A Belated Birthday Present
Karl: *I was out too late from my meeting on Sean's birthday, so sadly I had to delay asking him out again for Friday. I told him it was his choice this time, whatever he wanted to do. I'm a little nervous again, despite how well last time went--we haven't really spoken to one another since. I know we've both been busy. I try to tell myself it's not a big deal. But my heart is beating harder anyway.*
Bean: *Despite being disappointed that I didn't get to spend my birthday with Karl, I had been pretty occupied anyway and I was here with him now, heading in a cab towards this great Italian restaurant that I had heard rave reviews about. Rather excited for some reason, I discreetly reach over and squeeze Karl's hand in the cab* You're going to love this restaurant, everyone I know loves it so far.
Karl: *I squeeze back, smiling at you.* Oh I'm sure I will! Love Italian food. *I shiver as I look in your eyes, blinking as I realize the power something so little as a glance of you seems to have on me.* So did you have a good day yesterday? Late happy birthday, mate!
Bean: *Laughing, I remember the incredibly kind phone calls people have made and some of the bizarre gifts I received* Well, I did have an interesting day. My girls all called me on conference call yesterday and I had to strain to listen with three lasses screaming "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" in me ear at the same time. *Pats your hand* But it was the best, couldn't ask for a better birthday. *The cab finally stops outside the restaurant and after I pay the driver, we get out and the maitre'd welcomes us at the entrance, taking us to a private booth at the back. I sit down, looking admiring around at the decor* Wow, this is a nice place.
Karl: *I gawk and feel oddly out of place here.* This town just amazes me. I'll never get used to how opulent everything is here. *I scoot close to you, glad you've chosen a nice out of the way booth where nobody will really be able to see us. I have plenty of plans for tonight, trying to repeat the experiences of the last night. That despite the fact I'm still just a touch sore from two nights ago after my little meeting with Vin. I put my hand on your knee and look at the wine list* You have any preferences?
Bean: *grinning as I feel your hand on my knee, I pretend to feign ignorance, eyes trailing down the wine list instead.* I think white wine would be fine. *Calling over the chef sommelier, I order a good vintage bottle and grin at you after he walks away, letting my fingers edge towards yours on the table, tickling them lightly.* I missed you yesterday, you know. Wished that I'd spent some part of my birthday with you.
Karl: *I glance around to be sure nobody's looking at us, then reach out my hand to trace slowly over your lips, wishing I had the balls to just lean over and kiss you here as Marton bloody well would have.* I missed you too. But at least we're here now, eh? *My hands travels down your chest, back to its former place on your knee.* I really had a good time last Friday, I wanted you to know.
Bean: *Running my tongue over my lips as if to take in the lingering taste of your fingers, I smile at you with lidded eyes as I remember the events of last week* Me too, mate. I couldn't help thinking about what you had done to me....thinking about it in the shower, thinking about it as I lay in bed at night....ohhh yeah. *Shifting as my pants become a bit too tight, I'm aware that the waiter might come over any minute now so I just settle for squeezing your hand on my knee lightly*
Karl: *I blow out a breath, grinning* Yeah, me too . .. *I have to hold that thought as the waiter returns, and I order some Chardonnay, then I go ahead and order the chicken marsala, my hand quietly returning to my own lap, though my eyes keeping glancing hotly over. I feel a steady thrum in my blood, eager to get the meal over with, you under my hands again.*
Bean: *After ordering the seafood fusilli, I lean back and let my eyes trail over you....you look good in the black collared shirt you're wearing today, although I confess that the shirt would look even better on my bedroom floor. Your smouldering glances makes the sides of my face feel hot, and suddenly I find myself wishing for dinner to be over as soon as possible* Well, we won't have to wait very long then. *smirking* Unless you want to stay for dessert instead of getting it at home.
Karl: *I grin and lick my lips.* Oh we can take it home. I think it would go very nice . .. with a little extra cream. *Bad joke, really bad, but I'm in a good mood this week. Things can only get better, I figure, noticing the bulge in your trousers.* So I didnt' get you a present. Have anything you'd like to request?
