Blond angelic curls spilled over cartoon-patterned sheets. But the moans that came from Tyler's throat were anything but angelic. They were loud, raw, and incredibly arousing.

As soon as Robin had helped Tyler get settled on the bed, he laid down beside his boyfriend and curled up as close as he could. Shoulder against shoulder, hip against hip, lips against neck.

Gently, he loosened the towel--which was wrapped around Tyler's waist--and folded it to the side. He made sure the fabric covered the injured leg because even if Tyler had just allowed him to touch it Robin suspected his boyfriend didn't want it on full display. The sight before him was astounding. Ribs rose rapidly to the rhythm of ragged breaths, muscles vibrated from tension and anticipation, and hips reached upward in search of his touch.

Not wanting to keep Tyler waiting for what he craved any longer, Robin let his hand slide down until it reached a very engorged body part. Even just a slight nudge caused a cataclysmic reaction. A loud moan echoed through Ty's entire body and his back arched backward, leaning into the touch and wanting more of it.

Tyler found Robin's lips. He didn't just taste them but he devoured them. He sucked, nibbled, and teased. A taste of metal seeped in as skin broke from the force.

"Come here, Robby." Tyler grabbed Robin's hip. In one swift move, he loosened the towel around Robin's waist and pulled his boyfriend on top of him. Robin found himself skin to skin, heat against heat, hardness against hardness. They'd never been that close before.

The room went hazy. Robin's mind went blank. His body became charged with energy and desire. Nothing mattered except for pure primal instinct. He was like a caveman at that moment, slaying whatever mammoth came in his way to get the privilege to mate.

Their movements were jerky and fast. No grace or gentleness possessed their bodies any longer. Hips gyrated against hips and groins ground together. Robin felt an urge to be even closer, but he held back. This was not the time for discussions about who would play each part in that play. Or for locating the necessary accessories. Or for figuring out the physical logistics of such closeness. This was the time for fumbling and hormonal exploration.

They explored each other's skin, muscles, and bones. Every crease was touched by lips or fingertips. A few times limbs banged together in their search for more. Perhaps there would be some bruises tomorrow. Neither of them cared.

Tyler's hands cupped around Robin's buttocks as they moved faster and faster, closer and closer, deeper and deeper. Locked together in shared pleasure. Every touch created a feedback loop of urge. They could sense each other's lust and that sensation egged them on even further. They became volcanoes filled with desperation and desire.

The eruption came fast and strong. Hot lava poured out as their bodies released everything that was tempt up inside. Nails dug into skin and teeth bit down on whatever was closest. For a while, they lived in a moment of smoke and ash. Then the haze lifted to let in a breeze of fresh air. Everything was suddenly light and easy. Kisses were soft and touches were gentle.

Robin rolled off Tyler and took his hand, while Tyler made sure the towel---which had shifted during their activities--once again covered his leg. Words were hard to come by and appeared unnecessary, so they just laid there together while their bodies recuperated from the strenuous ordeal. Breaths calmed down and muscles relaxed.

"I think we might need to bathe again," Robin mumbled eventually and looked down at the residue from the eruption.

"Let's just stay here for a while," Tyler replied and used the corner of his towel to clean off first himself and then Robin. "That'll do for now."

With an elated sigh, Ty leaned his head against the nook between Robin's shoulder and jaw. A band of kisses was placed across his collar bone. "No one's touched me like that before," he whispered. "It was nice. Magical, really."

"You mean since your injury?" Robin asked, convinced that Tyler--with his heavenly looks and devilish charms--would surely have had plenty of opportunities to experience intimate relations before.

The blonde curls rustled and a shy smile flashed. "No never."

"Not even with girls?" Seeing how girls seemed to fawn over Tyler, Robin had assumed that his boyfriend had previously explored such relationships--even if they weren't his cup of tea.

"I don't like girls, Robby." Tyler snorted at the mere idea. "At least not like I like you. They're like sugar-free candy, I guess. They look sweet but they won't get my heart racing."

Seeing Tyler's voracious appetite for candy, that was an apt analogy. And Robin had never seen him indulge in any sugar-free treats.

"So you never did anything with a girl?"

"I mean, I've kissed girls." Tyler sighed like he was ashamed of what he was admitting.

Robin nodded in understanding and squeezed Tyler's hand. "I kissed Des once," he revealed. "Just to see how I felt I guess. And I didn't feel anything. Then she slapped my knee and wondered what the hell I was doing."

"Sounds like Des." Apparently, Tyler knew Des very well already.

"Did you ever do more than kissing?" Robin asked cautiously. "With girls, I mean."

"I dated a girl once," Tyler confessed. "It was in high school. Sarah was the captain of the girl's soccer team. She was my friend Hernan's sister so I saw her sometimes at his place. We started to hang out just the two of us. Mostly we watched soccer and ate candy. Sometimes we kissed. I liked her but not in the right way. I hoped I would eventually. But then she wanted more. And I couldn't. I took her to prom and I know she expected stuff to happen afterward. So I bailed on her. Then I left for college--I had preseason soccer camp only a week after graduation--and I haven't spoken to her or Hernan since."

"So did you know back then that you were gay?" Robin asked. "I kind of always knew I guess. In high school I had a crush on a guy on my quiz bowl team, Tristan. But I never... acted on it. I just didn't know how."

Tyler nodded. "I knew a long time ago too. But I tried to keep up appearances, I guess. I couldn't be both the gay guy and the guy whose mom left him. So in college, I partied, drank, and flirted with girls. I did everything to seem like the jock everyone expected me to be. Although maybe that was all in my head. But it got more and more difficult... and one night I couldn't help myself."

"What happened?"

"I was at yet another party. The whole soccer team was there. Including Sebastian... He was from Brazil. Long dark curls and amber eyes. Almost as cute as you."

To assure Robin that he was of course the cutest, Ty placed a kiss on his boyfriend's forehead.

"I had tried to ignore my attraction to him the whole semester." Tyler sighed and looked away. "But as Sebastian and I sat outside by the pool--while the rest of the team ran wild inside--I couldn't hide it anymore. I thought we had a moment and... I kissed him."

"What did he say?" Robin asked, unable to keep a sting of jealousy toward this Brazilian hunk from piercing his chest.

"Sebastian didn't say anything. He just looked at me and moved away slightly. I became so scared that he would tell everyone on the team and that it would be all over. They would all know and judge me. I would be the gay athlete who no one wants to share a locker room with. So I ran out of there and drove away. And well... I drove off a bridge. You know the rest already."

So that was the whole story. The first puzzle piece to be attached to the ones already laid down. Together the pieces told a tragic story about the fear of exclusion and rejection.

"Did Sebastian ever tell anyone?" Robin asked and combed angelic curls between his fingers.

"No," Ty replied, his voice strained and weak from the onslaught of memories. "He came and visited me at the hospital several times and even pushed my wheelchair when I was released from the hospital to attend the final game of the season. During a quiet moment, he whispered to me that my secret was safe with him. I'm glad he didn't tell anyone but I didn't want it to be a secret anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"When I was stuck in my car after I wrecked, I promised myself that if I survived I wouldn't hide anymore. I would explore who I was and who I wanted to be with, no matter what anyone thought." He paused and found Robin's lips for a kiss. "And now I have you."