***

The whole next day was like a fairy tale.

He and Bjorn were lying in bed. They had sex, ate ice cream, watched some completely absurd action movie, and laughed. They laughed and made love to each other, forgetting about everything else in the world and shutting themselves away in a little world that only they could control.

And then life returned to its usual course. Only now the river of events was bubbling and foaming, no longer resembling a rotten stagnant swamp.

They met every day. The man no longer went to the bar, and spent all his free time with Toby. The guy, in turn, left his part-time job at the store at Bjorn's insistence.

Life was getting better, and Toby felt truly happy.

***

The sunset colored the sky with crimson and gold. A storm cloud slowly crept in from the east, its dark canvas contrasting sharply with the bright light of the departing sun.

Toby was standing on the dock watching the seagulls flying over the water, and Bjorn was talking to someone on the phone.

When the man ended the call and approached the guy, Toby smiled.

"Do you like it here?" Bjorn asked, tucking his phone into his pocket and staring at the horizon.

"Yes." The guy nodded and pushed his blond bangs out of his eyes.

He hadn't dyed his hair in weeks, and he was almost used to his real appearance.

"It's beautiful here. And quiet."

"That's right." The man grinned, hugging the guy by the shoulders.

And, on a sudden impulse, he suggested:

"Let's go sailing tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Toby stared at Bjorn happily, but immediately turned sour. "No. I can't tomorrow. I've got things to do."

"Things?" the man asked in surprise. "Postpone your things."

"I can't," the guy purred, snuggling against the man and covering his hand with his own. "This is a very important thing. Besides, we can go sailing the day after tomorrow. After all, it won't run away."

"I'll run away," Bjorn replied.

And Toby looked at him in surprise.

"I'm leaving tomorrow at midnight on a business trip," the man explained. "But if your things are so urgent, it's all right. I have no right not to let you go."

Bjorn smiled sourly and frowned, thinking about what Toby's things were so important. The guy repeats how happy he is a hundred times a day. And then he voluntarily refuses another portion of this very happiness.

Has he already had enough?

"The business trip?" Toby turned to the man and looked at him upset. "For how long?"

The man shrugged, and Toby impulsively snuggled up to him, hugging him tightly.

"Try not to be long," he asked quietly. "You haven't left yet, and I miss you already."

A wave of pleasant shivers ran through Bjorn's body, and he buried a kiss on the boy's lips, showing that he also did not want to part.

If he were to fly to the States on his own, not as part of a large group, he would take Toby with him. But unfortunately, this time, there was no such opportunity.

"Bjorn," Toby leaned back a little and looked into the man's eyes, "I love you."

The confession slipped easily from his lips, and the boy, smiling shyly, added:

"Very much."

"Yes?" Bjorn's stomach fluttered, and he took a careful breath.

Toby nodded. And the man's heart began to beat faster.

"Thank you," Bjorn hugged the guy to him and closed his eyes, feeling an incredible mental high. "What are we going to do? Would you like something?"

Toby quickly shook his head and hid his face on the man's chest.

"Just to be with you," he said softly and inhaled deeply of the cold river air.

Toby's heart was thumping in his chest. It was hopping like a frightened bird in a cage of ribs.

The guy was afraid that Bjorn wouldn't take his words seriously. He was afraid that the feeling in his soul would not find an echo in the man's heart. But Bjorn didn't push him away, didn't get scared, didn't laugh at his «silly, childish crush», and that made the guy very happy.

"You're already with me," The man laughed, but Toby's hands closed even tighter on his back, making Bjorn feel hot.

He sighed noisily, feeling boundless tenderness for the guy, and promised:

"Toby, I'm not going anywhere. Maybe you should just postpone your things for me."

"No. I can't," the guy replied guiltily and closed his eyes.

The man's palms caressed his back, fingers ran through the strands of his hair and nuzzled the skin on his neck, sending a prickly, sensual shiver through Toby's entire body.

"Let's go to your place," he suggested, lifting his head and looking into Bjorn's eyes. "Or to me. It's cold there, but I won't let you freeze."

He smiled slyly and, standing on tiptoe, touched the man's lips with a tender and promising kiss.

