I wish to say a big "Thank you" to Melissa, who has, as usual, provided me with invaluable help with this series with her plot suggestions and editing skills. Melissa also found "InterTran" a neat translation site, so if my Croatian is off, then blame the site, not me. I was going to suggest that you go to the site to see just what it is that they're saying to each other, but when I had the program translate from Croatian to English -- well, the results are pretty hilarious. The translations (according to what I put in for the English) are at the end of the story. But, if you want a good chuckle, check out the Croatian to English translations. The site: http://www.tranexp.com:2000/InterTran
Luka awoke from his nap, wishing that he didn't have to go into work that night. Working nights while John had been hospitalized had not been bad. Working nights while John was first home hadn't been too bad either. But, now that John was quickly approaching the end of his six-week recovery window, Luka was wishing he was back on days. John had already spoken with Kerry about returning to work, and she had agreed that at first John would be better off working days. Which meant that unless Luka could get Mark or Kerry to switch shifts with him, he wouldn't be seeing much of John once John returned to the E.R.
Luka had thought that Kerry would be the one to suggest him returning to days, but so far she had been quiet on the subject. Luka was tempted to bring up the topic, but he didn't think that his argument of wanting to be able to spend time with John was going to go over well. Everyone had someone they wanted to spend time with, or things they wanted to do. He couldn't expect everyone to make exceptions for him and John. He only wished they would.
Luka was still laying there, thinking about whether he should get a shower or something to eat when he heard the front door open, followed by the sound of Carter's crutches on the wood floor. Then he remembered that John had a doctor appointment that day, and a glance at the clock told him that John was now returning from that appointment.
"Finally awake, huh?" John said as he slowly entered the bedroom.
"I was really tired. So, how did the visit go?" Luka asked as he sat up in bed.
"Really good. I still need to go back for an MRI, but everything is fine. I've been given the green light."
Luka's brow furrowed as he tried to decipher what John meant by that. John saw his confusion and laughed. "Sorry. I'm well enough to go back to work whenever I'm ready." After putting his crutches aside, he kicked off his shoes and gingerly climbed onto the bed, straddling Luka's hips. "And I'm well enough to do a lot of other things as well," he said as he lowered his mouth to Luka's, kissing him deeply.
"What about your back? You know that it still hurts when you bend over too far," Luka managed to say as John had to stop kissing him in order to begin taking off his shirt.
"As you pointed out, it only hurts if I bend too far." He shrugged, "So, don't bend me."
Luka wrapped his arms around John, pulling him close and kissing his neck. "I think I can remember that," he murmured as he licked his way up John's neck to his jaw, then planted kisses along the jawline to the other side of his neck. Then their lips met once more, both men consumed with desire for each other.
"I want you now, John," Luka growled.
"I'm right here, Luka," John said, his eyes bright with arousal.
"No, I mean that I want you now. In me." Luka's hands were busy with John's pants, quickly freeing John's erection. When he tightly grasped John, the sigh that ensued went straight to Luka's groin, inflaming his desire even more. Having oral sex with John over the past few weeks had been good, but he had missed the more intimate acts. They both had longed for the day when they once more could become one.
"I need to get you ready then," John gasped as Luka's hand pumped him. If Luka kept that up, then he wouldn't last long enough to take Luka the way he wanted.
"I'm more than ready for you." Luka wiggled his hips under John. "See?" He asked with a grin.
"Oh, yes, you are quite ready," John grinned back. "But, for the wrong thing. Or did I hear you wrong? I thought you were begging me to take you?"
"Me, beg? You must have misheard me. Now, get undressed."
John smirked as he got off of the bed and finished taking off his clothes. Luka liked to be bossy in bed, even when he was the one on the receiving end of the loving. "Yes. You were begging."
"I never beg." Luka pulled off his underwear, then reached for a condom and the tube of lubricant. "Come here." He sat at the edge of the bed and pulled John close once more, breathing deeply as he buried his face in John's belly. He could never get enough of John. Not enough of the way John smelled, or the way his skin tasted. Luka's tongue snaked out and he used it to sensuously trace the scar that ran from just under John's breastbone to just above his pubic bone. He felt John flinch, but he held him in place, knowing that he wasn't hurting John. John was merely reacting that way because he was embarrassed about his scars. Not that he would ever have anything to feel embarrassed about where his body was concerned. Luka loved every inch of him. He let his tongue glide over John's penis, following the shaft to the tumescent tip, smiling as he heard John loudly moan. Luka then rolled the condom onto John and lay back on the bed, raising his legs for him.
