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sairalinde.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fellowshippers2005-10-14 05:37 pm
sairalinde.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2005-10-14 05:37 pm
A Different Light Chapter: 2
A Different Light Chapter: 2
Authors:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sairalinde & anorienbean
Pairing: David Wenham/Craig Parker
Rating: Adult for graphic m/m sex Warnings: None for now,
Archiving:Saira’s Library, Here With Me, Mirrormere, OEAM, others please ask first
Feedback:Yes, please. We live for it. Send to:sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com, or thechroniclesofosgiliath @ yahoo.com
Disclaimer: None of this happened except in our fantasies. We are in no way are implying anything about the sexual preferences of either of our main characters, or any other peripheral characters used in this story.
Summary: A wealthy businessman is forced to do volunteer work and meets a handsome social worker who changes his views about the homeless and about love.
//Indicate thoughts
David tried to concentrate on the file he was reading but his mind kept drifting to yesterday evening at the shelter.
Despite everything, he had actually enjoyed himself. Craig was…interesting. He had an outlook on life that David didn’t agree with but he could see his point at least. David simply wasn’t the helping, caring sort really. Over the years he had seen the true nature of too many people through his business dealings to believe that anyone didn’t have ulterior motives but Craig….didn’t seem to. If he did, David couldn’t place them. He just truly didn’t seem to have a deceptive bone in his body.
Leaning back in his chair he closed his eyes. Craig really did seem to care about those people. He had even ripped up the check David gave him. Last night when David had returned to his office, he took off his suit jacket and a piece of the torn check fell onto the floor. The white of the envelope seemed too bright against the dark carpet and made him pause to wonder why Craig had done that. He had told him he could keep the money, but he didn’t want it. Even after David had decided to volunteer he doubted Craig would accept another check.
He had never imagined a charity would turn down money on principle like that. He was definitely going to enjoy his time there more than he first thought. Craig would make it interesting…he stimulated David intellectually….as well as physically. Craig was gorgeous, those eyes, God they were so incredibly blue, and his smile. When Craig had graced him with a smile David thought his heart nearly stopped. He had never met anyone who made him react that way physically.
Only two more days until he had to return to the shelter, he wondered if he would spend them the way he had the first half of this day? Thinking about Craig…wondering what those lips would feel like pressed against his own. Would they be soft? Would they part and grant him access to taste and tease, or would he be the one to be plundered? How would those nicely muscled legs that filled out faded jeans, in ways that should be illegal, feel wrapped around him? How would his name sound whispered huskily as he kissed his way down Craig’s incredible body?
//Does he have a boyfriend? Was it my imagination or did he blush when I said I needed to change clothes? What was he thinking about? Is he as affected as I am? Just once I’d love to know what it feels like to sink into him. To see his incredible eyes darken as they gazed up at me. Damn it. David you need to stop. You have work to do, and thinking about him isn’t going to get it done. Besides the two of you do NOT see eye to eye. Though you have never needed to really like someone to have sex with them, general attraction was always enough, but with Craig it seemed to be more than that. He makes a person want to like him. And that is what scares the hell out of you.// The ringing of his phone pulled him out of his thoughts and David attempted to get back to work, trying not to think of dark hair or blue eyes.
~~~
When Saturday morning rolled around, Craig couldn’t seem to concentrate on his paperwork. Or the supply list he was supposed to be making. Or the phone calls he was supposed to return. About the only thing he’d accomplished in the last hour was thinking about David….about those beautiful blue eyes, or that perfect smile, or the way Craig’s heart had skipped a beat when each time they’d shaken hands. He hadn’t been really surprised that David had left before he’d returned to the kitchen, but had been a little disappointed.
Craig had managed to convince Miranda to go home for the day, promising that his newest volunteer would be there as scheduled, though he wasn’t all that sure that David *would* show up. He’d said he would, but….a lot of people said that. And it very, very rarely ever happened. Mirry had noticed the look in Craig’s eyes that she’d never seen before, and gently teased him about it, making Craig all the more determined that she leave before noon…so she wouldn’t see the disappointment in there if David didn’t show. She’d laughed and wished him luck, leaving his office door open behind her, and glad to finally have another volunteer so she could spend more time with her family. Unlike Craig, she had a life outside of the shelter, and though she wished Craig did too, she knew better than to preach to him.
As the clock approached noon, Craig had changed the shirt he’d been wearing with one he’d kept in his desk drawer, (convincing himself that it was entirely too wrinkled to work in), drawn a few dozen circles on his desk pad (and colored each of them in with a blue pen, thank you very much), and drunk half a pot of coffee – one of the few things the shelter was more than blessed with. He looked back down at his paperwork and sighed. //I don’t know why I’m getting my hopes up. David won’t be here….he didn’t want to be here in the first place, so why would he come back?// Trying to concentrate on the topmost grant application in the file in front of him, he began idly coloring in the box marked “shelter name” and sighed again.
David stood in the open door to Craig's office and leaned against the frame watching the other man work. The blue button up shirt he was wearing looked particularly good on him, David thought. Content to stand there and watch Craig, he stood silently watching the way he nibbled at his bottom lip as he wrote and David had the most incredible urge to nibble it for him. Realizing where his thoughts were going he frowned. //Stop it, David. You didn't want to be here. You are only doing this because you said you would and you certainly don't need to get involved with anyone right now. Even if they are incredibly sexy.//
Clearing his throat, he smiled as Craig looked up and he felt his heart skip in his chest as those gorgeous blue eyes met his own. "Good morning," he said with a grin knowing that he had not expected him to show up after all.
A huge smile spread across Craig’s face, and even though he thought he must look terribly foolish, he couldn’t seem to wipe it away. David *had* shown up! He simply stared at the other man for a moment; practically salivating at the way he was leaning so casually in the office doorway. //God, he looks even better than I remember him. And I didn’t think that was possible!// “I…good morning,” he said, standing up quickly and knocking his knee against the side of his desk. His eyes watered momentarily, but his smile never wavered, even though he couldn’t seem to move for the pain radiating up his thigh. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as the pain ebbed away and his eyes met with David’s. “I…I’m really glad you came back. I honestly didn’t expect you to.”
David heard a bang as Craig stood up and winced slightly, having done the exact same thing before when startled. "Didn't mean to startle you...I came back, I told you I would. I never back out on a deal, Craig," he said moving into the small office. "So....what would you like me to do today?" he asked trying his best to get into the spirit of things.
“I admire people who are true to their word,” Craig grinned, dragging his eyes away from David’s and looking back down at the ‘to do’ list in front of him. There were dozens of chores that needed to be done today, but at least one of the current residents had offered to do the kitchen and serving duties for the afternoon, freeing Craig’s time up for a few hours so he could move on to something else. Hugo had worked as a short order cook for a while, and Craig was more than happy to let him take over. “Well, if you’re up for it, I just had a truck deliver some supplies that need to be shelved. I’m sure you’d probably rather work in here though…the storage building out back is kind of warm. We can always…..let’s see…..” His voice trailed off as he looked down the list, trying to sort out what was the most urgent. There always seemed to be too much to do, and too little time and help to get it done…even when some of the residents lent a hand, it never seemed to be enough.
