Tulio woke late in the night, wondering what had disturbed his rest.

Then he saw Miguel, his outline highlighted in the glowing light from the embers of the slowly dying fire, sneaking away from their makeshift camp on bare and silent feet.

At first he was hurt, thinking that the blonde man was deserting him just as Chell had.

The Eldoradoian woman had just left in the night without a word to either of them.

True, her and Miguel hadn't exactly been on speaking terms, though Tulio still wasn't clear as to why that had been. But the woman could have at least told him that she was leaving him and why.

Then he slapped himself mentally, disgusted by his own venerability. His best friend of years was not going to suddenly desert him.

However, that brought up the question of what he was doing leaving the camp so late at night.

Tulio stood up cautiously; motioning for Altivo to stay lying on the ground and be silent, heading in the direction that Miguel had gone once he was out of sight.

By the time he got to the edge of the clearing Miguel had stripped out of his clothes and was descending into the pool of still water, catching a brief glimpse of his pale, naked back before he slipping under the surface for a few moments. He then surfaced a few feet from the shore and climbed up onto a large rock, laying down on his back and staring up at the sky.

Tulio was about to strip down as well and join him when Miguel lifted a hand and trailed his fingertips from his collarbone down over his bare chest, which was gleaming in the light from the moon that shone directly down onto the rock. Miguel's hand continued downward until it fisted around the thick cock which rose up from a nest of blonde curls that was highlighted with silver in the moon's light.

Miguel shuddered, arching his back slightly, his hips pushing up into his own stroking fist, his eyes tightly shut and his head tilted back on a soft, but still audible, gasp of pleasure. Tulio's lips parted as he watched in awe, his breath catching soundlessly in his throat at the beauty of the sight before him.

Then Miguel moaned loudly, rolling over on the rock to get up to his hands and knees, unknowingly facing where Tulio was watching from as he took his cock back in hand quickly, panting heavily as he started to stroke himself again. His eyes were hazy, unfocused and dilated with desire as his whole body began to move, rocking back and forth on the rock as he shook so violently that he was nearly vibrating with his intense need for release.

Tulio didn't think that he could be more turned on then he already was, his cock straining to be free of his pants and inside Miguel as the blonde man flung his head back to get the sweat-drenched hair out of his face. He confused Tulio when he rocked back to sit on his legs, still stroking himself as he opened his mouth and slipped the fingers of his other hand inside, sucking on them to coat them with his saliva thoroughly before leaning forward a little and spreading his smooth and pale thighs wider. Tulio was shocked when Miguel reached his glistening fingers behind himself, visibly quivering as his fingers circled his own tight hole.

A guttural moan escaped Miguel's throat when he shoved two of the slick digits inside himself, spreading his legs wider as he trembled. Miguel was panting heavily still as his lips parted slightly on a soft and shaky sound that Tulio could just barely make out from his hiding place just inside the treeline.

"Tu-Tu-"

He frowned with displeasure at the name that escaped his best friend's lips.

He had no idea who Tu-Tu was, but he was so hot with need and jealousy that Tulio would have happily killed the man in that moment.

Perhaps he was a man that Miguel had met in Eldorado? He hadn't even known that his friend swung that way.

Truth, he hadn't even known that he did.

Miguel gasped then, snapping Tulio out of his thoughts as he stared, transfixed by the sight as Miguel arched his back, spilling over his hand finally as he yelled out with his release. "Tulio!"

Tulio's mind froze with shock when he heard him say his name, feeling almost numb with surprise as Miguel removed his fingers from himself, lying down on his back again on the rock. Miguel was trembling as he recovered, coming down from his high slowly.

Tulio was even further shocked when Miguel sat up, pulling his gleaming white legs in tight against his body and wrapping his shaking arms around them as he started to cry.

Not tears of joy, either.

Tears that were clearly of unbearable agony as he sniffled loudly and wiped the tears off his face only to have them be replaced by new ones quickly.

"Y-You're living in a dream world, M-Miguel," Tulio heard the other man say to himself. "He's never going to notice how you look at him when he's not looking at you. or how you hang on his every word. how you long for his touch.. Yes, Chell may be gone, and that makes you happy, but you're no closer to earning his love, either.. Maybe you should just give up. Just end it now. But, of course you can't do that because it would hurt him, because he wouldn't know why you did it. Unless you leave a note for him to find when he comes looking for you in the morning.."

Tulio knew he had no choice but to intervene now before Miguel did something stupid, so he stripped out of his clothes quickly and descended into the water, walking out, then swimming to the rock and climbing up onto it. The gleaming water rolled down and fell off his bare skin as he knelt at the blonde man's side, reaching out to touch him, pressing his palm to his left shoulder.

"Miguel," he said softly, feigning calmness as his best friend raised his tear-damp eyes to look up at him in shock. "Never stop dreaming.."

Then he leaned closer and pressed his mouth over his insistently.

Miguel relaxed instantly at the contact, reaching out to clutch at Tulio's shoulders to try to pull him closer, moaning into the kiss almost as though he were in pain.

Tulio drew him close against his chest, taking him down to lie beside him on the smooth rock, wrapping his arms around him as the kiss ended. "How long?.." Tulio asked, his low voice gentle as he held him.

