"I already told you...Dan and I want to do some serious writing and we can't do it when you guys keep barging in every five seconds." Darren explained slowly, hoping that this time it would sink into the guitarist.

"Awwww...we promise we'll leave you alone!" Lee interjected and I laughed at the hopeful expression on his face.

What I couldn't understand was why this was so important to them. All Darren and I were doing was going away from civilisation for a bit, taking nothing but a nice packed lunch and some drinks, care of the lovely and thoughtful Elisa, my acoustic guitar and pen and paper. I honestly couldn't see the big attraction in that...well, *I* could see what the big attraction was but somehow I figured it would differ for them.

"Listen you guys, we need to do this to kinda touch base. We haven't written in so long and we both need to get away from everything so we can just sit and do it. I promise I'll pick you a nice bouquet of flowers before we get back." I joked and Ben raised an eyebrow while both Karl and Lee gave me an unimpressed look.

So much for humouring them.

"Right, we're gone then! If we're not back by nightfall...well we'll be back at night then!" Darren stated and before the three could voice any more complaints, Darren had taken a hold of my arm and was dragging me out the door, barely letting me grab my guitar.

"What was that all about?" I asked, shaking my head and laughing as we both arrived in the lobby, via a dreaded elevator.

"Buggered if I know. It's almost as they knew what we were really up to and wanted to make sure it didn't happen," he answered me, leading me outside to where a hire car was waiting for us.

"Really up to? I thought we were going to write some music..." I said innocently and he gave me a wicked look before climbing in behind the wheel.

"Don't start boy..." He warned and I grinned at him as I made myself comfortable for the semi-long drive.

"You sure you know the way?" I asked after about half an hour of comfortable silence and I laughed as I was met with an evil look.

"I'm warning you, if you keep getting cheeky, I'm going to have to punish you." He told me, not taking his eyes off the narrow road.

I was silent for a few minutes then I spoke up, "You know, I've thought about that comment from every angle and I just can't seem to find anything unappealing about it. Am I missing something?"

This time he did look at me and I put on my most innocent expression, batting my eyelashes and evaporating his annoyance in seconds.

"Just you wait until we get there..." He told me and I nodded seriously.

"Are you sure you know the way?" I asked again and burst out laughing as the radio was suddenly cranked up to an eardrum-shattering level.

Minutes passed and once I saw Darren relaxing once more, I subtly turned down the volume and prepared myself for whatever was going to happen.

"So...are we there yet?" I asked innocently and was whipped forward as Darren slammed on the brakes, instantaneously stalling the car, and spun to face me.

I just smiled at him as though I'd done nothing and he actually let out a growl.

Suddenly he was searching through his bag, after reaching behind him and pulling it into his lap, and seconds later, he was tying a dishtowel around my face, effectively gagging me.

I struggled against him, trying to pull it off but when he pulled out another one and bound my wrists, I figured I'd just better sit and take it.

Then, with a pleased little smile on his angelic face, he started the car once more and continued up the road, occasionally singing to whatever was playing on the radio while I made a mental note not to piss Darren off when he's carrying dishtowels and pondered why the hell Elisa packed them in the first place.

Fidgeting slightly as my bound position became uncomfortable, I noticed that Darren was slowing the car and I saw a turn off not that far ahead.

Obviously this was it.

Seconds later he was pulling the car up in a small, extremely empty car park and was climbing out, pulling his bag with him.

I sat still for the next minute and when it became apparent that he had no intention of untying me or helping me out, I began to mutter interesting curses against my gag and struggled to move around to try and unfasten my belt.

When that hurdle was over and done with, it was time to try and open the door and, fortunately, this wasn't as hard as I expected.

Finally I was standing up and Darren was laughing at the extremely pissed off expression on my face.

"When will you learn, my love?" He asked, shaking his head as I held my bound hands up in front of his face, demanding with my eyes that he untie me at once.

Still laughing, he did as I wished then took a step backwards as I quickly moved to remove the other cloth from my mouth.

This done, I gave him another glassy glare, throwing the towels at him, then grabbed my guitar and, slamming my car door, stormed off in the direction of a well-trodden path, surrounded on both sides by high trees.

Darren hurried to catch up to me and, moving to walk in front of me, facing me as he walked backwards, he began making stupid faces, trying his best to wipe the scowl off my face.

I managed to hold out against him for about five minutes then I couldn't control myself any longer as I burst out laughing and, dropping my guitar case, I tackled him to the ground, pinning him quickly.

"You're a shit, Darren!" I stated and he winked up at me.

"Yeah, but you still love me..." He said matter-of-factly and I laughed as I shook my head.

"And that's the bit I just don't understand." I replied and he pouted at me.

"Bastard..." He mumbled and I chuckled before lowering my head and kissing him deeply.

He returned it almost instantly and was disappointed when I pulled back seconds later.

"We're on the path...anyone can find us..." I explained and understanding dawned in his bright blue eyes.

We then quickly scrambled to our feet and with little discussion, decided to stray from the path and go and find our own little spot where we could definitely be alone.

Walking for about half an hour, we came upon an amazing waterfall and we both knew this was the spot we'd been looking for.

Dumping my case onto the green foliage that surrounded the pool of water at the base of the waterfall, I let my body drop and lay there, letting the spray from the water cool me off.

As I lay there, my eyes shut against the bright sun, I felt Darren settle himself down beside me and I reached for him, pulling him into my arms, his head resting on my chest.

"This is nice, eh?" I asked softly, my hands moving up and down his back.

"Yeah...I reckon this is what heaven must be like," he answered before nuzzling at my chest, causing me to sigh happily.

We lay quietly for a long moment then I moved into a sitting position, bringing him with me.

"Okay, what do you want to do first? Write, eat or swim?" I asked and he pondered it for a few minutes, his arms still wrapped around me as he did so.

"Swim. That'll cool us down and then we can eat and relax and just let the creative juices flow." He answered finally and I nodded in agreement before breaking his embrace and quickly pulling off my shirt.

"Oh dear...I seemed to have forgotten to bring bathers or a spare pair of shorts..." Darren said suddenly and I grinned at him.

"Oh, such a shame! I seem to have done it as well. What a pity, we're just going to have to go in naked." I replied monotonously and his evil grin grew as we both slipped off our remaining clothing and headed towards the pool's edge.

Pausing, Darren daintily stuck a toe in the water and I laughed at him before moving up behind him and giving him a mighty shove, sending him flying into the water.

"That's for the car..." I replied smugly as he resurfaced and he gave me the finger.
"I hope you intend on using that..." I added before diving in, and coming to the surface right next to him, making him jump.

The second he'd gotten over his little surprise, his mouth was on mine, attacking me with a ferocity that slightly shocked me.

His arms wound their way tightly around my neck and I found myself struggling to keep my balance on the pebbly floor of the pool.

He didn't falter in his attack on me as I began to walk us backwards, the water making it easy to carry him with me and suddenly he gasped as we moved underneath the waterfall, the pressure of the falling water making it hard to stay standing.

I continued my backwards movements until the wall of water separated us from the outside world then I began to earnestly return Darren's kisses, my hands caressing his body under the cool water that lapped at our waists.

Finally, when the urge to breathe won over the urge to kiss Darren senseless, I pulled from his lips and my mouth moved to taste the skin of his shoulder whilst I panted loudly.

"There's just something about the taste of you mixed with water..." I mumbled and he moaned in reply as I ran my tongue up his neck and began to suck on his pulse.

His hands gripped my hips and pulled them flush against his, showing me without words that I was required to do a lot more than leave dark marks on his throat if I wanted to get out of the water alive.

Seconds later his legs were wrapped around my waist, my legs moving further apart to offer me some form of balance as I moved my hands to his hips and began to rock against him, rubbing my hardness against his opening and causing him to whimper with need.

"Please Danny..." He whispered, his arms around my neck holding me almost painfully as he moved his hips down against my arousal.

On his next movement down, I pushed up and plunged deep inside of him, capturing his cry with my mouth as it quickly covered his.

