"ITVR: Chapter 91"
Appeals.

By Jadedoll, Penumbren, & Raising Kane

Kevin�was lost�in the wonderful, forceful kiss that Scott had instigated. His fingers tightened on his lover's body in response to the hold on his hair, not wanting to let the man go until they had no choice but to separate. Unfortunately, that came sooner than he would have liked, and the swipe of hot tongue across his now-sensitive lips brought forth a passionate, almost mournful noise as Scotty pulled back from him. Only the soft endearment kept Kevin from truly regretting the separation, although his face undoubtedly revealed just how much he didn't want to let Scott out of his arms. Even if he was sprawled across the arm of the couch in a position that he'd be feeling until Sunday if he didn't move soon. Shifting until his knees rather than his lower back were pressed over the couch, Kevin folded his arms behind his head and simply watched Scott for a minute. He'd missed the playfulness, the forcefulness, the loving teasing that Scott was displaying so much today, for so long that he still had trouble believing it was his again. "If you want to grab that cream, I'm going to call Estela and then I'll meet you in the bedroom." "You'd better believe it, Bad Guy," Kevin called after Scott, twin threads of amusement and promise lacing his voice. With a soft grunt, he pushed himself up, reaching for the bag he'd dropped moments earlier. The tube was still tucked conveniently into the outer pocket, since he'd expected to have to use it again sooner than this, and would have if Scott weren't so damned stubborn about things. Cutting off that train of thought as it started, he shook his head at himself as he stood up, tube in hand. If he allowed those words to escape from the solitude of his thoughts, he'd hear about it for weeks, and the immediate response would probably not be pretty. No use in starting something like that, and he had every reason not to. Following Scott's trail into the kitchen, he leaned against the doorway, smiling a little as he watched Scott talk to Estela. He could hear their friend's voice over the phone from here, and there was a fond smile on Scotty's face as he spoke rapidly with her in her native tongue. God, what that did to him... Kevin took a breath. Teasing was definitely the order of the evening, but he was in no real hurry to push it beyond that. Not yet, anyway. Idly slapping the tube against his other hand as he waited, he wondered if Scott would comment on his not having done what was asked. But if he waited in the bedroom for Scotty, he'd probably be waiting for far too long, since the man loved to push him that way, even if there was no real reason for it. The familiar grin stretching across Scott's face warned him, and he followed his lover down the hallway, resigned to what Scott was going to do even as he anticipated it. The t-shirt was shaken off his head almost as quickly as it had landed there, and his eyes were glued to the sway of Scott's ass as he walked. The half-seen motion at his waist as he paused in the doorway had Kevin's breath coming slightly faster, and as he walked into the room, he knew what he was about to see. Pausing a few feet away to allow his eyes to travel the length of Scott's body, now displayed proudly, he couldn't quite hide a wince at the condition of Scott's ass. The skin was still flaming red; undoubtedly the plane ride and the drive home had only aggravated it. No matter what Scotty might be thinking, there would be no playing in "Their Room" tonight, at least... and possibly not tomorrow, if he still looked like that. They had a match at Bad Blood, after all, and they needed to be able to move. "Do your worst, babe, just don't get too naked because you're answering the door when the food gets here. I'm thinking I'm just a tad underdressed." Shaking his head, he returned Scott's grin as he sat next to him on the mattress, flipping the tube open and squeezing the cool cream onto his fingers. "If you think I'm letting anyone but me see you like this, you're crazier than the rumours say," he said, only half-teasing. Even Shawn had never seen them as they were in their most private moments, and no one else had even come that close. Taking his time, Kevin rubbed the cream into the visibly hurting skin as gently as he could, although even that had Scott responding with pained noises and motions every so often. Once he'd finished, he sat there, resting his hand on Scott's lower back, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on the tense muscles there. As much as he'd love nothing more than to strip down and join his lover on the bed, he knew he still had to answer the door when dinner arrived, and if he laid down now, he wouldn't be willing to move any time soon. Besides, the comfortable silence between them as he just sat and watched Scott relax under his gentle massage was too precious to interrupt. Sooner than he'd expected, though, the doorbell rang. With a reluctant noise, he stood up, laying the tube on the nightstand, and headed for the door... with one last look at Scott, who was much more relaxed than he had been before they got home. That cream certainly worked wonders. Opening the door, he quickly paid for the delivery and exchanged some casual conversation with the driver, whom they'd often seen, although he tried to keep it as short as possible without seeming rude. Adding a hefty tip, he closed the door and locked it behind him, then balanced the bags and boxes carefully for the short trip back into the living room. As nice as it would be to eat in the bedroom, with this amount of food, he could just see the disaster in the making, and he wasn't about to let Scott sit on the dining room chairs and suffer his way through dinner... even though he knew Scott would do it, just to show that he could. Stubborn bastard, he thought fondly, setting the food out on the living room table, a specially low and wide one purchased specifically for occasions such as this. A quick trip to the kitchen for paper plates, forks, and napkins, and then he was heading back down the hall to the bedroom, smiling all over again as Scott raised his head to give him a lazily enquiring look. "She sent enough food to feed the entire Clique... are we expecting a surprise visit from Sean that you forgot to tell me about?" **** "One minute, I promise. Count for me?" Nodding at Chris as he slipped from the bed, Adam started counting. Not from any doubt that Chris would be right back, but it was as good a distraction as any at the moment from both the pain and his thoughts. Taking deep cleansing breaths as the doctors had taught him after his surgery, he found that it did help despite the movements of his ribs. It was amazing what a little oxygen could do for a body when you slowed down your breathing. Of course when you were caught in the middle of a nightmare and thrashing about, that particular avenue wasn't exactly an option. Which brought to mind his dream once again. It was ridiculous to worry about the events coming true since Terry would be nowhere near the arena on Sunday, but Adam was determined to be cautious anyway. He knew Terry. There was no doubt in his mind at all that the ManBeast would take any given opportunity to hurt his lover. He just couldn't for the life of him figure out why his ex was making such a big deal of his new relationship. The man had taunted him for months about his one-night stands, but had never shown the degree of animosity towards any of those men that he had shown towards Chris. If it weren't for the fact that he'd caught Terry with Brock, he'd have thought it might be jealousy. But with the man seeing someone else behind his back for months, that just didn't make sense. Subconsciously he ticked off the number thirty in his head as he considered the subject of Dave. He really needed to clear that issue up before it started causing huge problems. Adam wouldn't normally consider himself the jealous sort, but he found himself being just a little bit possessive where Chris was concerned. Not that he'd take someone out for flirting with the guy, witness the incidents with Shelton which Adam was finding himself thoroughly amused by, but he was honestly curious about Chris' past lovers... and whether or not Dave could be counted amongst them. Even being one of Chris' friends, the blond hadn't really confided details of his past liaisons. The guy could have been seeing Vince and no one would have been the wiser. Adam was pretty sure that Chris had been involved with at least one person in the company in the past, but he'd never asked and Chris had never told where the person in question was concerned. And considering the way Chris interacted with the guy, he wasn't really concerned about verifying it. If Chris wanted to spill details about that particular individual, fine, but it wasn't really an issue for him. Dave on the other hand was an unknown. He never would have suspected there was any involvement there, but he just couldn't come up with another reason for Dave to care about the incident the other night other than the fact that he was just a good guy. It was quite possible after all... there were a few honestly good guys in the company. He was going to have to ask. The shifting of the mattress brought him back to the present as his internal clock counted off fifty-three seconds and Adam turned to Chris with a wan smile. He obediently downed the pills handed to him