Title: Following Your Heart 1/?
Authors: Anorien and Sairalinde
Type: RPS
Pairing: Craig/David
Rating: Explicit Sex
Beta: Ourselves
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: This never happened...this is total fiction.
Feedback: Yes please send to sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com or thechroniclesofosgiliath@ yahoo.com
Archiving: OEAM, our own sites, others please ask
Summary: David and Craig have a misunderstanding and David chases Craig from Los Angeles to New York to explain.

NOTE: Words in // are thoughts //

---------------------------------------------------------------

[Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4]

It was well past noon when Craig woke up again. Obviously, David wasn't going to call. He needed to accept that and concentrate on what he was here for…the convention - and quit mooning over someone he could never have. Standing up and running a tired hand over his eyes, he stretched and walked into the spacious bathroom. He took a quick shower then stepped out, staring at his reflection in the mirror. "David is probably off with the person he *really* loves right now," he muttered. "Either that, or wondering about Marton. You've not got a chance in hell, Parker."

He couldn't stop thinking about David. And now, knowing that he'd probably never see or hear from him again, made it hurt even worse. Maybe if he'd listened to Marton, and just talked to David, he wouldn't feel this way. At least, that way, David could have told him he wasn't interested and Craig would have had some closure. Sitting in the chair beside the bed, he picked up the phone and called for room service, deciding he still wasn't ready to face anyone. As soon as he hung up the phone, it rang again. //DAVID? // "H…hello?" he managed, his heart racing.

The bored voice of the operator greeted him. "Mr. Parker? This is the front desk. A gentleman by the name of David called. There was no message. Thank you." //Click. //

His finger slammed on the button to hang the phone up and Craig quickly dialed David's number again. //How the hell did I miss that? Bloody hell! // There was no answer, and he got the infernal answering machine again. He hung up, deciding to try again later.

David fidgeted in his seat he hated flights this long. He hoped that Craig had gotten his message, he thought about trying to call from the plane but then he didn't want to sound *that* desperate. Even though he was *that* desperate he didn't want to come across that way.

He frowned at the thought and looked out the window at the clouds the memory of watching Craig practicing archery all those months ago coming back to him. They had all gone through various weapons courses training for the films and he remembered that morning as if it was yesterday. Craig had looked beautiful, concentrating as he held the bow while the trainers gave orders as to how high to hold it, where to keep their fingers, and David couldn't tear his eyes away from the other man's stunning form. Perfection.

There was no other word for him. //God please let Sean be right...please let him feel the same way I do.//

By the time the plane landed David thought he might go crazy. He called from the airport hoping to reach Craig but he had to leave another message with the front desk. "Damn," he murmured hanging up the phone. He finally got his luggage, which took longer than he'd hoped it would, and took a taxi to Craig's hotel.

Craig tried David's number every twenty minutes. He'd called! That was all that mattered….he just wanted to hear that soft voice again, and if he closed his eyes, he could almost see the shy smile that graced David's face when he was embarrassed. Or the way his eyes crinkled up at the corners when he gave in to genuine laughter. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. David had called……..but he was still half a world away. And Craig *still* didn't know how David felt about him. //God, what if he *does* want Marton? What if he's calling to ask about him? What if Marton wants him too, but is staying away for my sake? // He paced the room like a caged tiger, stopping only to try and call David's private number every few minutes, long distance charges be damned.

Craig decided that he was going to drive himself crazy if he didn't calm down. As soon as he hung the phone up on what he was determined was his last attempt, it rang back. He jumped and almost dropped it, but managed to yelp, "Hello?" Surprise of all surprised. It was the front desk. Again. With a message that a "David" had again called, and his line was busy. And there was no message. He threw the phone against wall and collapsed back onto the bed.

Arriving at the hotel David checked in at the front desk and immediately went upstairs to his room to deposit his luggage. "Ok," he said looking in the mirror in the bathroom, "You've got to do this now that you are here. Tell. Him." He could nearly hear Sean's words echoing in his mind, repeating the same litany of 'tell him' over and over. Grabbing his keycard he made his way to Craig's room and knocked hoping he hadn't gone out to eat or something.

Craig rolled out of bed when he heard the knock at the door. Probably housekeeping, here to change the towels. He crossed the room and automatically looked out the peephole. //OhdearGodinheavenitsDavid!!!!! DAVID! // His hand went to the doorknob and he twisted it open, forgetting that he was wearing nothing but a towel. Unable to keep the excitement from his face, he opened the door wide and grinned. "David? I…..I….um….Didn't expect to see you here….I…..:" His voice trailed off and he had to fight not to reach out and kiss the other man. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Everything ok?"

David stood dumbly staring at Craig for a moment the words on his mind completely erased and his mouth suddenly very dry as he stared at the man he so wanted wearing nothing but a towel. He swallowed and cleared his throat, "I uh...I um...Hi," he said dumbly knowing that didn't come out exactly right at all. Shaking his head and looking down at the floor he blushed slightly. "Yeah, everything is fine...I tried to call a couple times. I...I'm doing the convention," he shrugged, "Decided I'd be bored the next few weeks, so I thought I'd join you. Did you get my messages?"

Craig noticed David blushing and looked down, only then remembering that he was wearing nothing but a towel. He took a deep breath and walked toward the bathroom, trying to gather his thoughts. "I…um…yeah…..the front desk said you'd called, but there was no message. If I'd known you were coming, I'd have….done…something. Met you at the airport or something useful. He grabbed the robe that hung on the back of the bathroom door. //He flew halfway across the world because….he was bored. Bored. Not here to see you, so get over yourself, Parker. // "Um….come on in. I was just getting ready to order room service, but we can go down stairs and grab a bite if you want. Um…..unless you were going to meet someone else, then that's fine too. Whatever you want…." He banged the back of his head against the door, willing himself to shut the hell up, and not make an even bigger arse of himself than he already had.

