'Black and White' - The White Bridge Crime Series 2 - LGBT, manXman

18

Tom -->

Rex awoke the next morning feeling very warm and cosy.

He tried to roll over, still half-asleep, and found something was settled on his chest, weighing him down.

Opening his eyes blearily, he saw Eli was sprawled out over his body, completely covering him. Eli's arms were loosely wrapped around his neck, his legs entangled with Rex's. Rex's arms were looped around Eli's waist, holding him steady.

Rex let go his hold, and gently shook Eli.

Eli groaned and snuggled closer, muttering something unintelligible.

"Eli," Rex murmured. "Wake up."

He shook the smaller man again.

Eli lifted his head slowly, gazing at Rex through glazed eyes, before letting his head fall back onto Rex's chest and sighing.

"I'm tired." He murmured, cuddling closer.

"We've been asleep for nine hours. It's almost noon."

Eli lay still for a moment more, before the sleep-fog cleared, and he realised he was sprawled atop of the detective. He slid off quickly and sat up, blushing red. He scrubbed his hair awkwardly.

"Erm... Sorry." He offered finally.

Rex grinned at him.

"It's alright."

Rex stretched and yawned widely. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Do you want some breakfast? Or, lunch?"

Eli nodded and slid out of the bed.

"I'll... get dressed, and come and help you."

Rex nodded.

Eli disappeared upstairs, still red-faced, while Rex pulled on yesterday's jeans. He felt more relaxed that he had in a long time. He told himself it was the prospect of a few days off, but knew deep down it was because his bed hadn't been empty during the night.

He lit one of the rings on the stove and started making scrambled eggs, cutting up small pieces of bacon and throwing them into the mixture to cook with the egg. He toasted and buttered some bread, made two mugs of coffee and slathered the eggs onto the toast.

Eli came into the kitchen just as he finished, and accepted a mug and plate with a word of thanks.

They sat down together at the small dining table and ate in an awkward silence.

"Erm... I'm sorry about... before," Eli said when they'd both finished eating. "I didn't mean to... well, sleep on you. Or with you, for that matter. I don't know how that happened."

"You were upset." Rex shrugged. "It doesn't matter, Eli."

Eli sighed and scrubbed his day's growth of beard.

"So, what're we doing today, then? Work doesn't want me to come back in until you've caught... him. Just in case. So..." Eli shrugged.

"I have no idea," Rex said, taking their empty plates and mugs, and putting them in the dishwasher. "I'll shower and change, and then we can decide."

*

They spend quite a relaxing day together.

They went to the cinema, wandered around the shopping centre and had dinner at The Dinner Table.

Eli seemed to immediately like Tom and Freddie, and spent a good few minutes talking and laughing with them across the bar, before joining Rex at their table.

"I can understand why you come here so often," Eli said as they ate. "This is fantastic."

Rex nodded.

"I can't cook very well. And Dom comes here most nights before he goes home, so I just come with him."

Eli smiled.

"I can bake, but I can't really cook," he said. "I'll have to make you my cinnamon cupcakes when we get home."

Rex grinned.

"Tom told you I was partial to cupcakes, didn't he?"

Eli shrugged.

"He might've mentioned it."

They finished eating in a companionable silence, paid the bill and went home.

Aeacus and Maki greeted them when they arrived, purring loudly. Aeacus was stood beside his food bowl, waiting impatiently.

Rex fed the two cats while Eli made them a cup of tea each.

"I had a nice time today," Eli said quietly, as they settled onto the sofa.

"Good... I don't know what else we can do that's different tomorrow, though," Rex said. "There's the golf course... and the swimming pool. But you hate water, so I guess that's out."

Eli smiled.

"I'm happy staying here. I need to write some lesson plans for next term, and I have some mock exams to mark that should have been returned weeks ago."

Rex nodded.

"That'll work for me. I have loads of paperwork to finish."