Beyond Love - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Chip remembered the first time he and Xander had seen each other without clothes on.
God, it was so embarrassing.
He couldn't forget how much he wanted to duck under the covers; bed; in the wardrobe—anything at all. His face was as red as...
As red as a—
Yes;
A strawberry.
______________________________
[Chip]
"I'll get in first, okay? Turn only when I say you can, g-got it?"
"As you wish, Angel," Xander flashed a smile that melted whatever resolve that was left in my heart—sealing the deal.
The deal was, as Giselle had presented, to fill the hot tub with warm water, bubbles, strawberry-scented bath salts, a-and two people—me and Xander.
I couldn't go back on my word.
Not when Giselle gave up her precious chocolate pudding (that she had been hiding and saving for the past few days) just to convince me to take a bath with the one-and-only pudding thief.
I'd already filled the tub and mixed the cranberry bubble bath in, ready to sprinkle a packet of bath salts into the hot tub when Xander's voice sounded right beside my ear.
"Someone looks like their having fun."
I jumped with a shiver, whipping around to meet a heated gaze. "W-Wa-Whaa—"
He leaned down to kiss my forehead.
"Not too long, okay? The heat might make you feel faint," Xander reminded, and I couldn't help but feel the heat on my cheeks instead.
A-And yes—I was already feeling slightly faint from this.
"You owe Giselle one, because she managed to convince me to...t-to. Take the bath. With—um, you."
My fiancé's eyes widened, sun shining through grey clouds. "Giselle did? Woah; are you sure Angel? Wait, so—I'm forgiven?"
"Of course not!" I answered quickly in a single breath, afraid that if I'd delay, the stammer would surface and betray my weakness for his eyes. "If not for Giselle, I probably wouldn't even l-let you cuddle me—"
"Then it's alright Angel. I deserve it," I could feel the heat from Xander's body against my back as he pulled me closer. I flushed red. "I'd rather get the chance to enjoy a long bath with you when you've forgiven me."
I blinked. "Oh."
"You go first, I'll be downstairs. Tell me when you're—"
Eh? But...I was so prepared...h-he can't just turn me down like that—
"Wait!"
Xander paused, turning around.
Oh nuu! I held on to the back of his shirt by instinct...
This can't get any worse...
"Hm?" He mused with a smile.
I-Is it just me? Or is his face—really...c-close.
Uwa what's happening, I can't meet his gaze!
This isn't good for the heart—
"Angel?"
"Y-Yeah—es? Yes?" I laughed sheepishly, letting go of his shirt quickly and taking a step back after feeling my cheeks heat up. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hold your shirt, um. But. Just so you know, Giselle sacrificed her pudding for this!"
I warned, pretending to fold my arms across my chest in finality.
"She kept that pudding hidden in the vegetable drawer because she knew you'd steal hers, b-but now she's given it to me, so...so..."
"It's your job to carry out her will...?" Xander finished for me with a chuckle, leaning down to poke my cheek. "I guess I'll owe her one then."
I relaxed. "O-Oh, does that mean you'll—wha?"
My lips parted in shock as Xander took off his shirt in a swift movement and suddenly h-he was shirtless.
Well of course he's shirtless, he took off his shirt silly, what did you expect? Him to take off his shirt and be pantless instead?
I waved random thoughts out of my head and tried to focus on the current situation, utterly weak against anything involving having no clothes on.
"Wait, um, so soon? I-I mean..."
The corner of his lips turned up in a playful smirk. "Weren't you eager to keep your word with Giselle before? Besides, the water's getting cold."
Look at his face, Chip!
N-Not his abs, definitely not his abs—wait where have I seen those before?
Oh yeah. The wallpaper of my smartphone. R-Right...
I poked his arm gently, hearing the clink of his belt buckle pause for a moment.
"I'll get in first, okay? Turn only when I say you can, g-got it?"
"As you wish, Angel," Xander flashed a smile that melted whatever resolve that was left in my heart—sealing the deal.
I sighed, turning around with my back faced towards him.
