Archive of Our Own

Henry still wasn’t sure why he subjected himself to this torture week after week. 

No, he knew exactly why – when Pez couldn’t convince him of a night on the town, a bar crawl, a decades night at the drag bar down the block – he sent in reinforcements. Everyone knew that if it was Alex, with one look of those golden brown doe eyes and long thick lashes, he’d cave without a second thought.

One would think he’d have built up a resistance to him now after over a year of living together, but if anything, Henry’s willpower melted with each passing day. When his friend and classmate June had mentioned that her younger brother was in need of new housing after an incident with overcrowding and overbooking in the campus dorms – he hadn’t thought things would end up like this . He anticipated a calm co-living situation at best, cordial and respectful – but never this . 

He never anticipated the totality of Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz dropping into his life. Alex, who took one look at the sad state of his bare-bones kitchen and declared it his domain. Who often fell asleep in a heap on the floor with David, surrounded by textbooks and papers and coffee mugs and stole numerous amounts of Henry’s pens. Who curled around Henry’s back in his bed and combed his long fingers through Henry’s oily hair on his bad days where he hid from the world. 

While he wasn’t sure the exact moment he fell head over heels in love, he had to admit it most likely was at first sight and now, each moment of care and laughter that filled the brownstone, – it all hit him like nail after nail in his coffin. Henry was terrified to admit how easily the man slotted into his life like a missing puzzle piece, after escaping from England where nothing seemed to fit. He had been putting himself back together here – piece by piece as he built a new life for himself – and thought he had been finished. Fixed.

Oh, how wrong he had been. In denial. 

There came Alex, shining so bright and beautiful at first sight that he couldn’t help himself. Like a moth to flame, he couldn’t help but flock to his own personal sun.

Always the hopeless romantic.

Who could blame him if he caved with just one look from him. Henry was sure he would travel to the ends of the earth, start a war for his own personal Helen, burn and melt himself like Icarus if only Alex asked it of him. But he would take what he could get, in pieces and bits that would sustain him, even if only for a small while. So there Henry sat in the slightly sticky booth of their favorite dance club, nursing a gin and tonic and failing horribly at not gazing across the floor at Alex.

Failing horribly at not writing sonnets in his mind over the sweaty curls that clung to his forehead, or his strong shoulders and arms and the long line of his throat when he tilted his face back into the shine of the colorful lights. 

Oh, how I marvel at his sun-kissed grace,

In awe of nature's hand upon his face.

“If you stare any harder, my dear, you might get stuck that way.” Henry jolted at the sudden voice in his ear. 

“I’m not staring,” Henry grumbled. He hid his face in his drink, pointedly avoiding what he knew would be a smug smile lighting Pez’s face. 

“Oh yes , and the sun doesn’t rise in the east,” Pez teased, “You’re about as subtle as a burning house, love. Why not go dance with him? You know he’d be ecstatic for you to join him for once.” Henry scoffed. Being anywhere near Alex’s orbit while he danced was a sure disaster for his willpower. Even the people dancing around him now were failing, falling so easily into place revolving around him like planets. Hands couldn’t help but reach for him, hopeful for the barest graze of his gleaming skin – and he knew he’d be just the same. 

Just another planet in his orbit. 

“I don’t think anyone wants to see that,” he shook his head, “besides, the view is just fine.” 

More than fine. God help him.

“Oh, don’t I know it. He’s scrumptious – looks like everyone else knows it too.”

They would have to be blind not to notice it, and even then, Henry was sure that his resplendence surpassed the senses. The air had been punched from him when Alex had appeared in his doorway earlier that night, already dressed to go in his favorite pair of worn blue jeans and a white tank that looked practically painted on him. Draped over his prominent collarbones, the delicate, golden chain Henry had gifted him months ago that he had yet to see Alex take off. 

If that sight spurred a greedy, possessive monster in his chest it was his secret to revel in.

“ Henry .” Finally, he looked over at Pez, not expecting the sad scrunch of his eyebrows. It wasn’t unfamiliar at this point; Henry groaned, hunching over to press his face into his hands.

“I know, I know – it’s pathetic –”

“ Not pathetic. Romantic. Hopeful. So tragically gay of you – but perhaps… maybe you need to move on.”

“How am I supposed to move on from him ?” He made the mistake of looking up and out into the crowd again, eyes finding Alex crowded in by a flock of greedy admirers. Surrounded by heavy blatant gazes and audacious hands reaching for him – and him, totally oblivious to it all. Eyes closed, face upturned, arms and hips flowing free and smooth to the thump of the music. 

How could anyone move on from him?

As if sensing his eyes on him – Alex’s eyes locked on his through the part of the crowd, and the way he lit up sent Henry reeling . His smile was radiant , blindingly so, and he thought idly to himself he’d gratefully burn away if it kept those eyes on him. If he could keep every perfectly made cup of earl gray, every syrupy couch nap together to the background noise of baking shows, every late-night ranting about any topic under the sun – he’d trade anything to keep it all greedily to himself. To keep Alex his for as long as possible until someone finally noticed his shine.

Hands suddenly curled over Alex’s shoulders, pulling those eyes from him. 

Henry was well aware that with his height and size, and many years of participation in various sports during his schooling, that he could make an intimidating picture if need be – yet he had never quite had the burning desire to use it to his advantage as he did at that moment. He imagined himself marching across the dance floor, towering over the owner of those offending hands and replacing them with his own. Towering over Alex instead, using his own hands to slide over those shoulders. Slip along his sweat-slicked arms, all sticky with salt and spilled alcohol.