with a sip of water without even looking at the two capsules. He trusted Chris, knowing without having to verify it that his lover wouldn't give him anything stronger than what he'd asked for... unless it was necessary in his opinion. He almost cracked an honest smile at that particular thought. Of course Chris would be ballsy enough to inform him that he was taking such measures if he actually had come back with the higher dosage painkillers. The only thing that kept that smile from taking it's desired place was the lingering questions he knew were going to be forthcoming. Focusing on his toes rather than Chris' face was a stalling tactic and he was unaware of his grip on the sheets until Chris took hold of his clenched hand. Once it registered with him that he had a death grip on the covers, it was almost a foregone conclusion that his lover would ask what was bothering him. Right on cue came the question he'd been dreading though it was more vague than he'd anticipated. "What?" With a resigned sigh, he leaned back against the pillows, keeping Chris' hand firmly locked in his. His eyes searched Chris' once again, the obvious concern in the blue depths wrapping a warm blanket around his heart. Speaking softly, he offered up what explanation he could. "I know that Vince is sending Terry to OVW, but in my dream he... he was at the show on Sunday. He wasn't happy with what he'd done so far and he went after you. I know he won't be there and I know you can take care of yourself, but he caught you by surprise." Adam closed his eyes momentarily, the vision of Chris at the moment of impact firmly stuck in his head. With a slight squeeze to Chris' hand and a harsh swallow, he continued. "When he hit you, he caught you high with his shoulder. You know what the results would be of taking that move with the impact against your sternum. I speared Terry to get him away from you, but it was too late. He wouldn't let me go and I couldn't get to you and..." He could feel moisture pricking his eyes as the total helplessness he'd felt swamped him once again. Even if it wasn't real, it had felt like it was. "You weren't moving, but I could hear you gasping for breath and it just felt so damn real." Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes again and looked into Chris'. "I know that it was just a dream, but it was my worst nightmare. You were hurt and I couldn't get to you... couldn't help you. So now you know my biggest fear, love... think you can promise me that I'll never have to face it?" His mouth turned up into a half smile. It was a ridiculous request considering their line of work. Every time Chris stepped into the ring there was the chance that he could be injured even if it were through no fault of his own. And in most instances, Adam would not be able to be the first one to come to his aid. Vince would have a cow. Biting on his lip, he knew that it was now or never. He had to bring the subject up at some point and this was as good a time as any. Lowering his eyes to their entwined hands, he kept them there. "There was something else that happened and this is going to make me sound like a completely jealous bastard. It's driving me nuts because I'm not like that. I don't do the jealous, possessive, over-protective guy thing and I can't explain this at all, but..." He knew that his frustration with himself was apparent, but he couldn�t control it. He felt completely stupid for what he was about to say. "Dave was the first one to reach you. I think maybe it was because of the comment you made at the hospital and I've been trying to figure out why in the world Dave Batista would care about what happened with Terry. I barely know the guy so I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be for my benefit so I'm just going to ask. Are you and Dave... close?" **** "If you think I'm letting anyone but me see you like this, you're crazier than the rumours say." Raising a single brow in a silent 'was there ever any doubt', Scott basked in the gentle teasing. He loved moments like this. Kev wasn't what he would normally call the jealous type, but the man was definitely over-protective on occasion. He was no more possessive of their time alone than Scott was though. The moments when they could just be themselves were rare. If asked, very few people would use tender and romantic to describe Kevin Nash, but Scott would. Not in public... Kevin would kill him, Scott thought with a grin. Part of Kevin's growly backstage reputation was due to conflicts with people because of comments made about Scott. It was honestly amazing that the truth of their relationship had never leaked out when incidents like that made it so obvious. Of course he was probably the only one that truly got to see the extent of Kev's tender and romantic side. His lover might show affection for the other members of the Clique, but even with Shawn being a part of their relationship for months, Kevin hadn't truly let go with the man. That was reserved for him and him alone and Scott treasured it for the gift that it was. Hissing quietly and shifting his hips as Kevin touched a particularly tender spot, Scott gritted out a smile. Despite the aches and pains of the aftereffects, he was still high on the positives of their interactions last night. A little bit of pain was nothing compared to the intensity of what they'd shared. Scott once again felt the warmth swirling in his chest as he recalled the exact moment he'd come apart beneath Kevin's masterful touch last night. He felt that that was the moment they'd truly become one with each other, heart and soul, the way it had been before but now it was even better. Aware of the gentle stroking of Kevin's fingers across his lower back, Scott was lost in a hazy glow of happiness. The cream was already taking affect and the tenderness of his nether regions was barely noticeable now. Practically purring until Kevin's touch, he made a small sound of disappointment when he heard the doorbell ring. He would miss the gentle touch, but they did need to eat. Especially Kev, he thought with a wicked smirk. While Kevin was gone he could have thought about a hundred different things from the new relationship of the trio to wondering how things were going with Glen and Sean, but rather than get all caught up in that particular trap, he simply allowed himself to enjoy where he was at the moment... their bed. He and Kev and bought it together the day after they'd bought the house. They'd found the best little custom-made furniture shop locally and had commissioned a bed large enough that Kevin wouldn't end up with his feet hanging over the end of the darn thing in the middle of the night. He'd been surprised that Kevin had kept it honestly, knowing that he never could have slept in the thing while he and Kev were separated... at least not without expending a boatload of tears about the breakup. He wondered idly if Kevin had slept in here or one of the other rooms after he'd left. Two of the other bedrooms in the house held similar beds, ordered from the same shop when they'd ordered theirs, but only their bed had the custom cut scrollwork on the head and footboards. Scott found himself subconsciously tracing the designs along the stained solid oak. "She sent enough food to feed the entire Clique... are we expecting a surprise visit from Sean that you forgot to tell me about?" Tracing one last curl with his fingertip before pushing himself from his position on the bed, he turned to Kevin with a smirk. "Not that I know of, though that's always a possibility with the motley crew," he said lightly as he approached his lover. "You know Estela is convinced that the way to a man's heart is through his... stomach," Scott said, adding a gentle caress to the aforementioned area on Kevin's body. "She thought I should make sure you were well and truly hooked before getting too... cocky." With a wiggle of his brows, he slipped past Kevin and headed down the hall completely at ease with his nudity. He was snared by the delicious aromas coming from the living room before he made it to the kitchen and lightly shook his head. There was no doubt in his mind as to why they were eating here rather than the kitchen and he appreciated the sentiment. Kevin took such good care of him and he was going to try to let him despite his fears... at least for tonight. Grabbing the boxed desserts, he took them into the kitchen and stuck them in the freezer. No use letting their ice cream melt while they were eating their other food. Returning to the living room, he settled on the couch and grabbed the bag of chips and the container of fresh Ceviche. Dipping a chip into the mixture of marinated shrimp, tomato, onion, and spices Scott held the temptingly covered chip to Kevin's lips. Waiting until Kevin had taken a bite, Scott smiled wickedly. "Besides, you know how you like sneaking out to grab the leftovers for a midnight snack." Popping the remainder of the chip into his mouth, he turned and grabbed a plate from the table. **** Watching Dave as closely as he was, Shawn wasn't surprised at the mingled amusement and aggravation so clearly visible in his eyes, and the raised eyebrow was a clear tip-off that their lover was going to take Shawn's teasing and raise it on him. He was already getting addicted that teasing light in the dark eyes smiling down at him. "No... nothing specific. In fact that sounds like a wonderful idea." Although the image presented to him