David followed Craig into the room and closed the door still standing near it as Craig walked into the bathroom. He listened as Craig spoke. "Room service sounds good if you don't want to go out," David said hearing a light bang from the bathroom. He almost asked if Craig was alright but focused instead on the fact his messages hadn't been given to him. "I...I did leave messages, twice in fact," David said scratching his head. "You know, I'd have called your cell but...apparently you and I aren't having luck with messages of any kind. Your phone number got cut off on my answering machine. I got the 948-361-54...but it cut off," David said having memorized the number thus far. "Then, well I called Sean and asked him if he had your number but the one he had was disconnected. So I called Hugo but never got in touch with him either...so I called around and signed up to do some of the conventions. When I did that they told me you were staying here. //After I practically begged the girl.//So I called the hotel to reach you." David explained leaving out that he'd called Fran, and Mark, and Brian...and...and...a multitude of others.

Craig leaned back against the door and closed his eyes. //So that's why he didn't call my cell! He didn't have the fucking number!// He still didn't know exactly why David was here, in his room, but he seemed willing to stay and have dinner at least. //God….here in a hotel room, just the two of us…..I might go crazy before the food even gets here! // He seriously didn't know if he could keep his hands off David, but he just got here……and Craig wasn't ready to share him just yet. He'd have fans crawling all over him when the convention started…but for now, he was all Craig's. //In my dreams. //He couldn't help but smile to himself with that thought.

Tying the belt of his robe around his waist, Craig took a deep breath and walked back into the main room. "Sorry about the mix ups, but I'm glad you're here. In Los Angeles, I mean. Um…..yeah. Why don't you have a seat and I'll find a menu, then find myself some proper clothes."

"No need to be proper on my account," David said and then quickly snapped his mouth shut turning to look out the window, his face blazing from embarrassment. //That was a really dumb thing to say, Daisy.//He shifted slightly, "I um...I mean it's your room...may as well be comfortable," he said wanting to crawl under the closest piece of furniture which happened to be the bed. //Don't think about the bed damn it.//He fidgeted with his watch and smiled. "I'm...I came because...because I wanted..." David trailed off as the phone rang. //Bloody fucking wonderful timing *that* was!//David sighed as Craig answered the phone. This was just getting ridiculous. Cut off messages, and now phones ringing when you least want them to!

Craig gritted his teeth and picked up the phone. //You wanted…….WHAT? David? What did you come here for? God, how I wish it were for me.// He held the phone to his ear for a moment and rolled his eyes. "Yes. I did. Finally." He sighed into the phone before hanging it up. He looked at David with a wry grin. "It was the front desk, asking if I'd gotten my messages," he laughed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "So……..have a seat. The bed's nice and …" His hand started to automatically pat the bed beside him but he stopped and placed his hand in his lap. "I um….you were saying…?"

David stared at Craig sitting on the bed for a moment, his mind automatically imagining laying Craig down across it kissing him deeply. His hands working slowly pulling the tie of his dark blue robe and gently slipping it off his body as David's lips trailed down across the younger man's chest. His eyes snapped back up to meet Craig's afraid that he might think David had lost his mind. David moved closer and sat down on the edge of the bed and trying to will *those* thoughts away. "I...I...nothing," David said softly. He couldn't do it! He'd flown halfway across the world and he couldn't do it! He couldn't tell Craig how he felt, he was terrified that Craig wouldn't accept him. "Um was just going to say I signed up for a couple of the conventions...I think I'm turning into a workaholic," he joked trying to dig himself out of a hole.

Craig smiled as David sat on the edge of the bed. //So close. God, I want to touch you, David, to show you everything I'm too scared to say. // "Well," he said, as his eyes wandered over David's beloved face. "I'm glad you came, for whatever reason. I….I missed talking to you, even though it's only been….what, a day? A lot of the people here think a convention is a convenient excuse for a one night stand, then off they go, traveling in another circuit. I've never been into that….I usually just hang around with the people I know well - Sala or Mark or Bruce, but they're not there this time. I'm sure they're thrilled to have you here though. It's usually the ones of us who aren't as well known that do these things. Even Marton has moved on to bigger things, and doesn't have time for conventions anymore." //There. That's out of the way. At least he won't be expecting to see Marton at any of these cons. //

"Don't sell yourself short like that, Craig," David said softly his fingers itching to move over the top of Craig's on the bedspread. He thought about what he had said about a one night stand and wondered if maybe that had happened to Craig with someone else. "I missed talking to you too...I...I replayed your message a couple of times actually just...well just to listen to your voice," David admitted looking down and biting his lip. //God that made me sound really pathetic.//"I mean...I shit I don't know what I mean," David said looking away. Why was it so hard to tell Craig how he felt about him. That he dreamed about him, thought about him, had wanted him since the moment he'd first seen him. He could say it in his mind but he couldn't find the words he needed now that the other man was right beside him.

Craig's heart was beating wildly in his chest as David said he replayed the messages just to listen to his voice. When he looked away, Craig's hand was on David's arm before he knew he'd even reached out. He moved closer and suddenly felt as if he couldn't breathe. Never had he wanted anyone like this, never had he felt someone touch his heart without even physically touching him. Maybe…maybe David was here for a one-night stand. And maybe he'd settle for Craig since Marton - or whoever it was he really wanted - wasn't here. If that was all David was looking for, then it was worth it….one night in his arms would be something to hold on to for the rest of his life. With a trembling hand, he reached out and gently put his finger under David's chin. "David? Can I…I…" Closing his eyes, he looked down, dropping his hand back into his lap. "Never mind. It…it wasn't important."

David turned and looked into Craig's eyes as he hesitated and his hand dropped away. "What? You know you can ask me anything, Craig," David said softly.

Craig looked up, holding his breath and feeling as if his heart had stopped beating. "I'd….I'd like to…..to kiss you, David," he whispered softly.