Instead, he took a large gulp of the last of his drink and glowered into the empty glass as it burned down his throat. He heard Pez let out a heavy sigh next to him even over the thumping music – they scooted out of the booth and stopped to press a kiss into Henry’s hair. 

“You sure I can’t convince you to come dance?” Henry waved him off with a weak smile, and Pez disappeared into the crowd of dancers with a quickly blown kiss. 

At the least he could admire Alex in peace now.

He found Alex again like a compass finding true north – this time, with a curly-haired blonde pressed against his chest. Her long-nailed fingers were curled around the back of his neck, trailing along his abdomen; the urge to vomit across the table tickled at the back of Henry’s throat. 

Christ, why was he doing this to himself? Pez was right.

He couldn’t get out of the booth fast enough; the table jostled as he pushed back and his hip clocked the corner edge painfully, only serving as another jolt back to reality. Henry thanked his foresight for not starting a tab – he knew he couldn’t stand another moment in this building, not when he knew he’d be helpless to look up and find Alex with someone other than him .

Who was he, to put his hands on a work of art?

Hastily, Henry wove his way through the throngs of dancers towards the door.

The fresh air hit him as he stepped out onto the street and he gulped it down – and slowly the sensation of his skin stretching too tight around him calmed to a thumping heaviness in his chest. He pointedly ignored the few concerned looks he got from each passerby and the clumps of people lingering by the doors as he collapsed back against the building. At least the scratch of rough brick through his shirt was grounding. 

“Hen? Any reason you ran out of there like your ass was on fire?”

Fucking hell.

“Woah, what’s going on, are you okay?” 

Do not look at him, you’re helpless to him.

“I’m fine,” Henry ground out, “I just…I need to go home.” He caught movement in the corner of his eye – Alex’s hands reaching out for him – and jerked out of reach. 

“Okay, just – here, lemme help you sweetheart –”

“ No! ” Henry wobbled to his feet, “I’m fine , I’m going home, just – just go back inside –”

“As if, you look like you’re about to hurl!” Alex followed as he stumbled to gain some distance between them, and Henry made the mistake of looking up at the man. Even indignant and concerned with that furrowed line to his brow, the firmness in his eyes, he was as painfully gorgeous as ever. Alex looked at him as intently as he looked at his work, like a puzzle to be understood – the focus of his undivided attention.

A sensation he usually cherished, now mostly likely his ruin.

“I can’t take this anymore, Alex, I can't –,” Henry begged quietly.

Indingnance melted into confusion; again, Alex stepped closer to reach out to him, and yet again Henry jerked out of his reach. This time unfortunately, he caught the hurt flash across Alex’s face and couldn’t help the churn of guilt that spurred to life in his stomach. He couldn’t stay here now, not when all he wanted to do was fix, fix, fix . Quickly, Henry turned on his heel and nearly tripped over his feet as he rushed down the sidewalk.

A hand locked around his wrist, yanking Henry to quick stop.

“ Wait , what do you mean? –”

“Please, Alex – just let me go home –” 

“ No , Henry. What do you mean by that?” He was so, so weak to him, fighting it was futile. Alex was already reeling Henry closer, his broad hands trapping around his forearms, his elbows, tracing up his skin like burning brands. With one touch, the words were already spilling from him like a popped bubble – there was no taking them back now.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

“I can’t take seeing everyone’s bloody hands on you, that – that they’re allowed to touch you and I’m…” Traitorous tears pricked at his eyes, his vision already starting to swim around the edges. Henry tore his eyes away from the blurry image of him, but the dirty sidewalk didn’t offer him any answers especially when Alex was already moving to duck his head into his line of sight.

“You’re what? You’re not? ”

What in God’s name was that supposed to mean?

“Of course I’m not!” Henry twisted in Alex’s grip but he held firm; his fingers tightened around Henry’s biceps, and the untamed, hungry thought struck him that he hoped to be marked by them. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so worried over touching Alex, instead, what it might do to him to have Alex touch him .

“How many times have I practically begged you to dance with me?” Alex pressed, “literally every time we go out –”

“That’s not what I meant –”

“Then what? When, in the whole time we’ve lived together, have I ever been uncomfortable with you touching me? Never ,” he said forcefully, “hell, I encouraged it!”

He had , Henry knew it – the first time they had met, Alex had ignored Henry’s handshake in favor of dragging him into a firm hug. Alex was always driven by touch, with arms that easily draped over shoulders and an extreme desire for head massages after long days of classes. 

And to no one’s surprise, touch-starved Henry was gone on him from the very start. 

“Alex…”

“I want you to touch me, Hen,” Alex insisted, looking so bloody earnest that Henry might have fallen to his knees right there in the street, given him whatever he wanted if only Alex hadn’t been holding him up, “ God , it’s all I want most days – I just need you – only you to look at me and smile at me and touch me and only me .”

What?

The shock was most likely painfully evident on his face, but no more surprising than the abject horror in Alex’s eyes as he stared up at Henry. Alex’s hands fell from his arms, hanging limp by his sides. The pair stared at each other, a surreal standoff he wasn’t sure he wanted to break – he wanted to stay in this moment a little longer with the knowledge that perhaps, fate was kind to him and heard all the desperate hopes and prayers he had uttered.

Please, let it be true.

