"Me? You're the one who's s.e.xy. I like touching you. But, I guess I'm not being fair, huh? Do you want to get in the shower with me now? I'll save the rest of the exploration for later. Will you... um... will you stay with me all night? Sleep with me? I don't know if I'm ready for, you know, everything, but I'd like to sleep with you. Wake up with you. Is that asking too much when I'm not sure I can go through with all of it?" Tommy had taken a step back to watch Daniel's face as he asked the questions that were very important to him.

"I don't think you could ask anything that would be too much, Tommy. I told you I'm not in a hurry. Don't put pressure on yourself. We don't only have one goal before us. We'll get to all of it, and it'll be good. Know how I know?" Daniel asked, reaching to take Tommy's face in his hands again.

"How? 'Cause it's us and whatever we do is good?" Tommy answered, realizing by the look on Daniel's face that he'd gotten it right.

"Good man. Whatever we do together is right and at the right time for it. If, this time next year, we still haven't made it all the way, then that will be right for us. There's no time line. We just do what feels good, add more, discover more things we like, until we hit upon just the collection of things that makes us both happy. From your reactions so far tonight, I don't think we're going to have any problems."

"I've liked everything we've done. I'm comfortable being naked with you, and I never thought that would be possible." Tommy realized the truth of the statement and felt good about it.

"I understand. I started to say I was proud of you, but that makes it sound like I'm some sort of counselor or mentor and in this situation, that is so not the case. I will say that I'm relieved that you feel comfortable being naked with me, because I think I'm going to want you that way a lot. You know you're gorgeous, right?"

"Oh, yeah?" Tommy laughed at him. Tommy didn't think his brown hair and brown eyes were anything special. The dark brown of his eyes made it almost impossible to even distinguish the irises from the pupils. His hair was usually kept short, just something for him to take care of, unlike Daniel's whose hair was silky and soft and even when it got messed up, it fell right back into perfect layers.

"Oh, yeah. I don't expect you to see it, but you're not looking from my eyes." Daniel made a point of letting his eyes wander from the top of Tommy's head all the way down to his toes. "Yeah, gorgeous, s.e.xy, and right now, very tired. Come on, let's get wet and clean and then go to bed. We can play a little or just hold each other and sleep. We've both had a big day in more ways than one, huh?"

"You got that right." Tommy turned and headed to the shower, but Daniel grabbed his arm and pulled him back into his arms. Tommy's lips were already opening when Daniel took them. The kiss was long and slow, languorous and sweet. Tommy touched his tongue to Daniel's and they moved back and forth from one mouth to the other, turning to find new angles and better connections. Tommy could tell that Daniel liked his lips because Daniel would often pull back and slide his tongue along the top and then the bottom one, lapping and nipping them. Tommy enjoyed every aspect of the kiss, the closeness it made him feel, the rush of adrenaline he got from it, and the taste and texture of Daniel's mouth. He sighed as he pulled his mouth away and put his face into Daniel's neck again.

"Don't flake out now. Come on, baby."

"Baby?"

"Baby, honey, darling, s.e.xy, sweetums..."

"Uh-uh. Not that. The others I can go with, but I think I'll have to draw the line on that one." Tommy laughed as they turned to the shower.

"Wow, this is nice," Daniel said, stepping in and turning to Tommy.

It was, indeed, a nice shower. There were several shower heads and a bench that ran along one wall and the back of the shower. Tommy knew it was from Soldier's plans from when he thought he might move into an apartment over here if he couldn't live in the house with them. But things had worked out, and when they built this for whoever worked in this part of the facility, he'd kept the original plans. Tommy had always thought such an elaborate shower was unnecessary, but now he saw the benefits.

"Yeah, it is. You like the water warm or really hot?" he asked, being the consummate host.

"How do you like it? I'm okay either way." Daniel was standing behind Tommy now, to let him control the functions of the big enclosure.

"I'm a bit of a clean freak. Comes from never really feeling like I was clean enough... from way back, you know? I mean, don't worry, I'm not going to get into any of that stuff, but one of the things that is left over is a need to be really clean, especially now, when we're going to be so close and doing things together." Tommy hoped his words hadn't ruined the good place they'd gotten to before he'd gone ahead and revealed one of his weird needs.

"I see you getting nervous again. Your desire for being clean is perfectly natural and not in any way odd. Quit thinking it to death and get this thing fired up. I want to slip and slide with you." Daniel was clearly trying to put him at ease. Tommy decided to let him.