"Years," Miguel answered, his voice breaking on a small sob with the word. "Always. I don't really know when it started. It was so gradual, but it wasn't long after we first met. I suppose that I fell for your charm at first like everyone else, but that stage of it is long over. I love you, Tulio."

"Is this why Chell left? Did she know?"

"Yes. She told me to tell you how I felt. To grab hold of you and never let go. But I was scared. So scared. It's always been my fear that kept me from saying or doing anything. I couldn't bear it. I would never have survived if you had rejected me.."

"Oh, Miguel.."

Tulio kissed him again tenderly, moving so that the other man was beneath him, stroking and caressing his naked body lovingly, enjoying Miguel's soft moans and whimpers of pleasure at his gentle touch.

"That.. What you just did.." Tulio whispered, nibbling on the shell of his ear slightly. "Was the hottest thing that I have ever seen.."

Miguel shuddered, rolling his hips up against his, trembling as Tulio kissed and nibbled at his neck.

"Putting your fingers inside yourself.. I wanted to come out and join you. Wanted to fuck you so badly.. And then when you came. I nearly did as well. It was a very close thing.."

"Ohhh.. Tulio!" Miguel moaned loudly, quivering with pleasure at his words. "Yes.. Fuck me now!"

Tulio looked down at him in surprise at his plea, honored that he loved and trusted him enough to ask for that. "Are you sure? That's a big step in a relationship. In any relationship. I wouldn't want you to regret moving too fast afterwards."

"Years, Tulio," he reminded him, tears of joy spilling down his face as his black haired friend pressed hot, open-mouthed and devouring kisses to his neck and chest hungrily. "Years I've wanted you.. Your touch. Your lips on mine. To feel you over me. Inside my body. Possessing it the same way that you possess my heart. I'll only regret it if you don't take what I offer.. I'll understand, but it'll still sting like a horse fly's bite. I sort of feel I'm behaving like a desperate whore.."

Miguel yelped softly in surprise when Tulio suddenly grabbed him by the chin roughly, pulling him in close until their faces were barely an inch apart, staring into his eyes intensely as he rebuked him harshly for his self-slamming comment.

"I don't ever want to hear you say anything like that again, Miguel. Do you hear me? You are a wonderful and loving person, and a beautiful man. I am going to make love to you now, and the only thing that you're allowed to do until I'm done is plead for more and say my name. Is that understood?"

Miguel shuddered, swallowing audibly as he nodded, his low voice breathless as he spoke in answer. "Yes. God, yes. I love you so much, Tulio.. Please.."

Tulio smiled, and the blonde man's breathing hitched audibly at how attractive he was. Miguel's eyes fluttered closed when the other man's lips brushed over his, opening for him with an eager whimper, moaning when Tulio guided him down gently onto his back on the rock and maneuvered his body over his. Tulio pressed warm, naked skin against warm, naked skin, Miguel shifting his legs so that they cradled the dark haired man's hips perfectly, as though they had been made for each other to hold in this manner.

Tulio slipped a hand between Miguel's legs, pressing two fingers against his body's opening, pleased when they sank within him easily, enjoying the throaty sounds of pleasure that his best friend made as he stretched him carefully.

"Uhh, Tulio!" Miguel moaned, arching his back a little, pressing his hips up into the touch unconsciously. "Tulio, please, more! Please!"

Tulio grinned, adding a third finger next to the other two, getting even more excited at how easily the other man's hole took his fingers in, loosening for him eagerly.

"I love how you open yourself up to me, Miguel.." Tulio whispered in his ear erotically, licking the outer shell with his warm, wet tongue, nibbling on it lightly with affection. "How you're so hot for me.. It makes me so turned on.."

Miguel gasped loudly in shock at his best friend's words, groaning with clear, unrestrained-longing as his hips bucked violently upward in desperation, needing to be closer to the man that he loved, needing to give of himself, to comfort and be comforted. "Tulio! Please, god... Touch me.. Take me... I can't wait anymore, please!"

The dark haired man shuddered, panting heavily as though he had just been running for his life, something that both of them were intimately familiar with by now, both in Spain and Eldorado.

Tulio withdrew his fingers and curved them around Miguel's cock and starting to stroke him intimately, aligning their hips once more so that his hard and hot tip was pressed to the blonde man's opening. Tulio started to enter him slowly, continuing until he was fully seated within the other man's snug and hot wonderful body.

Miguel went wild, writhing and undulating his hips beneath him, wrapping his legs tightly around Tulio's waist so that he slid in deeper. Miguel keened loudly when his lover's cock scraped across a magical spot inside him that caused scorching heat to fill every inch of his body, setting dazzling sparks off in his mind as his heart starting racing, thrumming rapidly inside his chest in delight with every thrust of the other man's slim but strong hips.

"Ahhh, yes, Tulio, love me.. Love me hard and deep! Take all of me, my darling.. Everything that I have to offer is yours alone and always has been.."

Tulio actually growled with pleasure at his words, starting to thrust into him faster and deeper, the sounds of sweaty, hot flesh slapping against sweaty, hot flesh creating a torturous, erotic music as they got into a rhythm of movements together.