“ Alex… ” Henry caught the heavy bob of his throat as he swallowed and ducked his head – he hated it, seeing the man that shined so easily so… small. He was about to reach for the smaller man, tilt his face up into the light when Alex did it for him. Alex looked up at him, shoulders back and eyes fierce, but after all this time together Henry could still see the insecurity lingering under the surface. 

“If…if I’m reading this wrong, Hen, please just tell me to fuck off and we can forget this.”

Henry's head spun, and he found himself suddenly fighting his tears yet again.

Forget this?

“Alex…what are you saying?” He whispered, “please – I –,” the words stuck heavy in his throat. 

I don’t want to forget. I never want to stop touching you. I need you. I want you. I love you, so, so bloody desperately. 

Alex said nothing, instead stepping close enough to press his forehead against Henry’s collarbone and force out a shaky breath. His hands came up to clutch in Henry’s shirt, and despite himself, out of habit Henry reached for him too – he hovered, unsure, before thinking twice.

“You changed me, Hen,” Alex said softly, “day one, and you uprooted me, you understood me better than anyone – I – how was I not supposed to love you? How could I not, when you were…you? Fuck, I was done for when I saw your face, I think.” He took a steadying breath and pulled back to look up at Henry, and their watery eyes met – even in the harsh shine of the streetlights on his upturned face, he was quite certain Alex was the most beautiful he’d ever seen him. 

‘How was I not supposed to love you?’

He must have been dreaming, hearing those words come out of his mouth.

“And I just wanted you to look at me, maybe want me too if I was lucky. Wanted you to come touch me and dance with me because no one’s hands but yours feel right .”

Tears slipped hot tracks down Henry’s cheeks.

“So…if…if there’s the slightest chance that it’s not just me –”

“It’s not.”

Alex gaped up at him, having the nerve to look incredulous at the idea. 

“It’s not?” 

“God, no, it’s always been you, Alex,” Henry blurted out, like a dam finally opened, “Only you. You’re the only person I ever want to look at.” Henry couldn't help the choked chuckle that tumbled from him – how irreverent would it be to not love this man? Who could look at him, know him, and not be ruined for anyone else?

And that man wanted him. That beautiful, captivating, brave man wanted him.

“ What the fuck …really?” 

Henry laughed wetly – because of course he’d fall in love with the most crass American he could find. His grandmother was going to have a stroke. Hopefully. 

“Don’t make me change my mind, you cretin,” He snorted, and there it was, the classic, blindingly sunny smile lighting Alex’s face. Instantly, he knew that he’d spend the rest of his life making sure he smiled like that as often as possible – if not for his happiness, for Henry’s own greedy heart.

“Too late, no take backs,” Alex crowded in close, pressed up against Henry’s body just like he had wanted out on that dance floor, “God, I can’t believe it – you really…you really want me ?”

“Desperately. Wildly . I wanted to break a few fingers in there for daring to touch you, I’m that mad about you.” He wanted to scream it to the sky, release some of the near hysterical joy fluttering around wildly in chest before he exploded from it. 

“Shit, I really shouldn't think that’s hot, should I?” Before Henry could try to quip back, Alex was pushing up on his toes and kissing him . Kissing him, with his perfect, warm lips. Warm and sweet and slightly damp, tasting faintly of salty tears; he wasn’t quite sure if they came from him or Alex. 

That…that was the final puzzle piece.

Finally slotting into place with the curl of Alex’s hands in his hair, with long fingers trailing along the back of his neck. Henry’s own hands slid up the length of his spine, tracing over strong muscles and greedily hauling the smaller man as close as humanly possible. Like a man starved, he wanted it all, as much of it as he could get. 

A sharp tug at his hair yanked a loud moan from Henry’s throat, and with his own answering moan, Alex was twisting them and pushing Henry backwards towards the building without bothering to stop kissing him. Perhaps he was just as starved. Henry’s back met the rough brick once again, but this time, all he could focus on was the obscenely wet press of Alex’s tongue against his and the length of his body leaning heavily into him. 

Christ, he could stay there forever.

Instead, they split apart to gasp for air and Alex was panting as he pressed his slick mouth to Henry’s throat, biting and sucking what would probably be a vicious mark by morning – Henry keened. If there wasn’t a mark there by morning, he’d be upset, maybe he’d demand another go at it. That was something he could do now. Alex was his , they could do this whenever they liked.

“ Fuck , you’re so fucking perfect, I can’t believe you,” Alex groaned against his jaw and Henry couldn’t help but shudder beneath him. His hands were bloody everywhere , skimming along his shoulders, greedily squeezing his thighs, flattening against his stomach, and Henry’s head was spinning from the heat. Blood was rushing…elsewhere. 

“ Alex… ”

“Yeah, baby?” An embarrassingly loud whine tore itself from his throat, and Alex had the audacity to grin against his cheek as he kissed along his cheekbone.

Oh god help him.

Two could play at that and it was his turn now, Henry decided; he carded his fingers through Alex’s curls and pulled , baring his throat and reveling in the sharp moan that he leant down to swallow directly from Alex’s lips. Alex groaned a choked ‘oh fuck’ against Henry’s mouth and clung to him. His arms curled tight around his neck as if he was holding on for dear life – Henry could feel the thick length of him pressing hot through his jeans and his knees nearly wobbled at the thought of where this might go –

Alex over him in his bed, under him, bucking and rutting frantically against each other, panting heavy, strong hands, hot and firm and unyielding touching his bare skin, wrapping around his – 

A few sharp whistles and hoots jolted them out of their bubble. Henry jerked to look over Alex’s head and caught a group of people by the club doors smirking and cheering calls of “get it” and “thirsty” and “climb that tree”– he blushed furiously and ducked to hide his smile in Alex’s curls.

