Strong, agile fingers reach up and tangle into slightly graying black hair, dragging his lover's soft lips slightly down to meet with his own. Muscular arms encircle him, drawing him tight against his lover's lean body. Not a real sign of aging present, really. Sure, if he looks carefully he can find the odd wrinkle near his eyes, his mouth, but still, he is beautiful to him.

After a long moment, a deep lingering kiss, he steps back. His lover releases him, but catches his hand. "I love you, you know?" His husky, slightly accented voice states. Not a question, no matter how it's phrased, more an assurance, one he can't help but respond to. Stepping forward once again, he kisses him lightly, squeezing his hand. "And I love you, Mario."

There are no more words between them as he steps back once again, leading his lover towards the bed on the other side of their hotel room. Slowly, gently clothes are peeled away from their bodies. The sight never grows old, never fails to arouse and amaze him. In part, he will always be that starry-eyed kid watching this man play hockey and telling himself that he would work harder, practice more, be good enough to do that himself.

Two bodies fall onto the bed, limbs entangling, lips caressing sweetly, softly before engaging and becoming harder, more demanding. Hands roam over hard, tight bodies, seeking out sensitive areas and caressing them, bringing each other pleasure, contentment, as well as raising passions. Loud moans and sweet sighs fill the air as the two bodies connect, moving together in a dance older than time, an embrace stronger than life, a love deeper than the oceans. Breathy cries and tender kisses signal their completion as their bodies strain to get closer, ever closer, to one another.

Breathing slows as he lays his head on his lover's shoulder, pressing a kiss against it, feeling the one pressed against his own forehead as his eyes slip closed, their limbs entangled now in a new way, a comforting way. He knows when he wakes up in the morning, he will be sore and bruised. Goal pads only protect so much, but tonight he feels nothing but sated, complete. Tomorrow he'll be on the road again, but tonight, tonight he's where he belongs, in his lover's arms.

End