�Have you given any thought to who you�ll tell?� Darren asked as he absently ran his fingers through Daniel�s hair.� They�d be seeing Paul again tomorrow, and he wondered if they�d have more to report than an improvement in their sex life.

They sat on the overstuffed couch in the living room, watching Meg Ryan in �Addicted to Love�.

Well, Darren sat.� Daniel lay, facing the TV, his head in Darren�s lap.

�A little� not my parents, I don�t think.� Mum had her heart set on me marrying Michelle�� Maybe Ben and Lee.�

Darren nodded. Bisexual Ben, second guitarist; and gay Lee, bassist; had been very close, on all the tours.� Enviably close.� In spite of that, Leonie, Darren�s personal manager, had been adamant that �no one learn of his crush on Daniel.� He�d never told her it was more than that.� So, they�d kept their feelings hidden.� Colby had accused Darren of being unfaithful when she divorced him.� He�d been honest when he said he�d never cheated on her with another woman.� Idly, he wondered what she�d say when word eventually got out.

�We could tell my Mum.�� Darren offered.� �I think she suspected all those years ago.� She keeps asking me when you and I will get back together.�

His fingers stopped as Daniel turned his head to look up at him.

�Oh?�

Darren nodded, a little smile on his lips, his eyebrows arched.� �Yes. And you can tell by the way she says it that there is more meaning than what her words say.�

Dan turned back to the TV, and Darren resumed running his fingers through Daniel�s silky locks.�

�I think I�ll just start with Ben and Lee� if that�s okay with you, Daz.�

�Of course it�s okay with me, Danny. It�s all about you. All for you. Whatever makes you comfortable.�

A relaxed silence filled the minutes while they watched the scene with the roaches running rampant in the restaurant.� Both men laughed heartily at the ensuing confusion.� As the show moved on, Darren decided he wanted to know more about Dan and Michelle.

�Dan?�

�Hmm�?�

�Tell me what happened between you and Michelle.�

He felt Dan stiffen in shock.� The lightness that had been present moments before, evaporated. The ensuing silence filled with tension.

�I told you� the mall��

�I think it�s more than that, Danny.�� He replied gently. Continued to run his fingers through Dan�s hair in silent reassurance.

Daniel began to shake. Darren leaned forward slightly, sliding his left arm under Dan�s neck, his right arm going around his right shoulder.� The position was a bit awkward, and his back protested, but he kept his arms around Daniel as he began to tremble violently.

�Shh� Babe, shh�� He began to rock gently. ��What happened between you and Michelle, Danny?�� �It�s okay, Dan� You don�t have to tell me, mate.�� He began gently rubbing Dan�s chest in small circular motions with his left hand, hoping to reassure him.� �What did she do to make you this way?�� �It�s okay� don�t worry.�

He slid his right arm down, wrapped his hand around Daniel�s waist to hold him tight. Safe.� Darren closed his eyes as he rubbed his left cheek along Daniel�s right, mumbling reassurances, wishing he could take the pain away.

Eventually Daniel fell into an exhausted sleep.� Darren clicked the TV off, then sat back slowly, biting his lip as his cramped muscles screamed in protest.� Linking his fingers together around Dan�s shoulders, he rested his head back against the top of the couch.

�It�s going to be a long fight.�� He mused as he sighed tiredly.� �But you�re worth it, Danny.�� He closed his eyes again, in an attempt to stop the thoughts spiraling in his mind.

When Darren woke, he was lying on the couch.� Dan sat on the floor, looking at him, with a silly grin on his face.

�What?� Am I drooling like an old man or something?�

Dan shook his head slightly.� �No.� You just looked so peaceful� so serene� it just made me happy.�

Darren stretched slowly, feeling his back unkink, still protesting his earlier actions.� �Sorry,�� he apologized with a shy smile as he sat up.� �Guess jet lag caught up with me.�

�Don�t be.� It was very relaxing, just sitting here, watching you sleep.�� Daniel scooted around on the floor until he faced Darren once again. �And as I predicted, I got nothing done�� I think I must have repeated that saying a thousand times while you were asleep.�

�Ahh.� But those thousand words aren�t deceiving you, Danny.�� Darren smiled gently.

Daniel frowned for a moment, then smiled as he remembered the chorus of the song from their first album.

[You could resurrect a thousand words

to deceive me more and more

A thousand words will give the reasons why

I don�t need you any more.]

Darren had written it after his marriage to Colby had fallen apart.

�And I do need you, Daniel Jones.�� Darren leaned forward as he said the words.

His slate blue eyes flicked from Dan�s emerald green ones, to his lips, then back to his eyes.

Dan took the hint, and leaned in, a faint smile on his lips.� They kissed softly. Gently. Then broke apart.

�I didn�t hurt you, did I?� Dan questioned, his eyes on the purplish-yellow bruise that encompassed Darren�s lips.

He�d always bruised easily.� And as he�d feared, the kiss in the entryway had left its mark.� He shook his head.� It had been worth it.

�No you didn�t.� And it wouldn�t have mattered.� I wanted a wake up kiss.�

Dan spoke up after a moment�s silence.� �I did call Ben and Lee while you were sleeping.�

�Oh?�

Dan nodded.� �Invited them over for pizza and beer.�

Darren grinned.� �Just like old times.�

He kissed Danny again.� �I don�t know about you, but I need a shower.� How long until they get here?�

�Three hours.�

�Want to conserve water with me?�� Darren raised his brows, a lewd grin on his face.

�We�re on an island, Daz.�

�It�s freshwater in the shower, Jonesy.�

He stroked his toes over Dan�s leg, put his right hand on Dan�s left shoulder, and pulled him forward to rest his forehead on Dan�s head.� He inhaled deeply.

�Please�� he begged in a husky whisper.

He heard Dan�s breath catch.� He moved his lips down the left side of Daniel�s face, the ghost of a touch; finally latching securely to the soft flesh in the curve of his neck.� He licked and sucked roughly.� Nipped firmly, sucked again � knowing he would leave Dan marked.� He heard Dan�s sharp, quick intakes of breath.� Felt him quiver.� Felt the neck pulse increase.

He moved his lips to Dan�s ear.� �Remember what the doctor said?�� He began to lick, suck, and nip the soft lobe of Daniel�s left ear; carefully teasing the ring there with his teeth.

�I� hard� to� think��

�I�m supposed to relax you.�� Darren offered.

Dan tilted his head automatically, and Darren smiled.� Moved his lips to brush the side of Dan�s face again, then ran his tongue from the base of Dan�s throat to the spot he had just marked; sucking on it again, more gently this time.

�Am I relaxing you?�

�Ohhh��

He heard Daniel�s labored breathing.� Little sounds as he tried to say more.� Form a coherent thought.� His left hand brushed across Daniel�s chest in a downward motion.

�Ahhh��

�Did I hurt you?�� He asked quietly.

Dan could only moan in reply.

Next he began placing small kisses along Daniel�s jaw.� Ending with a brief, but passionate kiss on his lips.� Then he stood up.

Dan looked up in shock.� �Dazza!�� He pleaded.

�I need that shower, Dan.�

With that, he turned and headed up the stairs; not bothering to hide his smile as he heard footsteps quickly cross the room to follow behind.

tbc