"Take. Me. Now." Luka made sure he clearly enunciated each word, not wanting to give John any reason to think he meant anything else. He should have known that John wouldn't listen to him. He never did, Luka mused as he watched John slowly sink to his knees. It was then Luka's turn to moan loudly as John kissed him intimately. As John's tongue slowly impaled him, Luka bit his lower lip, determined to not beg John for more. But, he wanted so much more. More of John's tongue, more of John's touch. He wanted to feel John's fullness inside as they joined together. He wanted to watch John as he came, see the changes that would flitter over his face as his orgasm tore through his body. And then Luka wanted to be the one in John, savoring his heat and the tightness of his body. Oh, God, he would be as tight as he was the first time they were together, it had been so long for them. The idea itself was intoxicating. Luka moaned as much from his imagination as from what John was doing to him. He had to have more now.
"Damn, John, quit playing with me. Take me."
John slowly got to his feet, using Luka's legs as his levers. A decidedly wicked grin danced across his face. "Are you sure you're ready?"
"Yes," Luka impatiently replied. "Now, John. Take me now."
John's answer was to reach out and begin to lightly tickle the skin that was now taut over Luka's testicles. That was it. Luka decided that John could win this time. "Please? I need you in me, John."
"Sounds like you're begging, Luka. Are you begging me to take you?" John tried to keep his voice neutral as he asked, but his own arousal was making it difficult to resist the lure of Luka's body.
"Yes!" Luka shouted. "I'm begging you." Then Luka began to speak Croatian. John wasn't sure what Luka was saying, but he had heard those same words on many other occasions. As he slowly entered Luka, the words changed. They were still Croatian, and still words that John had heard before, but John was a little surer of their meaning.
"You are so tight, Luka. It feels like it's been years since we last did this."
"Don't talk. Just do it," Luka groaned as his prostate was massaged by John's erection. The action sent shivers up his spine and he never wanted that feeling to end. He could hear Malucci's voice as he said "You'd never let another man fuck you." If Malucci had any inkling of what it felt like to be loved by John, then he would easily understand how Luka could and would let John take him. When it was like this, when Luka was so hot for John that he willingly begged, when John and his needs were this raw, then Luka knew for a fact that this was what he liked best. And yet, he also knew that when this was over and he was the one taking John, that act would be what he liked best.
Then Luka quit thinking about which was best and he gave John his entire concentration. They met each other thrust for thrust, Luka's hips rising to meet John. When John tried to bring Luka to orgasm with his hand, Luka had to stop him. "That's for you."
"God, Luka, you're going to kill me," John was almost panting from exertion and desire. The mental image of himself on the bed and Luka thrusting into him was enough to bring him to the brink, thrusting a final time into Luka and holding onto Luka's legs as he came hard into him. As his energy slowly left him, John wished he could lie atop Luka and let the other man wrap his arms and legs around him. But, he knew he couldn't bend over to do that. His back was already beginning to ache from this bout of love making. Not that he would admit that to Luka. Not now at least. That admission could wait until after Luka had been properly sated.
John gently withdrew, and when he returned from the bathroom, Luka was standing by the bed. They embraced, kissing each other softly.
"That was wonderful, Luka. Thank you," John whispered into his ear.
"You are most welcome. Your turn will be just as nice, no?"
"If not better," John grinned. "So, how do you want me?"
Luka chuckled as he ran his hands up and down John's back. "Every way I can get you," he said. "Seriously, I was trying to figure out which position would be easiest for you."
"I think on my back."
"Oh, really? And do you think in any other position?"
"And to think that some people don't believe you have a sense of humor." John kissed Luka again, then sat down on the bed. He looked up at Luka, knowing that his own eyes had to be as full of desire as Luka's were right then. "I think best on my back," John said as he carefully eased his body to the mattress, then slowly spread his legs.
