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Ariel woke in the middle of the night. The yellow street lamp light filtered in through the two small windows facing the street, showing off the flags that danced and snapped in the wind. He took in the sight and realized the walls up here were almost two feet thick.
This conclusion had him peer around. Polished metal and old mirrors gleamed from within the shadowed recesses of the room’s nooks and crannies. The empty space was the door, then. He sat up and set his feet down gingerly, not knowing what to expect.
The sensitive skin of his feet hit the unusual, yet pleasant, texture of a fur rug. He shivered as the cold and clammy air stripped heat off his bare body, and chided himself for not sleeping in at least a T-shirt. It was still winter, after all.
He made his way to the bathroom, managed to find the light, and did his business. As he opened the door on his way out, he was surprised to see Wade standing by the foot of the crooked staircase that led to his sleeping quarters. “Is everything okay?” Wade said in a low, sleep-addled voice.
“Too much tea, I think,” Ariel said. He shivered. “The temperature must’ve dropped.”
“Yeah. It’s freezing upstairs. I didn’t know one of the window-frames bent and won’t shut!” Wade headed into the bathroom next, which left Ariel standing in front of what had to have been his aunt Rose’s room. The room with the most comfortable bed, Wade had said before. Ariel didn’t doubt him. Yet if Wade was cold sleeping upstairs, with the wind blowing Old Blighty’s weather through a crack, there was no reason not to invite him in.
This was, after all, the most comfortable bed in the house, and it sure was big enough.
Ariel stood outside the bathroom door and waited. Goosebumps rose on his bare skin, but he just knew that if he moved into the room to fetch his shirt, he’d miss the opportunity to offer Wade a warmer berth.
It felt like an eternity before he heard the water running and before Wade came out.
He stopped, surprised and altogether alert. “Yes? What is it?”
“Come join me,” Ariel said. “This room is warm, and the bed is plenty big.”
“Nonsense,” Wade scoffed. “I’ve weathered worse.”
“Don’t tell me I’ve been standing here in my briefs, freezing my ass off, just to have you say no,” Ariel said. “And just so it’s not awkward, I can wear my jogging gear. Come on!”
He turned and walked into the spacious room, assuming Wade would follow.
“Wear extra layers only if you want to,” Wade said. “Are you cold?”
“No, it’s plenty toasty.” Ariel slipped under the covers and tucked himself on the window-side of the bed, leaving a generous swath of real estate for Wade’s consideration. Wade was hot and sweet, but Ariel was leaving in the morning. Nothing would happen, because neither of them were going to even remotely explore the possibility of a relationship on a Valentine’s Day.
Wade measured the space with a thoughtful gaze. “If you’re sure,” he said. “I can stuff towels in the frame for now.”
“We can do that in the morning,” Ariel said with a yawn. Then he closed his eyes, because as much as he’d been tempted to watch Wade, he knew Wade was feeling awkward as it was.
The mattress dipped, the ancient bedframe creaked, and Wade settled down next to Ariel, and covered up. “This really is a lot warmer, especially with the door closed,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. And good night.” Ariel couldn’t help but smile.
“Good night,” Wade whispered next to him.
The space between them was the no-man’s land, and divided them as well as an impenetrable barrier would. Ariel knew he’d stay on his side, and he was also sure Wade would stay on the other. A flash of regret made Ariel reconsider, but he just took a deep breath and sent his wishful thinking away on an exhale.
It was better this way.
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THE LIGHT OF AN OVERCAST morning slowly stirred Wade to wakefulness. He tended to rise early, but after last night’s disturbed sleep, there was no wonder he was enjoying the bed and its incredibly warm, down comforter as much as he did. The sound of raindrops announced the arrival of a storm front, and that coaxed him to close his eyes again.
It was Sunday, after all.
He had not quite drifted off before his eyes popped wide open. He wasn’t in bed alone, and now he realized where all that cozy heat was coming from.
Ariel, his unexpected guest, was a little inferno of energy. He exuded comfort, too. He was much like a cat, if his cuddling habit was any indication, because Ariel had draped himself over him with a whole arm and a leg, pinning Wade in place and heating up his whole side. His soft breath barely fanned Wade’s cheek, but his longer hair sneaked over and tickled him just enough to give notice that he had a very handsome man in his personal space.
