Forget Regret

Kaleb stood in front of the mirror in his room, dressed only in a towel wrapped around his waist, and traced his fingers over the awkward purple and red spot on the right side of his neck. 1

He had just stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his thin frame when he saw his reflection flash in the mirror on his bedroom wall though the open doors. Wincing slightly, he had walked over and was somewhat surprised to see how many of the oddly colored marks dappled his neck and chest. 2

He took a step closer to the mirror and leaned forward so that his nose was only a few inches away. He breathed in just a little and exhaled, trying not to fog over the mirror with his breath. Squinting, he inspected the mark that was only a little smaller than a quarter.3

There it was... an obvious blemish that discolored just a small portion of his skin.4

Another smaller one, on his collar bone... Then another not too far below that on his chest, right on his heart. Another on his ribs, and another on his stomach. One last, faint one on his hip... 5

Six hickeys. 6

He cinched the towel tighter around his waist, his eyes never leaving the mirror. He turned three quarters of the way around and inspected his back. There was nothing there, save a few red fingerprints around his waist.7

He knew there were other marks there, too, that just hadn't lasted the night. 8

Turning back towards the mirror, he shifted his weight unintentionally and winced. Apparently, the hot shower hadn't been enough to relieve the pain of a first time. Maybe that's why everyone said to take a bath... maybe it worked better. 9

But he didn't want to take a bath. He just wanted to take a quick shower, and then crawl back into bed with Darin. He stuck his bottom lip out and exhaled loudly, blowing his half-dried bangs out of his face. Lips tweaking upward in a barely noticeable smile, he leaned against the mirror and closed his eyes. The cool glass gave him goosebumps.10

Darin.11

A small drop of water clinging to his hair fell and landed on his ankle, creating a tickling sensation as it slid down his skin and under the arch of his foot, where it was absorbed into the carpet.12

The cold feeling of the mirror on his skin was bordering on uncomfortable, so he leaned back and reached his arms high above his head, standing on his tip-toes, stretching. He yawned widely, and was just about to turn around and crawl back into bed with Darin when he felt said boyfriends arms slink around his waist. 13

“Hey,” Darin said, the essence of sleep still clinging to his voice. Dressed only in his boxers, he rested his chin on Kaleb's right shoulder. Kaleb smiled and his muscles slackened at the familiar voice, and he relaxed into Darin's frame. 14

“Hey.” Kaleb could feel Darin's eyes studying him in the mirror. They stood there for a few moments in silence, just looking in the mirror. 15

“I saw you looking at them,” Darin said quietly. Looking as if in deep thought, he lifted his left hand to Kaleb's neck, draping his arm across Kaleb's chest and tracing the edges of his fingertips over the bruise-like mark, just as Kaleb had been doing a few minutes ago. 16

“Mhmm...” Kaleb said quietly, to the point where it almost wasn't audible. Darin buried his head in the angle of Kaleb's neck and shoulder and tightened his hold on Kaleb's delicate body. He sighed deeply and Kaleb liked the crawling sensation he got when Darin's warm breath curled over his skin. Another few welcome moments of silence passed. 17

“Now that the lights are on... do you regret it?” Darin asked, his voice husky. Kaleb inhaled deeply. 18

“No,” He said through the exhale. Darin lifted his head and nuzzled his nose against Kaleb's cheek. 19

“You answer too quickly,” He said. 20

“Would you rather I was unsure?” Kaleb asked, a small smile still poking at the edges of his mouth. 21

“No,” Darin replied. Kaleb smiled. 22

Lifting Darin's arm off of his shoulder, Kaleb turned around to face the taller boy. He laced his arms around Darin's shoulders and neck, leaning against him and resting his head on Darin's chest. Being careful not to disturb the towel around Kaleb's waist, Darin rested his hands on Kaleb's hips. 23

“I was just about to crawl back into bed with you....” Kaleb said quietly, his voice feeling just slightly hoarse.24

“Mmm, sleep sounds good to me...” Darin answered, dipping his head low and catching Kaleb's mouth in a lazy kiss. 25

“Just let me get some boxers on...” Said Kaleb once the kiss broke. He strolled across his bedroom, dragging his hand across Darin's stomach as he pulled away, and grabbed the pair that had been discarded to the floor the night before. After letting the towel find its home on the carpet, he pulled them on, then dropped onto the bed. He reached out his hand, and Darin took a few steps forward, taking it in his own, then climbed into bed next to Kaleb. Pulling the rumpled blanket over the both of them, he draped his arm over his lover. 26

“Night,” he said quietly, closing his eyes. Kaleb yawned. 27

“Night...” He replied, closing his eyes as well.