DANGEROUS ELYSIUM

PART SIXTEEN

ETHAN

'Don’t ever fucking do that.' I was surprised at how quickly Oliver withdrew from me, both physically and mentally. The words were unexpected for someone so seemingly innocent. Then I wondered about the asshole who'd not only broke his heart, but stomped on it too. Oliver didn't need to tell me, for me to know that was the reason for that sudden outburst last night after I walked him back to Curtis's place. He apologized so much about it too, but he really didn't need to. Then it explained why he’d been so closed off when I'd first met him years before. And although in those years we spoke, it was never much about his actual life in the city and more about what his interests were. Like books and math and problem solving. Yet he continued to try to hide from me, despite his natural inclination to want to open up.

Now it was clear, he was struggling with whether or not to trust me. The irony was that I, myself, had always had similar sentiments about following one’s heart, but hearing Oliver say it just didn't fit. And I watched Oliver's lids lower as he sipped his wine. "Oliver, regardless of what brought you here, I'm really glad you are. I don't…" I caught myself scraping at my bottom lip with my top teeth and forced myself to stop the nervous habit. It went against my nature to be so up-front with someone, especially someone I was as interested in as I was him, but I knew if I wanted Oliver to trust me, I had to be willing to give him a reason to. "I don't usually feel this comfortable around people, but ever since I met you, I just feel… good, you know? Maybe it sounds silly, but I enjoy spending time with you. So just… thanks. For moving back here and being with me now at dinner." He seemed caught off guard by my remark. But then he smiled back at me, and that gorgeous smile reached all the way to his eyes for the first time since we'd sat down.

He hesitated and then held his wineglass toward me for a toast. "To being here now." He said.

"To new friends and good food." I said, before tipping my glass to clink against his and taking a healthy sip. I got caught up in watching Oliver as he tasted the wine. Pleasure bloomed in his expression as he took another sip, and I gave myself a mental pat on the back for splurging on one of the best bottles the restaurant had. By the time the food came, the first bottle of wine was gone, with Oliver having drunk more than his fair share. I suspected that in addition to enjoying the wine, he also used picking up his wineglass as a way to keep me from seeing the nervous tremor in his hand or to cover any of the awkward silences that would occasionally flare up.

We talked about inconsequential things as we ate our food, and I was beyond pleased to see Oliver eat his entire meal, his bright eyes alight with pure joy as he forked up huge servings of the creamy pasta. My body felt loose and warm as we started on the second bottle after the waitress removed our plates, and I noticed Oliver's smiles were coming more frequently. "I was pretty sure you were a man's man, right?" he blurted before clapping a hand in front of his mouth and giggling through his fingers. His skin was flushed a pretty shade of pink. Somehow, during the course of the meal, we’d gravitated closer to one another in the small booth.

"What? Why would you think that?" I asked, unable to keep from joining him in laughter. "Do I look that uptight?"

"The tall, good-looking guy who seemed so serious? C'mon. I was shocked when you knew jack shit about Star Trek. The Vulcan salute? Almost made me piss myself." I tried not to preen over his compliment.

"Jeez, you really did think I was a dud. Everyone with half a brain knows the Vulcan greeting, don't they?" I asked.

"Yeah, geeks do. You're like, the least likely geek I've ever met," he said, still laughing. "What does Superman call his fortress?"

I stared at him. "You don’t have any idea what you're starting right now, do you?"

"Tell me the answer. You don’t even know, do you?" he challenged, eyes twinkling. He turned his upper body so he could focus all his attention on me, and I could practically feel the heat wafting off him.

"Boy, I will learn you but good. The Fortress of Solitude. Try again." I said victoriously.

"If I say I'm having a second breakfast at elevenses, what do I mean by that?" He asked. His tongue was caught saucily between his teeth and I wanted to lean forward and swipe it with my own.

"It means Hobbits are hungry fuckers. Next."

The surprise on his face was adorable, so I stuck out my tongue at him, which only caused him to narrow his eyes and try harder. "What can Thor's Hammer do?" Again, with the tongue between his teeth. He was clearly trying to kill me.

"Cutie, if you're talking about Chris Hemsworth, then his hammer can do whatever the hell it wants. Preferably me." Oliver snorted before kicking my foot under the table and bumping his arm against mine. I shot him a wink. And again, he blushed so hard I couldn't swallow. Then we continued to lob jokes and trivia at one another and by the time the waitress brought the check, Oliver was actually leaning into me a little as he slowly finished the wine that remained in his glass. He was definitely still feeling the effects of the alcohol, but the goofiness faded away and he just looked content.

When we made our way out of the restaurant, shouldering our coats on before walking out into the cool night, I took the risk of reaching for his hand and was surprised when he allowed me to hold it. We walked together through the dim streets hand in hand, exchanging more geek challenges to each other until we couldn’t stop laughing. When we finally made it to mine, still chuckling I tilted my head with a quirked brow. "Wanna grab dessert?"

