Chapter Text
AJ had imagined many times what it would be like to wake up beside Howie. The scenarios had varied - at times he had his head on Howie's shoulder or the other way around, other times he spooned Howie from behind, or else Howie spooned him... AJ had countless variation of that theme stored in his head.
But what he had not imagined was waking up alone.
The spot where Howie had lain curled up against him was still warm, so he couldn't have been gone long. AJ looked around, thinking that perhaps Howie had just had to use the bathroom. But the door was open and Howie nowhere to be seen.
Hot fear rose in AJ - had last night ruined it all? What the fuck had he been thinking, acting on his feelings like that? Howie had probably just gone along with him because he had had too much to drink and now he was regretting it. Or worse, he had just wanted a quick fuck and AJ had been the convenient solution.
Thoughts were running wildly through AJ's head and he knew only one solution - to get out of there as fast as possible!
Sighing heavily he got up, looking for his clothes. They'd smell horribly from the club, he knew, but he couldn't bear to take something of Howie's. Still naked he padded to the bathroom to relieve himself, deciding to take a shower in his own room. Staring into the mirror he noticed that the glow from last night had almost completely disappeared, that his eyes looked sad and frightened and that his lower lip quivered slightly - all in all he saw a pathetic picture of complete misery.
He felt like crying - and in the shower was the only place AJ could let go like that. Should someone notice his red eyes despite his dark shades he could just say that he had gotten soap in his eyes...
He only hoped that it wouldn't be Howie who asked, because he didn't know if he'd be able to look him in the eye. And Howie always knew when AJ was lying, it was as if he had a sixth sense for everything concerning AJ - some kind of 'AJ-dar'...
AJ almost laughed, but then he realized that obviously Howie didn't have any idea of what was going on with AJ - because if he had, how could he have left him like that? It was so unlike Howie, so unlike the gentle and loving person he had fallen in love with, so unlike his best friend with that underlying sense of humour who always knew when AJ needed him. So - what had gone wrong, when had the passionate night of a dream come true turned into the lonely morning of a broken heart?
AJ was so lost in his melodramatic thoughts that he literally jumped when a pair of muscled arms were wrapped around his middle and Howie's tender voice inquired: "What're you doing staring into the mirror like that? Looking for something specific?"
AJ met Howie's eyes in the mirror and saw happiness and contentment shining there. And as the knowledge that it was really Howie embracing him, pressing against his bare backside he could see the misery disappear from his own face and a slightly dorky look of pure joy replace it.
"I.. I thought you had left..." he said softly, suddenly a bit ashamed of thinking that Howie would do something like that to him.
But Howie seemed to understand because he now planted an open mouthed kiss on AJ's shoulder blade. "I went to get us some breakfast from MacDonalds - I wanted you to wake up to the smell of your favorite food. I'm sorry I didn't leave you a note, didn't think you'd be up so early." Howie's smile was a bit sheepish, thawing the layer of icy fear AJ had built around himself after waking up alone completely. Howie had gone for breakfast! Specially for him!
With a big grin AJ turned around in Howie's arms and let a finger wander over Howie's face, lingering on his lips, then going on to draw circles on the soft fabric of Howie's t-shirt. "You got us breakfast? That's sweet, really sweet of you D! Let's see what I can do to reward your efforts..." With satisfaction he saw Howie swallow hard and although he really had not planned on more than a kiss or two - after all they had to be at the studio in about an hour - AJ suddenly had a better idea.
He took Howie's hand and led him back to the bedroom, well aware that Howie's eyes were practically glued to his naked ass. He saw two bags of MacDonalds take away standing on the table, but for once AJ didn't feel like eating his favorite fast food - not when they could put the time they had left to a much better use...
Lying down on the bed he pulled Howie on top of him, wrapping both arms and legs around him. For a while they stared at each other, unspoken sentiments charging the air between them. It just felt so good, so absolutely right, despite the fact that Howie was quite heavy and fully clothed while he was stark naked.
AJ knew with absolute certainty that this was worth everything. He didn't care if he never performed anymore - just as long as he got to hold Howie and feel his arms around him.