of Dave and Hunter side-by-side on the bed was a lovely one, especially with the hot look in Hunter's eyes as his friend looked him over before giving him a wicked little wink. Yesterday might have been a draining one in more ways than one, but the sudden spike in his heart rate and the growing insistence of his body told Shawn that he had more than recovered from it. The unspoken invitation in those eyes was one that Shawn was most definitely going to take him up on... "Wake me just before it's time to eat, would you Shawn?" After he locked the door. Narrowing his eyes at their lover, Shawn thought that it was a good thing Dave wasn't looking at him. If he were, his plans would undoubtedly be blown, because Dave had already shown that he could read Shawn just as well as Hunter could. While that wasn't a bad thing, there were times it wasn't going to be terribly convenient... like, say, when he was trying to push said lover's buttons. Whatever Dave's reaction was, it would surely be more than worth the time and effort. Quickly turning and sliding the lock home on the solid wooden door, Shawn admitted to himself that he was going to have to take longer to get that reaction than he really wanted to. As sore as he was, although it was much better than it had been when he woke up, and with the strong protective streak that Dave had already revealed, there was just no way that he was going to convince their Animal to grab him, spank him until he was begging, and then fuck him raw. Nope; at the first wince, Dave would be all concerned and gentle, no matter what Shawn wanted. Maybe eventually Dave would figure out that there were times that Shawn most definitely wanted that rough treatment, even and sometimes especially on top of existing soreness. It wasn't common, and it had been a long time since he'd felt that particular craving, but for some reason, Dave was provoking it today. Maybe it was the sheer newness of the relationship, or the hints---and admissions--of Dave's more adventurous past, or maybe just the sheer size of both of his lovers, but whatever it was, hopefully it wouldn't take them months to get at least to the beginning of that particular adventure. For now, he'd settle for convincing his lovers that he wasn't going to break because of the lessening soreness he was feeling from his own impatient actions the night before. Looking his lovers over for a moment before moving, Shawn didn't miss the thoughtfulness in Hunter's eyes, and he suspected that he knew what his friend was mulling over. Their earlier conversation was probably why Hunt hadn't jumped Dave as soon as he was horizontal, although hopefully not in any bad way. His eyes were drawn to the movement of Hunter's fingers over dark skin, and he licked dry lips as he eyed the tantalizing lines of colour peeking out from under the bunched-up cotton of Dave's shirt. Suddenly, he wanted very much to trace each and every line of ink on their lover's body with his tongue, to imprint them on his own mind. Remembering the smugly teasing tone of Dave's voice as he settled down into that position, however, there was something else he wanted to do first. Prove a point. He'd crossed the short distance between the door and the bed while watching the two of them, and stood there for a minute, considering. The slight movement of Dave's head told him that his dark lover knew very well where he was at. Good. Raising an eyebrow at Hunter, Shawn smiled fondly at him before settling on the bed at Dave's other side next to his knees.�Facing the headboard, he had an excellent view of the tempting body laid out in front of him... including his target. The belt would make things a little more difficult, but he'd had practice. Leaning forward, he placed his hands on either side of Dave's waist as he pressed a kiss to the exposed skin of his lower back. Shifting to rest his weight on one elbow, he followed the line of Dave's spine upward with his lips, pushing the shirt aside as he did. As he slid the other hand under Dave's hip, Shawn traced the visible curves of the dragon adorning their lover's back with his tongue, taking�the time to cover every detail. He was a little surprised at his own deep enjoyment of the process; while he'd appreciated Mark's tattoos, he'd never been so fascinated by them as he was by Dave's. But he needed to remember what he was doing here, not let the growing desire of his own body lead him astray. It was awkward one-handed, especially with Dave's weight pressing down into the mattress, but Shawn had had occasion to do something similar in the past. Smiling slightly at the memory, he allowed it pass to the back of his mind as he unfastened the buckle and pushed the belt free before turning to the button and zipper of Dave's slacks. He probably could've said something to Dave to get him to move, but if he was really going to make his point, he couldn't take the easy way out. He wasn't unaware of Hunter's continued interest in the proceedings, or of his actions mere inches away, but Shawn was focusing on the man in front of him. Learning the taste of Dave's body was a particularly sweet lesson, and recognizing that tracing the lines of the dragon just so made him twitch... that was well worth the effort. Reluctantly leaving his task, he eyed Dave for a minute, just knowing that the man was going to make this as difficult as possible. Casting a side-long glance at Hunt and seeing understanding and agreement in the glowing eyes meeting his, Shawn's lips quirked as he sat back, Hunter's hands assisting his own in pulling the well-tailored slacks and the clinging briefs down over the delicious curve of their lover's ass. The fact that his fingers bumped against the rock-hard erection hidden beneath the mass of Dave's body more than once in the process was purely accidental, of course. Since they couldn't divest the man completely of his clothing, shoes being a major consideration, Shawn stopped once he'd gotten what he wanted: access to Dave's bare ass. Eyeing it appreciatively, he allowed his fingers to wander softly across the warm skin as he turned to Hunter and kissed him feverishly, seeing a match to his own cravings at the sight in the amber eyes. Only when they parted did he turn back to Dave, his hand stilling as he considered his next action. The original invitation might have been to Hunter, but he was more than willing to play substitute in this little game. Coming to a decision, he pulled the leather belt free of Dave's slacks, doubling it and tucking the buckle safely away in his palm. The sudden shift of Hunter's body drew his attention back to his other lover, and he was taken aback by the flood of emotion in those eyes. Reaching out with his free hand, Shawn caressed Hunter's cheek, shaking his head. Just watch, he said silently, trying to reassure him with his eyes. Just watch. Maybe some sort of warning would have been good. But it would have detracted from the delicious reaction that the hard impact of the belt against that inviting flesh provoked from their lover. The sound of it sent shivers through Shawn, but the sharp hissing breath that Dave took in was even better.� "More..." The quiet growl made him pause, before slowly smiling. God, it had been so long since he'd done something like this... he'd forgotten how powerful it was, how incredibly erotic to watch the skin redden, to listen to the moaning breaths and increasingly loud growls at each blow. The fact that it was Dave writhing beneath the belt only made it that much more incredible.�Taking his time, he varied the placement and pace of the blows, but stopped himself from getting too carried away. However much he wanted to make his point,�he didn't want to steer them firmly down a road they weren't ready for yet. Dropping the belt on the floor, he could see Hunter from the corner of his eye, watching in fascinated---and obviously aroused---silence. Taking a deep breath of his own, his cock throbbing from the adrenaline and lust rushing through him, he leaned forward again with�one hand bracing him, the other resting on one reddened curve as he spoke in a voice gone rough, his desire edging every word. "Punishment enough, sweetheart?" **** CJ watched various expression flitter across Adam�s tired green eyes, until they closed briefly and a long sigh escaped his lover�s lips. He knew it was in vain, but nevertheless hoped that small puff of breath was more a sign of release from pain than resigned acceptance of Chris� enquiry. If Adam really didn�t want to talk about it then CJ would back off and give him some room. But he�d been an ardent student of �Watching Copeland 101� through the years, Adam had something on his mind and until it was lifted was going to rehash it in his head over and over again. Liking that concept even less than coming across as a nagging biatch, Chris kept his hand and calm expression in place, knowing that Adam had given in more to himself than any pressure from CJ. ��Vince is sending Terry to OVW, but in my dream he�� Ouch. Chris didn�t stop his own sympathetic wince as the details of Adam�s dream fell from his lover�s lips. There were a billion ways that professionals could avoid hurting each other in the ring, even during the most dangerous of moves. One legendary man taking deserved pride in his record of never hurting another wrestler, but unfortunately, there were almost as many ways that a deliberate injury could be inflicted�if you wanted to. Case