Oliver looked up at me with bright eyes and rosy cheeks. My stomach tightened at the sight of him so relaxed and happy. "Absolutely. But what kind of dessert do you have?"

Damn. I had a good chocolate cheesecake in my fridge, but having Oliver as dessert was also very very tempting. Instead I said. "I have chocolate cheesecake in the fridge."

"Seriously?" Why was he so surprised? Or did he in fact want a different kind of dessert? I sure as hell did, but I also needed to tread carefully.

"Seriously, yes. It's delicious. Mrs Bradley makes them and she often just brings me one."

"Oh….right," he stuttered. "Then I'll have some please."

I leaned in and my mouth brushed against his ear as he turned to me in surprise. I murmured, "Good choice." And the pink flush that came up on his skin, stayed as we made our way into mine.

We sat together at my dining table. Then Oliver fell back into easy banter with me as we chowed down on the chocolate monstrosity. We decided to share the spoon and take turns tasting the domed treat. "You have some chocolate on your lip." Oliver said, pointing toward the corner of my mouth.

I deliberately reached out the tip of my tongue to the other side. "Did I get it?" I didn't miss how his breath hitched up.

"No, other side." he murmured, moving his pointer finger closer to my lower lip.

This time I took my time moving my tongue to the proper side but curving it up toward my top lip. "Now?" His eyes were stuck on my mouth and I could practically see the wheels in his head turning. I willed him to act on his desire, but when he lifted his eyes to mine, he blushed and then grabbed a towel to wipe off the spot. As he leaned his body weight farther into my chest to concentrate on what he was doing, I wrapped my arms around him and leaned forward for a kiss. It was just a small thing really, quick and chaste to celebrate the joy of feeling happy and close to him here in this moment, but once I felt the surprised puff of air escape his soft lips, I wanted more. I pulled back and studied him for a beat, hoping like hell I hadn't gone too far. His eyes were dazed and his brows were furrowed, but his lips were plumped out as if he wanted more. I leaned in slowly this time, making sure he had plenty of time to pull away if he wanted to, but he didn’t. My mouth landed on his softly, nibbling just slightly as he sighed and relaxed into me. His hands settled on my shoulders and I felt the brush of one of his thumbs against the sensitive skin of my neck. His lips were tentative but eager, pressing back into mine without really opening or deepening the kiss in any way. I forced myself to pull away, nuzzling my nose into his neck for a brief second before reaching for the spoon on our dessert again. "Mmm, sweeter than the cheesecake." I murmured.

Oliver smiled shyly and ducked his face, but not before I noticed his beautiful kiss-reddened lips and the tops of his pink ears. After a moment, he turned back to me. "Thank you." He whispered. His face was bright and flushed and I thought he’d never looked lovelier.

"Don't thank me. Just being with you is enough."

"Just this?"

"You….erm, you want more?" God I wanted him. I wanted to hold him and shield him. But more than that I wanted Oliver to feel safe and feel like he can trust me. With anything.

"I could stay over."

I felt the rapid beat of my heart reacting to him asking to spend the night with me and I felt like surely my answer was obvious. But I also hoped it wasn't the wine talking, but Oliver. "You sure? You've drank a lot and I don't want you to…."

"Shut up," He demanded. "I agree, I've had a bit to drink but I'm not completely severed from myself to not know what I'm doing or what I want."

I couldn't stop staring at him. Oliver is perfect, in every way possible. "Okay."

He smiled, then turned back to the half eaten cheesecake. "Are we gonna finish this?"

"We could be devious and eat the rest for breakfast?"

"Wow, cheesecake for breakfast. You are certainly very devious." Then he laughed again.

It was then I cupped his cheeks in my hands and pressed my lips to his again. The taste of Oliver and cheesecake was too much. I needed more. "Feel like getting wet?"

"What?" He asked, half dazed.

"Shower."

He dropped his head and gave it a hard shake. Maybe I'd said something I shouldn't have, so I changed course. "Straight to my room it is, if that's what you really want?"

"I want it….but, I'm a little afraid."

"Why?"

"I've….well I've never….done it."

Oh holy shit! He's a virgin? "Oliver….I need you to be real serious now, can you do that?"

"I…" He nodded. "I can."

"It's your first time. I don't want you to be scared, so let's get to know each other more."

"But…"

He went to say and I cut him off with my hand to his lips. "I want you, I'm not going to lie," I pointed to my crotch. I was as hard as granite. "But I want you to come into this slowly and really ready."

"Okay," He whispered, then moved back. "Slowly then, Mr gentleman."

I smiled and brushed my fingers over his knuckles and got up and put the dessert away. "We'll finish this another day."

"Definitely." Then we left and I walked him back to his and after a simple kiss on the lips, we exchanged phone numbers and went our separate ways. I couldn’t help but keep looking over my shoulder at Oliver until he was out of sight. A move he mirrored. And that had me smiling the whole fucking way home.