Daniel simply nodded.

'Just a piece of fun to relieve the boredom of touring.'

'No,' Daniel hastened to correct him, 'it was much more than that. It was you and being with you that kept me going for as long as I did. You have no idea how many times I'd fall asleep at night and know that tomorrow was going to be ok, that no matter what happened I could face it all because I had you beside me. Knowing that when the day ended you'd be there for me, to comfort me, care for me.'

'Fuck you raw.' Darren said with a smile, reaching one hand out to caress Daniel's cheek.

Daniel took hold of his hand and gently kissed the palm. 'That too.'

Darren sighed and leant back against the head of the bed.

'What happened?'

Daniel shrugged, 'We grew up, turned into responsible adults. It was never going to last, you knew that. You've just said as much.'

'So it was just a mutually convenient arrangement?'

'If you like,' Daniel fingers moved to massage Darren's wrist, 'but I prefer the term 'a natural expression of deep friendship'.'

'I think I like that term too.' Hesitantly Darren placed a hand on Daniel's thigh and began to softly rub him through the cotton fabric of his cargos. 'Are we friends again tonight?'

'Yes.' Daniel whispered, leaning forward until he was only millimetres from Darren's face, so close that Darren could feel his smoky breath ghosting over his face.

Darren felt the familiar stirrings beginning. Whatever may have occurred between them over the last eighteen months, all the old feelings came rushing back, the desire, the want, the need and most of all how safe he felt when he was with Daniel. Daniel was right, it had been much more than just the fucking. When things had began to go sour between them it wasn't just a lover he lost but a friend as well. And that had hurt much more. It wasn't as if they had ever declared undying love for each other, they had both been involved with other people at the time and it wasn't something that had happened on a regular basis, just when things grew too much for one of them and they would turn to the other for comfort or sometimes it was purely for the sexual release.

'Darren?'

'Yeah?'

'Can I kiss you.' Despite their close proximity and the seemingly inevitability of the situation there was still a note of uncertainly in Daniel's voice.

'Yes.' Darren replied simply, longing for it with all his heart. He had only been with one other man besides Daniel and that was a mistake. He had gone looking for someone hoping to recreate some of the feelings he had felt when he was with Dan but he had felt nothing. The encounter hadn't even gone beyond a fairly tame make-out session before Darren changed his mind and made a hurried exit. It was then that he knew it wasn't the fact that Daniel was male that made him feel what he did. It was the fact that Daniel was Daniel.

Barely had Daniel brushed his lips against Darren's before there came a sharp rap on the door.

'Room service.' A cultured voice called out.

Groaning the two men parted, Daniel resting his forehead against Darren's. 'You'd better get that.' He said, moving off of Darren and disappearing down the gap between the bed and the wall.

Trying very hard not to laugh at the absurdity of what Daniel had just done, Darren opened the door and ushered the service steward in.

'Just leave it on the table.' He instructed, waiting whilst the steward did so and then taking the proffered chit to sign it and add the tip.

As he handed it back the steward said haughtily, 'May I remind sir that this is a non-smoking room and that if sir requires a smoking suite he should have requested one at the time the booking was made.'

Darren resisted the urge to punch the guy's condescending lights out and instead settled for making some lame excuse about how he had had the balcony doors open and the smoke from another room must have drifted in.

The steward sniffed, making it all too apparent that he didn't believe a word Darren was saying but knowing that he was not in any position to argue with a paying guest.

'If you say so sir.' He replied and then to Darren's immense relief departed.

'Whoa, that was close.' Darren exhaled in a rush, his back always put up by such arrogant behaviour.

The sound of barely muffled laughter started to come from Daniel's hiding place and Darren launched himself at the bed, taking a flying leap to land over on the far side. Sticking his head down into the gap he saw that Daniel was practically doubled up with a fit of the giggles.

'Oi you.' Darren prodded him in the ribs.

'May I remind sir...' Daniel mimicked, his face one big grin.

'Hey,' Darren prodded once more, leaning over a little further, 'it's all your fault anyway.'

'Oh sod him, sod them all.'

Darren now had the majority of his upper body leaning out over the gap and it was a simple matter for Daniel to grab hold of his arms and pull him down on top of him.

'Now where were we?' He mused, his hands caressing the back of Darren's head, 'Oh yeah I remember, right about...here.'

This time when their lips met Darren felt Daniel's gently part and his tongue slide out to tentatively beg for access.