Bean: *Bursting into laughter at your joke, I shake my head at you* Really, Karl? That joke could get you evicted from the House of Puns, you know. But yeah, I had a feeling you might want to have something sweet at home. *Noticing your eyes drop down to my crotch, I spread my legs a little wider, just obvious enough for you but not for the waiter to think I'm some sex maniac* I'm fine with anything you'd want to give me, Karl. It's up to you. In fact, you can take your time all night giving me all kinds of different presents.
Karl: I think I can handle that. Will enjoy it tremendously, actually. *I smile, as our wine and the bread arrive and go to take a bite of it, chewing thoughtfully.* I like you. You know how I said I was interested from quite a while back. You were one of the larger celebrities on the set, you know--at least to my mind. I wasn't sure what you'd be like. Heard you grew up in a blue collar family. I'll bet you'll never guess what my father did.
Bean: *Helping myself to a bread roll and tearing it into two, buttering the sides, almost blushing at your words* Me, a larger celebrity? I'm sorry but I believe I paled in comparison to the likes of Sir Ian and Elijah, you know? *Chewing on the bread impassively* And what did your dad do? I'm horrid at guessing, me.
Karl: *I laugh, sipping at the wine* Leather goods manufacturing. Wanted me to follow in his trade. Thank God my mother worked in production with the local studios.
Bean: *Taking a sip of my wine as well, I grin at you* It would be interesting if you had gone into leather manufacturing, Karl. In fact...*letting my eyes rake slowly over your body, taking in every inch*....I can't help wondering what you'd look like in leather.
Karl: *There's a sudden white hot heat in my eyes.* Oh, I would be /more/ than happy to show you. Feel free to demonstrate any skill you have with anything leather on me too.
Bean: *Shifting comfortably as your eyes are trained on me with this unbelievably sexy look, my train of thought is disrupted by the waiter turning up with our food. I start to tuck in immediately, being hungry and not wanting to waste much time before I can get you home, alone* I'll consider that offer, mate. And maybe we might go leather-shopping one day too. *chuckles*
Karl: *Oh god, the thought of that makes me almost want to shove aside the plates and begin pressing into you right here, right now. But I'm a private person; don't really like to display myself to the world. So I'll wait. I'll be . . . patient. But I have to say my interest in what seems to be developing between us just went up ten times. I start in on the food, and really, it's fantastic. But all I seem to be able to concentrate on is you, my eyes flicking every once in a while over to take in the view, remembering the feel of you beneath me, the scent, the taste. I suck some of the sauce from my fingers, not caring about my crass eating habits in this posh place.* I look forward to it.
Bean: *Watching you suck the sauce off your fingers, I'm certain that my eyes just turned to a dark green as I stare at you incoherently, my jaw slack* Um, yeah. I look forward to it too. *I continue to watch as you attack your food, done with my own seafood pasta and thinking about how badly I want to sneak into the coat check room with you, unable to wait, to get down on my knees and give you the best blowjob of your life as you sink back into the masses of coats* I'm done now. Take your time with your food, though.
Karl: *I pause as you say that, noticing the change in eye colour, noticing the sudden heat that seems to be emanating from you. Suddenly my appetite is not for food. I swallow a bit more wine, then wave over the waitress to box up the rest. Plenty of time to eat--later.* I think I'm ready to get started. *They bring the bill, which I grab as soon as it's in reach, and pay.* Shall we go?
Bean: *Almost growling as I get up, I ignore the odd look that the waitress gives us as she hands us our food in takeaway boxes, what with me staring at you so intensely* Hell yeah, I'm ready. *Walking out of the restaurant with you and casting an amused glance to the coat check room on the way, I manage to hail a cab and open the door for you, grinning fiendishly* After you, Monsieur Urban.
