Title: Pride & Joy - Comfort
By: nancy
Pairing: Danny/Mac
Warnings: daddy!kink, language, angst
Summary: After Louie's beating, Mac takes care of Danny and they start down the road to more than just a relationship.

Previous story in series - Comfort and Joy

Mac lost track of how long he held Danny, his world narrowed to the man shaking in his arms. At first, he hadn’t known how to react to the breakdown. The agonized words about Louie. It took a few seconds for him to offer the comfort so desperately needed. Precious seconds where Danny had looked so alone and lost. When he finally pulled the younger man to him, Danny just collapsed against him, seeking comfort that, perhaps, he was afraid he either didn’t deserve, or wouldn’t get.

All things considered, Danny didn’t cry for very long. The tears soaked into Mac’s shirt with alarming intensity for a good five minutes. After that, it seemed to be the need to be close, which Mac was more than happy to fulfill. He held on with one arm and rubbed Danny’s back with the other. It might have been a fatherly embrace, except that the feelings he had for Danny were anything but familial. He wanted to do more than just soothe the tears away with a hug, he wanted to kiss them away, to bring Danny home and tuck him into bed.

Pulling back, Danny wiped at his face with one hand, an almost child-like gesture that brought out all of Mac’s protective instincts. Embarrassment surfaced almost immediately and Danny muttered, “Sorry about that, Mac.”

“Hey, after the last couple of days you’ve had, you’re allowed,” Mac chided gently. “It’s okay. Come on, let me take you home.”

Danny shook his head and replied, “I should stick around, just in case…”

Gripping Danny’s shoulder, Mac said, “Of course, but you should get some rest too.”

“I will, I just…I should stick around,” Danny repeated helplessly.

“Then I’ll stay with you.”

“No, Mac, you don’t gotta do that.”

Mac smiled briefly, countering, “I want to.”

Danny hesitated, then offered a shaky smile of his own. “Thanks, Mac. I, ah, I really appreciate all this.”

“Come on. Let’s go check on your brother,” Mac suggested, shifting his hand to Danny’s waist.

He waited while Danny went into the restroom to clean himself up a bit. It was while he was in there that Mac saw Danny’s parents arrive. They looked older than they really were, the brutalization of their oldest son aging them probably ten years at the drop of a hat. Mac watched them a few minutes, then turned towards the restroom door when it opened and warned Danny, “Your parents are here.”

Danny looked beyond him through the glass into the intensive care room where Louie lay unconscious. He tensed up pretty badly before looking away, breath hitching.

“You okay?” Mac prompted softly.

Taking a breath, Danny nodded and answered, “Yeah, I got it. Um, you mind hanging around a bit?”

Mac touched Danny’s shoulder to get his attention. Stormy blue eyes met his and Mac said, “I’m here until you don’t need me anymore.”

“That could be a while,” Danny muttered before walking away.

Mac couldn’t help the smile that surfaced at the comment, but canted his face away for a short moment to regain control. When he looked back, it was to find Danny slouched down on himself, facing his parents like he was facing a firing squad.

Probably not far from the truth, he thought as Mr. Messer said something that made Danny hunch in on himself even more.

Walking over to the room, Mac hesitated at the door. He wanted to go in to support Danny, but didn’t want to cause trouble in an obviously tense situation. When he heard the elder Messer’s sharp tone, he couldn’t stop himself from entering the room. With the attention now on him, Mac offered his hand to Danny’s father and greeted, “Mr. and Mrs. Messer, I’m Mac Taylor, a friend of Danny’s from work.”

Cold eyes looked back at him as Mr. Messer didn’t take his hand and sneered, “I bet you are. I’d appreciate you leaving.”

Stiffening at the implied insult, Mac turned to Mrs. Messer. “It’s good to finally meet you, Mrs. Messer. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.”

Unlike her husband, Mrs. Messer took Mac’s hand, though the shake itself was about as hesitant as one could be.

Mr. Messer sneered at them both and snapped, “Danny, why don’t you take your friend here, and leave before you cause the family any more pain.”