Access that Darren willing granted, sighing into the kiss as he melted into Daniel's embrace, feeling the months and years slip away.

'Dan...' Darren mumbled, drawing back a little. Kissing Daniel had made him harden and he knew from the way that Daniel was grinding up against him that he was in a similar state.

Levering himself up he crawled to sit on the bed, Daniel following suit.

Darren could see the bewilderment in his eyes, bewilderment and arousal.

'Darren?' Daniel took his hands in his own.

'Dan, I...Maybe we shouldn't be doing this.' He said feebly.

'Tell me you don't want this Darren.' Daniel said, his eyes searching out Darren's own, penetrating him so deep that Darren thought he would drown, 'tell me and we'll stop.'

'Do you want it?' He asked evasively.

Drawing their enjoined hands down to his crotch, Daniel answered Darren's question and this time he didn't flinch from using his pet name. 'Doze I want this, I want you and yes, I do mean that in every sense of the word.'


~Chapter Eight~

Slowly Darren pushed Daniel back until he was laying on the bed and from there on in time stood still.

Forgotten was the pizza, the chips, the movie.

For Darren there was nothing except Daniel and the reaffirmation of their friendship.

Lazily they kissed, Darren restraining his passion in order to make the moment last. He knew that this was a one-off and wanted to remember everything about it. Every touch, every sigh, every moan.

Daniel's hands came to rest in Darren's hair, caressing him, twisting the curls around his fingers, drawing him deeper into the kiss.

Darren's head swooned with the taste of Daniel, the dance of their tongues, the delicate way Daniel caught his bottom lip and sucked on it, sweet, sweet, intoxicating kisses.

Drawing back Daniel looked at him, a smile on his face, his right index finger coming to trace along Darren's now swollen lips, across his cheeks, his jawbone, Darren's five o'clock shadow rasping ever so lightly under his touch.

'You know I'd forgotten how good this was.' Daniel whispered.

'You'd forgotten me?' Darren asked, his voice wavering slightly.

'No dummy,' Daniel shook his head fractionally, 'I'd forgotten just how good it was with another man. How raw it is, how intense, how male. There's a difference you know.'

'I know.' Darren replied cradling Daniel's face, their lips still only millimetres apart. 'So there hasn't been...'

'Anyone else?' Daniel let his thumb slide into Darren's mouth, 'No, you were the only guy, are still the only guy I have ever had the desire to be with.'

'Me too.' Darren admitted. 'You know the fans are still asking. If only they knew the truth eh? That I really am not into guys in the slightest, that it was always only you, that there was something special about you. Something...'

'Different?'

'Yeah.'

'I know Doze, I know.'

Their lips met again, hands began to wander, each eager to renew their acquaintance with what was once very familiar territory.

Darren slid his hands up under Daniel's tee shirt, let them glide over his smooth chest feeling the muscles of Daniel's torso ripple under his fingers, felt the racing of his heart, recognised the sensation because it matched his own.

'Off.' Daniel growled, breaking their kiss and pulling Darren's shirt up to his armpits.

Darren sat back on his heels and did as he was bid, feeling Daniel's eyes burn into his chest as he let them hungrily roam and drink in the full effects of Darren's hours in the gym.

'Nice,' he commented, one hand coming out to trace a path from Darren's collarbone down, 'very nice, suits you.'

Darren blushed and then giggled.

'So come on then, let's see what shape you're in nowadays.' Though Darren's exploration with his fingers had told him that Daniel was in as good a shape as ever. They both knew that it was merely an excuse to get Dan's shirt off and of course he was only too happy to oblige.

'Still sensitive?' Daniel asked with a quirk of an eyebrow, his eyes flicking down once more to Darren's chest.

'Maybe.' Darren replied with a smirk. Oh yes, yes please, his body sang, his trousers had long since got to the painful point but he ignored it. He knew the release would be worth the wait.

This time it was Darren who ended up on his back, Daniel tongue instantly seeking out an answer to his question and receiving a deep moan for his efforts.

Daniel chuckled against Darren's bare skin and moved to repeat his experiment on Darren's other nipple with a similar response.

Darren gave himself wholly over to Daniel. It had been a long time since anyone had made him feel this good. Since the end of the tour he had had one only one brief relationship, three weeks to be exact and it wasn't that he didn't care deeply for the girl it was just, if he was brutally honest, that he didn't want to be with anyone like that at the moment. Yes he needed to be loved and to have people around him who loved him but he was also enjoying just being by himself for a while. It had come hard but he wanted to take time to find the real Darren Hayes again, find out who he really was, not some puppet of the record company, not some sex symbol for people to fantasize over, find out who he was deep down and he knew that that quest was not complete yet.