Karl: *I chuckle, the French sounding strange with your Yorkshire accent, but dead sexy, sending a little shiver down my back. I climb on in, making room for you beside me, and I hope this cabbie can be trusted with secrets, for I don't know if I can hold back until we get to your place. As you sit down, my hand is already creeping up your thigh moving up the inner thigh to brush hard over your crotch.*
Bean: *Giving the bemused cabbie my address, I turn to focus all my attention on you, breathing hard as I slip an arm around your shoulders. Feeling your hand stroking me through my pants, I hiss quietly, tossing my head back.* Ahhh, fuck. That feels so good. *Spreading my legs a little to allow you more access, I lean forward and suck on your earlobe, not giving a damn about the cabbie*
Karl: *I groan a little at the attention to my ear, and stroke up and down your erection through the cloth, pressing down hard, loving the feel of the outline of it. * How far to your place? *I whisper breathlessly--if it's too long a ride, I may just start going down on you right here.*
Bean: *Letting breathy little moans escape as you skillfully rub your hand up and down my fast growing erection, I nip a little on your earlobe before whispering in your ear* Ten minutes. Reckon you could wait that long? *Moving down to your neck, I start sucking on the place where your neck meets your shoulder, leaving a wet trail on your skin*
Karl: *I breathe hard, trying to groan louder, trying to maintain some semblance of control. Ten minutes--fuck. Just short enough I won't have time to really do anything, yet long enough to feel endless. I settle for moving my hands over the base of your cock, massaging your balls, arching into your mouth.* I'll try.
Bean: *The ride doesn't really take that long, and before we know it we're in front of my house, the cabbie probably thankful as I pass a wad of notes to him in return for his silence. As we get out of the cab, I almost fumble with my keys, too eager with the idea of slamming you against the wall once we get inside* Christ, Karl. Manhandle me like that in a cab again and the driver will have one hell of a mess to clean up. *Shooting you various hungry glances as I finally try the right set of keys, I thankfully manage to get the door open*
Karl: *I laugh as I enter, moving to press into you the instant the door is closed, sucking hungrily at your neck.* Sorry--not usually like that, really. You just make me hotter than hell. *My hands are already working at the belt of your trousers, unfastening them.*
Bean: *Groaning as I feel the wet suction on my neck, I help you to unbutton my trousers, flinging them off and helping you with yours.* Karl. Bed. Now. Please. *I turn the last word into a whisper, a gentle blast of hot breath against your ear as I knead your erection through your half-undone pants* Need this....inside me. Now.
Karl: *I begin on my shirt, unbuttoning, and begin pulling off my trousers as well, struggling out of my shoes in my haste, detesting clothes at the moment as I want nothing more than to be lying naked with you on the bed. I'm so mad with want I don't even think of marks that become apparent as I shed my clothing, healing marks, but still evident--especially several greenish fading bruises on my hips. Perfect pattern for fingerprints.*
Bean: *Switching on the lights so we won't stumble on our way to the bedroom, I grin wolfishly at you as you begin to unbutton your shirt, but my grin fades when I notice the bite marks all over your neck and torso, and my eyes widen even more when I see the bruises on your hips, and I turn my eyes up to look at you, confused* Karl, mate?
Karl: *I blink as I hear something strange in your voice, looking over to you.* Sean? What is it?
Bean: You have these strange...marks all over your......*Trailing off, I look over you once again just to make sure, but it's unmistakable what these marks are and I can't hide the disappointment in my voice as I let my eyes meet yours again* Looks like someone had a fine time marking you as their territory.
Karl: *I glance down to my hip, remembering the marks for the first time.* Oh shit. I'm sorry, Sean. It was nothing. *Funny, because usually I'm the one all out for bragging, but for perhaps the first time ever I feel uncomfortable about it, perhaps . . . even ashamed?* Was sort of a bet Marton and I had made--not with him, mind you, with somebody mutual we've worked with or soon will. Meant absolutely nothing to me. *And why am I making excuses? I've never bloody well made excuses before. Sudden confusion assails me and I have the ridculous urge to cover up.* All right? *I reach out a hand for yours, to reassure myself.
Bean: *Nodding dumbly as you reach out for my hand, I quickly take it away and go over to pick up my discarded pants, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. I don't understand why it's such a big deal, we've only slept together once and it isn't like we were serious or anything, but I had been hoping for something in that direction with you and it is a huge blow to see you don't feel the same way* 'm alright. Besides...*I shrug as I button my pants with a weak smile* It's not like we were exclusive or anything.
