An Encounter for a Lifetime

Chapter 20

After dinner, they retreated to the bedroom, where they snuggled beneath the covers in each other embrace. Kanan gently traced his thumb along the bandage on Nathaniel's forehead, where he received a minor scrape in the accident. "Does it hurt?" He asked.

Nathaniel shook his head. "This is nothing compared to me letting you get hit," Nathaniel caressed Kanan's cheek. "I'm sorry," He apologized again.

Kanan ran his hand through Nathaniel's hair, his touch comforting. "If anyone is to blame, it's him for randomly hitting people," Kanan reassured him.

"Still,"

Kanan placed a kiss on his lips to silence him. "Today, when I heard you met in an accident. I realized how the thought of losing you would devastate me." He confessed. "These past few days made me realize how much I love you." For Kanan, falling in love with Nathaniel was a gradual process filled with joy, laughter, and vulnerability. It was small moments like these, whether spent cuddling together or having a simple conversation, that made his love blossom.

Nathaniel felt touched by Kanan's words, his heart swelling with emotion. Kanan could feel the rhythm of Nathaniel's heart pounding against him. "I love you too," Nathaniel said, leaning in for a kiss. Their eagerness radiated as they intertwined at the lips. Kanan parted his lips, allowing Nathaniel to deepen the kiss. Nathaniel's hand found its way underneath Kanan's shirt, tracing his body. Kanan enjoyed the tingling sensation of Nathaniel's fingers along his body. His hands went lower, caressing Kanan's waist. "Wait," Nathaniel said, breaking away from the passionate kiss, his breath labored. "Is this okay?"

"Yes," Kanan assured him. His body was eagerly responding to Nathaniel. His touch aroused him in ways he didn't think it could.

Nathaniel wasted no time acting to fulfill Kanan's needs and his own. Their lips met again as they hurriedly removed each other shirts. Nathaniel traced kisses along his neck, and his hand worked through the waist of Kanan's boxers. Under the soft glow of the lamplight, the sweet moans from Kanan's lips filled the room. Nathaniel looked at him, a mischievous smile on his lips, eyes that told Kanan he was enjoying the moment, the sounds and sensations that coursed through his body, and Nathaniel was the cause of it.

"I love the sounds you're making," Nathaniel whispered in his ears.

Kanan recalled every word Nathaniel said as he waited for this moment. Nathaniel surpassed his words, exceeding Kanan's expectations. Nathaniel embraced Kanan with a fiery passion. Each stroke made Kanan curl his toes and arch his back, unable to hold back the sounds of pleasure. Nathaniel was nothing to joke about. Kanan wondered where the gently Nathaniel was that towered over him-stroking him, kissing, and switching positions. With nothing between them panting heavily, beads of sweat on their bodies as they basked in the aftermath. They weren't only naked in the physical. They achieve a nakedness in their emotions, revealing the essence of who they are. They weren't always perfect, but with each other, they could accept their imperfections and grow, bridging the gaps between them. When Nathaniel felt he wasn't enough, that he was alone, Kanan would be his source of comfort. When Kanan feels scared and remembers the fragility of life, Nathaniel would be his source of security.

"I don't think I'll be able to move tomorrow," Kanan said with bated breaths. "What are you? How many times was that?"

Nathaniel chuckled, "I don't know," He replied. "But I enjoyed every moment of it." He gave Kanan a peck on the lips. "Should we go again?" Kanan gently pushed him away, Nathaniel smiling at the thought of being intimate with Kanan again.

~~

As the rays filtered through the curtains, Kanan stirred from his sleep, only to be greeted by a sharp, throbbing pain, a reminder of last night's events. He reached for the bottled water on the bedside table, hoping to soothe his throat. Dragging himself upright, Kanan couldn't shake the tiredness and soreness that settled over him. He stumbled to the bathroom upon hearing running water. Nathaniel stood before the mirror, turning off the tap when he saw Kanan.