Rio

Connor, knuckles bruised and bleeding, helped Daniel to his feet. His lips twisting, he spared a look at the man who'd curled into a fetal position on the floor. "I wish you'd let me kill him."

"Please, Connor. Don't bother with him any more." Daniel tugged him away, toward the front of the bar. "We need to go. He's friends with the management. They could make trouble."

As they left, the Irishman grumbled, "I just hope I don't regret this later."

Daniel said meekly, "I'll try to make you happy, Con."

Galbraith paused, sighing. "Oh, love." He touched Daniel's face gently. "I didn't mean about you. I meant not killin' that shite when I had the chance. You've a soft side to you, Danny. I love ya for it, but it might not be practical. Now, we need to get your papers. Are they in your room, or the hotel safe?"

"The room."

"Good. Me safecrackin' skills aren't what they could be." In the elevator up to Daniel's floor, Connor took him in his arms, kissing him hard. When he let him up for air, Con said, "I'll be doin' that to you a good bit, Danny. And in public, too. I don't hide my love."

Daniel rested his head briefly on Connor's shoulder. "It'll be nice to have someone who doesn't alternately flaunt me and pretend I don't exist."

"Flaunt, I may. Ignore? Never."

Outside the room, Daniel looked to Connor in dismay. "Con! Andy has the key."

"Darlin', a simple locked door isn't all that much of a problem. Though..." He lifted his leg and kicked the door in with two powerful blows. "...it would be a bit easier if I had me boots. Just your papers, love. I don't want you havin' anything that bastard paid for with you."

Daniel got his wallet and passport quickly. He tossed a last venomous glance around the room, and hissed, "I just wish I had time to burn all his clothes."

Connor laughed. "Bit of the cat in you, ain't there, love? I'll have to remember that. Come on, now."

Connor himself seldom unpacked when he went anywhere, a very useful habit for someone who often had to move quickly. Basically all he had to do was throw a couple of items in his suitcase and latch it, and they were off. The cab at the front door had been called for someone else, but the cabby saw the reason of a fifty dollar bill, and was happy to drive them to the airport.

By the time Andrew Yarborough was having his ribs taped, and sullenly telling a disbelieving policeman that no, he didn't have any idea WHO his assailant was, they were studying the departure board. A flight for Ireland was leaving in less than an hour.

"Well, now, Danny. You've heard of the luck of the Irish, eh? Here you see proof."

"Good God, Con. You're not going to be able to get seats on it at this late date."

"Won't I?" Connor walked over to where the passengers were waiting to board. "Excuse me. I was wonderin' if any of you fine people might be willin' to postpone your flight till tomorrow, and let me and my friend reimburse you for your tickets." Blank stares. Connor smiled at Daniel, then turned back to the small crowd. "Of course, I forgot to mention that I'm willin' to pay a bonus of two hundred dollars for each." People started whispering and digging in purses and pockets. "You see, Danny? Luck of the Irish, with a wee bit of a boost."

An hour later they were seated side by side in second class. Connor had tried to hold out for first, but Daniel had insisted that they HAD to sit together, and they just weren't offered two together in first. Connor stroked his arm as the plane took off. "This is the last time, Danny. The last time you have less than first class."

"I don't mind, Con. It's all right, since I'm with you."

"But you SHOULD have the best, love. And I'm going to see to it. You'll never regret comin' with me, Daniel. I swear it. Now then..." Connor signaled the stewardess. "Could we be havin' a pillow and a blanket, please?"

"I wouldn't have thought you'd be sleepy, what with all that adrenaline." Daniel was just the tiniest bit disappointed that Connor would rather sleep than sit up with him.

"Oh, it's not for me." The stewardess brought them the items. Connor said, "Put your seat back, Danny."

"But Con..."

"No nonsense, lad." Connor's voice was firm, and Daniel found himself obeying, reclining the airline seat. Connor slipped the pillow under his head, then spread the blanket over him. "Flyin' tires you out, so you'll have a wee nap now."