No, we'd better not freeze at my place," Bjorn said, deeply annoyed at Toby's stubbornness.

But the man could not forbid him to go on some his «things». So he didn't say anything, but took Toby by the hand and led him to the car, wanting to have a good time for all the days of separation to come.

***

However, the next day the man found out that the business trip was postponed for a short time, and decided to spend this time with Toby.

He remembered that the boy had his own plans, and therefore went to him in the evening.

As luck would have it, the engine of his car started making suspicious noises on the way, and then completely stalled. He had to call a tow truck and send the car to a service center. So Bjorn went to Toby in a taxi, and when he drove up to guy's house, he asked the driver to stop a little to the side.

It turned out that Toby had lied and had nothing important things. Toby was sitting on a bench in front of his house with some guy, smiling sweetly as he let him put his arm around his shoulders.

'Well, what the fuck does that mean?' Bjorn cursed inwardly and with difficulty suppressed the indignation that flared up in his soul.

The poisonous claws of jealousy stabbed at the man's heart, but he urged himself to prudence. And in order not to cause a scandal, he said, addressing the driver:

"There's a bar nearby. I'll show you the way."

***

"Are you sure that this is not a craze for a «picture in a magazine»?"

Klaus put his arm around his friend's shoulders and smiled understandingly.

"Yes," Toby breathed out and laughed, feeling the blush of embarrassment flood his face and ears.

"And what about him? Did he talk about his feelings for you?"

"No, he didn't. But he didn't push me away when I confessed. On the contrary, he was very attentive and gentle."

Klaus smiled and mussed his friend's hair.

"I'm glad for you," he said. Then he looked sadly at his watch and sighed. "Oh, man! Time flew by, and I didn't even notice."

"Is it time already?" Toby asked a little upset, and his friend nodded.

"You know, studying. And mom's been getting more and more worried lately. This pregnancy has turned her into a real mother hen. Imagine, she makes me milk porridge for breakfast!"

Toby laughed.

"Take care of her. She's a good person," he said.

"I'll do my best. You should come visit us. She's worried about you."

"As soon as I have more time, I'll be sure to stop by," Toby promised and hugged his friend tightly before saying goodbye.

This day had exhausted the guy, making him feel very tired. So when he got home, Toby went to bed immediately, regretting that Bjorn wasn't with him.

***

It was well past midnight when the bartender, whom Bjorn had paid for a couple of extra hours of work, finally chased the man away, saying he wanted to get some sleep before his next shift.

Bjorn stumbled out into the cold autumn chill and looked around in a daze.

His clouded mind did not perceive reality well, but the gnawing feeling of jealousy still did not go away.

And Toby, the little asshole, even confessed his love to him. Question is, for what? To immediately trade him for some puny bastard?

Bjorn drunkenly shook his head and stopped, suddenly realizing that he was standing at the guy's house.

Perhaps Toby and his «urgent things» had been frightened away by the drizzling rain, and they had decided to take shelter in the guy's apartment.

The thought of Toby fucking with some brat drove Bjorn crazy. So he went up to the guy's apartment and banged loudly on the door.

"Toby, you little liar, open up! You're my busy boy! Open up! Now!"

***

The sharp claws of the noise pierced into Toby's consciousness, tearing him out of the tight embrace of sleep.

The guy didn't immediately realize what was happening, but as soon as he heard Bjorn's voice muffled by the walls, the drowsiness disappeared without a trace.

He jumped out of bed and rushed to the front door, slapping his bare feet on the searingly cold floor.

And a few moments later he was staring in bewilderment at the thoroughly drunk Bjorn, who could barely stand on his feet.

"What are you doing here?" The guy asked in bewilderment.

"And what, I can't come anymore?" the man asked resentfully.

"Well, what are you saying?" Toby grabbed the man by the arm and pulled him into the apartment. "Of course you can come," he said, closing the door behind Bjorn. "I'm just surprised you haven't gone on a business trip."

"The trip's been postponed," the man replied and staggered straight to Toby's bedroom.

However, opening the door and scanning the room with a careful eye, Bjorn felt relieved.

There was no one in the bed. It looked like Toby was home alone.

There was no point in looking under the bed, as it was too low. But the man checked the bathroom and kitchen just in case.

