A Bid For Love

might have withdrawal. After the bit he'd already experienced, he found himself more than addicted to Asher's touch. He hurried to light the candles scattered about and dim the lights. God bless all Italians for being overly sensual creatures and setting up their hotels for romance. Though he worked in silence, the looks exchanged with his lover made it quite clear he'd managed to surprise Asher.
    He wheeled the cart into the bathroom and pulled the sparkling wine from the ice with one hand, while he gathered up a pair of flutes with the other. "Thought we'd go with an Italian vintage, being we're here and all. Michelob just didn't seem to fit."
    Oh, the expression on that handsome face! Scott knew it well from those moments when someone did something charitable for Asher. Usually after he more than didn't deserve it. Mouth open just a bit, eyes gone light gray in just...awe. No real indication of surprise; Asher held his emotions closer than a mama cougar held her cubs. The utter innocence of that expression...and it didn't vanish into courtesy the way it so often did. Scott thought his heart might just implode with joy.
    A soft break wrinkled that brushed velvet voice and Scott would never admit he saw the little gleam of tears in the corners of Asher's eyes. "You did all this...for me?"
    "Yeah, baby. I did. I told you; I know this is my one chance to show you I'm worth your time and effort." He set the flutes and wine on the edge of tub so he could trail his thumbs over the contours of Asher's beautiful face. "And I'll keep doing it just for you for the rest of our lives if you'll let me."
    "Scott, I..." Asher looked away, hands covering Scott's before easing them off his face. "Can you...could you give me just a minute? I know I shouldn't care if you see...but just a minute? Please?"
    "It's all right, darlin'. Take any time you need. I'll open the bubbly." His poor lover. Scott knew just how tight Asher held himself away from any sort of display of soft emotions. It just proved how much this all meant to Asher. Scott had to smile as he pulled the cork from a bottle of Asti Spumante with a soft pop before pouring the clear golden liquid into the glasses. "Want a sip of this to help?"
    "In a minute." Two deep breaths followed the soft plea, long and a bit shaky. Asher brushed his palm over his face once before shaking his head and huffing a bit. "Damn it, Jamison. I haven't let more than a stray tear loose in over five years, and you've got me..."
    "Wanting to feel it all the time?" Scott risked a grin, hoping Asher understood it held no amusement on his lover's depth of emotion. "I hope so. I can do that, darlin'. I can make you feel loved and wanted every day. Because you will be loved and wanted. I can promise because it's been that way for years now. I just never dared let you know it."
    "Come here." Asher took the wineglasses when Scott sat down next to him, placing them on the wide ledge at the head of the tub before cradling Scott's face in his hands and leaning close to claim a kiss.
    So perfect! Scott couldn't imagine anyone making his heart jump and run the way Asher did. God, he'd wanted this so long. And it proved to be all he'd dreamed it could.

    * * * *
    In all his days, he'd never imagined someone could...no, someone ever would know him so well, know the sorts of things he enjoyed and offer them with so much more emotion behind it. The fine wine, the roses, a veritable banquet sampling of Italy's cuisine, and not a spot of it meant as much as the fact Scott had used it simply to say "I love you." Scott's mere presence would have been enough, once they got past the whole practical joke misunderstanding.
    Or would it? Asher found himself a bit shamed that it probably would have taken all this and then some to convince him Scott really meant those words. But later. Later he'd analyze it--to death, no doubt. He knew his own psyche too well. But right now what he wanted to do most was return this incredible gift with one of his own. If they couldn't last, for whatever reason, at least he could give Scott this weekend with his whole heart.
    The light in Scott's eyes when they separated enough to allow breath warmed Asher in ways the balmy Mediterranean breeze never could. Just sheer happiness lancing through Asher's soul. He caused his lover's broad smile. He'd never been the source of such joy. He found the wish growing for this to last and swore he'd do all he could to see Scott understood how much this