The doughty warrior of Gondor went to the ground on his back, two Hobbits swarming over him, bent on mischief. Aragorn blew out a stream of smoke with his wry chuckle, as he watched the little ones thoroughly humiliate Boromir. The big man laughed as he tried unsuccessfully to rid himself of the vengeful sprites. Then Legolas called out a warning and everyone froze to hear the archer's words.

"Cut," Peter called. "Thank you everyone. That's a wrap for the day."

Sean Bean threw off fellow actors Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, and rose to his feet. Realizing he might have been a bit rough, the blonde man reached down to haul both slight actors to their hairy prosthetic feet. Dom winced, and Sean looked at him in concern.

"Sorry, mate. Didn't mean to hurt anybody," Sean said.

"You're alright," Dom answered. "I'm just a bit stiff."

"You should have a massage and get into a hot tub," Sean advised, as the rest of the cast wandered away.

"Is that an offer, mate?"

Sean cocked his head. For a moment, it had sounded like Dom was flirting with him. The big man decided he must be mistaken and smiled warmly.

"Sure, if you're serious. I joined a club with excellent facilities considering we're in the back of beyond. Would you care to be my guest?"

Dom stretched and grimaced. "Throw in dinner and I'm a sure thing," he groaned.

Now Sean was sure Dom was just kidding around the way he did with everyone. Everyone but Sean, anyway. Sean had wondered idly once or twice, why he was never on the receiving end of Dom's wicked wit, but then again, Sean had never been the kind of guy who got teased much.

"Come on, then, fool of a Brandybuck," Sean said. "We'll soon sort you out."



"What kind of club is this?" Dom asked as they walked through the locker room door.

"It's a kind of gym," Sean said. "They know I only joined to use the pool and nobody hassles me about working out or boxing or whatever it is these macho types get up to when they're bored with watching Rambo for the thousandth time."

"S'funny," Dom said. "I've always thought of you as the macho type."

Sean's surprise showed clearly on his face. "Why would you say that?"

"I dunno. You're so bloody big for one thing. Hard body, rippling muscles, etcetera."

Sean watched Dom strip down to his briefs and wrap a towel around his slim waist. "You're quite the hard body yourself," he observed.

"Thanks," Dom smiled impishly. "I wasn't in any kind of shape before filming started, but I am looking pretty good now, if I say so meself."

Sean turned away, ostensibly to pick up a towel from the stack. In reality, he was dealing with an embarrassing situation that had come up. Why did his willie have to choose this particular time to be unruly? He could just imagine the teasing he'd have to endure if Dom noticed. It would be too good for Dom to pass up.

"Go ahead," Sean said. "Straight through that door. I'll catch up. We should have the place to ourselves at this hour."

Dom nodded and left Sean alone. The blonde man waited a few minutes and his unwanted erection began to fade. Swathing himself in an extra large towel, Sean left the locker room.

"Took you long enough. Having a little private time?" Dom mimed tossing off.

To the young actor's astonishment, Sean turned red as a tomato. Dom didn't speak again until the big man dropped his towel and came over to the tub.

"You really gonna wear that banana hammock into the tub?" he asked.

Sean looked down at his dark green Speedos. "What's wrong with a little modesty?" he asked.

"It's just us blokes," Dom said. "I'm letting it all hang out. Feels bloody marvelous, bubbles coming up under your bollocks."

Sean raised an eyebrow. "Am I going to regret inviting you here? You're not making your own bubbles, are you?"

Dom laughed delightedly. "That's the way, mate. Give as good as you get is my motto."

Again, Sean had the unlikely feeling that the other actor was flirting, or at least being suggestive, but again, he dismissed it as imagination. He just couldn't fathom way Dom would be attracted to him. In fact, he'd never seen Dom with anybody other than Billy and they were obviously best mates. Sean shook his head. Why was he suddenly so interested in his co-star's love life?

"Are you gettin' in, you dozy git?" Dom broke into Sean's thoughts.

Sean's cheeks turned crimson again for no good reason. "Shove over, cheeky bastard," he growled as he stepped into the hot water. He hissed, and lowered himself slowly to the bench seat.

"Shame we didn't think to bring some booze," Dom sighed.

"It's not really a good idea to mix hot water and alcohol," Sean said. Why the hell did I say that, he thought; I sound like someone's father.

Sure enough, Dom replied, "Thanks for the tip, Da."

"Someone has to keep you Hobbits out of trouble," Sean joked back. I'm getting the hang of this, he thought, but Dom wasn't smiling.