Tommy got the jets going full blast and pretty hot and then turned to face Daniel. Reaching for the soap, he began to rub it all over Daniel's chest and shoulders. Mmm, he liked this. Couple showers were a great idea. Smelling his favorite soap on Daniel, watching the water slide over him, gather on his eyelashes and make spikes of them, made Tommy want to stay here for a long, long time. Apparently, Daniel had other ideas.

Daniel grabbed the shampoo, put some on top of both their heads, and then replaced it on the shelf.

"Go," Daniel ordered and put his hands on Tommy's head. Tommy was quick to comply and they were soon rinsing their heads together, sluicing the suds down over shoulders and backs. Now Daniel grasped the soap and put it between Tommy's hands, rolling it over and over, lathering it up and then doing the same in his own hands. Again, he gave the directive to get to it.

Hands roamed and slid over bodies that twisted and turned to accommodate their reach. Tommy was almost giggling when they got lathered up again and headed for the good bits. He felt like they were in a race to see who could get the other clean first. It served the purpose of calming him down in one area and firing him up in the other. His hands moved a little slower now, as he moved them over Daniel's curved backside, around to the front and between Daniel's legs to soap his b.a.l.l.s and out to the tip of his c.o.c.k.

Tommy gasped as Daniel did the same for him. He hoped that Daniel was pleased by his body, which wasn't all that great, in his opinion. He was fairly tall, but not what you'd call buff. He was lean and had no hair on his chest at all.

Tommy was fine with everything, until Daniel drew his fingers from the top to the bottom of Tommy's crack and he felt them ghost over his hole. Oh, G.o.d. Oh, G.o.d. Tommy thrust his hips forward to get away from those fingers, then felt stupid again. He dropped his head, ashamed. He'd been so sure he could do this. Tommy thrust his hips forward to get away from those fingers, then felt stupid again. He dropped his head, ashamed. He'd been so sure he could do this.

"Shh. Relax. Too much, too soon?" Daniel asked him, holding his shoulders, not letting him hide his face.

"I don't know. It just... surprised me. I don't know why. I've just never..." Tommy stopped, not sure how to go on.

"The good thing about us, Tommy, is you don't have to explain. I know where you're coming from, I know why, and I know how far you've come. Don't worry about it. Come on, I'd say we're pretty clean." Daniel started to turn so Tommy could turn off the shower.

"No! I mean, sorry. I didn't mean to shout it. I don't want to be this way. I'm not scared of you. I'm not afraid you're going to hurt me. Do it again... and... and I'll do you, too. It's just another place that needs to be clean. What am I scared of? Please, Daniel, help me here. Don't let me do that, shy away from things or I'll never be able to be a good lover for you. I want us to be good, normal. Please." Tommy let Daniel see the honesty in the request he was making. He was was scared, but he really wanted to get past it and move on. He also agreed with Daniel and knew how lucky he was that it was Daniel he'd fallen in love with. There were things he didn't have to explain, thank G.o.d. scared, but he really wanted to get past it and move on. He also agreed with Daniel and knew how lucky he was that it was Daniel he'd fallen in love with. There were things he didn't have to explain, thank G.o.d.

Saying he knew that the area between his cheeks was just another place to clean was one thing, but following through on his own request was going to take a lot of courage. Living with Soldier and Dillon, getting counseling, and learning from Soldier how to protect himself had made Tommy a fully functioning, healthy, and capable young man. He was a social worker who labored long and hard to help the same kind of children that he once was. Except for this one thing for which he still seemed to have a d.a.m.ned niggling fear. Well, he refused to let that happen.

Tommy grabbed the soap and put it in Daniel's hands, rolling it around to make a lather again, just as Daniel had done earlier. He replaced the soap after doing the same to his own hands. He looked Daniel fully in the face and reached around him, sliding his hands to grasp Daniel's b.u.t.tocks, grasping, caressing, squeezing them. Without blinking or hiding his face, which he really wanted to do, he slid the fingers of one hand down between Daniel's cheeks. Daniel obligingly spread his legs, giving Tommy more room.

With one tentative finger, Tommy breached Daniel's tight little hole and pushed in a bit. Daniel sucked in his breath, but since Tommy was watching so closely, he knew it wasn't pain, but pleasure that caused it. He moved his finger out, then back in a little farther. Daniel's gasped, "Yes!" and encouraged him to continue. He began to push in farther, and slide in and out faster, using Daniel's face as a gauge as to how he was doing.

