An Ordinary Life (3/8)
Merlin regarded the tall, svelte brunette with interest, his eyebrows rising as she completely ignored him. "Hi, I'm Rhys," he said, hoping both for an introduction and to get her hands off Arthur.
Arthur reached up to rub at his eyes as the woman's hands slid away, and she leaned in around him, her hands resting on his shoulders. "This is Megan, Rhys." He twisted around to look up at her. "I thought you were studying in Paris?"
She shrugged, sliding around to sit down on Arthur's lap, looking surprised when she got a good look at his face. "Good Lord, Arthur, what have you done to yourself now?"
"Practice," he sighed, looking decided uncomfortable. "Nothing to worry about, not that you ever did."
"If you will play your games, you have to expect to get hurt. And not expect me to watch that nonsense."
"I'd love to see a game," Merlin butted in. "There are chairs, you know," he added pointedly.
"This is more comfortable," Megan informed him with a negligent toss of her hair as Arthur sighed.
"Did you hear me complain about it? And weren't you here with people, Megan?"
"I thought you might be missing me," Megan purred, curling an arm around Arthur's neck while Merlin did a slow boil across the table.
"Why?" Arthur asked bluntly.
"We were very good together."
Arthur sighed again and barely kept himself from pushing her off his lap "And you were good with everyone else. It's not happening again, Megan, so perhaps you should go toddle off to whomever is warming your bed right now."
"Oh, don't be so boring, Arthur. There's more than enough room for you too. I do love two men."
"Right, that's it." Merlin got to his feet and grabbed Megan's arm, clearly intending to remove her from Arthur's lap.
"Rhys," Arthur said, reaching up to place his hand over the other man's, "don't. Megan, enough." With that he stood and ceremoniously dumped her off his lap.
Megan let out a yelp of surprise and stumbled a few steps before regaining her balance and whirling around to glare furiously at them. "What did you think you were doing?" she demanded.
Merlin cut in before Arthur could answer. "Getting rid of an irritant," Merlin said coldly.
Megan drew in a breath as her dark eyes narrowed, and Arthur held up a hand. "You really should go back to the crew you came with," he suggested. "We're over, Megan; you made that abundantly clear."
"Don't be absurd, Arthur; we're never going to be over."
Merlin glared at her, turned to grab Arthur, and kissed him hard. "Go away," he gritted out after the kiss.
"You have to be joking me!" she exclaimed.
"Megan, go. Now," Arthur said, his expression hardening as he looked at her.
"This isn't over, Arthur."
Merlin snorted.
"It was over when I found you in bed with Robert," Arthur stated flatly.
Merlin stared at Megan, turned to give Arthur an obvious once over, and started to laugh. "Oh, you are an idiot, Megan."
"And just who are you to judge me, you, you poofter!" she snipped, glaring at him before turning and stalking away.
"I'm the one who knows a treasure when he sees it," Merlin murmured too softly for her to hear before returning to his chair and gazing up at Arthur. "I really thought you had better taste, Arthur, though I do have to admit that she's beautiful."
Arthur sighed as he sat down again, at the same time running his hand over his jaw. "That was the issue--and you really don't know me, do you, or vice versa."
Merlin raised his ale to his mouth to hide his smile, draining the last of it. "Have you ever met someone and just known them?" he asked after a moment.
"You mean think you knew them, right?" Arthur asked.
"Do I?" Merlin's smile held a tinge of mystery now, and Arthur shook his head as he chuckled.
"You are so strange."
"At least I'm not boring," Merlin pointed out, starting to chuckle, the annoyance caused by Megan vanishing as quickly as it had come.
"So you're saying that's a good thing?" Arthur asked before grinning.
"Of course." Merlin looked down his nose, pretending to be insulted.
"So strange," Arthur repeated as their waitress returned and dropped the bill on the table. "So, I guess we aren't having dessert here then."
"Let's stop and get something on the way, and we can have it at my flat," Merlin suggested as he pulled out his wallet at the same time Arthur pulled out his.
"Are you at least going to let me pay for it then?"
"I'll pick the most expensive pastries I can find for you to buy for me," Merlin promised, making Arthur chuckle.
"Just so long as they aren't ones with lemon curd."
"You have something against lemon curd?" Merlin asked, getting to his feet after leaving enough cash to cover their bill and a good tip.
"What?" Arthur asked. "You don't know that about me?"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "I'm not a stalker, you prat."
"You're the one who said they felt they knew everything about me!" Arthur paused before shrugging. "Actually, I'm glad you didn't know that; it's a bit disconcerting the other way."
"Personality, not every detail of your likes and dislikes," Merlin retorted. "So, lemon curd?" he prodded.
"Hate it."
"Ah. I like it, but I can happily forgo it in favor of something we'll both enjoy licking off each other."
"Whipping cream perhaps?" Arthur asked.
"Or chocolate mousse. Or both." Merlin grinned as he reached for Arthur's hand as they made their way out of the restaurant.
"Mmm, sounds excellent, of course we have to find a place that has them in stock."
"I know the perfect place," Merlin assured him. As they approached his car, a cherry red 1967 Camaro convertible, he pulled the keys out of his pocket and dangled them in the air. "Want to drive?"
Arthur stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the vintage car. "Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath before looking over at Merlin. "No, you drive, that way I won't be distracted and wreck us."
