Chapter Four
It was in the second week that Mikael approached David. He was in the kitchen, fetching water for the two children who sat around Beth in the afternoons to hear her tell fairy tales. David always enjoyed hearing her tell the stories, though he tried to hide it. Mikael could always see the way his eyes lit up and he edged closer. In another life, David might have been one of those eager children.
“Hey, David,” Mikael started. “This may seem rather out of the blue, but I was wondering if you wanted to come over to my house tonight. I have some things I would like to go over with you.”
Mikael dared not breathe as he awaited the answer. He had specifically waited until David was alone and in what he believed to be a good space. He had practiced for days, trying to get the courage to speak to David. He had never met anyone who made him so nervous – and that was saying something.
He had thought about David a lot, too. He had thought about his story, the trust he had shown in sharing it, and he had thought about what all of it could mean. In truth, it was probably the push that Mikael had needed to set his plan into motion. He had also thought about other things regarding David. He had thought of the way David’s voice brought a lightness to his chest, the way his smile seemed to make his heart race in a good way which wasn’t something he was used to. He had also thought about the kiss they had shared.
Mikael liked to run away from things in his life. He liked to hide and pretend that everything was okay and he was perfectly content to be on his own. What was the point of any other way when all it did was stress him out? He was more used to the judgment he received simply for being the way he was than anything else.
David was not something Mikael wanted to run away from. He was something to run toward. Mikael had given it so much thought that he sometimes wondered if he had already lost his mind or if he was losing it. He had heard somewhere that love could make you feel that way and it scared him to think that he could experience a love with David. That fear wasn't strong enough to quell the happiness and the understanding that Mikael felt whenever the tall man was near him.
“Okay,” David said after the longest moment. He didn’t say anything more and went to give the water to the two children, sitting down beside Beth as she began a tale of two children who ventured into a forest to find a house made of candy.
***
When the evening ultimately arrived, everyone fed and ready to pass out, Mikael approached David. He held both their jackets over his arm and handed David his own.
They stepped out into the cold night air together, bidding farewell to the other volunteers. The lady with the blue hair was there that evening. Mikael knew she didn’t recognize him, but he hugged her anyway. He felt that none of this would have happened if it weren’t for her.
“So,” David started once everyone had left and it was only them standing at the door of the shelter. “What did you want to go over?”
Mikael smiled and inclined his head in the direction they were to walk. “This way.”
The walk was mostly silent, interrupted only by the occasional car driving along the busy road beside them. The breath that left their mouths could be seen as tiny white clouds of mist as they walked.
Mikael had to steel himself when they reached his house. He turned up toward the steps and put the key into the lock, holding the handle up at just the right angle that only he knew in order to open it up. No one else had been in his humble abode since he moved in. There was never anyone to let in.
Not knowing why Mikael told David this.
“No one else has ever been here before. I don’t really have many friends. I don’t really have any apart from those at the shelter actually.”
“What about family?”
David walked ahead of Mikael and Mikael turned on the light in the front hall and the lounge, walking in behind David and shutting the door behind himself.
His place was well-decorated. He had wanted something that would bring him peace and had not moved in until after a woman he hired to decorate had completed the space. He wasn’t sure if he believed in Feng Shui, but he couldn’t deny that he had never felt anything less than peace in his own home.
“My family and I don’t really see eye to eye. I haven’t seen them in many years.”
“I guess we have that in common.”
“Please, have a seat,” Mikael gestured to the couches surrounding a glass coffee table in the lounge. He didn’t really use all of the couches himself, of course. They were mostly for show. To whom, he was not certain.
David sat on the nearest armchair and Mikael took a seat on the three-seater across from him. He began his breathing exercises then. In and out, in and out. It would be fine.
“I have some things I would like to run by you. I want to do them anyway but your input would be appreciated. Your opinion matters to me.”
David raised his eyebrows. “I’m listening…”
“I want to upgrade the shelter. I want to make it a home.”
David stared at the man across from him, meeting his intense golden gaze. It took him a moment to register what he was hearing. What did Mikael mean exactly?
"I have the money to do so," Mikael said as if reading David's thoughts. "I have drawn up plans I would like you to go through. It would be in the same building, we would simply add to it.”
Mikael grabbed a little booklet and handed it to David to look through. While he did, Mikael rambled on, excited to share the plans he had.
“The main floor would be undisturbed so that no one would have to go anywhere. We build on a proper kitchen, some bedrooms, two large-scale bathrooms with showers and baths for men and women as well as lavatories. The main floor can stay as it is but we add some tables and games and music. It can be the hang-out room, where everyone can chill and have a good time together. I’ll arrange monthly funding for the food to be better and some kind of exercise regime to be followed by those who wish to participate. Maybe even a schooling program for the children."
“Why would you do that?”
“I told you already, David. I want to help. I can help.”
David went silent again, processing everything Mikael was saying. This would be astonishing. More than. To give them all of that, to give Beth all of that. He could only imagine the joy. The volunteers would love it, too, he knew that. They were like a family.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Mikael whispered suddenly, breaking into David’s thoughts.
David sighed, looking down at his feet. “I’m sorry…”
“Why?”
“I guess I’m afraid.”
“What are you afraid of, David? Look at me.”
David looked back up at Mikael to see that the other man had stood up and was walking toward him. He was dressed in a loose pair of jeans that hung off of his hips in just the right way and a dark blue t-shirt. His hair flopped into his eyelashes and David found his breath caught in his throat.
