Here in this Life

Dave wasn't entirely certain what had happened to make Nelson so suddenly angry, though he felt he could safely assume that it had something to do with Rachel. He didn't try to push the issue throughout the drive home, parking in front of the apartment building and rounding the truck to open the passenger side door for Nelson. The blonde started out of his stupor when the door opened, looking surprised for a moment before the anger returned, brushing past Dave and heading up to the apartment. Dave followed, watching him, and from his flushed cheeks and slightly clumsy movements, he worried a little about how much he'd had to drink. Steckle had mentioned he'd had a couple of glasses of wine when Dave left to dance with Rachel....

Ah, Rachel. What a mess. He sighed despite himself as they entered the apartment, and realized that Nelson was watching him, all but glaring.

"Are you going to tell me why you're angry?" he asked softly.

The blonde was silent for a long moment, and Dave could see a turmoil of emotions hidden under the anger, not the least of which was a good amount of hurt. But he shook his head, turning and disappearing into the bedroom, stripping out of his tux jacket as he did.

Dave took his borrowed jacket off with a sigh, following him. "Where would you like this?"

Nelson took it from him wordlessly, hanging it on a hanger with his own, separate from the other clothes, then took off his glasses and tossed them with his bow tie on the bedside table. "I'll send them both for cleaning tomorrow," he remarked shortly, and the coldness of his words was like a shock to Dave's system.

He reached forward to touch his arm. "Please tell me what's wrong..."

Nelson jerked away from his hand. "Don't touch me."

"Love...."

"Don't call me that." Blue eyes flashed angrily as Nelson rounded to face him. "How much longer are you going to stay here, Dave?"

Dave was taken aback. "I... as long as you want me to..."

"Well." Nelson crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm fixed. You're under no obligation to stay any longer, thank you for your help."

"Nelson... what are you talking about?"

"Look. I know your game. I'm just another Rachel to you - "

He felt his jaw drop, too stunned to come up with a suitable response. "... another Rachel?"

"Yeah, just someone to fix."

"Nelson, I love you...."

"Don't think I'll fall for that. I know this is just like it was between you and Rachel - "

Dave felt a flare of anger. "Like me and Rachel. You want to know how it was with me and Rachel? It was cold. There was no connection, there was no real tenderness, there was - there was no love. And I felt trapped, because - you can't just bring a woman back from the kind of despair Rachel was in and then a week later say 'Oh sorry, I don't really have any feelings for you after all.' It was a lie, Nelson, everything I had with her was a lie. You saved me from that."

Nelson kept his arms firmly wrapped around his torso, and the hurt and anger hadn't faded from his expression. "You want to tell me how that's any different than me? You saved my life, and now you feel responsible for my happiness. You can't cut me lose any more than you could Rachel."

The words stung, almost as badly as his anger, as knowing that he'd unintentionally hurt him. The emotion made Dave's stomach tie up in knots, made it tremble, a shivering that was slowly extending to the rest of his body. "Nelson, I swear to you that's not how it is."

"Don't bullshit me, Dave. I know you. Just tell me why you lied to me!"

"I didn't lie!" he felt his hands clench into helpless fists at his sides, and he didn't know whether to yell or cry, fighting to stay calm in the tempest between the two emotions.

"Bull. Shit. You lied to Rachel and you lied to me!"

"Nelson, I love you. I love you, I wouldn't lie about that, not ever!" He felt tears of frustration, of despair threaten his eyes, and closed them tightly for a moment to try and rein them back, breathless from the ache in his chest. "Please believe me...."

"I wish I could." The blonde drew a deep, shuddering breath, and drew the back of his wrist over his eyes. "I really wish I could." Then he turned suddenly, striding from the bedroom, catching up his long gray trench coat on the way.

Dave felt a shock of panic, and followed. "Where are you going?"
to
"Out. I need some time alone."

"Don't leave. Please...."

Nelson stuffed his feet into his shoes, not replying, unbolting and opening the front door. Dave lunged to catch his arm, the weight of their bodies pushing the door closed again, and Nelson gave a little grunt of pain as he was slammed up against the door. "Let me go."