"But how did you...?" Daniel's confusion melted as he gazed at his new lover. "From the lobby. You remembered."

Connor nodded. "Aye. And I'll have to see you take care of yourself from now on, Danny." He leaned over, smoothing Daniel's hair off his forehead, and whispered. "You're mine now, and I must be careful of you." He planted a kiss on the corner of Daniel's mouth, where it was just beginning to curve up in a little smile. "Sleep now." His voice thickened a little. "I can't say how much sleep I'll be lettin' you have in the future."

Daniel snuggled down under the blanket. For the first time since his early days with the sweet old thing he'd been with before Andrew, he slept peacefully, looking forward to awakening.

Connor slipped on his headphones, and found some quiet music. He turned off the light over their seat, and sat in the dimness, watching his lover sleep. He dozed at some point. When he awoke, most of the plane was in darkness, the majority of the passengers trying to sleep. Daniel, still lying in the reclined seat, was watching him with dreamy eyes.

"Lay down with me, Con, " he murmured. Connor reclined his own seat. Danny whispered, "In first class, the arm will come down. I wonder..."

Connor examined the arm between their seats, and found a little lever. When he moved it, he could push the arm down and out of the way. Daniel immediately spread the blanket over him also. He moved the thin little airline pillow over and said, "We can share."

"That's a small pillow, Danny. We'd have to be very close to share that." Daniel nodded solemnly. Connor moved close, closer, turning toward him, and laid his head on the pillow beside Daniel's. Their faces were only an inch or so apart. Daniel closed the inch, and kissed him softly. Connor sighed happily, sliding his tongue out to tease at the firm lips pressing to his own.

He felt Daniel's hands, under the blanket, moving over his side, then down to his chest. His shirt was thin silk, and Danny easily found the beginning thrust of his nipples and pinched, bringing them to fullness. Connor moaned, licking between Daniel's slightly parted lips, meeting his tongue.

Daniel's hands slid down Connor's torso, scratching lightly at his belly, and began to drag the shirt tail from his waistband. "Danny, love, what are you doin'?"

"I need to touch you. I need to feel your skin." His hands slipped up under the shirt, fingers dancing over the suddenly shivering flesh of his abdomen.

Then Connor felt his belt being loosened, and his zipperlowered. "Jesus, Danny. You can't be doin' this." But Connor didn't move to stop him, because by now a warm hand had slipped inside his pants and was feeling for the comfort slit of his jockeys.

"Why can't I? No one will see. And if you're quiet, no one will hear."

Connor sighed as Daniel eased his cock out, and began rubbing his thumb over it's head. "Just a little, then, sweetheart."

"No, Con." Daniel said sweetly. "I need it all."

He burrowed under the blanket, curving his body down. Connor gasped, clutching at his back as a wet velvet tongue caressed the spot his hand had just left, gathering up the slickness that the thumb had spread. "Boy!"

He felt the vibrations of Daniel's quiet voice against his prick. "In medievil times it was said that man lived by meat and drink. Well, I tasted you this afternoon, Con. Tasted. But I didn't have my meat and drink, and I'm so hungry."

Connor pressed his face hard into the pillow as he was slowly swallowed by moist heat. "Danny," he whispered. "Oh, God, Danny..." Daniel finally had someone who would appreciate his skills and imagination, and he lavished on Connor Galbraith every bit of attention and affection he'd been storing up for years. Licks, nibbles, sucks, grazes... A dozen different techniques. It was the most skilled head Connor had ever received, and he was far from a virgin.

And just when he thought he would go mad with frustrated tension, and have to hold Daniel still and fuck his mouth, Danny settled down and gave him a steady, strong blow job, sucking and bobbing in a satisfying rhythm that had Connor arching to meet him.

When he finally came, he had to sink his teeth into his own palm to keep from screaming. As it was, a high pitched whine escaped him, causing several passengers to look around curiously. All they saw was a rather pale faced young man, covered to his chin in a blanket, his expression just going lax. Poor man, more than one thought. Must not be used to flying.

