Page 2 of Second Chance

“Mm.” Tony buries his face into Daniel’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around his middle. “Why are you like this?”

“Awake?” Daniel twists in Tony’s grip until he’s leaning against the counter, arms around Tony’s shoulders.

His skin is still sleep-warm, and he hasn’t shaved yet. It rasps a little when Tony kisses him, which is kind of thrilling.

“Hi,” Daniel says when they pull apart.

It’s one of those things he does that should be insufferably reminiscent of one of the Netflix Hallmark knockoffs Gianna mainlines in December. But because it’s Daniel, because his eyes crinkle in the corners when he says it, because his thumb is stroking gently down the side of Tony’s neck, it’s adorable.

“Hi.” Tony says, Daniel’s lips soft against his.

The water boils; the switch on the electric kettle flips.

Tony keeps right on kissing Daniel, forcing him to ignore it.

“You in a hurry?” Tony asks when they pull apart.

“I’m doing extra office hours at nine thirty. Lily Peterson—”

“Great.” Tony pulls Daniel toward the bathroom by the hips. It’s only seven thirty. plenty of time.

“Hey!” Daniel sounds indignant, but he’s laughing.

Tony walks backward as he kisses Daniel some more. They have to sidestep the low, wobbly bookshelf in the hallway between the kitchen and the bathroom. Tony’s spent enough time here that he can do it blind, and Daniel seems happy to let him.

The bathroom ceiling slants under the roof of the building, barely leaving space for the cupboard Daniel keeps his five Target-bought towels in. It has a window, which Daniel tells Tony is prime real estate in terms of apartment hunting. Tony wouldn’t know as he’s never gotten quite that far.

They step out of their boxers, leaving them on the floor. Tony pulls his hair out of its ponytail and leaves the hair tie next to the sink as he climbs into the tub.

Two groups of fish in different shades of blue cover the shower curtain, swimming in different directions. It’s one of the few things in the apartment Tony’s sure Daniel picked solely because he liked it, along with the couch taking up half the living room and the table with a stand in the shape of bird’s leg. A lot of the other stuff in the apartment is functional and plain, such as the bookshelves groaning under the weight of Daniel’s collection. The shower curtain is functional and fun.

With two grown men trying to crowd into the shower, it’s also a pain in the neck. In the small tub, the curtain always sticks to someone’s legs.

Daniel grimaces as he disentangles himself from the cold, clinging material. “This is not how I pictured this.”

“Bet I can make it worth your while anyway,” Tony offers.

“I know you can.”

The showerhead sprays to life above them, and Tony leans against the cold tiles, pulling Daniel against him. He shivers at the sharp contrast of the tiles at his back and Daniel’s warm body against his front. With one hand cradling the base of Daniel’s head, Tony angles his head to kiss Daniel deep and slow.

Under Tony’s fingers, Daniel’s light brown hair goes dark and sleek, plastered to his head. The air around them becomes humid. Daniel lets his mouth slide past Tony’s to his jaw and then his neck.

Tony’s skin breaks out in goosebumps. “Not fair,” he breathes. “I was seducingyou.”

Daniel hums against his skin. “Seduce me more later.” His mouth is as hot as the water sluicing around them.

Between their bodies, Tony’s cock twitches. He woke up kind of horny anyway, and Daniel’s mouth on his neck, Daniel’s body against his—Danielis enough to get him there. Tony juts his hips up, rubbing himself on Daniel’s thigh.

Daniel’s hand wanders down, stroking across Tony’s sensitive side. He wraps Tony’s cock in a firm grip and strokes him slowly, root to tip.

Tony lets himself relax, lets the wall hold him up. “Feels good.” His voice comes out low with the water pounding around them.

Daniel hears anyway. “Yeah?”

Tony cups a hand loosely over Daniel’s ass. “Yeah. You always feel good, baby.”

He can feel the curve of Daniel’s lips as he smiles against Tony’s neck.

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