His body shuddered slightly at the sudden intrusion but he ignored it as he slowly moved his hips.

I let out a soft groan and began a slow yet satisfying rhythm inside of him, kissing away all of his sounds of pleasure.

Soon, however, my thrusts began to grow harder and I found myself having to press him up against the rock wall so as to give myself more leverage and the ability to move faster.

Tearing his mouth from mine, he leant his head back against the wall, panting loudly and crying my name over and over again, his arms still wrapped tightly around my neck, allowing my head and upper body very little movement.

I was moving even harder now, the water splashing up to cover us with each thrust I made but neither of us noticed as fireworks began to dance behind our tightly closed eyelids.

"Oh yeah...oh yesssss...Danny...like that...now...now Danny!" He cried and with a final grunt, I slammed into him, spilling my seed at the same moment as he did, his own turning the water a very faint milky colour for a few seconds, his body straining against mine as wave after wave of pleasure passed through us.

When my body lost the energy to move anymore, I shuddered then collapsed against Darren's, letting him hold me tightly, his lips raining kisses all over my face.

"There's just something about you in water that I just can't get enough of," I mumbled, allowing him to continue his attention on my face as he uncurled his legs from around me, letting me finally slide out of him.

"There's just something about you full stop." He replied with a husky laugh and I smiled at him before claiming his lips in a deep kiss.

When we finally parted, we instantly moved through the falling water once more and headed towards our gear, slowly climbing out of the pool and dragging ourselves up the slight incline before dropping down on the soft grass.

"Heaven..." Darren whispered from next to me and I smiled.

Is it possible to love someone so much?

We lay silently until we decided that we were dry enough and, once we'd pulled on our discarded clothing, we raided Elisa's packed lunch and ate as heartily as we could with the limited food, wiping our hands on the tea towels.

Now I know why she put them in!

Once the food had finally been disposed of and the trash shoved into Darren's bag, we finally settled down and started talking earnestly about the music that had been going around in our heads since we'd become lovers, me strumming chords while Darren wrote.

It was late afternoon before we were happy enough with our work and had written at least one full song with remnants of at least another three.

We were both reluctant to leave but the fading light reminded us that we'd need its assistance to find our way back to the path and we quickly packed up everything and headed in the direction we'd come from hours earlier.

Within minutes we were both seated in the car and Darren was taking us back to our latest accommodation.

Suddenly I sat up straight and yelled out, "Stop!"

Darren did so with amazing speed, stalling the car once more while ensuring that I was definitely going to have a burn around my neck from the seatbelt.

"What? What is it?" He asked, a panicked expression on his face.

I didn't answer him as, instead, I jumped out of the car and began pulling at the flowers that grew along the edge of the bitumen.

Seconds later I was back in the car, a small bouquet gripped in my hands and a cheeky grin on my face.

"Well, I did kinda promise the boys..." I said and Darren just rolled his eyes before starting the car once more.

Upon arriving back at the hotel, three sour faces greeted us and I put on my best smile as I held out my sad little floral arrangement to them.

Seconds later both Darren and I were running as three said sour-faced men began to throw said sad little floral arrangement at us.


~Chapter Twenty~

'This is it then.'

'Yep, guess so.'

Smiling I entwined my fingers with Dan's and turned to look at him, only to see him grinning back at me, his green eyes sparkling.

Here we were, about to fulfil the one wish that had started this whole crazy ride. Not that we wouldn't have found ways to be together anyway but our little list had certainly added an extra dimension to our lovemaking.

I'm sure we had both found out more about each other in the last few months then any amount of drunken late night conversations would ever have revealed. It felt both exciting and scary. I loved knowing what turned Dan on and being able to please him in that way but at the same time it left me feeling quite open and vulnerable.

It was a new and liberating experience for me to actually be able to live out some of my fantasies. Before this whole little escapade the most exciting place I had ever had sex was on a fire step and here we were standing on a deserted beach at a few minutes to midnight, the moon indeed shining down its interstellar beams, big, round and full in the velveteen sky. I found myself involuntarily shivering in anticipation.

Squeezing my hand in gentle reassurance, Dan led me over to a sheltered spot beneath some jutting rocks. In his other hand he carried a hamper thoughtfully provided by the hotel for our 'midnight picnic', the contents of which he had flatly refused to let me see. I would find out soon enough, he had told me.

All I knew was that this one would be special. This was it. Just me, my beloved Daniel and the waves lapping hypnotically at the shore. If I died right now I would be happy. Ok, maybe not right now, if I died after we had made love I would be even happier. Because one thing I did know was that tonight we would be making love, this was not a quick fuck to relieve our sexual tensions, a furtive screw like some of the others had had to be. Tonight we had all night and intended to take our time.

'Hey, earth to Darren,' Dan's soft voice broke me out of my thoughts, 'what you thinking there gorgeous?'

'Oh nothing, just how perfect this is, the moonlight, the ocean. You.'

Sitting down beside him on the blanket he had laid out, I allowed myself to be drawn back into his arms, my hands instinctively covering his, playing gently with his fingers. Such beautiful long fingers, so delicate yet so skilful, in more ways than one.

'Happy?'

'I want to lay like this forever.' I replied and felt him laugh as his lips ghosted over the nape of my neck.

Funny I thought I would never be able to say those words to anybody else. So much of my life was caught up with Colby. Yet Dan had managed not only to mend my broken heart but to teach me that true love did still exist and was often to be found in the most unlikely places. Like right under my very nose.

'I never thought I would hear you say those words again.' He said, echoing my thoughts.

'Me neither.' I admitted, 'Guess you just have that effect on me.'

He chuckled softly as his lips found mine, 'I love you Darren Hayes.' He whispered before coaxing my mouth open to receive his questing tongue. The kiss was tender and loving, tongues slowly caressing each other in a dance that spoke only of pure love and trust.

His hands moved on my waist, encouraging me to turn in his arms so that we were both lying back, nestled in each other's embrace.

When, by a mutual need for air, we broke the kiss, I rested my head on his chest and murmured contentedly. 'What did I ever do to deserve you?'

Those beautiful fingers languidly stroked my hair. 'I was just wondering the same thing.'

'Hey.' I started but stopped as I raised my head and saw the serious expression on his face.

'You know what I mean.' He explained.

Slowly I nodded, yeah I knew what he meant. For some minutes we just lay there, neither of us speaking, just absorbing the perfection of the moment. Finally, when I heard Daniel's stomach growl under me I sat up and pulled the picnic basket towards us.

'So what have you ordered then?' I asked reaching for the lid.

'Why don't you find out?'

Undoing the toggle, I raised the lid and began bringing out the contents.

He had chosen well. Why would I think he would do anything else?

Champagne with proper glasses.

I quirked an eyebrow in his direction. 'Are you trying to get me drunk Mr. Jones?' I enquired.

'Well you intoxicate me every time I see you.' He replied, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly at the cheesiness of his statement.

Taking the hamper from me he continued to set out our little feast.

Strawberries.

'For the champagne.' He explained.

'I know,' I retorted with a laugh, 'I've seen the movie.'

'Hey maybe we should have put that one on the list?'

'No way. Try and explain that one to the stage crew? No thanks.'

'Maybe you're right.' He gave a little shrug of his shoulders and went back to unpacking the picnic.

Soft bread rolls with little pats of butter, salad, a selection of cheeses and cold white meats, various dips and pates. The hotel kitchen had done us proud even down to a box of handmade chocolates.

Happily I set about arranging everything as Dan passed the items to me.

Finally he produced a small, white cake box and handed it to me with mock solemnity.

Taking it, I opened it and squealed in delight at what it held. 'Veggie BLT! Oh Dan you think of everything.'

If there was one thing I missed not eating red meat it was a nice crisp BLT sandwich. Ok so veggie bacon was not quite the same, but if you closed your eyes and tried real hard it came a pretty close second.

'Thank you my love.' I said and bending forward lightly brushed his lips with my own.

'You're more than welcome,' he answered, stealing a kiss of his own, 'anything for you Doze.'