Seemingly noticing that AJ had gone off into his own world Howie's face broke into a smile that somehow managed to be tender and sexy at the same time. "Good morning sunshine..." he half sang, nuzzling AJ and rocking his hips slightly.
That got AJ's attention almost immediately and he grinned back, pushing up against Howie's half hard cock. "They sing 'good morning starshine', D - you really should learn your oldies..." he teased and they laughed companionably before becoming serious and closing the distance between them for a good morning kiss.
When they had to pause for air Howie, still in top of AJ, because there was no way AJ was letting him go again, smiled softly and said: " I know what they sing - but I like 'good morning sunshine' better! It just fits you better than 'starshine'..."
AJ felt a lump in his throat but kept his tone light as he replied: "So you're saying that I'm no star, D? Me, the incredible McLean?" Howie stared at him and put a hand on his forehead as if to check if he had a fever. His eyes were twinkling and although AJ had thought himself pretty damn happy he now was near ecstatic - specially when Howie kissed him quickly and said: "You might be a star to everyone else - but to me you're like the sun, Aje..."
AJ swallowed hard but couldn't stop his voice from shaking lightly as he answered with a smile that was so wide it almost hurt: "God, you're such a sap, D!" When he saw the slightly hurt look in Howie's eyes he quickly amended: "And fuck, don't I love you for it..." The smile on Howie's face mirrored his own and for a while they just stared at each other.
AJ was hovering dangerously between laughing at the pathetic pair they were or crying for happiness - instead he decided to go back to what he had planned for them before all of this emotional shit had come up. Therefore he tightened his hold on Howie and kissed him deeply. The friction of Howie's trousers against AJ's cock almost drove him crazy and he started a rhythm that Howie was quick to take up.
They both knew that they didn't have a lot of time, so Howie quickly pulled off his trousers, together with his boxer briefs, so that their erections were now rubbing deliciously against one another. Howie, hoisted up on his elbows above AJ, buried his face against the bare skin of AJ's neck, biting down with a sharp gasp as AJ's hand kneaded Howie's cheeks. "God, Aje - fuck me, please fuck me!" he groaned.
Hearing those words being said in that unbearably sexy voice AJ felt his hips buck and again lost complete control of what he was saying, a stream of curses mixed with endearments and sex talk leaving his lips.
They rolled over and AJ searched quickly for the lube from last night, only pausing to free Howie of his t-shirt and tease his nipples. When his fingers were buried inside Howie he almost came, hardly able to believe what he was about to do. But he managed to prepare Howie thoroughly, enjoying the sight of his writhing beneath him, sighing and begging him for more in that sexy voice AJ got never tired of hearing.
When he was sure Howie was ready he quickly lubed himself, knowing that he'd be lucky to last a couple of minutes as it was, without Howie's help.
Then he was there, Howie's muscles tight around his cock, his legs drawn up to allow AJ better penetration. As they had last night their hands entwined again and their eyes locked, making the act all the more intimate. Sweat glistened on both their bodies and their movements became more and more frantic. Feeling himself getting close AJ let go Howie's left hand and took his erection instead. That was all it took - with a cry Howie pushed up against AJ and exploded, taking AJ with him.
Afterwards they rested in each other's arms, AJ feeling completely content. This time no doubts marred his afterglow.
"Oh fuck!" Howie exclaimed suddenly. "Shit, we have to be down in the lobby in like 10 minutes!" But although AJ knew that Howie hated being late he noticed that Howie didn't break their embrace at once, but instead tightened his arms around him, an action that caused a puddle of warmth to form in AJ's stomach and spread all over his body.
But as much as he would have loved staying that way he sighed and sat up, kissing Howie quickly. "I'll go take a shower real quick and you call Kevin that we're on our way, okay?" Howie smiled at him gratefully and AJ felt really good about his decision to be mature about it...
Well, mostly mature at least - because when he felt Howie's eyes follow him to the bathroom he grinned and put a small wiggle into his step. He was rewarded with a low groan and a thud that sounded suspiciously like Howie hitting his head against the wall. AJ's smirk got wider. Why should he be the only one regretting that they had to leave their bed?