Chapter 9: Two Beds

The bed legs screeched across the lino.

It was the loudest sound the hall had made all week.

Damian sat up on his elbows.

"Noah. What are you doing?"

Noah didn't answer.

He pushed until his bed hit Damian's with a bang that shook both frames.

Then he stood there, breathing hard, with his hands on his knees.

The gap was gone.

Damian looked at the two beds jammed together.

Then he looked at Noah.

The light from the car park came through the window and lay across his chest.

"Two nights," Noah said. "I'm not spending them on the other side of the room."

Damian didn't say anything.

For a second Noah thought he'd done it wrong again.

Then Damian held out his hand.

Noah climbed over onto his side and Damian pulled him down on top of him.

Damian kissed him slowly this time.

He'd learned that, too.

Noah put his knees either side of Damian's hips and held his face in both hands.

"Your ankle," he said.

"It's on the pillow. It's fine."

"Tell me if it isn't."

"I'll tell you."

Noah kissed Damian's jaw.

Then his neck.

Then the middle of his chest, where it was salty.

Damian went quiet underneath him.

Noah moved down.

Damian's stomach jumped under his mouth.

Noah hooked his fingers in the waist of Damian's boxers and looked up.

Damian was watching him with his lips parted.

"I want my mouth on you," Noah said.

"Noah."

"Say you want it."

"Yes. Yes, I want it. God."

Noah pulled them down.

He took Damian's hard cock in his hand first, the way Damian had taught himself on him in the shower.

Then he put his mouth on his slick head.

Damian grabbed the sheet with both fists.

"Oh," he said. "Oh, fuck."

Noah took his time.