Alex laughed loudly and it didn’t go unnoticed just how deliciously hoarse his voice was; Henry was helpless but to duck even further into him and press a kiss against his shoulder. 

“Jesus fuck, we’ve gotta go home before we catch a charge for indecent exposure, baby.” Despite that, Alex’s fingers dragged through his hair as he tilted his head to let Henry mouth up his throat. He was probably right, but they made no moves to disentangle from each other – Henry wasn’t sure he could .

“Then maybe you shouldn’t call me ‘baby’ in public, you cretin,” he teased. Alex laughed again, and Henry was simply… stunned . He wrenched himself back to look at him, so bloody beautiful it took his breath away. One bleary-eyed look from his man gazing up at him, and all the love Henry had been storing up inside of him was rattling at his insides, burning through him and exuding from every crack. He didn’t have to keep it bottled and trapped anymore – not when Alex was so eager to tap into it.

Oh, how heavenly to finally taste love, like pure sunlight washing over his bones.

They stood there, leaning heavily into each other and just looking at each other. Alex’s hands traced gently up his chest, his neck, till they cupped his face so tenderly that Henry thought he might burst into tears yet again. Instead, he turned to press a kiss into Alex’s palm. The smaller man smiled, eyes tracing his face and Henry did the same, doing his best to memorize every single detail. 

“Lemme take you home, baby?”

Bloody hell. Wherever you wish.

Henry nodded dumbly. 

Alex tugged him up from where he was slumped against the wall and tucked an arm around his waist as he pulled Henry into his side. The wolf whistles grew louder behind them as the pair started down the block and Alex snickered when he looked up and caught the flush spreading across Henry’s cheeks. He didn’t have it in him to truly be embarrassed, not with Alex by his side – he smiled dopily down at him instead. 

He’d blame it on the high of Alex’s closeness later; he tucked his hand into Alex’s back pocket and squeezed – Alex squeaked, devolving into giggles as Henry used his grip to tug him tighter against him. 

Their usual trek would have only taken a handful of minutes, but it stretched drastically with each time they stopped to press up against each other and kiss each other breathless, to bite dark hickies into each other’s skin. It was shameless , and it drove Henry wild that he didn’t care in the slightest what anyone nearby thought of it – as if they’d be any better in his position. Alex finally managed to maneuver them the last block with Henry chasing desperately after his lips, laughing against his mouth and biting down on moans when Henry crowded up behind him at the door of their brownstone.

“Shit, hold on, lemme get the keys,” Alex muttered, “ mierda , me vas a matar.” Henry mouthed along the back of his neck, biting and pressing his nose into the man’s hair – and groaned against his skin when Alex moaned loud into the night air. Vaguely he heard jangling and scratching, before the door finally swung open and sent them tumbling inside.

Suddenly, he was being spun and shoved against the closed door.

“God, you’re unbelievable,” Alex’s hands were groping everywhere he could reach, “such a pretty boy, all mine.” Outside his body, Henry heard himself whine like he was underwater –

All mine. All mine. 

All mine. 

“I’m yours , I’m yours forever –”

Alex was on him again, firmly sealing their lips together. Henry moaned against his mouth and clutched at his strong shoulders, his biceps, his waist; suddenly, he understood what Alex felt on days when he complained of nearly vibrating out of his skin. He needed everything , all at once and as quickly as possible. 

Though, he’d rather die than have this end. 

Nimble fingers curled around the buckle of his belt, and Henry’s heart pounded in his chest. Gods, he was really doing this. Another hand yanked his shirt up to his chest and skated a burning line over his stomach – it swooped under his hands, like the heat had burned through him and settled inside him. 

“Fuck, I need to get my mouth on you, that okay, baby?” He couldn’t nod fast enough before Alex was kissing him again, practically consuming him before leaving him panting and dropping to his knees at his feet. 

Holy fuck.

“Damn right, sweetheart, the holiest,” Alex smirked. Not even giving Henry a moment to be embarrassed over his filter slipping on him, he instead licked along the length of his hip bone and followed the line of light blonde hair trailing down his stomach. If Henry lost himself a bit, who could really blame him? If he was entirely unhelpful with getting his belt and trousers down his hips, too enraptured by the picture Alex made before him, was it really unexpected? 

Alex didn’t even bother to pull his trousers and underwear all the way down his legs – just reached into his pants and pulled his straining length out – Henry’s breath rushed from his lungs. Even at the barest touch, he nearly doubled over and he found himself rather grateful he was propped up against the door. Especially when, as an added assault on his senses, Alex gawked at him, dark eyes burning even darker and almost hungry as he held him.

“Gracias a Dios, tan jodidamente perfecto , ¿qué carajo?” 

He wasn’t sure what he said but by the tone, he knew it was absolutely filthy – maybe he needed to take on Spanish courses.

He would, just for this.

“ Alex… ,” he begged hoarsely, and those eyes snapped up to meet him, “please, I need –”

The words were barely out of his mouth before Alex was descending on him – Henry shouted . Alex didn’t even bother to take a full breath before swallowing him whole, just stared up at him as more and more of his cock disappeared into his throat. Deeper, deeper – so tight and wet – Henry’s head clocked back against the door. He couldn’t look at him, not if he didn’t want to come immediately at just the sight of those perfect lips stretched around him. 

Alex wasn’t having that, it seemed – he swallowed hard around him instead.

