These Days

A/N: Mmm, lemon cookies, my favorite. Luckily I found some dark chocolate and choco chip dough in the fridge so we had five cookies worth of inspiration post-dinner! I realize, recently, I have been ending with a lot of sleeping scenes. So I will not end this chapter with a sleeping scene. Maybe I am tired and that is why my characters like sleeping so much. Hmm… Well anyway. I will work on that. Have Fun!


Smith woke up alone late in the night. The red lights of the digital clock announced the hour at one seventeen in the morning.

A glance around the room turned up nothing but the dull blue of moonlight and shadow. Both bedrooms were checked next and neither contained Tye. Finally, frustrated and confused, he grabbed his fags form the table where they had been tossed and stalked out onto the porch.

A shocked face stared up at him from the bottom stair. A cup of still steaming tea sat beside Tye and several slices of bread rested in a napkin across his lap. He spoke softly against the darkness, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Smiths shook his head, “No, I’m not used to too much sleeping. Its pretty natural for me to wake up at random hours.”

Lighting one of his fags and slipping it between his lips Smiths settled down on the top stair. Tye shifted self-consciously but munched on the bread in his lap, occasionally washing it down with a bit of tea.

“So can I see you again?” Smiths blurted out.

Though he couldn't’ see his face, Smiths suspected Tye was smiling as he said, “You’re seeing me now.”

Still, Smiths couldn’t abandon his serious tone, “I mean that guy on the phone earlier. Are you gonna meet him in Baltimore next week?”

Tye jerked around, his bread tumbling to the stairs and the hot tea splashing over the old wood, “Jaques?! Why the bloody hell would I see him? He’s a fucking bastard!”

Smiths shrugged and twisted a bit of his jeans between his fingers, “He was your lover. And you sounded regretful when you spoke of him. Its ok. I just tumbled into your life. But, I would like to see you again before you left. You might not come back.”

Cold hands slid over Smiths’ cheeks and down his neck to lift his head. Tye was kneeling between his spread knees, “I broke up with Jaques for a reason. I don’t ever want to see him. I don’t want anything to do with him, least of all get back together.” Smiths still felt like sulking and let his head rest against one of Tye’s hands. “Smiths.” Smiths looked back at Tye when his name was spoken in that tone. “Look. I lived with that bastard for over three years. He cheated on me more times than I can think about. When he finally left, the only thing he didn’t take was his liquor. I don’t know what’s going to happen in Baltimore. Or Boston. Or tomorrow, for that matter, but I do know it won’t be getting back together with that asshole.”

Smiths nodded and wrapped his arms around Tye’s waist, pulling him forward in order to rest his head on Tye’s shoulder. Gentle fingers combed through his short hair and trailed over the hot skin on the back of his neck, “C’mon, big man, lets go to bed.”

Smiths twitched at those words and leaned back to look Tye in the eyes but his expectation was met with a gentle rap of knuckles, “Just to sleep. No funny business.”

Smiths smiled and nodded, nuzzling Tye’s neck again before standing up and pulling Tye to his feet. The paper napkin and mug were collected, the bread abandoned for whatever night creature enjoyed such a treat, and left in the kitchen. Tye tugged Smiths’ hand slightly and moved into his bedroom. The room was neat and almost as large as the living room.

Turning away from Smiths, Tye shucked his jeans and already opened dress shirt. In boxers and a black wife beater he slid under the covers and closed his eyes until he felt Smiths slip in beside him. Conscious for the first time of all the heat and muscle wrapped around him Tye found it almost impossible to drift back into sleep. Smiths was a dead weight around him in minutes and though he lay flush against his chest, Smiths’ arm over his back, he couldn’t convince himself to calm down enough to sleep. The rustle of Smiths’ breath disturbed his hair, the thick sweet smell of him clotted the air, the brush of his skin filled Tye with bubbling heat.

Finally, as the pink strains of early morning teased the treetops he faded away with sleep.

The next day moved lazily. They woke around noon, Smiths taking the advantage of waking up early to nuzzle and kiss and pet until Tye finally smacked his hand away and rolled groggily out of the bed. Though they didn’t shower together, something Smiths had privately been hoping for, Tye did strut around in just his boxers and old loose jeans while he made coffee and pulled out ingredients for lunch. By the time their food was on the table Tye had scrounged up a tee that had an indistinguishable design on the front and was made of well-worn orange fabric.

Smiths hummed in pleasure as the fishy cakes melted against his tongue. Smiths was hardly a connisour of foods, but he did know good. And this was delicious. The lightly pan fried cakes were accompanied by sweet, soft peas and carrot slices. They ate outside, though the air was growing noticeably cooler as fall began to press on. Heloise raced circles around the house, pausing occasionally when Smiths whistled and tossed a bit of cake at him.