"Just because I work in an office now, doesn't mean I have an aversion to getting a little sweaty," David grinned. "I'd be glad to help with the boxes or whatever else...I said I'd do this, and I fully intend to do whatever you need." David leaned against Craig's desk and tilted his head to look at the paperwork. "How about boxes first and then...I can help you with these if you want? I tend to be pretty good with paperwork they say," he teased as Craig looked back up from his desk at him.
Craig’s mouth went as dry as the Sahara desert when the image of a sweating David flashed through his mind. His heart sped up and his tongue unconsciously licked across equally dry lips. //I will NOT blush, dammit. And I *will* stop thinking of him that way. He’s not interested, and nothing will come out of this…nothing more than a month of being able to admire and not touch, and hopefully having someone to help me with this damn pile of forms. That’s it. End of story.//
Clearing his throat, Craig took a calming breath. “Sounds good to me. The boxes won’t take long, and I really could use help with these forms. They seem to multiply every time I walk out of this office.” He rounded the desk and found himself smiling at his new volunteer…who seemed a lot happier to be here than Craig would have guessed. “There’s a shower in the back…we can always shower and change clothes afterward. I have some extra shirts in my desk if you need something else.”
David found that he had to look away when a pink tongue slid across Craig's lips. A flash of heat shot through him and he tried his best to push away the thoughts and feelings that reaction evoked. Unable to help himself, he quirked his eyebrow when Craig said 'we can always shower after' knowing that was not what he meant but automatically his mind went there. Clearing his throat he nodded, "Umm...I...yeah sounds good." //Harvard education and that's the best you can do? God, David get it together.// No one had ever made him feel this way before, like he was completely out of his depth. Moving aside so Craig could pass him, David followed him. "That paperwork back there...grants?" he asked curiously.
//Damn, he smells good. I’d like to…..oh, God, it’s going to be a long afternoon.// With a wry smile at himself, Craig stood in the doorway and glanced back at his desk. “Yes. We operate mostly on state funded and private grants and donations. That’s why I was able to give your check back the other day, which, by the way, I’m sorry I was so rude about. We have enough money to stay afloat; we just don’t have the man power. The residents try to help, but I’d rather they go out and work during the days, if work’s available. It helps their self esteem, if nothing else, and makes them forget that this is the only home they have to return to sometimes.”
David shook his head, "Don't be sorry, I wasn't exactly being very kind myself," he admitted. "I was shocked you didn't just accept the check. I thought I had it all figured out, but your reaction did throw me. I figured you'd be like most of the other charities I've dealt with, they didn't care what I did as long as they got the money ya know? I am not going to say I'm *happy* I'm here, because I'm not. I've had to rearrange my entire life for this, but...whoever called Boyd, knew it would trap me. I said...well I said pretty much what I said to you about homeless people only worse and a reporter overheard me. That's sort of why I'm here. Dom...Mr. Monaghan wants to try to fix my PR blunder, so ultimately the fault in all this lies squarely at my own feet. I can't blame anyone but myself,” David admitted. It wasn't easy to admit, but it was the truth. He was a big enough man to admit that it was his own fault. He had said they made their own beds let them lie in them...well he'd made his. "Anyway, grant paperwork isn't much different than what I handle everyday. Shouldn't take too long," he mused as they stopped in front of a large garage style metal door.
Craig fished in his pockets, searching for his key and trying to hide his surprise. Most people blamed all their mistakes on other people…a sad fact he’d seen all too often in his life of work. But David was different…he’d known that from the first instant they’d met, but he just didn’t know *how* different he was. Finally pulling the key out of his pocket, he opened the door and looked at the boxes he’d signed for a few hours ago. “Looks like we have our afternoon planned then,” he grinned, trying not to think about how small the shed was…and how closely he and David would have to work together…getting hot and sweaty and……//and you’re going to need a cold shower after this, Parker, you horny fool.// “Um….If you’ll just hand me the boxes, I’ll put them on the shelves. Then we can each take a shower, and grab a sandwich to eat while we tackle the paperwork, then. How’s that sound?”
"Sounds good to me," David said stepping into the small shed and picking up the box closest to himself. He only had to move a short distance to reach where Craig was and handed the box off to him. As he did their fingers brushed and David swallowed hard...this was going to be a long day. He was already attracted to the other man and being this close wasn't going to be easy. "How long will all of this last you on average?" he asked making small talk to try and distract himself from dwelling on thoughts of how well Craig's jeans fit him.
Craig already felt a trickle of sweat run along his temple, and it wasn’t only because of the temperature inside the shed. He quickly took the box from David and turned, placing it high on the shelf in front of him, and already in a hurry to turn back around and take the next box, hoping their fingers would brush again. And again. And….//God, you have a one track mind!// “Um…I usually get an order in every three weeks or so,” he said, taking the next box and turning back to place it on the shelf beside the first. “It’s not a lot….just the basics we need, mostly. We keep most of the food inside the shelter, but out here we store the blankets, toiletries, extra clothes from donations…stuff like that. Sometimes ex-residents who’ve moved on even send a truckload of supplies.”
David nodded as he picked up the next box, "I would guess you'd need more in winter?" he asked trying his best to seem interested. Facts and figures he could more easily focus on than the people tied to them. Continuing the process of handing off boxes, so that Craig could store them away in whatever filing system he used, David stopped for a moment to wipe his forehead. "Good thing you don't keep food out here, even canned goods I think would spoil. It's like an oven," he mused. "Do...do you mind terribly if I take my shirt off?" he asked somewhat awkwardly. He was attracted to Craig and wouldn't mind seeing him shirtless at all...but he might not feel the same way about David. The silence seemed to drag out a bit and he took that as a yes he would mind and started to bend down to get the next box.
“No….please….I mean….go right ahead,” Craig stammered, finding his voice after a moment. He’d been so stunned at David’s question, he’d almost fooled himself into believing he’d imagined the words, that it had just been wishful thinking on his part. “Actually, I’m burning up myself. We’re likely to pass out from a heat stroke or something…..Do you…..do you mind if I take mine off as well?” The very thought of seeing David shirtless was making his stomach do funny things….not to mention other parts of his anatomy.