in point was the extensive bruising showing across Adam�s chest, even without the impact of the wall and resultant concussion, Chris� boyfriend was still looking like he�d been in a nasty car accident. To be hit by three hundred pounds of angry man in the way Adam described would be a hell of a lot worse than nasty�it could be deadly. Terry had never crossed that line with Chris, every single gore he�d taken had been with big hands cradling his lower back and CJ�s timed jump lifting him just enough over the collision point to have no lasting effects, despite appearances to the contrary. To his knowledge Rhyno had never crossed that line with anyone... until the hallway with Adam yesterday. �So now you know my biggest fear, love... think you can promise me that I'll never have to face it?" The moisture lining those brilliant green eyes took Chris by total surprise, the depth of Adam�s fear something he�d never suspected, never known until he saw it laid out before him like an offering. It shook CJ like even Adam�s heartfelt declaration of love hadn�t been able too. It isn�t difficult to like someone, to love them just looking at that person with a lot of emotions tangled in with the like�but to be afraid for them? That puts a whole new level of depth onto this crazy thing called love and Chris felt his heart start to beat faster as what Adam was showing him without telling him called to his own hidden fears. Not really the time or place to go into those dark waters, Chris lifted his lover�s hand and stroked his lips very gently across the long fingers that had brought him to the edge of heaven and had clenched in fear at a subconscious image of destruction. How could he answer that plea? Even though the sardonic glint in Adam�s eyes acknowledged that such a promise could never be upheld in their line of work, there was still the underlying call for reassurance lurking in the bottomless green gaze holding his own prisoner. �I�ll do my best�, �Terry�ll never get that close�, �Can�t hurt me Babe I�m indestructible you know that.� They may all be true, but seemed like empty promises in return for the passion and fear Adam was giving him. So Chris stayed silent, choosing not to give voice to lie�and to not treat Adam�s fear as anything less than it was. A measure of his love for Chris. As Adam�s teeth sank into his full lower lip, Chris realized that Adam�s nightmare wasn�t the only thing bringing tension to his beloved�s shoulders. Curious now, he sat up a little straighter on the bed and mentally braced himself for whatever else the horror of Adam�s nightmare would throw at him. He hadn�t like�become the walking dead or anything had he? �I don't do the jealous, possessive, over-protective guy thing�� Well, okay. Chris wasn�t one for walking around with someone�s name tattooed on his forehead either so� �Dave was the first one to reach you.� Dave�Batista? �I've been trying to figure out why in the world Dave Batista would care about what happened with Terry. I barely know the guy�. Are you and Dave... close?" Chris blinked. A split second later he caught on to what Adam meant by that funny little emphasis on the word �close�. Christ! He�d never even considered Batista as a potential�whatever. Mostly because anyone with eyes could see the guy only looked at two people with a certain predatory light in his eyes�and neither blond was Chris Jericho. Of course, Adam didn�t know that. In fact, the subtle query in his boyfriend�s voice told Chris that Adam didn�t have the slightest idea who CJ might have been seeing before their fateful moment in the alley. Chris smiled slowly and if his mouth had a small crooked twist, well then, who could blame him. �No closer than to say �hi� to and to try and steal the good couches in �Evo�s� dressing room from.� Adam hadn�t been in on that little escapade, but Chris had photos saved somewhere on his lap-top and would show them to his lover ASAP. �I�ve never slept with him or even really thought about it... though now you�ve put the idea in my head�.� Ducking swiftly to avoid any real or imaginary swipes that might come his way, Chris continued, �In the hospital I was just repeating what he�d said in the hallway after the Fuckhead attacked you. He grabbed and pulled me away from those lovely little breakable fingers. I think I would have done some damage to his instep�okay, okay�maybe not that much damage�but I was hardly rational at the time.� Reaching out with his damaged fingers, Chris trailed them softly across Adam�s shoulder. �My lover had just been assaulted and I had a nice revenge rage going on, when Dave told me that I better take care of you before getting too crazy on the Fuckhead. He promised that if I wanted to start something down the line he�d be there to back me up, but at that moment you should be my priority.� Chris had been too lost in the blue-white ice of his anger at the time to truly register the words, but now they came back to him clear as a bell. The arms around him could have been bands of steel for all CJ had been able to get free. He knew he�d be glad to call those strong arms to his back should he ever run into Terry any time soon. �I don�t think he said it out of affection for me or you�I think he might just have been a little bit sickened by what Terry did and would be happy to let the Fuckhead know about it should we ask.� Funny. With an attitude and nobility like that, CJ might certainly have looked Dave Batista�s way in the future. If he hadn�t been eating his heart out over a green-eyed devil that is. **** He was completely relaxed. Okay, there was one part of him that was anything but relaxed, but excluding that particular appendage, the rest of his body was at ease. The muscular thigh draped over the back of his knees felt comfortable as did the hand resting in the middle of his back, comforting even in the fact that Hunt was touching him without any of the reservation he had show earlier. He could feel Hunter's amusement at his taunt to Shawn even though he couldn't see it. His eyes were closed, but the occasional twitching of Hunter's body as he held back his laughter was highly informative. Hunt had obviously recovered from their activities last night if the hardness prodding his hip was anything to go by. All was quiet on the Shawn front and Dave was starting to wonder if their Heartbreaker was really going to let him get the last word in. The slight tug of a hand on the tail of his shirt and the sneaking of warm fingers beneath the material distracted him for just a moment. Hunter's fingers... warm, gentle, comforting... tracing gentle lines over his lower back. Despite his yearning for that 'something more', he was content for the moment. But he couldn't help but wonder what Shawn was up to. The quiet click of a lock sliding home from the direction of the bedroom door gave him his answer. He cocked his head slightly in the direction of the sound, but other than that and a slight arching of his back for more contact with Hunter's fingers, he gave no indication at all that he was aware of what had just happened. The slight rustle of shoes slipping across the carpeted floor gave away Shawn's location, though Dave hadn't actually needed the sound to be aware of his lover's position. He seemed to have developed an acute sense of awareness where his lovers were concerned and he could feel Shawn's eyes wandering over his body as if it were an actual caress. Tilting his head yet again was the only clue he gave that he knew where Shawn was standing. Stark quiet reigned in the room for a moment and Dave wondered for a moment if this was part of his 'punishment'. If it were, then Shawn was bound to be disappointed, because the anticipation was only heightening his excitement. He was pretty sure that Shawn wouldn't try that particular tactic anyway... the silent treatment just didn't seem to be Shawn's 'thing'. The slight shifting of the mattress as their lover joined them had him biting his tongue in order to keep his composure. The press of warm lips at the base of his spine nearly blew that composure altogether. Clamping down tightly on the urge to shiver as the moist kisses continued along the bony nubs of his back, he waited to see what might come next. The gently stroking fingers had pulled away as Shawn continued his trek, but found a new target in the short hair at the top of his neck. The soft rasp of manicured nails scratching lightly at the base of his skull caused an involuntary twitch of his head as he sought a firmer touch. Dave was a big sucker for nails dragging along the sensitive skin at the top of his head and if he hadn't been so focused on keeping still he would probably have started purring... big scary 'Animal' that he was. Rolling his eyes behind his lids, his grin increased just a fraction at the inconsistency. A hand slipping under his hip registered simultaneously along with the warm, wet heat of a tongue tracing the lines of his tattoo. He could have moved to give his lover easier access to his obvious goal, but where was the fun in that? Shawn's detailed lineation almost forced a reaction, the lick of flames along his back a mirror to the actual fire surrounding the dragon. Each twist of Shawn's tongue sent a flicker of heat shooting down his spine to his shaft which was now nicely hard and only half confined by his tight briefs. His condition was hardly comfortable and he was considering the wisdom of wearing underwear at all in the