Words were not required, Johann reflected later. Two together communicated in a silent language of the shift of limbs and pressure from one to the other, through the quiver of muscle, gasp of breath and close of eye. It wasn’t as complicated as he’d imagined, as ever, over analysing a situation ahead of collecting real data.

Balfour’s loss of control induced the same in Johann a moment later, what with the hand and the pressure from within which he’d never enjoyed before then, but needed to have again, with immediacy. It was like waking with an empty head - a rarer situation of adult life - every nerve-ending hummed with a blissful disconnect. A sudden release of all the tension and worries as easily as a heavy load cast off his shoulders and thrown to the ground. Liberating, incredible, disentangled.

Lying entwined, arms encircling beneath blankets, the hours went unheeded, lost to pressed lips, whispered words, long, needy stares, punctuated by fulfilling their recurring need to repeat and release. Nothing mattered but this wonderful wizard he pressed against. Johann wanted to laugh in joy at how happy he felt, and at the same moment he wanted to weep angry tears for lost time. Such a merry confusion, soothed away by addictive kisses that caused his heart flutter and the gut feeling that at last he had finally found a missing piece.

Buried in strong arms, face pressed against Balfour’s breast, sleep found him. Exhausted. Complete.

End