Sean never slept through until his alarm, yet he always set it. The faint grey
light of dawn signalled the first stirrings of consciousness, but Sean knew 
instantly that something was very different this morning … there was someone in
the bed with him, close to him. He could hear breaths that weren’t his own and 
the weighting of the mattress was different. Sean had always avoided this 
moment; it was too intimate to wake up next to someone … left him too open. 

Sean hadn’t actually thought this far ahead, waking up beside Viggo.

He closed his eyes and listened to the steady breathing behind him, although
there was no touch, he knew Viggo was close. Suddenly knowing wasn’t quite 
enough, he wanted to turn over and see Viggo asleep in his bed only inches away
from him. Shit, why did I have to think of that? Sean cursed silently as he felt
the heat from Viggo’s body create its own heat in his body. He tried to lay 
still; ignore his growing erection … Oh God, he wanted to just quietly and 
slowly slide his hand from under his pillow and down along his body to touch 
himself. He started to move, not sure whether he was going to let his fingers 
travel or simply rearrange himself to release some of the tension that had 
rapidly built in his body. 

Viggo groaned slightly in his sleep which immediately halted Sean’s movement, he
exhaled a slightly shaky sigh, Fucking Hell, the man trusts you … stop reacting
like a fucking teenager. Sean was sobered by this thought and he began to wonder
just what it meant that Viggo trusted him … he had to admit that the thought 
both warmed and terrified him. 

He had no idea what this thing with Viggo was or where it was going … the only 
thing he did know for sure was that he didn’t want Viggo to go back to the 
streets, but he was running out of reasons for him to stay. Sean understood 
that, despite his circumstances, Viggo was a proud man and was uncomfortable 
accepting charity… perhaps I could clear out all the shop junk from Orlando’s 
old bedroom and offer him that … maybe he would help out in the shop so it 
wouldn’t be seen as charity? His thoughts were instantly cut short when Viggo 
moved in closer to Sean, the rise and fall of his chest felt hot against Sean’s
back and he could feel Viggo’s breath against his neck. An involuntary moan 
escaped Sean’s lips, he quickly stifled it when he heard the rhythm of Viggo’s 
breathing change … shit, I woke him up.

Sean cleared his throat and said quietly, “Morning, you okay?”

As soon as he uttered the words, Viggo pulled away from him and whispered, 
“Sorry Sean.”

Sean regretted speaking as soon as Viggo broke contact, but he knew he couldn’t
lie there like a horny teenager until the alarm went off. He carefully turned 
over and settled back against his pillow. He found it very disconcerting looking
directly into Viggo’s eyes so focussed his gaze on the yellowing bruise instead,
“Your bruise is already starting to fade.” 

Viggo lifted his hand briefly to his face and mumbled, “It doesn’t take long.” 

“It shouldn’t happen at all,” Sean said more to himself than Viggo. He carefully
touched the discoloured skin before realising his actions and saying in a louder
voice, “Time to get up I guess.”

Sean quickly turned away from Viggo, flicked the alarm off before it had a 
chance to ring and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, “Take your time 
getting up. I have to go to the shop early to do some paper work”

~~*~~

Sean arrived back at ‘Margins’ after telling Orlando he was taking a break 
carrying a large white shopping bag; the kind made of extra-reinforced paper 
with raffia handles. Orlando didn’t say a word, but eyed the bag curiously. Sean
noticed the look and quickly growled, “Mind your own business.”

Orlando just raised his eyebrows in an attempt at total innocence and followed 
Sean into the kitchen. “You are such a ‘clothes horse’ Sean … you know you want
to show me.” Orlando grinned as he headed for the bag.

Sean quickly pulled the bag away from Orlando and blushed as he said, “Look 
Orlando, they aren’t for me … just leave it, okay?”

Orlando’s smile softened, “I figured that Sean, I know they must be for Viggo,
but I wanted to see if you would tell me.”

Sean shot Orlando a filthy look and said in an exasperated voice, “Fucking Hell
Orlando! Give me a break will you?” He took a deep breath, calmed himself and 
continued, “I’m struggling here Orlando, okay? “

Orlando glanced over his shoulder to check the shop and moved away from the door
to where Sean was now sitting at the table. He pulled his chair around the table
and sat next to Sean where he could ask quietly. “What’s up Sean? What’s wrong?”

Sean gave a mirthless laugh and shook his head, “That’s the problem mate, 
nothing is actually wrong … I’m just in new territory here and it scares me 
shitless.”

