The Day After

[daniel_brown]

Going home after what had happened wasn't easy, it wasn't until after many pizza-flavored kisses and a text message threat from home that he reluctantly put his clothes back on and forced himself to say "Goodnight" - leaving his panties purposefully tucked into the sheets to be found later.

He slept deep and well, waking the next day to go about business as usual - aside from a stop for confidential STI testing - even though it was hard to keep his head out of the clouds. After settling into the team bus it was hard not to want to reach out to him.

He types out several messages - "I think I love you." "I want you so bad." "Are you thinking about me?" - and erases them all, opting for a much more neutral message.

what r u doing?

Comments

[mysticism]

Merlin smiles at that, tilting his head into the touch.

"Sounds like a toast to me. Cheers."

He touches the rim of his glass lightly against Daniel's and takes a sip. It's sweeter than champagne - obviously he's a huge girl and everything, but dry wine does nothing for him and kind of sounds like a contradiction in terms.

[daniel_brown]

Inexperienced, Daniel clears the flute in a long swallow and sets it aside - blinking back against the bite despite the sweetness before leaning in even closer to him.

"Cheers," he whispers, finding Merlin's lips again with a more lingering kiss than before. "I'm glad we're here."

[mysticism]

"Me too," Merlin whispers, setting down his glass so he can wrap his arms around his waist. "God, I really can't get over how good you look like this. Can't imagine how many hearts you broke, leaving early."

[daniel_brown]

A flush colors his cheeks and it's more than just the drink talking. Lowering his head again, Danny lets out a half-laugh and leans into Merlin's shoulder.

"They don't know me."

It's a simple enough admission, he's spent most of his life just coasting through - getting good enough grades just good enough and earning enough ribbons and trophies to keep everyone happy. He can count the number of people that actually know more than that about him on one hand.

[mysticism]

Merlin strokes his hair softly and holds him close, feeling protective of Daniel even though he's the larger and stronger of the two. Strength comes about in different ways, he supposes.

"I want to," he says quietly.

[daniel_brown]

For a moment Daniel's silent, soaking in the gentle touch and genuine affection. Then he whispers; "I'd like that."

When he pulls back, his eyes are a little red but he flashes a broad smile. "And I want to know you too."

[mysticism]

"You can. Anything you want to know."

He kisses him, quick and hot, a little troubled by his eyes but not letting it show.

"But right now...well. I know I'm not meant to be the horny teenager here, but I made some promises."

[daniel_brown]

His laugh comes unexpectedly, but totally welcome and Danny wraps his arms even tighter around Merlin's waist.

"As the actual horny teenager in the room, I'd be naked right now if you didn't like my suit so much." He grins a little wickedly; "I was hoping you'd say that."

[mysticism]

Merlin chuckles and kisses him again, like he can't get enough, then takes his hand to lead him into his bedroom. The lights are dimmed, a cluster of lit candles on his nightstand and another on his desk; coming back in for the first time since he hurriedly set this up after Daniel hit the buzzer, he can't help but blush.

"Sorry," he says with a self-deprecating smile, not even sure what he's apologising for. "Bit of a romantic, I s'pose."

[daniel_brown]

Danny can't get enough, and he knows it's probably naive youth talking but he can't imagine ever having enough - enough closeness, enough of his affection, enough touches that make him weak in the knees.

"It's perfect," he laughs under his breath, brushing another kiss against his sweet lips. "You're perfect."

[mysticism]

Merlin blushes despite himself. "Not sure about perfect," he says, and his voice gets deep and low as he moves in for another, considerably longer kiss.

"For example, I can get quite impatient about unwrapping my gifts," he purrs against Daniel's mouth, and he reaches down to strip off the tux jacket.

[daniel_brown]

"Well..." Danny's shoulders slump to let the jacket drop off, responsive to Merlin's gentle touch; "I think gifts are meant to be enjoyed right away."

He can't help but grin, one hand caressing the soft robe against Merlin's chest as the other works to untuck the pressed shirt and pluck open buttons. "Maybe just perfect for me."

[mysticism]

"More than good enough for me," Merlin murmurs, working with both hands to strip off the shirt and get down to his undershirt. He doesn't make any attempt to get it off just yet, instead stroking his chest and feeling the texture of lace under the white cotton.