David leaned back up as Craig spoke, grateful that he had agreed. He felt like he was going to melt at any second and then Craig asked to take off his shirt and a different sort of heat rushed through his veins. Swallowing hard he looked at Craig for a moment and nodded. "Don't mind at all," he said thinking his voice had sounded a bit odd even to his own ears. Looking down he began unbuttoning his shirt and soon pulled it off and lay it over the corner of a low shelving unit. Turning back to Craig he felt his mouth go dry and shook himself as he realized he was openly staring at the smooth skin of the other man's chest. After a moment he held out his hand to take Craig's shirt and lay it with his own before bending down to pick up the next box. "Helps a little bit," David said softly though that wasn't entirely true. A different heat was spreading through him and he was not sure which was worse.
“Yeah,” Craig murmured, unable to look away from David’s body. Soft looking, damp hair curled over his chest, and Craig’s fingers itched to comb through every last one, even as he wondered how they’d feel on his tongue. Long, lean muscles flexed underneath smooth skin, and Craig could almost feel how wonderful those muscles would feel moving against him. “I….I mean…yeah, it helps. A lot.” A slow blush ran from his neck, slowly making its way over his face, and he turned around abruptly, realizing he’d been staring like a love-sick teenager. His hands were empty, and he could sense that David had turned toward him, holding the next box, so he forced himself to turn back around, resolutely avoiding the other man’s gaze. “That shower is sounding better and better. And my office…it’s nice and cool. And….” His voice trailed off, and he knew he was way too close to babbling to continue. He’d never been this nervous around anyone in his life, and he thought he was doing quite a poor job at hiding it.
David held the box out to Craig, as the other man began almost babbling just as he had done on Wednesday afternoon, and he smiled. There was something...endearing about that. "Yeah, a shower does sound pretty good, ice tea would be nice too," he said softly while he watched the play of Craig's muscles across his back as he hefted the box up into the shelf. His eyes seemed to zero in on a single bead of sweat and he had the most incredible desire to follow the salty trail with his tongue. He almost gasped when Craig turned to face him waiting for the next box and he had yet to grab one. Bending down quickly, he lifted one of the boxes and handed it to Craig, feeling his face burning from more than the heat of the small shed.
Craig was relieved to see David’s face flushing as well. //Can he possibly feel this same attraction? Or is this all in my head? Or am I losing my mind entirely?// He quickly turned back around and put the box on the shelf and wiped away the sweat from his forehead. “Iced tea…I can definitely go for that,” he grinned, trying to make sense of the myriad of thoughts racing through his head. Neither man seemed inclined to say anything else for the moment, and less than a quarter of an hour later, all the boxes were safely stacked away in their proper places. Craig wished he could think of *something* that would require David to keep his shirt off….well, rather than the obvious things….but, decided that their plan of quick showers and office work was probably the safest bet. He was beginning to wonder if he could make it for an entire month, working beside the most perfect looking man he’d ever laid eyes on, and not make a fool of himself. “I guess…..I guess we can take those showers now,” he said as he grabbed their shirts and handed David his. “We’ve got a lot of paperwork ahead of us, if I recall correctly.”
David was actually grateful that Craig had said 'those showers' so that he was able to keep it separate in his mind. As he had watched Craig while they worked he had found himself fantasizing of all the different ways that Craig's skin could glisten with sweat and none of the thoughts had anything to do with stacking boxes in an overly hot shed. "Yeah a shower sounds like absolute heaven right about now," he said taking his shirt from Craig. They were close enough that he could almost feel the heat from Craig's body and abruptly stepped back and slid his shirt on over wet skin. Leaving the hot confines of the shed, Craig locked the door and they made their way back inside. //How the hell am I supposed to work next to someone who turns me on this much? He can just look at me with those gorgeous eyes and my heart rate doubles.//
Craig’s shirt instantly felt wet and sticky against his skin, and he knew he must be about the most least appealing thing David had ever seen, especially right now. He was almost ready to just confess his attraction to the other man….just say the words, and get it out of the way. David would laugh at him, or say Craig wasn’t his type or…or something, and they could go on with their business. For the next three and a half weeks, anyway. Then David would leave, and Craig’s life would go back to normal. Boring, busy, and lonely….normal. They stopped just outside of Craig’s office, where he unlocked the door and crossed over to his desk. “Do you need a fresh shirt?” he asked, trying not to look at the way David’s damp hair rested against his forehead…looking so soft and touchable and….//You’re torturing yourself. Just. Stop.// His gaze met David’s and he tried to smile. //Act normal. For God’s sake, just act normal. He’s *not* interested.//
"Yeah, I didn't think to bring a change of clothes with me today," he said with a smile. "I'll have to remember to keep some extra clothes stashed in my car all the time. The other day I just got lucky, had some clothes left there from a hiking trip I never got to take several weeks ago," he said and reached out for the shirt that Craig held out for him. "Thanks," he said softly, and waited for Craig to show him the way to the showers. His eyes kept going to Craig's hair, it was mussed from running his fingers though it and David felt his own fingers itch to run through the short dark strands.
Half an hour and one cold shower later, Craig was at his desk, idly tapping a pencil against his desk pad. He’d stopped by the kitchen and piled a plate high with sandwiches and two tall glasses of iced tea, then cleaned off a large work area on his desk. Without thinking, he’d moved the folding chair he used for visitors over to his side of the desk, close to his own chair, and was almost startled to see it sitting there when he glanced up. //It’ll be easier if he’s on this side of the desk. He won’t know the shelter address and id numbers after all.// He tried rationalizing it to himself for long minutes, but knew that it was just an excuse to be close to David. Sighing, he started to draw pictures on a note pad, unable to think about anything else but his new, handsome volunteer, and resigned himself to waiting.
David made it back to Craig's office from the showers and smiled when he saw Craig and lunch waiting for him. "Iced tea and sandwiches with a side order of grant proposals huh?" he grinned as he walked in and let the door swing shut behind him, closing out the noise of the large open room beyond. He noticed that the guest chair was on Craig's side of the desk and crossed the tiny room toward it. "These look good," he said looking at the sandwiches. Being this close to Craig was not going to be easy, even though he'd taken a very, very cold shower it didn't seem to do anything to quench the fire in his veins.
Craig looked down at the sandwiches and nodded. “One of our residents happens to be an excellent cook,” he explained, already feeling the effects of the cold shower wearing away as David sat down beside him. Their knees touched for just a moment, and Craig’s heart beat so loud and fast, he was almost sure David could hear it. He grabbed his glass of tea and took a long drink, trying to force himself to calm down. Clearing his throat, he gestured toward the plate. “I got several different kind of sandwiches, since I wasn’t sure what you’d like,” he managed. “Help yourself.”
When their knees touched David felt Craig pull away quickly and let out a soft sigh of disappointment. Taking what looked to be ham and cheese off the plate, he grinned. "Anything’s fine, I'm not terribly picky. Couldn't be the way I grew up, you either ate it or you went hungry," he joked. Reaching for his glass, he took a quick drink and tried to will his heart rate back to normal. "Let's see....how many of these do you have here?" he asked looking at the stacks of files, unsure what was client records and what was grants or other paperwork. "You don't need another volunteer you need an assistant, Craig. Can they not spare someone from DHS?" he asked.
