Danny's Dragon

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

The universe is deathless, is deathless because, having no finite self, it stays infinite. A sound man by not advancing himself stays the further ahead of himself, by not confining himself to himself sustains himself outside himself: by never being an end in himself he endlessly becomes himself. – Lao Tzu

“Come, sit here.” Danny led Dave to the bed, a futon on a light wood base, and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. He pulled back the covers and gently tugged Dave’s hand.

Dave looked around as he sank onto the bed, obviously taking in his surroundings. The bedroom had the same simple yet stylish Japanese furnishing as the living room. More characters from the poetry covered part of one wall.

Danny’s heart pumped like crazy. It was beating faster than if he’d jogged several miles. He’d shocked himself, taking control, leading Dave into the bedroom, but it was all he wanted. His hands trembled; the butterflies in his stomach were in overdrive. He’d wanted Dave for a long time, had fantasized about him endlessly. Now Dave was here in flesh and blood, he wanted everything to go right.

He sat on the bed next to Dave, who turned to him. Reaching out, he touched Dave’s cheek again, sliding his fingertips downward and along his jaw line. Dave gazed back at him, letting him lead. Danny brushed the pad of his thumb across Dave’s chin, relishing the trace of growth that chafed his skin. Dave obviously had a heavy beard though he was clean-shaven, and Danny liked the hint of roughness erupting from the masculine skin, as well as the cleft in his chin that gave his features a chiseled appearance.

Gingerly, he passed his fingertips across Dave’s bottom lip. He looked up into Dave’s eyes, momentarily trapped by their blueness. They reflected a bit of confusion, desire, and... wonder. The expression reverberated through him, making him see deeper inside the other man’s being, feeling all that he felt in that moment.

That was when he realized what was happening. He was experiencing the tao, the flow of life when a person merged with the present. It had happened back in the living room too, when he’d told Dave he could rest here. Accepting his own fear of this unexplored world, he’d then sensed Dave’s nervousness and desire to please him. He also felt the other man’s suffering, and his need always to be in control and to be the one others could turn to. Dave needed more than just the release of s*x. He needed to rest and feel cared for. According to the Tao of Loving, the physical act and the loving heart were inextricably entwined. Even though Danny had barely experienced s*x in his own life, he still couldn’t separate the two.

He reached out with his other hand, resting both gently on Dave’s shoulders. The wool of Dave’s sweater tickled the flesh of his palms. Even through the thick clothing, Dave’s muscles bulged like iron bands. His powerful maleness emanated right through the scratchy wool. In addition to strength, however, there was a great deal of tension, the tension of a man who carried a great burden.

As he began to knead Dave’s tight, hard muscles, a thrill passed through Danny’s entire body, pooling in his groin.

“That feels good.” Dave’s voice came out in a tight murmur.

“I’m glad. Just enjoy it.” He worked on Dave’s shoulders until some of the tension had drained out before sliding his hands down Dave’s chest, over his pectorals, which rose and fell a bit heavily. Gently bunching the hem of the sweater, he lifted it up. Dave raised his arms, helping Danny to work it off.

Underneath, Dave wore a long underwear top. The cream-colored material clung to his muscles, which strained against it as if they would burst through.

Dave looked at him, the pale, freckled skin of his face flushed, his blue eyes fallen to a deeper shade, the lids heavy. “Should I take this off too?” He tugged at the sleeve of his shirt.

Danny nodded, his heartbeat speeding up several notches. He very much wanted to see the chest he’d fantasized endlessly about for nearly six months. “Yes,” he murmured.

A grin played about Dave’s lips. “I will obey.” He lifted off his shirt and tossed it aside on the bed. He continued to watch Danny, his expression concerned, as if needing to make sure Danny liked what he saw.

Dave sure had nothing to worry about. He was incredible. His torso was like a study in Greek sculpture. The muscles were perfectly rounded. His chest was even better than Danny had imagined, his n*****s reddish pink and tight from arousal, his pectorals covered with a silky coating of golden-red hair that funneled into a trail down his tight stomach and dipped below the waistband of his jeans.

