Page 54 of Drink Up, Darling
Athens’ chest rose and fell as his face dropped. “You really do?”
Dariel nodded frantically. “I don’t enjoy lying.”
“Then worship me, I welcome you, Dariel. Show me your devotion.”
Dariel found his place again, tongue burying as deep as it could inside Athens.
“I could get used to seeing you like this.” Athens managed to say after a minute or so, tilting his hips as far forward as possible without falling.
‘Come for me.’
‘Harder.’
Dariel obeyed, sensing Athens’ reaction as he did as he was told. He buried his fingers into the fat of Athens’ thighs, enough to bruise, then Athens’ legs faltered.
“I don’t think I can...” Athens cried out, finally lowering himself to the base of the tub. Dariel used all his remaining strength to hold Athens up as they slipped into a sit in front of each other, a tangle of limbs. It wasn’t a large bath, but they made it work.
“I didn’t get to finish you,” Dariel said, sliding his bent legs to Athens’ side, the cold hitting him as he was pushed out of the waterfall.
“I am quite a challenge.” Athens smirked, breathing heavily, arms grasped to either side of the tub, his bone straight hair glued down to his skin, almost trailing to the bottom of the bath between his bent legs. “Come here.” He leaned forward, cloth in hand.
How can he move on like that?
Athens raised his hand to Dariel’s eyes and began to wipe away the mascara and stains of the night. Dariel let him, baring his face.
Athens’ touch was gentle, as it always had been, and he worked on Dariel’s face before he finished off on his own, stopping with the cloth pressed over the centre of Dariel’s chest. They stared at each other in silence, eyes exploring faces as if for the first time. Their skin had been wiped clean—their final barriers dismantled.
“You’re stunning. You…” Dariel’s breath caught, words failing him.
Athens smiled, tilting his head slightly. “You mean that?”
His words shot Dariel straight through the heart. “I told you, I don’t enjoy lying, so why would I?”
“I’ve admired you since I first learned you existed. For years I’ve wished to meet you. Now I have, and you’re too good to be true. How could I have been so lucky to have been brought to you?” Athens reached out a long arm to cup Dariel’s cheek—Dariel melting into the touch, elbows on his knees and hands clasped in front of him.
“Godwin. He’s the reason for everything,” Dariel said, eyes closed for a moment.
“He brought us together. It’s as though he knew we needed each other. The three of us. Right here and now. How could he be so wise?” Athens rubbed a thumb across Dariel’s cheek. He was freezing now, but as if on cue, Athens pursed his lips then stood back up to turn the shower off. He held out a hand to help Dariel up. “Let’s dry you off.”
The taller man helped Dariel step out of the shower, and immediately wrapped him in the largest towel, ruffling his hair and waiting for Dariel to clutch the material around him so he could reach for his own.
“Thanks,” Dariel beamed, shivering into the new warmth. The towel was soft against his skin as he patted his feet on the bathmat to warm up even more.
Athens didn’t speak as he dried himself off, but his bright eyes said enough. He was glad for Dariel’s company. Happy to be with him.
Dariel shook the damp out of his hair, drying his own body off and noting his own blurry outline in the condensation against the large mirror.You’re truly happy, John. I can sense it.
“You look cosy,” Athens eventually said, reaching out his tattooed arm to pinch Dariel’s shoulder over the towel. Dariel watched the movement happen in the mirror, sharply turning at the sensation.
“That I am,” he said calmly.
Athens closed the space, tying his own towel around his waist. “I think…” he started, gripping both Dariel’s shoulders.
What?Dariel stared up, waiting for the end of the sentence.
Athens kissed him. Delicately, gently, with so much heart, and Dariel simply melted into the depths of oblivion.
‘Bedroom?’