Craig opened the largest of the files and sighed. “No, I’m it,” he said. “None of the social workers wanted to be responsible for an entire shelter. Even the new kids have their sights set on bigger and better opportunities. So…it’s just me.” Pushing the topmost form over toward David their fingers brushed together, and Craig simply froze. He honestly wasn’t sure he could do this…maybe bringing the chair to this side of the desk was a mistake. Hell, maybe bringing David back to his office was a mistake. He’d long ago reconciled himself to being alone. He wasn’t exactly sought after, a middle class social worker who was practically married to his job. And even if he were, he never left the shelter long enough to do anything but run home for a few hours, feeling guilty even then for leaving just in case someone needed him. He slowly lifted his eyes up to David’s and felt his heart start pounding even faster. “I’m sorry, David…I….” His voice trailed off into nothingness as clear blue eyes met his own.
David felt another little zing of heat surge up his arm from his fingertips where Craig's touched his own and he turned to look at the dark haired man. Craig just stared at him for a few moments and then their eyes met. David shook his head and lifted his hand to Craig's cheek unable to stop himself from touching him. "Sorry for what?" he asked curiously. He thought that he had some idea, the blushes, the way Craig's eyes would drift away from his own as if he were trying to hide something.
The touch of David’s fingers against his cheek made Craig’s heart stop pounding for a moment…made it stop entirely, actually, before furiously hammering in his chest once again. His eyes drifted down and stared at David’s lips, and he could think of nothing other than how it would feel to kiss him, even once. Before he could over think what he was about to do, or convince himself that he was making a mistake, he found himself leaning in toward the other man, stopping just before their lips met. David’s hand was still on his cheek, and Craig’s own hand reached up and rested against the back of David’s neck, his fingers curling into the damp hair at the base of his skull. He paused for only a moment, realized that by either some miracle or mistake, David hadn’t pulled away, and slowly moved forward, pressing his lips against the soft lips before him. His eyes fell shut and his breath caught in his throat, waiting for David to either grant him entry or push him away furiously.
David thought for a moment that he might be dreaming, the way he had every night since he met Craig. Then he felt Craig's lips move against his own again and his lips parted in a soft sigh, as Craig's tongue slipped against his own. Deepening the kiss he pulled Craig closer as his own tongue slipped past perfect lips to explore the sweet cavern. It was everything he'd dreamed of and so much more. He'd never wanted anyone the way he wanted Craig since the moment he’d met him. Drawing away for a breath of air, David stared into wide blue eyes and practically pulled Craig out of his chair and into his lap. Wrapping his arms around Craig, he pulled him close for another kiss, this time nibbling on that bottom lip he'd been curious about when he'd first arrived that morning, before kissing him more fully, his tongue exploring Craig's mouth even as his explored David's.
Craig gasped as he was pulled into David’s lap. After a moment, he realized that the soft pressure against his skin, the slick, wet tongue exploring his mouth, and the gentle teeth worrying his bottom lip were real, and he relaxed, giving himself over to the kiss completely. The fingers on his left hand carded through soft hair, as his other hand came up to rest just below David’s jaw. His thumb trailed lightly over smooth, warm skin, and his breath was lost somewhere between them. Sliding his tongue along David’s, Craig began his own exploration, licking and tasting, sliding along the smooth inner cheek and moving over slick teeth. This was, by far, the sweetest kiss he’d ever known…and the man in his arms tasted just as delicious as Craig had known he would.
David was completely lost as Craig's tongue began to explore his mouth. His hand slipped up from Craig's back to cradle the back of his head, as they melted against one another. He had dreamed of kissing Craig ever since he had met him. Never had anyone gotten under his skin that way. Finally pulling away to drag in a breath of air, he ran his fingers through Craig's soft hair and watched, enthralled, as his eyes opened. They simply stared at one another for long moments.
Smiling shyly, Craig’s fingers curled around the soft fringe of hair that still lay damply on David’s neck. He was slightly breathless and his heart was pounding in his chest even as he gazed into sparkling blue eyes. “I’ve wanted to do that from the minute I saw you,” he confessed. Trying to ignore the blush that was slowly creeping up his neck and face, he continued. “And it was just as amazing as I thought it would be.” He knew this might not have been a good idea…..he and David were too different, from completely separate worlds and backgrounds, and really, what could they have in common?
David found himself smiling as Craig blushed. "I’ve been wanting to do that too," he admitted. "It probably isn't the smartest thing for us to do this," David whispered regretfully. He wanted Craig, had wanted him since he met him. For some inexplicable reason he felt drawn to him, but they were so different, and once his month was up at the shelter they would go back to their separate lives. Craig lived for this place, that much he realized, and David was practically married to his job too. They lived in completely different worlds.
Craig shook his head and leaned back in to press a soft kiss to David’s lips. “No,” he admitted as he pulled back. “It’s probably not the smartest thing. I just couldn’t help myself. I don’t usually do things like this….in fact, I’ve never done anything like this. I just….I just find you so damn attractive, I couldn’t keep my hands off of you.” He laughed softy and sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to have to worry about me pawing all over you for the next month. I thought one kiss would get this out of my system, but….it didn’t seem to work. That’s my problem, not yours though.”
"I'd say it's both our problems, because as much as I would like to kiss you again we do have to work together," David said looking down. Finally releasing his arm from around Craig's waist he shifted and slid Craig back into his chair. He frowned once Craig's body was no longer against his own, already missing the feel of him wrapped around him. "It won't be easy, but...we both know a month from now we'll never see each other again," David said feeling a pang of sadness race through him.
Craig looked down at his desk, suddenly finding the chair he’d sat in for the past nine years to be terribly uncomfortable, especially compared to the nice, warm lap he’d just vacated. “Yeah…you’re absolutely right,” he said, trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. “In a month, we’ll hardly even remember each other’s names.” He seriously doubted that was true, seriously doubted that he’d ever forget David’s name or the way his lips fit so perfectly to Craig’s own, or the way his hair felt wrapped around Craig’s fingers…but, there was nothing else he could say or do. He ran a homeless shelter, for God’s sake! David was here under duress, trying to make the best of a bad situation, but wouldn’t even give this place, or Craig, a second thought after he was back in his penthouse office, with his million dollar mergers and his expensive suits. Suppressing a sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair and tried to shake off his melancholy. He licked his lips, still tasting David and noticing that they were still tingling and kiss swollen. //Let it go, Parker. Just let it go.// “So…anyway….here’s the first grant application…”
David looked down at the paperwork and sighed softly, "Right...let's get started," he said picking up the papers and trying to focus on them instead of the incredible man he'd just held in his arms. This couldn't have happened at a worse time, his first real day working with Craig and they'd kissed. An incredible kiss, like nothing he'd ever felt before sure, but they couldn't act on that. They couldn't could they? //No...no. Stop it, David. We don't have anything in common at all.//
~~~
Authors:
sairalinde & anorienbeanPairing: David Wenham/Craig Parker
Rating: Adult for graphic m/m sex Warnings: None for now,
Archiving:Saira’s Library, Here With Me, Mirrormere, OEAM, others please ask first
Feedback:Yes, please. We live for it. Send to:sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com, or thechroniclesofosgiliath @ yahoo.com
Disclaimer: None of this happened except in our fantasies. We are in no way are implying anything about the sexual preferences of either of our main characters, or any other peripheral characters used in this story.