David felt his heart flip in his chest and stared at Craig for a moment. "Yes," David breathed closing the short distance between them and pressing his lips to Craig's. As the soft warm lips parted under his own David felt as if he were falling into heaven. Craig's tongue slipped along his own and he felt himself getting hard just from the brief kiss. Pulling back to drag in a deep breath he stared into Craig's eyes disbelieving this was really happening. He wanted to say so many things but the desire to kiss this beautiful man again overpowered all other thoughts. Leaning forward he pulled Craig closer and lost himself in his kiss, moaning softly into his mouth.

The kiss, David's lips, the feel of David's arms around him….it was all even more incredible than Craig had ever imagined. His arms snaked around David's waist and the thought crossed his mind that he could die a happy man right now, with his arms around the man he loved. Leaning back slowly, Craig pulled David on top of him, his hands running underneath his soft shirt. If David had wanted him for no more than the next hour, Craig would have given him anything he asked for. He wanted David to make love to him, and judging from the press of hard flesh against his hip, David was interested too. //He may imagine it's Marton, but at least I'll know who I'm making love to. // He broke away from the kiss and buried his face in David's neck. "You…you can stay the night if you want to."

As Craig pulled him down David's mind reeled remembering his day dream from earlier. Kissing him deeply David's hand moved down to the tie on the soft robe pulling it loose and allowing his finger tips to trail across the warm flesh of the younger man's chest. David's exploration paused and he closed his eyes feeling his heart soar as Craig whispered that he could stay the night. "I'd like that," he whispered softly unable to believe that Craig wanted him. Sean was right! He'd been so stupid, wasted so much time! Moving to kiss soft lips again David shifted his hips forward pressing his arousal against Craig's thigh and moaning into his lover's mouth.

Craig's back arched off the bed as David's finger tips trailed slowly across his chest. He'd dreamed of this touch for so long now - since the first day he'd laid eyes on him. He still wasn't sure what David wanted from tonight, but at this point it didn't matter. Letting his hands slide between their bodies, he made quick work of the buttons on David's white shirt, then unfastened his jeans, never breaking their kiss. Pushing the shirt from his shoulders, Craig thought he'd go crazy with the need to feel their bodies together. The shirt soon fluttered to the floor and he leaned up to pull his lover closer, letting his hands caress David's back. David's kisses were the sweetest he'd ever known, and Craig could only hope and pray that David wasn't day dreaming about someone else.

Drawing away from Craig's lips reluctantly only because he needed to breathe David stared into his lover's eyes running his fingers through soft dark hair. "You, God Craig, you are so beautiful," he whispered in awe. He was. More beautiful than David had ever seen him, his lips red and swollen from David's kiss, his cheeks flushed and his eyes sparkling brilliantly as he gazed up at David. Lowering his head he began to lavish attention on Craig's neck, marking him at the juncture of his collarbone and neck and soothing the mark with his tongue. David shifted lower trailing kisses down his lover's body, his hand roaming downwards and wrapping around Craig's hard cock.

David's words ran over and over in Craig's mind. //'You, God Craig, you are so beautiful.' It's me he's seeing! // As the soft press of tongue and lips fell against his skin and strong fingers wrapped around his arousal, he tangled his fingers in David's hair and closed his eyes. "David," he moaned, swallowing the next words that came to his lips. //I love you. I need you. I adore you.// "Please," he whispered, feeling the soft press of denim against his legs, and wanting to feel nothing more than his lover's skin. "Let me see you. Let me touch you. Please, David."

Gasping David drew back and slid off the bed quickly removing his shoes, socks, and jeans as Craig finished removing his robe. Crawling back onto the bed David renewed the kiss again his body pressed against his lover's feeling the warmth of Craig's skin sending tingles throughout his own. "Tell me what you want, Craig. Anything...just tell me," David stopped himself when he almost called him love. They needed to talk but right now his brain was not cooperating. Now that he had the man of his dreams right here with him, he couldn't think of anything else. They could always talk later.

Craig found he was completely unable to keep his hands off David. One hand reached between them to stroke his lover's cock as the other rose up to trail a thumb across David's lips. God, he didn't to ruin their friendship, but there was no way in hell that he could stop now - not when the only man he'd ever wanted like this had just offered him everything. He said the first thing that came to his mind - the only thing in the world he wanted. "You," he whispered, looking up into blue eyes. "I want you to make love to me." His fingers sped up on his lover's cock and he shifted, parting his legs in invitation. "That's all I want, David." //All I'll ever want.</I>

David closed his eyes for a moment. //Oh God. He said make love, not fuck me...he said make love to me!//Gasping as Craig's fingers griped him tightly and his legs parted under David. "Do you...have um...something to," he trailed off as Craig's thumb teased the head of his cock and forgot what he was asking for a moment as he stared down at his lover.

Craig tried to remember for a moment exactly where he was. He'd not had sex in months with anyone else…and wasn't the type to carry around lube when he knew he didn't stand a chance with the one person he wanted to make love to. Yet, by some miracle, he was here - here in David's arms, his perfect dream lying beside him, touching him, kissing him. "Shower gel?" he said, in a trembling voice. "I don't….don't have anything else. I didn't expect you to be here. Didn't think I'd need anything."

David smiled and slipped off the bed kissing Craig gently and pulling away to go to the bathroom. He paused as he was raising up and lowered his head again to kiss Craig one more time. "Sorry...I just...am having a very hard time," David whispered pressing his lips to Craig's again, "Hard time not touching you," he grinned finally pulling away and rushing to the bathroom to retrieve the shower gel. Going back into the room he stood for a moment admiring the sight of a naked and hard Craig waiting for him on the bed. Grinning he crawled back onto the bed. "So where were we?"

"I think you were getting ready to make love to…." Craig bit back his words, leaning up to kiss his lover, not wanting to remind David who he was making love to, just in case it wasn't him. "Right about *here*," he whispered with a smile, reaching for the shower gel and pouring some into his hands. He warmed it between his palms then reached down with both hands to gently smooth it over David's rigid arousal. Craig's own cock began to leak onto his stomach, his balls becoming full and heavy between his legs as he looked into lust-darkened blue eyes. "I want you inside me, David."

