Skin by Elina S.

Daniel stepped out of the cab onto the pavement. He set off jogging despite the heavy luggage in his hands, then stopped, shook his head and smiled at his own actions. Settling for a quick walking pace he made his way to the door. He took out his key and opened the door after taking a few deep breaths.

The thought of seeing Darren again excited him to the point where he could notice his heartbeat quicken and feel a slight tremble in his hands. For a moment he let his imagination run wild and come up with one far-fetched scenario after another. What if he's changed? What if he doesn't want me anymore? What if he's grown a second head and is a spy for little green men? He let out a small laugh. It had only been a month. An agonizing month that had felt more like thirty years than thirty days, he added to himself and entered the house.

He put down his bags and called out mock-chirpily: "Honey, I'm home!" To his surprise he didn't find his arms full of Darren but only heard his voice from upstairs.

"Take off your clothes."

"What?"

"Take off your clothes." The voice repeated patiently.

"What happened to 'Hi love, I missed you like crazy'? Where are you anyway?"

"In the bedroom. Just come here." "And take off your clothes," the voice added after a short pause.

After some consideration Daniel shrugged and started stripping. Well, he had missed Darren's body as well as his company. It was just that usually Darren was the one trying to keep up a rational conversation while Daniel did his best to distract him. Usually succeeding. Daniel left his clothes in a pile where he'd dumped them and made his way upstairs.

Shaking his head Daniel entered the bedroom. He found Darren there naked, fiddling with the sound system. Daniel thought about how Darren had told him Vanilla Ice's music turned him on. Daniel had laughed until Darren had acquainted him with the more sensual aspects of eighties' synth pop hell. Daniel smiled at the memory.

"Lie down on the bed," Darren said without glancing at Daniel's direction.

"Aren't we bossy tonight," Daniel mocked but lay down anyway. Darren finished pressing the buttons on the stereo and walked to stand next to the bed. When the music started playing Daniel couldn't help but smile. Madonna. He should've guessed.

Darren stood looking at Daniel until Daniel got impatient and reached for him. Darren gave in to his tugging but when Daniel tried to pull him in for a kiss he stopped him.

"Let's just lie here, okay?" He whispered placing his head in the crook of Daniel's neck.

"O-okay."

So this was what Darren had had in mind. And Daniel wasn't about to complain. As a matter of fact, when Darren nuzzled his collarbone and lay on him like a human blanket, molding into him, he wasn't sure he wanted Darren to ever move.

"Hi love. I missed you like crazy," Darren mumbled, already half asleep.

He had missed him, too.