Connor fondled Daniel's head as his lover slowly licked him clean, collecting ever drop of sperm that had somehow dribbled out when he tried to swallow all of Connor's spunk. He'd ALMOST done it. But Connor had jerked so at the last moment, that he'd almost lost it. At last Daniel sat up.

He emerged from under the blanket flushed of face and tousled of hair. His mouth looked blurred, and was a little slick. Connor kissed him, licking the thin film of his own cream off Daniel's lips. He whispered, "No need to try and kill me now, Danny. I haven't signed over the insurance yet."

Danny chuckled sleepily, curled up beside Connor with his hand cradling Galbraith's still naked prick under the blanket, and drifted off to sleep again. It was dawn when they arrived.

Connor bundled a yawning Daniel into a cab. The two men cuddled in the back seat on the ride to Connor's flat. The cabbie, who had been driving a hack for near on twenty years, scarcely glanced back. The only thing he found remarkable about the pair was that they seemed to be so spectacularly pleased with each other. Well, good on 'em. There wasn't enough affection in the world, as far as he was concerned. And besides, happy people were better tippers.

He was proved right. Connor, in a fine mood, gave him a bill that was double what was on the meter, and told him to keep the change, and no, thank you, there was no need for him to help with the luggage, as there was only one bag.

In the flat, Daniel wandered through the rooms, examining his new home. "Is this where..." He was standing by the fireplace, his face turned away from Connor as he traced a finger over the marble mantle. "Is this where I'll stay, or will you put me somewhere else?"

The wistful doubt in his voice touched Connor. He went to Daniel, embracing him from behind, lifting on his toes a little to put his chin on the taller man's shoulder. "This is your home, Danny. OUR home. Did you think I would put you away somewhere, like the bastard did?"

Daniel sighed, running his hands lightly over Connor's arms where they embraced him. "Can I have a fire?"

Connor smiled, a little puzzled, but began to build a fire. It was a bit warm for that, but if it was what Daniel wanted... He soon had a good blaze flickering in the fireplace. "There. Is that what you were wantin'?"

Daniel nodded, and began to strip. Connor watched in amused satisfaction as Daniel threw each article of clothing into the flames. He only stopped him at the belt and shoes. "We'll just chuck 'em in the bin, eh, Danny? I know you'd rather they burned, but they'll stink the place up. Don't you want the stench of thatSOB out of your nostrils?" Connor finally opened a window and threw the offending items out into the street. Someone's husband later received a quite nice belt and shoes set for his birthday, and was very grateful, even if the shoes WERE a bit large.

Finally Daniel was naked. "That's it, Connor Galbraith. I come to you just as God made me. Well," he smiled. "slightly used."

"And I'll take you just as God made you, Daniel Ballard." They were in the bedroom. Connor pushed Daniel down gently on the bed. "And I will take you, m' love." He started to strip. "As often as I can."

As Daniel watched Connor undress, he put two fingers in his mouth, sucking them. Connor felt himself start to grow hard. While he was opening his pants, Daniel rolled on his side, cocking one knee, and probed his own anus, working the fingers in slowly.

Connor's mouth went dry as he watched the beautiful man fingering himself, his face intent, preparing himself to make love. He whispered. "You don't really know me, Con, but I've...I've been careful. I always used protection. That was the one thing I wouldn't give in on with Andrew. He beat me for it more than once, but he never got inside me without a rubber. I've been tested. I'm clean. If you don't want to use one, you don't have to."

"Do you want me to, Danny?" Connor was nude now, his rigid hard on swaying against his belly.

"If it would be all right with you, I'd really like to feel you inside me, Con. You'd be the only one. You will be the only one. If you're not worried."

