Introductions

* * * * * * * * *
Part 33

Robert smiled a bit, remembering the night before in the kitchen and still not cringing. He could have simply closed his eyes and tried to sleep more, but he was too awake for that and…

* * * * *

It had been the obvious lack of tension and looks of pure happiness on Trevor and Elliot’s faces that had had Robert all... shaky.

On the one hand, he was glad that his time in the barn had allowed the couple to spend time together that they’d obviously needed and he couldn’t pretend to be upset by the fact that they seemed more... relaxed than they’d been in the last few days.

On the other hand, though, a part of him had cringed at the knowledge that they’d been... intimate with each other in the way Ricky had been with him.

But then he’d looked closer, watching them move around the kitchen. A hand snuck out here, stroking a hip... a gaze there, caressing a beloved face. A soft smile, a gentle blush, unspoken words being heard and replied to, and...

It wasn’t anything like the so-called intimacy he’d had forced on him, Robert had realized.

Intellectually he’d already known that. Emotionally... well, emotionally he was still figuring it out.

It might have helped, he told himself, if he’d been involved in a relationship based on true caring since he and Harry, but he simply hadn’t, and maybe that was why he’d been so willing to bend over for Paul back in DC. But that didn’t matter, he’d realized.

It was like a sudden flash of lightning in his mind.

It didn’t matter. NOTHING mattered outside of the fact that... the small touches, soft glances, gentle pecks he’d witnessed had made him YEARN.

Not that he was ready to do those things yet. He still felt soiled and... distrustful. But he could watch Elliot brush the back of his hand over Trevor’s cheek... watch Trevor react by pressing slightly into that strong hand, and... not feel nauseated or ashamed that he wanted something similar someday.

It was a step, Robert figured. A good step, even though small.

He’d smiled to himself, slipping into the kitchen from the doorway he’d been standing just the other side of.

“I’ll just set the table,” he’d said quietly, pulling flatware and napkins from a drawer, “since you two seem to have everything in hand here.”

Trevor’d blinked, trying to pull his fingers away from Elliot’s stomach as he heard the voice, only to be stopped by the strong hand that suddenly held his against skin.

“That’d be great, Robert,” Elliot had said, smiling at the younger man then smiling even more when he got a wink from the smaller blond. “I think he’s turned a corner, baby,” he whispered, leaning close to Trevor’s ear.

The brunette shivered, his fingers flexing slightly against his lover’s toned belly. “Gods, I hope so,” he’d whispered back, “But isn’t that kind of... fast...?”

Elliot listened to Robert setting silverware out on the small table behind them and shrugged. “I’m not saying he’ll be crawling into bed with us to do anything but sleep in the next little while, Trev, but... he knows what we were doing earlier and he doesn’t seem to be bothered by it, so... one step at a time, okay?”

Trevor nodded, moving just a bit closer to wrap his arms around the tall blond’s waist. “Okay. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be hoping and praying for him to jump a few steps.” He sighed. “And we SO need to go into town. We need food for one thing... and lube.”

Elliot chuckled softly, one hand lightly stroking Trevor’s ass through the sweat pants. “I’ll go in the morning, love. Promise. I really... hell, Trev, I just need you to fuck me. Loved making love earlier, but... Christ. I want you so deep, baby...”

There had come a low, deep groan. “Shit, El... don’t get me started. Not now.”

“Okay... later then,” the older man said with a deliberately suggestive smile before leaning in to press a slow, thorough kiss to his lover’s lips, well aware of the soft and slightly disturbed brown eyes watching them.

* * * * *

He watched their bodies shift closer together, closing the gap he left when he crept from the bed slowly and carefully.

Strong, toned forms clad simply in sweatpants found each other, arms moving to grasp and close over loved flesh. Soft wordless mumbles broke the silence and Robert smiled.

He was probably up because he’d dreamed again. Seen that night when it had… happened. Experienced it from a position outside himself for a change.

** ‘Knew you wanted it,’ he heard Ricky say, ‘saw you checking out my cock...’**

Well, he had. But subtly. Out of curiosity; nothing more.

