Erase Me 7/10
Howard's hands were sweating, but Precious was giving him a shy smile as she arranged herself on the bamboo bed. She'd literally made the bed. She was so full of creativity, there was nothing she couldn't turn into something beautiful. Howard believed that, in her hands, even he could be something special and lovely.
"I'm not sure how to begin," he confessed, putting himself at her mercy. She could be mercurial, but at heart, she was kind. She huffed and tossed her hair and looked ready to say something unkind, but perhaps she saw something in Howard's face, because she seemed to melt. Her frown turned into another shy smile as she tried to hide behind her raven black hair.
"May I touch you?" he asked, slowly approaching her. He immediately fell back on his zoo training. She wasn't an animal, but she was a little wild. Life hadn't fully domesticated her. Perhaps it was the island. There were no student loans or cholesterol counts on the island. She just lived for the day.
Precious held out a hand and Howard clutched it like a life line. He hadn't realized he was drowning until he met Precious.
Howard kissed every available inch of skin before daring to pull her red blouse from her pale shoulder. As he explored the alabaster flesh, he could see Precious becoming self-conscious.
"Is something wrong, Precious?"
Precious pushed him away, "Quit calling me that. It's creeping me out."
It stung, but Howard wasn't fooled. Her anger was hiding a deeper pain. Just because Precious wasn't a virgin didn't mean she was 'experienced'. She was no more accustomed to romance than Howard.
"I want to make love to you, Precious. I want to be gentle and careful, and I want to make you feel good," Howard explained, "And if you ask me to, I'll leave right now."
"Then piss off," she snapped, pulling her black clad legs to his chest, "I'm tired of this game."
"It isn't a game," Howard promised as he began backing out of the hut. It wasn't pride, but love that kept him from begging. He wanted Precious to give herself willingly, not out of pity or because she was tired and lonely, "I'll be on my side of the island."
"Don't, Howard. Just... don't talk so much."
He took it as a challenge to show her how much he cared, how much he treasured her.
It was tempting to move quickly. He'd been alone for so long and she was too beautiful for words. Her crooked nose and pointy chin gave her an appeal that couldn't come from a traditionally attractive face. She was unique and irreplaceable. When he asked permission to remove her top, she reminded him he wasn't meant to be talking.
She tried to act casual, but her pale hands kept moving to cover her body.
"You look beautiful," Howard assured her, expecting to be glared at or told off, but instead he received a passionate kiss from his capricious lady. In fact, he was soon on his back as Precious stripped him. She was stronger than she looked, but that was no surprise. She'd always been the strong one.
His hands felt too big and clumsy for her delicate form, and when he stoked her between her legs, she felt far too small and tight for what he has in mind. He was still trying to think of the words to ask her what they could do that wouldn't be painful for her, when she provided the solution. Precious had been making her own moisturizing lotion since landing on the island. She often claimed to be dim, but there was never a situation beyond her ken. She rose to every occasion.
Howard tried to stay out of her way as she stretched herself. She promised it wouldn't take her long, as though he could ever tire of waiting for her.
"Don't rush, Precious. I don't want to cause you any pain."
"Oh, hell, Howard," she sighed, "Too late for that."
She wouldn't hear his apologies, insisting that they communicated better when they didn't speak. She tried to roll over, but he wanted to see her face, it was the only way he could be sure he wasn't hurting her. She'd never admit it.
Once he was inside of her, the awkwardness melted away. Howard suddenly knew just how move to make her cry out and dig her nails into his back. He was a blank slate when it came to the ways of the flesh, but something deep inside of him always knew how to love his Precious Vince.
xxx
Vince woke up in pain. His head was throbbing and the sun seemed to be shining directly into his eyeballs like he had transparent eyelids.
There were also the various aches that reminded him he hadn't left the club alone.
Harold Boon!
Vince shot up in bed, nearly losing his stomach in the process. He covered his eyes with his hands so he could peek through his fingers. Although he was frightened for a moment, it was Howard's disheveled curls peeking out from under the duvet, not Harold's.
Vince remembered snogging Harold in the men's room. Harold had called him Lance the whole time, but he was tall and Northern and his hair was soft and fine...
But when he put his hand in Vince's pants, it was all wrong. Howard had jerked Vince off so many times, he could (and nearly did) do it in his sleep. Harold's grip was all wrong and Vince ended up crying. Harold put him in a cab and sent him home. As he tried to care for Vince, Harold was so awkward and completely uncomfortable, it was a bit like being with Howard. He almost changed his mind.
That had him crying the whole way home. He had been a pathetic, horny, Howard-obsessed mess when he stumbled through the door.
Vince's brain was spinning as he desperately tried to make sense of the previous evening when Howard began to stir. Vince panicked and threw a pillow over Howard's head.
"What are you playing at?" Howard snapped, "I just had the strangest dream."
Vince pulled the covers up to his chin, and tried to think of a good reason for being naked and for the state of their sheets.
"What was it about? Jazz? Globes? Pritt Sticks?" Vince asked, trying to be casual as he pushed the bottle of lube off the bed with his foot.
Howard scrubbed at his face, "We were on the island, but I kept calling you Precious..."
Vince made a non-committal noise as he waited for Howard to continue. Howard had been a blank slate on the island, more so than after the initial memory blocking spell. For two days, he was madly in love with Precious, and then he was talking philosophy with a coconut. Just like that, Vince was no longer Precious, and he didn't have enough to offer as a friend to be included in the Coconut Lodge. He was nothing.
He had worked himself into a proper rage, tormenting the half-crazed Howard with Coconut Precious, but no one could torture Howard like Howard. It wasn't long before Howard was sporting a self-inflicted black eye and hiding away in his hut.
"You said last night..." Howard turned pink and averted his eyes. So he did remember the previous night. "I'm not sure if it was a memory or..."
"I think you should talk to Naboo," Vince suggested, feeling a bit guilty, "I'm not sure how this all works."
Howard nodded, "I know, I will."
Vince hazarded a hand on Howard's shoulder. Instead of pulling away, Howard took his hand and kissed it. Vince was so relieved, he felt dizzy.
"I will never be that guy again," Howard promised, "If you're willing to trust me, I promise I will never take you for granted or make you feel second best ever again."
Howard suddenly sprang out of bed, naked, and crossed the room before Vince could respond. Vince was appreciating the view when Howard bent over, but felt queasy when he saw he was holding the picture of Howard and Gideon.
"I'll burn this. Naboo can wipe my memory again and it will only be you," Howard said, his voice raspy with emotion, "Or whatever you think is best. This time, you can decide."
Vince was tempted, because Howard hadn't yet realized Vince already took a stab at re-inventing Howard. There were things he'd rather Howard not remember, and Vince's behavior after the memory spell was going to be hard to justify.
"Howard, I think you need to know everything, you know, before you make any big decisions..."
"I know everything I need to know," Howard said quietly. Vince was about to argue when Howard handed him the Gideon photo. The last thing he wanted to see was Howard in her arms, but Howard was holding the picture upside down.
Vince recognized Howard's handwriting. It said, "She loves her husband. Don't forget that Vince is precious."