“I’m surprised he’s not as big as a house the way you spoil him,” Tye said.

Smiths laughed behind his teeth as Heloise did another lap, “Rather I think its him that keeps me in shape.”

Tye pursed his lips in disbelief but denied a response.

Smiths polished off his plate and left it next to the chair on the porch before bounding over the ledge in time to tackle his ruffian dog. Deep, heavy yips marked the progress of the battle. Occasionally Heloise would back up and bare his teeth then rush back into the brawl all head-butts and wagging tail. Finally Heloise rolled over in defeat with his great pink tongue lolling out of his mouth.

A low whistle pricked up both Heloise’s and Smiths’ head. Tye was standing at the top of the stairs, something suspiciously like meat pinched in one hand. Heloise reached him before Smiths and Tye slipped the lightly cooked beef, left over from a stew, into the beast’s jaws. Content, the dog circled and finally collapsed behind Tye on the porch.

Smiths stopped on the stair below Tye, bringing them nearly to eye level, Tye now just a pinch taller.

Though Heloise seemed perfectly content with his rapidly disappearing meat Smiths rather though he got the better end of the bargain as Tye brushed gentle, tentative kisses across his lips and neck.

Maneuvering around his monstrous dog, Smiths backed Tye up against the wall of the cabin. Smiths’ big tough hands teased the edge of Tye’s shirt, tasting the quivering skin just barely available. When his thumbs made the plunge into the pant’s waist line Tye had to grip Smiths’ shoulders to keep upright. All the time their lips locked, or gasped open for breath as wandering kisses traced jaw lines and ear lobes and collarbones.

Tye shifted slightly, his weak knees curling up in search of support. Smiths surged forward with that small window ‘til there was no space between their bodies. The gently rocking Smiths occasionally made against Tye’s hips had them both heaving and sweaty.

Just when Smiths would have moved again, brushed himself over the edge, Tye wrapped his long arms around Smiths’ neck and pulled himself up against that body.

“Not here,” He whispered.

Smiths nodded jerkily and hauled Tye up higher and closer till those sinewy legs wrapped tight around his waist and Smiths could walk them, with relative ease, into the bedroom.

Tye slid to his feet and backed up enough to pull the t-shirt over his head. Smiths watched avidly, his eyed covering the dark, passion-perked nipples to the taught clench of the belly. After a few moments Tye covered his chest self-consciously. Smiths quickly moved forward to trap Tye’s arms above his head where they couldn’t cover his body. Against the protests he tried to make Smiths press soft flurries of kisses, eventually trailing them down across the expand of skin bared to him.

“You too,” Tye hummed, “You … undress too.”

Smiths stripped to his boxers obligingly before kneeling in front of Tye to lavish laps and licks across the hip bones exposed to him as he cautiously worked the button and fly of Tye’s jeans. Soon the material was piled around his feet and Smiths slowly slipped the boxers after them.

Tye shivered but Smiths wrapped his arms around Tye’s thighs and ass. He slid his tongue over the tip of Tye’s hard cock. Immediately Tye was curled over, hands braced on Smith’s shoulder, “Oh, god,” was all he managed to get out before Smiths began to work his tongue from the base to the tip of the weeping member. When Smiths engulfed what he could inside his mouth, sucking softly, Tye whimpered and dug his nails in deeper to Smiths shoulders. A hot stream soaked Smiths’ tongue in no time, and when Tye tried to jerk out of his grasp Smiths held his hips firm and continued to tease and suck until Tye nearly collapsed atop him.

With the hot afternoon sun casting the room in deep, Day Lily orange, Tye was laid out on his bed and covered by Smiths’ solid body. Tye snitched a Kleenex from his nightstand and gently rubbed the sticky residue from around Smiths’ lips and cheeks.

“Sorry,” he said softly.

Smiths grinned and kissed his wrists and hands slowly, “I did it because I wanted to.”

Tye watched him steadily then reached into a corner of his nightstand drawer, “This is all I have,” he said, barely audible. Smiths watched as Tye came up with a tiny tube and a square aluminum package. “I never really thought I’d need anything like this up here. I don’t really know why I even have this.”