Henry cursed, and his hands flew to grip at Alex’s curls and hold on for dear life. When he gathered the nerve to look down, Alex’s hooded eyes were already on him, all gorgeously watery and smoldering. Slowly, he bobbed his head, and Henry watched enraptured as his eyes fell shut as if lost to the feeling. Watched the flutter of his eyelashes and gasped as Alex moaned deep and satisfied around him. 

If he had thought he was beautiful then, he was utterly unprepared for the sight that came with Henry tugging on his curls – Alex practically unraveled at his feet, So sweet and slack and hot and relaxed . Henry shuddered, and held on even tighter. 

Each bob of his head had Henry spiraling higher and higher, over the static in his ears he could barely hear himself whining and begging and moaning helplessly, for what he wasn’t sure. He didn’t want this to end, that was for certain, but the need to come was flashing up his spine faster than he could stop it. 

He needed to come with Alex in him, or in Alex, he didn’t care which at this point.

He just needed it all.

“ Hngh – Alex, fuck, wait – wait –”

God help him, the sight of his cock slipping from Alex’s reddened lips nearly made him change his mind entirely. Alex panted, gazing blearily up at Henry as he licked his lips and moaned softly.

“Sabe tan jodidamente bien, cariño, por favor, quiero chuparte,” Alex pitched forward and slid his spit-slicked mouth over the head of his cock and groaned – Henry whimpered. If he let him stay there there was no world in which he wouldn’t cave to the smaller man – so he curled his hands under Alex’s armpits and pulled him up into his arms before he could tempt him further. Alex didn’t seem too upset by it – instead he just leaned into him and tugged demandingly at the hem of Henry’s shirt while trying to kiss the life out of him. Henry could taste salt on his tongue, the taste of himself still lingering on Alex’s tongue. 

Perhaps he had already died and gone straight to heaven, that was the only explanation. 

“ Christ ,” Henry keened, “Alex, love, bedroom please.” The words were barely out of his mouth before Alex was snapping upright and yanking Henry through the house by the wrist. Henry laughed, slightly delirious – his pants were trying to fall down his legs as they rushed. They stumbled up the stairs together, and Henry almost tripped over his feet when Alex turned to look over his shoulder at him, eyes shining as he proclaimed –

“I want you to fuck me.”

It was a miracle he didn’t faceplant.

Based on the smug twist to Alex’s smile, the near trip didn’t go unnoticed. 

Fucking hell, he loved this man.

They made it to the top landing but before Alex could drag him into his bedroom, Henry gripped the back of his neck and spun Alex around and kissed him hard . He pressed into Alex’s mouth, pride soaring when the man moaned against his tongue and clung tight to his shoulders – this time, it was Henry backing Alex through the doorway of his bedroom like a prowling, hungry animal. Starved, desperate. Greedy . Alex fingers flitted over him like they couldn’t figure out where they wanted to touch the most; the proof that Alex was just as greedy for him? The satisfaction raced hot through his veins. Henry growled, and pushed the smaller man down into his bed.

In the darkness, with only streaks of light from the streetlamps outside casting harsh shadows across the room, Henry couldn’t help but compare the sight of Alex lounged across his bed to a work of art – not dissimilar to a Rembrandt, perhaps, with his love of deep shadows that so easily guided the eye. Drew his eyes to the most important subject, the most stunning creature sprawled out before him. Gazing up at him through his lashes, having the nerve to look so coy as he pushed up on his elbows. 

Practically hypnotized, Henry couldn’t help but lean over him and kiss him again. 

It’d be a sin not to.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured against Alex’s lips, “ What you do to me … love, I can’t believe you want me too, I always dreamed of it.” 

“Always want you, always – baby, you ruined me for anyone else.” Henry shuddered. He pressed his forehead against Alex’s, taking a deep, shaky breath to steady himself as the man brought a hand up slowly to stroke Henry’s cheek. He leaned in to the touch eagerly, marveling at how perfect his skin felt against his.

If this simple touch rocked him to the core, he couldn’t imagine how wrecked he would be with Alex bare against him. Despite it quite certainly being his ruin, Henry leant back and began frantically unbuttoning his shirt, fingers shaking as he pulled at the stubborn loops. Alex grinned wide beneath him, sitting up and trying his best to help – which he quickly abandoned in favor of yanking his tank top over his head and leaning back to unbutton his jeans. Henry rushed to shrug out of the shirt, to step out of his pants and shoes tangled around his feet, just so he could reach out and pull those jeans down Alex’s legs himself. 

If Henry gawked down at him, who could blame him? Who could resist, when the sun itself was spread under their hands, wanting to be touched? Henry trailed his hands up Alex’s legs, his thighs , feeling the strength under his skin and the thick hair scratching his palms and reveled in the soft whimper he pulled from him. 

Gods, those glorious thighs. Pitching forward, he curled over him and pressed his face into the crease of his hip and breathed in deep. Musk, sweat, but something warm and woody and sweet lingered there – instantly, Henry was addicted. 

“ Hen ,” Alex whined above him, “Please, baby, please…” Fingers tightened in Henry’s hair and he went willingly, crawling up Alex’s body till he was close enough to kiss along his chest and up his chin. Their mouths finally met again, incredibly sloppy and uncoordinated but nonetheless it was perfect . Henry sank down into him, pressing close and Alex’s arms simply wrapped tight around him and pulled him even closer. 