"Yes, you most certainly do," Luka's voice was husky as his eyes took in all of John with one long look. At times like this, it was difficult for Luka to believe that it wasn't so long ago that John was an inexperienced virgin who had to be handled gently before he could begin to enjoy himself. Luka still liked to handle John gently at times, but John didn't need that in order to find pleasure in what they did. He was totally open and receptive to Luka and there had been a few times when Luka had seriously asked himself if he had created a monster when he introduced John to the pleasures of gay sex. If he were truly honest with himself, then Luka had to admit that he could never get enough of John, either.
"Are you just going to stand there?" John asked, feeling uneasy with Luka staring at him as if he was a grand prize. It had been bad enough before when Luka wanted to just look at his naked body, but now...well, he wasn't a pretty sight. He moved his left arm so that it crossed his body, covering the scar from the colostomy and hopefully hiding a good portion of the surgical scar.
"I like looking at you. You know that," Luka said as he reached out to softly caress John's thigh.
"I know that I'm not a pretty sight anymore, Luka." John didn't mean to sound bitter, but he knew he did.
"You will always be beautiful to me. Why do you want to hide yourself from me, John? I have always enjoyed your body and that will never change."
"I'm scarred for life, Luka."
Luka rubbed his left hand over his own stomach, letting his fingers drift over his own scar, a reminder of a surgery done years ago. "You never turned away from me."
"You're beautiful, Luka," John sincerely said. "Nothing distracts from that."
"Then why do you think that your scars will bother me?" When John couldn't or wouldn't answer him, Luka decided that maybe this was a time when John needed to be handled gently. Like their first time. "Move to the middle of the bed and roll over on your stomach."
John wanted to ask Luka why he wanted him to do that, but the thought that his scars would be hidden had great appeal, so John quickly obeyed. John heard the nightstand drawer open and close, then he felt Luka lightly straddle him, shortly followed by the feel of Luka's strong hands on his shoulders. The smell of the massage oil reached his nose and John took a deep breath, finding the scent relaxing. When Luka's hands left his skin, John knew that he was pouring the oil into one hand, intending to warm it before beginning the massage. Just as Luka had done their first time together. Although the oil wasn't introduced until much later in their lovemaking.
A soft kiss was planted between his shoulder blades and John heard Luka ask him if he liked that.
"Yes. It's nice. Very nice," he replied.
"Then you'll like this, too," Luka said. As his hands kneaded John's shoulders, Luka's lips were making their way down John's spine. Luka carefully shifted his body lower, moving his hands down John's back as he made his way down to John's thighs, ever mindful that he couldn't put any weight on John's back or hips. He wanted to pay extra attention to the reminders of the stabbing -- the lesser of John's scars, but Luka knew that to call attention to them would be too much of a reminder of the attack for John. So, he ignored them much the same way that John did. Instead, he gently pushed John's legs apart, a smile lighting up his face when John willingly parted them even further. Luka had wanted to recreate their first time together and it was apparent that John remembered that day as well. Luka gently kissed the silky skin of John's inner thigh, his erection beginning to throb as John's moans reached his ears. Luka decided to ignore his own discomfort for now so he could concentrate on showing John just how much he missed all of his body.
Thinking about their first time made Luka realize just how much John had changed over the past months. That day, he had been skittish, his touches halting. Definitely uncertain. Now though, John was much more at ease, with Luka and with himself. There was definitely no risk that John would bolt from the bed in fear, and his touches were never faltering. Instead they were sure and gentle. John had discovered what Luka liked and made sure that he did all he could to please him. Which only made Luka want even more to please John.
John's hands clenched the sheet and blanket as he felt Luka plant butterfly kisses on his thighs. If he remembered their first time correctly, then the next place that Luka kissed would be far more intimate than his thighs. And far more exciting. John had been rimmed before he ever met Luka. His girlfriends were nothing if not inventive. Yet, having Luka touch him that way had been far more exciting than it had ever felt with a woman. At first, John had thought it was just the novelty of having a man do that to him. But, after Luka went even further than just licking, on more than one occasion, John knew that the thrill came from the fact that it just felt good and was being done by Luka. Luka's willingness to please him like that had made John bold enough to return the favor. And from the sounds he had gotten from Luka as he imitated what he had done, John knew he had learnt well. As much as it had pleasantly surprised him to find that Luka liked being rimmed, and entered, John had been even more surprised by how much he loved both acts. There were many nights when they were snuggled in a post-coital bliss, playfully arguing about which one of them liked being taken the most, and which liked performing oral sex best, which liked receiving it best, which one liked being the taker, and so on. It was very rare when a love-making session consisted of only one of them being on the bottom, or sucked. Sometimes it happened, but not often.