There was a long moment where Mac had to keep a very, very tight rein on his temper. His instinct was to put his fist right through the older man’s face. Not because of the further insult to himself, but because of the disparaging tone to Danny.

“Dad!” Danny exclaimed, horrified. “Mac’s my boss! He’s just here to give support.”

Mr. Messer turned to Danny and said furiously, “Louie’s here because of you! I don’t want you here! I don’t want you anywhere near the family ever again!”

Danny flinched, hugging himself tightly.

“Honey,” Mrs. Messer protested. “You don’t mean it!”

Mr. Messer shouted, “I do mean it! Get out! Get outta here!”

A nurse hurried into the room, exclaiming, “If you don’t settle down this instant, all of you will have to leave!”

Danny roused himself enough to raise a hand and say, “It’s okay, I’m leaving. C’mon, Mac.”

Mac glared at Mr. Messer, wanting to do a hell of a lot more, then followed Danny out of the room. He could only hope that Louie didn’t die before Danny had the chance to get back to the hospital and say his goodbye. In the hall, he put his hand to Danny’s shoulder and said, “I’ll give you a lift home so you can get some rest.”

“I’m not gonna be able to sleep, Mac,” Danny mumbled.

But knowing just how emotionally exhausted Danny was, Mac was pretty sure all he had to do was get the younger man lying down in order to have him fall asleep.

Mac thought wryly, Of course, getting him prone could be something of a challenge.

*  *  *  *

Danny’s apartment was small, but clean and comfortable. Surprisingly so, given that he was a bachelor in his prime. Mac was pleasantly surprised as he looked around the room living room.

“You want something to drink?” Danny offered awkwardly.

Mac was going to say no, but then reconsidered. “You have any whiskey?”

Danny’s mouth twisted as if to say, ‘Of course I do,’ and he headed for the kitchen.

“Two glasses, Danny, I don’t drink alone,” Mac called.

There was a muttered comment too quiet to make out, but Danny came back with a bottle and two glasses. They sat on the sofa where Danny poured them both a glass half-full, his own a little more generous than that.

Watching the other man healthy swig, Mac asked softly, “You okay?”

Danny’s laugh was harsh and utterly without humor. He choked down another large gulp before answering, “I’ve had better days, Mac.”

Mac gripped Danny’s knee and said, “It’ll get better, Danny. It’s just going to take some time. Louie will get better and your father will back down.”

Shaking his head, Danny told him, “My father ain’t backed down from nothin’ in his entire life. Becoming a cop meant I couldn’t go to family reunions anymore because half my cousins are made and most of my uncles. When I told him what I planned to do, he kicked me out and said I could do it on my own. Mommy’s the only one who’s ever believed in me and she had to do it when my Dad wasn’t looking.”

It said something telling about Danny, that use of the word ‘Mommy,’ instead of a more grown-up word. Mac had known Danny for five years and still had so much to learn about the young man. He knew one thing for sure, though. Whether Danny regretted it later or not, he needed to lean on someone.

Taking a chance, sensing the opportunity wouldn’t come again, Mac put his arm around Danny’s shoulder and pulled him in close for a one-sided hug. Danny seemed frozen as Mac said, “You can tell me to get the hell out and bring me up on harassment charges tomorrow if you want to, Danny, but tonight, right now, let me take care of you.”

Danny pressed his face to Mac’s throat and gasped, “I can’t do it alone, Mac, not again. Not have the whole family against me on my own. Maybe, maybe just ‘til Louie’s better? Can you stick around ‘til then?”

“I’m offering a lot longer than that,” Mac promised, kissing Danny’s temple. “We’re not going to do anything right now, not while you’re vulnerable like this, but I am going to take care of you. Finish your drink and let’s get ready for bed.”

Downing his drink, Danny coughed a bit, then offered a tentative smile. “You sure you want to do this? You can still back out.”