“You’re very beautiful,” Danny said, his hands starting to tremble again.

A shy smile crossed Dave’s lips. He looked almost embarrassed. “Thanks. No one’s ever called me that before.”

“Really?” It seemed hard to believe. This man was magnificent. “I mean, I know you’re telling the truth, it’s just that... you’re... incredible. Like I said.”

Danny moved closer and reached up, smoothing one hand over the shoulder nearer to him. Dave’s freckled skin was warm and taut over the hard muscle. He slid his touch from Dave’s shoulder, down to his chest, gently splaying his hand over one side. Dave’s heartbeat pounded under his hand, and Dave was watching him, his eyes half-closed, his breath husky. Danny had the sense he was holding himself back, letting Danny explore.

“Danny, would you take your shirt off? I really want to see you.”

He nodded. “Of course.” Sitting back, he tugged off his black sweater and unbuttoned his shirt. Dave’s hungry gaze rested on him, making his cheeks burn hotter with each button he undid. He pulled his shirt back, down his shoulders and arms, praying Dave didn’t see the skinny nerd he’d always seen in the mirror.

Dave’s eyes went even duskier. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. He reached out and smoothed one large, callused hand across Danny’s chest, his fingertips tracing the etchings of his muscles.

Danny exhaled, his skin practically quivering from the pleasure of Dave’s touch. The pads of Dave’s fingertips smoothed over his n*****s, which tightened in response. Flames of erotic heat licked up his body, through his thighs and groin. His erection, long past fully hard, strained against his jeans.

“Danny, you’re f*****g hot.”

Heat bloomed in Danny’s cheeks. “Thank you.”

Dave moved lower, down Danny’s stomach, dipping his fingertips below the waistband. Danny felt Dave’s desire to please him, his role as the pleasure-giver taking over. As much as he wanted Dave to touch him, he wanted more for the other man to know he didn’t need to service him to be liked.

Lightly he grasped Dave’s wrist, staying his hand. “Not yet,” he told him gently.

Dave’s eyebrows rose, a hint of alarm in his expression. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, of course not. I just haven’t finished your massage.”

The apprehension drained from his eyes and Dave grinned. “Okay. I must say I was enjoying that immensely.”

“I’m glad.” Danny lifted Dave’s hand to his face and pressed his lips into the flesh of the palm. He held it there for a lingering moment before releasing him. Rising on his knees, he maneuvered himself so he was kneeling on the bed behind Dave. His breath caught. “Wow.”

Dave looked at him over his shoulder. “My tattoo.” He sounded sheepish. “The folly of my youth.” His voice strained as if there were painful memories behind the work of art.

Danny stared at the enormous dragon covering the upper portion of Dave’s broad back. The creature was fierce-looking, with clawed wings outstretched, the tail winding down Dave’s spine, past the waistband of his jeans. A myriad of colors made up the body and wings of the dragon, artfully shaded, obviously the work of a highly skilled artist. “It’s beautiful, actually,” he said softly. Gingerly, he traced the lines and shadings, enjoying the feel of Dave’s warm skin and hard muscles under his fingers.

Dave turned back around. He heaved a sigh. “I’m glad you’re not repelled.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I was very young when I got it. Twenty, to be exact. My first partner, John... he was into all kinds of astrology. He told me I was born in the Year of the Dragon, you know, in the Chinese zodiac.”

“Yes I know.”

“I did it for him.” Dave’s voice was unmistakably sad. Apparently things had gone terribly wrong with this person.

“It sounds like he was very important to you.”

Dave nodded. “He was. He was. He died.”

Danny stopped tracing the tattoo, feeling Dave’s emotional pain practically emanate through his skin. He concentrated instead on massaging Dave’s shoulders, kneading the tense muscles. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to pry.”

“You didn’t, Danny.” Dave’s muscles relaxed under his ministrations. “Damn, you’re good at this. Is there anything you can’t do?”

Danny smiled. He moved his massaging motions down Dave’s arms, kneading his biceps. “I can’t cook to save my life, in spite of the fact my parents ran a restaurant for years.”

