Chapter 19
Frode was tired, but he didn't want to fall asleep. Nikolai running his hand over his back was nice, more than nice.
After a few minutes, Frode slid his leg over Nikolai's, which was met with a grunt. His dick was now smushed against Nikolai's hip, but he didn't care.
"Frode?"
"Mmm." He was barely awake, or he was, but it was easy to drift.
Nikolai's hand dipped lower. He didn't grope his ass, but the caress extended over his hip. Frode burrowed closer, his arm over Nikolai's chest and his forehead resting underneath his chin. He smelled good, and Frode inhaled. Nikolai's hand twitched, and a barely-there groan left him.
The hand on his back moved in a firmer caress, and Frode arched into it like a cat. He hadn't been petted in a long time. Most often, he convinced himself he didn't need touch--he was fine without it--but heat was unfurling in his gut, and his skin tingled.
Nikolai caressed his buttock, holding his breath as if he expected Frode to attack him. It had a chuckle escape him.
"What?" Nikolai's voice had turned gravelly, and it sent a shiver through him.
"You're allowed to breathe."
"I'm breathing."
Frode shrugged. "You're holding your breath."
"Maybe." The hand cupped Frode's buttock, the thumb moving in a massaging circle. "You're most often snarling at me, so better to be prepared."
"You most often deserve being snarled at." Frode pressed against Nikolai, his thickening cock rubbing against his hip. He was pretty sure Nikolai was fine with being humped.
Nikolai huffed, but he didn't stop groping his ass. The opposite. He pushed Frode against him, encouraging him to rub on him some more.
"Tired?" Nikolai spoke against his hair.
"I am, but..." He was horny too. Too tired for anything complicated, but a hand job would be nice. If Nikolai was up for it. He didn't want to think about how it might complicate things between them, so he didn't.
"But?"
Frode shrugged, which made Nikolai snort, but then he turned over, hefting Frode's leg over his hip as he did. Their groins pushed together and there was no missing Nikolai's hard-on.
"Okay?"
Nodding, Frode gave in to an experimental thrust only to bite back a groan as his cock slid against Nikolai's. Hard, hot, and silky.
Nikolai tugged at his braid until he tipped his face up.
Lips slid over his, then Nikolai begged for entrance with his tongue.
This time, Frode did groan. The sound must've done something to Nikolai because in the next second, his hands grew more demanding.
They roamed everywhere, and Frode purred.
He hadn't realized the lack of big warm hands in his life.
Or he'd been fully aware there hadn't been any, but he didn't think touch ever had been this good.
"Nikolai." His name was nothing more than a breath against his kiss-swollen lips.
Nikolai made a sound and rocked against him, precome slicking the way. "Feel good?"
Frode nodded and slid a hand between them. He curled his fingers around their lengths and moaned softly at the sensation.
Nikolai cursed, then he kissed Frode hard. Desperation grew more evident.
"Fuck, you feel good." Nikolai ran his hands over him as he thrust against Frode's cock.
Silken slides. Frode gasped for breath and allowed the sensations to wash over him.
Clawing need made him bite Nikolai's bottom lip, but all it earned him was more touching and an increase in the rhythm of his thrusts.
It was quick and desperate and kinda perfect. No finesse, no plan.
"Fuck, Frode." Nikolai kneaded his ass, his mouth seeking, and his hips rocking.
Frode rode the high, muscles tensing more and more with every slick slide against his cock. His leg curled tighter around Nikolai as if he wanted to pull him closer despite it meaning he'd trap his hand. He needed the next stroke like he needed his next breath.
"I'm close, baby." One of Nikolai's hands splayed over his ass as if he was afraid Frode would move away from him.
All Frode did was nod; he was close too.
Tingles danced over him, and heat burned underneath his skin.
He buried his face against Nikolai's throat and allowed sensation to sweep him away.
His hips moved of their own accord, his cock kicked in his grip before spilling the first rope of come over Nikolai's stomach.
Nikolai snarled, his fingers dug into Frode's ass and before he had time to come down from his release, Nikolai followed suit, adding to the mess.
Frode sucked in a breath as his muscles went lax. Fuck, so nice.
Nikolai tugged at his braid again, then he slanted his mouth over Frode's in a sweet, soothing kiss.
Had someone told him Nikolai kissed like that, he'd have dismissed it with a scoff.
Sweet and soothing wasn't something he associated with Nikolai.
