He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter One Hundred and Twelve - Bittersweet

Author's note; Act of lovemaking below.

Alexandria, Henry and a few others who happened to be in Thirteen Levels of Purgatory, gathered around her ringing phone.  She placed it on speaker so all would be able to hear when the call connected.

"Yeah?" The voice was slightly languid and breathless. 

"Owen?  Where are you?" Alexandria demanded.  "Where did you go?"

"Hmmm... um..." the boy sounded a little distracted.  "I sent you a text."

"I'm safe, leave without me?"  Alexandria repeated back the words in the text.  "That sort of text... for all I know it could have been sent by kidnappers!"

The boy laughed lightly.  "You know.. they wouldn't pay..." rustling noises came through from the other end of the phone.  "I... Er... shhh wait a sec!"

"Are you.. are you with someone?" Alexandria demanded.  A small groan came through the receiver and those listening found themselves reddening at the implication of the tone.

"Hanging up!" Owen's voice cracked as he followed through with his decision, leaving them staring at the phone.

David nudged Henry in the ribs.  "Looks like our leader scored!"  He said with a lewd expression.  Henry falsely chuckled as he glanced over at a pale faced Alexandria. 

"Ah, he wasn't the only one," Janey mused, pointing over to a cursing Seven Chances as he shouted about whatever was on the screen of his phone. 

Not only had Jordan been ditched, but the bastard had nicked his car as well!  He hadn't even clocked when Adam had filched the keys from his coat pocket!  He had to phone his sister and hope to hitch a ride with her and her boyfriend.  He really was not happy and vowed to pay the man back!

****

Said man fell upon the hotel bed, his skin coated in a light sheen as he panted softly.  Owen curled into his arm, equally tired, but laughing softly.  Their lovemaking had been fast, hard and just a little violent, wearing both men out, despite their youth.  Adam dragged the duvet over their naked bodies as the pleasure warming them began to slowly drift away, leaving them feeling lazy and relaxed and simply enjoying the company of the other.

"I'm sorry," Adam murmured, weaving his finger's gently through Owen's hair. 

"What for?" Owen asked, drowsily.

"I judged you before I knew you," Adam replied.

"Hmm," Owen said non-committedly.  "Doesn't matter.  I judged you too."  He chuckled.  "I thought I hated you.  I was very confused when I met you."

"How so?"  Adam asked.  He had felt nothing but joy when peering into the pale blue eyes of his lover in this life.

"It was like I was suddenly various people all at once," Owen tried to explain, but couldn't entirely find the right words to use.  "I was Owen, who hated you and all the men that loved you and the men that never got the chance to know you.  I didn't know what to think anymore."

"That was why you fled from me?" Adam asked, recalling the pain he had felt in that moment. Owen nodded.

"Sorry," he whispered.

"It's alright," Adam replied holding him close for a few minutes.  For all his awakenings, his first thought had always been upon the person now in his arms, so while there had been some confusion as his past effected his present, he had never felt as overwhelmed as Owen described his awakening to be.  "Were.. were there many lives without me?"