Dave chuckled, but then Danny sensed him grow serious. “That’s something I’m okay at. You don’t need to cook. I’ll do it for you.”

Something in Dave’s tone made Danny go still, his hands resting on Dave’s muscular arms. It was as if an invisible cord had bound them together in that simple statement. Like yin and yang finding their place together. He resumed his gentle massage, moving his hands back to Dave’s shoulders and onto his back. “I’d like that.”

Dave’s body was more pliant under his hands now. He was obviously enjoying the massage very much. “So would I.”

Danny rubbed Dave’s back in small circles, easing the tension out of the muscles along his spine. Finally, when Dave’s entire torso was more relaxed, Danny rested his hands on Dave’s shoulders.

“What’s your sign, Danny?”

“The rabbit.”

“The luckiest of all signs. I’ve read that on the placemats.”

Danny chuckled. Tonight he did feel as if his zodiac were true. He leaned forward and pressed a small kiss to the back of Dave’s neck, inhaling his light, musky scent.

“Mmm.” Dave leaned back against Danny’s chest. “A dragon and a rabbit,” Dave murmured, as if considering the implications. “Interesting.”

“Sounds good to me.” Danny slid his hands from Dave’s shoulders, across his chest, until he was embracing him, and then he pressed his lips to the side of Dave’s neck. Dave tilted his head, giving Danny more access to his skin. His large hands covered Danny’s and he caressed the tops of Danny’s hands and forearms.

Danny touched the tip of his tongue to Dave’s warm skin, enjoying the salty flavor and the masculine texture of it. Dave groaned and pulled away to turn around so that he faced Danny.

Dave’s lips were slightly parted, and his blue eyes smoldered fiercely. Reaching up, he cupped the back of Danny’s neck and gently pulled him closer. He brushed their lips together, the movement at once tender and possessive.

Danny leaned into him, his hands on Dave’s strong shoulders. Dave slanted his mouth passionately over his, his tongue surging hotly, their lips chafing fervently together. Heat rippled through every nerve ending of Danny’s body, and the pressure pulsing in his erection bordered on painful.

He let Dave lower him onto his back, their mouths still joined. Dave half-covered his body, massaging Danny’s chest with one hand, brushing his fingertips sensuously across Danny’s n*****s and down the centre of his stomach.

Danny stroked Dave’s back, as if his fingertips were memorizing the hard, etched landscape of muscles that flexed as he moved. From the base of Dave’s spine he stroked upward, all the way to Dave’s short-cropped hair, so silky under his touch.

Dave lifted his mouth from their kisses, his lips moist and swollen. His chest heaved against Danny’s, and he looked down into Danny’s eyes. “God, you’re amazing,” he breathed. He inched his hand down Danny’s stomach to the waistband of his jeans.

***

Lowering his lips back down to Danny’s, Dave kissed him softly while working open the buckle of Danny’s belt. Danny tasted incredible, and his skin, the color and texture of gold cream, aroused him to a fever pitch. The fact that Danny was kissing him back with equal fervor only heightened the blazing hard-on already threatening to burn right through his jeans.

The fire swept through him again, and he trailed his kisses down Danny’s neck and across his chest, swirling his tongue around each n****e while he rubbed the hard bulge of Danny’s erection through his jeans. He loved the smooth, hairless skin of Danny’s chest and the way it almost felt as if it were melting under the heat of his tongue.

Feeling as if he’d lose his mind with the pleasure, he pulled back again, slowing down his movements. He didn’t want Danny to feel like he was just using him for his own gratification, although slowing down now took every ounce of discipline he possessed. He felt, with a pang, how his heart was engaged in what they were doing, a stark contrast to the mechanical satisfaction he’d been taking the last three years trying to numb his pain over John’s death.

Danny’s had rested his hands on Dave’s shoulders again, and he was caressing them gently. He gazed up at Dave while Dave worked open his jeans. Pulling the zipper down, Dave slipped his hand inside, cupping Danny’s erection over his long underwear. The material rasped lightly against his skin, a thin barrier to the hard swelling underneath.