** ‘So tight... tighter than any girl, aren’t you, Robert..’ **

Of course he was. His ass wasn’t specifically designed to have eight or so inches of thick, hard cock jammed into it without warning. And even if it had been, he’d have been tight considering the lack of stimulation or excitement.

** ‘Fuuuuuuckkk… tight as a virgin, bro’… sure * grunt* you don’t want a turn…?’ **

And thank God for small favours. He’d been DRUGGED. Wouldn’t have been able to say ‘no’ to whoever ‘Farrell‘ was any more than he had been able to refuse Ricky..

** ‘Oh… yeah, that’s it, Robert… all nice and slick now…’ **

Of course he was. He’d been BLEEDING!

And finally...

** ‘You’re an amazing fuck, Robert… I might have to find you again.’ **

If he did, Robert had vowed in the dream, he’d KILL the bastard! He’d rip off his balls and bronze them... maybe nail them to the wall as a warning to other rapists.

And that was when he’d woken up, for some reason not gasping or shaking from the dream... at all.

The only thing he’d found himself thinking then was... he hadn’t wanted it. Hadn’t asked for it. He hadn’t done anything more than let a superficially attractive man buy him a drink.

Elliot had been right. He-- Robert-- hadn’t done anything wrong other than accepting a drink from a stranger, and... he’d never do that again.

Robert smiled at the two men on the bed and found the clothes he’d changed out of before they’d all gone to sleep.

He dressed quickly, then grabbed the keys to his car from the small table by the door. He’d heard the guys whispering, after all, and... it was almost eight AM. There was sure to be a store open. No reason for Trevor or Elliot to make the trip, especially when HE was already awake and feeling... pretty good.

Not entirely better, of course, but... less broken.

* * * * *

It was nice to wake up in Elliot’s arms, their morning erections brushing against each other.

Trevor wondered for a moment why that seemed wrong, but as he wasn’t fully awake yet, he didn’t bother thinking too much about it. Or not until he rocked lightly and felt the fabric between their shafts.

His eyes opened and a slow, sweet smile crossed his lips as he saw the contented expression on his still sleeping lover’s face.

“Mmmm...” he mumbled, moving closer for that first morning kiss he loved so much. Closed-lipped so as not to share the morning breath, but still soft and warm and definitely desired. “El...”

Elliot shifted closer, pulling his dark-haired man against him as he rose slowly from the murky depths of sleep and returned the slow press of lips-on-lips. “Trev,” he answered sleepily, arms tight around the well known body, “where’s our boy...?”

The question had Trevor sitting bolt upright as he found himself suddenly fully awake, his eyes darting around the room. “I... fuck, El, I don’t know!”

And just that quick, Elliot was awake as well.

His eyes stabbed at the clock and he frowned deeply. “It’s almost ten! I... didn’t I set the alarm?”

Trevor shook his head. “No... we were all supposed to sleep ourselves out, remember?”

A soft, relieved sigh. “Okay. So he probably woke up early and decided to let us sleep. I’m guessing he’s out in the barn,” Elliot said with a hopeful grin as he pulled his lover closer.

Y-you’re probably right,” Trev whispered as he pressed closer to the toned form before him, “But maybe we should make sure.”

* * * * *

The car was gone.

That was the first thing Elliot noticed when he and Trevor stepped out onto the porch.

The car-- Robert’s car-- was gone.

He didn’t know what to think, and neither did Trev, judging by the look on his face.

He had a feeling they were both about to panic... break down and scream to the Heavens for their boy, but...

That was when Trevor’s eyes suddenly locked on the dirt road that lead to the house, his head cocked to the side as he SAW. “He’s coming back,” he whispered, giving Elliot a speaking glance.

It was less than a second later that the two men were in the bathroom, shifting around each other in a practiced fashion as they brushed teeth quickly and combed hair, smiling at each other like idiots every few seconds. Their boy had left, for whatever reason, but... he was coming back.

Then they looked at each other and grinned again as they finished up, exchanging one long, real kiss before dashing back to the bed and arranging themselves the way they’d woken up.

* * * * *
(A/N: Thanks as always to my dear reviewers Susan, Kat (you worry too much. :P) and Littlest Coyote. Glad someone's still reading this. LOL)