John cried out loud as his pleasant thoughts were interrupted by the intrusion of Luka's tongue into his body. He couldn't keep his body from responding as his hips pushed backward, wanting even more contact with Luka's mouth. And Luka obliged him eagerly. Just as he had their first time. John remembered feeling slightly ashamed of himself for reacting that way to Luka, but when he realized that his reaction turned Luka on even more, it served to inflame his arousal.
Just like now.
John's hips left the bed as a slick finger joined Luka's tongue. "Yes, Luka," he called out, his voice breaking. Then strong hands gently rolled him over, grabbed his ankles and pulled his body until the edge of his butt was even with the side of the bed. John stared at the ceiling, not sure what to expect next. Their first time had happened with him on his stomach, not on his back. His breath caught as he felt Luka's mouth on his once more erect penis. It felt so good to be engulfed in that talented mouth. That mouth that didn't care that it was kissing damaged goods as Luka kissed his way up John's stomach to his chest, then unmercifully attacked his nipples, using his fingers on one while his lips and teeth were busy with the other. At times like these, John wished he had more than two nipples. Four or six would be nice. Of course, then Luka would need more hands. And that would be even better, he thought with a contented sigh. He ran his hands through Luka's hair, glad it was long enough for him to hold and play with. He kept his hands there as Luka kissed his way back down his body, but he lost contact with him when Luka lifted his legs and planted a kiss under his scrotum.
Luka got to his feet and grabbed a condom. "Are you ready?" he huskily asked. He really didn't think he was going to hold out as long as he wanted, but it wouldn't matter. He had to be inside of John now.
John nodded, then closed his eyes as he felt the tip of Luka's penis press against him. He willed himself to relax and then the rest of Luka sank into him, joining them. Once inside, Luka was still and John flexed his sphincter muscles, smiling when that made Luka gasp.
"You'll make me come before I ever get started," Luka said.
"Then start already," John urged. He opened his eyes and smiled up at Luka, giving him as much non-verbal encouragement as he could manage. And Luka took it. He began to move slowly, but he couldn't handle that pace. John could sense Luka's need for release and he moved quickly with him, urging him on verbally as his own hand found his hard penis and he sought his own release for a second time that day. When they climaxed, it was together, and Luka was giddy with laughter as he pulled out.
"Next time will be much slower, I promise you," he gasped as he placed kisses all over John's face.
"I'll hold you to that promise, but I didn't see anything wrong with this time," John told him. "It was great."
"I'll be right back." Luka disappeared into the bathroom to discard the condom and get a washcloth to clean John. He felt slightly guilty that John had to use his own hand, but he had been so caught up in how good it felt to once more be in John that he hadn't given any thought to John's arousal. As he exited the bathroom, he paused, letting his gaze linger on John. John was still in the same position on the bed, his eyes closed and arms flung out from his body, his legs still spread wide. Luka felt his chest constrict as he reminded himself that the body before him was all his.
Luka was so caught up in watching John that he didn't notice that John was now staring at him.
"You look beautiful standing there," John said. He knew he would never tire of looking at Luka, although there were times when he questioned why it was that Luka had chosen him. Not that he minded being chosen. Nope, not one bit.
"Thank you," Luka walked over to the bed and slowly began to clean John's belly. Satisfied with his handiwork, Luka continued to use the washcloth on John's body, lightly skimming it over his skin.
"If you keep doing that, then we'll never get out of bed," John warned.
Luka grinned. "I can live with that, can you?"
"It's not a problem," John grinned back.
As Luka toyed with John's skin, he found himself remembering how surprised he had been when, shortly after coming home from the hospital, John had asked him if he wanted a blowjob. It wasn't John's offer of oral sex that had surprised him, it was the words John had used. In the entire time he had known John, Luka had never heard him use common words to describe anything. It wasn't a cock, it was a penis. They weren't balls, they were testicles. It wasn't a blowjob, it was oral sex. Luka had found himself amused at John's vocabulary, knowing it was a result of his upper-class upbringing. But, there were times when saying penis just didn't sound right. Luka had often thought of trying to speak to John about their "bedroom" talk, but the time had never been right. Maybe now would be a good time, he thought. Yes, it certainly would be a good time to have that conversation. Then again, maybe talking about it wouldn't get the results he wanted, which, right now, were to hear John talking "dirty". Well, if John wouldn't say those things in English, then maybe he would be willing to say them in another language. Such as Croatian. Certainly John couldn't find any objections to saying certain phrases in Croatian? "I think I should teach you Croatian," Luka said as he lowered his head to taste John's skin.