Smiths nuzzled Tye’s neck softly while he slipped the objects from Tye’s fingers. The Lube was new Smiths had to peel back the aluminum before squeezing out half on his fingers. He kept his eyes on Tye’s face as the first finger teased and coated Tye’s entrance. The sudden entrance showed up like a light board over Tye’s face. His body held tense for a moment before he began twisting and looking up at Smiths through half lidded eyes. Smiths obligingly twisted and pumped his finger a moment before adding a second to the intrusion. Now Tye was lapping at Smiths’ parted lips and running short fingernails down his biceps. When the third finger slipped it it was accompanied by a hard kiss that had Tye flat against the bed, his lower back arced and twisting.

Smiths pulled back completely, clearing his fingers of the wet residue with a tissue and slipping the condom over his eager cock, and Tye lay panting and nearly fully erect again. One arm rested over his eyes, as though to block out the sensations still wracking his body.

Lining up carefully, Smiths moved Tye’s arm aside gently and pressed a soft kiss against Tye’s temple, “Are you good?” He asked.

Inn response Tye tangled one hand in Smiths hair and tugged him down for a brutal kiss. “Put it in,” He heaved out.

Smiths grinned and complied. Tye arced back immediately, his fingers searing uselessly for a purchase. Smiths drew back slowly then drove forward again. This time Tye allowed a tiny sigh, at odd with his flushed and sweaty appearance, to escape from his opened mouth. Smiths dug his toes into the bed and reached up as he made another thrust. Fumbling slightly, he managed to twist their fingers together and Tye gripped his hand mercilessly and he continued to drive them toward ecstasy with even, quickening, stokes.

The heat, the gentle moans coming up from Tye, the heated kisses between thrusts, drove Smiths clear to oblivion. As the pump of hot fluid filled the latex he continued to drive forward hard, each thrust brining an almost painful rush of pleasure, until Tye came again, his hot seed sputtering up against their chests and sucking Smiths in and commanding him to hold still.

It was as perfect a first time as Smiths had ever had. He hoped Tye could say the same.

As he looked down though he found Tye’s eyes shut and his breath, though heavy and ragged, even with the lulls of sleep. Slipping out as gently as he could manage Smiths tied off and tossed the condom and tissues. Waiting a moment for his legs to regain their strength, Smiths hooked his arms under Tye’s back and knees and carted him into the bathtub. Sitting in the middle of the porcelain tub with Tye curled in his lap, Smiths allowed lukewarm water to fill to about his hips and proceeded to wash both himself and Tyler. Cool citrus soap peeled off the stickiness and sweat with ease and left his skin light and almost cool. Tye couldn’t have been deader to the world so Smiths tucked them, still naked, beneath the covers, the dirty coverlet rolled down to the end of the bed, and tucked Tye close to his chest.



Tye went through his morning routine practically bouncing off the walls. Smiths was still asleep in the bedroom and Tye looked forward to the opportunity to wake him up. Deep aches pulled his back and neck but Tye endured them happily. When he returned, dressed in Jeans and a t-shirt once again, Smiths had turned over but was just as deeply asleep. Tye pressed a soft kiss to his temple, petting and smoothing out the waves of his hair.

Deciding to finish some work before Smiths emerged from his coma-like state, Tye tucked the covers up high and wandered into his office. He had turned the computer off yesterday and now booted it up again along with his files. Two slices of apple bread and a mug of Lady Grey tea had him prepared to battle whatever muck he had spun out on his last attempt.

Thirty minutes of watching and tweaking later and Tye had to concede that either it was a good design or he was simply too distracted to see any other possibilities. Either way it was way past time to rest his brain from it.

The next project was pulled up on a blank screen, this one being an exclusively print advertisement, and Tye pulled out his electronic sketch pad and began throwing out several quick ideas and thumbnails. They floated in miniature form across his screen. Dragging and clicking the mouse began to work a headache into the back of his skull and idly he wondered how much it would be to get a touch screen. Probably it would be worth it.

A final accidental slip of his finger, mixing up his organization, and Tye had to leave his office before chucking something at the screen. Back in the living room he located his phone and grinned at the memory of Smiths shyly informing him he had removed the battery completely. Tye could practically see him too impatient to simply turn it off properly.

Slipping the battery back into place, and the backing over that, Tye waited for it laod back up while he swiped another piece of bread. The screen blinked angrily as it loaded the screens to inform him of seventeen text messages and four voicemails along with seven missed calls.

Tye flipped through the messages, not really reading them, except for the couple from Charlie telling him about the party and then threatening him lest he try to skip out on coming.

The voicemails he left, he hated voicemail no matter who it was from, and would have ignored the missed calls but for the possibility that it might be from his boss or a client. As he was clicking through the menu his phone began to buzz against his hand and he answered it without thinking, “ ‘ello?”

Jacques layered accent floated across the line, “Hey baby.”