Read Between The Lines {GregNick/Closed to First}

[Alfred F Jones]

Nick knew just how it was; there were those cases that just got under your skin for one reason or another, sometimes because the events uncovered were so shocking or sometimes because the people involved affected them on a personal level. Greg’s case had been one of the former, they unfortunately saw abuse and crimes of passion all the time, but that had been some distasteful hybrid. Greg leaned against him and for a moment Nick felt a little self-conscious but the sensation was fleeting and soon passed. After a few moments Greg leaned back up and went after the newly boiled kettle, while Nick went for the fridge. He was hungry and Greg had mentioned food, but he didn’t think doing anything heavy would aid either of them. Instead he set about making tuna melts, quick and filling.

By the time he set Greg’s plate on the table, the other had already made tea and Nick thanked him before settling down with his own food, finishing it in what seemed like five large bites. That done, he took the plate and put it in the sink before remembering he wasn’t in his own house or Kirsty’s anymore and giving it a wash while Greg finished. He had noticed Greg’s earlier yawn and although he was usually too keyed up to sleep right away once he had finished a shift, he wouldn’t mind lying in bed with a DVD on or something along those lines, because he knew he’d end up asleep in about five minutes if that happened.

However, the events of the night before were giving him pause. He and Greg had shared a bed and although nothing had happened save for those kisses (those utterly mind-blowing kisses, his mind insisted on adding), he had to admit he wouldn’t mind sharing again. However, he really didn’t know how to ask. It was Greg’s house and maybe he didn’t want to share again, or perhaps Nick would be throwing temptation in his way when he wasn’t at all sure he was ready to go the next step – it wasn’t like he’d ever slept with a man before after all and he didn’t think after the night they’d had it would make their first time together especially romantic – and then it occurred to him that he was thinking in terms of when, not if. Maybe he wasn’t as uncertain as he had believed about the next step in terms of things.

He turned to take Greg’s plate and noticed the other stifling another yawn. Giving a mock-frown, he liberated the plate. “I think it’s about time you turned in for the night,” he said, deciding suddenly that he’d go with whatever happened; if Greg hinted that he’d like Nick to share his bed, then he was there. Otherwise he would just make do with sleeping in the spare room – although it was going to be weird after waking up with a warm body next to him that morning. “I’m pretty tired myself,” he added, just in case Greg thought he was going to stay up and therefore not extend the invitation. Okay. Giving the chance for the invite in what was practically a blatant hint was telling him that perhaps he wasn’t as casual about being sent to his own bed as he’d make out should that happen.

[Alfred F Jones]

"In that case," Greg yawned again (god-damn, he didn't think he could possibly get so tired with the amount of coffee that he ingested on a regular basis) and then reached for Nick's hand, "Coming up?" he asked lightly. He didn't think that Nick would mind sharing a bed with him again but he didn't want to seem overbearing, or as though he was expecting something more than their kissing. Whilst he would not protest to such a thing at all (no way, no how) he would not push the other either; Nick meant too much to him and had had pretty much no experience in being attracted to a man before him... and Greg was right in thinking that he could be smug about that, right? He didn't move though until Nick nodded, then looking so shy that Greg wanted to lean in and kiss him senseless.

However, he was too tired (and too conscious of tuna breath) to try and push for such a thing then... in the morning though he already knew he was going to try and make up for it. He couldn't help himself; he had been waiting to kiss Nick for ages and now that he had he was finding himself insatiable about the taste and sensation of the other's lips. He had never experienced a kiss that felt so right as the one that Nick gave him. They made their way upstairs together and then Greg offered Nick the use of the bathroom first. As Nick did that he went into his bedroom and undressed, getting out some pyjama bottoms.

A second pair was retrieved for Nick and lain on the bed. Although he was taller than Nick he didn't think it'd matter much considering that the other was only going to be sleeping in the pants. Momentarily he wondered whether he should throw a t-shirt on lest he make Nick uncomfortable but then decided not to; chests were innocent enough, right, and he was just feeling much too constricted then. This day was going to have to go down as one as his worst... nowhere near as high as the day when he was in that explosion, but definitely ranking above the time they had that brother and sister con team in that had been shagging one another. Incest, no matter the type, was something that he just couldn't understand. And, in this instance there was that added element on 'how can you find a child sexually attractive', let alone his own child.

Upon Nick coming out of the bathroom Greg indicated the pants and told the other to settle before he then made his way into the bathroom instead. Brushing his teeth he washed his face and then headed out into the bedroom-- immediately thinking that he could get used to seeing Nick in his bed. Smiling slightly at the other he got into bed on the side that Nick hadn't taken up, tentatively moving close to the other before settling down. He didn't want to seem overbearing but he really was in need of Nick's warmth and presence right then. Mercifully the other didn't seem uncomfortable by his presence and so he remained where he was. "Night, Nicky--" Greg yawned, covering his mouth. Sure his mouth might be minty fresh but yawning on someone was just as gross as coughing on them.