"I'm not actually a Hobbit, you know," Dom said.

"Of course, you're not. I didn't . . ." Sean started to say before he was interrupted.

"Everybody treats us like we're these cute, cuddly plush toys," Dom said with an edge of bitterness, "or four years old and slightly impaired. I'm just sick of it."

Sean raised his eyebrows. "Sorry, mate, didn't know. I don't think you're a plush toy."

Dom made a disgusted noise.

"Seriously," Sean went on, "I've always thought of you as a tough guy, all wisecracks and swagger, handsome as the devil and twice as tempting."

Dom stared at the other man in open-mouthed disbelief. Had tall, blonde and handsome Sean just called him tempting? Impossible, he must have misheard. With a mental clearing of his ears, he collected himself enough to reply.

"Well, don't stop there. You're on me favorite subject," he said, falling back on flippancy.

Sean shrugged. "I think you're a very good actor and a natural comedian. There's been many a time when we're filming that I've had to fight not to crack up at some face you've made. I swear you could make anything sound funny just in the way you said it. And . . . it's a bit silly, but your nickname is Dom, which reminds me of Dom Perignon. Ah, it's too silly, but I think of you like a superior champagne: dry, bubbly, intoxicating."

Dom found himself at a loss again. He'd expected Sean to come back with another joke. Instead, the man continued to extol Dom's virtues in what might almost be considered a courtly fashion.

"I forgot my favorite thing about you," Sean said into the silence. "You remember the name of every crewmember that you meet and you always greet them no matter how busy you might be. That's rather special in my book for what it's worth."

"I am utterly gob-smacked, mate," Dom managed to say. "I'll be surprised if me head fits through the door when we leave."

"I'm quite sincere," Sean said.

"I can see that," Dom nodded. "That's what floors me."

And I wish you had added the words *because I fancy you something fierce*, he thought. He wouldn't though, not Sean. Sean was a total mystery to Dom, and maddeningly attractive as a consequence. There were many other reasons Dom found the blonde man daydream-worthy, but Sean's unknown sexual preference had kept the young man from acting on his desires. There were times, when he caught Boromir watching Legolas that Merry thought the Man of Gondor might be partial to his own sex, but he couldn't be sure.

"You know, one drink won't hurt us and will help you loosen up faster," Sean said, giving himself an excuse to get out of the water and cool off. He was feeling uncomfortably warm all of a sudden. "I've got something in my locker. I'll be right back."

Dom knew he was being a stupid wanker with no self-control, but as soon as Sean's back was turned to him, he reached down and stroked himself. As he watched the blonde walk away, the young man caressed himself lazily. A smile spread across his elfin face as he imagined taking the big man's weight, those long, hard muscles moving smoothly, as Sean thrust into him. Dom let his head fall back to rest on the lip of the spa. He continued to fondle himself as he reached out and turned the jets back on. Millions of tiny bubbles turned the water to a concealing froth. Dom pinched on his nipples, pretending his fingers were Sean's sharp, white teeth. You're sick, Monaghan, he told himself, but he didn't stop.

"You falling asleep, mate," Sean asked.

Dom opened his eyes, and saw the other actor approaching with a flask in his hand.

"I must be more tired than I thought," Dom said smoothly, keeping a hand on his hard cock.

Sean held out the flask. "It's Courvoisier," he said. "I don't know why, or rather I do, but it's a boring story, however, I've always kept a drop of cognac in my gym locker."

"Maybe you'll tell me someday," Dom said, as he took the container and looked at it before putting it to his lips. "Is this silver?" he asked, after taking a cautious sip.

"No, I told you already that it's Courvoisier."

Dom grinned. "That was funny. A very good effort. We'll loosen you up yet."

"I've no doubt," Sean said, as he sat on the edge of the tub. "Come over here and I'll massage your shoulders for you."

Dom swallowed another mouthful of the stomach-warming, courage-enhancing cognac while he dithered. He was aching to feel Sean's hands on his skin, but wasn't sure he could hide the effect it would have on him. For one wild moment, Dom wondered if he could manage to . . . No, that was insane. If Sean caught on . . . Dom didn't want to imagine it.

"Well, come on," Sean said. "I won't take advantage of you, my word of honor."

Dom almost groaned aloud. What had he done to anger the gods this time? Sean was oblivious to Dom's crush and spewing double entendres and innocently leading remarks. Or were they? Dom looked speculatively up at Sean from the corner of his eye. Was it possible? Nah, couldn't be.

"You're starting to offend me," Sean said.