"Nelson, don't leave."

Nelson struggled against him, a little clumsily. "This is my own goddamn apartment, I can fucking leave if I want to! Let me go!"

Dave was gasping now, shuddering against him, clutching Nelson's arm so tightly that he was sure it must hurt. "Please don't go."

"If you don't let me go right now, David, I'm not coming back."

Dave let go, staggering backwards. "Nelson...."

"What."

He choked back a sob. "Please don't do anything stupid. I'd die without you."

The blonde gave a soft, bitter laugh. "Whatever." Then he left the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Nelson walked down the street with no real direction in mind, stopping only when the spinning in his head threatened to take him off his feet, which was followed by being most ungracefully sick in a convenient bush. Once the world seemed fairly stable, he moved on, identifying his surroundings and heading for the lake, the presence of which always seemed to help him think.

For a long time, he just walked, striding angrily along the boardwalk overlooking the beach, lighting each cigarette from the remains of the last. He could feel the nicotine rush to his head, feel his chest ache from the abuse, but he didn't care. The pain was minuscule compared to the agony he was in, but in a way it was almost comforting.

When he ran out of cigarettes, he turned back into the city, walking until he found a convenience store and buying another pack. Stepping out, he realized that he was almost in front of the dorm Hurley lived in, and in a rush, felt the sudden need to talk to someone, to rant at anyone. He glanced at his watch to realize that it had been almost two hours since they'd left the party, which meant Joe had to be home by now. He took note of Joe's car parked nearby, then lit another cigarette and let himself into the building, finding Joe's door and ringing the bell repeatedly. "Joe? Joe let me in!"

Joe didn't answer, and he resorted to pounding after a few moments, calling him again. Finally, Joe opened the door, looking much more sober and cranky than the last time Nelson had seen him. "Dammit Nelson, it's almost two in the morning. Are you determined to wake up my entire building? I can't talk right now."

He pushed past Joe before the other man could react, climbing the stairs to his loft. "Don't say that to me right now, Joe. I'm not in a sane frame of mind. I just had a massive fight with Dave over Rachel and I left him, so - " He stopped as he reached the head of the stairs, realizing that Joe wasn't alone in his apartment. ".... oh, shit."

Rachel Manus, still in her evening dress, stood slowly from Joe's sofa, staring at him with a look of horror. "... David? My David?"

Nelson took a drag of his cigarette, felt his lips form the familiar sneer as he exhaled. "No, my David."

From the look of her, she'd been crying for the second time that night, but her eyes grew bright again, full lips parting, trembling. "You? You - you, and my David?" She took a weak step backwards, then turned and darted for the telephone, dialing furiously.

Joe had bounded up the stairs behind him, lifting his hands to rake through his hair as he surveyed the situation. "Oh goddamn it, Nelson..."

Still in Nelson's apartment, David had dropped into a fitful doze in Nelson's bed, arms wrapped around one of the pillows and trying very hard not to think about the fact that it could be the last time he slept there. When the phone rang, he jerked awake immediately, fumbling for the receiver that he'd moved to the bedside table. "Nelson?"

The voice on the other end, however, was Rachel. Screaming. "You left me for fucking Nelson?!"

David closed his eyes with a soft groan. "Oh god, Rachel. Where are you? Is Nelson there?"

"I'm not putting fucking Nelson on the phone! This is about you and me and what you've done!"

In Joe's apartment, Nelson stood frozen, still at the head of the stairs looking over the banister at Rachel, not quite sure how to react. Joe pushed past to stand on the other side of it in front of him. "Nelson, I told you I couldn't talk. Please go home to Dave."

He frowned, returning Joe's gaze challengingly. "I'm not going home to Dave."

A flash of anger crossed Joe's face. "Look. I don't know what you have your nuts in a twist over tonight, but don't you dare fuck around with Dave. He's a good guy, and he loves you. Against all better judgment, it seems, because you're really a fucking asshole sometimes, Nelson. But he still loves you."

