"I'll be gentle, I promise," Darren whispered, feeling the shame and disgust once again as he saw the oozing gash. He picked up a small damp towel which he had soaked in water before, and painstakingly pressed it against the open cut. Daniel sucked in his breath sharply, indicating it was stinging him immensely, but he didn't say anything. Darren then continued to wipe clean all off the blood, making sure he wasn't exerting any pressure which would cause more pain. He was just as glad that no dangerous piece of glass was embedded, for that would have been torture. After that, using small make-up cotton balls, he applied disinfectant to wash away any nasty bacteria. He finished off with wrapping a large bandage over his shoulder, covering the now clean shoulder very well.
Daniel had been watching him mutely all this time, never taking his eyes off Darren, who was hating himself more and more every moment. He turned to face him after everything had been done.
"There. Are you feeling better? Do you want anything else?"
Daniel shook his head. He was feeling sleepy now, the night had worn him out. He closed his eyes.
Darren noiselessly put away the used towels and other equipment and settled back into the bed, lying on his side with his arm propped up against his head and faced the blond man. He glanced at his watch. Half-past two in the morning. He wasn't tired in the least, he was greatly troubled by the event that had happened. Watching Daniel, he saw the smooth contours outlining the exquisite, thin face and the peaceful expression. He loved his beauty, he was just so elegantly handsome. And how he longed to tell him that.
He lightly touched his shoulder, the one which wasn't hurt. "Daniel? Are you awake? Please, we need to talk."
We need to talk. Daniel flashed open his eyes. Isn't that what I came here for in the first place? He fixed his gaze on the ceiling again.
Darren examined him closely, feeling the familiar lump forming in his throat. He tried to stabilized his voice, which was on the verge of completely breaking down. "Listen, I really am sorry about all this. I know, my temper is a terror at times and I loathed myself for it. I just don't know what came over me. Believe me, I...I would never hurt you for the world, Daniel."
Gradually, Daniel turned to him, also heaving himself up on his good arm on his side. He was now only inches apart from Darren's haggarded-looking face, skin creased with distress.
'"I'm not mad at you anymore," he breathed, almost sensuously. Darren's hypnotic soul-penetrating eyes were mesmerising him. Indeed, he was a divine looking creature, a cherubic-faced little boy. Daniel didn't know what was happening to him, only that all of sudden feeling, he felt an electrifying attraction towards this man. He noticed how finely featured this face before him and how it made his heart beat faster. Shivers of balmy passion tingled through his spine. He shifted closer, the only sound he could hear was his own breathing.
Darren was rigidly inert next to him, not daring to move a single muscle. He could feel Daniel's breath against his cheek, he was so so near him. Their eyes, their noses and their lips were only centimetres apart. And Daniel was...well, shirtless. His hairless naked chest looked so very inviting. Never before had they been this intimate. He closed his eyes, feeling chills dancing around in his insides. Daniel, what are you doing?
Before Daniel knew what he was doing, he moved towards Darren's petrified face and ever so softly pressed his lips against his. Ohh...... Shocks of electric currents vibrated throughout his shaking body. Eyelash against eyelash, cheek against cheek and those luscious lips against his own lips. He let his lips linger on Darren's for a few seconds before it the world came crashing down again. Tearing off the union hastily, he gasped for breath, horror-stricken at what he had done.
"Darren, I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-" he stammered as he struggled to get up, forgetting he still wasn't completely healed yet and groaned as the stabbing pain pulsated through him. Humiliated and perfectly mortified by his actions, he felt that he would never be able to face Darren once again.
Darren was speechless for a long time, his heart pounding furiously inside his chest. He brought his hand up to his mouth where he could still feel Daniel's soft mouth on his. Daniel?! Oh no, this can't really be happening...he isn't like that...
Daniel started to get up but a sudden shot of heated pain pierced through his body brought him back down again on the bed. He grimaced and moaned in agony, trying to twist his body into a comfortable position. "Oh shit!", he cursed to no-one in particular, "This hurts like hell!"
Darren immediately panicked, putting all other thoughts behind him. He sat up, and stared at the squirming figure next to him with extreme concern. "Dan, I think I better get you to the hospital. You look pretty bad." he whispered. He was fearing the worst. Did Daniel have much more serious injuries than he thought?
Daniel grabbed his arm and managed to to cry out "No!" before he fell back into the pillows, wincing as his stomach churned mercilessly inside. He took deep breaths to calm himself and the pain slowly went away again, like a tide going back out into the sea. Then there was that feeling of exhaustion, as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
"No, Darren," he finally spoke, his hand holding the other man's arm tightly. "I'm okay now. Really. Don't call anyone."
Darren looked doubtful, his eyes filled with anxiety. "But I could've ruptured you liver or something and we don't know it. It would get worse if we don't do anything. I don't like this at all."
But Daniel was adamant. He firmly shook his head. "Please, everything's alright now," he pleaded in his most convincing voice. "Daz, please...let's just leave it at this. I would have known if you did injure me that badly."
He sighed. Daniel could be so stubborn at times. "Why don't you want a doctor to check it out? You're obviously you're in a lot of pain and it's worrying." He inspected him closely. "Is it because you don't want anyone to find out? That I battered you like this?" he added quietly.
Daniel returned his gaze, tears in his eyes. He let go of his arm and furiously wiped away the tears with the back of his hand. "I never thought you could do this to me Darren. My guts feel like they've been torn apart. Why, you're stronger than you look, you know!" He managed to give him a bitter smile.