~[Shawn]~

Shawn stirred, his thoughts slowly drifting up out of his dreams toward consciousness. He mourned momentarily for the loss of those dreams, since they were the only place that he really had what he wanted, but the demands of his waking body were undeniable. He felt a dull ache throughout his body, centered in his lower back and hips. He started to wonder at that, but remembered his match with Jericho and mentally shrugged. He arched his back to stretch, almost feeling like he was being held down, and reached out with his arms.

And stopped cold as he touched warm flesh.

His eyes shot open, wide and disbelieving as he stared at the peacefully slumbering figure next to him. Tousled blond hair, long lashes in a soft smear against high cheekbones, faint musk rising from his bare skin...

Shawn collapsed back onto the bed, shocked. /I thought... I thought it was a dream. Not real.../ He reached out hesitantly, brushing his fingers against the soft lips, feeling the sharp pinprick of stubble on the cheek.

/Lord. It wasn't a dream./ His thoughts became jumbled as he stared at Chris. Beautiful, warm, sleeping Chris... beautiful naked Chris, he realized as he turned his head, his gaze sweeping the length of the bed. He forced himself to breathe as he drank in the sight before him, his shock ebbing, to be replaced by a warm wave of happiness.

/Now I remember why I ache,/ he thought ruefully. Chris murmured something and nudged closer to him, his arm resuming the spot around his shoulders that his stretch had dislodged it from. Shawn smiled, brushing the hair out of Chris's eyes, running his fingers through it, enjoying the soft silkiness.

Chris twitched at the touch, his eyes fluttering. Shawn hesitated, watching him, then slowly leaned forward the few inches necessary and pressed his lips to Chris's, a feather-light touch that brought a warm thrill to him. Chris made a quiet noise and tossed his head.

"G'morning, sweetheart," Shawn whispered, his voice rough. He watched, head on his hand, as Chris stiffened at his voice, obviously waking up... but his eyes remained closed. Shawn chuckled slightly. "You can open your eyes, Chris. Really. It wasn't a dream." A quiet sigh rippled through Chris, and as he opened his eyes, Shawn could see the wariness obvious within them receding rapidly as Chris found himself mere inches from Shawn.

"Shawn...?" Chris's voice was raspy. Shawn nodded slightly, curling his fingers into the hair he still held in his free hand, brushing against Chris's ear. Chris's eyes widened, the last remnant of sleep falling away from him. "Holy... you're here. I thought..."

Shawn leaned forward slightly and kissed him again, another quick brush of the lips. Chris's words ended on a sigh, and he tightened his grasp on Shawn.

"I dreamt this so many times..." Chris said quietly, looking at him. He nodded, a rueful smile pulling at his lips.

"Yeah. However, I've got the aches to prove that this was not just a dream," he said, shifting slightly and rolling to bring them closer together.

A soft hiss from Chris as their hips touched made him intensely aware of his morning erection---and of Chris's. A look, a silent question, and Chris nodded, his eyes wide and dark. Shawn slid his hand down Chris's side, grasping his hip, pulling them together as he rocked against the other man. Chris groaned, his own hips moving in response, and Shawn suddenly realized that he was right there...

He sighed into Chris's ear as he came, aware of Chris's shuddering response seconds later.

"Damn." Chris's voice was muffled against Shawn's neck, but he heard the smile in it anyway. He nodded, pulling back enough to kiss him.

"Guess we have to get up now. Or else get stuck together." Shawn's lips quirked, and Chris rolled his eyes.

"I guess when you talked about DX's "bad humor", you weren't kidding." Shawn laughed as Chris sat up, his nose wrinkling as he looked down at himself. He was pleased to note that Chris didn't seem to be shy after their night together.

"I've got to get a shower. I stink." He shrugged, watching Chris stand up and walk to the bathroom, enjoying the chance to watch him openly. /So much better than trying to catch glances in the locker room without him noticing... Now I can look all I want because he's mine./ The flash of heat that went through him at that thought caught him by surprise.

"You need to clean up too, y'know," Chris made a face at him as he walked back into the room. Shawn smiled lazily at him.

"Well... we could always save water..." He lengthened his drawl and hid a smile as Chris actually shuddered at the sound of his voice.

"God, Shawn." Chris paused, taking a breath.. "If we try to save water, we'll probably end up drowning each other. And..."

A knock on the door ended the discussion. Chris frowned at Shawn, who looked at the clock.

/7:30? Who the hell.../ The question was answered almost immediately.

"C'mon, Shawn, get up. If I have to be awake, you have to be awake." Hunter's voice was immediately recognizable even through the yawn in the middle of his words. Shawn's smile turned wry as he looked at his lover.

"Guess we'll have to save that for another time." He watched, amused, as Chris grabbed his clothes and nearly sprinted for the bathroom, closing the door behind him. /Well, at least he wasn't self-conscious around me.../ He yelled at the door, "Hang on a minute, Hunt!" Stretching as he stood, he walked to the bathroom and rapped on the door

"I need in for a minute, Chris," he called. He could hear the water running and some muffled thumps.

"Hang on," Chris answered. Shawn waited, listening to the rustling of clothes and wishing that they'd had more time to themselves. When the door opened a minute later, Chris was dressed, although rumpled. Shawn ran a finger down his cheek, then wrapped his hand around Chris's neck and pulled him forward for a quick kiss.

"I have to clean up. Go ahead and let Hunter in," he said. Chris looked almost panicked.

"But... but... if I..." He stuttered to a halt.

"Chris, Hunter's going to know that you spent the night with me one way or another. You're not ashamed of it, are you?" Shawn hid the sliver of hurt that he felt at that thought, and was immensely relieved when Chris immediately shook his head.

"No... it's just... well..." He stopped again, pink tinting his cheeks, and Shawn chuckled as he realized the problem.

"Chris, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm pretty sure that Hunt sent you up here fully expecting to find you here in the morning," he pointed out. Chris blinked at him, and he patted him on the cheek. "I'm going to wash up. Go let him in before he falls asleep in the hall."

---------------

Read Part 2 of 3 of Morning After