Dom scooted over and sat between Sean's feet, hyperaware of the man's thighs inches away, and the bulging crotch right behind his head. You're making a huge mistake, Monaghan, he thought, as Sean's big hands slid over his wet skin kneading away the tension in his muscles. The hot water, cognac and skillful massage soon reduced Dom to a blob of protoplasm covered with tingling nerve endings.

"That's bloody marvelous," Dom groaned as Sean's fingers moved to his lower back. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

"I've always been a bit of a jock," Sean said. "You learn a few things about alleviating pain."

"Umh, you could do this professionally."

"I'll keep that in mind if the film flops."

"You're being funny again," Dom said, as Sean's hands moved back up to work on his neck.

"An amusing masseur," Sean said. "That should sound good in the brochure. Let me have your head."

Dom's eyes bulged and he nearly said something he'd have to explain, but Sean cupped his chin and the young actor realized what his friend had meant. Dom consciously relaxed his neck muscles and let Sean support his head. The man's fingers slid through the thick auburn curls as he gently rubbed Dom's scalp. Dom was all but purring, eyes half-closed, and his head lolling loosely on his shoulders. It was so hard to keep his hands off his yearning cock.

"There," Sean said, as he released Dom. "You might still have a bit of stiffness lower down, but that should help a bit."

Dom took a deep breath. If he didn't get relief soon, he was sure his erection would just explode like an over-inflated balloon. The water rose a bit higher as Sean slid into the spa, and Dom moved over to make room for him.

"Thanks, mate," Dom said. "I do feel a lot better. You're good."

"It's not hard," Sean said, "and it's my pleasure."

Please, God, make him stop, Dom thought, I can't take many more remarks like that. He reached for the flask at the same time as Sean and the man's big hand closed over his. Dom felt a curious duality for a split second. His pulse raced and his stomach fluttered like a teenaged girl on her first date and he was simultaneously amused and mortified by his reaction to Sean's touch. The man had just given him a massage, after all. *This is different whispered a little voice inside him. *

"Sorry," Sean said. "Go ahead, mate."

"No, that's okay. You have a drink."

"I don't really want one. I was just nervous."

Dom stared at the man. "Nervous?" he echoed.

"I was thinking about getting bare-arsed."

"Oh. Oh! By all means," Dom said. "You won't frighten me."

"You say that now," Sean quipped to cover his awkwardness as he shucked off the Speedos.

Dom felt his mouth fall open and quickly closed it. So, that's what Sean had been keeping to himself. My, my. Sometimes dreams do come true. With a struggle, Dom dragged his eyes up to Sean's face.

"Sorry," he said, "couldn't help staring."

"Have a good long look," Sean said. "It doesn't bother me."

"Is that so?" Dom said in patent disbelief.

"Well, it does make me a little uncomfortable usually."

Usually, Dom thought, what the hell did that mean, usually? "But not now?" he asked.

"Actually, I'm quite at ease with you. Don't know why I haven't gotten into you before now."

Dom closed his eyes. That was the last straw. "Are you playing some kind of game?" he asked. "Because if you're leading up to something, that's great, but you can cut to the chase now. If you're not leading up to anything, you're driving me crazy for nothing."

Sean blinked. "Well, I wouldn't want it to be for nothing," he said. "What is it you hope I'm leading up to?"

"Augh, you maddening man!" Dom said. "Are you seducing me, or not?"

Sean cocked his head to one side. "Do you want to be seduced?" he asked.

"Joseph, Mary and sweet baby Jesus!" Dom cursed mildly.

Seething with frustration for Sean's apparent thickness, Dom stood up. Sean looked calmly at the rosy column of hard flesh a few inches from his nose and then up at Dom.

"That's a very nice one," he said, "and obviously in good working order."

"I shan't recover from this, shall I?" Dom said ruefully.

"That would depend on what you're willing to do to keep me quiet," Sean answered.

"And what exactly do you mean by that?"

"It's not polite to talk with your mouth full," Sean answered. "Make of that what you will."

Dom pursed his lips. Sean's words sounded suspiciously like a challenge. Was this a subtle come-on or just another ploy to make Dom look like an idiot? Figuring he had nothing to lose, Dom took the plunge.

"You wouldn't have a lot of room to talk with me in your mouth," he said.

"Your words have the ring of truth," Sean acknowledged.

Dom closed his eyes in exasperation and then drew in a harsh breath as his taut shaft was engulfed in hot wetness. He exhaled a long groan of pleasure, as Sean sucked hard at the tip of his rod before relinquishing it. Dom opened his eyes and looked down.