"He says he loves me. Doesn't mean it's not a lie. He said he loved Rachel, too!"

"No." Joe shook his head, resting his hands on the banister on either side of Nelson's. "No, he never did. Trust me. I know. He's not a fuck up like I am."

Behind Joe, he could hear Rachel screaming into the phone. "Stop fucking asking about Nelson!" She slammed the receiver down, striding across the room and shouldering Joe aside. "Nelson, you goddamn manipulating, lying son of a bitch!" And with that, she drew her hand back and slapped him, palm connecting with his face with a resounding crack.

Nelson stumbled backwards a step, back against the other side of the stairs, staring at her in shocked silence, and lifted his hand slowly to his cheek. "I...."

Rachel only glared at him, breath coming in angry shudders, caught somewhere between rage and tears. Joe's voice was soft, calming. "Go home to Dave, Nelson. I'll take care of things here."

Not knowing what else to do, he turned and did as he asked, leaving Joe's building to stand numbly in the street. He finished his cigarette and flicked the butt away, then slowly walked back to the convenience store. Fishing a quarter out of his pocket, he leaned against the wall of the phone booth and dialled home.

Dave picked up after one ring, but the voice on the other end sounded a little tentative. "... Hello?"

Nelson wet his lips. "David... I'm sorry."

"Nelson? Oh thank god..." he could hear the shuddering sigh of relief though the phone. "Where are you? Are you all right? I'll come pick you up."

"Yeah, I'm... just outside of Joe's...."

"Okay. I'll be there in a few minutes. Don't go anywhere."

"Dave..." he stopped, bracing himself for Dave's anger. "Rachel knows."

He heard a soft, mirthless laugh on the other end of the phone. "Does she ever."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know she was here, I... it was an accident..."

"I know, love. It's okay. Just stay in front of Joe's and I'll be there in a moment, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you..."

He walked back to Joe's slowly, smoking as he did, finding himself feeling suddenly very tired and frazzled and wanting this all to be over. The warmth of the wine had faded to a dull headache, one that he was sure he'd regret in the morning, and the December air seeped achingly through his long jacket and into his bones. He flicked away the butt of his cigarette as he saw the familiar approaching headlights of Dave's army truck, which pulled up to the curb without parking properly.

Dave shut off the car and had leapt out almost before it had stopped, rounding the front to catch Nelson up in his arms, slipping a hand into his hair and catching his mouth almost desperately with his own. For once, Nelson didn't care who saw, clinging to him, emotion coming in a rush. "God, David, I'm so sorry...."

"Shhh..." Dave whispered, shivering a little against him, kissing him into silence.

He heard voices, Rachel's and Joe's, and tried to pull away as the building's door opened, but Dave's arms held fast, keeping him against him. Rachel strode angrily out of the building with Joe in hot pursuit, who thankfully managed to catch her arm and pull her back before she reached them. "Rachel, lets go back inside..."

"How could you?" She was sobbing, facing down Dave, voice tight and high with hurt. "I trusted you, I loved you... you lied to me! And you - " she pointed at Nelson. "You let me cry on your goddamn shoulder, knowing all the while that you were fucking the man I was crying over? You goddamn asshole - you both are! You both fucking lied!

Dave shuddered a little in his arms. "I'm sorry, but I didn't lie to you."

"But you left me for... for a guy?" She stopped, and shook her head incredulously, raking a hand through her hair, which had half fallen from it's twist to hang in messy curls around her face. "What did I do wrong?"

He gave a soft sigh. "You didn't do anything wrong. Rachel, I left because we weren't right for each other. I told you that already. I didn't want to stay and have to lie to you. I'm sorry."

She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand, a silent sob shaking her frame. Too a deep breath. "David... I'm pregnant."

He froze, and Nelson drew a soft hiss through his teeth. The statement hung heavily in the air for a long moment, then Dave drew a long breath for strength. "I'm sorry. Whatever decision you make, I'll support. I don't want to see you leave med school, but if you decide to keep the child, I'll give you whatever money you need."