Summary: A wealthy businessman is forced to do volunteer work and meets a handsome social worker who changes his views about the homeless and about love.
//Indicate thoughts
David tried to concentrate on the file he was reading but his mind kept drifting to yesterday evening at the shelter.
Despite everything, he had actually enjoyed himself. Craig was…interesting. He had an outlook on life that David didn’t agree with but he could see his point at least. David simply wasn’t the helping, caring sort really. Over the years he had seen the true nature of too many people through his business dealings to believe that anyone didn’t have ulterior motives but Craig….didn’t seem to. If he did, David couldn’t place them. He just truly didn’t seem to have a deceptive bone in his body.
Leaning back in his chair he closed his eyes. Craig really did seem to care about those people. He had even ripped up the check David gave him. Last night when David had returned to his office, he took off his suit jacket and a piece of the torn check fell onto the floor. The white of the envelope seemed too bright against the dark carpet and made him pause to wonder why Craig had done that. He had told him he could keep the money, but he didn’t want it. Even after David had decided to volunteer he doubted Craig would accept another check.
He had never imagined a charity would turn down money on principle like that. He was definitely going to enjoy his time there more than he first thought. Craig would make it interesting…he stimulated David intellectually….as well as physically. Craig was gorgeous, those eyes, God they were so incredibly blue, and his smile. When Craig had graced him with a smile David thought his heart nearly stopped. He had never met anyone who made him react that way physically.
Only two more days until he had to return to the shelter, he wondered if he would spend them the way he had the first half of this day? Thinking about Craig…wondering what those lips would feel like pressed against his own. Would they be soft? Would they part and grant him access to taste and tease, or would he be the one to be plundered? How would those nicely muscled legs that filled out faded jeans, in ways that should be illegal, feel wrapped around him? How would his name sound whispered huskily as he kissed his way down Craig’s incredible body?
//Does he have a boyfriend? Was it my imagination or did he blush when I said I needed to change clothes? What was he thinking about? Is he as affected as I am? Just once I’d love to know what it feels like to sink into him. To see his incredible eyes darken as they gazed up at me. Damn it. David you need to stop. You have work to do, and thinking about him isn’t going to get it done. Besides the two of you do NOT see eye to eye. Though you have never needed to really like someone to have sex with them, general attraction was always enough, but with Craig it seemed to be more than that. He makes a person want to like him. And that is what scares the hell out of you.// The ringing of his phone pulled him out of his thoughts and David attempted to get back to work, trying not to think of dark hair or blue eyes.
~~~
When Saturday morning rolled around, Craig couldn’t seem to concentrate on his paperwork. Or the supply list he was supposed to be making. Or the phone calls he was supposed to return. About the only thing he’d accomplished in the last hour was thinking about David….about those beautiful blue eyes, or that perfect smile, or the way Craig’s heart had skipped a beat when each time they’d shaken hands. He hadn’t been really surprised that David had left before he’d returned to the kitchen, but had been a little disappointed.
Craig had managed to convince Miranda to go home for the day, promising that his newest volunteer would be there as scheduled, though he wasn’t all that sure that David *would* show up. He’d said he would, but….a lot of people said that. And it very, very rarely ever happened. Mirry had noticed the look in Craig’s eyes that she’d never seen before, and gently teased him about it, making Craig all the more determined that she leave before noon…so she wouldn’t see the disappointment in there if David didn’t show. She’d laughed and wished him luck, leaving his office door open behind her, and glad to finally have another volunteer so she could spend more time with her family. Unlike Craig, she had a life outside of the shelter, and though she wished Craig did too, she knew better than to preach to him.
As the clock approached noon, Craig had changed the shirt he’d been wearing with one he’d kept in his desk drawer, (convincing himself that it was entirely too wrinkled to work in), drawn a few dozen circles on his desk pad (and colored each of them in with a blue pen, thank you very much), and drunk half a pot of coffee – one of the few things the shelter was more than blessed with. He looked back down at his paperwork and sighed. //I don’t know why I’m getting my hopes up. David won’t be here….he didn’t want to be here in the first place, so why would he come back?// Trying to concentrate on the topmost grant application in the file in front of him, he began idly coloring in the box marked “shelter name” and sighed again.
David stood in the open door to Craig's office and leaned against the frame watching the other man work. The blue button up shirt he was wearing looked particularly good on him, David thought. Content to stand there and watch Craig, he stood silently watching the way he nibbled at his bottom lip as he wrote and David had the most incredible urge to nibble it for him. Realizing where his thoughts were going he frowned. //Stop it, David. You didn't want to be here. You are only doing this because you said you would and you certainly don't need to get involved with anyone right now. Even if they are incredibly sexy.//
Clearing his throat, he smiled as Craig looked up and he felt his heart skip in his chest as those gorgeous blue eyes met his own. "Good morning," he said with a grin knowing that he had not expected him to show up after all.
A huge smile spread across Craig’s face, and even though he thought he must look terribly foolish, he couldn’t seem to wipe it away. David *had* shown up! He simply stared at the other man for a moment; practically salivating at the way he was leaning so casually in the office doorway. //God, he looks even better than I remember him. And I didn’t think that was possible!// “I…good morning,” he said, standing up quickly and knocking his knee against the side of his desk. His eyes watered momentarily, but his smile never wavered, even though he couldn’t seem to move for the pain radiating up his thigh. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as the pain ebbed away and his eyes met with David’s. “I…I’m really glad you came back. I honestly didn’t expect you to.”
David heard a bang as Craig stood up and winced slightly, having done the exact same thing before when startled. "Didn't mean to startle you...I came back, I told you I would. I never back out on a deal, Craig," he said moving into the small office. "So....what would you like me to do today?" he asked trying his best to get into the spirit of things.
“I admire people who are true to their word,” Craig grinned, dragging his eyes away from David’s and looking back down at the ‘to do’ list in front of him. There were dozens of chores that needed to be done today, but at least one of the current residents had offered to do the kitchen and serving duties for the afternoon, freeing Craig’s time up for a few hours so he could move on to something else. Hugo had worked as a short order cook for a while, and Craig was more than happy to let him take over. “Well, if you’re up for it, I just had a truck deliver some supplies that need to be shelved. I’m sure you’d probably rather work in here though…the storage building out back is kind of warm. We can always…..let’s see…..” His voice trailed off as he looked down the list, trying to sort out what was the most urgent. There always seemed to be too much to do, and too little time and help to get it done…even when some of the residents lent a hand, it never seemed to be enough.