David moaned softly as Craig's hands moved over his aching flesh amazed that it seemed to grow even harder. Watching Craig's amazing eyes he felt his breath catch in his chest at Craig's request. "Oh God," he breathed as he shifted forward kissing Craig deeply his fingers joining Craig's on his own cock gathering the slick gel and then seeking his lover's entrance. His slick finger circled slowly once, and then twice before pushing forward into tight heat. Pausing for only a moment David continued to press forward delving deeper inside Craig, his lips only leaving his lover's long enough to breathe before sealing upon Craig's again. Slowly his finger moved within his lover and then he pulled back and added a second, twisting and scissoring them to stretch the muscle gently.

Craig's low moans were lost in David's mouth his lover carefully stretched him. His hands traveled over the smooth muscles of David's body, pulling him ever closer, as his hips moved shamelessly, pressing down on the fingers inside him, grateful for any part of David he could have. He tongue explored and savored the flavor of the man he had loved for over a year now, and he wondered if David felt this connection between them, or if it was only his imagination. "Need you," he whispered against soft lips, spreading his legs wider. "I'm ready for you, David. Please."

"Yes. Need you too, love," David whispered forgetting himself as his fingers slowly withdrew to be replaced with the head of his cock. Pushing forward slowly he moaned as the tight heat enveloped him and then paused once he was fully seated within his lover. The sensation was like nothing he'd ever felt before. The connection…the feeling of truly being one with the man he loved for so long. Trembling slightly he looked down into Craig's sparkling eyes and slowly withdrew until he was nearly free of his lover's body before sinking forward again. Setting a slow pace David lowered his lips to Craig's again unable to get enough of those perfect lips.

//Who are you seeing when you say 'love', David? Who? If only for one night, just one, you could mean me.// Before Craig could think anything else, he felt the swollen tip of his lover's cock pressing against him, then sliding slowly inside. His legs wound around David's waist, pulling him in deeper, and they began to move together, Craig's body rocking and shifting to meet each smooth, gentle thrust. This was more than lust, more than one night….at least to Craig, and his body strove to show David all that he couldn't find the words to say. "God, David," he moaned, as his arms wrapped around his lover and he lost himself in another soul wrenching kiss.

David's blood felt as if it were on fire racing through his veins as he moved into and within Craig. His tongue moved within his lover's mouth in pace with their bodies. The entire world could disintegrate around them and David wouldn't notice, all he could see, all he could feel was Craig. This was what it felt like to be in love and make love to the one person that completed him. He had never experienced anything quite like this in his life. David shifted slightly changing the angle of his thrusts and sped his pace slamming against the tiny bundle of nerves inside his lover. Breaking the kiss David arched his back and wrapped his arm around Craig's thigh at his waist forcing himself deeper and moaning. "Oh Craig," he moaned as his thrusts became more erratic. His hand moving from his lover's thigh to wrap around his leaking arousal he stroked him in time with his thrusts. "Come with me, love...come with me Craig," he whispered brokenly.

Craig hands tangled in the bed sheets as David somehow managed to bury himself even deeper in Craig's body. White spots appeared before his eyes as his prostate was hit hard again and again. His stomach muscles tightened and he cried out softly as David's hand wrapped around him and every thought was quickly erased from his mind. David's cock buried inside him, his hand on Craig, his soft moans….everything combined to quickly bring Craig to the edge of sanity, and within only a few strokes he felt his seed spill over his lover's hand and drip down onto his stomach. His entire body tensed and he clenched hard around David's cock as it continued to pump inside him, and Craig thought he would give his very last breath if only David would speak his name and look into his eyes as he came.

The feeling of Craig's muscles clenching around him as his lover's release spilled over his hand caused David to cry out and thrust deeply one last time before his own release slammed into him. "Craig!" he moaned over and over again as his cock was milked by his lover's muscles contracting around him. Leaning down and kissing Craig tenderly David gently slipped from his lover and collapsed beside him pulling him into his arms and kissing his forehead. "You are so beautiful and amazing, Craig," he whispered holding his lover close.

Craig snuggled into David's embrace as his own arms slid around his waist. "God, David," he whispered. "I….you're….perfect. I've never….It's never been…." He stopped, wondering if David would even be here if he hadn't mentioned a 'one night stand'. //Probably not.// He didn't strike him as they type of man who'd go for that kind of thing, but then again, Craig *had* asked him to stay, not two minutes after saying that the con's were famous for one nighters. He buried his face in his lover's neck and pressed his lips against damp skin. "I….I hope this won't make you….uncomfortable in the morning. That it won't change us…. I mean…I hope we can still be……friends?" The only change he wanted to make was for them to change from friends into lovers - full-time lovers - but there was so much to talk about first. And tonight he wanted nothing more than to sleep in his lover's arms.

//Friends?//David felt his heart sink as Craig said the words. He just wants to be friends. "No, it won't change our friendship," David said softly trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. "Can...can I really stay here tonight?" David asked softly suddenly very unsure of himself. It had never felt like that with anyone, but apparently Craig didn't feel the same way. He swallowed and buried his face against Craig's neck to try and hide the tears that had gathered in his eyes.

Craig's arms tightened around his lover automatically and he pulled him closer. "Please don't go," he whispered softly. //Just pretend for the rest of the night. I'll be whoever you want me to be.// He tangled their legs together, and clung to David, as if by doing to, he could keep him close forever. "Please don't leave, David. I need you here with me."

"I'm not leaving," David whispered softly slightly confused at Craig's abrupt change, first he was suggesting they just stay friends but then reacting more like...like he cared, like he wanted David as more. He sighed softly deciding they definitely needed to talk, pulling back to look into Craig's eyes he decided their talk could wait a few more hours. They were both exhausted it seemed and both jet lagged. "I'm going to stay right here, Craig. Just like this, holding you in my arms all night, if that's what you want," he whispered softly.