It hadn't occurred to Tommy that he was making love to Daniel until Daniel shouted, "G.o.d, Tommy!" and he felt heat splashing against his stomach and c.o.c.k. What had begun as a test of Tommy's own readiness for intimacy had turned into an explosive o.r.g.a.s.m for Daniel. Tommy was thrilled with the result. He brought his other hand around and grasped Daniel's c.o.c.k, helping him finish. After a few pumps of Tommy's hand, Daniel rested his head on Tommy's shoulder.

"Mmm, Tommy, you melted me. I've wanted you for so long; I knew I wouldn't last long. I can't tell you how good that felt." Daniel nuzzled into Tommy's neck, licking and lapping at the water that still rained on them.

"I'm glad. I'm so glad, Daniel. Me, now. I want to know. I want to feel good from being touched there. You can make me, only you, Daniel." Tommy wasn't scared anymore, curious and anxious, but there was no fear.

Daniel raised his head and after a quick look at Tommy, Daniel bent just a bit and kissed him senseless. Tommy reached up and grasped Daniel around the neck and held on, kissing him back fervently. Tongues twisted and tangled, and breaths were shared in the heat of the moment. Tommy's c.o.c.k rubbed against Daniel's groin, b.u.mping his now softer one. Before long, Tommy was actively trying to get off. He moved back and forth against Daniel, using him for the softest, wettest friction. Tommy's breathing was harder, and he knew he was about to come.

Daniel reached around and caressed Tommy's a.s.s cheeks as Tommy had done to him. Tommy shivered, but it was with pleasure. He groaned as he felt Daniel's finger touch his hole. Without thinking, he spread his legs and let Daniel in. Daniel pushed his index finger inside Tommy, and when Tommy started to come, Daniel bent down so he could push up farther, finding a spot deep inside that made Tommy cry out.

Tommy shook in earnest now as gobs of come splashed against Daniel. He held on tight as he kept thrusting against Daniel then pushing back to get him to touch that spot inside him again. He shouted again, letting Daniel know that it was bliss he was feeling, not fear or shame. Daniel had given him a gift.

When Tommy stopped shaking he was still held tight in Daniel's arms, with his knees about to give out.

"Thank you," he whispered, turning his head from Daniel's shoulder to his neck. "I was afraid I would never be able to do that, and you made it wonderful. I was flying, Daniel. Take me to bed before I fall down. But wait, I want to say something." Tommy pulled his face back now and looked at Daniel, so Daniel could see he meant what he was saying. "I'm not scared of any of it now. I think it was just that first touch, that first time, you know? You made it something hot and exciting and good."

"I'm so glad, Tommy. You deserve to feel good about every part of your body. Come on, let's go. You've had a really long day and you're about out on your feet." Daniel said and hustled Tommy out of the shower.

Before long they were wrapped in each other's arms in the bed, with the lights off. Tommy felt nearly insensate with fatigue and the relaxation from having come, with Daniel, after wanting it for, well, like forever.

"Daniel?"

"Yeah, Tommy?" Daniel moved his hands over Tommy's back, letting him know Daniel was still awake.

"I love you," Tommy said against Daniel's neck, snuggling in, rubbing all along his side.

"I love you, too. It's nice to finally be able to say it, and show it."

"Yeah, especially show it. We're going to be good, aren't we? Can we... will you...?" Tommy stopped, not knowing how to finish his thought. What, was he shy now?

"Can we..."

"Will you make love to me in the morning? I need to sleep and I know you do, too. But I want to feel everything with you. Do you like to... uh... be on top, or..."

"My shy boy. I like to be on the top or the bottom. I, by the way, am totally clean, not just in the shower sense. I test often and have always been clear. I know, of course, that you are. We can use condoms if you'd be more comfortable, or not, if you'd prefer that. It's up to you on that one."

"I know I'm not going to be with anyone else, ever. I want to feel you. G.o.d, you were so hot inside. I can't imagine what that will feel like on my c.o.c.k. Have you had a lot of...?"

"No. Just no. I've had a few encounters, but nothing at all that resembled a relationship. I think, subconsciously I was waiting for you to grow up. Since you hit eighteen, I've been holding my breath, falling more and more in love. I've watched you excel in your studies and become a wonderful counselor. You've impressed me in so many ways. You did so again tonight. You're a strong young man." Daniel's hands continued to move in a soothing fashion over Tommy's shoulders, back, and b.u.t.tocks.

"I was raised, from twelve on, by the best two dads in the world. I got some of Soldier's strength and Dillon's compa.s.sion. Coming from the h.e.l.l I did, I always knew what I wanted to do with my life, the same thing that had been done for me. G.o.d help us, there will always be children who are treated horribly and will have to have help in getting past it, learning to live full lives. I want to help make that happen."