“‘Need you in me, Hen,” Alex rasped against his lips and Henry nodded frantically, already reaching for the bedside table and yanking the drawer open. Without even looking, he dug frantically around for his bottle of lube while Alex laughed breathlessly against his cheek and clumsily tried to pull his briefs down his thighs. 

They devolved into hysterical giggles, and if Henry had to admit, he’d look back and say this might have been the happiest he’d ever been in his life. 

“C’mon baby, c’mon – ”

“Don’t rush me, you miscreant – ”

“Hurry it up and I wouldn’t have to –” Henry silenced him with a firm kiss, swallowing down his complaints till Alex was writhing and whining against him. He finally dragged himself away, smiling wide as he sat back on his haunches with the bottle and a condom in one hand and Alex’s underwear with the other. He flung them into the corner, spurring yet another burst of laughter from them both.

When they finally settled, laughter subsiding, Henry took a long moment to admire how disheveled Alex was; legs parted around Henry’s body, chest heaving, his cock …perfect and straining and heavy and long where it laid against his hip. Henry’s stomach flipped violently. He needed it down his throat, inside him, filling him up –

“Hen, if you don’t get your fingers in me, I’m gonna take matters into my own hands.”

Ah. Right.

He met Alex’s eyes and found him smirking and couldn’t help but blush at being caught. Sue him, anyone else would be just as hypnotized by the sight of him. 

“How do you want –”

“I wanna look at you baby, just like this.” Henry nodded jerkily, swallowing hard around the lump that caught in his throat. Carefully, he lifted one of Alex’s legs to drape over his shoulder and pressed the other out to the side; he dropped a kiss to the delicate bone of his ankle and below him, Alex murmured his name softly.

“I’ve got you, love, I’ve got you.”

“I know.”

Henry clicked open the lube bottle and fumbled through slicking his fingers, letting it sit and warm before he even thought of touching Alex’s skin. He could almost see the way Alex’s brain froze  – eyes blown wide as he watched each movement of his hands like a hawk.

“¿Qué carajo por qué son tan perfectos?” The tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lips, and Henry nearly collapsed down onto him to kiss him senseless. 

Instead, he reached low, lower, sliding gently between them and slowly circling Alex’s rim. He gasped along with him when Alex arched off the bed – enraptured as his eyes followed the stretch of his muscles. So much like a work of art coming to life under his hands.

“Relax, love,” Henry whispered, and Alex moaned and nodded frantically, jostling enough that a loose curl fell over his eyes. Simultaneously, he pushed a finger against Alex’s entrance and brushed the hair out his eyes with his free hand – Alex moaned loud and long, and shoved his face into the hand now cradling his cheek.

Curses and whimpers fell openly from him as Henry pushed deeper. His head dropped back into the pillows, his gorgeous neck elongated and so inviting that Henry had to do something about it before he vibrated out of his skin – he pushed his leg into his chest far enough to swoop down and press a kiss into the hollow of his throat. Lost so thoroughly to the man before him, it took his own straining cock brushing against Alex’s skin for him to realize just how hard and wet he was still; especially when he rutted against him and the pleasure of it rattled down his spine hard enough to make Henry shake .

Carefully, Henry thrust his finger into him, and watched open-mouthed as Alex bloomed under him. A few more thrusts and twists and he was writhing beautifully, and greedy as he was, Henry wanted to see more .

He curled his finger, prodding right where he knew would send Alex soaring. And Christ, he did – Alex shouted brokenly, loud enough to possibly alert the neighbors. 

“Oh fuck – please – a-another – just like that –” Henry pressed another slick finger against him and pushed, and answered the moan that ripped from Alex’s throat with one of his own. 

So bloody tight around just his fingers, God help him when he finally got his cock in him.

“You’re doing so good, love, taking it so well.”

“Feel so good, baby, your fingers – nnngh – your fucking fingers… ”

Henry laughed breathlessly.

He scissored them, feeling Alex loosen around them more and more with each thrust. Each time he let his fingers brush over his prostate, Alex cursed through choked out Spanish and clutched at whatever part of Henry he could reach. Mostly, he tugged at his hair, or dug his fingers hard enough into Henry’s shoulders that he knew he’d have raised marks by morning, maybe even scratches left behind.

At least, he hoped he would.

“You ready for another, love?”

“Was ready five minutes ago – fuck – give it to me, baby,” Alex demanded and Henry had to bite back his smile. 

“Desperate, aren't we?” He gave it to him anyways, sliding a third in alongside the others without faltering his rhythm – as if he wouldn’t give him anything he wanted. 

“Fuck off,” Alex whined, “you would be too if you had those fucking fingers in you.”

“I have, many times.” 

“Oooh fuck – shut up, shut up, shut up , I’m gonna come right now if I think about that.” Henry couldn’t help but laugh against his lips. 

God, he was perfection.

He dutifully, carefully, continued stretching him out till he knew that Alex was long past ready for him and then some – he couldn't help it, he was addicted to the soft whines and moans pouring from the smaller man and couldn’t bring himself to stop for even just a moment. He curled up into his prostate yet again, just to feel Alex arch into him and cry his name so sweetly.

“Hen, please – fucking get your dick in me before I – fuck – before I have a stroke!”  

“Okay, okay sweetheart, I have you–” Reluctantly, Henry slipped his fingers from him and leant back on his knees. He pet along Alex’s shaking leg, up his tense stomach, trying to sooth him and the quiet whimper he tried to hide; Henry knew the feeling well, the emptiness after being stretched and played with. 