Then he asked, looking at Toby reproachfully:

"Where is he?"

"Who?" the guy asked in surprise, confused watching Bjorn rushing around the apartment.

"The one you traded me for. You know, your «urgent things». Where's this damn kid?"

"What kid?" Toby frowned in bewilderment.

But then he realized who the man was talking about.

"You mean Klaus?" He asked. "And what do you mean, «traded»? He's my friend.

"A friend," Bjorn said mockingly. "I saw how you are friends. Pretty close."

"We're normal friends," Toby was offended, not understanding what his fault was.

"I saw you two hugging by the entrance. What? Are you trying to say it didn't happen?"

"We were just saying goodbye. Were you following me?" The guy asked, disbelieving his own assumption.

"I came to see you. How was I supposed to know that your «things» were going to take until evening? Why didn't you tell me you were going to see a friend?"

"I don't know." Toby shrugged his shoulders. "I wasn't going to do anything wrong. It was Klaus's birthday, and I decided to spend the day with him. It had been a long time since we'd seen each other."

"So you should have said that you were going to a birthday «party», and not hide behind things!" Bjorn flared up. "Damn it! I feel like an idiot."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his irritation, and cursed softly at himself. Then he said:

"All right, I'm gonna go. I have a plane in the morning."

Bjorn took a few steps down the hallway, but the drunkenness caused him to stagger, crashing his shoulder into the wall.

"Where are you going in this state?"

Toby took two steps closer to the man and squeezed his hand tightly.

"Stay," he begged.

Fear gripped the guy's soul. It suddenly seemed to him that if Bjorn left now, they would never see each other again.

"You didn't seem to want to see me today," Bjorn said stubbornly, drilling the wall with an angry, hurt look.

'Why didn't Toby tell him where he was going? Why did he let some lad hug him? Why did he behave so irresponsibly?' was spinning in his groggy head.

"What a silly thing you say!" Toby was indignant and shook his head. "Bjorn, you're acting like a child. If I didn't want to see you, I wouldn't have opened the door and I certainly wouldn't have asked you to stay."

"You tricked me! You... You little liar! You were clinging to some lad. Why do you let some asshole touch you?"

"What the hell?!" Toby rolled his eyes. "Klaus and I are just friends. There's nothing between us. Besides, for a relationship that you yourself called a «game», you have too violent a reaction."

"Toby, this is not a game," Bjorn wearily leaned against the wall and, unable to stand on heavy wobbly legs, slid to the floor.

"Then what's this?" Toby crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the man. "What is it, if not a game and not fun? Are we dating? Do you love me? Do you want to spend the rest of your days being the lover of a creepy, uneducated and nearly destitute youngster? Come on, Bjorn, what's our relationship?"

"I don't know," the man answered honestly and looked up at the guy with a hard look.

Toby looked at him, frowning his eyebrows sternly, and Bjorn suddenly laughed.

He was so homely in his old stretched sweater. Disheveled. Angry. Very touching.

Just like a wife. Only a boy.

The man's laughter made Toby confused. But he soon realized that it must be because of the alcohol.

"Let's go to bed," he said softly, holding out his hand to Bjorn. "You need to sleep it off. And I'm already freezing."

"Do you want me to warm you up?" The man asked playfully, but the guy's face contorted in disgust.

"You don't want to?" Bjorn was offended. "Do I disgust you? Everyone avoids me when I'm drunk. So don't be shy. Go to bed. Nasty Bjorn will sleep on the floor. It's not the first time."

"What an idiot." Toby shook his head and pulled the man behind him into the bedroom.

There he sat Bjorn down on the couch and began pulling off his clothes.

"Everyone avoids you not because you're drunk, but because you start talking nonsense. Not everyone likes to listen to drunken bullshit."

"What about you?" Bjorn, shirtless, immediately snuggled up to the guy and ran his cold hands under his sweater.

Toby flinched, but the man wouldn't let him pull away and buried his face in his chest.

There were no nice roundnesses on those chests, but Bjorn suddenly realized he didn't need them.

"And I don't like it." Toby ran his fingers through Bjorn's hair and massaged the back of his neck. "But I like listening to you when you're sober. Go to bed now. We'll talk tomorrow morning."