vicinity of either of his lovers. Luckily Shawn took care of the problem in short order. He was amused that Shawn had obviously had practice undressing someone impersonating dead weight. Not even a flicker of jealousy there, nor wondering whom his target had been, and Dave was proud of himself. He'd lick that little problem sooner rather than later. Letting out a silent sigh of relief at the lowering of his zipper, he once again slipped and curled his hand into Hunter's stoking fingers. The muscles in his back seemed almost hypersensitive now and as Shawn followed a long curving line those same muscles twitched beneath the onslaught. Who would have thought that this particular venture of Shawn's would turn out to be such a huge turn-on? He'd never considered his tattoos as particularly erotic, but his lover had given them a whole new meaning in the past few minutes. When Shawn pulled away, Dave almost... almost!... asked him to continue, but with the sudden flurry of hands at his waist, he decided that maybe what was to come would be worth giving up the pleasure. The groping going on around his groin had him snared between wanting to laugh at the obviousness of it and groaning at the little sparks of pleasure the contact was provoking. The one thing that really surprised him was that he didn't lose his clothes entirely. Curious when the garments stopped there descent at a point around mid-thigh, he raised a single brow, though it was hidden in the curve of his arm. The smooth glide of a hand across his buttocks, Shawn's this time he noted, was more than welcome and he shifted slightly allowing his hard member to slide along the sheets beneath him. The contrast was lovely and would certainly have deserved a moan, if he hadn't been interrupted by someone else's. The noise was barely a whisper, but it grabbed the attention of his inner beast like a hook. He didn't open his eyes, it was too early to give up the game, but he didn't really need to. He could imagine what had caused that little moan thanks to the sound having been muffled. The rasp of slightly strained breathing as the two parted sent a ripple up his spine as did the suddenly still hand on his backside. The pop-pop-pop of a belt clearing belt loops along with the slight tug of his pants against his thighs gave him the only warning he was going to get. He tensed for just a fraction of a second wanting to shout 'yes' desperately, but he forced himself to wait. It had to be Shawn's decision whether or not to go through with it and as much as he yearned for it, he wasn't going to push during this exploratory period. If Shawn didn't give him what he wanted, he could always ask for it at some other point. Hearing a clink as Shawn moved the now-free belt once again, Dave relaxed again, seemingly unconcerned or unaware of what might be happening in the next few moments. He caught the whistle of leather slicing through air a bare second before impact. Air hissed between clenched teeth as the sweet pain radiated through his ass and he arched into the hand which had found its way to the back of his neck once again. "More..." That one quietly growled word encompassed everything that he needed from both of his lovers. Such a small word, so simple, yet filled with so much meaning. His eyes still closed, he waited. The scratch of nails against his scalp coincided beautifully with the singing of the leather as Shawn brought it down on him once again. His low wordless growl came just a bit louder this time and he arched his neck and ass simultaneously upwards in a silent request. His hands clenched in the sheets beneath him and Dave could have cared less if he ripped the obviously expensive set. In no time at all he was writhing beneath each blow, the heat and pain in his ass merging delightfully and sending wicked spikes of pleasure through his groin and up his spine. With each shift of his hips his almost painfully hard cock found friction against the sheets and he could have come just from the mixture of sensations alone, but he wasn't about to allow that to happen. There was something else he wanted... something else he needed... and if he had to beg he planned on getting it... today. He was just a tick below a snarl now with his responses, his lip bearing the impression of his teeth. He hadn't tasted his own blood, but new it wouldn't take much to bust open the thinned skin of his lower lip. The clink of the belt buckle hitting the floor registered vaguely, but it was the contact of a firm hand on his burning ass that informed him his punishment was at its end. His heavy breathing echoed in his ears, almost covering the sex-soaked sound of Shawn's voice. "Punishment enough, sweetheart?" Was it? For now it was sufficient, though he knew there would be a time in the future he'd end up begging Shawn to continue. The punishment was enough to unleash the beast within him and the beast was particularly hungry... for more than one dish. With a growl, he moved with lightning grace, pushing back enough that he could wrap an arm around Shawn's waist and pull him down onto the mattress. He didn't blink as he blanketed himself over Shawn's frame, his eyes boring into the wide pools of blue in his lover's face. His heated breath blew forcefully across a cheek pink from exertion and excitement. He didn't think for a second about his fears of hurting Shawn as his mouth descended with a growl, locking onto the lips of his lover as he rocked his hips forcefully, his cock pressing hard against Shawn's stomach. He continued the forceful exploration of Shawn's mouth until he felt a swirl of lightheadedness from lack of air. Gasping as he pulled away, he swept his lips over a smooth cheek and down the tanned column of his lover's throat. Pausing for just a moment, he scraped his teeth over his previous marking as his hands fisted in Shawn's shirt. The sound of fabric ripping rent the air but Dave didn't acknowledge it as he wiggled lower, his teeth closing around one small nipple. A firm bite and a lick to the bud and its mate were accompanied by growls as hands dug firmly into his shoulders. His hands worked feverishly to unfasten Shawn's slacks, the button popping off and landing somewhere on the carpet next to the bed. Dave didn't care, didn't think of anything but his goal, didn't pay the least bit of attention to the difficulties of trying to move with his pants still banded around his thighs. Squirming into position, he grasped the top of Shawn's slacks with both hands and jerked them over his hips until Shawn's waistband had cleared his thighs and now rested somewhere in the vicinity of his knees. Another growl and Dave pounced, not bothering with the niceties or any sort of warning. Delivering a swift swipe of his tongue, dragging the metal ball embedded there across his lover's heavy balls, he tugged one between his lips, laving it liberally with the warmed metal. Pulling back with his mouth still clamped around the firm piece of flesh, he relished the loud noise that spilled from Shawn's mouth before moving onto the twin. His hands were planted firmly against thrusting hips, holding them immobile as he moved on to his next target. Running his tongue along the solid throbbing length of Shawn's shaft, he paused at the tip, snarling loudly before engulfing the head in his mouth. He felt the thrust of still-pinned hips against his hands and smiled around the flesh in his mouth as he lowered his head. Slow finesse out the window, he swooped down on the rigid length, his tongue swirling rapidly around the smooth skin. Swallowing harshly as he reached the base, he slowly scraped his teeth along the shaft as he raised his head. Bobbing his head quickly, speed and intensity were the words of the moment. The sounds of pleasure mixed with just a tinge of pain falling from Shawn's lips fed the beast urging him on. He felt the stiffening of the muscles beneath his hands and body and growled just seconds before he felt the warm creamy spurt of seed in his mouth. He swallowed, sucking harder around the flesh in his mouth until he heard a mix between moan and whimper. Pulling his mouth slowly from his prize, he licked the smooth skin clean to the beat of sounds coming from near the head of the bed. Once satisfied that he hadn't missed a drop, he clawed his way back up the bed for a final tender kiss against swollen lips and a gentle caress along one cheek. Flopping onto his back, a sharp hiss breaking his lips, he closed his eyes for a moment as he caught his breath. He hadn't dared look at Hunter yet to see his reaction to what had happened, he just hoped he hadn't freaked him out too much. Lifting his fingers, he quickly worked the buttons on his shirt, relishing each brush of the sheets against his tender skin. Toeing his shoes off, he sat up, moaning quietly as he quickly shed the rest of his clothes. The animal inside him still wasn't satisfied... wouldn't be without one more thing. Opening his eyes, he finally turned to face his still-quiet lover, sure that the need was still shining brightly in his dark eyes. He noticed the wide hazel pools looking back at him and almost laughed. He wasn't sure if it was surprise hidden amongst the light there, but Hunt was definitely looking at him in a way he hadn't before. Shifting his weight onto one hip, he inched slowly closer to his other blond lover. Lifting one hand, he gently pushed the silky hair away from Hunter's face. With slow, even movements... he