Nye was utterly relaxed and content when he heard Adam enter the bathroom. His eyes were closed and he didn't open them as he listened to him walk across the room or when he sat down on the edge of the bath. Hearing the soft chink of glass being set down on the side he sighed, thinking of the cold wine on his lips and sliding down his throat, cooling him after the hot bath.
Handing Nye a glass Adam buried his hands in his hair, massaging his temples. Sighing more deeply he sank further into the sweet smelling water and tilted his head back.
"You're going to spill your wine."
Nye was pleased to note that Adam's voice was completely relaxed, the only tone one of light amusement. After their last conversation he had been a little worried that Adam was annoyed with him.
"Who cares?"
"If you're not going to drink it, give it here. I'll put it on the side until you're ready for it."
After taking a long drink, Nye handed over his glass and rested his head against Adam's leg as he gently stroked his face.
"Happy?"
"Oh yes. Absolutely."
Adam was entranced by the flickering candlelight as it washed over the perfect features of the boy and shimmered on the water in the bath. Beneath the rippling surface he could see Nye's body, lithe and perfect and he wanted to touch. He so wanted to touch.
"You look better."
"Mmmm."
Slipping his hands under Nye's hair Adam began to massage his neck and shoulders earning an appreciative moan.
"You feel tense." Adam removed his hands and ruffled the damp hair. "Get yourself into the bedroom and I'll give you a proper massage."
"Oh, that sounds good."
"You better believe it. I did a course in therapeutic massage and I have been told I have magic hands."
"And why not? You have magic everything else."
There was a tone in Nye's voice that always made Adam shiver. It was the tone that suggested that Nye was in the mood for a different kind of massage. Adam smiled and wondered whether perhaps he might delay his plans until the morning after all.
Adam was about to get up and leave when Nye, feeling relaxed, happy and confident decided that this might be a good time to broach the subject of the party and to tell Adam about Kane before someone else did.
"Kane came to The Club today."
Fortunately Nye had his eyes closed and didn't see the look on Adam's face.
"Kane?"
"Yeah. You remember, my American friend."
"I remember him."
"Well, he spoke to Mir and wanted to check I was okay. He's asked me to a party on Friday. He's leaving, going back to university and it's kind of a farewell."
"Oh really? I'm not sure what we're doing Friday. We'll see..."
Nye looked up at him a strange look in his eyes. "No Adam. There's no 'we'll see', not this time. I have already decided that I am going to go. I promised Kane."
Adam stared at him for a moment, his face unreadable. "I might not be able to get away. I may have a meeting Friday evening."
"That's alright Adam. The thing is... I... Kane is my friend and the party is going to be full of my other friends and my sister. I want to do this on my own." This time Adam couldn't hide the look. "Adam, I know you don't like Mir and you don't like Kane and I wouldn't want to put either you or them in a difficult position."
"Then don't go."
"Adam." Nye's voice was gentle. "I haven't seen my friends or my family for a long time. I'm not complaining about that but seeing Kane today... It's not that you're not enough for me, or that I want to be anywhere or with anyone but you... but I've known some of these guys for most of my life... and Mir for all of it. I don't want to go back to where I was before I met you and I am not going to be talking about you to anyone at the party. I just need to go Adam. I really need to go."
Grinding his teeth Adam simmered, then relaxed and smiled, nodding. "Alright. I can see this is important to you. I'll arrange for someone to drive you."
Nye rose from the bath, the water sloughing off him as he reached out and pulled Adam into an exuberant embrace. "Thank you Adam. I was so afraid you would try and stop me and it's really important. Kane is my best friend and I have missed him. I want to say goodbye properly."
"I thought I was your best friend."
Nye laughed. "You're too old to pout Adam. You are so much more than my best friend. You are my lover, my light, my life. You are my everything."
Despite himself Adam smiled and hugged him back. "Dry off and I'll go and prepare for the massage."
"Prepare?"
"Hmmm... you've never had an experience like this before, I can guarantee you that."
"Promises, promises."
When Nye walked into the bedroom five minutes later he was very surprised to find the curtains closed and candles giving the room a soft pink glow. Adam was naked and busy laying things out on the little wheeled table that had various functions in the bedroom. He could see rows of glass bottles and jars and a sweet scent tickled his nose.
"What are those?"
Adam turned and smiled. "Aromatherapy oils. If I'm going to do it I may as well do it properly."
"Oh wow."
Nye's eyes were wide with excitement and Adam licked his lips with anticipation.
"What about the Chinese?"
"To hell with the Chinese. We'll have cheese on toast."
"Sounds good to me."