"I'd like that, my love. Oh, I'd like that so much." Connor got on the bed behind Daniel, spooning up behind him.He licked two of his own fingers, pushed Daniel's hand away, and inserted them where Daniel's hand had been. Daniel moaned, pushing back against him as Connor gently pumped the digits deeper, preparing him. "Will this be enough, love?" Connor breathed in his ear. "I can go on a bit more, but I need to be inside you soon."

"Yes, Con, it's enough. Fuck me now. Please. I want you inside me so bad."

"Yes, sweetheart. Yes."

Connor pushed his hips forward. The blunt head of his cock spread the relaxed ring of muscle, slipping inside. The men groaned in unison. Daniel shivered as the thick staff oozed deep inside him, filling him as Andrew never had; with gentleness and love.

When Connor was all the way inside, he wrapped his arms around his lover and just held him, feeling the enveloping heat. "Christ, Danny, you're so tight."

"I didn't realize..."

"What, love? What didn't you realize?" Connor shifted, beginning a long, lazy glide.

Daniel made an odd little whimper. Connor was beginning to discover that Danny was a vocal lover. "I didn't know I felt so empty till you filled me."

Connor bit his shoulder lightly, increasing the speed of his thrusts. He reached around Daniel and gripped his prick carefully in both hands, beginning to stroke. Soon Daniel was writhing sinuously, pushing back to meet his thrusts, then forward into his grip. All the while he made soft noises of pleasure and need. They drove Connor mad, and he was soon pounding steadily into his lover's body, unable to hold back.

Danny didn't want him to hold back. He breathed encouragements, begging him to go harder, faster, deeper. In a near frenzy of lust, Connor rolled Daniel onto his stomach, needing something solid to push against. He turned Daniel's face to the side, so he could breathe, and did his damnedest to fuck his lover through the mattress.

Daniel cried out, thrashing beneath him, and Connor felt his hands covered in hot, slick wetness. Now that Danny had reached his completion, Connor really let go. He grabbed his lover's hips and, with a low snarl, rammed him with short, hard jabs. He kept hitting Daniel's prostate. Even though he had cum, and would not be able to get hard again for a little while, the pleasure was intense. He grunted and squirmed as Connor finally came, spewing a hot gush of semen deep inside him.

It was a new sensation to Danny. He hadn't lied when he'd told Connor that he'd never had unprotected sex before. The sheer, raw intimacy of it was astounding. He cried out along with his lover as he felt the scalding pulse, as Connor Galbraith claimed him. But Daniel hardly needed to be claimed. He'd already given himself to the Irishman: body, heart, and soul. This was merely the ritual that stated it more clearly than words.

When it was over, Connor lay sprawled on top of the larger man for a while, biting and sucking at the side of his neck while Daniel purred contentedly. He finally pulled free and dropped to lie beside him. Daniel immediately snuggled up under his arm and began stroking his nipples, keeping them taut. "Danny," Connor sighed. "Love, you'll not be gettin' anything else for at least an hour or two. I'm not bleedin' Superman."

"You're not? Could have fooled me." He bit one tiny bud, drawing a good-natured groan, so he licked it in apology. Then he rested his head on Connor's chest. "How long do you intend to keep me naked?"

"Only for the first year or two." Connor chuckled as Daniel pinched his thigh. "I'll have one of my lads bring something over later. Then we can go shopping tomorrow. Would that suit you?"

"Yes."

They were silent for a time. Finally Connor said, "Danny?"

"Hm?"

"Danny boy, I'm not just keepin' you, you know."

"I know."

"You're going to be more than just my boy." Connor lifted Daniel's hand to his lips. "You're going to be my mate. If the fucking law would allow it, I'd marry you."

Danny tilted his head so that he could look up at Connor. He was smiling, but his eyes were soft and serious. "Ah, well, Connor. You know what you're getting into. Too bad my parents wouldn't meet you. My mother would die to arrange a big wedding. But then, I'm a sad disappointment to her." Connor started to frown, but Daniel's smile widened. "Oh, she never had the same problem with my choice of lovers that my father had. But she'd be absolutely devastated that I couldn't wear white."