still wasn't sure what exactly Hunt was thinking... he ran the back of his fingers over Hunter's cheek. Pleased when Hunter leaned into the caress, he smiled. "Hunter... I told you if there was something I wanted, I would ask," he rumbled quietly. His thumb brushed firmly against Hunter's fleshy lower lip. "There's something that I want you to give me. Something I need," he said as his eyes held those of his lover. Leaning closer yet, he nuzzled gently against one cheek, his breath covering the skin in slow quick puffs as he spoke again. "I want you to touch me darlin'..." The words were whisper soft, but filled with emotion. His nose brushed the square jawline as he moved yet closer to his target. "...Love me..." His lips brushed against the shell of his lover's ear. "...Fuck me, Hunter." Pulling the tiny lobe between his lips, he bit down gently and tugged the bit of skin with his teeth for a split second. "You already own my heart and soul... take the last piece, Hunt." **** Hunter�s fingers continued their slow caress, reveling in the satin feel of Dave�s skin and the warm pulse of life-blood beneath that glorious surface. Shawn stood just to the side of the bed, blue eyes thoughtful for a moment before flooding with an intention that Hunter had never seen before and was almost ready to pretend he didn�t understand. But he did. There was no doubt that Dave had offered up the most tantalizing of temptations when he�d sprawled across Hunter�s bed like a feast of sophisticated muscle. Hunt was having the devil�s own time trying to decide if he wanted to move closer to Dave or give Shawn the room he needed to make his �point�, by backing off to the head of the bed. A sharp look from Shawn stopped that thought in its tracks, so he just rested where he was, one hand continuing to give Dave the smallest back-rub ever, while his insanely erotic best friend moved to lock the door. Ha. Hunter had promised that he�d be the one to keep Stephanie away should Shawn cause any explosions in the near future, but the other blond had beaten him to it. Shawn crawled up onto the bed like he was contemplating which taste of dessert he wanted first, all focused attention and mouth curved into a contemplative bow. Hunter�s fingers were soon nudged out of the way by wet soft lips as his lover started to trace the intricate pattern on Dave�s back with his tongue. Inch by sensuous inch, the cotton shirt was pushed north and a delicate lick was granted to every curl and whorl of ink. It was an entrancing sight that had Hunter�s gaze fixed, even while his fingernails sough new territory at the base of his dark lover�s skull. The short, bristled hair was like fine filaments of silk, to Hunt it felt akin to stroking a cat, or running his fingertips across a velvet cushion. From somewhere outside his sex-fogged brain, Hunter frankly admired the deft skill with which Shawn managed to disrobe Dave�even if only partially. The main part of Hunt�s mind was being flooded with the wonderful endorphic rush that came from watching one sexy man make love to another gorgeous man not five inches from his face. Several other inches that belonged to Hunter were taking their fair share of the hormonal rush and were now pressing hard against the inside of his fly. He�d never doubted that Shawn could master anyone, anytime. Hell, Hunter had acknowledged himself Shawn�s personal slave years ago. But to see all that beautiful ferocity on display for him, to see the bright wicked gleam turn dusky blue almost cobalt with desire as he lifted�. No. Every single muscle in Hunter�s body froze as he watched Shawn lift Dave�s belt and prepare to bring it down onto the tender skin of Dave�s exposed buttocks. He had a disastrous urge to wrestle the strip of leather from the other man�s hands and toss it out the window, cursing and swearing at anyone who would even think of trying to hurt Dave in his presence. Hunter, of course, didn�t move. Because the �other man� was Shawn�his beloved�and Hunter had and would trust Shawn with his life. So� Could he do this? Could he lie there with a massive hard-on and just watch, while Shawn beat Dave�s butt with a fucking belt? He knew that Dave would like it�probably more than like it if the anecdote in the limo had been any indication... but Hunt�s protective instinct had kicked him in the brain with a jack-boot and found the idea of doing nothing�terribly, fucking confusing. In the end there was only one thing that mattered to Hunter right here, right now. �Love you both,� Hunt thought, eyes locked on the black leather as it came down like a thunder crack across that lovely, perfect skin. �More�� Hunter knew Dave�s deep growl wasn�t directed at him, but his fingers nevertheless shook off their momentary paralysis and began to scratch and stroke their way up the back of his lover�s head. It was even more like stroking a cat when Dave twisted, arched and pushed into his hands, a delirious counterpoint to the rise and invitation of his hips. As the blows continued with what Hunter�s inexperienced eye could see were perfectly placed, well-judged strokes, Dave�s reactions were not just conciliatory but downright demanding. To Hunter it almost seemed that the prone man was the one creating this scenario, even as Shawn seemed the aggressor. He didn�t even see the belt hitting the floor, Hunt�s gaze too fixed on the burnt-red skin of Dave�s ass and the obvious erection creating a delicious bulge between Shawn�s legs. The other blond was looking at him, but Hunter could only stare back in aroused fascination, seeing a side of his oldest friend that he�d never been privileged to witness before. It was so fucking hot it made his cock ache. "Punishment enough, sweetheart?" Hunter blinked as the words registered. Oh, yeah. His comments at lunch came back to him with the force of a storm-front. Dave had expected punishment for his actions in the restaurant. Hunter had teased him right back, but now, there was nothing teasing in the actions he�d just seen. Maybe in the time leading up to it, but Shawn had given Dave what he�d asked for�had given him what he�d wanted from Hunter. What Hunter hadn�t been able to give him. Hunter raised his hand to safety the moment before Dave moved, big, muscled body reacting to the tease in Shawn�s voice with a power that maybe even his lover hadn�t been expecting. Shawn had sensed Dave�s reluctance to get rough with him and engineered a circumstance where the �animal� would be left with little choice but to cross that invisible barrier. It was a small feat of pop-psychology and one that Shawn, sprawled beneath Dave like a sacrifice and being subjected to a ferocious blow-job, was now reaping all the benefits of. Hunt could only watch the almost violent act with appreciation for its feral beauty, while a small voice wondered ingenuously, �So�Dave really liked the belt thing huh?� Shawn�s climax was a sight to behold, still mostly dressed, small yet invulnerable beneath the huge man leaning over him. His lovely face, flushed and slight with agonized pleasure and Dave�s ravenous lips wrung gasp after gasp from his laboured lungs. Hunter almost wanted to break Dave�s fall, to cushion the impact as his lover rolled over into the space between them, a look somewhat like mania clouding the deep, chocolate orbs looking up at him. But the cautious control of the hand that reached up towards Hunter�s face, belied any urgency rife in the body beside him. "Hunter... I told you if there was something I wanted, I would ask." The gentle touches across Hunt�s face were in such contrast to Dave�s obvious arousal, that he almost grinned at the starkness of it. From that brilliant, feral passion to�this. Dave. Sweet and gentle and only so slightly begging. He was intoxicating. �Something I need�to touch me darlin'... Love me... Fuck me, Hunter." Wicked, pleading words that pulled an answering moan from Hunt, a sound lost in the smooth skin of his lover�s jaw. �You already own my heart and soul... take the last piece, Hunt." For a few seconds silence fell across the bedroom, only Hunter�s breathing seemed to make any noise as all three waited to see what his answer would be. This time, Hunter didn�t use words, he replied with his actions. Mirroring Dave�s stroking fingers Hunt spanned his lover�s jaw and placed a gossamer-fine kiss on the swollen, bruised lips. The faintest hint of musk brought a sleepy smile to Hunter�s face as he tasted Shawn�s seed on Dave�s mouth. Delicious. **** The tensing of the muscles beneath his hand warned him. If Dave saw the deep satisfaction in his lust-darkened eyes, he'd probably stop... and that was not what Shawn wanted. If the belt hadn't provoked him into losing some of the control that was making Dave walk so softly with him, there wasn't much more Shawn could do about it... for now. So, hiding the self-satisfied curl of his lips, he waited. And then, in between two beats of his heart, his world spun and he found himself looking up into wide dark eyes that were glittering with need, Dave's growl still echoing in his ears as he was held down by the sheer size of his lover. A delicious shiver ran through him at that realisation, but the pleading moan that escaped was silenced by Dave's lips. Leaning up into the ferocious kiss, Shawn returned it in the same manner, not giving Dave a chance to stop to think about his actions. The solid length pressing against his stomach only added to the desire rushing through him and he arched his lower back as his hands latched onto Dave's neck. Growling himself when his lover's mouth left his, the scrape of teeth over the still-purple bruise on his neck turned the growl into a broken, harsh noise that nearly hid the sound of his shirt being torn apart. