I Can Hear Your Strength (A Heartstopper FanFic -- BOOK 3)

11. Break

As they strode back towards Nick's house, Charlie's mind slowly continued to switch back online. He kept one arm linked with Nick's the entire way there, using the familiar warmth to ground himself better in his current reality.

He had told Ben what he wanted and how he felt. He never had to see him ever again. Unless of course, they happened to run into each other in the town they both lived in...

No. He wasn't going to think about Ben anymore. Ben didn't deserve any of Charlie's already limited emotional head space. There was already a large golden retriever sprawled out there very comfortably.

The driveway of number thirty-four was empty when they arrived. Inside on the kitchen counter, they found a note explaining that Sarah and Nellie had left to spend the afternoon at Nick's grandparents' house and would probably be staying for dinner. That there was food in the fridge and to remember to be sensible.

Nick and Charlie turned to each other, grins on their faces. Nick scooped Charlie up and hauled him toward the stairs. The two of them giggled all the way to Nick's bedroom. He set Charlie down and he nudged the door closed with his back. They leaned together, arms around each other, noses brushing.

"Hi."

"Hi."

Together, they fell into a hurried tangle of kisses and fumbling hands, until clothes had been removed and underwear had been kicked into a jumble on the floor.

Nick's brown eyes were hungry, smouldering. It was hard to breathe at this altitude. At a loss for all other words and carried by something beyond his ability to resist, Charlie crossed to the bed. Nick watched him, holding his breath, too.

Charlie sank to his knees on the edge of the bed and climbed across the covers to Nick, still gazing into his eyes. He straddled Nick's lap, and Nick's breath caught in his throat. His throat moved softly as he swallowed, gazing right back up at Charlie.

Crimson spread slowly across his cheeks. Charlie loved the sweetness of it, as if this were the first time he'd ever seen him like this. How wide his eyes got, like they were trying to capture everything.

Charlie slowly wound his fingers into Nick's hair, pulling his head back. His lips parted with the movement, and Charlie bent to place his tongue between them. He kicked deep into his mouth, tightening his grip on handfuls of golden softness between his fingers.

Nick opened his mouth more for him, hands sliding up Charlie's back, everything else eclipsed completely by the fire building between them. Every movement and touch and shared breath fed the flames. Nick's fingers stroked the dimples at the base of Charlie's spine, and then his arms encircled him, locking him where he was.

Charlie was completely surrounded, encompassed by him, his body like a fortress just for him. He pressed himself down onto him, not gently. He could feel the full length of Nick's longing against him. Nick's eyebrows drew together, and he took a few very fast, sharp breaths, all of which broke over Charlie's lips. Nick moved in instinctively, independent of thought — rolling his body up against Charlie's.

Charlie felt it, watching the ripple of muscle that came with the movement. Nick had been watching Charlie but when he realised Charlie was looking at his face, he met his gaze. Transfixed, Charlie licked and sucked and kissed the joints of Nick's knuckles, the pads of his fingertips.

Charlie released his grasp on Nick's wrist but Nick kept his own hand in place as both of Charlie's began to traverse his body. His eyes were ablaze, overflowing with heat.

Nick's fingers slid out from between Charlie's lips, and while Charlie kept his body pinned in place with his own, he let his hands go wherever they wanted.