Craig's shoulders sagged in relief and he curled into his lover. "It's most definitely what I want," he said softly, his words muffled as he pressed his lips to David's skin. //It's all I want….forever. What do I have to do to make you love me, David? Just tell me, and I'll do it…anything. // Reaching down to tug the blankets over them both, he settled in his lover's embrace and tried to concentrate on the here and now…….not what would happen in the morning, when he would most likely hear David ask a million questions about Marton. He knew they needed to talk, he needed to tell David how he felt about their relationship - a relationship that would be the best in his life, even if it only lasted one night. "You…you don't mind staying?" he whispered, suddenly worried that David was staying only because Craig had practically begged him to.

David smiled, "No, I don't mind...I'd rather like to. Couple of reasons, first I like feeling you wrapped around me like this...and the other is I don't think my legs will work anyway," he grinned. "Sleep, lo...um, get some sleep, Craig," he whispered kissing his forehead gently. He hoped they would talk in the morning. He needed to tell Craig that he wanted more than just friendship from him, if he was willing. Tonight had been more than he'd ever expected and it was perfect, but he wanted more than just one night. He wanted...he wanted forever.

"Mmmmm," Craig smiled softly, his words less guarded than they normally were. He tilted his head back and looked into his lover's eyes, running his thumb gently across his lips even as he eyes threatened to fall shut. "I like being wrapped around you, my gorgeous love..r. Just like this - arms and legs and bodies snuggled together…." His words were lost in a yawn as he moved to bury his face back into David's chest. "…could lay like this forever," he murmured before he fell into a deep, satisfied sleep, never feeling as happy and content as he did at that moment, his heart steadfastly refusing to think about the morning.

"Goodnight, Craig," David whispered as Craig settled against him. He smiled happily even after his lover had long since fallen asleep. The words 'could lay like this forever' echoing in his mind. //I hope so, Craig. God I hope so.//He snuggled closer and allowed sleep to finally overtake him.

***

Craig's first conscious thought was that he wasn't alone in bed. His arms were wrapped around a warm body, his legs entangled with another's, and he could hear a strong heartbeat beneath his ear. His first thought was that he'd give anything if that warm body belonged to David. Since he'd first laid eyes on the handsome Australian, he hadn't had the heart to be with anyone else like this. So……who was in his bed now?

Slowly opening his eyes, he looked up, seeing thick strawberry-colored hair, and a soft smile gracing the most kissable lips he'd ever seen. It was him….it was David! After a full two minutes of convincing himself this wasn't a dream, Craig spent the next five minutes wondering whether or not he should wake the man next to him. //He thinks this is a one night stand, Parker. Might as well make it a long night - in case it's all you'll ever have. // Moving up carefully, he pressed his lips gently against his lover's eyelids, closing his eyes and savoring the delicious scent that was uniquely David. He continued raining soft kisses over David's face until he reached his lips, trying not to think about how embarrassed he'd be if he woke his lover up, and it turned out that he wasn't interested in making love again.

David felt someone touching him, and pressing soft kisses against him. Sighing softly as soft lips found his own his eyes fluttered open still a bit foggy from sleep. Light was filtering in the hotel windows and he smiled sleepily as Craig kissed him again. "Craig?" he whispered pulling his lover closer. "Mmmm, hello," he whispered shifting slightly and rolling onto his back pulling Craig with him.

Craig smiled and pressed his lips to David's. "Hello," he said softly, letting his hand brush through his lover's hair. At least David *seemed* interested. And he was still here…That meant *something*, didn't it? Maybe he could tell him how he felt…afterward. Right now, he just wanted to make love to him again….just in case he left when it was over. Raining soft kisses over the corners of David's mouth, Craig let his other hand trail over the muscles of his lover's chest. "Sorry to wake you…..sort of," he whispered against David's lips. "You don't mind, do you?"

David smiled, "Not at all," he said softly his hands tangling in soft dark hair. "So...now that you have me awake," he whispered arching his hips up slightly so that Craig could see he meant awake in more ways than one, "What are you gona do with me?" David couldn't be happier, waking up to Craig's kisses, *this* was what he had dreamed of for almost a year now. And here it was happening, finally.

Feeling his lover's arousal pressing against his hip, Craig's heartbeat sped up. //God, he's gorgeous. Even first thing in the morning. Perfect. So very very perfect. And he wants me!// "Well," he grinned, running his tongue over David's lips as his hand slowly trailed down to his lover's cock, his thumb teasing lightly over the tip, "I think I'd like to return the favor. You asked me what I wanted last night, so I'm gonna ask you now….what do you *want* me to do with you?"

David gasped as his lover's hand moved over him. "Make love to me, Craig. Please? I want to feel you inside me," David whispered huskily, his hands trailing down Craig's back. He had wanted this for so long, making love to Craig earlier had been a dream come true, and now this...knowing that Craig wanted him again...maybe he did want more than friendship? David prayed that was true...prayed that he wanted so much more. After this there was no way David could imagine going back to his life before, going back home...alone.

Feeling a shiver of desire run through his body, Craig's breath hitched and he closed his eyes for a moment. He'd never dreamed David would ask for that….and God, how he wanted it - wanted it more than he'd ever wanted anything in his entire life. "Yes," he whispered. The word was lost in his lover's mouth, but he had no doubt that his intentions were clear. His fingers closed over David's cock, and Craig proceeded to kiss his way across the warm skin of his lover's neck, sucking and licking, as he reached for the shower gel they'd used the night before. "You are so perfect, David," he murmured as he slicked his fingers and kissed his way down the smooth chest and stomach, his breath coming hard and fast. "So gorgeous. And so unbelievably sexy."