"You sound like a grumpy wife," Bjorn laughed again, and looked at the guy with a hazy look. "I like it..."

"He likes it," Toby mimicked grumpily, but with a smile on his lips. "To fully match the image of a grumpy wife, next time I'll meet you in an apron and with a rolling pin."

"And with a bare ass," Bjorn demanded capriciously, obeying the guy's hands, which laid him down on the couch. "And don't scold me too much, okay?"

"Okay," Toby smiled.

And when the man settled down, Toby pulled off his sweater and climbed under the blanket as well.

"Don't get so drunk anymore," Toby asked quietly as Bjorn hugged him. "Don't ruin your health."

"And you don't fool me anymore," Bjorn muttered sleepily, pulling Toby closer to him and putting his leg over guy's skinny thighs. "So what, it's a friend's birthday. It's quite normal to celebrate holidays with friends. But I'll tear your friend's arms off if he touches you again. You're mine, Toby... You're all mine."

He covered the guy's lips with his own, and kissed him until he felt dizzy.

The man's jealousy warmed Toby's soul, and he smiled happily.

"Sleep." He pressed his lips to Bjorn's temple and closed his eyes. "I love only you. Remember that."

"I'll do my best," the man muttered.

Then he asked Toby to set his alarm for five in the morning and fell into a calm deep sleep.

Toby, on the other hand, could not sleep. A strange excitement swept over him, and he tossed and turned from side to side until dawn. And when the alarm clock rang, he woke up Bjorn, who was sleeping like a dead man.

"Good morning," the guy said, handing the man a tray of breakfast. "I don't know what you like, so I made toast."

"You're so sweet," Bjorn hissed.

He sat up, wincing at the pain shooting through his temples, and reached for a cup of strong fragrant coffee.

"I got you pretty bad, didn't I? You don't look like you've had enough sleep," the man said guiltily, looking at the exhausted guy.

You were kicking and snoring," Toby lied with a serious face. - And you were calling for some Madeleine. You promised her a trip to the islands and a new pot. How can I sleep?

"I'm sorry," Bjorn said with a smile, but even that simple action gave him a headache. "Madeleine will be left empty-handed. I want to be only with you."

"Very funny," the guy frowned and nudged the toasts toward Bjorn. "Eat! You'll miss your flight."

"You don't believe me?" the man asked.

Toby shook his head stubbornly.

"And in vain. When I get back from my business trip, you'll see for yourself. Unless, of course, I find you in bed with... what's his name? Klaus?"

"Well," Toby laughed, "you and Madeleine can always join us."

"You little pervert!" Bjorn said, playfully indignant.

"You started it," Toby said, laughing softly, and reached up and kissed the man's lips. "Stop chilling and get in the shower. The cold water will do you good today."

Bjorn nodded obediently, realizing that he should hurry up, and ate a few toasts, washing them down with coffee.

"How about a morning blowjob?" the man asked when the guy took the tray, intending to take it to the kitchen.

"No way." Toby said, and went out into the hallway.

Bjorn followed Toby and, halfway, he stopped him, pulled the guy towards himself, and placed his hands in Toby's pants.

"You misunderstand me, Toby," Bjorn said sweetly. "I want to make it for you. Come on, it won't take much time."

"You... What?" Toby gasped in amazement and almost dropped the tray from his hands when Bjorn's palm grasped his dick, gently stroking the flesh that responded to the caress. "You... Are you serious?"

"Quite," Bjorn said. "I want to taste you. I'm sure you're incredibly delicious."

The man's words made Toby blush. He felt exceedingly hot. His knees shook and buckled, and the guy pressed his back against the wall to keep from falling.

"Bjorn, I..."

Toby bit his lip and closed his eyes.

"I feel embarrassed," he whispered very quietly.

"You don't have to." Bjorn took the tray from the guy and put it on the floor. "We're not strangers. And I really want to do this. You really turn me on."

He knelt down in front of Toby and pulled his pants down.

"Just enjoy it," Bjorn said and encircled the guy's member with his lips.

Toby gasped in amazement and closed his eyes. The ground fell away from under his feet. The world spun in a sparkling whirl, flickering with lights of unprecedented pleasure, and the guy felt as if he were plunged into the sizzling lava of a volcano about to explode.