Wondering whether I should have given him a warning to look away as I was taking my clothes off, I turned around to make sure.
I shouldn't be worried. He's an adult now after all, not the same hormonal—
"U-Uwaa! What are you—!" Xander was openly staring at my currently bare back. I swear I saw him lick his lips.
This really isn't...good for the heart.
"C'mon Angel, we're engaged," He mused, "Just a glance wouldn't hurt...and I promise I won't do anything dirty."
I blinked—
"You sure?"
Then turned to the bath tub that was practically built for only one person.
Well Chip, most bath tubs were built for only one person, you know.
Not the one we used at Xander's apartment last time! It was huge—
It didn't take me long to figure out that Xander and I could either sit on opposite ends of the tub and spend thirty minutes in an uncomfortable crouching position; or sit comfortably with our legs stretched out on one end...with his chest and my back inches apart.
Naturally, I suggested the former.
Xander raised a brow.
"I don't mean to sound cocky, Angel—but as we all know, I'm a lot taller than you are and sitting in that position might be alright for you but I swear my legs are going to get numb after a minute. So let's go with the second option."
Of course; he ended this statement with a signature smirk that made me want to sigh and poke him till it was gone, but at the same time made my heart bloom with a spark of nervous flames.
It went a little faster; pressed a little harder; and beat a little stronger.
"F-Fine." I huffed, turning my back against him once more and removing the rest of my clothes in less than a second; rinsing myself in the shower as quickly as possible; and scrambling into the tub as if it was a lifeboat of a sinking ship.
Xander laughed—amused; and I heard the lock of the door as it clicked into place. "Leave some space for me."
"I know already," I mumbled incoherently, trying to keep my thoughts in one place as I focused my gaze to the bubbles in the bath tub and avoided my fiancé's actions completely.
It didn't take long before he joined me in the warm waters after the rinse, easing into place behind my back before stretching out his legs alongside mine; left and right.
The water level rose by an inch or two.
"So."
"Um, we could play with bubbles...?" I suggested tentatively, blowing at the ones I had collected with my hands.
"Or we could," Xander left the sentence hanging, and I heard a tiny splash against the tub as he settled in a more comfortable position.
"Play with rubber duckies—"
"We don't have those."
I pouted.
"Giselle told me that you threw hers away while we were moving."
Xander laughed, and there was the sound of impatient waters as he moved—
I felt his breath on the tip of my ear. "Which is why we don't have those anymore."
Startled, my knees darted up to my chin in reflex.
"X-Xan, you promised..."
"I'm just moving closer," Warm arms wrapped themselves across my chest from behind, "To cuddle."
"Oh..." Well, cuddling is fine. I-I guess.
"How was your day at the bakery? Giselle didn't misbehave herself in the kitchen...I hope," My fiancé chuckled, watching as I scooped more bubbles with my hands.
I told him that he didn't have to worry one bit.
"She's a great taste tester. As always. But she's been having too many cupcakes lately," I recalled anxiously. "Shea gave her five while I wasn't looking—and she finished those in less than ten minutes!"
"Mm," Xander hummed, and I felt his hair tickle my bare shoulders as he leaned down to rest his head near the crook of my neck.
I blushed, feeling unusually warm all of a sudden.
"A-And um, well. It's always good to have her around. In the bakery—uh! How...how about you? How was your day?" I directed the conversation towards him, stumbling over my words in a clumsy manner.
Welp. So much for keeping my cool...
Chip, you have no cool, my mean brain reminded the fluttering beat in my chest.
O-Oh right...
"I'll tell you about it later," Xander waved my question aside before running his fingers through my wet hair. "Tired?"
"I-I'm okay, you?" I didn't know what I was doing. Words formed incoherently, fidgeting as if restless. I was merely returning every question he asked me and gosh, I felt as if the water was a very conducive place to put my head in at the very moment—
"Hardly."
I blinked.
"O-Oh."
"Did you get that?" My fiancé asked as I turned to face him, puzzled by the mischief in his eyes.
I nodded. "You're not tired?"