Quickly, Henry patted around the messy bedding for the condom he had grabbed but before he could tear into it, Alex practically slapped it out of his hand. 

“I’m clean,” he panted like he couldn’t get the words out fast enough, “I got tested months ago and there’s been no one else, I swear – I need to feel all of you, please –”

“Shhh, calm down love,” he waited until Alex took a deep breath before leaning down again to kiss him slowly. Compared to the frantic rush up till then, this felt like pure, molten heat sliding down his spine and curling in the air around them. Unfortunately, he had to pull away for air, but he pressed his forehead to Alex’s and stared down into his glazed, dark eyes while he caught his breath.

“I trust you, darling, I’m clean too. I haven’t even tried with anyone in ages now – but I just want you to be sure, okay?”

“I’m so sure, Hen, I promise.” Henry nodded slowly, dropping one more kiss to his swollen, bitten lips before kneeling back between his thighs. Alex watched him, tracking every movement with his bottom lip tucked between his teeth as Henry reached for the lube and slicked himself up. They groaned in unison — Henry shivered through it — the first real touch since they had tumbled into his bed. 

“ Dios ,” Alex groaned, “es tan jodidamente grande, tan bonito , no puedo creerte.”

“You’re going to have to teach me Spanish one of these days,” Henry panted. 

“Oh, I’ll teach you so good, baby – I’ll have you fuckin’ singing it.”

“Bloody hell, you’re going to kill me.”

He dragged a pillow from the top of the bed with his clean hand and tucked it under Alex’s hips – meanwhile Alex was already spreading his legs and hooking them around Henry’s waist to yank him closer. Back was the flashing heat, burning even brighter than before with Alex’s eyes smoldering up at him and his hands grabbing greedily at Henry’s waist – urging him on – and lord, was he powerless but to do as he wished.

One hand pressing Alex’s thigh up into his chest, the other wrapped around his throbbing cock, Henry finally pushed in; silence filled the room as they both struggled to breathe. 

God, this was really happening.

Inch by hot inch he eased into Alex, forcing his eyes to stay open and trained on his face for any signs of discomfort – he needed desperately for this to be good, be perfect for him. He watched, and only saw his mouth hanging open and his eyes slip shut with the push of his hips. 

The picture of bliss, perfect enough to be hung in a gallery – yet only and always for him now.

Despite wanting to buck into him and chase their release together, he persisted in the steady, slow push till his hips finally met the back of Alex’s thighs, and not unlike a balloon releasing, Alex sank limply into the bed with a low, drawn out moan. 

“Fuuuck, you’re so big.”

Henry shuddered . If he even looked at him right now, this was going to be over much sooner than he wanted. Now, it was his turn to hold on for dear life; he squeezed his fingers into the meat of Alex’s thighs while stars sparked and fuzzed behind his eyelids and his knees wobbled threateningly.

Hot, wet, tight, perfect – 

Alex clenched.

Henry was sure he nearly bit off his tongue.

“C’mon baby, c’mon – fuck me – make me take it, baby. “

“ Shut up ,” Henry gritted through his teeth, “I swear to god, your mouth is going to kill me.” Finally, he peeled his eyes open enough to look down at him and caught Alex’s wide, smug smile. He had to kiss it off him, it’d be a sin not to – Henry leant down quickly to lick into his mouth, the both of them moaning against each other’s lips as Henry shifted inside him. 

His thrusts started slow, slow but driving deep, and he watched greedily as Alex shivered and choked on his breath with every press of his hips. Blindly, Henry reached up, finding Alex’s hands where they clenched in the bedding and he curled their fingers together as Alex’s legs wrapped around his hips – he needed the closeness like he needed air to breathe, even if he felt like he was melting under his shining heat. Each thrust had Alex whining against his lips, and Henry couldn’t help but whisper praises to him.

“That’s it, love, taking it so good – so perfect, such a good boy for me –” the words flowed from him so easily, “I love you, so much.” Alex moaned brokenly and nodded – he couldn’t get his words out, but Henry knew what he was going to say. Knew it in his soul. 

Pressing his forehead to Alex’s, he thrust harder, hard enough to jostle the bed and send the headboard knocking against the wall. Even after just a few thrusts he felt like he needed to stop and breathe and tamp down on the heat zapping down his spine, but he couldn’t bring himself to slow the punishing rhythm he set; not when it had Alex writhing and cursing and pushing up to meet him. They kissed messily, more panting than anything else – Alex disentangled their fingers to claw along Henry’s shoulders and yank at the short hair at the back of his neck, touching and digging into anything he could reach and driving Henry hurtling towards the edge.

His hips stuttered on a particularly hard tug on his hair grinded down into him; suddenly Alex gasped loud . He was already pulling back to check on him – 

One hand slapped over Henry’s ass and held him there.  

“Shit, right there, right there !” Alex sobbed, “pl-please, baby – right there –”

“ Fuck , okay,” He doubled down, grinding down hard again and he had to press Alex firm into the mattress when he arched hard and wailed . Henry nearly came from the sight alone – he was the one doing this to him, making Alex go mad with pleasure. His hands, his body, his cock. Henry growled low in his throat and dragged Alex down to meet his hips with every push.

And Alex lit up under his hands, just for him.

"No pares, no pares, por favor –” 

Alex clenched tight around Henry — yanking him even closer to the finish line but he bit down on his lip and pressed on. There was no way on Earth he would be coming before he had seen Alex come all over himself, watched him fall apart under his hands. 