Karl: *My brows draw together in sudden concern.* Sean. I didn't mean to-- *I thought this was casual; thought this was all casual! But no, maybe not--Craig had warned me. I could kick myself now. I don't /do/ this; I don't do committed relationships. I don't handle the confinement well--at least I never have before. But yet suddenly I /want/ to try it, though it may be folly.* I never intended to hurt you--I just--I'm sorry, Sean. I didn't know. We didn't discuss-- * I look at you longingly* Please--come here. Come here.
Bean: *Sighing, I wave you away with a dismissive hand, realising that we had been mistaking each other's intentions* No Karl, don't apologise. 's not your fault, you're free to do as you want. You don't owe any explainations to me. *I feel like caving in when you ask me to come closer, but my stubborn pride is in danger of holding me back. And suddenly, I don't know what I want. I step forward tentatively, close to you but not quite touching you, looking down at the floor quietly* Yeah, I'm here.
Karl: *Tentatively, I put my hands on your arms, rubbing them, and lean in to try to kiss you.* We can try it--we can certainly try it. I don't want *I swallow, feeling sudden emotion* Don't want to just drop this. I want to get to know you more. *My hands move to caress your back.* Want to be your lover. *I press in against you.*
Bean: *Listening to your words quietly, I shiver when I hear you say that you want to be my lover, but I'm too hurt now to really think properly and I edge away from you slightly, looking at you straight in the eye* Do you, Karl? Are you willing to try something serious? You just told me last week that you were independant and needed your own space. *Putting my hands on your arms as your wander around my back, stilling them* I don't want to cramp you. Don't want to force you. I don't think I can handle being destroyed a fourth time, Karl. I want you to think about this really carefully. *Watching your eyes for any trace of hesitation*
Karl: *Oh god, what you're asking . . . I see your eyes fixed on me, feel the weight of judgement--and I'm panicking, not knowing what to do. Half of me wants to agree, absolutely, want to try this, want to see if I'm capable of a 'real' relationship. But the other half is cowering in fear--never done this before; well except for a few attempts when I was really young, both of which ended up disasterly. And what about Natalie? The rule with us was that we never got emotional with anyone else. Physical, fine. Emotional, no. I think I may be about to break that rule here. My eyes dart around the room thinking frantically, and I know my wavering can't look good. I'm just scared. I try to fix you with my eyes, but I realise it's useless. Swallowing hard, I back up a step.* I have to think about this. I have to think of Natalie. She's out there shagging one of her mates right now, but I still care about her. I can't just jump in with you and not talk to her that I'm going to do it. Shagging is one thing, but if you want *I wave my hand* /serious/--exclusive--well then it's only fair I talk to her. I'll be honest, Sean. I don't know if I can. I want to . . . maybe . . . *Oh, I'm only digging the hole deeper. I fumble for my boxers and trousers, pulling them back on, a sharp and most unpleasant ache in my chest.* It's probably best I don't, huh. I don't want to hurt you. I certainly don't want to destroy you. I just want . .. *My brows knit in confusion* I don't know what I want. *I look at you with deep pain in my eyes.*
Bean: *Listening to what you have to say, I nod dumbly again when I see the absolute pain and confusion in your eyes, regretting being the one who put them there. I think deeply for a while, tapping my fingers on the nearby coffee table, and after a long silence, I speak again, quietly and firmly, determined never to allow you to see the side of me that's hurt and devastated* Like I said Karl, I don't want to force you. Take your time to think about this. And in the meantime, perhaps it's best if we keep our hands off each other while we decide. *Switching off the lights, I take up my keys and start walking to my bedroom, then I stop tentatively beside you* If you want to stay, the guest bedroom's always yours, mate. And if you want to let yourself out, that's fine too. *Not waiting for your reply, I walk back to my bedroom, ignoring the sinking, searing pain that's tearing at my chest*
Karl: *I watch you leave, hardly believing I'm just letting you go, because I still want you almost desperately, but you're right; I need to decide first, and if you can't do casual sex, then I have no business messing around with your heart. I pull on my shirt against the slight chill in the house and let myself into the guest bedroom, sitting on the bed, fingers pulling at my hair that keeps bloody well trying to go in my eyes, trying to make sense of a world where the rules have suddenly changed. I'm almost surprised when a hot tear lands on my sleeve and quickly dash it away, blinking.*