Spoken

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It was a beautiful night. The moon was out, the jasmine was blooming. Kendall had made Beef Wellington and a crème brulée. He'd shaved and bathed and dressed up just a little and...

Well.

Eric had called while he was in the shower. "Kenny, I'm meeting up with some of the guys, going out for a couple of beers, maybe a movie. If you want to come, give me a call, we'll hook up."

Hook up.

Like they hadn't been together nine years.

He'd fed the beef to Oz and Murphy, the Shih Tzus snarfing it up. He'd cleaned the kitchen, made some tea, and curled up in the bed with his dessert and an ear worn copy of The Garden of Last Days.

It was still a beautiful night. Three years ago, Eric had been too sick to go out for beers.

Or learn to ride motorcycles.

Or bungee jump.

Now, after chemo and surgery and everything, Eric could.

Hook up.

Like he was some teenager and Eric didn't know that he'd come home after work and cook.

He heard the door somewhere around midnight, opening and closing, and then sounds from the kitchen. He closed his book and put it on the bedside table, left the light on for Eric to see, and stretched out along the edge of the bed. He'd be able to sleep now, since Eric was home safe.

Or he would have been able to if there hadn't been a commotion from the kitchen. Something fell and smashed, Oz and Murphy starting to bark.

He slid out of bed, heading for the kitchen at a run. "Is everyone okay?"

Eric looked up from where he was kneeling, picking up bits of a coffee cup. "I didn't mean to wake you," he said sheepishly.

"It's okay. I wasn't asleep yet." He shooed the dogs out into theback yard and got the broom, moving on autopilot. He'd taken care of everything for so long that it was just easy. "Did you want tea or coffee?"

"Coffee. Thanks, babe." Eric got up and staggered over to the kitchen table, sitting heavily on one of the chairs. "Had maybe one too many."

What was he supposed to say to that? He put the coffee on, took down some B vitamins and a couple of aspirin. "Did you have fun?"

He knew the answer would be yes. Eric was a master of having fun. Kendall Ryan, Jr. was a librarian, in the khaki pants and button-down shirts sense of the word.

"I did. Kind of thought you might join me."

"I was in the shower when you called. Dinner was in the oven. I read." He put the vitamins on the table, found another mug, and set it on the table before wandering back to the bedroom for his teacup and little ramekin. No sense not washing them out. It would make the morning easier. He thought maybe he'd get up and ride his bicycle into town, run a couple of miles along the beach before he did the grocery shopping.

"Anything exciting?"

"No. Dubus. The dogs liked the Wellington. They felt spoiled." He rinsed out the dishes, poured Eric's coffee. He could hear his heart beat in his head, like a nascent headache. "I think I'm going to take a shower."

Eric sighed and rubbed his face. "Sorry, hon. I didn't mean to spoil supper."

"No big deal. There will be other suppers." At least, he hoped there would be.

"You should have come with me." Eric grinned, eyes heavy lidded as they watched him. "We saw Too Fast Too Furious at the Repeat Theatre. Sexy."

"Cool. Who's 'we'?" Who's more interesting than me these days?

"A couple of the guys from work."

"Neat. Don't forget your vitamins and stuff." He kissed the top of Eric's head, a dull knot in the pit of his belly. "Love you." He had for years.

"Love you, babe." Eric tugged him closer, putting a sloppy, beer-flavored kiss on his lips.

He kissed Eric back, surprised to find himself near tears. Eric's fingers slid into his hair, petting him. He squeezed his eyes tightly closed, his breath hitching in his chest. Those fingers twisted, holding him close as the kiss went hard, deep.

Kendall went still, eyes flying open to stare into pure, bright blue. He could feel Eric's fingers pressing into his skull, his lover's tongue just fucking his mouth. He crawled into Eric's lap, heart pounding in his chest, moaning into the kiss. Hungry. Eric was so hungry.

One hand left his hair, dragging down his body.

"Eric." He arched a little, his cock filling quickly, almost aching.

"Got you, babe. I so fucking do." Those fingers slid beneath his pajama top, stroking his belly.

His muscles tensed, rippled a little and he pushed up, wanting that touch lower. Eric pushed his bottoms down, tucking the elastic band beneath his balls.

He jumped a little, chuckling. "That tugs."

"Looks fucking sexy, babe. All exposed for me." Eric stroked his balls, knuckles teasing the base of his cock.

The hum pushed up through his chest, his cheeks heating. "You aren't tired of seeing it?"

"What?" Eric gave him a confused look.

"Me. You aren't..." He stopped, sighed, shook his head. "Nothing. I'm talking nonsense."

"Oh, good. For a minute there I thought I was drunker than I am." Eric laughed and then kissed him again, that hunger right there.

He went with that happiness, kissing Eric back and telling that voice that worried and fretted in the back of his head just to be quiet for ten minutes or so. Eric's hand wrapping around his cock and squeezing did a lot to help with that. His lover jacked him hard and quick, moans pushing between his lips. He went with it, starting to rock, to push into that touch.

Eric feasted on his mouth, biting and licking, sucking his lower lip in between hard lips.

"You'll leave marks." He wasn't one hundred percent sure he cared.

His words made Eric ... growl. "Yeah. Yeah, I will." The biting got harder, as did the stroking, Eric's hand flying on his prick.

He was going to come. He tried to touch Eric back, tried to do something, but he was caught, gasping and clinging to his lover.

"Come on, babe. I can't wait to smell you."

"Eric!" He shuddered, shooting hard, the wicked tone of Eric's voice making him a little goofy.

Groaning, Eric leaned their foreheads together, hand still working him fairly hard, demanding one little aftershock after another from him. These little noises kept bubbling out of him, rough and happy.

Eric was looking smug, relaxing back now, hand still stroking him. It was maddening, and wonderful.

He rested his forehead against Eric's, breathing hard. "Hey. I missed you tonight."

"You should have come out with me."

"No. I don't know your friends."

"And you never will if you don't ever come out with me, will you?"

"We'll see." Like he was going to race cars or go skydiving.

Eric sighed and started licking his hand clean.

"I'm sorry. Let me get you a towel." From high to low. Bang. He got up, dragged his pants up, grabbed a soft towel.

"Don't. I like the way you taste."

He flushed, that heat making him smile, easing the tension in his shoulders a little. "You want to come take a shower with me? I'll wash you."

"Sounds like a great way to unwind. Better than coffee, anyway."

He turned around, flirting a little. "I bet I could wind you up, too." He held one hand out, more than willing to make peace.

"Oh-ho!" Eric's eyes lit up and a hand slid into his, warm and solid.

"Well, you know me. I'm all about fair." He got the dogs in and turned out the lights. Shower. Blow job. Nice night of sleep.

He could live with that.

Eric had shed his clothes as he'd made his way to the bathroom, leaving a trail down the hall. Kendall chuckled to himself as he gathered clothes. Of course, if he killed Eric in the shower...