Sean smiled. "More?"

Dom nodded emphatically.

"What are the magic words?"

"I swear I'm going to murder you," Dom whined in vexation.

"Where were you raised?" Sean said. "Where I grew up the magic words were please and thank you."

"Why are you screwing around?"

"I thought that's what you wanted."

Dom narrowed his eyes. "Right. I've had enough of this game."

The young actor turned to climb out of the tub and Sean took hold of his arm. The man rose and pulled Dom into an ardent embrace. When Dom looked up in confusion, Sean's mouth descended on his. After an initial moment of surprise, the young man reciprocated the kiss.

"Wow," Sean said, as their lips parted. "Wasn't sure I could go through with it."

"You did well," Dom said, "but why all the bother beforehand?"

"Working myself up to it. I was so afraid you'd laugh at me."

"All that time wasted when we could've been shaggin'," Dom moaned.

"Sorry, I . . ."

"Don't waste any more time on apologies," Dom said. "Kiss me like you mean it."

That was too much for Sean. Pulling Dom close again, he took the young man's mouth in a slow, deep kiss that Dom felt all the way down to his curling toes. Sliding a hand between their bodies, Dom took hold of Sean's arousal, as he'd wanted to do since he'd first laid eyes on it. Sean shuddered in reaction and tightened his arms around Dom.

"Hey, big guy," Dom said. "I've got little enough room to work, as it is."

Sean smiled sheepishly and opened some daylight between them. Dom stroked Sean's shaft with one hand while he took hold of himself with the other. After just a few moments of this, Sean grasped Dom's wrist and stopped him.

"What?" Dom asked. "Too fast? Too slow?"

"Too much. I'm not ready to come."

"You want me to go down on you?"

"You are breathtakingly open about all this," Sean said. "I'll try to keep up with you."

"Well, what do you want?"

Sean looked down and then back up at Dom. "I want to make love to you," he said.

Unexpectedly touched, Dom's eyes sparkled with sudden moisture. "Would you, please?"

Tenderly, Sean took Dom in his arms and held him against his heart. Dom leaned there for a long moment, content just to feel the warmth and security of the man's strong arms. Then he moved his hips suggestively, rubbing his groin against Sean's.

"I think we're going to have to do it soon," Sean said in a strained voice. "I almost came just now."

"Do you have anything here we can use for lubrication?" Dom asked.

Sean lifted Dom and sat him on the lip of the tub. Gently he parted the young man's thighs and knelt. Dom gasped and grabbed a double fistful of Sean's hair when the man applied his mouth to Dom's lower opening. The young actor moaned and moved insinuatingly on the smooth fiberglass as Sean thrust his tongue as far as he could into the clenched aperture.

"Good lord, man," Dom squeaked. "Get up here now."

Sean slid up the slim body, gently easing Dom down onto his back. Getting to his knees on the bench, Sean leaned over the younger man. Dom squirmed as their hard cocks slid together, and Sean took his mouth once more, their tongues sliding against one another in a like manner. Breaking the kiss, Sean spat into his palm and slicked the head of his shaft.

Dom nodded enthusiastically when Sean's gaze flicked up to his. The blonde eased the tip of his rod into the saliva slippery port and his partner sucked in a big breath. Sean paused and looked up at Dom again.

"S'okay," Dom said, "Don't stop. You're just a little bigger than . . . anybody I've ever been with."

Several questions went through Sean's mind, but he put them aside for now. Taking hold of Dom's knee, he raised the young man's foot to rest against the edge of the tub. Placing a hand against the smooth inner thigh, the man pushed steadily forward. Dom's hands came up to grasp Sean's forearms as the long cock forged inexorably up his passage.

"Still alright?" Sean asked.

Dom's fingers tightened on the man's muscular arms and he pulled himself up until his lips met Sean's. The young man moved his hips encouragingly, and Sean pushed until he was fully sheathed. Dom made a small sound into his partner's mouth and fell back onto his elbows. Sean dipped his head, licking and sucking at Dom's nipples as he moved his shaft subtly in the tight socket. Delicately, he altered his tempo and angle until the young man made a strangled sound low in his throat and pushed back against Sean's next stroke.

"Ah God, man, that is so sweet," Dom panted, as the big cock dragged insistently across his prostate.

Sean lifted Dom's calf to his shoulder and leaned in until he could reach the other man's mouth again. Dom moaned helplessly against the man's lips as the skillful skewering drove him closer and closer to the edge. Sean surrendered Dom's lips to nuzzle the sensitive skin of the young man's neck.