It was almost painful, knowing that Danny didn’t think he was worthy of someone looking out for him, despite Louie’s recent intervention. Mac leaned in and kissed him, a soft, light kiss that was over too quick. Pulling back, he said firmly, “There’s no way I’m backing out on you, Danny, not ever.”

Danny bit his lip, a shy expression surfacing as he whispered, “Thanks, Mac.”

Mac stood, pulling Danny up with him. “You get ready for bed while I lock up. Security code?”

“010857.”

My birthday, Mac thought in surprise. Sensing it was better not to make a big deal, Mac only said, “Well, at least I won’t have any trouble remembering it. Go on, now.”

Danny breathed a visible sigh of relief and headed for the bathroom.

After finishing with the locks, Mac put the glasses in the sink and checked the windows, automatically familiarizing himself with the layout. That done, he passed Danny who was leaving the bathroom and took his place. It didn’t take long to use the spare toothbrush Danny had left out for him and strip down to t-shirt and boxers. When he got to the bedroom, Danny was already under the covers waiting for him with a slightly apprehensive expression.

Mac pulled the covers up around Danny and then sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at the other man. Those incredibly blue eyes seemed bigger without the glasses as Danny stared up at him. Mac slowly combed his fingers through the unruly hair, relishing the feel of it. “I just want to tell you a couple of things before I join you under there.”

Danny tensed, as though expecting bad news.

“I’m very proud of you for yesterday and today,” Mac began, smiling when Danny gaped at him. “When Lindsey came to you with the DNA match, you came straight to me and that was exactly the right thing to do. You did everything I asked of you and one more important thing that I didn’t have to ask this time.”

“I trusted you,” Danny whispered.

Mac nodded. “You trusted me. I can’t tell you how good that made me feel. I wasn’t sure if you would ever trust me enough to let me help you with anything, and you’re letting me do the most important thing of all.”

“What’s that?”

“Take care of you.”

Danny flushed, a pleased smile surfacing even as he looked away.

Chuckling, Mac said, “You did real good, Danny, and I’m very proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mac, that means a lot to me,” Danny replied.

Mac kissed him again, this time on the forehead, then walked around to the other side of the bed. He turned off the light and climbed under the covers, moving to the middle and ordering softly, “Come here, Danny.”

Danny rolled until he was curled over Mac’s chest. Mac wrapped his arms around Danny, infinitely pleased by the way Danny held tight to him. One of the things he’d always known about himself was how driven he was to take care of his people, those he loved getting the most attention.

Better spell it all out now, Mac thought to himself. In for a penny, and all that jazz.

“Danny?”

Danny yawned, answering, “Yeah Mac?”

“There’s something I want you to think about.”

“Okay.”

“You know I want to help you, support you through all this mess, right?”

“Right.”

Hating the suddenly wary tone, Mac continued, “That’s actually part of how I’m built. I mean, I like to take care of people I love.”

Danny snorted. “Not a news breaker there, Mac.”

Huffing in amusement, Mac swatted him lightly on the behind and clarified, “I mean, I like to…really take care of the people I love. That doesn’t just extend to the times when they’re in trouble, but looking out for them all the time. Making sure they eat and sleep enough. Making sure they’re happy and have everything they need, everything they want. I like to…I guess the best word is dote on my lovers. Not that I’ve had many before or after Claire, but part of the reason it was so hard to move on after her, was because she was the center of my life for a lot of years.”

“So…what? You wanna be my sugar daddy or something?” Danny teased.

Mac winced at the word, then sighed. “I know the connotations are bad, but, yeah. Only, more than that.”

Danny swallowed audibly and was silent long enough to make Mac nervous. Danny finally asked, “Um, is everything else dependent on that?”

“No, of course not,” Mac assured him. “It’s just, some people found me a little overwhelming when we were in a relationship together. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. And if it makes you at all uncomfortable, just call me on it and I’ll back off.”

“Okay,” Danny agreed.

A little confused, Mac questioned, “Okay to which?”

Danny kissed his cheek and answered honestly, “I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know?”

Mac’s arms tightened briefly. “Whenever you’re ready. I just wanted to be up front.”