But then again, he had just come, so he should be feeling mellow. Frode sure did.
They were silent in the dark until their breaths had found a steady rhythm.
"I'll go grab something to wipe off with." Nikolai was halfway off the bed when Frode pulled him back down.
"No. You're not leaving the bed."
Silence for a second, then Nikolai blew out a breath. "Right. Sorry."
Frode slid down to the foot end and padded across the room to the door. "Stay where you are."
He crossed the TV room. Moonlight was streaming in through the windows, making it easy to navigate, though he'd have managed if it'd been pitch black.
He nudged the bathroom door open with his elbow and reached for a hand towel on the open wall shelf.
He used it to cover his hand as he turned on the tap and waited until the water was warm before washing himself off, and then wet the towel for Nikolai.
He dried his belly and dick on the bath towel hanging outside the shower, and an image of Nikolai appeared in his mind. He'd touched it. It was fine. One person touching something was fine.
When he got back to the bedroom, Nikolai was waiting for him in the exact same position he'd left him. It made him smile.
"Miss me?"
"Yeah. Get over here." Nikolai flicked his hand in a come-hither gesture. Frode went closer and wiped the towel over his belly. Nikolai took over cleaning himself only to still. "Now you'll see me every time you use this towel."
"I'll have to burn it."
Nikolai was back to holding his breath.
"I'm kidding."
"Are you?"
"Yeah." Frode dragged it out. "I don't burn things; I donate them to the thrift store on the corner of Second Street."
"You'll donate the towel I've wiped up our jizz with?"
Frode chuckled, plucked the towel from Nikolai's hand, and dropped it to the floor.
Then he stretched out on top of him. His skin was a little damp, but he didn't care.
Nikolai instantly wrapped his arms around him.
"I don't give things away after having had one person touch them.
For the most part, I'm wearing gloves. Or not when I touch towels, since it most often means I've washed myself, but other things.
No one other than Hjalmar comes here, and he knows to use the green towels when he washes his hands, he knows to use the green plates, not touch the remote, and so on.
If something happens, like a spilled glass or something, he doesn't care.
Then he grabs the closest towel, and it's fine.
If I feel touching things is starting to take a toll, I buy new ones, but you having touched my towel once is fine. "
Nikolai nodded and kissed his forehead. "I don't want to make things harder for you."
"Oh, you made things plenty hard."
A light slap landed on his buttock, and he yelped. "What? You did."
"I was trying to have a serious conversation."
"Save it until tomorrow." He yawned. "I'm tired."
Nikolai rolled them so they were on their sides, then he reached for the duvet and slid it over them. Frode snuggled closer and sighed in contentment. He'd go back to being annoyed at Nikolai tomorrow.
* * * *
Nikolai woke to an empty bed, confused. As he turned, his naked ass slid over the sheets. He never slept in the nude. Then he grinned and reached down to give his morning wood a squeeze.
The gurgling of a coffee maker reached him through the crack left open by the bedroom door, and he flung the cover off.
Making quick work of getting dressed, he then walked into the bathroom to do his business.
It wasn't until he dried his hands on a towel; he stilled and looked around. Fuck. What had he touched?
He unlocked the door and winced as he did. "Frode?" He walked toward the kitchen. Frode was by the stove, making scrambled eggs and bacon, and Nikolai allowed a groan as his stomach growled. Normally, he'd rush out of his apartment, grab a coffee and sandwich on the way.
"I touched things in the bathroom. I wasn't thinking."
Frode looked at him. "What did you touch?"
"Eh...Everything? The toilet lid, the flush button, the tap, the soap, the green towel." At least, he remembered to use the green towel.
"I'm careful in the bathroom, hardly ever touch anything without a barrier other when I'm in the shower."
Nikolai nodded. "I'm sorry."
Frode shrugged, grabbed a trivet, and tossed it onto the table before grabbing the skillet and placing it atop. "Dig in."
Nikolai took a seat and noted they were both eating on green plates today. "Green."
Frode waved his glove-covered fingers. "So...we're going to ask Saylor about which rug I'm gonna touch?" He paled a little as he served himself some scrambled eggs.
"We're asking Saylor how he knew what you looked like before having met you." Nikolai reached for the bacon.
"And then I'm touching a rug."
Nikolai grimaced. "I don't think you should. What we have might be enough. You seeing him again won't help us. We can't use what you see in court, so it won't matter if you can place him at all four crime scenes or not."