Popping the cork on the champagne he poured a glass and handed it to me.

Taking a small sip I set it down and turned my attention back to the food. Picking up a strawberry I held it out for him to eat from my fingers. His eyes dancing in the moonlight as he did so. He leant forward and very slowly took the berry into his mouth, his tongue darting out to lick my fingers clean of the sweet juices that had gathered there. Looking straight into my eyes, he dipped his head slightly and caught my fingers firmly between his lips, not allowing me to withdraw them. Mischievously he began to gently suck on them, running his tongue over the knuckles.

His hands enclosed me in his embrace once more and the picnic was forgotten in favour of the heady sensation that was now threatening to consume my whole being.

Leaving my fingers where they were, I began to place hot, little kisses all over Dan's face and neck, anywhere my lips could reach. His mouth released me as he sought out mine, his hands roving over my body even as his tongue roved over my lips and teeth.

My own hands crept round and under his loose T-shirt, skimming over his back, feeling the vertebrae sharp beneath my fingertips.

'Darren.' He growled, pulling back, his lips swollen and glistening, his heart racing underneath my own chest, our heartbeats intermingling, making it impossible to tell where I ended and he began.

Rolling us over he sat up, straddling me, not hesitating to divest me of my shirt. Moments later his lips were back on me, licking and sucking at my nipples, causing the nubs to harden and peak under his loving ministrations.

'Danny.' I barely managed to gasp, my hands frantically trying to pull his top over his head even though it meant that he would have to cease with his busy mouth.

Stopping what he was doing, his hands aided mine in removing his top then he just sat there, still straddling me gazing at me, with such unbridled pride and lust.

'Have I ever told you how beautiful you look in the moonlight?' He whispered hoarsely, his voice choked with desire, his hands playing over my chest, his fingers curling in the dark hairs there. 'Like an angel, a fallen angel, my fallen angel.'

Bringing my hands down to firmly cup his arse I raised my hips to press myself against him, not even the fabric of our trousers able to disguise our growing arousals. Shifting around as much as I could with him astride me, I massaged the firm flesh of his buttocks through his clothing.

'Make love to me Dan.' I demanded trying to keep the urgency out of my voice, wanting this night to last forever. 'Make love to me now, take me, show me how much you love me.'

'You know how much I love you Dozer. I love you so much that sometimes I feel it will break me in two, just to be in the same room as you leaves me breathless. You're the frac to my fric remember...'

'The yang to your yin.' I whispered, breathlessly recalling the words of the interview.

'Darren,' he said taking my hands in his and pacing them over his heart, 'you complete me. I have never felt what I feel when I am with you.'

Our lips met in a slow, languid kiss then he slid himself down over my lower body, his fingers carefully unzipping and removing my jeans, pushing them down to my ankles.

Keeping me in place with a firm hand, he shifted off of me to unlace my boots and remove my trousers completely.

Without tearing his eyes away from my now naked body, he took off the last of his own clothing.

My breath caught in my throat to see Dan standing there, silhouetted against the night sky, a slight breeze forming goosebumps over his tanned flesh, causing the fine hairs on his forearms to rise and quiver. Perfection personified.

His eyes roamed my body, taking in my now very needy erection, the tip glistening with the first droplets of pre-come, alighting on my nipples that he always took such delight in teasing and finally coming to rest on my own gaze.

The love I saw reflected there made me feel as if I was indeed drowning in them, all the air being forced out of my body, struggling for each lungful.

Smiling broadly, he knelt and gently encouraged me to part my legs, his hands running lightly up and over my thighs, my pelvis, my hips. His actions causing a small moan to fall from between my lips.

'Jonesy.'

'I'm going take you to the moon and back baby.' Reaching into his discarded trouser pocket he retrieved a tube of the ever faithful lube and squeezing a generous amount into the palm of his hand stroked first himself and then me.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a movement in the night sky. A single silver streak plummeting earthwards.

'Look.'

Daniel followed my gaze and then turned back to me, his eyes once more boring deep into my soul. I knew what he was thinking and I didn't have to. I already had everything I could ever wish for right here.

'Ready?' He asked softly.

In reply I tilted my hips towards him, wordlessly signalling my acquiescion.

Wrapping my legs around his waist he positioned himself and then, with a determined grunt, started to push his way in.

His hands came up to caress my chest as inch by inch he worked his way ever deeper. Deeper and deeper until we were truly one.

Yes there was pain, the ever present discomfort but that quickly turned to pleasure as, bracing himself with his hands flat on the blanket either side of me, Dan withdrew slightly only to plunge back in, swiftly establishing a rhythm that sent waves of electricity surging through my body.

Almost imperceptibly he adjusted the angle of his next thrust and I thought my world had exploded as he hit me where he knew he could bring me the greatest joy.

'Arghhhhhhhhhh yesssssssssss!' I couldn't contain it any longer and gave full voice to my emotions, calling his name over and over as mine joined it. The still air shattered by the passion of our lovemaking.

The beach faded away as every fibre of my body was ignited by Daniel's increasing thrusts.

My hands grabbed my burning erection, my erratic movements coming to match the one inside me. In and out, up and down. Not long now.

I was dimly aware of lips finding mine and Dan's tongue pushing it's way into my mouth, searching, seeking, caressing, demanding.

As my climax approached I forced my head away, I wanted to be able scream his name when I came. Wanted the stars to hear my gratitude, hear the name of my amazing lover who truly was launching me into the stratosphere with the sensations he alone was able to create within my aching body.

'Darren, Darren, oh Darren,' my name became a mantra falling from his swollen lips as with one final push I felt him fill me, spill himself inside me, our love manifest in his climax.

Hands covered mine on my cock and together we continued until I saw the stars come tumbling down from their lofty fixtures, until with all the power in my lungs I cried out, 'Daniiiiieeeeeellll. Dannnnny, love...so...much.'

Wetness came between us, binding our hands, ignored as Dan gently slipped out and shifted slightly so that he was lying with his head on my chest, his arms enfolding me, pulling me to him.

Whispered nothings and reassurance, declarations and reaffirmations. The universe had never looked so beautiful as it did right now.

I had no idea of how long we lay there, minutes, hours? I didn't care. Time lost all meaning for me until Daniel lifted his head and peered inquisitively at me. 'Care for a midnight swim?' He grinned.

'You have got to be kidding. I bet the water is fucking freezing.' There was no way I was going anywhere near it.

'Only one way to find out.'

'You're on your own there mate.' Chuckling I lay back and close my eyes, smiling as I felt Dan lever himself up.

My eyes quickly opened again as two strong arms wrapped themselves around me and the next thing I knew I was being carried forcefully down to the ocean's edge.

'Put me down now you bastard.' I threatened, desperately trying to wriggle free.

'Too late.' Dan smiled as he started to wade out in to the water, inhaling sharply. I guess, despite the day's baking sun, the water had retained its icy chill.

'Don't you da...' My words were abruptly cut off as Daniel unceremoniously let me drop from his arms.

I was right the water was freezing. Spluttering I returned to the surface, shivering all over, shooting Dan the most murderous look I could muster.

Laughing he took a step back as I advanced and wrapped my arms 'round his neck.

'I'm sorry,' he apologised in between laughs, his hand automatically coming up to smooth back my now dripping hair.

'That's ok.' I replied sweetly, leaning in to kiss him. As I did so I glanced over his shoulder and could have sworn I saw my ghosts smile, wave briefly, then disappear off into the ether of the starlit night.

Breaking the kiss I hooked my foot round his ankle and in one swift movement had brought us both crashing down under the idyllic waves.


~Chapter Twenty-One~

"Leo, how many times do I have to tell you? I hate these things! Why do you insist on continuously arranging them?" Darren cried, his blue eyes slitted in anger as he stood in front of Leonie.

"I didn't do it for crying out loud! The company arranged it!" She yelled back and I raised an eyebrow.

Very rarely did Leonie lose her temper but I guess this diva tantrum of Darren's pushed her just that little too far this time.