"You will. I have no doubt that you will be very good at your job. Even better now, I think, that you know that you can get past those fears and have a full s.e.x life. Right?" Daniel said.

"Absolutely. Tonight means so much to me. It was getting past that last hurdle to feel like a whole, healthy person. I couldn't have done that with anyone else," Tommy said.

"Good to know," Daniel teased.

"Silly," Tommy accused, moving in, closer still. "I like this, snuggling and teasing. Is this what they call pillow talk?" he asked, reaching across to smooth his hand down Daniel's side, laughing out loud when Daniel jerked and made a sound almost like Eeek! Eeek! "On my G.o.d, you're ticklish." Tommy was delighted. "On my G.o.d, you're ticklish." Tommy was delighted.

"I thought you were sleepy," Daniel groused.

"Not any more. I've been resting. Wanna play some more?" Tommy asked, sliding his hand across Daniel's stomach like he was going for the ribs again.

"Hey. Stop that. No tickling. Playing? Now that's another story. Have I created a monster? Let loose a hound dog?"

"Maybe. I don't know," Tommy said, rising up on one elbow to look down at Daniel. "I know that thinking and talking about making love has me hard again, and you, too." With that, Tommy pulled on Daniel so that they were both on their sides, their hard c.o.c.ks pressed together.

Tommy's hand met Daniel's, and they both seemed to have the same idea. Friction. Tommy moved just a little so that they were lined up perfectly and began to rock against Daniel. Both their hands were holding their c.o.c.ks together. The feelings radiating from his groin had Tommy gasping in minutes. He kept that one hand, with Daniel's, on their c.o.c.ks and kept moving. With the other, he reached up to pull Daniel's face to his.

Daniel got the idea, and Tommy met his mouth eagerly. The kiss was strong. It had to be with Tommy rocking his hips and both of them hungry for air within seconds. Tommy moved his hand down to grasp and manipulate Daniel's b.a.l.l.s, pulling and tugging in time with the groans coming from Daniel's throat.

"Tommy! Oh! Harder... just a little. Yes, oh. Like that. I'm out," Daniel predicted and Tommy felt him jerk hard and felt the pulses of heat against his hand as Daniel came for him. He knew he wasn't far behind. He felt like he was going to explode. If he could get this degree of intense pa.s.sion just by jerking off with Daniel, he couldn't imagine how great making love was going to be.

"Come on, baby. I got you. Come on, Tommy. I love you. Let me taste you," Daniel said, pumping Tommy's c.o.c.k with one hand, holding him steady with the other. Daniel's words sent Tommy over the edge and he came in great gushes. He kept rocking as the pulses eased down and he sighed deeply. He pulled back just in time to see Daniel take his wet hand up to his face and lick his fingers. Tommy gasped in surprise.

"Jesus, that's s.e.xy as h.e.l.l. You're a very sensual person, aren't you?" Tommy said, eyeing Daniel as he continued to clean his fingers of Tommy's come. Tommy knew his eyes bugged out when Daniel turned his hand around and offered it to Tommy to taste. Daniel waited as Tommy thought about it, then smiled when Tommy's tongue came out to touch his thumb. Daniel's smile grew when Tommy took the whole digit inside his mouth and sucked it, hard.

"Oh, ho, you're pretty s.e.xy yourself there, Tommy. Surprised yourself, didn't you?" Daniel said smugly.

"Again, may maybe. Now I'm really tired. I'm just like a wet noodle. But I feel so good inside. I feel so d.a.m.n good. Kiss me. It's not like our mouths won't taste the same," Tommy said, leaning in.

"Yeah, like Tommy-come. I like it," Daniel teased.

"You're crazy," Tommy said against Daniel's lips.

"Maybe," Daniel said against Tommy's.

Tommy went to sleep, feeling whole, his body relaxed, and with their taste in his mouth.

CHAPTER FOUR.

The next night Tommy and Daniel were having supper with the boys at Scarcity Sanctuary. It was loud and lively. Gom had been allowed down for the meal, but would have to go back to bed rest right after. The semi-celebration was in honor of Niko's first night with them. Since Tommy had done so much toward getting him placed before the problem with Mrs. Carol, it hadn't been hard to make it happen once he got in to work that morning. Tommy had even come with the other social worker to introduce Niko to Soldier and Dillon. Daniel had outfitted him with a few new clothes and he looked a lot better.