"I've been told that I'm a fast learner," John said, then he gasped as he felt Luka's tongue flitter over his anus.
"Repeat after me: vijak mene." Luka only removed his mouth long enough to speak, then he returned his attentions to John's body.
John knew he had heard that phrase before. As a matter of fact, he had heard it not that much earlier. It had been one of the things Luka had repeated when he was taking Luka. John shook his head. "What does that mean?"
"Say it," Luka ordered, then he took John's scrotum into his mouth, gently sucking on it.
"I don't think so. If you won't tell me what it means, then it must not be anything nice," John was trying to keep level headed enough to reason with Luka, but the things that Luka's tongue and lips were doing to him were making it hard -- literally -- for him to think.
"Vijak mene. Say it." Luka ordered.
"No," John stubbornly replied.
Luka licked his way across John's perineum, then smiled as he felt John's entire body shudder when his tongue claimed him. He could make John do as he wanted.
"If you don't say it, then I will never do this again," Luka vowed. To show John just what he meant, Luka let his tongue slip into him.
"Never again, now? Or never again, ever?" John worriedly asked.
"Never again, ever. Say it, John."
John whimpered as Luka's tongue snaked in and out of his body. He loved this. It drove him crazy when Luka touched him this way. Could he live with never feeling this again? No. He couldn't. He wouldn't. He went over the phrase in his mind, then said it.
"Not bad. Not quite right though. Vijak mene," Luka slowly said the words, then he began to lap at John like a cat, liking the way that John's body was now writhing.
"Vijak mene," John said. "Vijak mene."
Luka kept his tongue busy with John, but his hands were making quick work of putting on another condom. He suddenly broke off his contact with John's skin, grinning at John's sigh of displeasure and then his gasp of surprise as he slowly entered him. "With pleasure."
"Vijak mene," John said again, very loudly this time, now knowing what it was that Luka had him saying. It hadn't been all that long since Luka was last in him, but it felt even better now than it had before. "Faster," he demanded as he raised his hips to meet Luka. Much to his chagrin, Luka only slowed his movements. "Didn't you hear me? Faster, Luka."
"I heard you just fine. But, I'm not going faster. I want to make this last long. Very long." With that, Luka bent nearly double so he could capture one of John's nipples into his mouth. He immediately felt John's hands on his head, holding him in place.
"Don't stop," John nearly whimpered.
"I don't intend to stop," Luka said as he switched to the other side of John's chest. It thrilled him to have John writhing under him, and knowing that he was making John feel this good made Luka feel as if all the heartache in his life had been worthwhile as long as it led to this place in time. Luka straightened, letting his hands trail down John's body until he had them full of John's penis and testicles. He could tell by the way that John was moving his hips now that John wanted him to make him come, but he had no intention of doing that just yet. When John came, it would happen because of what Luka was doing to him with his mouth and not because of what he was doing with him with his hands.
John whimpered once more as Luka's hands left his throbbing erection and settled on his hips. "Luka, please?" he begged.
"Not yet. Say this: sisanje mene od."
"Sisanje mene od," John shouted, not caring if he had the right pronunciation, or even what he was saying.
Luka grinned. "Good. I will. Soon." His desire to keep the pace slow was being sorely tested by his body's desire to reach completion. And John's movements weren't helping his determination one bit. Finally, he threw his plans aside and suddenly increased both the speed and the length of his strokes, making John cry out in pleasure.
"God," John gasped. "Vijak mene. Faster. Harder. Damn." John moaned as pleasure arced its way up his body. If he died right then, he knew he would die completely happy. Nothing else in the world mattered to him more than what was happening to him and the man who was making it happen.
"I love you," John managed to say.