Sighing deeply, Danny replied, “Thanks, Mac, I appreciate it. Night.”

“Night, Danny,” Mac echoed, smiling.

It might not have seemed like much to anyone else, but given how Danny could have, and probably should have, reacted, Mac would take what he could get.

*  *  *  *

Waking the next morning spooned up behind Danny was the best thing that had happened to Mac in a long, long time. He sighed deeply and pressed even closer, his arm tightening around Danny’s waist as he nuzzled Danny’s shoulder. Breathing in the sleep-warmed scent caused him to shiver in arousal, his body tightening in anticipation.

“Is that a sidearm in your boxers, or are ya just happy to see me?” Danny mumbled.

Mac chuckled and kissed just under Danny’s ear. “Morning.”

“Mmmm…mornin,’” Danny replied, turning to face him. Bleary-eyed, he looked at Mac and said, “Thought I dreamed up last night.”

Closing the scant distance between them, Mac kissed Danny, thrilling to the way Danny’s lips opened to his. Hungry for more, he pushed forward, pressing Danny back against the mattress to devour Danny’s mouth. Long, deep kisses that made him ache for everything Danny had to give and beyond. The slightly chapped lips grew soft and wet under his and Mac shifted so they were groin to groin. He felt an echoing hardness beneath him and nipped at Danny’s lip, sucking on it and then started moving his hips, rubbing them together.

Danny gasped into his mouth, then moaned. His hands gripped Mac’s lower back, fingers digging into Mac’s body, urging him on. Not that Mac needed any encouragement, but he did shift onto his elbows for a better angle and to taste more of Danny. Licking and kissing his way down the other man’s throat and settling at a nipple, Mac tormented the hard nub.

“God, Mac, please,” Danny groaned.

Lifting his head to stare into those pale, slightly unfocused eyes, Mac murmured, “What do you want, baby? Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”

Danny gasped, eyes rolling back a little at his words.

Thinking that he possibly wasn’t the only one with secrets, Mac licked a broad swath over Danny’s chest, then prompted, “What do you want, baby? You want to be mine? You want me to tell you what a good boy you are? How very good you are? You are, Danny, you’re my good boy and I’m going to take such good care of you.”

A soft cry and splash of semen against his chest told him exactly what Danny thought and felt. Leaning on one arm, he reached down and jerked off while sucking on Danny’s nipple. He bit down when he came, provoking a pained moan from Danny that he barely heard, the orgasm hit so hard. Mac fell to the side, panting as his heart thundered against his chest.

“Jesus. Mac. You killed me.”

Mac chuckled breathlessly, amused, and turned his head to look at Danny. Golden hair caught the sun coming in the window, giving him a decidedly rakish look. Smiling, Mac leaned in for another kiss, cupping Danny’s face as he did.

Danny sighed in apparent contentment, snuggling close and hooking a leg over Mac’s hip as he sprawled over Mac. “You hide your kinks well.”

“Look who’s talking,” Mac teased, ruffling Danny’s hair. “So how okay with this are you? And how far do you want to go?”

Pressing his face to Mac’s chest, obviously avoiding eye contact, Danny answered softly, “I never really thought about it. No one ever…it wasn’t a real possibility, you know? I didn’t know how to…it’s not something you bring up in conversation, right? ‘Sides which, I ain’t been with a guy in at least ten years and that wasn’t much to speak of. Didn’t seem…it’s different…with women, you know?”

Mac nodded. “I do know.”

“But, you were like this with, um…”

“Claire?” Mac prompted.

“Um, yeah.”

Kissing Danny’s temple, Mac assured, “You can say her name, Danny, I don’t mind.”

The look Danny gave him was so hesitant that Mac had to wonder who had dealt the younger man such an emotional blow about talking about previous relationships. He also wanted to beat that person into the ground.

“So you and, um, Claire did this?” Danny questioned, his natural curiosity surfacing.

“Variation on a theme,” Mac explained. “Different needs, different desires, but the dynamic is essentially the same.”