She sniffled, clinging to Joe's hand. "That's all you have to say? Money?"

Dave wet his lips, voice soft, a little sad. "I'm not leaving him, Rachel. I love him. I'm not coming back. I'm truly sorry."

She dissolved into sobs again, and Joe moved to guide her gently to his shoulder. He jerked his head in the direction of Dave's truck, mouthing the word 'Go.' Dave needed no further encouragement, and bundled the slightly dazed looking Nelson into the truck before getting in himself, driving home.

Nelson curled in the passenger's seat, saying nothing. They drove in silence for a few moments, and then Dave reached find one of Nelson's hands, holding it tightly, trembling just a little.

"Dave..."

His lover sighed softly. "I used protection. And she said she was on birth control. I don't... I don't know what to think."

"Things happen," the blonde replied finally, a little weakly.

Dave glanced over at him. "What are you thinking, love?"

Nelson rubbed his eyes with his free hand and gave a soft groan, joking weakly. "Just thinking that this is a hell of a time for me to be finally developing a conscience."

Dave pulled up in front of his apartment, parking the truck and turning to him. "You think I should go back to her?"

Blue eyes looked back at him wearily. "I don't know, Dave. It would... it would be a lot easier for you, you know. Nice normal life. Little Dave junior." He gave a soft, bitter laugh. "None of my fucking temper tantrums."

Dave shifted a little closer to him on the seat, silent for a moment before reaching to cup his face gently, thumb gently tracing the crescent shaped scar. "And no love. Am I allowed to take my chances with your temper?"

Nelson closed his eyes for a moment, leaning a little into his touch. "You might regret it...."

"Nelson...." Dave stopped, watching blue eyes that searched his, a little vulnerable. "Love... you said once... that our experiments, your experiments...."

Nelson gave a soft sigh. "It was a mistake, Dave. I was headstrong and arrogant and... stupid. And I shouldn't have dragged you all along with me."

"You said you wanted the answers to death and life." He drew a little closer, voice softer. "What if we found them?"

Nelson regarded him, a little dubious. "I don't see what you're getting at...."

"Love, Nelson. Living with no regrets. No hiding no - no lying. Because if we don't take care of those things in life, maybe they'll stay with us forever in death. Maybe that's why you and I kept seeing things after the others had laid their ghosts to rest. Because we needed to stop lying to ourselves. To realize that we needed... I need you."

"...why? I mean... I need you, sure. I'm selfish, arrogant, unstable, and it seems I'm also entirely incapable of being happy or even a decent person without you..."

Dave frowned. "Stop that, you're none of that. Well - maybe a bit arrogant at times. But it's kind of sexy." He gave a soft chuckle, then was silent for a long moment. "You make me want to be so much more than what I am," he said finally.

The blonde shook his head. "I don't get it."

"Why do you think I'm still here? They suspended me, Nelson. I was ready to give my entire education and future the finger until you asked me to stay. And I don't think I would even be here if I hadn't met you in university. You were so... so focused, so brilliant... it's why I went for that scholarship. I'd probably have given up and joined the damn army a long time ago without you. You keep me on track, you help me keep sight of what's important. You inspire me to better myself."

Nelson watched him quietly. "You're already a far better doctor than I could ever be, Dave. In more than just skill."

"Nelson..."

"You brought me back after twelve minutes. I couldn't do that. I could barely bring you back after four."

"I couldn't give up on you," he murmured, looking away for a minute. "They would have had to drag me away kicking and screaming. I couldn't accept... I couldn't face life without you. I can't go back to Rachel, no matter what the consequences are. And maybe that makes me selfish... but I meant it when I said I'd die without you."

"I'm sorry for everything I said earlier," Nelson told him, softly. "I shouldn't have gotten so angry, I should have believed you. I do believe you. Lets go inside...?"

David gave a slow nod, and yawned. "Yeah... it's been a really long day."