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Shawn was delighted; if this was Dave's reaction to such a small push past his wall of control, what would it be like when he really let go? The sharp pain from Dave's teeth at his nipple shredded those last coherent thoughts and his fingers dug sharply into the muscles of Dave's shoulders as the bite was repeated, followed by a lick that involved that wicked, warm tongue bar across the sensitive nub. Shawn shuddered, twisting in Dave's grasp under the onslaught, his senses reeling from the powerful combination of lust and adrenaline at their power play, small as it was. No one else had been able to affect him like this, not like this... Not even the growl warned him this time, and he was only aware that Dave had gotten him at least partially undressed when that wicked tongue left a blazing trail across his balls before clever lips pulled one inside. His hips jerked in a thwarted thrust as Dave held him down even as he let out a loud, wordless plea for more. The broken noise somehow understood by his lover, Dave moving to the other one, subjecting it to the same exquisite torture before releasing it abruptly. Another gasped moan became a sharp sound as finally attention was turned to his aching cock, the hot metal almost burning along his over-sensitized nerves, and his groaned complaint at being unable to thrust toward that teasing mouth was lost as Dave's lips closed around him. Held down as he was, subject to Dave's every whim, Shawn gave himself over to his lover and loved every second of it. So close already, aroused beyond belief at the belt-play and then at being held down, on top of the teasing all morning... His orgasm ripped out of him quickly, breathless moans mixed with whimpers building toward a climax that left him soundlessly gaping as his body strained, arching into that demanding mouth. It was almost agonizing in its intensity, and as he slowly relaxed back to the bed, he realized belatedly that Dave's mouth hadn't left him. The feeling of those lips, still sucking on him, was almost painful in an indescribably pleasurable way. Some strangled noise left his mouth at the sensation, followed quickly by a mournful sound as Dave finally released him... only to provoke more soft moans and whimpers as he was thoroughly licked clean. Completely relaxed, Shawn accepted the soft kiss and caress without the energy to respond with more than a wide-eyed look and a quiet murmur. He'd certainly managed to provoke their Animal, he reflected with tired amusement. And that was only the first step... but any others would probably have to wait until after the pay-per-view, for several reasons. The slight wince that crossed his face as he shifted his weight to a partially sitting position was one of the big ones. No way would he convince Dave to fuck him senseless if he was already having trouble sitting still for long. The quiet rumble of Dave's voice brought his attention back to where it belonged, and his heart nearly stopped as he saw Dave, now naked and rock-hard and oh so tempting, caressing Hunter's face with such a look... "There's something that I want you to give me. Something I need," Oh God. Was he asking... he was. The lassitude filling him fell away, replaced by impatient hope that he'd get to watch one of his own fantasies acted out in short order. Pushing himself fully upright, Shawn shrugged absently out of the ruins of his shirt as he watched his lovers, the sudden change in Dave's attitude enticing in its own right. The look on Hunter's face... so gorgeous. "touch me darlin'... Love me... Fuck me, Hunter." Sucking in a sharp breath, Shawn toed off his shoes and socks before pushing his slacks off as quickly as he could without shifting his gaze from the two men in front of him. This was far too important to miss even a single second of. �You already own my heart and soul... take the last piece, Hunt." The silence as Dave waited for an answer might have worried Shawn... if he hadn't seen the warm glow in Hunter's eyes from the instant their lover had turned to him. The bare honesty of his words created an ache in his heart as he once again felt his own shortcomings in this burgeoning relationship, but he pushed it away in favour of concentrating on the lovely sight in front of him as Hunter finally replied. The gentle caress, the slow smile... Shawn knew that if he hadn't been in love with Hunter already, that would've done it. So unlike the public persona that he wore, but so very like himself. Beautiful. A smile tugged at Shawn's lips as the word crossed his mind as he watched another gentle kiss, followed by Hunter's rising to his feet. Before either of them could ask their lover the obvious questions, sun-kissed fingers were at the collar of his shirt and Shawn's eyes were riveted to the teasing patch of skin revealed as buttons were slowly undone. Only when the shirt hung loose on Hunter's shoulders did Shawn realise that he'd been moving at the same time. The look that Hunter bestowed upon Dave was reassurance and promise and love all in one, and Shawn realised abruptly where Hunt was going as he spotted the half-hidden door behind him. Oh. Of course. Moving closer to their Animal, Shawn settled behind him before he could move, sliding one hand around the firm muscles of Dave's abdomen. Putting the other hand on Dave's shoulder, he leaned forward to press a soft kiss to the back of Dave's neck as he let his fingers move across Dave's chest in soft caresses. He'd be perfectly happy to move when Hunter returned, but for now, he couldn't not touch their lover. Not right now.�For now,�he concentrated on simply trying to express the quiet joy and contentment that he was feeling through his touches. **** Accepting the bottle of water that the stewardess offered to him with a silent nod, Mark settled back in his seat, seeing ahead of him not a seatback that was tilted annoyingly far back but brilliant green eyes filled with emotion that he would happily take a lifetime to puzzle out. And that was the problem... wasn't it? Stretching his legs out in front of him with a quiet sound of relief as his knee finally uncramped, he had to wonder. The strange obsession he'd been nursing for Jeff for what, two years now? was easily explainable... but the explanation scared the hell out of him. No one had affected him so strongly since he'd been with Shawn... and honestly, even Shawn hadn't been the same. Thoughts of Shawn brought him back to the discussion they'd had yesterday. "I think your whirlwind is going to have just as much attraction to you as the last punk kid that caught your interest did." Well, the attraction certainly hadn't been a problem, although it had caused a few. But his own insecurities had caused a few of those misunderstandings, too. "you�re a prize I�d like to win... . You are beautiful." Even the memory of those words embarrassed him, in an oddly sharp, bittersweet way. Shawn had called him "beautiful" too, and he'd always disregarded it as a lover's compliment, not the truth. Shawn was the beautiful one. Just like Jeff was. But him? He was old. Going grey. Too old for Jeff. "I want to fall for you Mark... . I am going to fall for you..." The emotion in the wide green eyes made a liar out of him. His whirlwind had practically promised that he'd hurt Mark again if they did this, if they tried to make it work... but how could he not try? Remembering the expression on Jeff's face that morning, he knew that he had to. If he had to walk away now, from the nonstop, captivating storm that was Jeff, it would end the process that leaving Shawn had started. His heart would never survive it. So. Maybe he could start by trying to believe what his lover told him. Even if it was something as wildly unbelievable as him being beautiful. The length of the flight was lost to his musings, and the ride out to his home was similarly hazy. Only after he'd tipped the taxi driver and let himself in to the darkened house that he hadn't seen for two weeks did he actually realize that he was home. Alone. The loneliness that swept over him pierced him to the heart and he closed his eyes as he stood there in the hallway, one hand still on the doorknob behind him. He should be used to the feeling, was used to this, even if he'd never admitted to what it was before. What had changed? The answer came to him in a flash of purple and green streaked hair and forest-green eyes and a slow Southern drawl, and his fingers tightened on the cool metal momentarily as he fought to recover his vaunted self-control. A few long moments later and he drew in a long, shuddering breath as he opened his eyes again, locking the door behind him as he shouldered his luggage. Dropping the bags in his bedroom, he saw with a glance at the clock that it was too late to have a plumber over today to fix the leaky faucet, but if it was what he thought it was, he could probably do it himself. That would be his first priority tonight. If nothing else, it might help keep his mind off pale skin and wide eyes, and how incredibly empty the house seemed with just him in it. It was going to be a long night. ****� Another quick