Daniel's tongue began to travel further, to lick across his abdomen, to dip into his navel, to pause at the waistband of his jeans.

Darren raised his head and met Daniel's eyes, deep, dark eyes, the green all but consumed by the darkness. Eyes full of trust, of love and of longing.

Daniel rubbed his chin over Darren's clothed arousal as he continued to gaze intently into his eyes.

'Mmmm Darren, I want you so badly.' He murmured, his voice thick with his need.

'And I you.' Darren replied, his hands reaching for Daniel and stroking over his shoulders. 'Awwwl shit!' He let his head fall back onto the soft bed, staring up at the ceiling in frustration as reality dawned. 'I haven't any...have you?'

'No,' Daniel said sadly, 'to be honest this was never in my game plan. I thought I would be lucky to get as far as talking to you without you slamming the door in my face.'

'We're fucked.' Darren groaned as Daniel crawled up to lay beside him.

'Or rather we're not.' Daniel said grimly.

Darren groaned once more. 'Why me?' He asked no one in particular.

'Leonie?'

'Highly unlikely, besides I don't have a key to her room.'

'Ring room service.'

'Not bloody likely, not unless you want this to be all over the tabloids tomorrow morning.'

'Not really.'

Darren lay there, desperately trying to ignore the clamouring inner voice that told him just to risk it, Daniel's fingers beating out an unconscious rhythm on the bedclothes beside him.

'This is stupid,' he said, 'we are stuck in Sydney in the middle of Mardi Gras and we must be the only two people about to not have sex.'

Daniel rolled over and reached for his cigarettes, lighting one up and inhaling deeply.

'Come on, come on think.' Darren demanded both of himself and a furiously smoking Daniel.

'Does the hotel have a bar?' Daniel said slowly.

'Great, so as usual when the going gets tough all you can think about is having a drink.'

Daniel just fixed him with a long, hard stare. 'Darren,' he explained as if to a young child, 'bars have toilets and toilets have...'

'Condom machines!' Darren proclaimed joyfully. Yes! Why didn't he think of that?

Scrambling off the bed he grabbed a handful of loose change from the nightstand, 'I'll be right back...yowie, shit...' He hobbled across the floor, 'Just as soon as I've changed into some less restrictive trousers.'

'You might want to add a shirt to that equation as well.' Daniel laughed in amusement.

'Right, yeah, ok I'll be right back,' Darren opened the door whilst still pulling his tee shirt back on,' don't move, don't go anywhere...actually,' he forced his head through the top of his shirt, 'go back out on the balcony, you're stinking the entire fucking room out.'

He exited the room then paused and opening the door again threw back in, 'but apart from that don't go anywhere.'

Then he sprinted as fast as he could down the corridor towards the lifts, frantically trying to pull down his top to cover his still very obvious erection.


~Chapter Nine~

Walk, calm, Darren told himself as he strode into the bar, you are simply going in to use the bathroom, no one must know, no one must see what you are about to do, no one must suspect.

Fortunately most people seemed to have chosen to forsake the rather tame surroundings of the hotel watering hole for the wilder entertainment on offer in the rest of the city that night.

The place was practically deserted and with a sigh Darren pushed open the door to the men's room and looked around for his prey.

Aha, over by the sinks.

Digging two two dollar coins out of his pocket he slotted them into the machine and pulled the tray. Nothing happened.

He tried again this time with a bit more force. Still nothing. His palms began to sweat and he glanced anxiously towards the door.

No, this could not be happening. Giving the tray one more tug again to no avail he thumped the machine loudly and rested his head against it.

Was this someone's way of telling him that what he was about to do was wrong or just their idea of a sick joke?

I bet women never have this problem with tampon machines, he thought.

He looked up, an idea forming. It was the age of equality so maybe...but could he? Dare he? What if he got caught?

Deciding that the benefits definitely outweighed the risks he opened the door and heaved a huge sigh of relief. The women's toilet was just next door.

Another quick look around. Nope the few people there were were all down the other end of the bar.

Taking a deep breath he quickly slipped inside.

Now where was it?

There, tucked away in a corner.