Me, on the other hand, was enjoying the free entertainment as I leaned back against the long black limousine, the source of Darren's extremely bad mood, and watched them both.

Of course, I wasn't really paying much attention to anything that was being said because I was too busy letting my eyes roam over my lover's tense body, admiring the way it moved as he jabbed a finger in Leonie's face, the way his blue satin shirt caught the fading afternoon light, the way his black leather pants fit snugly to his backside, providing me with quite a delectable view of his ass.

Oh yeah, I was enjoying this.

"Listen here, you are going to get into that bloody limo and you're going to shut your mouth and enjoy it!" Leonie snarled, snapping me back to reality and I straightened up, blinking a few times.

"Darren, come on. Let's just get it over and done with." I said softly, trying to soothe him and avoid getting my own head bitten off.

As it was, my attempts were in vain as he spun around to face me, fire in his eyes, his mouth open ready to say something.

Letting out a deep sigh, I ignored him as I grabbed his arm and practically dragged him into the limousine behind me.

"See you tomorrow," I called out to Leonie before the chauffeur closed the door, blocking us from her sight with its heavily tinted windows.

"Darren, it's not the end of the world. It's only a limo," I told him, pushing him back into the seat and making myself comfortable next to him.

"But Danny, you know I hate these things." He whined, pouting childishly, bringing a smile to my face.

"I know, Doze, but sometimes we gotta do things we don't like..." I said and instantly all anger disappeared from his face as realisation dawned on him.

He knew that I was talking about myself and suddenly felt extremely immature.

"I'm sorry." He said softly and I smiled at him to show that I wasn't upset with him at all, then I sat back to enjoy the comfort that the limousine had to offer.

I didn't know why Darren had gotten upset over something as silly and unimportant as this and I couldn't help but think that maybe there was something else, a lot deeper, that was upsetting him.

I went silent with my thoughts and paid little attention to the man beside me until he started swearing, enough to make even sailors blush.

"What's wrong with you now?" I groaned, trying hard to keep my annoyance to a minimum.

"It's a fucking traffic jam!" He growled, starting on another string of even more colourful obscenities as the car horn symphony began outside, many raised voices seeming to voice Darren's own opinion.

"Listen, will you calm down! It's not going to kill you if we're late. It's only a dumb company meal. Besides, look at all the things we can play with." I said, trying to calm him once more.

"Like what?" hH asked, his voice somewhat softer than seconds before.

"Well, we can make prank phone calls," I suggested, holding up a phone and causing Darren to smile slightly.

I was getting there...

"And we can raid the fridge...oooh...champers!" I exclaimed and this time Darren giggled.

We have a breakthrough!

"And what does this do?" I asked, pushing a button near the door. "Okay, now this is definitely interesting..."

We both watched in silence as a privacy screen slowly slid up between our compartment and the driver's, then I turned to Darren, an evil glint in my eye, grinning as he returned it.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He asked and I nodded as the expression on his face grew hungry.

Oh I was thinking it all right.

Seconds later I was in Darren's lap, my lips on his, kissing him heatedly and he was responding eagerly, his hands running up and down my back, burning me through the fabric of my dress shirt.

My fingers tangled in his hair, mussing it as I yearned to taste him deeper, my hips rocking against his in my need.

Breaking away and breathing harshly, Darren shifted around slightly and I let out a groan as one of his hands slid between us, stroking me through the leather of my pants.

"Oh yeah..." I sighed, pushing my hips against his hand and biting my lip as flames of pleasure licked at me.

"You know...it really wouldn't do to mess up our clothes. I don't think they'd appreciate it all that much," Darren said cheekily as his free hand slowly began to unbutton my shirt.

I made ready with an equally cheeky reply but the moment was stolen from me as Darren pressed his lips to my throat then slowly began to work downwards as he slowly revealed my chest.

Letting out excited little pants, I pushed against his lips, shivering as I felt his tongue flick out to taste one of my nipples.

"You taste good tonight, Danny." He whispered, his warm breath fanning across my wet skin, sending shivers down my spine at the contrast of hot on cold.

"Mmmm..." I moaned in reply and he chuckled before returning that amazing mouth to my body.

My eyes shut tight and my head thrown back in pleasure, I decided to do a little teasing of my own, my hands sneaking into Darren's half unbuttoned shirt, silently praising him on his decision to wear his shirt like that as my questing fingers tangled in his coarse chest hair.

Finally my shirt was undone and with some gentle urging, I halted my caresses of Darren as he moved to push my shirt off my shoulders, pulling it down my arms and tossing it onto one of the other seats.

A momentary thought of creases flashed through my mind but I dismissed it quickly as Darren's lips covered mine once more, his tongue probing, searching for mine.

As we kissed, I shifted around slightly and moved to lay down, pulling Darren down with me, my hands instantly removing his shirt and tossing it over in the same direction mine had gone.

I'd barely returned my hands to his body before his own began to attack the button on my pants and I couldn't help but cry out softly as he succeeded and pulled down my zipper, releasing my growing hardness into his hot hand.

He squeezed me gently and I arched up against his hand, allowing his other to move and tug at my pants, pulling them down until they'd gotten to the stage where Darren was going to have to get off me to rid me of them and my shoes in the process.

Doing so quickly, he then made quick work of his own shoes and pants then returned to me, lying atop me, his mouth seeking mine once more.

Trying to keep my noises as soft as I could, I began to rock against Darren, biting my lip as his own hardness rubbed against mine.

He moaned into my mouth then he moved until he was sitting up between my thighs, his cock rubbing against my opening, coating it with his juices.

"Thank god for the luxuries of limos, eh?" He said, referring to the width of the seats as he lifted my legs and rested them on his broad shoulders.

Laughing at his change of heart, I reached out for him, pulling his head down for a passionate tangling of tongues, deepening it as I felt him starting to push inside of me.

He moved slowly and once he was fully sheathed, he sat back up and looked down at me, his hands sliding up and down my thighs as he shifted them slightly on his shoulders.

Our eyes locking, I bit my lip as he moved back until he'd almost pulled out then I let out a soft cry as he plunged back in.

His eyes never once left mine as he began his slow tantalising rhythm and I found myself struggling to keep my own open as he shifted slightly and pushed inside once more, effectively brushing against my most sensitive of places.

"Oh fuck, Darren!" I cried out, biting my lip as he grinned at me and did it once more, thrusting harder.

Suddenly I lost the power to speak and finally I shut my eyes, throwing my head back and arching my body against him, taking him deeper.

This time it was he who lost his composure and his fingers dug painfully into my thighs, where he still held them, and he thrust harder again, pulling back and quickly doing it again and again...and again.

Within seconds, Darren's slow and teasing pace had evaporated and he was fucking me hard, his body lowering to hover over mine, his hands leaving my thighs to grip the seat cushion on either side of my head as he pounded into me.

With my new position, my thighs almost pressing against my chest, Darren was slamming against my prostate with each thrust and I felt my whole body begin to tense up, my orgasm roaring to just below the surface, screaming for me to let it go.

"Oh shit...oh fuck...come on Danny...do it...for me..." He breathed harshly, his face millimetres from mine, his heated breath fanning over my burning skin.

Gasping in mouthfuls of air, I gripped his neck and, with a grimace that almost looked like pain, I pushed down hard on him and exploded, stars bursting behind my tightly closed eyelids as I covered my stomach and chest with my ecstasy.

He continued his almost painful thrusts then cried out as I clamped my body down on him, groaning as I felt him fill me with his passion, his lips pressing close to my ear, voicing his pleasure at his final release.

Almost instantly, he slid from me and I whimpered before sighing softly as he began to clean me with his tongue, doing a very thorough job of it before returning to my lips and offering me a taste.

I kissed him hungrily, my arms holding him close, just enjoying the afterglow of our passion.

Minutes passed, then we became aware of movement and with looks of disappointment, we parted and slowly began to dress, knowing we had the time to spare.

Once we were both presentable in the clothing department, despite a few creases, I moved back into Darren's lap, my hands going for his hair, trying to fix the damage I'd caused.