They moved inside silently, up the stairs to Nelson's apartment, undressing for bed. Nelson noted with a little smile the telephone that had been moved in next to the bed, but said nothing, stripping down to his boxers and stretching out on the mattress. Dave stripped as well, and perched on the edge of the bed, watching him with a little fond smile, eyes slowly moving down his body in a way that made Nelson shiver a little.

"Dave?" he said softly, and his lovers eyes snapped back to his face.

"Hmm?"

"You awake enough for make up sex?" The blonde asked softly, voice a little husky, and Dave's lips parted as he felt a rush of desire at the suggestion.

He moved to lay half over Nelson, catching his mouth longingly and pressing a thigh between his, hand stroking over his chest. "Always for you...."

Nelson arched up against him with a soft groan, drinking in his kisses, for once yielding entirely to Dave instead of meeting the challenge for dominance. "Good... I think I really need it right now."

Dave gave a soft chuckle against his mouth, stroking a hand up his torso and over his chest and shoulders, slowly smoothing over his skin as if to memorize his form. "Can't send you to sleep disappointed then, can I?" He moved his lips to trail slow kisses along his jaw, flicking his tongue lightly against the little pink scar by his ear before sucking on the lobe, teasing it gently with his teeth. It was one of the few things that he found made Nelson whimper outright, and he felt his lover shudder under him as he did so, hips rocking up against him slowly. He let his fingers tease one pale nipple as he continued his work, tracing the shell of Nelson's ear with the tip of his tongue, sucking and nipping at the edge.

Nelson whimpered his name softly, head tilting back more, and Dave took the wordless hint, moving to kiss his neck hungrily, nipping lightly at the skin. He let his hips fall into a slow rhythm with Nelson's, grinding slowly, soft pulses of pleasure moving up his spine as his arousal built.

"Dave...?" Another soft plea, Nelson's fingers clenching in his hair. He moved back to his mouth, kissing him warmly, pulling back just enough to look at him.

"Yes, love?"

The blonde wet his lips, already a little breathless, and there was a strange vulnerability in his eyes. Dave assumed it had come from the fight, and stroked his fingers over Nelson's cheek, wanting to reassure him, make it go away.

"Will you... will you do that thing to me?"

Dave gave a soft chuckle, reaching to claim a small bottle of lube from where it sat just inside the drawer beside the bed. "Anything you want me to do, love. Anything to please you."

"You very much please me," Nelson replied, voice soft and low, and gave a low, appreciative noise as Dave started to kiss down his chest.

He helped Nelson kick his boxers off, nipping lightly at his stomach before moving to lavish his thighs with kisses, fingers trailing teasingly over his erection, enjoying the way it made him gasp and squirm. He felt Nelson's fingers tangle in his hair, the blonde's thighs parting further to give him better access. "Please...."

He chuckled softly, moving to nuzzle his erection, run his tongue slowly up the underside before placing a warm kiss to the head, sucking lightly on the tip. He was rewarded with a soft groan, hips rocking under him slightly, and he let the blonde thrust up into his mouth, eyes falling closed in pleasure. He slipped one hand to gently cup and massage his sack, fingertips stroking his perineum teasingly, then a little more firmly as Nelson groaned, working back slowly until he was massaging the warm pucker of skin, concentrated nerve endings that made his lover whimper and writhe, pressing back against Dave's fingers a little.

He pulled his fingers away long enough to spread a generous amount of lube on them, then slipped them back to continue the stimulation, easing his index finger slowly inside him as Nelson relaxed. The blonde gave a soft, gasping moan, squirming a little under him, trying to press against his fingers. "Mm god, more...."

He pulled his mouth back off his cock with a soft pop, very much turned on by his reactions and eagerness. "Shh, love, be patient...." He worked his finger deeper slowly, having gradually become familiar with the feel of Nelson's body and arousal, massaging him gently, nuzzling his cock.

The blonde was gasping, head thrown back and neck bared most deliciously, pale skin looking almost delicate in the darkness of his room. "Feels so good...."