He rubbed lightly up and down the length of Danny’s c**k, capturing Danny’s moan in his mouth. Danny slid his hand down Dave’s arm and across his back, never stopping the exploring caress.

Dave pulled his hand out and rose up on his knees, anchoring himself so he could slide Danny’s jeans and underclothes down his slim hips. Everything came off at once, and he tugged the clothing the rest of the way down his legs, past his feet, and let it drop. He sucked in an appreciative breath at the sight of Danny’s erection, thick and hard, jutting from a small nest of ebony pubic hair above the firm sac of his balls.

Reaching down, he slid the palm of his hand up and down the shaft, appreciating the silky skin hugging the veins and hardness. Danny’s c**k was reddish gold, and it fit Dave’s hand perfectly, as if it had been made for him alone. Danny groaned, his hips arching slightly, pushing himself against Dave’s searching hand.

Dave slid his touch downward and cupped Danny’s balls, giving them a gentle squeeze.

Danny sat up, reaching for Dave’s jeans. When Danny had gotten the button and zipper opened, Dave slid his jeans and underwear down, kicking them off as quickly as possible. When he looked back at Danny, Danny was staring at his c**k, his eyes wide.

The look of amazement was flattering.

***

“You have a very large dragon,” Danny said softly. Truly he couldn’t take his eyes off the thick shaft rising majestically from the heavy thatch of reddish-blond hair.

Dave chuckled, a puzzled sound. “My dragon?”

Danny smiled up at him. “Yes. Your jade stem.”

Understanding lit Dave’s blue eyes. “You mean my c**k?”

Danny laughed. “Yes.”

Dave tilted his head. “It’s big enough, I guess. But how many dragons have you seen up close and personal, excluding your own?”

“Only yours.”

A grin spread across Dave’s lips. “Well, you don’t have any points of comparison then. Not live ones anyway.” He reached out and touched Danny’s cheek.

His touch slid warmly down Danny’s neck to his shoulder and onto his triceps, the calluses of Dave’s fingers dragging pleasantly down his arm. “Listen, Danny, I just want you to know I’m safe. I mean, I’ve always been very careful and I’m clean. I’ve been abstinent for a while, not very long, but long enough to know. But if you want to use protection, I have it.”

“I believe you.” He looked into Dave’s eyes. They stared back at him with tenderness, and Danny felt that invisible connection tug between them again.

“Thank you, Danny.” A tiny, sideways grin curved Dave’s strong lips. “In that case....” He picked up Danny’s hand and guided it to his swollen shaft.

Danny’s insides jumped at the contact. Dave guided his hand in light strokes on the velvety skin. Tight, rasping breaths escaped Dave’s throat with each caress.

Danny glanced up at him. Dave’s eyes were closed, and his head was tilted back. His broad chest rose and fell heavily.

Dave released his hand and sank onto his behind, as if his body were completely weakening under Danny’s touch. Danny put his attention back on what he was doing, his hand lightly wrapped around the hard, veined shaft. Now he was glad he’d read the ancient texts Master Chen had given him on the Tao of Loving. Even though they were about male and female s*x, they had still explained to him certain important techniques for touching a man’s dragon.

He leaned forward and cupped Dave’s erection between both palms, sliding them gently up and down. He moved one hand lower and cupped Dave’s heavy scrotum, caressing it lightly with his fingertips.

“Be careful,” Dave rasped. “You’re going to make me come too soon.”

“Sorry.”

Dave smiled at him through his panting. “No problem.”

Danny slid his fingertips around the jade peak of Dave’s member. He traced the ridges of the swollen head and held it gently for several seconds.

Dave looked at him, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“It’s a technique from the Tao. I’m not hurting you, am I?”

“No.”

“If you press on this spot, it will give you more time.”

“Oh.”

Danny held his fingers in place a few more seconds and felt Dave’s p***s soften just a bit. “See?”

Dave was staring. “Damn, that’s amazing.”

