CHAPTER 1

"See, that one looks like a horse. Don't ya think?"

Dave was lying on the grass staring up at the sky but painfully aware of the smaller body lying near his own. He studied the white cloud scape before turning his head to ask, "You really see all that up there?"

Spike glanced over with a soft smile. "Yeah, don't you?"

Tearing his gaze away, Dave looked back up at the sky. "No."

"Here let me show you." The blonde man moved and laid his head next to Dave's raising his arm so Dave could sight up along it as he pointed up at the clouds. "See, there's the horse. There's its head and there's it hooves."

Dave could not focus, hardening from the other man's nearness, his scent, his body's heat, his soft blonde hair caressing Dave's cheek. Closing his eyes, he sought to suppress a groan of desire.

"Dave, are you ok?"

Opening his eyes, Dave saw the concern he heard in Spike's voice reflected in his worried blue eyes. Unable to help himself, his gaze lowered to Spike's soft lips, his body tensing further when the blonde man nervously liked his lips.

"Dave?"

The sound of his name brought his dark gaze back to Spike's blue eyes, searching. As if in a trance, he reached up tucked a piece of hair behind Spike's ear, marveling at its softness. Spike trembled at the touch but did not pull away. Emboldened, Dave tucked another strand behind the small man's ear, letting his fingers trace the edge of Spike's ear, down his jaw. The large man's dark gaze flickered down to Spike's tempting lips then back up to his blue eyes, searching and finding nervousness but no fear. Cupping Spike's jaw, he slowly lifted his head, giving the smaller man a chance to pull away before their lips met, softly and briefly.

Dave lay his head back, waiting for Spike's reaction. The smaller man sighed slightly, never opening his eyes as he leaned down and pressed another kiss to Dave's mouth, resting a hand on the large man's chest for balance. Dave moaned softly and his hand wrapped around the back of the blonde's neck, his thumb softly caressing the side right over Spike's pulse point. Lying there, they continued to share sweet, brief kisses, noses bumping, eyes meeting in soft looks.

Dave's eyes opened and he stared up at the ceiling, aching in heart and body as memories washed over him. That had been a wonderful day, sunny and bright, not hot but comfortably warm. A perfect day for first kisses. It had been innocent and sweet and lasted until they heard Momma Dudley calling the large family to dinner. Sharing a last kiss, they had finally stood up and walked to the house holding hands, fingers interlaced.

Rolling over onto his stomach, Dave stared blindly into the darkness of his hotel room. It had been such a perfect beginning and he had fucked it all up. Now, though, now, he had a second chance. `Please,' He prayed silently. `Please let me be man enough to win him back. To take care of him like I should've done before. Love him so much. Need him so bad.' His hands fisted in the pillow under his head, furious with himself. If he hadn't fucked up, Spike would be here with him now. Well, he would have to make sure he didn't fuck up again, then, hopefully, his lover come back to him.

Read Chapter Part Two of Eighteen of Clouds