When I was satisfied with my work, I smiled at him then lowered my head, kissing him slowly and deeply until I felt the limo come to a stop.

With quick movements, I was instantly by Darren's side, far enough away to not look suspicious but close enough that I could still feel his body heat and I felt myself yearning for it once more.

Of course, all thoughts had to be put aside as the chauffeur pulled open the door and Darren moved to climb out.

I watched him, smiling as he presented me with that lovely image of his ass encased in leather once more, then I slid over and climbed out myself, giving the chauffeur a funny look as he winked at me.

Then, once the door had been closed behind me, I joined Darren and we both headed inside, both hoping we'd get stuck again in traffic on the way home.


~Chapter Twenty-Two~

'...and it is the last song. I'm sorry but I do have to get some SLEEP! 'cos I've got to do the show that you are all probably coming to tomorrow night.' Groans of disappointment all round.

'So, er, this is dedicated to the BBS.' Screams replaced the disappointment as the band launched into the opening chords of 'Affirmation'.

Yes, sleep was what I needed but what I needed and what I was going to get were two very different things.

'I believe you can't control or choose your flavour of ice cream.' More screams and I caught Daniel's eye, giving him a quick wink. I wondered if half the excited teenagers even understood the true meaning behind that line?

With one final 'we love you and we'll see you next time' the song was done and therefore the gig. It had been strange playing such a small venue after packing out so many arenas and concert halls. It reminded me of the early days, playing cover versions in smoky half-filled clubs back in Brisbane.

All that seemed like a million miles away now, so far removed from the kind of fame and success I had now. Sometimes I had to stop and pinch myself - it seemed that all that happened to an entirely different person. Yet through it all one thing had remained constant. My Danny. He had always been my Danny even back then, my friend, my confidant, my partner in the band. And now he was my lover as well.

During the inevitable meets and greet afterwards I managed to sidle up to him. 'Cry off tonight.' I whispered brushing my lips close to his ear.

'Huh?'

'Lee is talking about going to a club - cry off.' My warning came just in time as Ben weaved his way through the crush to where we were.

'Hey you two - we're going to hit a club, wanna join us...?'

'Er no thanks mate. I really am all done in - I've got to get some sleep.' I faked a yawn for emphasis.

'Danny Boy?'

'Sorry not this time. I'm going to head back to the hotel. Got some phone calls to make.'

'Dan it's eleven thirty at night, who on earth are you going to call?'

'Ben...' Dan slipped his arm round his fellow guitarist's shoulder conspiratorially. 'It might well be eleven thirty PM here but it's nine thirty AM in Sydney...'

'Oh,' light dawned in the darkened recesses of Ben's alcohol fuddled brain. 'And just who would you be calling in Sydney then...?' He fished.

Dan just smiled serenely and replied 'Carey, that's for me to know and you to speculate.'

Oh very smooth Dan, two birds with one stone.

'So you ready then?' I asked tugging on Daniel's arm.

'Yep. See you guys later.' Daniel gave a cheery up-nod.

'We know what you're doing.' Karl called out in a singsong voice, a broad grin on his face.

Oh believe me boys, you have absolutely no idea what we are doing.

'So what are we doing then?' Daniel enquired as we rode the elevator back up to our floor.

'Danny baby,' I breathed huskily, 'I'm going to take you to Heaven.'

'You do that every time I look at you.' His hand caressed my arm.

'We're going to a club.' I replied stepping out and making my way to my room.

'But if we're going to do that we could have gone with the oth...' He trailed off as he caught my grin '...we're not going to that kind of club are we...?'

A brief look of worry flashed across his face. 'Darren I'm not so sure...I mean...and anyway you know I don't like to dance.' He stumbled around for excuses.

'First of all calm down,' I told him as we entered my room and I began stripping off my jeans, pulling on a pair of black leathers. 'It's going to be fine and secondly who says that we are going there to dance...' I let the insinuation hang there temptingly in the air.

'Oh...' A different kind of look crossed his face. That's more like it.

'So if you would kindly stop staring at my arse and go and get changed.' I said buttoning up a deliberately long shirt.

'Awwllllllll but it's such a lovely arse.' Coming up behind me he cupped my arse firmly in his hands.

'Go, get.' I commanded breaking away from him and starting to fix my hair.

'I'm going...' And he started out of the room, 'I'll still beat you.' was his parting shot as the door closed after him.

Thirty minutes later we were back out on the street hailing a cab.

'Charing Cross please.' I instructed the driver. He glanced in his rear mirror with a knowing smile.

'So,' Daniel asked sitting as close to me as he could without actually sitting on my lap, 'how did you find out about this place?'

'A friend told me.'

'Well,' he said with a smirk, 'remind me to thank Stef next time we see him.'

'What makes you so sure it was Stef?'

'Because Darren dearest not even you would be insane enough to go to a club on Brian's recommendation.'

He had a point. 'It could have been Steve.'

'Humph! When the camels come skating home.'

Funny my love, 'cos I would have said exactly the same thing about you a year ago. Strange how things turn out sometimes.

'Just tell me that you swore him to secrecy?'

'Of course. He won't tell; it's not like he doesn't understand. His lips are sealed.'

'Yeah until Brian prises them apart.' He said ruefully.

'Even Brian knows when to keep his mouth shut...if not his flies.' I grinned.

Unable to resist I took his hand in mine and bringing it to my lips placed as swift kiss on the palm.

'What was that in aid of?' He said, bringing his own hand to rest on my thigh.

'Do I have to have a reason?'

'No I guess not.' And he leant over to kiss me.

'Ahem,' the cab driver cleared his throat politely, 'Charing Cross boys. That'll be ten eighty please.'

Smiling we broke apart and paying the fare got out.

'Have a good night.' The driver laughed then drove off.

Dan looked around him. 'A railway station?'

'No dummy it's under the station.' Grabbing his hand I led him down a side street to where a line of people were queueing up for the club.

'See.' I announced proudly pointing at the neon sign over the entrance. 'I told you I was taking you to Heaven.'

'So you did. Come on then.' He inclined his head and started walking towards the back of the queue.

'Do you really think we'll be able to do this?' He asked, his voice betraying both his fear and excitement.

'Well...' I blushed.

'You didn't?...Darren!'

'Sorry.'

'So did they?'

'Yes.'

'Here?'

'Yes.'

'Oh well, guess if they can we can.' He let out a soft laugh.

I slipped my hand into his and, for once, he didn't swat it away. There was no point. No need. Not considering the makeup of the other patrons. 90% of them appeared to be same sex couples, both male and female, though predominately male.

I mused that unwittingly while fulfilling our list we had also fulfilled a lot of other important steps in our relationship. Like the fact that at least one or more, probably four of our friends now knew that we were a couple, like the fact that we were about to enter a gay club, not to play, not to perform but as paying customers, as a gay couple.

That thought made me catch my breath. Up until this point I'm not sure I had thought of us in those terms, yes of course I knew that we were both guys but I had always thought of us as simply Darren and Danny, not in terms of any pigeon-holed label. I guess strictly speaking we weren't gay anyway but bi, yet at the end of the day that was just small-print.

Seeing all these other couples around us brought reality crashing down around me.

'You alright?' Daniel enquired quietly, squeezing my hand in concern. We had almost reached the head of the queue. Make your mind up time Hayes.

'Yeah, I'm fine...I er...no I'm fine.' I told him forcing my voice to sound a hell of a lot more confident than I felt.

'Good evening, gentlemen,' the bouncer waved us in, his eyes narrowing in that all too familiar 'don't-I-recognise-you-from-somewhere' way.

'Good evening.' Dan took control of the situation and paying the cover charge, led me over to the cloakroom so we could deposit our jackets.

'Right, drink.' He said decisively, forcing our way through the throng of people to the bar. He looked at me and I nodded. Oh yeah I was going to need all the 'Dutch courage' I could get. Pressing myself up against him I heard him order two double JD's and cokes. Well that would certainly do the trick.