"That photo you sent me...God, I've been out of my mind all evening."

[daniel_brown]

Inhaling deeply and letting it out with a warm sigh at the thought of Merlin's reaction to the photo, Danny is content to let him take the lead - focusing instead on pressing small kisses across his forehead and finding his warm chest underneath the robe.

"I think that was kind of the point." He chuckles softly, kissing him again. "And I think it's hot that you were thinking about me."

[mysticism]

Merlin shivers at the brush of Daniel's fingers and smiles at him, ignoring his undershirt for the time being in favour of unbuttoning his fly and lowering the zip. It feels intimate in a way that's deeper and more fundamental than stripping any other man - like he's taking off what other people expect of him to get down what he really wants, who he really is. And he feels privileged in a way he never has before.

"I think it's hot that you think it's hot," he chuckles. "Let's get all this off." He pushes Daniel's trousers to mid-thigh, so hopefully gravity and a bit of wriggling will do the rest of the job as he goes to work on his undershirt.

[daniel_brown]

"Yeah..." He groans, bucking his hips against Merlin to push them down off his hips. Somewhat reluctantly, one hand leaves Merlin's chest to adjust the thin lacy panties and twisted garters.

"They're a little smaller cut than I'm used to..." He admits, lifting his arms to let the shirt come over his head to show the fine lace basque clinging tightly to his muscled shape, curving down over his hips.

[mysticism]

"I'm just glad it fits. I had to do some guesswork with the size," Merlin says quietly, his voice soft and utterly distracted when he reaches out to stroke his hands over the lace and feel the warmth of Daniel's skin underneath. Splashing out on Agent Provocateur was definitely worth it. "God, you look too good to be true, you know that?"

[daniel_brown]

The cup size was a bit of a stretch, but then again it always is - it'd taken a lot of willpower not to fill out the small cups with padded forms.

"Now you're just flattering me." He blushes hot, purposefully pulling away to recline against the bed, adjusting the front of his panties so they only stretch over his partial hardness instead of letting it poke out the side.

"Not that I don't like it..."

[mysticism]

Merlin follows him down, lying down alongside him and trying not to stare at the bulging lace. He looks at Daniel's face, instead, and his brow furrows a little.

"I'm not," he murmurs. "You're gorgeous. I keep thinking this is just some long, fantastic wet dream and soon I'm going to wake up because I just - I'm not this lucky. Ever."

[daniel_brown]

He should be, Danny thinks, a guy like Merlin deserves all the luck... Even if it comes with hoops to jump through like he does.

"Then we're dreaming together," he murmurs, turning to embrace him once more in search of warm skin. "Because I never thought I'd meet someone as cool and sexy and nice as you."

[mysticism]

Merlin just smiles at that and kisses him, long and slow and sweet.

"Want to do the honours?" he says, offering Daniel one end of his bathrobe belt. "I'm...a lot easier to undress than you were, admittedly."

[daniel_brown]

"Mmm..." He groans, grinning even wider as he tugged at the sash without further provocation.

"You wear it well."

Brushing a kiss on Merlin's chin, he pushes the robe back, letting his fingertips linger on him - drinking in the touch he'd missed so much.

[mysticism]

Merlin smiles and shrugs it off the rest of the way, kicking it off the bed. He's rock hard and unashamed of it; it's his considered opinion that his is the response of any sane man in this situation.

"Nowhere near as well as you're wearing all that. Will probably need to take the knickers off, though."

But that can wait, because first he's going to half-cover Daniel's body with his and kiss him again, decidedly deeper and hotter than anything they've shared so far tonight.

[daniel_brown]

The thought is enough to draw out a small whimper of anticipation and Danny wraps an arm around him, holding him close. It's better than he could hope for, even the warm tension of arousal.

"Touch me?" He pleads, finding Merlin's hand and dragging it down to the firm bulge stretching out the lace.

[mysticism]

He doesn't need to ask, but it's a huge turn-on all the same and Merlin makes a soft, wrecked noise when his fingers find dark gauzy fabric barely containing Daniel's cock. He strokes him through the lace at first, teasing, then slides his fingers under the waistband to curl around the hard shaft. He's so fucking beautiful like this, dressed up and hot and needy.

"Hands and knees for me, baby?" he whispers thickly. "I want to lick you."