David was lost as Craig kissed him, warmth seemed to spread through his body as Craig moved lower. His arms tightened around Craig and his hands traveled down caressing and squeezing, enjoying the feel of his lover's warm smooth skin under his touch. As Craig spoke David felt his face flushing hotly. "Oh, God," he murmured as Craig's tongue danced across his stomach causing his muscles to tense. He looked down and locked his gaze with Craig's feeling his breath hitch in his chest from the look in his eyes. //Please, God. Please let him love me.</i>

As their eyes locked, Craig's fingers paused for the briefest of seconds. //I love you David. // If there was the slightest chance David could love him back, Craig would have done anything, said anything. And the look in those sparkling eyes told him that maybe his feelings could possibly be returned. And maybe for even more than one night. He dipped his tongue in his lover's navel, smiling softly as already tense muscles tensed even further. //We need to talk, my love. As soon as we're finished, we need to talk. I have a few things to tell you.// Breaking their gaze, Craig closed his eyes, and licked the tip of David's leaking cock as his thumb ran over the taunt sack below. In one smooth motion, he took the thick organ fully into his mouth, stopping only when he felt the swollen head hit the back of his throat.

David moaned loudly from Craig's sudden movement. His cock buried in the warm wet cavern of his lover's mouth was almost too much. "Oh God, Craig!" he moaned desperately trying to keep his hips from thrusting up into the inviting heat. One hand seemed to move of it's own volition to tangle in his lover's hair while the other clutched at the bedclothes. David couldn't take his eyes from the sight, reveling in the erotic vision of Craig's lips sinking down around his shaft. He needed to tell him how he felt. He should have told him last night, but his thoughts were completely scattered from Craig touching him this way...wanting him, tasting him.

Craig swallowed around David's cock as one finger slid slowly between his legs to run gently over his entrance. He was suddenly more nervous than he'd ever been in his life. He'd never made love to someone he was this in love with…someone who held Craig's heart in the palm of his hand, as David did now. Trying to calm himself, he moved his mouth up and down on his lover's cock, running his tongue over the tip and sucking gently as his middle finger slid carefully inside the tight heat of David's body. Craig's own cock was hard and aching, and thick fluid began to drip on the bedsheets as he imagined being buried inside the same warmth that surrounded his finger.

Moaning as his lover's finger slipped inside him, David pushed back and down as it delved inside of him, while his cock twitched in Craig's mouth. He wanted to feel Craig inside of him so badly he ached. Shifting forward slightly into his lover's mouth and back against the finger inside him David gasped as it brushed his prostate. "Please...Craig please," he begged wanting more.

Craig moaned around David's cock and added another finger, twisting and scissoring quickly but as gently as possible. As soon as he felt the guardian muscle relax, he pulled his fingers away and gave a final lick to his lover's cock, his tongue pressing hard against the throbbing vein that ran along the underside of the swollen organ. He slid his hands underneath David's thighs and lifted them up, lining his engorged cock up to the slick and quivering entrance, and pressed slowly forward, sinking into the depths of his lover's body. When his balls rested against the curve of David's ass, he paused, feeling as if this was the very first time in his life he'd ever made love….and realizing that, in fact, it was. His eyes locked with David's and he knew that everything he was feeling was shining through his eyes.

The feeling of completion was almost overwhelming as Craig moved his thick cock, sliding deep inside David. His eyes locking with Craig's caused him to gasp. //Does he feel it too?//His mind reeled for a moment as his heart raced in his chest, the look in those sparkling eyes was almost enough to undo him. David moaned as Craig shifted and all thoughts were obliterated. All that was left was the feeling of being filled by the man he loved. Shifting his hips back to meet Craig signaling him to move David moaned softly as he felt his lover pull back and sink forward again.

Craig made slow and gentle love to David, coming ever closer to losing control, yet fighting to keep the moment from ending. As he slid back and forth through the tight muscle, the friction on his over sensitized cock was like nothing he'd ever felt before. After countless slow and deep thrusts, he leaned forward and kissed his lover deeply, leaning on one elbow and sliding his free hand between their bodies to gently wrap around David's arousal, trapped hard and wet between their bodies. His thrusts became deeper and faster as his hand moved over the rigid organ and their bodies slid against each other in perfect rhythm. "I'm so close, love," he whispered. "Let me feel you come with me? Please?"

David was in heaven he was sure of it, nothing had ever felt this *right* before. As Craig's hand wrapped around him he moaned softly thrusting up into the firm grip and back impaling himself on Craig's cock. His lover moved faster and deeper within him, and he spread his legs wider to allow him even deeper. "Yes...oh yes," he moaned in response to Craig's questions. Thrusting up and back down one last time Craig's cock slammed into his prostate and David whimpered his muscles clenching tightly as he spilled hot and slick between their bodies. Shuddering and trembling he barely kept himself from calling out the words 'I love you'.

The instant Craig felt David's hot seed cover his fingers, he gave up all semblance of control and wrenched himself in even deeper. Crying out his lover's name, he felt his release hit him hard as his cock pulsed and emptied inside the body of the man he was so completely in love with. As his cock twitched a final time in response to the muscles clenched around it, Craig lowered himself on top of David's body, breathing heavily, as their bodies melted into each other, sealed by sweat and the rapidly cooling seed that now coated both their stomachs. "God, David," he gasped. "I…that was…..God. I don't even know what to say." //Except that there is no doubt in my mind that I will love you until the day I die. But let me catch my breath before I gather my courage to say *that*.// He'd seen…….something in David's eyes. Something that could possibly, maybe, amazingly, be what he'd looked for his entire life….his one true love.

Hearing Craig crying out his name and pulse inside him made his muscles clench again and he was still trembling from his own release. As Craig lay against him he wrapped his arms around the man he loved and sighed softly pressing a soft kiss against tousled hair. David smiled happily as Craig spoke, "Yeah...it...YOU are amazing Craig. I lo...I wish...wish I knew what to say," David stammered not wanting to just blurt the words out right after. He wanted to make sure Craig believed him when he said it. Saying it right after having sex...even if it was absolutely amazing might be taken wrong. David chewed at his bottom lip and caressed Craig's back gently as their breathing started to return to normal. He could easily stay like this forever...and wanted to desperately. Wanted desperately for Craig to be his forever.

