do a thing. Capice?”
Steve grins. He’s starting to get the picture. He gives Danny a small salute. “Aye, aye cap’n.” He’s still grinning like a lunatic when Danny manhandles him into a semi-reclining position on the end of the couch, his dick swinging in Steve’s face. He takes care to place a couple of pillows under Steve’s back and a couple more under his head and injured shoulder. With the excuse of being injured, Steve feels a little frisson of excitement at the way Danny’s taking charge, forcing his limbs this way and that.
“There,” Danny says. “Now just lie there. Don’t move your arm or that doc’ll be after me. Something tells me she’ll know exactly how it happened too.” He starts sweeping his hands up Steve’s chest, dipping down to place a line of kisses from his neck to his stomach, all the time his hands kneading Steve’s waist, his thighs, touching everywhere. Steve hasn’t had this much attention paid to him in a long time. It feels good, damn good. And best of all, Danny’s making these little satisfied noises, like he’s thoroughly enjoying himself. But if he doesn’t get on with things, Steve’s going to sneak decaf into his morning coffee every day for a week.
Danny grazes Steve’s cock with his lips, just a teasing touch, enough to make Steve buck his hips and practically cry with frustration. He can see Danny smirking, the bastard, his head ducked down, heading for Steve’s balls. He proceeds to lick them like they’re coated with powdered sugar, his eyes closed in concentration. His finger pets one of Steve’s nipples, drawing slowly back and forth over the tightened bud of flesh, and how did Danny know how sensitive Steve is there, how that little movement sends sparks of heat straight to his groin?
“You’re killing me here, Danny.” Steve draws a hand through Danny’s disheveled hair. It lops over his forehead, making him look ten years younger.
“I’m getting there. The Danny Williams approach takes time, like a fine wine.” Steve chuckles lowly. He’s practically panting now.
“But if you insist.” Danny reaches for the condom and with a filthy grin, makes a big display of opening the packet and unrolling it onto Steve’s aching hard-on. He looks unfocused by the time he’s finished, licking his lips. Steve notices he puts the lube on much more quickly than the condom. “Okay, babe, spread your legs.” Danny smoothes his hands up Steve’s inner thighs, puts a slight pressure on them to encourage the movement. “Yeah, that’s it.”
Steve feels exposed, his erection suited up and on display, legs splayed wide and wanton. This is the moment of truth now. His eyes gravitate to Danny’s and linger. What he sees there is nothing but love and acceptance. A bubble of happiness floats up inside him. Somehow he’s happy to let Danny order him around this way - usually he has to be in control. But there’s something about Danny that makes it feel good to let go.
The next thing he knows, Danny’s turned around, squirming onto his stomach and chest so they’re facing the same way, his left arm snaked around Steve’s neck. “Here,” he says, pulling Steve’s good right arm around him. He tucks it under his arm so Steve’s hand can spread over his chest and nipple. Danny’s breath is coming short now, rough little pants of anticipation. Steve loves the feel of his weight pressing on him, his compact body snug up against his. In this position Steve can look down at Danny’s cock, sticking up his belly like a thick arrow, the tan expanse of sleek musculature. He reaches for Danny’s cock and draws his hand up it. He can still taste it in his mouth. Danny trembles slightly as Steve touches him.
Danny scoots up Steve’s chest so he can line up the head of Steve’s cock with his hole. The movement robs Steve of breath. It feels so intimate. Even though he wants this desperately, he’s still nervous. He’s not a virgin in this department, but it never felt as important before.
“Ready?” Danny’s voice is close, low in Steve’s ear. His fingers curl around Steve’s neck, warm.
“Yeah,” he whispers, focused on the proximity of his dick and Danny's asshole. Steve can barely get out the word. His pulse pounds.
Danny slowly lowers himself onto Steve. When the blunt tip first breaches his hole, he makes a helpless little noise, then pauses.
“You okay?” Steve asks. “We don’t have to...”
Danny cuts him off. “No. Please. I want to. Just been awhile.” He rests his head against the side of Steve’s then kisses his cheek, open-mouthed and wet, breath harsh against Steve’s skin. “Want to feel you inside me.”