Orlando tried very hard not to smile, but couldn’t help himself, “You’ve never 
really been in love have you Sean?”

Sean’s stomach did an inelegant flip and he suddenly felt light headed, but he 
pushed that all aside and said, “Leave it out Orlando, I am not in love … he 
just … I am just worried about him that’s all.”

Orlando stood up, stroked his hand down Sean’s hair and said with a gentle 
smile, “Yeah I know Sean,” before walking back into the shop.

~~*~~

Sean was in the process of juggling his shopping and the packages of take-out 
food to reach for the doorknob when Viggo opened the door. “Thanks,” Sean 
managed to say before bundling a carton of steaming noodles into Viggo’s hand, 
“Here grab this … you know the woman at the Noodle place and I are on first name
basis now.”

Viggo grinned, carried the food over to the table and helped Sean with the other
cartons. Sean looked at the mass of white card containers and chuckled, “I think
I over catered a bit.”

Viggo shrugged and said, “Maybe you catered with Orlando in mind?”

“Fuck,” Sean laughed, “It always amazes me how much he can eat and stay so 
skinny. Come on, sit down and we’ll see if we can make a dent in this.”

After three cartons of noodles they finally had to admit defeat and sat back in
their chairs, although Sean did notice that this was the most he had ever seen 
Viggo eat. Viggo looked at the remnants of their dinner and started to stack the
containers, but Sean shook his head, “Leave that, I’ll do it later.” 

Sean signalled for Viggo to go sit on the couch and said, “Grab a seat, I’ll put
the kettle on.”

Viggo sat quietly waiting for Sean. His eyes dropped to the sketchbook on the 
table, he picked it up carefully and held it close. “That must be important,” 
Sean said quietly as he sat down beside him. Viggo just nodded. Sean desperately
wanted to ask him about the contents, but didn’t want to admit he had already 
looked through it … so he waited. Viggo looked at the torn cover of the book, 
took a breath, opened the book and said very quietly, “These people are 
important to me.” He hesitated briefly before he passed the book into Sean’s 
hands.

Sean looked down at the rendered teenager and asked, “Is this your son?” Viggo
didn’t raise his eyes from the image as he nodded.

“What’s his name?” Sean asked watching Viggo carefully.

Viggo clenched his jaw for a moment while he decided whether or not to answer 
and then said quietly, “Henry.”

“Henry,” Sean repeated the name gently hoping to reassure Viggo that this was 
okay, “How old is he Vig?”

Viggo sighed and said with a shake of his head and a tone of incredulity, “He’ll
be sixteen soon.” 

“Do you still get to see him?”

Viggo’s expression closed again so Sean was surprised when he answered, 
“Sometimes… sometimes when I have enough for the bus I go to his school… I never
let him see me, but if I am there at the right time I see him arrive and meet up
with his friends ... he has a lot of friends.”

Shit, Sean couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have a child and not be 
able to see him when he wanted. Sean turned the pages in silence until he came 
to his own image then, slightly embarrassed, he closed the book and handed it 
back to Viggo. “These are beautiful Viggo, I can understand why you wouldn’t let
them go … look … um, I know you lost all your stuff so I hope you won’t be 
offended, but I … um … got you a few things.”

He reached down the side of the couch for the bag and handed it to Viggo. Sean 
tried to make the unpacking seem as casual as possible, but his heart was 
hammering so hard he was sure Viggo could hear it.

Viggo took each parcel out with very deliberate care and lay them on the coffee
table: a pair of jeans, two t-shirts, two pairs of socks and underwear. Viggo 
couldn’t say anything, he looked at the underwear and didn’t trust his voice to
say thank you. From where he was sitting Sean couldn’t read Viggo’s expression 
and began to worry that he had done the wrong thing, “Are they okay Vig?”

Viggo nodded, but dropped his head into his hand and kept his eyes covered until
he was sure he had himself under control enough to answer. His voice was small
and strained as he said, “I’m sorry Sean, it’s just … shit … I’m such a fucking
mess.” He turned away quickly not wanting Sean to see the effect Sean’s kindness
was having on him.

Sean hesitated, wanting to comfort him in some way, but stood up awkwardly 
instead and went to pick up the now empty bag. Before he crushed it to put it in
the trash Viggo turned and asked very quietly, “Can I have the bag too?”

Sean frowned at the question but said, “Um, of course you can.”

Viggo took the bag mumbling, “I don’t have my pack … I need it to carry my 
stuff.”