Craig slid his arms underneath David's body, holding him close and relaxing into his embrace. //I…I think maybe he *is* seeing me. That he does care. He did find me after all. Flew halfway around the world, and came to my door - not Marton's.// Sliding slowly from David's body, Craig wondered if now would be the time to tell David how he felt - how he'd felt for over a year now, and how he was sure he'd feel for the rest of his life. But he was so exhausted…and he needed to say this just right - not fuck it up or make himself sound stupid. "David?" he asked softly, pressing soft kisses against his lover's neck. "How do you feel about resting for a awhile? Then….maybe a room service breakfast and….and maybe we could have ….a talk? I have a few things I'd like you to know…and a few questions for you, if you don't mind."

David smiled brightly as he heard Craig's words. //Maybe he wants to talk to me about the same thing...oh I hope so.//He nodded, "Sleep and breakfast and a talk...that all sounds perfect," David said softly and held Craig tight against him. "Can we stay just like this? I love...love holding you in my arms, Craig," he whispered softly. He wanted to say so much, but they were both tired. He'd waited nearly a year, he could wait until after breakfast at least to tell Craig that he never wanted to leave his side again. David pressed a soft kiss against Craig's forehead and whispered, "Get some sleep, love."

Craig smiled and snuggled closer, still feeling as if he were in a dream. A wonderful, perfect, amazing dream that made him realize what he'd been missing his entire life. //God, I'm hearing things. Or maybe I'm not…maybe he really *was* going to say he loved me. He *did* call me 'love'. And I'm sure he noticed that I slipped and called him that too - and he didn't run screaming for the hills when I said it either.// "I'd love to stay like this. I love being in your arms," he said softly. "It feels so //right. Perfect. Amazing. Like the only place I'll ever want to be.//…wonderful." Stifling a yawn, he let his eyes fall shut as he held his lover close. "You rest too. I think we have a lot to talk about when we wake up again."

"We do," David murmured softly his eyes already heavy. Closing his eyes he smiled and wanted to remember this night and morning for the rest of his life. This was what he had always wanted, no...needed. Craig was the one person he wanted to spend his life with. He'd never felt anything like what he'd felt the day he first saw Craig and that feeling had only grown as they became friends, and now...now there was no way he could ever turn away. He fell asleep holding Craig and dreaming only of him.

Craig gave a content sigh as he felt David's breathing become deep and steady. He opened his eyes to look at his lover one more time, feeling as if his heart might simply burst in his chest he was so overwhelmed with love and tenderness. //He's still here. That's all that matters for now. Maybe he'll even still be here after breakfast.// When he was positive David was asleep, Craig rested his head on his lover's shoulder and smiled. "I love you," he whispered softly, the words falling from his lips even as he drifted off to sleep, safe and truly happy for the first time in his life.

***

David woke up slowly feeling a warm body pressed close to his own and smiled. Craig, he thought happily, snuggling closer, breathing in his lover's scent and trailing his hand slowly up and down his back. He opened his eyes still foggy with sleep and watched his lover sleeping, a small smile upon his lips and his dark lashes seemed to beckon David to kiss them, so he did. Softly pressing a ghost of a kiss against his lover's closed eyelids, and then the tip of his nose, and then his soft lips. Drawing back he watched as Craig snuggled closer and smiled. He wanted to know this feeling for the rest of his life. This feeling of waking up with the man he adored in his arms.

Craig's eyelids fluttered open and he was greeted with the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen in his life. Being kissed awake by the man he loved….it felt amazing. Memories of the night before drifted across his mind and he sighed happily. Moving to rest his chin on David's chest, he gazed into glittering blue eyes, unable to stop smiling, as his hand reached up to card through his lover's tousled hair. "Morning," he said softly, realizing that David wasn't showing any signs of moving just yet. "Sleep well?"

"Very well and you?" David grinned as his hand continued to move along Craig's back caressing him gently. </i>God he was beautiful. //He didn't realize until now how empty his life had been...no other lover had made him feel *this*. This was what real love was and he didn't intend to wait much longer to tell Craig how he felt.

"Perfect,' Craig smiled, closing his eyes, knowing that he wasn't just talking about how he slept. The next few minutes would change his life forever. Either David would say that he loved Craig, the he felt the same thing Craig did both times they'd made love the night before or…..//God, please no…. //..or he'd tell Craig that he was sorry, but this was nothing more than a one night stand to him, that he was really interested in someone else - the most likely candidate being Marton. Not that he'd blame either of them. It just sometimes worked out that way. "So," he said, opening his eyes and leaning over to place a soft kiss on David's chin, "breakfast and that talk we mentioned? Or do you have to be somewhere?" //Whatever you do, don't make him feel trapped. Let him decide if he still wants to talk or not. Let him….let him go if he needs to.</I>

"Breakfast and talk sounds perfect," David said softly ignoring the other question. He'd hoped he had proven he didn't want to be anywhere else. They did certainly need to talk, but he was starving. He hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. "Of course that means we have to get up first," David grinned, "not sure I really want to yet...think the organizers would notice if we weren't there?"

"Hmmm…." Craig laughed, relieved beyond words that David wanted to stay and talk. He trailed his fingertip over his lover's muscled chest, and ran his tongue just underneath his earlobe. "We could always tell them we were kidnapped by a crazed fan. Or got cornered by one too many orcs. Maybe they'd believe that." Stretching from head to toe, he relaxed again and nestled against his lover's body, reluctant to give it up one second before he had to. "I guess we could call something in to the kitchen then get dressed. I'm starving, now that I think about it. We never did eat last night. Though what we did do was much, much better than eating any day of the week." Blushing lightly, he hid his face in David's neck a moment before pulling away and reaching for the phone. "You want to do the honors while I take a shower?"