Steve isn’t about to argue with that. Danny’s hand clings to Steve’s neck and his entire body is pulled tight as a bow as Steve’s cock slowly, slowly enters him. It’s the most erotic thing Steve’s ever seen. The snug, hot embrace of Danny’s body around his erection leaves him breathless. As Danny lowers himself further, they both pant with tension and anticipation, the process excruciating in the way of any great pleasure, squeezing and pushing in turns.
Steve kisses Danny’s cheek, then flings his head back with clenched eyes as Danny finally seats himself fully on his dick. They both are still for a moment, adjusting to the feeling. Sweat slicks their skin where their bodies meet. Steve knows he’s making some kind of embarrassing noise already, but the feeling is too intense to keep quiet. “God, Danny,” he pants. Danny just grunts in response, already moving against Steve’s cock, grinding his ass into Steve’s stomach, his whole body melded against Steve’s, and Jesus, it’s the hottest thing Steve has ever experienced.
Steve reaches to grip Danny’s dick, hard velvet in his palm and Danny’s movements become more frantic as Steve jacks him, pre-come slick. Steve’s dick feels like it’s being squeezed in rhythmic ripples of pleasure as Danny works himself up and down. Danny’s fingers are probably leaving bruises on Steve’s neck, he’s clutching so hard, but Steve could care less, because now he can feel the pulsing tide of an orgasm building. Jesus, fuck. Danny turns and grabs his mouth in a sloppy wet kiss, their bodies squelching together in an erratic beat, the sounds positively filthy. They don’t even pretend to kiss anymore, their mouths open wide and faces wet with saliva, barely pressed together, breathing the same hot air.
Steve comes first, in a heady rush, the pleasure exquisite and blocking out everything else. His cock pulses inside Danny. Inside Danny. God. His hand stills on Danny’s cock as he comes, then Danny takes over, bringing himself off with just a few strokes.
“Aw, man, sorry,” Steve mumbles, like he fell down on the job. Danny’s body is slack against his, everything is moist, gobs of Danny’s come sprayed on both of them. They’re a mess. Steve laughs. God, he feels so good right now.
“‘S all right,” Danny says, almost inaudibly, damp head leaning against Steve’s. “Jesus Christ. That was...um.” He trails off, apparently not having the energy for words. Steve feels a small chuckle against his neck. “Yeah. I feel like the world exploded or something. Is this even for real?” He rotates his ass around Steve’s dick then starts to pull off with a grunt. Steve’s diminishing cock plops onto his belly as Danny scoots to his side, stretching out next to Steve with an ah of pleasure. Steve makes room for him, as much as he can on the narrow couch, and pulls off the condom. Danny ties it off and flings it aside for future disposal.
He settles back down and plays with Steve’s bare cock, his fingers lingering on the tender, softening skin. “Beautiful.”
Steve snorts. “Yeah, right.”
Danny levers himself up to look at him. “It is, you dope.” They gaze at each other for a moment then Steve lowers his eyes. “Like the rest of you,” Danny continues, voice soft.
“You’re crazy,” Steve says. He’s not used to anyone talking like that about him. This is all so new. It feels raw, scrapes at his consciousness. And yet it isn’t new at all. The old way is still there. This is like building a new layer on top, finding a new dimension to their relationship.
“I’ll be honest, this feels scary,” Steve forces himself to say. Now that they’ve dived right in to the deep end, may as well keep going.
Danny looks down at Steve’s chest, where his hand roams quietly over the sparse hair. “It doesn’t have to be. It’s still you and me. Just different.”
“I suppose.”
“You said you felt this way for awhile. So just look at it as, we can finally be honest with each other.”
Steve captures the hand on his chest. “Yeah. I like that.” It’s true. It’s just an adjustment. He’s been hiding his feelings for so long. It’s still a shock that Danny feels the same way. It’s unreal, to tell you the truth. He squeezes Danny’s hand and looks up into his eyes, a small grin stealing over his features. “This is real, right?” He feels dumb saying it out loud, but he wants Danny to say the words. He needs it in a bone-deep way.