Despite the coke the bourbon still stung as it hit the back of my throat, causing me to splutter slightly, my eyes watering.

Laughing Dan patted my back, the pat quickly becoming a soft rub, his fingers feathering up to caress the back of my neck.

Turning into him, our lips met in a slow languid kiss, my free hand coming up to pull his head deeper into the embrace. His tongue sought and found mine, his teeth lightly grazing my bottom lip. Oh yes I was in heaven all right.

Moving his hand to my waist Dan forced my body tight up against his, grinding himself into me, leaving me in no doubt as to what effect I was having on him.

Our kiss grew rougher, more demanding before I broke away; smiling at the unashamed desire I saw reflected in my love's eyes.

The DJ chose that moment to start playing Madonna's 'Music' and a sneaky thought occurred to me; a way to make the evening even more perfect. Setting down my now empty glass, I took his from him and, leaning in close so that he would be able to hear me over all the noise of the club, said 'Let's dance.'

He shook his head. 'I don't think so.' He growled possessively in my ear and directed my gaze towards a particularly dark corner of the bar area. It was obvious what part of his body he was thinking with.

'Uh-uh,' I waggled my finger theatrically, 'You've got to earn this one.'

'Darren...' His hands wandered down to fondle my arse.

'No dance, no fuck.' I stated simply, hoping I hadn't just shot myself in the foot.

I could see him weighing up his options.

'Ok, but just one.'

'I promise.' Wow! I didn't think he would actually agree. Sure he had danced with me lots of times before, along with everyone else, in a straight club, doing the 'lets all dance in a big group' thing. And of course he had danced for me. But this would be the first time that we had danced together. Quickly, before he could change his mind, I took his hand and practically dragged him onto the floor.

Placing my hands firmly on his hips, I began to bump and grind in time with the beat. Rolling his eyes he looped his arms round my neck and started imitating my movements.

My hands travelled up his back, sliding under his T-shirt to the heated skin beneath. His eyes closed at the touch and I could see his lips form my name.

He pulled me closer, forcing one of his legs between mine so that our lower bodies were knit together, the hardness in his pants rubbing repeatedly against my inner thigh. Opening his eyes he fixed me with a look so intense and so full of undisguised lust that I knew I was lucky to being getting even one dance.

The heat in my body was beginning to overwhelm me and I knew that it wasn't just due to the close atmosphere of the club. I couldn't help but respond to him, pushing my own erection flush up against his leg. The movement of the dance making this all the easier to accomplish. Leaning in I teasingly ran my tongue the length of his neck, stopping just behind his ear, drawing the lobe into my mouth, pulling down with my teeth on the gold hoop he wore there.

'How about we find that darkened corner?' I breathed huskily, hardly trusting my own voice.

Barely were the words out of my mouth before Dan grabbed my hand and all but ran off of the dance floor with me.

'Whoa down boy,' I spluttered, torn between desire and amusement.

'I'm sorry but I really need a drink.' I can't believe I said that, every fibre in my body was burning for him and all I could think of was how dry my throat had suddenly gone.

The look that Dan shot me said that he couldn't believe I had come out with that one either.

'Two minutes Darren.' He uttered murderously. 'I'm going to find us a seat.'

Forcing my way to the bar I was fortunate to catch the bartender's eye straight away and putting on my best flirty smile ensured that I was the next to get served.

Daniel was sitting right over in the far corner and I had to scan the area a couple of times before I saw him in the half-light. There he was, on one of the plush bench seats that lined the wall, long legs stretched out in front of him. My Danny.

Knocking back a large mouthful of my drink, I sashayed over to him. 'Hello gorgeous.' I said seductively as I eschewed the notion of a seat and went straight for climbing onto his lap. Instantly two firm hands gripped my hips, in part to steady me, in part I'm sure to prevent me from going anywhere again.

Wriggling forward I sat so I was atop his groin, delighting in the hardness I felt under my arse and unable to resist wriggling some more so that I could feel it moving against me. As I took the ever-present cigarette from between his lips he took my glass and finished my drink for me.

Leaning over him to the ashtray behind, I stubbed out the remainder of his smoke then fastened my lips to his, kissing him with a demand and intensity that he more than answered. His hands relocated to my arse, pulling me ever closer as I lifted my hips slightly so that I could get my hands down between us.

Cupping him through the fabric of his trousers with one hand, I used my other to work my zipper down.

The moans and groans Dan was breathing into my mouth told me what I already knew, I had to hurry and with him unable to remove his hands without fear of me falling backwards and off of him, I was going to have to do most of the work. My own zipper down, I fumbled for his, never once letting up in my ravishing of his beautiful mouth, tongues tangling, seeking out, tasting the very being of each other.

His grip tightened as I managed to finally free him from his trousers and into my eager hands, massaging him, his cock already sticky with tiny droplets of pre-cum. Ready and waiting for me.

Ok next came the tricky part. Hopefully the length of my shirt would make this appear as if it was nothing more than a pretty heavy make out session, not that anyone was paying us the slightest bit of attention anyway. It wasn't as if we were the only couple taking advantage of the lack of decent lighting.

Forcing my lips from him, I raised my hips a little bit further and placing my free hand over Dan's indicated with my eyes and my actions what I needed him to do. Slowly he tugged down my trousers, taking care to keep my shirt hanging down over his knees.
When they were down just far enough for him to be able to do what we were going to do, I raised my sticky hand to his mouth and gasped in delight as he ran his tongue over my palm.

'Thank you my love.' I whispered, resting my forehead against his. Both our eyes glanced down as I started stroking Dan's erection, coating it with a combination of precum and his saliva. His breath was hot on my face as he wrapped one arm further 'round me and, taking the other hand away, presented me with his fingertips. Greedily I took the middle three into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the calloused pads, knowing that the wetter I got them the better it would be for me.

Dan's moans as I did this were so deep and intense I felt like I was going to come there and then.

Reluctantly it seemed, he withdrew them and then replaced his hand under my shirt, his fingers sneaking down to touch me there.
I slammed my mouth back on his just as, with a wicked smile, he slipped first one and then another in. The sensation that this caused ripped through my whole body forcing a deep guttural groan from far within my throat. Oh yes, yes. I ground my body back onto his fingers encouraging him to probe deeper, willing him to hit my prostate. His moans matched mine and met in our enjoined mouths as I resumed my pressure on his cock.

'Now.' I managed to gasp between pants and needing no second telling Daniel lifted me up and with my hands guiding him in, brought me down onto him, immediately penetrating me fully. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out in pain and bracing my hands on the wall behind him, we paused for moment, his hands softly caressing my arse in tiny circles while I adjusted to his presence.

Slowly I began to move on him, his hands helping me to rise just a little with each movement.

As we sped up I quickly realised that he was thrusting up into me in sync with the beat of the music. The music that made my chest pound and more than masked the strangled sighs and moans that were now emitting from us both. My head was buried deep into his hair, his mouth on my neck, and neither of us could do more than mutter obscenities and fragments of our love as with each motion we were carried higher and higher on the tide of our passion.

His hands burned into my hips, the bruising pain of his strong grip about the only thing that reached my senses, that and the amazing feeling of his cock, filling me, completing me, making me silently scream with pleasure every time I pushed back onto him.
My own arousal was pressed between our bodies, the friction of our movements sending wave after wave of simulation through it, through it and into my electrified body.

It was then that the realisation hit me that when I came this was going to be messy but we would just have to deal with that afterwards because right now I was much too far gone to stop. Right now it was as much as I could do to stay conscious; my knuckles turning white from where I had been pushing into the wall so hard.

I felt rather than heard Daniel's words as his mouth trailed over my collarbone, licking wet trails across my sweaty skin. His lips moving soundlessly against me.

'Feels...so...good.' I managed to gasp before uncontrollably throwing my head back as, with a shudder that ran the entire length of my body, my climax hit, the wetness seeping over Dan's chest and trickling down onto our laps.

I continued moving on Dan as his mouth found mine and plundering it deeply I felt him stiffen inside me followed by the warmth that only comes from him filling me with his essence.