Fingers roaming over Mac’s chest, Danny asked, “You don’t think it’s…too weird?”

Mac tilted Danny’s chin up so that the younger man had to look at him. “Danny, I’m the one who brought it up, remember?”

“Yeah, but…”

“No buts,” Mac interrupted firmly. “Whatever you need, I want to give you. Whether that’s a shoulder to cry on, a lap to sit on, someone to hold you, or getting nailed to the mattress, I’m here to make sure you get what you need.”

Danny bit his lip and told him, barely audible, “I never had no one to do for me, you know? Not, not like this. Not anything like this.”

Wishing he could go back and soothe all of Danny’s past hurts wouldn’t make it happen, unfortunately, so all he could do was move forward. “You do now.”

Half-smiling, Danny said, “Thanks, Mac.”

“It’s my pleasure, baby,” Mac promised.

Danny flushed, looking away, but a pleased smile surfaced and he asked, “You hungry? I could go for something.”

Letting it go for the moment, Mac nodded and answered, “Sure. Let’s grab a shower and then head out.”

It turned out that Danny was somewhat bashful in the shower. He kept trying to wash himself, but Mac continuously put Danny’s hands at his side. Mac had to keep reminding Danny that he wanted to take care of him. He didn’t tease, though having all that glorious flesh under his hands was temptation itself, but simply washed first Danny’s body and then his hair.

He finally dried Danny off and said, “Go get dressed, I’ll be right out.”

Danny smiled and stole a quick kiss before leaving.

Turning towards the sink, Mac looked sternly at his reflection and ordered silently, Don’t screw this up. That taken care of, he took a breath and went to rejoin Danny.

*  *  *  *

Mac kept close to Danny as they walked down the hospital corridor towards the ICU where Louie was still hooked up to all those machines. He paused at the threshold and asked, “You want some time alone?”

Danny gave him a grateful look and nodded shyly. “If that’s okay?”

“Of course,” Mac assured him. “I’ll get some coffee at the cafeteria and come back the long way.”

“Thanks, Mac.”

“No problem.”

Only it was a problem, in that Mac didn’t want Danny to go through anything traumatic alone. And what could be more traumatic than being alone with your thoughts and the broken body of a brother who had kept him from jail? Sighing, Mac knew he had to give Danny the space to work this through and decided to pamper his new lover for the rest of the afternoon. They both had it off, so going to an afternoon pick-up game would distract and involve Danny for a couple of hours. It would also have the welcome side-effect of wearing him out, physically. Then they could go back to Mac’s place and he could order in some food and take care of Danny for the rest of the night.

By the time he’d worked out the details, he not only had the coffee, but was mostly on his way back to the ICU. He was surprised to find Danny talking to a dark-haired woman, almost-pretty in that ‘lived life too hard’ kind of way, just outside the room. His steps slowed, but didn’t stop until he was close enough to hear what was going on. The way they were standing, Danny didn’t see him, which was just as well.

“You can’t keep doing this!” the woman insisted.

Danny’s arms crossed over his chest as he retorted, “What am I doing, Nina, huh? I’m visiting my brother, okay?”

“Your Dad and Mom are fit to be tied over the whole thing! And I’m at my wits end, too! What do I tell Jackie and Little Louie?”

“Look, Nina, tell them the truth for a change. Their Dad was hurt bad by a couple of fuckin’ cowards,” Danny snapped.

Nina leaned in and hissed, “It’s so easy for you, isn’t it, Danny? You’re always so God damned high and mighty! You don’t deserve any of what you got, you hear me? You’re a sonovabitch who can’t even take care of his own God damn business! You had to get Louie to save your ass again and now my kids haven’t got a father! This is all your fault, Danny, and…”

Jaw tight with anger, Mac strode forward and interrupted, “Danny? I got that coffee for you.”

Looking sick with shame and almost as upset as he’d been the night before, Danny had to swallow a couple of times before answering, “Thanks, Mac.”