He ran over to the machine and fumbled around for some more change. Fuck! He only had one dollar and some smaller stuff left. With shaking hands he fed the coins into the slot, dropping a load and having to retrieve them, slowing him up still further.

With a grateful heart he pulled the tray just praying that this one would work.

It did.

Into his hand plopped a small box containing three condoms.

Houston, we have situation normal again.

Hurriedly he stuffed the box into his pocket.

Now all he had to do was make it out of there unseen.

His hand was on the door handle when it turned of its own accord.

Shit!

Panic set in but Darren decided that all he could do was brazen it out. He could hardly run and hide, he could be in here all night.

The door opened and an attractive brunette entered. She looked only mildly surprised to see Darren there, doing, he was sure, his best deer-in-the-headlights impression.

'I'm sorry, I appear to have got the wrong one.' He stammered, acutely aware of the colour that rose to his cheeks.

'Oh that's ok honey,' A somewhat amused voice replied, 'I used to do it all the time pre-op.' She dropped her voice even though they were the only ones in there, 'You're never quite sure who will give you the funnier looks are you, the guys or the girls.'

Darren's jaw dropped.

'Er, no, ermm, yeah.' And he fled.

That's it, those damn curls were going tomorrow without fail.

Briskly he made his way back through the bar area and then bolted for the lifts.

Once in he slid to the floor in exhaustion and clutching his sides let out the laughter that he found himself unable to contain any longer.


~Chapter Ten~

Still not quite able to believe what had just happened Darren knocked rapidly on his door.

'It's me,' he hissed, 'open up.'

As soon as Daniel opened the door Darren shut it behind them, turning the key just to be on the safe side.

'So did you get them?' Daniel demanded impatiently, the look on his face causing Darren to crack up again.

'Ta da!' Darren jubilantly produced the goods from his pockets and waved them about in front of Daniel.

'Thank fuck for that.' He replied flopping down on the bed then looked up at the still smirking Darren, 'Hey what's got into you?'

Darren shook his head, 'Tell you later...but for now.' He walked over, deliberately sashaying his hips as he did so. Daniel reached for him and drew him onto his lap.

'Did I ever tell you...' Darren said as he wrapped his legs around Daniel's waist, 'That fucking is fun?'

'No shit Sherlock.' Daniel laughed as his hands crept up under Darren's shirt once more. 'It took you fourteen years to figure that one out?'

'And you know what else?' Darren retorted his fingers slipping down between them to toy with the waistband of Daniel's trousers. 'Fucking you is even more fun.'

'Very pleased to hear it. Now how about we stop talking about it and get on and do it.'

'I take it all back,' Darren pouted playfully, 'you haven't changed in the slightest.' Pushing Daniel to lay flat, Darren slid off of his lap making sure to bring Daniel's trousers, underwear and socks with him, Daniel considerately raising his hips to speed the task.

Picking up the precious box from the bed Darren ripped it open and tipped out a single foil wrapped pack. Tearing the protective covering off he took out the condom and advanced once more towards Daniel.

Daniel's hands gripped himself and worked his erection back up to full hardness. Sinking to his knees and swatting his hands away Darren finished the job.

'Darren...please.' Daniel whispered.

Not wanting to waste any further time, Darren rolled the condom on snuggly and then stood back up to discard his clothing, nearly falling flat on his face as he struggled to get his sweatpants off.

His heart beating nineteen to the dozen, his mind still unable to comprehend that despite the fact that Daniel was laying there his chest heaving, waiting for him, that this was really happening, that this was really going to happen.

Pausing he glanced around the room, thinking, hmm...

'What?' Daniel asked.

Some improvisation was called for. Darting into the bathroom he grabbed his washbag and up-ended the contents out onto the floor, surveying the options.

Baby oil, nope.

Hair gel, ick no, far too sticky.

Facial moisturer, definitely not. He wasn't going to let Daniel 'waste' his expensive face cream again.

'Fuck it.' He cursed.

'What?' Daniel called out again.

'They're all oil-based.' Darren blatantly lied.

'Come here you doughnut.'

Obediently Darren wandered back into the bedroom, climbing onto the bed and kneeling between Daniel's spread legs.

'What?' It was his turn to ask.

In reply Daniel grabbed his head and shoved it downwards.

'Mmmm, I like your thinking.' Darren said appreciatively as his nose made contact with Daniel's pubic hair, the scent of arousal filling his senses and making his head reel. Raising his head slightly he lowered his lips around Daniel's sheathed erection, drawing it in and out of his mouth depositing as much moisture there as he could manage, his hands holding on firmly to Daniel's muscled thighs.