Our kiss became more gently as the waves subsided. His hands moved to my waist and I relinquished my death grip on the wall.

Collapsing against him, I cupped his face, gently massaging the soft skin under his ears with my fingertips. Breaking away for air, I placed dozens of tiny kisses on his flushed face, thanking him, telling him how wonderful it had been, looking into his radiant eyes in the semi-darkness, his pupils still fully dilated and glazed.

Finally he found his voice and shakily returned the sentiments, laughing softly when he saw the mess I had made of his shirt.

Sitting back, we shifted around slightly so that he could pull out from me, then I started unbuttoning my own shirt. His eyes widened, before he remembered that I still had a t-shirt on underneath. Taking off my shirt I slipped it 'round his shoulders, wriggling around as he pulled my trousers back up over my hips and tucked me in.

Removing myself completely from his lap, we both tried to discreetly to tidy ourselves up. Once done I flopped contentedly down next to him and playfully snuggled my head into his shoulder.

'I can't believe we just did that.' He said incredulously, lighting up and glancing around at everyone else who were paying us not the slightest bit of attention. In fact it looked as if the couple a few feet away from us were engaged in some furtive fumbling of their own.

My reply was to fall into a hopeless fit of the giggles.

'What's so funny?' He hissed in my ear.

'N...nothing.' I said between giggles, burying my face in his shoulder.

After a few minutes of just lying there, revelling in the afterglow and watching Dan draw his cigarette in and out between still swollen lips, I lifted my head to look into his shining eyes.

'You know what I want now?'

'What.' His tone was strangely cautious.

'Another dance.'

Groaning Daniel let me take him by the hand and drag him back in the direction of the dance floor.


~Chapter Twenty-Three~

Well, this is it. The night I'd been waiting for and dreading all at once. It was our last night as Savage Garden. Tomorrow everyone would be jumping on planes, going home.

I sat back on the couch in my hotel room and just stared out the window, my head a jumble of thoughts, all centering around one person...Darren.

I was beginning to feel that he didn't want this relationship any more as lately he'd been becoming more and more distant. Of course, he was always passionate when we made love but then he'd go back into his own little world.

I knew I should have said yes when Ben asked me to join the rest of them, and the crew, for a big night out on the town but I just couldn't do it. I was hurting too much.

I'd hoped that this little break from Savage Garden would be the perfect time for Darren and I to finally have that real relationship that we'd been looking forward to but the way Darren was acting, obviously he didn't feel the same way.

I let out a deep sigh and sat back in my seat, sliding down slightly and stretching my long legs in front of me and for the hundredth time told myself that I shouldn't have turned the band down. Maybe a night of excess alcohol was just what I needed.

It got to the stage where I couldn't think of anything but getting drunk and just as I was standing up to go in search of the band and tell them I'd changed my mind, someone knocked on the door.
Without even thinking, I quickly opened it and found Darren standing there, looking up at me with his beautiful blue eyes.

"Hey Danny." He greeted me, a smile on his face.

"Uhhh...hey." I replied, standing back to let him in.

"I'm glad you're still here. I thought you might have gone out with the gang," he told me before he raised himself slightly and pressed a soft kiss to my lips.

I didn't return it and he pulled back, looking at me in confusion.
"What's wrong?" He asked, watching as I closed the door and turned to look at him once more.

He looked so beautiful...how was I going to live without him? Of course, I wasn't going to go without a fight. That much I knew.

"We need to talk." I said softly and I watched in surprise as his face fell and his eyes turned glassy as though he were about to cry.

"Oh boy...that's the worst thing to say to a lover." He stated then he moved over to the couch and unceremoniously let his body drop.

I moved to join him, unsure whether I should sit next to him or across from him, not wanting to be near him if he was going to end everything, but wanting to be near him, to memorise the moment.

Finally I made my decision and lowered myself down beside him, sitting in such a way that I was facing his profile...his beautiful profile.

Dammit, Dan, stop it!

I then took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Daz...we really need to talk about us. Ummmm...this is really hard to say so I guess I should just blurt it, huh?" I said and he nodded slowly, his face expressionless and slightly off-putting.
"Okay then..." I paused slightly, trying to guess what he was thinking, then I continued, literally blurting it out. "Don't you want me anymore?"

Well that certainly got a reaction. He turned to look at me with wide eyes and his mouth opened and closed a couple of times.

Obviously he wasn't expecting me to be so forward or maybe he wasn't expecting me to know his thoughts.

Using his stunned silence, I continued on.

"I mean, when we're together, you're always acting so distant. Like you've got more important things on your mind and I'm just a bother and you're spending less time with me altogether. The only time we seem to get together now is to have sex and I'm beginning to feel used."

I paused once more and watched silently as Darren continued with his goldfish impersonations and I found myself becoming slightly annoyed. Couldn't he even bring himself to apologise or something?

Finally I let out an exasperated sigh and went to stand up but his hand on my arm stopped me in mid-movement.

"Oh god. I never thought you'd feel that way..." He whispered.

"Well, what do you expect? Listen, if you don't want me, just tell me and we'll end this right here, right now. We'll both get on that plane tomorrow and go back to our own lives."

"Danny...no...I'm so sorry. You're right, I have had other things on my mind but it's not what you're thinking." He told me and I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and listen to what he had to say.

I nodded my head, motioning for him to continue and he did so in that soft voice that I had first fallen in love with.

"I've been thinking about us...worrying about us..." He began but couldn't continue as I cut him off.

"Worrying? What did you have to worry about?" I asked him.

"I've been worrying that this break we're taking might...you know...leak into our relationship. That doesn't sound right, does it?" He stammered and I sat there quietly as realisation struck.

He didn't want to leave me; he was scared that I would want to leave him when the band took its break.

"I think I know what you're saying, Darren. You think that this break isn't only going to be for Savage. You think that this break is going to be between us too?" I asked, knowing that I'd hit the nail on the head as he nodded madly.

The room fell silent and suddenly we were both laughing. I don't know why we did it but I think it was just our way of releasing the tension we'd obviously been feeling.
By the time we'd both calmed down, we were literally hanging onto each other to remain upright and on the couch.

Finally the room was silent once more and Darren and I just sat there, just enjoying being in each other's arms, both waiting for the other to start talking about where the relationship really was going to go.
It was Darren who broke the silence.

"Danny...I don't want this to end. I don't want us to end...I love you..." He whispered and I felt my heart skip a beat.

The way he said those three little words let me see deep into his heart and I knew at that moment that this relationship was never going to end. As sickingly sweet at that sounded, I knew it was true.

"Dazzy...I love you too..." I replied, finally returning the kiss he'd given me earlier, pouring every ounce of love that I felt into it.

When I pulled back, we were both slightly breathless and I'm sure my face mirrored Darren's in its flushed state.

"We'll work this out, you know. I mean, we've got the money so we can fly and see each other whenever the whim takes us...and I know we're both handy with a telephone..." I paused to wink and he giggled huskily, his warm breath fanning my cheek. "And then there's the fact that I'm going to persuade you to move your gorgeous little ass back to Brisbane where we're going to live together."

"Danny! Are you asking me to move in with you? What kind of guy do you think I am?" He said in mock offence and I jabbed a finger into his rib, causing him to let out a little squeal.

"I'm serious..." I told him and he calmed down at once.

"Are you sure? I mean, when you think about it, it's a big step. We've lived together before but that was to save money. We'd have no excuse this time," he said, lowering his eyes to our hands as his fingers played with mine.

"I don't know about you but I've got the perfect excuse..." I said softly, taking a deep breath as Darren eyes met mine in a questioning gaze. "I'd tell them that we were in love."

In this one sentence I'd said it all, I'd made the final decision and I saw tears begin to well up in Darren's sparkling eyes.

He began with the goldfish impressions again and I let out a sigh before leaning in and kissing his open mouth.

Well that certainly snapped him out of it very quickly as his arms wound their way around my neck, his fingers playing with the bottom strands off my hair as his mouth began to move against mine.