Close-up, Mac could see Nina had indeed lived a hard life. What had seemed nearly pretty from a distance, was filled with lines and a cold look from her dark eyes. Giving her a thin smile, Mac held out a free hand and said, “Detective Mac Taylor. You are?”

“Nina Messer. Danny’s sister-in-law,” she replied, not taking the hand.

Runs in the family, he thought, darkly amused. “Danny, do you need some time alone with Louie?”

Danny shook his head and answered, “Nah, Mac, I’m good. Thanks. I’ll see you around, Nina.”

“You see me coming, you better cross the street,” she warned, dark eyes flashing.

Mac stepped forward and warned softly, “I hope you weren’t just threatening a member of my team right in front of me, Mrs. Messer.”

To give her credit, she swallowed, but didn’t back down. “Now why would I do that? Do I look stupid to you?”

“No, no you don’t,” Mac replied. “And I hope neither you, nor anyone else, gets stupid in the future. You pass it along that Danny is not to be harassed, threatened, or in any way hurt or I will bring down the entire weight of the NYPD crashing down on all your heads. This stops now. Understood?”

“I’ll pass on the message,” she answered, glaring.

Mac nodded. “You do that. Come on, Danny.”

Silent, Danny fell into step with him and they left the hospital.

Once outside, Mac asked, “You okay?”

Danny cleared his throat. “I’ve been better.”

Swearing to himself at the thick voice, Mac threw out his plans for the rest of the day and said, “I need to stop in at work for a few minutes. Do you mind?”

Looking surprised, Danny answered, “Course not.”

It didn’t take long to get there, and thankfully Danny was on automatic pilot enough to just follow him inside. As Mac had expected, they were immediately pounced upon by Stella and Lindsey. The two women dragged Danny away the second they saw him. Mac sighed in relief as he saw Danny visibly brighten under their barrage of questions and the gentle petting they gave him. Flack was there not two minutes later with Hawkes, which actually got Danny to smile. The group varied as people came and went with consolations and well-wishes, but the core stayed the same.

Mac watched for about ten minutes, then walked over to his office. He needed to take the time to make sure that all the paperwork was done completely and they could move on with their lives; especially Danny.

He was well and truly engrossed in paperwork when the door opened some forty minutes later and Danny walked in. Smiling at the younger man, Mac asked, “Have a nice visit?”

Danny wagged a finger at him. “Don’t think I don’t know what you did here, Mac.”

Mac chuckled and prompted, “Did it work?”

Sinking into the chair in front of Mac’s desk, Danny confirmed, “And then some, thanks. That was just what I needed.”

“I told you, Danny. Whatever you need, I’m going to make sure you get it,” Mac reminded gently.

Danny smiled and said, “I wish I could kiss you right now.”

Heat sliced through him at the promise in those words and Mac cleared his throat before answering, “Well, we could go home and take care of that wish.”

“Sounds like a plan to me!” Danny exclaimed, hopping to his feet.

Laughing softly, Mac closed the file he’d been working on and stood as well. He brushed his hand down Danny’s back and murmured, “You’re not just my good boy, Danny, you’re a good man and a good friend. Honest and hard-working, someone who can be counted on. I have no idea why your family can’t see that, and I’m sorry they don’t, but all the same I have to admit that I’m selfishly glad I’ve got you to myself.”

Danny bounced a couple of times on his feet when Mac was done speaking and said, “If we don’t get somewhere private right now, I’m gonna kiss you in front of God and everyone.”

Mac palmed Danny’s ass, squeezing it hard, as he replied, “Let’s go home.”

Gasping, Danny nodded eagerly and they left the office.

*  *  *  *

The moment Mac locked the door and turned around, he had an armful of Danny as his lover jumped on him. Mac automatically wrapped his arms around Danny’s waist, holding him steady as they kissed. He let Danny keep control of the kiss for a few minutes, the frantic need slowly working itself out as he explored Mac’s mouth with his tongue.

