***

So he was trying to play it cool, but it was so damned clear that Jonathan wanted him. His cheeks were slightly pink, he kept licking his lips, and he blinked so prettily now and then. Maddox shrugged and grabbed Jonathan by the shoulders. The next moment, their lips collided, and it was so good, so sweet, that Maddox could feel his toes curling in his kicks. 

That was the good moment because one later, he was pushed back furiously…

And punched in the face. 

“Ouch, ouch, what the hell?” Maddox grabbed his nose and groaned at the sudden pain. 

Fuck, something was pouring out of his nose. He took away his hands and stared at them. It was fucking blood!

“Oh my god,” Jonathan babbled, “you’re bleeding!”

“No shit, Sherlock. You fucking hit me! Why did you do that?” 

Jonathan, who had seemed frozen in place for a couple of seconds, went into a frenzy. He grabbed Maddox by one arm and began dragging him. “I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t even think I’d land that. I sincerely thought you would block or dodge or --”

“Where are you taking me? To the torture room to get your kicks? And why would you even think I’d be able to dodge a punch to the face?”

“Aren’t you a big shot fighter?”

A what?

“And I’m just taking you to the bathroom to get you washed. Seriously, Maddox, I’m sorry. You just took me completely off-guard and --”

“No wonder you’re a freaking virgin if you punch all the guys who try to kiss you in the face. You’re so violent!” Well, the blood wasn’t stopping, but the pain that had flared at first was now turning into a low-frequency pulse. 

“I don’t punch anyone,” Jonathan retorted. “Just you,” he added after a short break.

Maddox felt like grinning despite the pain.

Jonathan helped him wash his face and then grabbed a small first aid kit. He began to baby him, wiping his face and then stuffing his nose with small cotton balls. Then he took him to a small bench and had him lie down. Maddox had to admit that he enjoyed the attention, despite his hurting nose. Jonathan crouched by his side and caressed his forehead. He looked so seriously chastised, it was way too funny.

“Let me bring a small pillow to rest your head on. Just tilt your head back a little to help the bleeding to stop.”

Maddox grabbed Jonathan’s arm to prevent him from going. “Don’t leave my side, I beg you. It’s so cold,” he said in an exaggerated dramatic voice, “my whole life is flashing before my eyes. Oh, look, that was where I put my Pokémon card collection in fifth grade.”

Jonathan chuckled and slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “Oh, god, you’re such a joker. You sure you don’t need that pillow? This bench is hard.”

“Just hold my head on your arm, and I’ll be fine,” Maddox said promptly.

He was pushing it, but he had already been punched in the face, and he doubted Jonathan would do that again soon. However, he was pleasantly surprised when Jonathan took his head gently and then snuck his arm underneath to support it. 

“How is it? Does it hurt a lot?” Jonathan asked.

Their faces were so close, but Maddox doubted he looked too sexy, now with his nose stuffed with cotton balls. “It does,” he whined.

Jonathan smiled. “No wonder everyone’s crazy about you. I had no idea guys like you would be able to pull the puppy eyes look so easily.”

Maddox blinked slowly and made his best effort to look as charming as he could under the circumstances. Jonathan caressed his hair with the other hand, pushing it out of his eyes. 

“Do you think you can stand?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Jonathan helped him up. “Your t-shirt is ruined,” he said. 

Maddox looked at the few red dots on it. It was already late, so no one would notice. “Yeah, but hey, I don’t go to battle against Muhammad Ali every day.”

That earned him another sweet smile from Jonathan. “I’ll give you mine. Just take it off.”

It wasn’t everything like he imagined the point where they would both take their clothes off again, but it was still good. Maddox pulled his t-shirt over his head and handed it to Jonathan, who left it on the bench. It was just so damned funny how hard the guy was trying not to stare at him. 

Jonathan Hamilton was a challenge, but that only made him all the more worth it. Maddox watched him with hungry eyes as he got out of the light sweater he was wearing and then out of a pristine white t-shirt. Damn, that body was so fine, nice defined muscles everywhere, but lean and looking nothing like a gym rat. Slight curves nicely balanced the hard planes of his torso in all the right places. He was real and warm, and anyone in their right minds would just reach out and touch him.

Jonathan handed the t-shirt to Maddox and then put his sweater back on hastily.

Maddox held it for a moment and pretended to sniff it. “Too bad I can’t smell this,” he said playfully.

Jonathan grinned and then shook his head. “No problem. I can tell you it reeks of old money.”

Maddox chortled. “You got me.” He pulled the t-shirt over his head. 

Just as he began to roll the sleeves up, Jonathan stopped him. “Maddox, baby, please, just don’t. You have amazing arms, we all get it, but no.” To get his point across, he rolled back the sleeves and smoothed them out with his palms.

“Did you just call me ‘baby’? Do it again,” Maddox said quickly.

“You’re a big baby,” Jonathan said. “A cry baby.”

“Ah, come on, not like that,” Maddox complained.

“How do you feel?” Jonathan asked him, the seriousness from before returning in full-fledge.

“I’ve been better,” Maddox joked. “But, since I see you still feel guilty, how about you kiss me to make it all better?”

Jonathan took him by the shoulders and then kissed him gently on the tip of his nose. Such surprises never ceased to amaze him.

“Did I get punched in the face for this?” Maddox complained. Truth be told, even for that, and it was still worth it. Jonathan was so close, he could feel his body heat.

He held his breath as Jonathan angled his head and kissed the corner of his mouth. Then, he moved slowly to take his lips, and it was even sweeter than before. Maddox opened his mouth slowly, cautiously, and then a naughty tongue flickered over his lips and darted inside, teasing him.

The only other point where they made contact was where Jonathan held him by the shoulders, but it was enough. Maddox could feel the world starting to spin around him like a fun merry-go-round as he closed his eyes.

Jonathan was kissing him, and it was beyond everything he had ever experienced. It wasn’t even about sex, or not only about it, because the way Jonathan brushed his lips over his mouth, so unhurriedly that it hurt, was filled not only with sexual want but something else.

Something that tasted like nothing else Maddox ever tasted. Was it because he was a boy, and he had never kissed one before? Or was it because it was simply Jonathan?

He found it hard to open his eyes and admit that it was over when Jonathan moved away. 

“Better now?”

Maddox smiled. “Definitely.”

“Then off you go now. Call me if there’s anything you need.”

He could make so many jokes about other boys Jonathan must have kissed or that ‘anything’ leaving the door open for sexual innuendos. But Maddox just nodded and let himself be guided to the door.

Once outside, he broke into a sprint. His feet had wings all of a sudden, and he felt as if he were drunk for the first time in his life.

***

“What happened to you?” That was a very startled Kane, who had both hands filled with beer bottles and was just heading to join the others on the sofa and watch a game.

Maddox grinned and sighed. “Something wonderful.”

“Wonderful? You look like you got into a fight.”

Maddox hiked up the stairs. He couldn’t dally and entertain Kane and his curiosity right now because he needed to reach his room, throw himself on the bed, and dream wide-eyed of how amazing Jonathan was and the sweetness of his kiss.

TBC