Suns (LGBT - Sci-fi - Romance)

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Author's Note - I guess you wouldn't have read this far if you had a problem with man x man sex, but don't read any further if you do! :)

It had been another long day, but at least it was nearly over. More people than he felt he had a right to expect had turned out for Viktor's funeral. The ceremony had been short and carefully respectful, the wake afterwards a difficult balancing act between attendees' grief and avid curiosity, but Stefan thought it had been as dignified as possible under the circumstances. 

After much consideration, he had asked for the funeral to be held on Capella, where he and Viktor had spent most of their lives, when things had been good between them. Nick had accompanied him, at his insistence, but discreetly, not wanting to cause any more gossip than he could help, attending the funeral but not the wake. Liam Connell had sent him a personal message of condolence from Tian but had not attended, despite Stefan's invitation. Although Liam wanted to support Stefan, he considered attending Viktor's funeral would have been too hypocritical on the one hand, and too much like gloating on the other. He thought it best to stay away. 

Stefan closed the door on the last person to leave the wake and called Nick in his hotel. 

"I know we were going to stay here overnight, but I've had enough. I need to get back to Aykut. I've just checked, there's a ship leaving in about an hour, can you come with me?" 

"No problem." 

So now he and Nick were back on Aykut, outside Nick's door in the middle of the night, again. 

"Can I spend the night with you?" asked Stefan wearily. "I'll sleep on the couch, I'd just really like to be with you tonight." 

"Of course you can," Nick opened the door for both of them. He could see the rigid control Stefan had exerted on himself all day was starting to unravel. The strain was showing in little extra lines around his eyes, the tightening of his mouth.  

Stefan sank down onto the couch as soon as he got inside. Without waiting to be asked, Nick poured them each a glass of brandy. He handed one to Stefan and then sat down next to him, listening as he unwound from the stressful day. Eventually he ran out of steam. 

"Thank god that's over, now we can start to put it all behind us." Stefan said, taking his boots off. "Don't worry about bedding, I'll just curl up here on the couch. I'm so tired I could sleep on the floor."  

"If you're sure?" Nick was doubtful. He got up and brought a blanket over, as Stefan suited his actions to the words. He only just managed to squeeze his body onto the couch, his knees tucked up snuggly. 

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," he yawned. "Thanks." 

Nick got ready for bed, thinking that Stefan sleeping over was getting to be a habit. A habit he could easily grow used to. Maybe next time he could ... hmm. Third time lucky? 

Nick woke some hours later to the realisation that he wasn't alone any more. At some point during the night, Stefan had slipped into bed beside him. It must have got too uncomfortable on that small couch he told himself, staring at the bare shoulder in front of him. He took a quick peek under the blanket before he could stop himself. White briefs. He himself was wearing purple ones. He usually slept in nothing at all but he hadn't felt comfortable doing that with Stefan in the next room. 

How was he going to get back to sleep now? Was Stefan torturing him on purpose? Probably not he thought, resignedly. He turned over so that his back was towards the other man, maybe he could pretend he hadn't seen him.  

He must have drifted off eventually because he woke to find Stefan pulling the blanket up over them both, it must have slipped to the floor. He turned to face him and caught Stefan staring at him, or more exactly, staring at the swell of his early morning arousal, confined by the soft material of his briefs. He didn't move. 

"You can touch me, if you want to."  

Stefan's eyes flew to his. Nick tried to smile. "Or I can get up and have my shower!" 

"Don't do that," Stefan whispered. He extended a forefinger, slipping it into that little hollow where Nick's briefs gaped a fraction, just below his hip. He found a nest of curls and twisted one very gently around his finger tip. Nick sucked in his breath, watching helplessly as his erection thrust out from the top of his briefs. God.  

Stefan didn't appear to be shocked, instead he withdrew his finger and stroked the exposed tip, very gently. Nick's eyes almost rolled back in his head.  

Stefan lowered his head to kiss him, first with light butterfly touches against his lips, then slipping his tongue in and out, demanding more and more. Soon his tongue was exploring deep in his mouth, withdrawing only to nip occasionally at his bottom lip. Nick groaned, he couldn't think, god that felt so good. He was breathing hard already, as if he had just run a race. His hands came up to run fervently through Stefan's short hair, pulling his head down to press his mouth even more firmly on his.  

Stefan was lying half on top of him, he could feel the press of a warm muscular chest and smooth skin against his nakedness. Stefan's finger was still stroking him, driving him mad. It was all he could do to stop his hips from bucking wildly against him. 

Without stopping the exquisite torment, Stefan lifted his head for a moment and smiled sexily down at him. He murmured, "I think I'm ready to discover if I'm an om. How about you?"