dip into the hot cavern of Dave's mouth, then Hunter rolled slowly to his feet beside the bed. Could any sight be more enchanting than the one displayed before him? The two individuals who had taken the gift of his love and handed it back to him two-fold, lay draped across Hunt's bed like concubines, exuding all the hot, arousal of really good porn. Except they weren't some nameless bodies caught in the aftermath of intimacy, they were Dave Batista and Shawn Michaels, mostly naked and looking at Hunter like he was the next item on the most salacious menu in history. Porn never had it so good. Toeing off his shoes, Hunter unbuttoned his shirt at a slow, deliberate pace, watching dusky blue and wicked chocolate to gauge their responses. He smiled in amusement at the twin flares of admiration and fought to keep an arrogant toss of his head under control. Oh yeah... Hunter had never denied he had an ego, he'd spent years crafting his appearance to one most favoured by his enraptured, either hatefully or loving audience, and wasn't shy about using every advantage he had to excite his lovers. But flaunting his half-naked self in front of millions was totally different to stripping off his clothes before the eyes of a man he had loved for years and one he was about to make love to. Ahh yeah, and with the making of love to a man came the... Turning sharply on his heel, Hunter did a faster-than-light recon of his ensuite to find any kind of lubricant that wouldn't result in itching and not-the-good-kind of burning sensations or an overwhelming odour of lavender. Fortunately Stephanie hadn't restocked his bathroom with anything bizarre or creative like she occasionally took into her head to do, so Hunter's cabinet held the requisite tube of gel. Looking at the unused tube, Hunt's brows suddenly drew together in a frown that many a new wrestler would have wet themselves upon witnessing. Last night... Shawn.... dammit. For three long seconds Hunter let himself call Shawn every name under the sun, while he imagined the discomfort his beloved must have been in all day. Typical of HBK not to have mentioned a thing, but it was also typical of Hunter to find out all of Shawn's secrets and read him the riot act about it when he did so. But not now. Now was the time that Hunter got to control the action and while spanking and rough might have been the opener for this afternoon, Hunt felt there was a lot to be said for slow and gentle. Strolling back into the bedroom, Hunt's smile became even softer as he took in the sight of Shawn, bare skin burnished in the light from the late-afternoon sun, naked limbs entwined with Dave's. If it hadn't been for Dave's insistent erection rising proudly from between long, muscled legs, Hunter would have said they looked liked they were taking a quick nap before dinner. That straining flesh called to him like a siren's song, roused flesh an inducement to Hunter to touch and explore the dark perfection that was his lover's body. Setting the lube carefully on the mattress, Hunter shrugged his shirt off his shoulders and unbuttoned his pants, sliding his belt free and letting it drop onto the floor without a thought. For the moment he would stay half-dressed, his constrained cock pushing against the snugness and deriving a certain pleasure from the sensation. Settling his body onto the bed, Hunter leaned in so he was nose to nose with Dave, one hand reaching over the man to softly finger Shawn's messed hair. Regretfully letting go of the strands, Hunter then slowly pushed against Dave's broad, bronzed chest until his shoulders were nestled on one soft pillow. Shawn scooted back slightly to give them room to move and Hunt sent a wink in the other blond's direction before leaning his elbows on either side of his Dave's head and ran his tongue over that moist lower lip for a second time, catching once again that hint of musk, but also causing a wonderful glitter to come into the midnight eyes looking up at him. This was something he'd thought about doing for a hell of a lot of nights, making love to Dave in these very sheets, holding and fucking until they both passed out from exhaustion. The idea had plagued him until Hunter had exerted his mental will over his body's desires and pushed his love for Dave into the same precious space that held a long-beloved image of Shawn. Once, he'd convinced himself that touching them... having them like this, would be impossible and he'd contented himself with suffering the angst of unrequited love. Now... Hunt could have anything he wanted. He didn't even need to ask for this, it was being granted to him... begged from him. "...love touching you David. Wanted to, thought about it all the time...." the low words were pressed like kisses into the skin behind Dave's ear, against that patch of soft skin so near the soft pelt of dark hair and the crisp rasp of stubble. "Please don't think that I�when I hesitate it's because your skin would become too much for me.... I could never give it up once I.... I want you so much, want to do everything you're asking of me. Heart, soul, body.... I want it all to be mine...." Dave's skin was beautifully flushed, the bronze tone tinted a deep rose by the passionate oral performance beforehand. Drifting his lips up and across each sharp cheekbone, Hunter followed the path of the pink-tinged flesh down until he could nibble at his lover's tender earlobe. This slow tasting was something that Hunter adored doing to his lovers and he was reveling in the chance to indulge himself with his glorious David. The insistent hardness pressing into his hip wasn't something to be ignored, nor was the throbbing hum of need coursing through Hunt's own body at the thought of sliding into Dave's body. Lifting his hips, Hunter moved closer, rolling easily into the space created by Dave's invitingly open legs. The big man was watching Hunter with an intent fascination that while incredibly flattering also seemed to say 'hurry up or I'll do it for you'. Answering that non-verbal challenge, he reached beneath Dave's hips and, with a touch that was often reserved for those injured and scared, took the curves of Dave's ass into his hands. Using his own thighs to keep his lover's hips off the bed, Hunter began a gentle examination of the flesh there. The hard muscle was burning hot to touch, Hunt's skin-warmed palms feeling cold against their reddened fury. Not wanting to aggravate, only to sooth, he kept his touch light and he slowly caressed the punished area, fingers moving to explore delicate skin between the hot, tight mounds. All the while Hunter stayed face to face with David, giving the man everything in his heart through his eyes and whispered inconsequential words. It must have been too much, the locked gazes, bumping cocks and sensitised ass, because Dave made a noise that was a cross between growl, hiss and every sex-sound Hunter had every heard. Turned on beyond imagining, Hunter sat back immediately and worked his pants the rest of the way off, uncaring of the expensive garment's resting place as it was tossed as far as possible from the bed. Catching up the lube, Hunt squeezed a generous amount onto the fingers of one hand and returned them to their previous occupation. He was rewarded with that delicious hiss-growl again, but this time it was less impatient and Hunter softly pressed first one finger, then a second into the tight furled entrance to Dave's body. He had a small problem though. While both hands were busy with Dave's ass, Hunt couldn't prepare his own aching sex, the engorged length now just as anxious as Hunter to experience everything that was his David. Still trading a sizzling eye-fucking gaze with Dave, Hunter said quietly, "Shawn... ?" Barely an instant, then wet, slick hands were coating Hunter's cock, the sweet, lingering caresses bringing Hunter to an almost painful edge, one that could only be relieved at that moment by the burning heat clamping down on his exploring fingers. Settling back down onto Dave's hard, muscled form, Hunter's hands moved from the man's ass and slid down to raise up long legs so that they lay over his hips. He would have politely asked if Dave was ready, but the murderous glint in his lover's eyes was answer enough to that question. No longer going slow, Hunter slid deep into Dave's body with one sure thrust. Two sets of eyes closed at the sensation. Hunter's hips slid back, the grip and heat of Dave's ass a wonder that couldn't be rivaled by any except the touch of the man whose hands had never stopped their journey. Another thrust and another, it was perfection, tight muscle welcoming his cock and scorching pleasure as Dave rose up to meet every push of Hunter's body. Over and over, Hunt sought that feeling, the all-encompassing bliss that he'd never suspected until he'd tumbled into love with these two brilliant suns. Dave, David... his Michelangelo of desire, his friend and his... lover. Hunter's thrusts became erratic, the hard snap of his hips a reflection of his cresting passion. Taking Dave's length in his greased hand, he was still alert enough to time his fingers' stroke and twist with the plunging of his body into the bronzed-skinned god beneath him. It was right there, so close... almost... like... Dave's voice echoed through Hunter's soul like a single chord and the grip on his sex became unbearably good. ... heaven. **** to be continued...

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