Sean felt like a sledgehammer just hit him full force in the chest … Viggo was 
going to leave. It hurt like hell, but Sean couldn’t stop him. He nodded and 
said in a carefully controlled voice, “Sure Viggo. Come on, get a decent night’s
sleep,” before he turned and walked to the bedroom.

Viggo changed quietly and climbed into the bed, his back to Sean. The silence in
the room was oppressive; Sean had things he wanted to say … things he wanted to
ask, but the barrier of Viggo’s back stopped him. It was obvious that he had 
done something wrong to make Viggo want to leave and the thought of him back on
the streets made Sean’s stomach lurch and his scalp tingle with anxiety. He 
turned on to his side and looked at the back of Viggo’s head; he couldn’t just 
let him go without even trying. 

Sean slowly let his fingertips slide over Viggo’s hair, he felt the initial 
flinch and then Viggo seemed to relax back into Sean’s touch.

“You don’t have to go Vig,” Sean whispered, “I can understand that you don’t 
want to share my bed, but I can clear the spare room … it’s just being used as 
extra storage for the shop… please stay …”

Viggo carefully turned over to face Sean, his words barely audible, “I want to 
share your bed Sean.”

Both men lay in silence, it seemed that neither knew how to proceed. Then Sean’s
hand gently cupped the side of Viggo’s face and he leaned forward until his lips
brushed Viggo’s … waiting for him to pull away. Instead Viggo’s lips moved 
softly against his allowing Sean to slide his tongue between Viggo’s now parted
lips and deepen the kiss. The blood was rushing through Sean’s ears as he 
shuffled his body closer. 

He slid his hand slowly under the hem of Viggo’s t-shirt and stroked his fingers
through the hair on Viggo’s belly. Viggo gasped lightly into the kiss when 
Sean’s hand moved up until his fingers teased an all ready erect nipple. Sean 
gently broke the kiss and pulled back so he could see Viggo’s face as he passed
his finger back and forth over the sensitised flesh.

It overwhelmed him how beautiful Viggo looked under his touch; his eyes were 
closed and his lips parted. Sean ached for him. He slid his hand out from the 
t-shirt and met Viggo’s eyes when they opened. Sean held Viggo’s gaze while he
gripped the hem of his own t-shirt and pulled it over his head. Viggo watched 
him steadily, his breathing increasing as he sat up enough for Sean to repeat 
the action on his own t-shirt. 

Sean bent down and gently pressed his lips to the centre of Viggo’s chest 
pushing him back onto the bed. He created a slow path of kisses up to the hollow
of Viggo’s throat where he hesitated suddenly aware that Viggo had not returned
any of his touches. He leaned back on his elbow and traced the trail of his lips
with the back of his hand, “Is this okay?” 

Viggo gave an almost imperceptible nod never taking his eyes off Sean’s. 

Sean lay down on the bed facing Viggo and pulled him closer; he moaned at the 
sudden heat of Viggo’s skin against his own. He lowered his head to Viggo’s neck
and began to run the tip of his tongue up to the stubbled jaw line. Viggo’s hand
hovered in midair, fingers flexing, before dropping onto Sean’s head and tightly
clutching his hair. The almost painful grip on his hair sent a bolt of lust 
through Sean. He groaned and pushed his hips against Viggo, hissing into Viggo’s
already sweat slicked skin as his erection ground against Viggo’s. Sean was so 
hard that the sudden friction sent shock waves through his cock, he lifted his 
mouth to Viggo’s ear and gasped, “Need you … need you now.” Sean’s hand started
to push desperately at the waistband of Viggo’s track pants as he said, “Turn 
over Vig.”

Sean stretched around to the bedside table and grabbed a condom from the drawer,
it took him a moment longer to rummage and find the lubricant. He turned back to
find Viggo lying on his stomach, his head resting on his folded arms facing away
from Sean. The bruises were fading, but still very obvious along Viggo’s lower 
back. Sean stroked his hand softly over the blemished skin and said quietly, “On
your side Vig, I could hurt you this way.” 

Viggo silently turned over.

Sean forced his breathing to slow and leaned down; he tenderly kissed Viggo’s 
shoulder and whispered, “Lift your hips a bit,” while he pushed Viggo’s track 
pants the rest of the way. Sean quickly discarded his own pants and shuffled 
close along the bare back. He cupped his hand protectively over Viggo’s hipbone
and nuzzled his nose into the already damp hairline.