Tommy noticed Niko watching Gom closely. Gom did did look like death on a cracker, as Dillon always said. The bruises were colorful, and he sat and moved very slowly and carefully. look like death on a cracker, as Dillon always said. The bruises were colorful, and he sat and moved very slowly and carefully.

"What happened to you?" Niko obviously couldn't hold in his curiosity any longer. His big green eyes reminded Tommy of Daniel's. Tommy looked to Gom to see how he would handle the question. Pride filled him as he saw that Gom was thinking carefully about his answer.

"This guy and his friends jumped me on the way home from school. They've been buggin' me, calling me names, and trying to say bad things went on here. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Soldier, but I didn't think they would do anything. They just got a big kick out of scaring me. Since I'm so little, they like to tease me." Obviously noting the pained expression on both Soldier and Dillon's faces, he added, "I know, I was supposed to tell you all if anything like that happened. I was just feeling silly for letting it get to me." Gom looked down at the plate that he'd merely been moving his food around on, hiding his eyes from everyone. Tommy figured they might be tear-filled.

"Hey. How about I help you back upstairs? You look like you could rest some more. Daniel, you want to help me get him settled?" Tommy stood, putting his plan in motion without waiting for permission or agreement. Tommy wanted Gom out of there before he lost his cool and then got embarra.s.sed.

As they entered the hall, he heard Niko ask, "What kind of names? Why were they buggin' him? And why'd they beat him up?" Tommy thought Niko had obviously decided he was safe here, and his mute act had disappeared, along with the hostility and fear. Tommy didn't think it would take long for Niko to settle in. Niko was eager for the help and the change in his life. That was half the battle.

Daniel and Tommy waited while Gom went to the bathroom and then got him settled comfortably in the bed with pillows placed strategically to avoid pulling on sore places. Daniel took a look at both of them and said he was going to go over and wait for Tommy at his place. He touched Gom on the head, wishing him well.

"Thanks, Tommy. How'd you know I needed to get out of there?" Gom asked, looking up at Tommy as he stood by Gom's bed.

Tommy sat down, gingerly, so as not to jar Gom. He said, "I know how you hate to do anything that upsets Soldier or Dillon and not telling them that Jeffrey had been bothering you was something you knew they'd want to know. Is this the first time those guys touched you?" Tommy asked.

"Yes. I would've told if they'd done anything other than threaten me before."

Tommy's hand was on the bed between Gom and him. After a couple of minutes of silence, he felt Gom's hand on his. He glanced up and saw that there was something on Gom's mind.

"What is it?"

"Can I ask you something?" Gom said, eyes moving from his and then back again.

"Of course," Tommy said.

"You like Daniel, don't you? I mean, more than like him?" Gom asked, his eyes wide now.

Honesty was the only way Tommy knew to go here. "Yes. I'm in love with Daniel."

"Wow." Those eyes got even bigger. "How'd you know? Are you sure? What do the dads think about it? Are they freaked out? Have you-?" That question stopped him cold. Tommy could tell Gom had more he wanted to know, but was afraid to cause Tommy any pain by asking. He and Gom had talked a lot, years ago, about what had happened to each of them. They felt safe telling each other anything. Tommy knew what Gom was wondering.

"I've felt this way for a long time. I'm sure about this, and the dads are fine with it, not freaked at all. As to the other, Daniel and I have done a lot of stuff together," Tommy had to chuckle a little as he added, "in the twenty four hours since we finally admitted to our feelings for each other. He stayed with me last night and I let him do things, wanted wanted him to do things I never thought I could. I'm not afraid of it anymore." him to do things I never thought I could. I'm not afraid of it anymore."

"Good. That's good. He'll be gentle with you, won't he? He won't hurt you?" Gom as a teenager, was a lot like Gom had been at eight. He cared more about other people than anyone Tommy knew, and considering his dads and Daniel, that was saying a lot. Gom just loved with such a big heart. It was clear that he wouldn't like it if Daniel hurt Tommy in any way.

"It's good, Gom. He's really careful with me since he knows everything. We're going to be a great couple, like Soldier and Dillon. We'll work together helping other kids like you and I used to be, and we'll love each other and be there for each other when we need support."

"I'm glad, Tommy. I'm happy for you. So, you think... if I was to be... I mean, if it turns out that I'm... you know..." Gom seemed to be at a loss for words, but Tommy knew.

"Gay?"

Gom ducked his head, now refusing to look at Tommy. "Yeah," he whispered.

"Are you?" Tommy asked, sitting still and waiting.