Dave gave a soft, appreciative chuckle, carefully working in another finger, moving a little faster as Nelson adjusted. He moved to suck at the base of his cock, letting his eyes close, loosing himself in his scent, the warm, salty-sweet taste of his skin. Lavishing attention on the underside of his erection, he moved up the shaft slowly to take him in his mouth again, adjusting to the slow rock of his hips, between his fingers and his mouth.

"More..." Nelson gasped, and Dave raised his head to look at him, fingers not ceasing their tease.

"You sure....?"

Nelson met his gaze, blue eyes wanton and needy, voice soft and husky with desire. "Please, David...."

God, he couldn't say no to that. He carefully folded a third finger with his other two, easing it into him slowly, trying to listen and feel for his reactions as he slowly rocked them deeper. He saw Nelson's fingers clench at the sheets, body tensing around him, and he flicked his tongue against the head of his cock to distract him. "Too much, love?"

"No..." Nelson managed, almost whimpering. "So good... don't stop...!"

He started to move his mouth on him again, fingers resuming their slow pump as he felt his lover's body relax, pressing deep into him, and soon Nelson's breath was coming in little helpless cries of pleasure, rocking back against his fingers, gasping for breath.

"Dave... stop!"

He stilled immediately, carefully easing his fingers from him. "You okay - ?"

"Yeah. Oh yes." Nelson was already moving, sitting up, pulling him up to claim his lips hungrily. "Take off your shorts and sit back for me," he told Dave huskily, reclaiming the tube from him. He did as he was asked without question, finding Nelson straddling his lap, kisses demanding and just a little desperate. He slipped a hand into Nelson's hair to pull him closer, gasping against his mouth as Nelson's fingers closed around his aching cock, slick with lube, stroking him slowly.

Then his brain kicked in as to what Nelson was prepping for, and he broke from the kiss. "Hey hey, wait - we haven't talked about this...."

The strange vulnerability was back in his lover's eyes, which searched his, tip of his tongue darting out to moisten well shaped lips. "I know. I - I need it, David. Please...."

He gave a soft groan as Nelson's fingers continued their torture. "Just don't want to hurt you...."

Nelson chuckled, corners of his mouth turning up into a smirk, challenging, teasing. "I know. That's why I get to be on top." He leaned in to claim his mouth again, breathless and yearning, tasting him, nipping lightly at his bottom lip. "Bet I make you come first." He breathed, and heard a little growl in return.

"Oh, you're on." Dave's hands slipped down to clench at his ass, pulling him closer, and Nelson gave a soft, breathless laugh against his mouth. His fingers curled around the base of Dave's erection, holding it in place as he arched up against him, and Dave felt the head of his cock pressed up against where his fingers had just been, felt Nelson slowly begin to rock onto him, tight and hot and trembling.

He pressed his face to Nelson's shoulder with a sharp gasp, fingers almost kneading at his ass, trying very hard to stay still, to be patient and give Nelson complete control. His lover buried his face in Dave's hair, breath coming in soft whimpers as he continued, hands moving to clench almost painfully at his shoulders. The sensations were indescribably intense, but he struggled to pull back, to meet Nelson's gaze in concern. "Love - don't...."

Blue eyes narrowed slightly, and Nelson's hips bucked against him, taking him up to the hilt in a sudden rush of sensation that left them both gasping. Dave brought his arms up to wrap tightly around Nelson's body, holding him in place, holding him tightly to him. "God...!"

Nelson's arms wrapped around his shoulders, searching out David's mouth with his own, kisses trembling as he started to relax, adjust to the penetration. He held still for a long moment, body quivering, drawing breath in shivering gasps. "Ahh, fuck..."

"You ok...?" Dave managed, whimpering as his lover started to rock ever so slightly on him, gasping against Dave's mouth.

"So good - !" the answer came, helplessly against Dave's lips, and Dave slipped a hand between them to curl around Nelson's erection, stroking him slow and gentle in time with the rocking of their hips, eyes closed and forehead pressed to Nelson's, shuddering under him. There was something so incredibly intimate about it all that he felt almost overwhelmed, free hand stroking up and down Nelson's back, through his hair, needing to touch and possess every part of him.