"Just because I work in an office now, doesn't mean I have an aversion to getting a little sweaty," David grinned. "I'd be glad to help with the boxes or whatever else...I said I'd do this, and I fully intend to do whatever you need." David leaned against Craig's desk and tilted his head to look at the paperwork. "How about boxes first and then...I can help you with these if you want? I tend to be pretty good with paperwork they say," he teased as Craig looked back up from his desk at him.
Craig’s mouth went as dry as the Sahara desert when the image of a sweating David flashed through his mind. His heart sped up and his tongue unconsciously licked across equally dry lips. //I will NOT blush, dammit. And I *will* stop thinking of him that way. He’s not interested, and nothing will come out of this…nothing more than a month of being able to admire and not touch, and hopefully having someone to help me with this damn pile of forms. That’s it. End of story.//
Clearing his throat, Craig took a calming breath. “Sounds good to me. The boxes won’t take long, and I really could use help with these forms. They seem to multiply every time I walk out of this office.” He rounded the desk and found himself smiling at his new volunteer…who seemed a lot happier to be here than Craig would have guessed. “There’s a shower in the back…we can always shower and change clothes afterward. I have some extra shirts in my desk if you need something else.”
David found that he had to look away when a pink tongue slid across Craig's lips. A flash of heat shot through him and he tried his best to push away the thoughts and feelings that reaction evoked. Unable to help himself, he quirked his eyebrow when Craig said 'we can always shower after' knowing that was not what he meant but automatically his mind went there. Clearing his throat he nodded, "Umm...I...yeah sounds good." //Harvard education and that's the best you can do? God, David get it together.// No one had ever made him feel this way before, like he was completely out of his depth. Moving aside so Craig could pass him, David followed him. "That paperwork back there...grants?" he asked curiously.
//Damn, he smells good. I’d like to…..oh, God, it’s going to be a long afternoon.// With a wry smile at himself, Craig stood in the doorway and glanced back at his desk. “Yes. We operate mostly on state funded and private grants and donations. That’s why I was able to give your check back the other day, which, by the way, I’m sorry I was so rude about. We have enough money to stay afloat; we just don’t have the man power. The residents try to help, but I’d rather they go out and work during the days, if work’s available. It helps their self esteem, if nothing else, and makes them forget that this is the only home they have to return to sometimes.”
David shook his head, "Don't be sorry, I wasn't exactly being very kind myself," he admitted. "I was shocked you didn't just accept the check. I thought I had it all figured out, but your reaction did throw me. I figured you'd be like most of the other charities I've dealt with, they didn't care what I did as long as they got the money ya know? I am not going to say I'm *happy* I'm here, because I'm not. I've had to rearrange my entire life for this, but...whoever called Boyd, knew it would trap me. I said...well I said pretty much what I said to you about homeless people only worse and a reporter overheard me. That's sort of why I'm here. Dom...Mr. Monaghan wants to try to fix my PR blunder, so ultimately the fault in all this lies squarely at my own feet. I can't blame anyone but myself,” David admitted. It wasn't easy to admit, but it was the truth. He was a big enough man to admit that it was his own fault. He had said they made their own beds let them lie in them...well he'd made his. "Anyway, grant paperwork isn't much different than what I handle everyday. Shouldn't take too long," he mused as they stopped in front of a large garage style metal door.
Craig fished in his pockets, searching for his key and trying to hide his surprise. Most people blamed all their mistakes on other people…a sad fact he’d seen all too often in his life of work. But David was different…he’d known that from the first instant they’d met, but he just didn’t know *how* different he was. Finally pulling the key out of his pocket, he opened the door and looked at the boxes he’d signed for a few hours ago. “Looks like we have our afternoon planned then,” he grinned, trying not to think about how small the shed was…and how closely he and David would have to work together…getting hot and sweaty and……//and you’re going to need a cold shower after this, Parker, you horny fool.// “Um….If you’ll just hand me the boxes, I’ll put them on the shelves. Then we can each take a shower, and grab a sandwich to eat while we tackle the paperwork, then. How’s that sound?”
"Sounds good to me," David said stepping into the small shed and picking up the box closest to himself. He only had to move a short distance to reach where Craig was and handed the box off to him. As he did their fingers brushed and David swallowed hard...this was going to be a long day. He was already attracted to the other man and being this close wasn't going to be easy. "How long will all of this last you on average?" he asked making small talk to try and distract himself from dwelling on thoughts of how well Craig's jeans fit him.
Craig already felt a trickle of sweat run along his temple, and it wasn’t only because of the temperature inside the shed. He quickly took the box from David and turned, placing it high on the shelf in front of him, and already in a hurry to turn back around and take the next box, hoping their fingers would brush again. And again. And….//God, you have a one track mind!// “Um…I usually get an order in every three weeks or so,” he said, taking the next box and turning back to place it on the shelf beside the first. “It’s not a lot….just the basics we need, mostly. We keep most of the food inside the shelter, but out here we store the blankets, toiletries, extra clothes from donations…stuff like that. Sometimes ex-residents who’ve moved on even send a truckload of supplies.”
David nodded as he picked up the next box, "I would guess you'd need more in winter?" he asked trying his best to seem interested. Facts and figures he could more easily focus on than the people tied to them. Continuing the process of handing off boxes, so that Craig could store them away in whatever filing system he used, David stopped for a moment to wipe his forehead. "Good thing you don't keep food out here, even canned goods I think would spoil. It's like an oven," he mused. "Do...do you mind terribly if I take my shirt off?" he asked somewhat awkwardly. He was attracted to Craig and wouldn't mind seeing him shirtless at all...but he might not feel the same way about David. The silence seemed to drag out a bit and he took that as a yes he would mind and started to bend down to get the next box.
“No….please….I mean….go right ahead,” Craig stammered, finding his voice after a moment. He’d been so stunned at David’s question, he’d almost fooled himself into believing he’d imagined the words, that it had just been wishful thinking on his part. “Actually, I’m burning up myself. We’re likely to pass out from a heat stroke or something…..Do you…..do you mind if I take mine off as well?” The very thought of seeing David shirtless was making his stomach do funny things….not to mention other parts of his anatomy.
David leaned back up as Craig spoke, grateful that he had agreed. He felt like he was going to melt at any second and then Craig asked to take off his shirt and a different sort of heat rushed through his veins. Swallowing hard he looked at Craig for a moment and nodded. "Don't mind at all," he said thinking his voice had sounded a bit odd even to his own ears. Looking down he began unbuttoning his shirt and soon pulled it off and lay it over the corner of a low shelving unit. Turning back to Craig he felt his mouth go dry and shook himself as he realized he was openly staring at the smooth skin of the other man's chest. After a moment he held out his hand to take Craig's shirt and lay it with his own before bending down to pick up the next box. "Helps a little bit," David said softly though that wasn't entirely true. A different heat was spreading through him and he was not sure which was worse.