Toby ran his fingers through Bjorn's hair and convulsively squeezed the man's soft strands. A muffled moan escaped the guy's lips, and he unconsciously pressed on the man's nape, setting the pace.

Bjorn felt that the guy liked it. But it still seemed to him that Toby would not be satisfied with one blowjob.

So, placing the guy's left leg on his shoulder, Bjorn began caressing his anus with his fingers, slowly reaching inside and trying to feel for his prostate.

Toby moaned sweetly, relaxing and taking the man's fingers easily. His body arched and his breathing became ragged, as during the hottest sex.

Watching the boy, Bjorn also started to get turned on.

Encircling his dick with the palm, he began to move his hand impulsively, which made his eyes darken sharply from the approaching pleasure.

It wasn't long before Toby protested weakly, shaking his head. But he couldn't pull away, and filled Bjorn's mouth with lightly salted, viscous sperm.

The man got rid of the semen in one gulp and cum on the floor, pressing his face into the guy's stomach and saying:

"I feel better with you than with anyone else, Toby..." he breathed out, kissing the guy's sunken belly and pubes. "I feel so good with you."

Toby almost cried from the overwhelming pleasure of it. Such a frank, intimate caress threw him into a state of light stupor and a strange desolation. Everything in the world suddenly lost its meaning and significance, and there was only Bjorn, whispering tender words to him and caressing his belly with kisses.

"I love you," Toby choked up, unsure of what was happening to him. He knelt down to embrace the man tightly. "I love you so much I'd die."

"You don't have to die," Bjorn kissed the guy's tantalizing lips. "I'll come back and we'll figure it out for ourselves, I promise. Just wait for me, okay? The business trip may take two weeks. But it's not scary, is it? Will you be patient?"

"I will," Toby nodded quickly and took a deep breath.

Happiness gripped the guy's soul. And his heart, filled with love, thrilled in his chest.

"Shall we go to work together?" the man suggested, wiping tears from the guy's cheeks with his palm.

Toby nodded and apologized, running off to the bathroom. And from there he came out calm and cheerful.

***

"You'll get a promotion when I get back," Bjorn promised on the way to work.

They sat in the back of the cab and hugged, not at all shy of the driver.

"And who am I going to be?" the guy asked ironically. "The most senior courier?"

"You'll be my assistant," Bjorn answered. "It's the same as a courier, but a personal courier. Then you can accompany me on business trips. And we won't have to part."

The news stunned Toby, and he rounded his eyes in surprise.

"Do you want to use your official position to promote your lover up the career ladder?" he asked, laughing. "However, I don't mind."

Toby snuggled up to the man and kissed him sensually on the cheek.

"You haven't left yet, but I already miss you," he said softly. "Two weeks... That's so long!"

"Maybe less," Bjorn said reassuringly. "But certainly not longer."

The guy nodded and cheered up. And Bjorn was distracted by an e-mail he had received.

After leaving the taxi cabin, Toby wished the man a safe journey and headed for the company building, but Bjorn caught him by the elbow and pulled him to himself.

"What about the goodbye kiss?" he asked. "Or do you think I won't miss you?"

"Will you?" the guy asked hopefully, and when the man nodded, he left a quick and brief kiss on his lips.

"And is that all?" Bjorn asked with feigned resentment, still gripping the guy's elbow tightly.

"But someone might see us," Toby reminded him, looking around apprehensively.

"Are you ashamed of me?" The man raised an eyebrow.

Toby shook his head and wanted to object, but Bjorn wouldn't listen to him. He pulled the guy towards himself and hugged him tightly, pressing his lips into his with a deep kiss.

And when he let go, Toby exhaled dazedly and laughed.

"You're crazy," he said, feeling slightly dizzy. "I'm going to miss you. Come back soon."

"I'll have to buy you a phone," Bjorn said, releasing Toby from his embrace. "Once I'm there, we'll think about it. And now go. I've got some errands to run."

The guy, emboldened, briefly kissed the man once more and hurried to work.

Don't care about the phone, don't care about the promotion. Bjorn is with him, and that's the most important thing! That's all he needs to be happy.