Danny looks at him for a moment, eyes darting over his face, then leans in to kiss him on the lips. “You betcha,” he says. “No way you’re getting out of my clutches now. We’ve got some things to try out when you get that sling off. And I still need to mother-hen you for awhile to get rid of my guilt. You wouldn’t deprive me of that, would you? A good boyfriend wouldn’t.”
“Boyfriend?” Steve nearly squeaks.
Danny settles back down on the sofa pillow with a self-satisfied air. “That’s what I said.”
Steve sighs. “When Kono finds out about this, she’s gonna say I’m whipped, isn’t she?”
“Oh, she already knows that. That’s been clear from day one when you gave me those swim with the dolphins tickets.”
Steve not so accidentally knocks Danny’s head with his elbow.
“Ow!”
“Just wait until I have my other arm back.”
“Oh, I can’t wait.” Danny rolls over onto Steve and rocks their hips together suggestively. “Can...not...wait.”
*
The morning starts slowly. In light of everything that had happened with Grace's kidnapping, Steve had given Danny the day off and of course Steve was on sick leave. So they had nowhere they had to go and could wake up in a leisurely manner. By the time Steve wakes up, the sun is high and burning brightly through the scrim of the curtains in his bedroom. Steam rises from a mug of coffee on his night table; the smell is like ambrosia. The bed is empty but there's a Danny-sized imprint on the sheets and a pile of Danny's clothes in the corner the room. It makes Steve's heart do a funny little flip-flop.
He could get used to this.
Danny appears with a tray full of breakfast things. "Hey," he says. "You're finally up. How're you feeling?"
Steve's head is pounding and he's afraid to move his shoulder too much. "About like you'd expect. Could be better. Those aren't eggs, are they?"
"No, you idiot. Got us malasadas. And a protein smoothie and pain meds for you. Breakfast of champions."
Steve's face breaks into a smile. "You did? Awesome. Pineapple banana?"
Danny nods. "Your favorite. Although, again, the pineapple thing? Not so much. I'd stick with strawberry." He places the tray on the bed in front of Steve. "You saw the coffee, right?"
"Danny, you're gonna spoil me with all this."
"It's just until you get better. Then you're on your own."
Steve casts his eyes down at the tray, getting the sneaking feeling that he's not going to like being on his own again. "Yeah, okay." He takes a sip of the smoothie. He can feel the life coming back to him already. "Don't suppose there's any chance you'd get back in bed, is there? I was kind of looking forward to waking up with you."
Danny beams at him for a moment before replying. "Well, as tempting as that is, can it wait until I call Rachel and see how Grace is doing?"
Grace…Steve had almost forgotten. Danny must still be worried about her. And if he knew Danny, he'd be wracked with guilt about what happened.
"You should ask her if Grace can come over here this afternoon. You guys can swim at the beach, relax, then maybe we can watch a movie." It would be good for the two of them to unwind, and Steve could lie on the beach, maybe take a nap.
"Really? You'd do that?" Danny asks. "I think she'd really like that. Will you let her make you chocolate chip cookies?"
"Yes, Danno, I'll let her make me chocolate chip cookies."
"You might have to watch that Justin Bieber concert movie. Just so you know."
"Uh, she doesn't like Iron Man? I was kind of planning to watch that. I didn't tell you about this before because, well…you know." Steve gestures vaguely. "I kind of have a thing for Robert Downey, Jr."
Danny just looks at him. "No, Steven, little girls do not like Iron Man. It's either Justin Bieber or Enchanted."
Steve sighs. "Who's in that?"
"Amy Adams? Redhead?"
"Okay, I'll take that one."
"But you can tell me about all your Iron Man fantasies after Grace goes to bed."
Steve leers. "What time's her bedtime? Six thirty?"
"I could still make you eggs for lunch, you know."
Steve holds up his hands and laughs. "No, no, anything but that. I can wait 'til eight."