“You have to let me know if this is okay,” Sean breathed into Viggo’s ear. Viggo
gave a small nod, he knew better than to make a sound. But Sean needed more, 
“You have to tell me Vig, I have to hear you.” Viggo had learnt that sex was 
something to be done in silence; either rough in a public toilet or fast by his
own hand before he was seen. But for Sean he wanted to find his voice. “Yes,” he
murmured and pushed back slightly against the hot skin behind him to reinforce 
the single word. “Yes,” Sean repeated before he squeezed lubricant on his 
fingers and gently pushed one finger into Viggo.

Sean heard a slight noise from Viggo that he couldn’t quite pin down so he 
watched him carefully as he began to slowly slide his finger in and out. The 
initial resistance dissipated quickly and Sean added a second finger and then a
third, his eyes moving from Viggo’s face to his hand that was now twisting the 
sheet between clenched fingers.

Sean carefully slid his fingers out and was surprised when Viggo let go of the 
sheet, gripped his wrist and said breathlessly, “Condom Sean … I might not be 
safe.”

“It’s okay Vig, I’ve got one.” Sean assured him trying to put aside the fear 
that suddenly tightened his chest … Deal with that later, Viggo will be okay.

Sean rolled on the condom and stroked himself a couple of times more out of 
habit than need; he was already so hard it hurt. He slid his hand along the 
smooth skin of Viggo’s hip and down his thigh until he urged Viggo to bend his 
knee and move his leg forward to give Sean better access.

Sean was almost trembling he was fighting so hard to keep his actions slow as he
guided his cock to Viggo’s entrance. He pushed carefully, but deliberately until
he breached the guardian muscle noting Viggo’s small grunt as the head finally
slipped in. Sean paused to exhale and take another breath before sliding in the
rest of the way. 

Buried deep in Viggo, Sean felt overwhelmed by the swirl of thoughts and 
emotions fighting for supremacy over his desire to simply thrust his way to
orgasm. He tucked his chin over Viggo’s shoulder and kissed the tender skin
below his ear before asking, “What do you need Viggo?”

Viggo moaned at the unexpected question, lay his head back against Sean and 
whispered, “Move … please.”

Sean pulled back slowly and thrust in with more force; Viggo gasped and clenched
around him. Sean knew neither of them was going to last long so he wrapped his 
fingers around Viggo’s hipbone and began a steady rhythm of hard, but not brutal
thrusts.

Viggo’s legs twitched restlessly against the sheets as he rocked back into Sean,
his own cock dripping onto the bed aching to be touched. He knew he was close …
he wanted Sean’s hand on him, but dropped his own between his legs instead. He 
moaned as his fingers began to squeeze and slide up and down his shaft in time 
with Sean’s thrusts … then hesitated at the feel of fingers enclosing his. This
touch was enough and he cried out Sean’s name before coming in his hand.

“Oh fuck, Viggo …” was all Sean managed to moan before he crushed his face into
Viggo’s neck and came hard.

He wrapped his arm around Viggo and held him silently. He knew it had been more
than lust; he had needed it to be good for Viggo too … he had needed him to know
that he … that he what? Sean instantly shied away from this train of thought, 
released Viggo and pulled out carefully gripping the rim of the condom. He 
tugged it off before leaving the bed and going into the bathroom. When he 
returned Viggo had barely moved. Sean sat on the bed behind Viggo and gently 
wiped him with a damp washcloth. When they were both clean Sean threw the cloth
on the floor and snuggled down behind Viggo pulling the bedclothes up around 
them both.

~~*~~

Sean’s arm encircled him and he could feel the steady breath of peaceful sleep 
against his neck, but Viggo lay awake. He could not remember a time when had 
felt such intense pleasure and joy as under Sean’s touch, but now there was a 
small seed of doubt building in his chest. 

Sean murmured in his sleep and rubbed his face absently along Viggo’s neck … Oh
God … he knew he loved this man and it was too much. Viggo suddenly found it
difficult to breathe, his lungs had no room to expand … he had to sit … get away
from Sean’s touch.

He carefully, but quickly, slid from under Sean’s arm and sat on the edge of the
bed. His hands and forearms were numb as he compulsively rubbed them. He needed
to stand up … to move…

Viggo stood away from the bed and looked at Sean, he knew he couldn’t stay only
to hear Sean say that he didn’t love him …

It was the early hours of the morning when Viggo quietly closed the door as he 
left.

*****