"No," He sighed.
Xander's arms pulled me closer towards him; and all of a sudden I was starkly aware of something hard poking me in the lower back.
I froze—
Before the tips of my ears burned furiously.
"I-Is that...what I, um, think? It is?" A tentative laugh escaped as I realized that it had been several months since Xander and I—um, u-uh. Did the...
"My bad," I felt something soft and wet on the nape of my neck; and it took my short-circuited brain quite a while before it could identify a kiss. "I can't help it. It's been several months since that hand job we did for each other before Giselle came interrupting with a complaint that she was hungry—"
I fidgeted awkwardly, not knowing where to rest my hands. I opted for the safest option; on my knees.
"I-I guess so," It was nervous laughter that ensued.
My fiancé asked if I had done it myself any time after that incident.
Unable to pinpoint what exactly he was referring to and not wanting to disrupt the flow of the conversation, I nodded confidently. "Of course!"
Xander seemed surprised by my answer—fingers pausing tangled in my blonde hair.
"Really? What did you use?"
You're hopeless, I sighed to myself internally. This is what you get for pretending to say you watch a certain television series in order to continue a conversation with someone when you actually have absolutely no idea what they are talking about—oh gosh, Chip. Why are you so socially inept?
"The, um...the normal stuff, of course," I prayed hard.
Fortunately, Xander didn't seem to notice anything off. In fact, he appeared pleasantly surprised.
"Wow. Angel, the normal stuff?" His smirk was teasing, lowering his voice as he spoke beside my ear as if it was a secret. "You do it all the time?"
"I...I think. So."
He raised a brow.
I gulped, assuming he had detected something missing.
"You...masturbate all the time?"
W-Wha—
I jumped, scattering bubbles into the air by accident and splashing droplets of water over the floor of the bathroom. "M...Mas..."
"Oh," Xander was trying to contain his laughter. His hands slipped from my chest to pinch my cheek. "You didn't know what I was referring to the entire time?"
"I didn't—I...I just...a-anyway, I don't do that," My voice lowered into an incoherent mumble, feeling my cheeks and ears dust with a shy heat. "It's like cheating, no?"
I chanced a glance behind, only to see that Xander was even more surprised than before.
"Cheating? You mean masturbating is like cheating?" He blinked.
Uwa, he says it so easily.
"It isn't? I mean...i-it's like...well. You're not really doing it with the person you love, either. And I don't know, it feels like I'm using them...? A-And since they aren't with me, it's like it's unfair, isn't it? Kinda like I'm...you know, taking advantage...of...them..." I gave up, hiding my face in my hands.
Xander probably heard the first half before the rest turned into clumsy words that stumbled past my lips without permission.
"Damn," He ran a hand through his dark hair, slightly damp at the edges. "But does it still count as cheating if I think about you while I do it? That's what I always do, so..."
If humans had boiling points that were for embarrassment instead of anger; I'd assume that I had long gone past that point.
My words were a staggering mess that matched the heat that dusted my ears.
"H-Huh? Who...who in the world would declare something like that in such an o-open manner?" I huffed in disbelief and embarrassment.
My fiancé laughed.
"More importantly, since it's been a long time for both of us..."
I felt a finger slide between my shoulder blades, caressing gently in a languid manner. It reached lower, eliciting a slight shiver down my back.
"You—"
"Promised?" His voice sounded beside my ear. "Yeah, I know. I won't do anything unless you say it's okay for me to."
There was a time when I used to believe in promises;
And there was a time when circumstances led me to believing that they were meant to be broken.
But I guess second chances do exist after all—and perhaps that was why humans were meant to Love; and not to hate.
As it is,
More hatred would do little to a world that was already filled with it.
It might be
That only with Love;
The world would change.
Just a little,
By little.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
[Xander]
He seemed to be thinking.
There was a perplexed frown above his eyes that were clear as skies, a slight depression on his bottom lip as he bit unconsciously. The ends of his honey blonde hair were wet, exposing the untouched nape of his neck that seemed all too beautiful for my undeserving hands.