Nelson began to rock a little faster, claiming Dave's mouth again, whimpering into it. His name came as a little helpless whine. "David...!"

"Love," He gasped, breathless, letting his hips rock up a little with Nelson's, drunk on the sensations, the little noises of pleasure Nelson was making, craving more. He managed to find the discarded lube amongst the sheets and squeezed a little more on his fingers before resuming stroking Nelson's cock, faster and more firmly, feeling Nelson's hips buck on him helplessly in reward.

He dropped his face to Nelson's neck, indulging in kissing the soft skin hungrily, nipping and sucking at it, loving the taste of him. Nelson was shivering, clenching around him as he rocked on him, and the heat and sensation was more than he ever expected, pulling him quickly close despite himself. He curled his fingers around Nelson's hips, shifting the angle of his own pelvis to rock up a little harder into him, and was rewarded with a gasping, shuddering cry from his lover, Nelson's hands clenching almost painfully at his shoulders. "Oh god, David! More!"

He tried to keep the same angle, arms locking at the small of Nelson's waist to help support him, Nelson's arms locked round his shoulders. They fell into a hard rhythm, thrusts that drove breathless cries of pleasure from both of them. David shut his eyes tightly, face buried in Nelson's hair, riding the edge of a powerful orgasm and trying to hold off, wanting to feel Nelson's pleasure. His lips found his earlobe, nipping hotly at it, struggling to speak. "Love... come for me - !"

He felt Nelson's fingers dig into his back almost painfully, his body clenching tight and shuddering around him, and that was all that Dave could handle. He bucked deep into him with a gasping, helpless cry as his climax took him as well, eclipsing everything but the feel of Nelson in his arms, the hot shocks of pleasure that shuddered exquisitely through every nerve in his body, overwhelming sensation and ecstasy.

When his senses started functioning properly again, Nelson was clinging to him, trembling and gasping for breath. He whispered Nelson's name softly, and the blonde found his mouth with his, soft and yearning, fingers lacing through Dave's hair. He held him tightly, reveling in their closeness, unwilling to break it with words, not wanting to let go of the feeling of intimacy and bliss.

Finally he could feel his heartbeat slowing, and Nelson let his forehead rest against his, whispering softly. "David... thank you...."

"Shh..." he murmured softly, slipping a hand to stroke through Nelson's hair gently, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I love you... so much, Nelson.... Should be thanking you, you know."

His lover pulled back enough to look at him, eyes warm, that incorrigible little smirk playing about his entirely too kissable mouth. "For letting me have my wicked way for you?"

Dave chuckled softly, giving in to the urge to kiss that smirk, voice very soft. "For giving me so much."

Nelson's arms tightened around him slightly. "A fraction of what you've given me," he said quietly, and was still for a moment, giving the softest, trembling sigh. Then he pulled back, throwing off the intensity with a cheeky smile. "Who won?"

Dave chuckled, helping Nelson ease off of him, sighing softly at the feeling of loss as they broke the embrace. "I think it was a draw this time."

Nelson located his boxers, using them to clean off Dave's stomach and hips with a few swipes before doing the same to himself, tossing the cotton halfheartedly in the direction of the hamper in a rather uncharacteristic display of laziness. "Rematch tomorrow."

Dave tugged him down to curl up with him, pulling the quilts around them. "If you're up to it."

Nelson looked up at him, grinning, quirking an eyebrow. "I can take anything, but can you dish it out?"

He smiled, running his fingers through Nelson's hair. "I'm serious, love... don't want to hurt you."

Nelson gave a slow nod, leaning up to to kiss him gently. "I know. But don't worry. You should know by now that I will ask for and get anything I want, or do not want in bed." A low chuckle, which Dave returned, curling around him.

"Mmm... love you, Nelson."

Nelson nestled his head against his chest, warm and sleepy. "I know," he murmured softly. "I love you, too."