Daniel sighed and Darren felt him twitch under him, his body jumping, reacting.

'Enough.' Hands roughly brought his head back up. 'Much more of that and you'll be waiting another forty minutes.'

'Your turn.' Darren said huskily, the desire-laden atmosphere practically robbing him of the power of speech. He wasn't sure how much more of this impromptu foreplay he could take. Every nerve in his body was alive, tingling, sending bolts of electricity through him.

Darren moved off of Daniel expecting him to get up and rearrange himself but Daniel merely took hold of Darren's legs and pulled them towards him.

'On your knees boy.' He commanded and a light dawned in Darren's mind. Grinning broadly he swung a leg over so that he was kneeling on either side of Daniel's chest, Daniel's hands snaking 'round his waist to hold him steady.

Moments later a hot, wet tongue started licking around the only area on his body more sensitive than his nipples.

Daniel was right, much more of this and it would be a while before they were able to go round two.

Automatically his hands gravitated towards his arousal, languidly stroking it, feeling it begin to seep its precious liquid onto his fingers.

This certainly wasn't how he expected to be spending his evening, it was more than he could ever have hoped for in his wildest dreams. He would have been happy just to be back on talking terms with Daniel but this went far, far beyond that. They hadn't been this intimate since Mexico and even then it was plain old-fashioned fucking, hard and fast, not making love and this Darren concluded through the fog that surrounded his higher functions, was most definitely making love.

'Oh yeah,' Darren sighed, 'so good, feels so good.'

One hand left his hip and two fingers were presented to him, Darren eagerly sucking on them, tasting all the different flavours, sweat, cigarettes, himself, Daniel, working his cheeks to produce maximum saliva before they were withdrawn, a tiny glistening trail alighting on his chin as Daniel did so.

'Oh yes.' Darren moaned as the fingers were relocated, instinctively pushing back and down as Daniel scissored them gently within him.

This was what he had missed, had craved for on all those long, lonely nights. Somehow do it yourself wasn't quite the same and besides it made wanking off at the same time nigh on impossible.

'Now.' He breathed, his breath coming in short little pants, his lungs working fit to burst, Daniel's a matching echo. 'Now Danny, take me now.'


~Chapter Eleven~

Climbing off of Daniel Darren quickly positioned himself face down, his hands tucked up under the pillow, his head turned to the side.

'No,' Daniel said softly, his hands stroking the length of Darren's back, 'turn over. I want to be able to see you.'

Darren was only too happy to comply, rolling over and gazing deeply into Daniel's eyes.

'Ready?' He said, his eyes never once leaving Darren's.

In reply Darren merely smiled and pulled Daniel close.

Slowly, carefully, Daniel began to push himself inside.

Darren couldn't help the small groan of discomfort that involuntarily fell from his lips. It had been a while.

'Ssh...' Daniel soothed him, his hands caressing Darren's thighs as he paused, waited. Waiting while Darren took several very deep breaths, willing his body to relax, to allow Daniel entry.

'Just do it.' He breathed.

'The last thing I want is to hurt you.'

This statement struck Darren as strangely odd on two accounts, firstly because they were so close, Daniel had the tip of his cock inside him and also because there had been numerous occasions when they had both been guilty of taking the other without such tender considerations.

But the sincerity on Daniel's face told Darren that this was another example of how willing Daniel was to try and heal the breech between them and all Darren could do was reiterate his earlier instruction and take an exceedingly long in-breath. Exhaling as he felt Daniel move again.

He winced only momentarily as Daniel slipped past his inner ring and moments later was fully sheathed within his body.

Daniel's hands moved to ghost over Darren's shoulders, Darren pulling him down for a deep kiss as they obtained the feeling of oneness that had eluded them for so long.

Again slowly, taking his time, Daniel began to draw in and out, teasing Darren in the way he liked, Darren secretly delighted that Daniel would do in it in this manner. A manner reminiscent of better times, when they would come together because they could find no other way to express all the myriad of emotions that they felt for each other, when as Daniel had so eloquently put it, it had been the next natural expression of their special bond.

Not as it had later degenerated into. A quick fuck out of need, out of anger, out of pure necessity, because heaven knows they couldn't create a scandal by fucking one of their only too eager fans, oh no, so that had left only each other. After all it was hardly a proposition either one of them were willing to put to one of their entourage. Darren fleetingly wondered what the expressions on any of their faces, female or male would have been like had they suggested it. But then again, what was Lee's role in all this now? He had seen Daniel being particularly friendly towards him in a very un-Daniel-like way.