Our tongues met in his mouth and began sliding over each other, mirroring the actions of my hands over his back and sides.

As the kiss continued, I pulled him into my lap and heard him give a little intake of breath before he resumed his exploration of my mouth.

Things began to grow heated but Darren quickly fixed that as he pulled my shirt off my body and threw it across the room before his hands moved to his own shirt.
With my help, his shirt quickly joined mine and then we just sat there, our hands softly caressing as we stared into each other's eyes.

I smiled at him and he returned it as I grabbed him around the waist and motioned for him to wrap his legs around me.
He did so quickly and within seconds, I was on my feet and carrying him to my bed as our lips met once more.

We fell to the bed in a jumbled heap of legs and arms and we began to roll around, trying to untangle ourselves, messing up the semi-neat bed in the process.

Finally we were satisfied with our position of me lying on top of him, and we moved to the next task at hand, better known as the task of removing the last remnants of our clothing.
Darren's pants and boxers were the first to go and once mine had followed, our caresses began in earnest, our hands running up and down each other's bodies and our lips moving to taste any piece of naked skin that we could find.

Soon Darren's breathy moans were filling the large hotel room and I had to fight the urge to just lie back and listen to him.
But as his hot hand found my hardness, that thought quickly went out the window and I moaned against his throat, jerking my hips involuntarily.

"Oh yesssss..."

He continued to caress me as my own hands worked wonders over his chest, his little gasps the only indication that he was enjoying the sensation.

"Danny..." He breathed before my lips returned to his and silenced him.

The kiss soon turned heated and I found myself moving harder against his hand, crying out his name softly.

Suddenly his hand was gone and I whimpered at its loss, grinding my erection against his, telling him that I wasn't impressed.

Fortunately I didn't have to wait long but, instead of a nice warm hand, I felt my cock being covered in a cold gel.
I gasped quietly and he chuckled, his hand not pausing in its administration of the substance.

Cheeky little bugger...I guess it's been decided who's on the bottom for this one.

My hand moved to cover his and we both began to jerk me slowly, entwining our fingers as they slid over my hardness.
Soon I was groaning at the sensation and my hips were thrusting against his.

"Darren...I need to be inside you...please..." I pleaded and seconds later his hand was gone and his legs were resting on either side of me.

I instantly moved against his opening, pressing against it gently as his hands moved up and down my heated back, causing shivers to shoot down my spine.

I bit my bottom lip and then slowly began to push my way inside of him, trying not to hurt him, as I knew I'd done so many times on this tour. Taking what I wanted and not bothering to think about what I was doing to him.

Thinking back to our night in New Orleans, I decided that I was going to return his favour. Tonight was going to be all for him. I was going to please him, to do everything he wished, to show him how much I loved him.

"Oh Danny, you feel so...sooo gooooood..." He groaned as I finally filled him completely.

I remained still, struggling against my body's impulse to thrust, as I let him get used to the feeling, scolding myself for not even attempting to prepare him for my entrance.
It wasn't long before I felt his body relaxing under me and I pulled out slowly, smiling as he whimpered with pleasure, his hands halting from their caresses of my back to move down to my thighs.

With a subtle squeeze of his hands, I obeyed his unspoken command and pushed deep inside him, filling him completely once more and letting out my own noise of pleasure, a sound of a moan crossed with a sigh.

I continued my slow pace until another subtle caress of his hands and a slight shifting of his hips indicated that he wanted more.

His lips found mine once more as I began to move faster and he kissed me deeply, our tongues copying the movements of our hips.

"Ohhhhhhh...yesssss...yessssss..." Darren moaned, breaking the kiss as his hips began to rise to meet mine, urging me deeper and faster inside of him.

"Oh god...oh yes...Darrennnn..." I sighed, wanting to tell him how good he felt but not being able to think of the words to express it.
Instead I let my body show him as I began to thrust forcefully into him, moving deeper and deeper with each movement.

Darren moved his hands to my backside as his muscled legs wrapped themselves tightly around my waist, pulling me tighter against him, causing my strokes to become quicker.
I had him moaning loudly now, gone were the small sighs of pleasure as the heat between us grew.

"Oh Danny...!" He cried out as one of my hands found its way between us to wrap around his arousal.

I knew that I'd easily bring him off with just my penetration of him but I wanted to bring him more so I began to stroke him in time with my thrusts, coaxing more sounds of ecstasy from his parted lips.

Our eyes locked and I watched him scream beneath me as the last of my self-control slipped away and I began to slam into him, his arms and legs gripping me tightly as my hand jerked him harder, squeezing him.

"Oh...oh...uhhhhhhhh....oh god!!!!" He cried out and seconds later I felt his warm essence cover my hand and my chest.

Then, with one final thrust, I was filling him with my own offering of pleasure and I heard him whimper as I cried out his name.

"God I love you," I whispered seconds later as I buried my face in his neck, nuzzling at him as our bodies slowly stopped moving.

"I love you too..." He replied, his lips ghosting over my forehead before seeking my own.

I began to return the kiss but was unceremoniously jolted back to reality as my hotel room door was thrown open and Ben announced his presence.

"Hey Dan are you suuu...oh holy fuck!" He exclaimed as both Darren and I whipped our heads to the side to face our intruder...only to find that Ben wasn't alone.

In our doorway stood our entire backing band, including the singers and a very wide-eyed Leonie.

Everyone stood in stunned silence in the doorway, jaws hanging open as both Darren and I frantically searched for a sheet, or anything to cover us and our still joined bodies.

It wasn't until Darren and I had finally covered ourselves and discreetly separated and even more discreetly wiped at our upper torsos with the sheet, that the band finally came alive with a whole chorus of sorry's, obscenities and a sea of red faces, then they were gone, leaving Darren and I in pretty much the same kind of stunned silence they'd shown.

"What just happened?" Darren asked after a very long five minutes.

"Umm...I think we just took the first step towards telling everyone about our relationship..." I replied after a small pause and at that Darren burst into a fit of giggles, burying his face in my chest as he did so.

I wrapped my arms tightly around him and within seconds my own laughter joined his, my mind reeling over what had just happened.

"Oh geezus...what a way to find out!" Darren stated then convulsed into giggles once more.

It was only when our stomachs started to hurt that we finally settled down and I held Darren tightly against my body as we both began to nod off.

The next morning I awoke early and, leaving Darren looking angelic in sleep, I pulled on some clothes and headed down to the lobby, wanting to get in a quick cigarette before I started seeing people.

But, as luck would have it, I wasn't the only one that had the idea of getting up early as I found Ben sitting down in one of the couches.

Quickly lighting my cigarette, hoping to calm my nerves slightly, I took a deep breath and moved to join him, seating myself next to him.

"Hey." I greeted him, unsure of how I should act around him.

"Hey." He returned, his eyes seeming to have a little trouble in meeting mine.

We sat in a silence, that verged on uncomfortable, until I was about halfway through my cigarette, then he spoke.

"So..." He began.

"Yeah...me and Darren."

"How...?"

"Ummm...Brisbane was when we both cracked, but the feelings began when I met him..."

"Are you...?"

"No...I don't think so. I mean, I still like women and Dazzy's the first man I've ever thought about..."

"Is it...?"

"Yeah...I think it is. I asked him to move in with me."

"Do you...?"

"With all my heart and I know he feels he same about me."

It was a disjointed conversation but the answers said everything and seconds later his arms were around me.

"Congratulations mate," he said and once I'd gotten over my initial shock, I returned the hug and when we pulled apart, he had this huge grin on his face.

"What's so funny?" I asked, giving him a look.

"Well I'm just thinking back to all those times I've seen you guys with these huge smiles on your faces...you cheeky little sods!" He told me and we both laughed then I looked down at my watch.

"Well, I guess we'd better go up and get our shit together so we can finally go home," I said and I stood up.

He quickly did the same and he threw his arm around my shoulder as we headed towards the lifts.

"Dan?"

"Yeah?"

"Those two Aussies on the radio..."

"Yes..."

"Holy fuck!"