Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

again, sure that Daren had to be close. He slid his right hand along Daren's spine and could feel his heart pounding even there. Sebastian's own heart was thudding in his ears as Daren's body began to vibrate harder and faster. A high keening cry came from his lips. His body jerked. Daren's hips pressed up into Sebastian's hand, and Sebastian felt through the latex gloves the throb and heat of Daren spilling over his fingers in wave after wave. A scream came from Daren's throat.
    Sebastian stripped off his gloves and tossed them aside. Without pause or thought he wrapped his arms around Daren and held him tight, not caring about the shower drenching his own clothes. Daren began to cry. This was not like the soft controlled sobs of the previous weeks, these were full-throated wails of pain and grief. Howls of rage filled the small room until Sebastian thought the very walls may shatter. Daren pounded at Sebastian's back, but Sebastian knew Daren was really striking out at those who had tried to break him.
    Sebastian held tight, rubbed Daren's back, stroked his hair, and rocked him softly. He made small humming noises but didn't speak. He didn't say things like "It'll be all right," and "Things will get better." He knew that measured against Daren's pain and rage, those reassurances would only sound trite.
    Emotions came in waves that rattled both their bodies. Daren would begin to settle when some new hell would fight its way to the top of his mind and bring forth new howls, his body spasming under the onslaughts.
    The water had shifted to lukewarm and was moving towards cold when it seemed the worst had purged itself from Daren's system. He was still shaking from the aftershocks, hiccupping and gasping for air. Sebastian turned off the water, wrapped Daren in a towel, and lifted him from the tub, having no desire to make him walk.
    Daren didn't say a word as he was laid in bed, still naked, and tucked in tight. He looked up at Sebastian, his eyes red and swollen as if he'd been struck again. The marks of his teeth still showed on his lower lip.
    Sebastian moved a lock of damp hair from Daren's forehead. He really did need a trim. "You had a long night. You should get some more sleep."
    Daren gave a slight nod and closed his eyes. Sebastian stood there and waited and watched until he was sure Daren was peacefully asleep.
    ****
    Sebastian stripped off his wet clothes and pulled on some fresh ones straight from the dryer. His hands shook as he tried to pull on some socks. He stumbled into the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee then thought better of it. He pressed his head to the kitchen table.
    "Stupid, stupid, stupid," he muttered to himself.
    Daren was asleep now, hopefully peacefully, but he would wake up soon, and it would be time for lunch and hobbling to the living room and back. Sebastian had known a few awkward mornings-after in his past, but this was seriously different. Maybe they could both just ignore it. They were men, men had needs, and talking about stuff did not fall under those needs. Daren was nineteen. When Sebastian was nineteen, he'd been on an aircraft carrier and still found enough private time to give himself carpal tunnel jacking off. Daren had one broken arm and one that couldn't handle a lot of movement yet. He'd probably been desperate for a bit of relief, and it's not like Sebastian hadn't had his hands on every other bit of him.
    Sebastian nodded to himself. That was it, one dude doing a big favor for anther dude with two bad arms. Nothing more to think about, no need to overanalyze it. And the epic crying jag afterwards was just something that needed to happen.
    Sebastian gave himself another firm nod, stood up, did the dishes, and absolutely did not let his mind wander to a gorgeous young blond in tight jeans and a suede jacket downing shots of whisky at the Blue Dragon.
    ****
    He was helping Daren pull on some clean clothes before lunch when Sebastian noticed Daren was running a little warm. He pulled out the thermometer before Daren had much time to object. He scrunched up his face as it was pressed into his ear. The readout said he was running just below a hundred. Sebastian had heard the phrase "cry yourself sick," but it looked like Daren had actually managed it. His head was lolling slightly, and his limbs were moving loosely, almost as if he'd had a couple of drinks.
    "What's my temperature?" His voice was raspy and far deeper than it should be.
    "It's not too bad,