They retreated from his back.
"Angel? It's okay if you don't want to."
Chip's gaze snapped up to meet mine as he craned his neck to turn behind. "E-Eh?"
"No, that's not it!" He added quickly, shaking his head in a nervous manner. "I want to—"
He froze.
I blinked—
Then felt the smile that I couldn't seem to hold back.
Strange.
It was smiles that I used to force.
My arms came round to take his waist, pulling him so close that there was no distance between my chest and his back.
"You want to...?" I prompted for him to continue, only to see that the tips of his ears were as red as strawberries.
"Oh God I'm so dumb," He mumbled under his breath and I couldn't help but laugh.
My hands moved on their own, mind blank and filled at the same time.
It was filled with a word.
I let my hands rest on his thighs underwater, taking my time since it was hard to see with the bubbles Chip made.
It was just like him to do so.
"I'm going to touch you, is that okay?" I kissed the tip of his right ear.
"Y-You! You don't have to say that out loud..." He whined softly, voice muffled as his face hid behind his hands.
There was a warm flame of mirth that seemed to ignite from within; as if telling me that I should be glad that I was not alone.
That I was alive.
And I was.
"My bad," A low laugh escaped.
My hands found the back of his thighs, stroking slowly. I parted them, fingers running along the soft skin of his inner thighs.
I felt the slight tremble in his shoulders, indicating a shiver.
"Good?"
My angel turned, half-lidded eyes avoiding my gaze in embarrassment as he nodded gently.
I leaned forward to litter kisses from the nape of his neck down to the area between his shoulder blades. The heat that collected below my waist was proving it hard to keep myself in check—and I was all but surprised that Chip didn't say anything about the growing hardness poking him in the back.
"Sorry."
It took him a while to respond, hands removing from his face to rest unconsciously on my knees that were on both his sides. "H—huh?"
I searched for his favorite spot underneath the surface of the water, tips of my fingers placing slight pressure on that sensitive area somewhere along the upper part of his inner thighs.
It was supposed to be a rough guess; since I couldn't exactly see where I was touching.
But the startled whimper that slipped past his lips told me that my instincts weren't wrong after all, and I couldn't help but feel the pride that stirred in my heart—having yield such a pleasant sound from the one I love.
"You okay?"
I could hear the faint smirk in my voice, and also noticed that it was lower than usual.
"U-Um," My angel paused, fingers tense on my knees as he felt one of my hands travel towards the area between his legs.
"Haa—n!" He bit his lip to cut off the sound of pleasure that escaped, thighs closing on reflex. "W-Wait. Not there...that's...not good for the—heart—!"
I laughed; a certain warmth in my chest that soon spread elsewhere, coaxing my mind that was blank and filled at the same time.
It was a fond flame.
"I know."
His was warm—sensitive to my touch.
I passed my thumb over the tip, feeling his back arch at the sudden pleasure as he tried hard to restrain the soft sounds that threatened to slip past his lips.
"N—ha—"
My hand moved on its own accord, searching for a comfortable pace that kept my angel on the edge.
I gave his neck the needed attention, leaving a mark behind without bothering to stop and think whether his clothes would be able to prevent other from seeing it.
Or maybe I did want them to see it.
"W-Wait. I..." Chip managed between soft pants, mind blank. "I can't think—"
"Me neither," I agreed with a smirk before running my tongue along the edge of his ear. "You gonna come?"
"Wha—c-c—I..." He seemed torn between answering my question; being shocked at how blatant it was; and concentrating on holding back. "I can't. Not...not here, it's—ha...weird."
I think I asked him why—I wasn't too sure.
I wasn't lying when I said that my mind was blank.
"We are...the—bathtub...?" His lips were parted in pleasure, eyes slightly clouded as my hand increased its pace in attempt to send him over the edge. "T-The water will get dirty."
"We can shower later," I reasoned, wondering how he was able to keep up despite the collected pleasure.
He was hotter than before.
Or was it the water?
Maybe it's getting cold.
"Xan...?"
That voice and expression is definitely—
Not legal.