Luka was too caught up in his own desires to be able to respond to that. He cried out, his grip on John's hips tightening as his semen filled the condom in long bursts. He was mildly surprised as how much there was since it had not been all that long since his last orgasm. He quickly pulled out and removed the condom, then grabbed a fresh one. As he rolled it onto John, his mouth followed his fingers and he had all of John in his mouth, determined to honor his vow to do what John had asked moments earlier. He started out by slowly massaging John's member with his lips and tongue, until he knew that neither of them could take any more. Then he began to work on John in earnest, bringing him to an almost violent orgasm that left John breathless. As he had so many times, Luka regretted the fact that he couldn't taste John. He wanted that so much. Wanted to literally consume him. But, they had always practiced safe sex, with the exception of the time John brought him off in the shower, and Luka had vowed to never let happen again. He felt slightly jealous of that -- John knew how he tasted. Luka hurried to discard the condoms, then returned to the bed.
John was still sprawled in the same place, too spent to move. His eyelids were heavy and Luka knew that John would soon be asleep. He helped John to his side of the bed, then curled himself around John's body as he pulled the covers up over the both of them.
"JA ljubav te," Luka said. "I love you."
"JA ljubav te," John sleepily repeated. "I can learn that easily enough."
"Just watch when and where you say those other things. I don't want to see you getting slapped or taken advantage of," Luka warned.
"You shouldn't teach me phrases and not tell me what they mean, you know. How am I supposed to know what I'm saying?" John asked with a smile.
"You know what you said," Luka kissed his cheek. "Don't try to pretend any different."
"I think I know what I said, but I don't know for sure."
"Then what did you think you said to me?" Luka's fingers were lazily drawing patterns over John's chest and stomach.
"You know," John didn't want to actually say those things out loud. He knew that his grandmother would be mortified if she thought he was capable of saying those things. He had been brought up better than that.
Luka chuckled. "You'll never change, will you? Sometimes, talking dirty can be a real turn-on."
"Did it turn you on?"
"Most definitely. I would love to hear you saying those things to me more often."
John smiled. "I'll try to remember them then."
Luka's hand had now wandered up to John's neck and he was playing with the chain and cross. "You look stunning wearing only this."
"You need to have your eyes checked," John flippantly replied.
"Would you stop that?" Luka didn't try to hide the hurt and exasperation in his voice. "Why do you keep putting yourself down? And me, too, for that matter? Every time you denigrate yourself, you make me look like a fool for loving you. I am not a fool, John. Don't ever think that."
"I didn't mean that and you know it. I'm sorry."
Luka could tell by the look in John's eyes that he sincerely meant that apology. "I'm sorry for being so thinned skin about it. I know that you can't help it if you have a typical American hang-up about your body. It's the fault of your Puritanical upbringing."
John's eyes flashed and Luka knew he had said something wrong. "I get tired of having you put down America, you know. Our beer isn't as good, our higher education system cheats everyone, we're uptight, we're too liberal, we're not liberal enough. We complain too much, we accept too much without question. We're a baby country and have no history. Well, if America is that bad, then why in the Hell did you come here?"
"Whoa! I give up. I'm sorry this time. You're right, I'm too critical of your country. Of my new country. I do make unfair comparisons between Croatia and the rest of Europe and here. I shouldn't. I'm very glad that I came to America because I found you. I would never change that, John."
"Tell me again that you love me. In Croatian."
"JA ljubav te. JA potreba te," Luka firmly said, his hazel eyes locked on John's brown ones. "I love you. I need you."
"I need you, too. Don't ever leave me, Luka. Promise me that you'll never leave me." John wrapped his arms around Luka, holding him tight.
"I promise. I'll never leave you." Luka assured him right before kissing him with all his heart.
They lay there quietly, just holding each other. After a few minutes, Luka could feel the even rhythm of John's breathing and he knew he was asleep. He was ready to go back to sleep himself, but a rumbling from his stomach reminded him that he had another hunger that needed to be sated. He carefully got out of bed, not wanting to awaken John. Then he hurried into the kitchen to have a quick bite to eat. Five minutes later he was back in bed with John, holding him close once more. If only he didn't have to go to work later, he thought, then the day would be truly perfect.
End of Part Eight.
Translations (for those who weren't able to figure out what they were saying to each other):
vijak mene
Screw me
JA ljubav te
I love you
JA potreba te
I need you
Sisanje mene od
Suck me off
Chapter Nine