“I’m afraid of letting you in, Mikael…”
Mikael had reached him then and he got down on his haunches in front of David. David was tall enough that the two were at eye level. “You think I’m not?” He stretched his arm out and took one of David’s hands in his own, interlacing their fingers. “I can’t pretend that I haven’t seen you. I’ve never let anyone in like this before, but I can’t lock you out now, David. I don’t want to.”
David squeezed the hand in his own gently, thinking about what Mikael was saying. He thought about everything he had said. On that first day, David was certain that Mikael would never return to the shelter, even as he had a hope deep down inside himself that he would. He knew exactly how Mikael felt because he felt the same way.
Clearly, he had been wrong about Mikael. He had seen the growth in him, had seen the way he had become a part of their little family. He couldn't pretend anymore that Mikael was anything but good. There was only one loose comment said without purpose that proved otherwise. David couldn't deny that he had thought of Mikael every waking second, too. He was tired of pretending that he didn't want anything with the other man.
So, without thought, David stood up, taking Mikael’s hand with him until the two were standing in front of each other. He then did what he had longed to do ever since that day in the alleyway. He pressed his lips to Mikael’s, kissing him deeply and without abandon.
Mikael lost himself in David's kiss and eventually, he grew brave enough to allow his hands to explore. He let go of David's hand and brushed his fingertips up his arm, before continuing their slow travel down David's sides. He felt the muscles beneath his touch tense up and then relax, only to tense again as Mikael ran his hands beneath the hem of David's shirt.
David sucked in a breath, breaking away from Mikael’s lips and looked him in the eyes as he reached down and lifted his shirt up over his head and dropped it on the floor beside them. Mikael copied the movement, taking his own shirt off. He had never been this intimate with anyone before and he wanted to please David.
That’s why, before he lost his nerve, he dropped to his knees in front of the blue-eyed man. He deftly opened the button and zip of David’s jeans and slowly pulled them and the pair of underwear beneath down. He bit his lip as David’s hard-on popped out, feeling his own arousal begging to be set free.
David could only stare down at those golden eyes as Mikael leaned forward and wrapped his lips around David's head. He swirled his tongue around and David saw the hollows of Mikael's cheeks become visible before throwing his head backward, a low groan sounding from deep in his throat. He had to steady himself and he rested a hand in Mikael's hair, running his fingers through the soft curls.
Mikael took David’s reaction as encouragement and began to bob his head up and down, taking more of the shaft into his mouth each time. He sucked as hard as he could, his tongue stroking up and down the veins on the underside. David moaned when he did this and Mikael almost smiled around the thickness encapsulated by his mouth.
Mikael had undone his jeans and had his own length in his hand, stroking it slowly. The moans that escaped David’s lips turned Mikael on even more and he found himself trying to take more of David. He gagged when the head touched the back of his throat and felt David’s fingers tighten in his hair. That was all it took and suddenly his mouth was filled with David’s cream, salty on his tongue. He drank it as it spurted into his mouth, swallowing continuously.
Looking down, David met Mikael’s eyes, watching his face as he reached his own climax. He noticed that Mikael was stroking himself off and realized that he wanted to do that for Mikael. He moved away from Mikael and got down on the floor beside him. He pressed his lips to Mikael’s as his hand made its way to where Mikael’s was. He started off slowly, wanting it to last.
Mikael was in heaven. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of David’s hand, soft sighs flowing into the mouth that was pressed against his. Their tongues danced together and as Mikael felt himself getting close, he moved his hand over David’s to still it. He broke away from David’s lips and looked into his eyes.
“I want you,” Mikael whispered.
“You have me,” was David’s instantaneous response.
Mikael stood from the ground and took David’s hand. He led David over to the couch where he told him to make himself comfortable. Mikael then raced up the stairs to his bedroom where he kept a small container of lubricant. He had actually gotten the stuff purely as an experiment – it was flavored. He thanked his lucky stars he had been so curious and hurried back downstairs.
Their lovemaking was slow.
Mikael took the lead and went gently. David had already been on his stomach when Mikael got downstairs. Mikael spread his cheeks and applied the lubricant around the hole between. He heard David’s sharp intake of breath and bit his own lower lip as he slid first one and then two fingers inside his lover. He gently moved them in and out, noting with some shyness the similarity to his breathing exercises.
Once a third finger was able to fit and Mikael felt that David was sufficiently stretched, he got the lubricant again. He poured some into his hand and slathered it all over his shaft, stroking gently as he prepared himself. He poured more over David, wanting this to be as pleasant as possible, and then he guided himself into David.
He hadn’t expected the warmth and gasped aloud at the feeling around his length. David had let out a whimper and was leaning forward on the couch, his head buried in the arm. Mikael let him get used to the sensation before sliding in deeper. David wasn’t complaining and seemed to be comfortable so Mikael picked up the pace. He began thrusting in and out with abandon, David’s small cries only egging him on.
Mikael knew he wouldn’t last long after the activities of before and when he finally released, he reached around and held both hands on David’s hips, pulling David’s body tightly against his own. He cried out.
David moved forward finally and Mikael slipped out of him. David made space on the couch for Mikael and Mikael slid in front of him, spent. He fell asleep that way, his back pressed against David's front and his body wrapped in David's arms.
It was the most restful sleep the two had had in a long time.