David was thoroughly enjoying the feel of Craig's body moving against his as he stretched. He laughed softly and nodded, "Sure...anything in particular?" David asked sitting up and immediately regretting the loss of contact with his lover's body.

"Anything….everything," Craig smiled as he ran his hand over David's back. "I'm happy with whatever you think sounds good. I'm just……..well, I'm just happy." And he was, Craig realized. Really and truly happy just to wake up next to David. He even allowed himself to think that maybe tonight he could go to sleep the same way…and every night after that. Maybe he wouldn't be alone any more. Unable to keep the grin from his face, he sat up and placed a soft kiss on the back of his lover's neck and crawled off the bed, heading toward the bathroom.

David paused as he reached for the phone opting to watch Craig instead. He smiled happily and picked up the phone. After having finished ordering breakfast David started gathering his discarded clothes from the floor and pulling them back on. They'd made a flight from Australia to the U.S. so he was damn certain he'd be stopping by his room to change before going downstairs to the convention. He was buttoning his shirt as Craig stepped out of the bathroom wearing only a towel and he paused watching him walk over to the closet to get his clothes. David realized he was staring and looked down having to concentrate to make sure he buttoned his shirt correctly. Craig was very...distracting he decided. In a very, very good way.

Singing to himself, Craig grabbed a dark blue and black shirt from the closet and his favorite pair of jeans from the back of a nearby chair. He made an effort not to look at David just yet - because he knew that if he did, he'd simply be unable to keep his hands off him, and they really *needed* to have this talk. He couldn't go on not knowing…it certainly didn't feel like a one night stand to him, but he had to know for sure. He slid into his jeans and shirt, then finally turned around to smile at David. //My lover. My love. And hopefully, my future. Please God, don't let him be in love with Marton. Please.// His feet slipped easily into his worn sneakers and he couldn't resist leaning in to give David a soft kiss on the lips before walking over to the mirror and running a comb through his hair. "So," he began, taking a deep breath, "I guess it's time for that talk before we….move any further."

"Yeah I think you're right," David said leaning over to get his shoes. "There's something I'd like to say...and to ask you, but...well it's your hotel room so I guess you first," he said sliding on his shoe and lacing it. As Craig had started to respond David's cell phone rang. He considered ignoring it but Craig stood at the doorway looking at him. "I...can ignore it," he said softly though the phone continued to ring.

Craig closed his eyes in frustration as the phone rang. The need to know how David felt about him, about last night, and about….them, was overwhelming. In the past few months, he'd gone from thinking he didn't' have a chance with this beautiful man now sitting on his bed, to thinking that same man was in love with one of Craig's closest friends, to dreaming that maybe, just maybe he loved *him*. And //<B>of course</b>//the phone rings *now*. He wanted to tell David to throw the damn thing out the window, but decided that he could use another moment to gather this thoughts. "Um…no, go ahead if you want," he smiled. "I can….straighten up the bathroom or something and give you a little privacy."

David hesitated and then the phone rang again. Damn it. "Hello?" he asked into it a little irritated and then his voice softened when he heard it was Marton. "Oh, hi Marton. Oh...well yeah. I'm glad you returned my call...well calls," David laughed, "I'm sorry I left you so many messages you must think I'm a lunatic."

Craig was just heading into the bathroom door when he heard David answer. Tears filled his eyes and his stomach clenched. //Marton? 'so many messages?" Bloodyfuckinghell! Why had David called Marton? And why was Marton calling him back??// Unable to resist, he left the door open as David's words drifted through the room, not sure whether or not he wanted to hear the rest of the conversation, but unable to stop himself.

"Yeah, I'm not at home, I'm in Los Angeles, yeah...no I haven't...well maybe a little," David said laughing as Marton asked if he'd lost his mind. "Oh...well...yeah sure I'd love to. Yeah when I come to London to start filming we can do it then. Well of course I'd love to have dinner with you," David answered as Marton invited him to dinner with himself and Sean who were going to meet up during the time that David would be in London. He had already made plans to visit Sean, and he'd always thought a lot of Marton. Especially now that he knew he wasn't Craig's lover.

Craig sagged against the bathroom door, tears streaming down his face and hands clenched at his sides. //Dinner? Marton was asking David to dinner? And…..and David was accepting? He *did* want Marton! This….last night, this morning - it had meant nothing to David. Nothing at all. Goddammit, what does Marton have that I don't?// That settled it for Craig, his worst fears had come true. David had called Marton Lord-only-knows how many times, trying to get together with him, and had only come to Craig when he realized that he couldn't get Marton. So much for the future, and love, and …..and everything else he'd thought was within his reach. Thank God Craig hadn't told David how he felt! He'd really have made a fool out of himself then. Taking a deep breath, he splashed water over his reddened eyes and headed back out the door. "Just remembered something I need to do," he muttered, opening the door that led to the hall and refusing to look at David. "Let yourself out when you're finished. We don't need to have that talk after all." With that, he stepped into the hall, shutting the door quietly behind him. Almost blinded by tears, he ran down the hall, not bothering to wait for the elevator, and took the stairs, not even sure where he was headed.

David gaped as Craig hurriedly left the room saying they didn't need to talk. //What the hell?//"Marton can I call you back? Yeah, bye," he said shoving the cell phone into his pocket and struggling to get into his other shoe to go after Craig. "What did I do wrong?" he thought as he opened the door to follow him. Just as David emerged into the hallway he saw Craig disappear into the stairwell but pulled up short when a petite woman with blond hair and glasses stopped in front of him. "Mr. Wenham?" she asked looking up at him. "Yes?" he said looking over her toward the door Craig had just gone through. "I've been looking for you, you weren't in your room. I'm one of the organizers of the convention, you weren't expected, so I need to go over a couple of things with you this morning," the woman explained. David sighed heavily, "Can you explain from the other side of my bathroom door...I need to change clothes," he said gritting his teeth and heading back toward his own room still wondering what the hell had just happened.

Continue to Chapter 4