He never expected it, honestly. Even though it always seemed to happen during these 'times'. It was conscious on Nick's part, certainly. Not to take advantage of the situation. But just because...he cared so much. Only for Greg; only like this. And Greg knew it. Because Nick had this...special affection for him.

Nick arrived hours after the trial had ended—surely aware of Greg's need, and thus desire, to escape to the familiarity and comfort of home. It started just inside the door; Nick held the exhausted man against the wall, finger to Greg's parting lips before replaced by a calming kiss. Greg's eyes drifted shut just then, slowly dying in the sensuousness of it.

Greg followed the tug of Nick's hand to the bedroom, letting Nick rid him of the stuffy constraints of the suit he'd been too tired to free himself from. And he watched through a welcomed haze, of a different sort than the one now continuously enveloping him, as he laid upon the cool comfort of his pillows while Nick undressed.

Nick's kisses came quickly, soon to slow in their adoring, compassionate focus. He knelt between Greg's splayed legs, lips and tongue making gentle love to Greg's neck while his hands caressed Greg's most sensitive parts.

Greg only offered the softest groans, faint whimpers in his tired, eased compliance.

And then Nick whispered, eyes piercing from only inches above, "Do you want this?"

Greg's eyes glimmered with his desire, despite the weariness of his features. He nodded. And after an expectant pause, returned a whisper of "Yes."

Those firm and forever-gentle hands slid along the tenderness of Greg's inner thighs to encourage their widening and ultimate rise. Not too much, just yet, as Greg was only going to receive the stroke of a fingertip in this moment, warm and slick in its loving attempts to entice this sometimes tenacious part of Greg. But here it accepted Nick's wooing, needy and wanting of further manipulation.

Greg's sighs were deeper now, eyes drifting shut as Nick's fingers delved farther, only to lift for a half-closed gaze when Nick reached into the nightstand to prepare himself. Then came the ultimate lift of Greg's legs, hands guiding them around Nick's waist and muscled thighs, ankles resting just below the admirable round of Nick's ass.

The pressure melted him, this entrance sending a surge of pleasure with the force of its movement against the resistance. Greg's pelvis rose into the steady force of Nick's hips, eyes caught through a tranquil haze on the ones so compassionately studying his own. They remained locked, there, Nick's strong, naked back prime for the grip of Greg's slender hands, as the slow, focused movements of Nick's hips began, each thrust rocking Greg with its subtly thrilling rhythm.

"It's okay," Nick whispered, between the distinctive noise of sucking kisses he placed upon Greg's neck.

Greg emitted a soft, appreciative groan, his breath escaping with each following exhalation in the form of a quieted moan. Below, that soft, flushed head remained hidden beneath its sheath of warm skin, not quite willing to lend itself to stiffening, despite his body's pleasure.

Greg's hands grasped the bulges of Nick's upper arms now, as if to steady himself—or to hang on to Nick's strength—amidst the focused, compassionate rocking. Nick's thrusts became short and quick, keeping his pelvis close and his lips even closer. Greg continued to moan into his reciprocating kisses, losing himself in the tender love of Nick's body.

Greg's eyes held closed now, surrendered. His entire body, relaxed and open. His entire body Nick's.

"Are you getting closer?"

"Yes..."

Nick always asked, though he could always tell. But he wanted to know, he needed to know it was good for Greg; it was heaven for Greg, because that's what Nick came there to give him. Greg wouldn't be thinking about anything else--just the rush, just his breathless declarations of this momentary bliss.

"Never forget..." Nick whispered, low and deep in Greg's ear, "how much I love you."

Greg tensed, fingers grasping Nick in their oblivious desperation. Eyes closing with the parting of his lips, Greg's breath shuddered the whimpers of his mounting ecstasy.

Passionate lips caressed the curve's of Greg's, never able—nor wanting—to silence the tenderly moaning exhalations, while his hips worked—rose—with the waves of Greg's bliss. His large hand only then caressed Greg below, this enough to trigger the slow, trembling finale.

Nick's mouth continued its all-consumed loving as he withdrew and discarded the confines of lubricated latex. Greg remained compliantly beneath him, tranquil fingers traveling the trails of Nick's muscled shoulders, as Nick held himself perched with one arm just above, hand tugging manically below. Then, with an exhaled gasp, Nick's kisses halted, leaving the hot brush of his breath only millimeters from Greg's. His hips jerked subtly, fist slowed in its loving grasp as the waves of his own pleasure rolled on through. And with one last, loving tug and a deep but quieted moan, Nick's eyes met Greg's again, and his other hand returned to bracing himself upon the mattress.

Greg let a few warm moments sit between them. "I love you, Nick."

"I know," Nick whispered, eyes kind and sparkling, breath still heavy and skin sprinkled with sweat. He placed a kiss upon Greg's forehead. "I'll be right back." He left the room, still naked, and comfortable in it, like this, in Greg's presence.

Nick returned shortly from the bathroom, then sunk in to the bit of space between Greg's thigh and the mattress's edge. A warm washcloth swept over Greg's belly, wiping away the remnants of Nick, then sunk lower to cleanse him of the remaining lube.

When their eyes met again, Greg's had pooled with tears, and in this moment began to spill. Nick set the cloth aside and, as he crawled up and over Greg, retrieved the covers from their crumpled mass beside them, to cover and encase the warmth of their bodies. "It's okay now. It'll all be okay." He kissed Greg's temple, tasting the wet warmth of a salty tear. "It's all over now," he whispered, and with this, soft sobs joined Greg's release. "Shhh." His hand cupped Greg's cheek, holding the turned Greg's face to his chest, as Greg's arm settled around his waist in a trusting sort of helpless hold. Nick's cheek rested against Greg's soft hair.

It wasn't unusual, this aspect, either. This is what Nick came for as well: to offer that release. Both in the pleasure Greg otherwise couldn't feel, and in the pity and pain everyone—including Greg himself—told him he shouldn't.

"You did the right thing. And I'm so proud of you."

Nick held him there, in the trembles of Greg's tears, until Greg fell asleep. Because Greg always fell asleep, always sunk into a deep, longed-for rest. And then, Nick removed himself, tucked Greg into the thick softness of his covers, and slipped away. Greg had never said anything about this bothering him, and he always seemed so much better the next day. So Nick always assumed, Greg had gotten what he needed.

Once dressed, and with a final, affectionate kiss to Greg's head, Nick left Greg's bedroom, carefully closing the door behind him. He didn't care about his own lost sleep, because Greg had always lost much more. Before heading out this time, he took a glance in Greg's fridge to grab an often-offered bottle of water. And then there, on the counter, something just-so-happened to catch his eye.

He didn't suppose it was much, not at first glance, until he got closer, and read more. Nick's heart sank into his stomach, resulting in the smoldering urge to vomit. It wasn't all over. No, now it was worse. And he hadn't known. His body twisted to accommodate a look back in the direction of Greg's bedroom, longing and apologetic. Not in regards to what he'd done, so much as that it couldn't have been enough. It wouldn't be enough. Not right now.