That thought only reinforced his morning wood. Wade would’ve groaned, but waking Ariel would’ve been too awkward.
What to do?
He sucked in a gasp of air as Ariel rubbed his groin into Wade’s thigh. At least Wade wasn’t the only one in a state of intense arousal. The knowledge was nice, but he still didn’t know what to do about it and Ariel was obviously still asleep.
The American would leave. And even though Ariel didn’t seem to mind being visually admired yesterday, that was not a license for Wade to turn on top of him and kiss him silly – which is what he badly wanted to do. No, kissing led to connections, and neither one of them wanted to start anything on Valentine’s Day.
Wade kept up his deep breathing, and trained his thoughts to one of his more difficult projects. If he kept his mind on the problem of proper image organization, his morning issue would subside. Ariel would eventually turn away, at which point Wade would sneak out.
Ariel wiggled against him. One of his longer hairs found its way into Wade’s nose.
Wade tried to remain still. He really, really did.
––––––––
AN EXPLOSION OF SOUND and a minor earthquake yanked Ariel out of a most pleasant dream, one where he was naked on the bank of a beautiful lake. A man was there with him, sexy and sweet, the kind who appreciated the value of stripping it all off and letting the warm sun kiss your skin.
And it was warm.
He could smell the musky scent of his lover. He could feel his firm chest and the strong leg under his own. He felt secure in his embrace –
Until he woke up.
“Sorry,” Wade said. “I truly had to sneeze.”
A moment’s disorientation was shooed out by stark clarity. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!”
Ariel had, somehow and without consciously intending to, starfished on top of his host. Or he was more like an octopus, limbs entwined and unwilling to let go. He was stuck on top of Wade, and his hard length was stuck in his suddenly too-tight underwear. There was absolutely no way Wade could’ve missed it.
“I had the most fabulous dream,” Ariel said, sounding guilty even to himself. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to wander over to your side at all.”
“Well, the cat’s out of the bag, in a manner of speaking,” Wade said, and when Ariel craned his neck up to meet his gaze, he saw the twinkle of mischief under Wade’s generous eyelashes. “I had the most fabulous dream too.”
Ariel sighed. “I’ll go take a shower and go. I’m sure you had plans for the weekend, and they didn’t involve stray tourist rescue!”
To his delighted surprise, Wade snaked his arm under him, and pulled him even closer. “Plans often change.” Then, with a relieved sigh, he closed his eyes, and smiled. “Guess what date it is?”
February fifteenth, of course. “The day after the dreaded Valentine’s Day,” Ariel whispered. Then he perked up. “But does it still count? I mean, we did hold off, we made it past midnight even though you’re amazingly attractive and funny and kind, and even though we spent time in the same bed!” He wiggled to loosen Wade’s grip and propped himself on an elbow.
Wade chuckled. “Of course it counts. We most certainly did not end up entwined in bed on Valentine’s Day, and that’s all I care about!” He thought hard. “I even think I came down to use the bathroom after midnight. We’re definitely safe.”
“Safe,” Ariel whispered as a slow grin spread across his face. “You realize this is like a curse being broken, don’t you?”
“Hush,” Wade said in that soft, quiet voice that was not quite a whisper. “Don’t speak of curses. It only means we have a fighting chance. We are still geographically incompatible.”
“Maybe,” Ariel said. He was reasonably certain that he could get transferred to the corporate office outside of London. “I could work something out, or at least try.”
“You could?” Wade smiled so hard, his eyes crinkled, and turned to face Ariel.
They were aligned just-so, and Ariel wasn’t going to let a good opportunity go to waste. He dipped his head and let his lips brush Wade’s. His morning stubble scratched his chin, waking his body up in the most amazing way. “I want you to kiss me,” he mumbled before they made full contact.
“As you wish,” Wade growled. He flipped them over, pinned Ariel with his taller frame, and captured his lips in a kiss that made Ariel’s body sing, and his heart beat a rhythm to match. Wade was sweet and delicious, hot and hard, and absolutely willing to grasp Ariel’s wrists and leave a love-bite on his neck.
As Ariel gasped and writhed, he felt Wade’s morning arousal dig into his belly. “Less... less clothes!”