“You close, love?” he panted, and Alex nodded frantically, “yeah? Come on, love, come for me, I need to see you – so fucking beautiful , gonna – fuck – gonna keep you here forever –” He knew he was rambling but he was on fire, blazing, helpless – especially when Alex visibly trembled  and tears spilled down his cheeks. Henry kissed along the tracks they left down his temple and into his sweaty curls and Alex held him there, his face pressed into his neck as they moved together. 

He could feel Alex leaking steadily between them, slick and hard and making an absolute mess of their stomachs; he was about to shove a hand between them to wrap around him when Alex stiffened .

The mess was suddenly even stickier.

Holy fuck.

Henry pulled back enough to watch his face and was struck dumb by the sight. His bruised lips were parted on a silent moan, his brow furrowed and eyes squeezed shut – practically bloody glowing with the shine of the streetlights along his sweaty skin. He forced himself to slow his hips and carefully he brushed Alex’s hair away from his face, panting hard as he waited for him to come down. 

It took a long moment, but finally his eyes fluttered open and he looked up at Henry. They were bleary, looking up at him like he had just created the heavens and the earth, hung the stars and planets – Henry was so, so weak under his gaze. He kissed his skin gently, along the curve of his cheek, to his slack mouth.

“ Hennn… ”

Henry crowded impossibly closer, curling his arms under Alex’s back to hold him tight and pointedly ignore how his cock still throbbed persistently inside him. 

“I’m right here, love – are you alright?”

Alex smiled hazily, curling a hand around the back of Henry’s neck and leaning up to kiss him – it was uncoordinated, and mostly caught his bottom lip, but it was perfection nonetheless. Then in his typical crassness he looked Henry right in the eye and grinned – 

“ Please …want you to come in me.”

God give him strength.

“Christ, Alex –” Alex didn’t look remorseful in the slightest, just bit his lip and smirked as he ground his hips up into him. Henry could see the sensitive and overstimulated shakes spread down his legs – but what Alex wanted, he was going to get. 

He bloody well asked for it.

With a final, thorough kiss, Henry hauled himself back onto his knees and pushed Alex’s legs up against his chest. 

The first snap of his hips was sharp, and sent Alex sprawling, gasping and grabbing for fistfuls of the sheets under him. Henry’s hands dug into his thick thighs, locking him in place as he bore down on him relentlessly; how could he be expected to hold onto the shredded remnants of his self control when Alex seemed so keen on ripping it from him?

“ Fuckkk , so deep , can feel you in my throat.”

“Filling me so good baby, so fucking good.”

“Make me feel it for weeks, wanna be limpin’ baby”

“Hazme tu puta, toda tuya , nunca querrás a nadie más.”

Henry groaned, his thrusts turning uncoordinated as he fucked into him harder, hoping wildly to fuck the air straight from of his lungs, if only to keep him from saying more ghastly things that made his blood set alight. 

Another handful of shaky, deep thrusts, and Henry was gasping, sparks burning under his skin as his orgasm crashed over him and sent him soaring. He must have blacked out for a moment, because when he came to, whimpering moans were pouring from him and he could still feel himself twitching where he was pressed deep inside Alex. Alex looked wrecked beneath him, but nonetheless, smiling utterly victorious and satisfied.

He reached out for Henry, and slowly, he lowered Alex’s legs back onto the bed and soothed a hand up Alex’s side as he pulled out. If he watched a little hungrily at the sight of his come slipping from his hole, he could hardly be blamed for it. He admired for a moment more, before shaking himself out of the daze and carefully letting himself be settled against Alex’s chest. 

“So fucking perfect, so damn pretty, holy shit ,” Alex panted, “you fucking laugh when you come, did you know that? Unbelieveable.”

High on endorphins, all Henry could do was laugh. He tilted his face into Alex’s throat and laughed loudly, incredulously. He could feel Alex’s smile against his hair, his own giggles making his chest jump under his head. 

Realistically, he knew it was just the heat radiating between them, but he could have sworn that it was sinking into him, warming through his bones and settling around his heart. He wanted to soak in it – to never be without the warmth of him shining on him for even a second. As though feeling it too, Alex’s arms squeezed tight around his shoulders and hugged him even closer.

Henry sluggishly pressed a kiss to his skin, letting his eyes slip shut as long fingers carded though his sweaty hair. 

“Can’t believe you’re mine , after all this time,” he muttered sleepily, and Alex’s chest rumbled under his ear with a soft groan. Concerned, he propped up on one elbow to look down at him, only to find Alex biting his reddened lip even darker. 

“How soon can you go again?” 

They looked at each other for a long moment, before bursting into laughter again – so warm and bright it practically filled the entire house. It was all his now, every brilliant smile, every lazy night in, every comforting touch pressed into each other – it was all his . 

“I think we both need to recover before that, love, I don’t think you could take –”

“Shut all the way up, I can so take it!”

Henry rolled his eyes fondly and sat up, wincing at the onset soreness in his muscles as he climbed out of the bed. If he was sore, Alex was going to be in a sorry state by morning. Carefully, he led Alex to swing his legs over the edge of the bed, helping him brace and pulling him to his feet – if he winced, and had to lean heavily into him with each step towards the bathroom, Henry pretended not to notice.

Or at least, tried his best to hide his pleased smile behind his hand.

Later, hidden in the warmth and steam of the shower with Alex’s back slumped up against his front, Henry would reflect on the extreme turn the night had taken – how smug Pez would be when he saw them next.

For now, though, he dropped a kiss to Alex’s shoulder, drawn like a flower to his sun.