Any thoughts of their former bassist were pushed firmly to the back of his mind as Daniel rose up and then thrust down onto him again.

Involuntarily Darren's eyes flickered shut, it felt so good.

'Open your eyes Dozer,' Daniel said softly, his hands caressing Darren's cheek, 'open them for me. Don't deny me the sight of something so beautiful.'

At Daniel's tender words Darren felt tears once more prick at his eyelids. He knew he had always been the emotional one but tonight...tonight it was as if by his gentle words Daniel had managed to tap into the deep need within Darren, to release all that he had been carrying through the long weeks and months of solo promotion. Darren felt his energy slowly seeping away from him to be replaced by a knowledge of genuine love and concern. No matter what had passed between them Darren knew that it was now repairable, maybe not overnight but one day things would be back to the way they were.

'Daniel...' Darren uttered lowly.

'Mmmm, you feel so good.' Daniel's eyes were dark and alive, their depths speaking volumes to Darren without him needing to say another word.

And from that point on words became superfluous for both of them.

They knew instinctively what the other was feeling because they were feeling it too.

Darren thought the stars truly had left their orbit as Daniel repeatedly found that place deep within him that caused the mortal world to dissolve and allowed Darren to fly with the angels.

Their hands met on Darren's aching, begging cock, moving over it ever faster as the point of no return was reached and release was their only goal.

All too soon it was over. Daniel coming with a deep groan, Darren following moments later with a series of small cries. Daniel's name falling from his lips in praise, in entreaty and love.

Hands went to backs and shoulders, anywhere they could touch, neither wanting to relinquish their intimacy just yet.

Darren licked across Daniel's shoulder, tasting the salt of his sweat on his tongue, intermingled with the unmistakable taste of sex.

Daniel nuzzled against Darren's throat, suckling on the skin there.

Entwining Daniel's hair in his fingers Darren pulled him up for one final kiss, pouring all his gratitude and hope for the future into the lazy tangling of their tongues.

Sighing Daniel drew back and made to withdraw.

'Please just a little longer?' Darren pleaded and was rewarded by a dazzling, if a little dopey smile.

Daniel replaced his head on Darren's chest, blowing softly on the silken hairs there.

Darren tightened his arms around Daniel and burying his face in his hair contentedly let nothing fill his mind. There were no interviews to give, no performances to get psyched up for, no pressure, no stress, no anxiety. There was only here and now and Daniel.

Darren realized that he must of drifted off at some point as his next conscious thought was the faint smell of cigarette smoke snaking its way up his nostrils.

That coupled with the slight breeze that was caressing his face led him open his eyes and peer out into the room.

Sure enough the balcony doors had been re-opened and the shadowed silhouette of Daniel could be seen standing there, his back to the room, a half-smoked cigarette in his hand.

Getting up Darren pulled the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around his shoulders, Daniel seeing fit to help himself to Darren's robe, the silky material that usually reached to Darren's calves blowing gently around Daniel's knees as he stood there quietly contemplating the night skyline.

'Hey you.' Darren said going over and embracing him from behind, his head once more coming to rest on Daniel's back, the rhythmic movements of his chest as he inhaled the lung-polluting smoke, a constant source of comfort to him. How many times had they stood here like this? Glowing in the aftermath of their lovemaking, just enjoying the intimacy of each other's company before rejoining the merry-go-round that had been their lives back then?

'You're awake then?' Daniel stated the obvious, flicking away the rest of his cigarette and drawing Darren 'round into the circle of his arms.

'Yep.' He replied unnecessarily, settling back, his head fitting snuggly into the crook of Daniel's neck, his hands coming to rest atop the ones around him.

Sounds of the various parties that were going on filtered across to them, heavy bass music, high-pitched squeals from revelers walking along the road below.

'Looks like the party's still in full swing,' Daniel commented, 'want to get dressed and go join them?'

'No,' Darren shook his head a little and felt Daniel place a gentle kiss in his hair.

'You sure?'

'Yeah.' Darren replied curling his fingers under Daniel's and squeezing tightly, 'Quite sure.'

And at that moment in time, high up on a hotel balcony, secure in Daniel's embrace, Darren could think of nowhere else he would rather be.