Danny slid his hand down the shaft again, lightly grasping and holding it in place. He bent over and licked across the smooth lobes of the jade peak. He paused and raised his gaze to Dave’s, his own breath becoming ragged.

Dave sucked in his breath. “Don’t stop, please.”

“Okay.” He repeated the same motion with his tongue several times, back and forth, enjoying Dave’s smooth, intimate taste.

Dave’s shaft pulsed and swelled against his hand, rapidly regaining its former hard state. Danny took the whole head into his mouth, sliding his lips over the swollen cap. He sucked harder, the musky scent of Dave’s s*x pleasantly filling his nostrils.

Dave groaned, and slipped his hand into Danny’s hair, conveying both coiled tension and enjoyment in his touch.

Encouraged, Danny slid his hand down to Dave’s balls and cupped them, rubbing gently as he took Dave’s dragon deeper into his mouth. He moved slowly, absorbing everything about Dave, the sound of his moans, the pressure of Dave’s fingers digging into his hair, the texture of the silken skin of his shaft and its musky flavor and scent.

Before long the flow of life caught him again, and he lost himself in licking and sucking, caressing, listening to Dave’s murmurs and groans of enjoyment. When a droplet of seed beaded in the small opening, Danny licked it up with fervor.

Dave’s hand slipped from Danny’s hair, and he leaned back on the mattress, supporting his weight with both hands. Moments later, he released a long, low moan. His c**k pulsed in Danny’s mouth, and his seed began to spurt out, coating Danny’s lips.

Danny lifted his head and watched Dave’s completion, enjoying even the sight of his c*m spurting out. He stroked the pulsing shaft until Dave’s climax was exhausted and Dave’s body went limp and relaxed, his chest heaving. He was staring at Danny, his eyes smoldering, his face darkly flushed. His lips were parted slightly with that look of wonder. “And you say you’ve never done this before?”

Danny couldn’t help smiling. “No, never.”

Dave shook his head, a grin curving his lips. “Damn, must be all that painting meditation.”

Danny chuckled. His statement wasn’t completely untrue. “I suppose.” He reached for a tissue and gently wiped Dave’s stomach and pubic hair. He took another tissue and wiped his own lips.

When he’d finished, Dave reached for him, bringing Danny to lie alongside him. He stared into Danny’s eyes then leaned closer, taking his mouth in a gentle yet fervent kiss. He slid his tongue against Danny’s, tasting him gently, his lips more relaxed, his touch on Danny’s arm moving in languid circles.

Danny’s erection rose again, pressing along Dave’s thigh. Dave moved his body, using his thigh to caress the length of Danny’s shaft.

Danny moaned into Dave’s mouth.

Their mouths still joined in a deep kiss, Dave pushed Danny gently onto his back, sliding the palm of his hand across Danny’s chest and down his stomach. He stroked lower, down the insides of Danny’s thighs, teasing and caressing the skin until Danny was moaning louder and panting, cupping Dave’s head, pulling Dave’s mouth more tightly against his.

Dave teased his fingertips over Danny’s balls and up and down his shaft in light, tantalizing brushes of skin that only made him feel as if his entire groin were on fire. Finally, Dave pulled away from their kiss and smiled down at Danny. He pecked at his lips, then licked him, light flicking motions with the tip of his tongue down Danny’s throat, across his chest, stopping briefly at each n****e, then down the centre of his stomach.

He paused at Danny’s belly button, swirling the tip of his tongue around it several times, while he stroked Danny’s erection with increased tempo.

Finally, when Danny thought he’d explode, Dave lowered his mouth to his c**k. He ran the flat of his tongue up and down the length several times, then engulfed the jade peak, moving down until he’d swallowed up nearly half of Danny’s dragon.

Danny moaned, panting more with each stroke of Dave’s mouth on him. One of Dave’s hands cupped his balls, gently massaging and squeezing them in rhythm to his sucking. Danny thought the top of his head would burst from the glorious pressure building in his entire body. “Oh my God,” he breathed. He tilted his head back against the pillows, resting one hand on Dave’s soft hair, following the movements of Dave’s head.