Guiding Danny through the apartment towards the bedroom, Mac pushed his tongue into Danny’s mouth, effectively hijacking the kiss. He slowly and deliberately devoured Danny, who moaned in response. They bumped into the doorframe, but got through on the second try. Stopping at the bed, Mac finally broke off the kiss, breathing hard as he ordered, “Strip.”

Danny gave a wolfish grin. “Your wish is my command.”

“Less words, more stripping,” Mac told him, pulling his own shirt off.

Chuckling, Danny yanked his shirt off and Mac watched as the pants came off next. Danny was so intent on getting naked that he didn’t notice Mac had stopped until he was pulling off the last sock.

“Something wrong?”

The tone was light, but Mac heard the unease beneath it. He smiled and shook his head, replying, “Just enjoying the view. Hop into bed while I lock up.”

Danny looked confused, probably at the change in gears, but did as he was told.

It didn’t take long to set the security system and he was back in the bedroom only minutes later to get rid of his own clothing. When he climbed onto the bed and stretched out beside Danny, he rested a hand on his lover’s chest and said, “We need to talk before we go any further. If we go any further.”

“But…”

“Sexually, Danny, I don’t mean a relationship,” Mac assured him. “I need to know what you’ve done, how long ago, and what you’re comfortable with.”

Danny groaned, thumping his head against the pillow. “Can’t we just go with the flow?”

Tweaking the nipple under his hand, Mac stated, “No. I won’t be that careless with you. As one of my old music instructors said, although I doubt he anticipated this particular application, if you can’t say it, you can’t play it.”

“That’s really bad, Mac,” Danny muttered.

But a grin teased along his lips, so Mac just smiled and said, “I know. So, you said you had a male lover about ten years ago? Start with him and work your way back.”

Danny sighed, “Ah, hell, Mac. There really isn’t much to tell. We met at a club, hit it off, and went out a couple of times. It’s not like he broke my heart, or anything.”

“He did something, or it wouldn’t be ten years between lovers,” Mac pointed out.

Grimacing, Danny retorted, “I have had girlfriends.”

“Danny. Talk.”

Practically squirming under his steady gaze, Danny finally admitted, “It was a complete disaster, but my own fault. Like it usually is. Like I said, we met at a club. It was hot and heavy right away. We barely got in the front door of his apartment before we were on each other. Not that we got to the main event or anything. Wound up coming in my pants like a horny teenager.”

A thought that made Mac smile, but he didn’t interrupt.

“Anyhow. Next date he wanted to have real sex and I’d never done it before and wasn’t real sure, but you know, I wanted to, so I went along with it. But then, I ah, I kinda panicked and pushed him off. It got ugly, so I grabbed my clothes and ran. After that, women were just safer.”

‘Got ugly,’ covered a hell of a lot, but Mac decided to save a full explanation for later. The shame of rape, however misplaced by a victim, didn’t seem to be evident in Danny as he looked at Mac, so Mac figured it was more along the lines of verbal abuse. Rubbing his hand over Danny’s chest, Mac said, “You’re safe with me, Danny, and we will never do anything you don’t want to do.”

Danny groaned, thumping his head again. “How did I get to be the chick in this relationship?”

Tweaking the nipple once more, sharper this time, got Danny’s attention.

“You are not ‘the chick,’ in this relationship, Danny. You just don’t have the experience I do and I’m not going to risk spooking you, so we’re going to go slow with the main event,” Mac stated.

With a huff of annoyance, Danny demanded, “What if I don’t want to go slow?”

“Tough,” Mac told him.

Danny grumbled under his breath, but there was a tinge of relief to it, so Mac knew he’d made the right decision. He had to replace the bad memories with good ones, and that would be fun for them both. Putting actions to words, Mac slowly explored Danny, trailing his fingers over the lightly defined chest and kissing at various points.

It felt good to have the option to just touch knowing he wouldn’t be refused. Knowing that he was welcome to lavish as much attention on his partner as he truly wished. Something most of his bedmates hadn’t understood, or wanted, not that there’d been a lot of them. Danny was either a lot more comfortable in his own skin that Mac had given him credit, or he was so starved for affection that he didn’t care what form it took. It pained him to admit, but Mac thought the latter situation more likely.