“Yeah,” Craig murmured, unable to look away from David’s body. Soft looking, damp hair curled over his chest, and Craig’s fingers itched to comb through every last one, even as he wondered how they’d feel on his tongue. Long, lean muscles flexed underneath smooth skin, and Craig could almost feel how wonderful those muscles would feel moving against him. “I….I mean…yeah, it helps. A lot.” A slow blush ran from his neck, slowly making its way over his face, and he turned around abruptly, realizing he’d been staring like a love-sick teenager. His hands were empty, and he could sense that David had turned toward him, holding the next box, so he forced himself to turn back around, resolutely avoiding the other man’s gaze. “That shower is sounding better and better. And my office…it’s nice and cool. And….” His voice trailed off, and he knew he was way too close to babbling to continue. He’d never been this nervous around anyone in his life, and he thought he was doing quite a poor job at hiding it.
David held the box out to Craig, as the other man began almost babbling just as he had done on Wednesday afternoon, and he smiled. There was something...endearing about that. "Yeah, a shower does sound pretty good, ice tea would be nice too," he said softly while he watched the play of Craig's muscles across his back as he hefted the box up into the shelf. His eyes seemed to zero in on a single bead of sweat and he had the most incredible desire to follow the salty trail with his tongue. He almost gasped when Craig turned to face him waiting for the next box and he had yet to grab one. Bending down quickly, he lifted one of the boxes and handed it to Craig, feeling his face burning from more than the heat of the small shed.
Craig was relieved to see David’s face flushing as well. //Can he possibly feel this same attraction? Or is this all in my head? Or am I losing my mind entirely?// He quickly turned back around and put the box on the shelf and wiped away the sweat from his forehead. “Iced tea…I can definitely go for that,” he grinned, trying to make sense of the myriad of thoughts racing through his head. Neither man seemed inclined to say anything else for the moment, and less than a quarter of an hour later, all the boxes were safely stacked away in their proper places. Craig wished he could think of *something* that would require David to keep his shirt off….well, rather than the obvious things….but, decided that their plan of quick showers and office work was probably the safest bet. He was beginning to wonder if he could make it for an entire month, working beside the most perfect looking man he’d ever laid eyes on, and not make a fool of himself. “I guess…..I guess we can take those showers now,” he said as he grabbed their shirts and handed David his. “We’ve got a lot of paperwork ahead of us, if I recall correctly.”
David was actually grateful that Craig had said 'those showers' so that he was able to keep it separate in his mind. As he had watched Craig while they worked he had found himself fantasizing of all the different ways that Craig's skin could glisten with sweat and none of the thoughts had anything to do with stacking boxes in an overly hot shed. "Yeah a shower sounds like absolute heaven right about now," he said taking his shirt from Craig. They were close enough that he could almost feel the heat from Craig's body and abruptly stepped back and slid his shirt on over wet skin. Leaving the hot confines of the shed, Craig locked the door and they made their way back inside. //How the hell am I supposed to work next to someone who turns me on this much? He can just look at me with those gorgeous eyes and my heart rate doubles.//
Craig’s shirt instantly felt wet and sticky against his skin, and he knew he must be about the most least appealing thing David had ever seen, especially right now. He was almost ready to just confess his attraction to the other man….just say the words, and get it out of the way. David would laugh at him, or say Craig wasn’t his type or…or something, and they could go on with their business. For the next three and a half weeks, anyway. Then David would leave, and Craig’s life would go back to normal. Boring, busy, and lonely….normal. They stopped just outside of Craig’s office, where he unlocked the door and crossed over to his desk. “Do you need a fresh shirt?” he asked, trying not to look at the way David’s damp hair rested against his forehead…looking so soft and touchable and….//You’re torturing yourself. Just. Stop.// His gaze met David’s and he tried to smile. //Act normal. For God’s sake, just act normal. He’s *not* interested.//
"Yeah, I didn't think to bring a change of clothes with me today," he said with a smile. "I'll have to remember to keep some extra clothes stashed in my car all the time. The other day I just got lucky, had some clothes left there from a hiking trip I never got to take several weeks ago," he said and reached out for the shirt that Craig held out for him. "Thanks," he said softly, and waited for Craig to show him the way to the showers. His eyes kept going to Craig's hair, it was mussed from running his fingers though it and David felt his own fingers itch to run through the short dark strands.
Half an hour and one cold shower later, Craig was at his desk, idly tapping a pencil against his desk pad. He’d stopped by the kitchen and piled a plate high with sandwiches and two tall glasses of iced tea, then cleaned off a large work area on his desk. Without thinking, he’d moved the folding chair he used for visitors over to his side of the desk, close to his own chair, and was almost startled to see it sitting there when he glanced up. //It’ll be easier if he’s on this side of the desk. He won’t know the shelter address and id numbers after all.// He tried rationalizing it to himself for long minutes, but knew that it was just an excuse to be close to David. Sighing, he started to draw pictures on a note pad, unable to think about anything else but his new, handsome volunteer, and resigned himself to waiting.
David made it back to Craig's office from the showers and smiled when he saw Craig and lunch waiting for him. "Iced tea and sandwiches with a side order of grant proposals huh?" he grinned as he walked in and let the door swing shut behind him, closing out the noise of the large open room beyond. He noticed that the guest chair was on Craig's side of the desk and crossed the tiny room toward it. "These look good," he said looking at the sandwiches. Being this close to Craig was not going to be easy, even though he'd taken a very, very cold shower it didn't seem to do anything to quench the fire in his veins.
Craig looked down at the sandwiches and nodded. “One of our residents happens to be an excellent cook,” he explained, already feeling the effects of the cold shower wearing away as David sat down beside him. Their knees touched for just a moment, and Craig’s heart beat so loud and fast, he was almost sure David could hear it. He grabbed his glass of tea and took a long drink, trying to force himself to calm down. Clearing his throat, he gestured toward the plate. “I got several different kind of sandwiches, since I wasn’t sure what you’d like,” he managed. “Help yourself.”
When their knees touched David felt Craig pull away quickly and let out a soft sigh of disappointment. Taking what looked to be ham and cheese off the plate, he grinned. "Anything’s fine, I'm not terribly picky. Couldn't be the way I grew up, you either ate it or you went hungry," he joked. Reaching for his glass, he took a quick drink and tried to will his heart rate back to normal. "Let's see....how many of these do you have here?" he asked looking at the stacks of files, unsure what was client records and what was grants or other paperwork. "You don't need another volunteer you need an assistant, Craig. Can they not spare someone from DHS?" he asked.
