...Matt cradled Vic’s chin in both hands and relearned the curves of his lover’s lips, the feel of his teeth, the taste of his tongue. He trailed tiny kisses along Vic’s cheek, over his ears, above his brow. He loved this man, every inch of him, and his after-sex kisses reiterated that fact, each and every one.

Beneath Matt’s ministrations, Vic kept his eyes closed and his arms tight around his lover’s waist, keeping him near. ::So,:: he said, the words unspoken between them, ::tell me what you were thinking.::

“Hmm?” Matt snuggled against Vic, lost in the afterglow. Then the troubling thought that had bothered him moments before returned, once again stopping him. “Oh.”

He sat back, but Vic didn’t let him go too far. “Oh, what?” Vic asked. He prodded Matt’s mind. “What’s wrong?”

Matt dropped his gaze to Vic’s trimmed goatee. “Nothing’s wrong,” he assured his lover, though the doubt in his voice wasn’t very convincing. “I was just thinking about the game, you know. Next weekend.”

“While we’re having sex?” Vic stared at him, incredulous. “I can’t string two coherent words together when you’re in me, and you’re thinking about a damn baseball game?”

Matt flashed him a reassuring smile. “You know, first base, second…I was thinking I’d scored big time when I found you, which made me think I was close to getting off, almost like a home run, and I thought—”

Vic silenced him with a kiss. “You think too much. Just get into the zone, like I do.”

“And shout it out to the whole neighborhood when you come,” Matt teased.

A frown crossed Vic’s features. “Am I too loud?”

“No.” Matt covered his face with a flurry of quick, little kisses. “God, no. I love you just the way you are. I know I did good when I can make you squeal.”

“I don’t—”

Matt kissed him. “Hush. You do. It’s sexy and I love it so don’t stop.”

One kiss led to another, and they distracted Matt from the bothersome thought that buzzed through his head like an annoying insect. But Vic picked up on the distraction, and turned his face from Matt’s to interrupt the moment. “So you’re thinking of the game. What about it?”

Resting his head on Vic’s shoulder, Matt sighed. He wasn’t sure how to say what was on his mind without coming off sounding…well, bad. “You know,” he said, his voice low between them, “I just thought, maybe, it might be…I don’t know, wrong? For you to have such an advantage over everyone else on the other teams just because of me.”

Vic glanced at him sharply. “What are you saying?”

“These powers,” Matt explained. “They give you an edge, you know? And maybe that’s not right.”

“They come from you,” Vic said. His brow furrowed, darkening. “From our love. What’s not right about that?”

“Just for the game.” Matt sighed and ran a hand over Vic’s bald head, savoring the touch of smooth skin beneath his fingertips. “I’m not saying they’re wrong—they’re not. I love you, you love me, and the powers come out of that, I know. But maybe we shouldn’t…you know…”

Vic prompted, “Fuck?”

Matt grinned. “Just until the game’s over. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve held out for a week, right? And it’ll put us on a more even playing field, that’s all I’m saying.”

Vic stared at him, silent. Matt met his gaze, but for once, he couldn’t read what went on behind those baby blue eyes he loved so much. After a long minute, he prodded his lover’s thoughts and in a small voice, whispered, “Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not.” Vic’s arms tightened around Matt’s waist, hugging him close. He kissed the tip of Matt’s nose, and his eyes softened as he stared into Matt’s. “Look, I think you’re right. Not because I’d use the powers to win or anything—”

“I know you wouldn’t,” Matt said quickly.

Vic continued, “But because sometimes I can’t control them. And the last thing I need is some freaky power the day before the final game that blows it for my team.”

“Or my team,” Matt reminded him. “We might win.”

Vic gave him an indulgent grin. “Why am I thinking if we were on the same team, we wouldn’t be having this little talk?”

Matt shrugged and looked away, embarrassed. “I’m just saying…”