Still, it was to his advantage and he pursued it avidly, indulging in his need to taste and tease them both with too-light caresses. By the time he reached Danny’s cock, it was hard and hot in his fingers, the head glistening with precome. When he tasted it, licking up its length, Danny groaned, hips jerking like he’d been shot.

“Mac! Oh god, Mac please,” Danny moaned, twisting restlessly. “Do something, anything!”

Mac enjoyed the sight of his lover so desperate for another moment, then went down on him. Taking the cock deep, he sucked hard, winding his tongue this way and that.

“Fuck!”

The shout would have made Mac smile, but his mouth was full and he was more than happy with concentrating on the length of flesh in it. Playing with Danny’s balls, rolling and massaging them in his hand provoked a strangled, unintelligible shout from Danny. Seconds later, Mac was surprised with a mouth full of semen. He swallowed, but missed a good portion, needing to breathe. Panting as he leaned against Danny’s thigh, Mac finally reached for his own dick, which was aching with a need for release.

“Don’t, Mac, let me, please?”

Looking up at Danny as his lover dragged himself up and then shifted onto his belly, Mac protested, “You don’t have to, Danny.”

“Trust me, I want to,” Danny promised, scooting closer.

When Danny put his head on Mac’s thigh, so close to his cock, Mac groaned at the sight. Sweat-slicked and flushed with a sexual high that was plain to see, Danny was absolutely gorgeous. He licked his lips, then leaned in even closer and pulled Mac’s hard-on down so he could suck on it. Breath hitching, Mac’s entire body tightened as he was inexpertly sucked, Mac couldn’t help but liken Danny’s ‘technique’ to that of a child sucking on a popsicle. A grotesque comparison, perhaps, but accurate. It was messy and enthusiastic and eager, everything that Mac hadn’t had in his life, or his bed, in far, far too long.

He tried to hang on, to make it last, but the second that Danny’s finger rubbed over his perineum, Mac was lost. He shuddered and came, arching back as he spilled hard. Panting once again, Mac pushed himself onto his elbows. A zing of pure lust surged through him as he watched Danny continue to suck lazily on his cock, cleaning it and practically using it like a pacifier. All too soon, the contact was too much for the sensitive skin and he gasped, “Danny, stop.”

The disappointed look as Danny withdrew was enough to make Mac collapse onto the mattress, staring up at the ceiling while his body slowly went back to normal. Danny joined him at the foot of the bed, curling up over Mac’s chest as he nuzzled there, licking a nipple to hardness.

Arching an eyebrow at him, Mac asked, “You have an oral fixation that I should know about?”

Danny answered with a wicked grin and, “Are you complaining?”

“Hell no, just trying to anticipate,” Mac countered, grinning back. “Come on. Up you go, while I get something to wipe us down.”

Pouting a little, something Mac hadn’t seen in a while, Danny did as he was told and crawled back up the other end of the bed. Mac rolled off the bed, coming back with a damp facecloth, which he used to gently wipe Danny clean. The younger man was drowsing at the end of it, murmuring in contentment.

It didn’t take long to wipe himself off and get under the covers with Danny. The nights had turned chilly again, though the bite of winter was definitely gone. It was just cool enough that holding Danny under the blankets was a great feeling. He combed his fingers through Danny’s damp, unruly hair, scratching lightly at the scalp.

Danny sighed deeply and mumbled, “‘S’nice, Daddy.”

Mac froze at the utterly unexpected endearment. Was it a tease, or was Danny so far gone he didn’t know what he was really saying? Since Danny was sound asleep seconds later, Mac couldn’t ask. A slow smile spread over his face as he realized that it didn’t really matter. Danny was his now, no matter what they called one another, or what the situation. If it happened again, well, that was a bonus.

Pressing his lips to Danny’s forehead, he whispered, “Night, baby. Sweet dreams. You deserve them.”

Next story in series - Pride & Joy - Relief