Craig opened the largest of the files and sighed. “No, I’m it,” he said. “None of the social workers wanted to be responsible for an entire shelter. Even the new kids have their sights set on bigger and better opportunities. So…it’s just me.” Pushing the topmost form over toward David their fingers brushed together, and Craig simply froze. He honestly wasn’t sure he could do this…maybe bringing the chair to this side of the desk was a mistake. Hell, maybe bringing David back to his office was a mistake. He’d long ago reconciled himself to being alone. He wasn’t exactly sought after, a middle class social worker who was practically married to his job. And even if he were, he never left the shelter long enough to do anything but run home for a few hours, feeling guilty even then for leaving just in case someone needed him. He slowly lifted his eyes up to David’s and felt his heart start pounding even faster. “I’m sorry, David…I….” His voice trailed off into nothingness as clear blue eyes met his own.
David felt another little zing of heat surge up his arm from his fingertips where Craig's touched his own and he turned to look at the dark haired man. Craig just stared at him for a few moments and then their eyes met. David shook his head and lifted his hand to Craig's cheek unable to stop himself from touching him. "Sorry for what?" he asked curiously. He thought that he had some idea, the blushes, the way Craig's eyes would drift away from his own as if he were trying to hide something.
The touch of David’s fingers against his cheek made Craig’s heart stop pounding for a moment…made it stop entirely, actually, before furiously hammering in his chest once again. His eyes drifted down and stared at David’s lips, and he could think of nothing other than how it would feel to kiss him, even once. Before he could over think what he was about to do, or convince himself that he was making a mistake, he found himself leaning in toward the other man, stopping just before their lips met. David’s hand was still on his cheek, and Craig’s own hand reached up and rested against the back of David’s neck, his fingers curling into the damp hair at the base of his skull. He paused for only a moment, realized that by either some miracle or mistake, David hadn’t pulled away, and slowly moved forward, pressing his lips against the soft lips before him. His eyes fell shut and his breath caught in his throat, waiting for David to either grant him entry or push him away furiously.
David thought for a moment that he might be dreaming, the way he had every night since he met Craig. Then he felt Craig's lips move against his own again and his lips parted in a soft sigh, as Craig's tongue slipped against his own. Deepening the kiss he pulled Craig closer as his own tongue slipped past perfect lips to explore the sweet cavern. It was everything he'd dreamed of and so much more. He'd never wanted anyone the way he wanted Craig since the moment he’d met him. Drawing away for a breath of air, David stared into wide blue eyes and practically pulled Craig out of his chair and into his lap. Wrapping his arms around Craig, he pulled him close for another kiss, this time nibbling on that bottom lip he'd been curious about when he'd first arrived that morning, before kissing him more fully, his tongue exploring Craig's mouth even as his explored David's.
Craig gasped as he was pulled into David’s lap. After a moment, he realized that the soft pressure against his skin, the slick, wet tongue exploring his mouth, and the gentle teeth worrying his bottom lip were real, and he relaxed, giving himself over to the kiss completely. The fingers on his left hand carded through soft hair, as his other hand came up to rest just below David’s jaw. His thumb trailed lightly over smooth, warm skin, and his breath was lost somewhere between them. Sliding his tongue along David’s, Craig began his own exploration, licking and tasting, sliding along the smooth inner cheek and moving over slick teeth. This was, by far, the sweetest kiss he’d ever known…and the man in his arms tasted just as delicious as Craig had known he would.
David was completely lost as Craig's tongue began to explore his mouth. His hand slipped up from Craig's back to cradle the back of his head, as they melted against one another. He had dreamed of kissing Craig ever since he had met him. Never had anyone gotten under his skin that way. Finally pulling away to drag in a breath of air, he ran his fingers through Craig's soft hair and watched, enthralled, as his eyes opened. They simply stared at one another for long moments.
Smiling shyly, Craig’s fingers curled around the soft fringe of hair that still lay damply on David’s neck. He was slightly breathless and his heart was pounding in his chest even as he gazed into sparkling blue eyes. “I’ve wanted to do that from the minute I saw you,” he confessed. Trying to ignore the blush that was slowly creeping up his neck and face, he continued. “And it was just as amazing as I thought it would be.” He knew this might not have been a good idea…..he and David were too different, from completely separate worlds and backgrounds, and really, what could they have in common?
David found himself smiling as Craig blushed. "I’ve been wanting to do that too," he admitted. "It probably isn't the smartest thing for us to do this," David whispered regretfully. He wanted Craig, had wanted him since he met him. For some inexplicable reason he felt drawn to him, but they were so different, and once his month was up at the shelter they would go back to their separate lives. Craig lived for this place, that much he realized, and David was practically married to his job too. They lived in completely different worlds.
Craig shook his head and leaned back in to press a soft kiss to David’s lips. “No,” he admitted as he pulled back. “It’s probably not the smartest thing. I just couldn’t help myself. I don’t usually do things like this….in fact, I’ve never done anything like this. I just….I just find you so damn attractive, I couldn’t keep my hands off of you.” He laughed softy and sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to have to worry about me pawing all over you for the next month. I thought one kiss would get this out of my system, but….it didn’t seem to work. That’s my problem, not yours though.”
"I'd say it's both our problems, because as much as I would like to kiss you again we do have to work together," David said looking down. Finally releasing his arm from around Craig's waist he shifted and slid Craig back into his chair. He frowned once Craig's body was no longer against his own, already missing the feel of him wrapped around him. "It won't be easy, but...we both know a month from now we'll never see each other again," David said feeling a pang of sadness race through him.
Craig looked down at his desk, suddenly finding the chair he’d sat in for the past nine years to be terribly uncomfortable, especially compared to the nice, warm lap he’d just vacated. “Yeah…you’re absolutely right,” he said, trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. “In a month, we’ll hardly even remember each other’s names.” He seriously doubted that was true, seriously doubted that he’d ever forget David’s name or the way his lips fit so perfectly to Craig’s own, or the way his hair felt wrapped around Craig’s fingers…but, there was nothing else he could say or do. He ran a homeless shelter, for God’s sake! David was here under duress, trying to make the best of a bad situation, but wouldn’t even give this place, or Craig, a second thought after he was back in his penthouse office, with his million dollar mergers and his expensive suits. Suppressing a sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair and tried to shake off his melancholy. He licked his lips, still tasting David and noticing that they were still tingling and kiss swollen. //Let it go, Parker. Just let it go.// “So…anyway….here’s the first grant application…”
David looked down at the paperwork and sighed softly, "Right...let's get started," he said picking up the papers and trying to focus on them instead of the incredible man he'd just held in his arms. This couldn't have happened at a worse time, his first real day working with Craig and they'd kissed. An incredible kiss, like nothing he'd ever felt before sure, but they couldn't act on that. They couldn't could they? //No...no. Stop it, David. We don't have anything in common at all.//
~~~