"Yeah?"
"A-Are you...melting yet?" He asked softly, as if took all his energy to remove himself from pleasure and voice his thoughts.
What? There was an unbelievable laugh inside my head.
The warmth in my chest was unbearably sweet.
There was happiness, somewhere in that darkness that I called a heart.
"What?" I voiced with a laugh. "Angel, did you just—"
"—Hurry," He interrupted weakly; tone pleading with a shy blush. "I'm...trying to—h-hold back. To wait—"
For me?
I didn't want his hips to hurt the next day; not when it was Christmas. And not ever, actually. But that had to come with lots of preparation—and in all truth, there was more that had to be done.
More to be said.
There was so much I wanted to tell him.
There would be just the two of us in the night; and that was all.
I would have him; and he would have me.
No one else.
No one else—
"Will you lend me your thighs?"
"H-Huh?"
"Just the gap," I breathed, lifting my angel so that I could slip myself between his thighs. "I won't hurt you. I just need you to keep them together. Can you do that?"
Chip nodded, gasping softly when he felt something hot and hard between his legs.
He kept his thighs closed, leaving a small gap that produced a good amount of friction.
"You okay?" I rubbed at the sensitive spot between his thighs to test the waters.
He whimpered, taking a while to respond.
"...uh-huh."
"I'm going to move, okay?"
For some reason, I was already moving before I heard an answer.
The thrusts started out tentative, not wanting to spark sudden shocks of pleasure for the both of us.
It built up slowly;
Stronger,
Faster.
And it felt strange—
Partly because my heart was beating the same way too.
Unconsciously, I followed it.
"I-It's so fast."
I laughed, voice huskier than usual.
"You don't like it?" I thought he was referring to my pace.
"I mean, it's my...my heart—"
He stopped mid-sentence with a soft cry.
Chip's thighs were trembling, lips slightly parted.
"I-I think I'm—"
Then his hips bucked in pleasure, shivering as he reached his limit.
The sudden arc of his back increased the pleasant friction, and I came soon after.
He fell back on my chest, panting heavily as I continued to move in order to ride out his high.
We stayed like that for a moment; his arms limp to the side and his head resting on my chest. I broke the silence with a short laugh, nuzzling the nape of his neck.
"What's...oh," My angel began, only to hide his face in his hands once again. "Oh bother."
I followed his previous gaze, registering the swirls of white that floated on the surface of the bath water—peeking out beneath the bubbles.
I snorted, breaking into an unconscious smirk.
"L-Look what you've done! The water's all...dirty..." Chip nudged my knee.
I nudged back, raising a brow.
"White stuff?"
An immediate blush filled his cheeks, tips of his ears glowing red. "Uwa stop that!"
I laughed.
He did, too. Shyly.
"Shower?" I suggested.
"Fine...b-but! With a towel wrapped around our waists. I uh, I don't want to see the, the between-your-legs. B-Besides, was it that big before? It...it can't possibly grow again, can it?"
I burst into yet another laugh.
"O-Oh God, it did. Didn't it?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was a quiet Christmas morning; as if the land was cloaked in a hush of snow.
And indeed, it was.
But underneath the covers of a certain bed in a humble home, there were two people that managed to stay warm and—as one of them would have said—fuzzy.
The other woke first; wondering for the thousandth time whether he was still dreaming.
He gazed at the one he so loved, feeling content but slightly lonely as the latter's eyes remained closed.
And as if Chip Honeycutt had felt that lonely thought drift into his fiancé's mind—his eyes fluttered open to reveal skies.
That was when Xander Jaxon knew that the night was over, and the true day had washed its darkness away.
For his skies were now filled with sunshine that really wasn't coming from the one up there at all.
"Happy Christmas," His angel said with a muffled voice, nuzzling into his chest with a contented sigh.
It was the second time Xander had heard it in his whole entire life;
And for some reason, it never lost the magic that it had during the first.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Angel."
"I made hot cross buns yesterday. I'll heat them up for you later."
"Really?"
"Really."
Really.