The room around him blurred, and his whole body contracted, every nerve ending zinging with heat. The pressure built in a wave that he could no longer control, and he exploded.

“Come, Danny, that’s so good.” Dave’s ragged voice filtered through his own moans as the waves passed through him. The intensity kept him rooted. All he could do was absently watch his seed spill out onto Dave’s hand. Then it was over. His head fell back on the bed, eyes closed, his heart racing.

“Was that okay?”

Danny raised his head to see Dave’s flushed but concerned expression. ”That was... incredible,” he managed to say.

***

Relief flooded through Dave. “I’m glad.” As experienced as he was, he worried about pleasing Danny. Had been from the first time he’d touched Danny the night before. Danny was... special.

He cleaned them up, then half-covered Danny’s sweating torso with his, his chin on Danny’s shoulder. If this was the rest Danny had been talking about, he could rest this way for a really long time. Just listening to Danny’s quiet breathing brought a sense of calm, peace, that he hadn’t felt... damn, had he ever felt this calm? Probably not as the sensation was so striking.

With several fingertips on Danny’s jaw, he turned Danny’s face to his and kissed him. Usually this was the time he felt his customary post-s*x impulse to get up and leave. Nothing happened. He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay right here and fall asleep holding Danny.

Hopefully Danny felt the same way. Dave pulled away and looked down at him. The sight nearly took his breath away. Danny’s lips were swollen from kissing, and his large almond eyes had a dreamy expression in them.

No way did he want to leave now, even if he just lay here, gazing down at Danny all night, in spite of the fact he had barely gotten an hour’s sleep the night before. Damn, he was already hooked. He hadn’t exactly meant for this to happen so fast, but he hadn’t prevented it, either.

“Will you stay?” Danny asked. His gentle voice sounded hopeful.

Dave’s heart jumped, for probably the millionth time tonight. If he’d planned a dream evening with a guy, he couldn’t have made it any better than this evening and this guy. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Danny smiled. He turned over and moved in closer, the heat of his body shimmering through Dave’s. He draped his arm around Dave, his hand pressing tenderly into Dave’s back.

That simple, sweet movement was the last thing Dave remembered before the need to sleep overtook him.

***

Danny lay awake, listening to Dave’s gentle breathing. He loved the feel of Dave’s large strong body against his and the way the scent of their s*x permeated the air. Better yet, he’d been thrilled when Dave wanted to stay with him. It hadn’t seemed right the night before when Dave had had to leave him after the pleasure they’d shared. So it was like a dream come true that Dave was spending the night.

The only thing that marred his joy of falling in love, of experiencing this intoxicating pleasure with Dave, was his family. His parents, but especially his mother, loomed like specters in the background of his mind, frowning, judging, telling him what a disappointment he was. He’d dishonored them. He wouldn’t give them a grandson. On and on.

Dave sighed in his sleep and stirred behind him, his arm over Danny unconsciously pulling Danny even more tightly against his muscular body.

The movement made Danny’s bones melt. He felt safe and happy in Dave’s embrace. He’d gone too long without such sweetness, and he wasn’t going to give it up. Dave murmured something unintelligible in his sleep, his breath pulsing warmly on Danny’s skin.

Danny smiled to himself as he grew a bit sleepy. He had fulfilled Meg’s wish for him. And his own.

* * *

The sound of a phone ringing dragged Danny from sleep. At first he thought it was part of his dream, but the sound didn’t stop even though he was now awake. Then he saw pale winter sunlight shining through the curtains.

The warm strength of Dave’s large physique was still pressed close to him. Dave had shifted in his sleep, but one of his legs was still draped over Danny’s. On the third ring he too stirred, opening his eyes.

A disturbing quake erupted in Danny’s gut. He knew who was calling. Before he could reach for the phone, the answering machine picked up.

“Danny,” the familiar voice sounded on the machine. “It’s your mother.” She always spoke to him in Mandarin. “I’m calling to remind you about supper tonight. Call me back when you get this message.”