"Touch yourself," the big man murmured.

Dom complied with alacrity, matching his pace to the rhythm of Sean's stroke. Sean straightened, looking down into the young man's eyes as he thrust more forcefully.

"Yeah, that's it," Dom yelped. "Keep doing that. Oh God! Sean!"

Dom's arousal jerked and fountained a warm stream that broke apart into fat droplets as it fell. Sean dragged his fingers through the viscous spatters and grasped the young man's wilting rod. Dom groaned as the man squeezed and stroked him back to hardness while moving tirelessly within him.

"Are you going to come again for me?" Sean asked softly.

"Ngh! Keep doing that and it's a distinct possibility," Dom panted.

"God," Sean said, "I don't know what you're doing to me, but I've never been this hard in my life and you're so hot, I can't believe I'm not melting."

"You big, beautiful bastard!" Dom cried out. "Sean. Oh God, Sean."

Sean stroked Dom faster as he thrust powerfully. Dom's foot scrabbled for purchase on the smooth fiberglass as he pumped his hips, slamming his pelvis against Sean's. Without disengaging or faltering in his stroke, Sean put an arm around his partner's back and pulled his upright. Dom gripped the man's shoulders, throwing his head back, as the delicious friction on his rod and against his prostate sparked another conflagration of bliss in his lower belly. The wildfire spread along his veins setting his entire body alight.

Sean felt Dom's shaft twitch, and release another scatter of liquid pearl. The young man buried his face in the curve of the blonde's neck, sucking and nipping ardently in the giddy aftermath of the strongest climax he'd ever experienced. Sean buried himself to the hilt, nearly sliding back into the water as his release unfurled galvanizing his body like forty thousand volts being run through it. He lurched forward and his foot slipped. Dom made a small surprised noise as they went into the hot water still joined in ecstasy.

Sean let himself drop onto the bench behind him, landing with Dom astride his lap. He pulled the young man's curly head down for a kiss as his cock pulsed deep inside the tight passage. Their lips parted, but Sean held the boy there, forehead to forehead.

"I wish I had the words to describe how I feel," he said.

"You don't have to," Dom assured him. "I felt it, too."

"You think it means anything?"

"Besides the fact that we were both incredibly horny after not getting laid for months?" Dom asked.

"Speak for yourself," Sean said

Dom got his knees onto the bench and levered himself up with his hands on Sean's broad shoulders. The man's sated shaft slid free of the fenny channel, to curl against his thigh. Dom sat carefully back down across Sean's thighs. Sean put his arms around Dom and pulled him to his chest.

"So you've been sleeping with someone on the set?" Dom couldn't help asking.

"Someones," Sean corrected.

"You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to. It's not like I have any claim to you."

"Do you want to?"

"What?"

"Have a claim to me."

Dom was quiet for a long moment. "I think I might, yeah."

"Good enough," Sean said. "So do you want their names?"

"Are these people you care about?"

Sean shrugged. "In a general sense. They're human beings. They shared themselves with me. So, yes, I care, but I don't love them. They let me know they were attracted and I accepted the invitations. I should warn you, Dom, that I like sex. A lot."

"Suits me," Dom said. "I was too worried about screwing up to screw any of the cast or crew. I figured there must be a rule about it."

Sean smiled and kissed the coppery curls. "There probably should be," he said.

Dom cuddled closer. "Can I tell Billy about this?" he asked.

"Tell whomever you like."

"Are you serious? You want to have an open affair?"

"I don't intend to take out ads in Variety, but I'm not going to deny it," Sean said.

"What took us so long to realize we were attracted to each other?" Dom asked drowsily.

"I've known I was attracted to you since the moment I saw you," Sean said.

"Me too," Dom admitted. "Why did we wait to get together?"

"We were afraid?" Sean guessed.

"Afraid and stupid," Dom mumbled.

"Well, we're braver and smarter now, aren't we?"

Dom nodded against Sean's chest, his eyelids heavy. The sweet lassitude of deeply satisfying sex pervaded his every cell. Sean stood, lifting Dom in his arms and stepped out of the spa. Setting the quiescent young man on his feet, Sean toweled him dry and helped him into his clothes, before getting dressed himself. Running his fingers through Dom's damp curls, Sean could not forbear stealing another kiss. Just before their lips met, the locker room door banged open. They quickly broke apart. Being openly gay on a movie set, and making out in the local gym are two entirely different prospects. Dom and Sean exchanged a glance freighted with significance.

"To be continued," Dom whispered, with twinkling eyes and a puckish smile.