Tay opened his eyes, waiting for the headache to kick in. The night before had been great, they had finally managed to get the whole group together again for the first time since they left University. With everyone scattered across the country it had taken a year to manage.
Tay, being the only one still living in the city, had three people crashing at his flat, and it had been pretty crowded last night getting ready to go out - he dreaded the thought of having to give up his space politely for the rest of the day. He loved the guys, but he was used to his own space.
"Grin and bear it" he thought to himself.
There was a contented groan from somewhere in the depths of the bed sheets. An arm was thrown over his chest.
"Kai, dude, wake up!" he half laughed.
Kai's free hand swept the sheet off his face and he focused for a moment on Tay. A look of confusion quickly gave way to intense fear flashing in his eyes. He searched his friend's bare torso, not daring to look any lower. On route to his face, Kai noticed a previously unknown tattoo just above Taylor's hip bone.
"Not helpful" he cursed at himself. How was his best friend going to react to this, what was he even doing in his bed? He hadn't had that much to drink last night had he?
Terror building up, he chanced a look at Tay's face, nobody knew about him, he couldn't believe this is the way his group of friends would find out...
Taylor smiled, "Morning, bit disorientated are we?" he chuckled. Kai suddenly became aware of his arm; it felt like it was burning every second it kept contact with his friend. He gathered himself together and in a painfully slow movement, brought his hand up to brush through his hair, trying his hardest to look as confused as possible.
"How did...why am I in here...?" he stuttered out.
Tay chuckled again, "Ben and Nush got together last night - on my sofa" he grimaced with humour, "I thought it would have been a bit harsh to make you stay and watch that. Besides, it's not like the bed isn't big enough for two" He paused, looking over at Kai, "You okay, bud? You look kind of freaked out."
"I'm naked, oh my God..." Kai blurted out, halfway between a screech and a confession. Tay noted the pink tinge creeping over Kai and wondered what the big deal was.
"Yeah, you gave me quite a show last night, I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off you after that striptease!" he joked.
Kai leapt out of bed, pulling the covers with him, exposing Tay's morning erection.
"Shit, why are you naked too?"
"Calm down mate, I'm only messing with you. I was already in bed when you came through. Your striptease was more like a drunken tumble to the floor and a five minute wrestle with your flies - I didn't see anything" He felt bad, he had no idea that Kai would be so sensitive. He might not have ever said the words, but he was sure Kai was gay, and he was sure he had dropped enough hints over the years that let him know he didn't care.
Looking at the terrified look on his face, Taylor wondered if maybe he had been wrong about his friend.
"Don't look so scared man, sorry, I thought you would see the joke, I mean it's not like this is the first time you've woken up naked next to a guy is it? I thought I was being funny." He tested - he could claim this part of the joke if this all went wrong, couldn't he?
Kai looked dumb-founded "You know that...?" he said carefully, "Tay...how...?"
Taylor grinned, Kai looked so adorable to him in that moment that he tried not to reach out and grab him and hold him close. "Just a working theory" he shrugged. It was important to him that Kai not think this was a big deal, that he was comfortable he knew they would be friends no matter what. "Sit down before you fall down, and give me the covers back" he laughed.
Kai slid back onto the bed, keeping a distance and looking troubled.
Tay gave a few playful tugs to the corner of the sheet, without any reaction from Kai. With a smirk, he pulled hard, releasing the sheet and toppling Kai over, leaving him on his back, his head inches from Tay's chest.
Looking down, Tay unthinkingly ran his hand through his friend's dark hair, sweeping it from his eyes. He saw instantly the shudder run down Kai's body and a look of apprehension cover his face.
Tay had messed about with guys before and had always enjoyed it, but it had always been beer fuelled. He had thought many times about his willingness to do anything when drunk, and the fear of acting on these impulses when he had no excuse to fall back on. Suddenly he realised his want for a relationship with a man that lasted more than a few minutes in a cloakroom.
With no further thought, Tay bent over and softly kissed Kai, throwing the covers off both of them. Kai took a few seconds and then responded - tentatively at first, sucking on Tay's bottom lip, checking his friend's face every few seconds for any signs of doubt.