Miguel twined his arms around Tulio's neck, spreading his thighs wider and lifting his legs up, drawing them in close to his lower torso so that his tight, quivering butt cheeks were spread open and Tulio could actually watch himself disappear within his welcoming body, the sounds of their love-making becoming more audible because of the change in position.

"So tight.." Tulio groaned with a shudder of almost agonized-pleasure as he moved inside him. "So hot.. So perfect.. My Miguel.. Oh god.. When was the last time that you did this?"

"I haven't," the blonde man managed to gasp out between heavy pants. "Never... Never gone this far with any man.. For you.. Only for you, my love.."

Tulio tensed, thrusting into him once more and arching his back with a loud cry, spilling his release inside his best friend and groaning when Miguel tightened around him in response. Miguel released all over himself, Tulio, and the rock with a strangled-whimper, his fingers digging into Tulio's back before his muscles relaxed, going completely limp with completion beneath him.

Tulio caught Miguel in his arms, rolling with him 'till he was stretched out on his back on the rock with Miguel sprawled over his upper torso. Miguel's cheek rested against his shoulder, his eyes closed as he breathed over Tulio's neck with every soft exhale.

Peace enfolded them both like a sun-warmed blanket as they lay together in silence for a few moments, Tulio running his hands over Miguel's bare back in soothing, feather light caresses of affection.

"I love you, Tulio.." Miguel finally whispered quietly, snuggling closer to the other man's warm, comforting body.

"As I love you, Miguel," Tulio returned simply, pressing a brief kiss to his temple before closing his eyes and speaking further hesitantly. "Miguel?.."

"Yes, my darling?"

"How... How many men have touched you?"

Miguel sighed at the question, but he didn't pull away or tense up at all. "Very few. I was very cautious and selective, as men like me must be else they risk death or abuse.. And I never let them kiss my mouth, or touch me inappropriately or without clothing. Mostly I just wanted them to hold me in their arms, to make me feel safe and loved, even if it was only an illusion. I always pretended that it was you holding me, and they all knew that it was never them, or their touch, that I longed for, that I ached for. They gave me what comfort that I would allow, but I've always been starved for your touch. I still am, actually."

"But..." Tulio said in confusion. "I'm holding you.."

"Yes, I know," Miguel responded with a nod. "And it's wonderful and beyond anything that I could have imagined, it is, but.. I've wanted.. Needed you for years. It's not going to just settle after one night with you. However amazing, beautiful, and heavenly it was. I don't want it to, either. I don't want just one night with you, Tulio, I want forever.. I love you, and I want to have the right to always call you my darling.."

"Oh, Miguel.." Tulio groaned, pressing a hard, brief kiss to the blonde man's mouth before pulling back to stare deeply into his eyes. "You have it. I could never let you go now. Not after tonight. You are mine and mine alone. Say it."

"Yes.." Miguel whimpered, breathless at the kiss and the intense, possessive look in Tulio's dark eyes. "I am yours and yours alone, my love. I always have been."

Tulio shuddered again, pulling Miguel into a deep, dominating kiss, drawing a soft whine of pleasure from the other man's chest as he plundered his mouth roughly with his hot tongue before pulling back reluctantly.

"Tulio.." Miguel whispered when he finally regained his breath, savoring the taste of his best friend and now mate as he licked his lips before continuing quietly. "Let's forget about Spain, alright? We don't have a boat, anyway. We could live here together. Just you, me, and Altivo. Obviously, our relationship has changed now, for the better, but if we go back and try to be together there... There's no guarantee that we wouldn't be killed or imprisoned if Cortez gets there before us and informs the authorities that we stowed away on his ship. Even if that isn't exactly how it happened, they won't believe us. And even if we avoid that.. We could be put on trial for sodomy if it gets out there somehow.. That's life in prison, or death. I want to stay here with you, always. It's nice here. It's safe. Maybe we could find another way back into Eldorado? I mean, Chell must have gone somewhere, right?"

"Yes, she must have. We'll stay, Miguel, but forget about Eldorado, love. We can stay right here together. We'll build a cabin, with a small corral for Altivo. I'll learn to hunt after I make a bow and some arrows. Woodworking was supposed to be my trade before I ran away from my master's home when his wife tried to lure me into their bed one hot afternoon while I was working in the shop and he was away for the day on a business trip. I can feed us. All we need is a roof over our heads and food for now. The rest we can handle later. Everything will work out, Miguel. Now, let's get back to the camp. Altivo must be anxious by now."

Miguel nodded, swimming with him back to shore from the rock and smiling when Tulio helped him to his feet and started to dress him tenderly, pressing his lips to his forehead while doing up the buttons on his shirt meticulously.

Tulio was pleased when the blonde did the same for him before kissing him on the lips briefly, taking him by the hand with a slightly shy, happy smile. Miguel's sea-green eyes shone beautifully with contentment and joy as they headed back to their temporary camp together, leaning close against his best friend's side when Tulio slipped an arm around Miguel's waist with a return smile.

"I love you, Miguel."

"I love you, Tulio."