Merlin shrugged as he hopped over the door and slid behind the wheel, reaching over to unlock Arthur's door for him in case he preferred to open it to get in. "Let me know if you change your mind." Something struck him, and he paused. "Oh, have you ever driven a left-hand drive car? Is that the problem?"
Arthur smiled wryly as he got into the car. "Not much chance of that where I came from."
"Then we'll just have to go out into the countryside one weekend when you're free, and you can practice away from innocent civilians."
"You'd trust me with your car?" Arthur asked incredulously.
Merlin turned to stare at him. "I told you you could drive them if you wanted. I'm not in the habit of saying things I don't mean."
"I just-" Arthur began before closing his mouth with an almost audible snap. "Thank you."
Merlin shrugged. "It's my pleasure. I have them, and there's no reason someone else shouldn't have the chance to enjoy them." He grinned quickly. "Maybe I'm trying to buy your affections."
Arthur looked at him askance before snorting. "Perhaps it's that feeling as if you know someone, but I highly doubt that's the case."
"Okay, so maybe I know that your affections can't be bought, and I wouldn't want anyone who could," Merlin admitted with a chuckle. "But you know people are going to say that. It's just a good thing I'm not older, or we'd end up on the front pages of all the tabloids."
"Oh, so you're that well known are you?" Arthur asked, his eyebrows arching upward. "Or is that notorious?"
"Depends who you ask," Merlin replied. "And it's not as if I can't walk down the street without being mobbed, but the paparazzi do come round during slow news cycles. I'm rich, and I don't give a damn about playing by the rules."
"It must be nice," Arthur mused, sounding amused.
"It's a lot more fun than being poor," Merlin admitted with a chuckle. "And I enjoy it as much as I can."
"Well, I'm certainly for enjoying yourself." Arthur looked around them at the traffic that crowded London's streets before chuckling. "Was there a point in driving?"
"I had the pastry shop stop in mind when I headed out, and I didn't really think you wanted to balance behind me holding a box," Merlin replied. "And this way, we're that much closer to home after we make our stop. It's on the way to my flat."
"You think that I couldn't hang on to a box?"
"I think that when I get you behind me on one of my bikes, I want you hanging on to me."
"I could hang on with one hand," Arthur chuckled. "Rugby skills do come in handy."
"Hmm, sounds intriguing. We'll have to experiment some time. But I can really think of better things for you to do with your other hand than hold a box."
"Probably, but then we need to get a box before we can discuss that," Arthur observed.
"Focused too, I like that in a man," Merlin said, sounding amused. "And we can see what comes of it back at my place."
"Oh, something will come up, I'm sure," Arthur snickered, and Merlin groaned.
"Oh, that was bad. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"Haven't you heard?" Arthur asked, smirking slightly, "I'm shameless."
"I've noticed," Merlin agreed with a truly filthy grin. "And in most situations, I enjoy it. But right now, I'm trying to figure out a way to gag you."
"I could think of one way, but then you might have an accident," Arthur shot back.
"That's exactly my problem. I can think of a couple of ways we'd both enjoy, but not without getting arrested," Merlin said, starting to laugh helplessly. "Good thing we're at our first stop, isn't it?" He parked the car, managing to find a spot not too far from the shop that was their destination, and turned to face Arthur. "So you'd best behave now."
Arthur pulled a face as he climbed out of the car, closing the door behind him. "You sound like my mother when you say that--not at all the image I needed, thank you."
Merlin was now laughing so hard that he had to lean on the car until he caught his breath. "No, it's really not how I want you to be thinking of me."
Arthur was still shuddering as they walked into the bakery, perusing the limited late evening selection. "Cream horns?" he suggested, nodding toward the tray of them.
"Fitting. Eclairs too," Merlin decided. "Both kinds, cream and custard, unless you don't like one?"
"Just how much are you planning on eating?" Arthur asked before ordering all three of the desserts.
"We want some for tomorrow too, don't we?"
Arthur paid for the pastries, accepting the box and holding it in one hand as they walked back out to the car. "I'll take one with me to class," he commented wryly.
"Or maybe I'll hold on to it and use it a bribe to get you to come back over afterward," Merlin mused.
"Oh really?"
"What, you're not bribable?"
"Not that I wouldn't love to, but failing my classes really isn't good for my future career," Arthur chuckled.
"I hate logical men. What about after classes, if I promise to leave you alone long enough to get any work done that you need to?"
"That could work," Arthur mused.
"See, I'm known for my good ideas."
"And your hot ass," Arthur said with a wink.
"Which you're more than welcome to once we get back."
"Oh damn," Arthur grinned. "Drive faster."
Merlin burst into laughter. "I do like a greedy man. And I am." He pressed down on the accelerator whenever possible.
The drive to Merlin's building was longer than either man would have liked but still relatively short, and they survived the elevator ride to tumble, half-undressed but somehow still holding the bakery box, into his foyer.
"Door," Arthur mumbled around the bit of Merlin's neck he was sucking on, urging him forward from behind.
Merlin's response was unintelligible, but he did get the door open, and they stumbled inside. Merlin spun to face Arthur, pulling him into a kiss, and his hands slid under Arthur's shirt, palms flattening against the warm skin of his back.
"Need to put the box down," Arthur muttered against Merlin's lips even as he spread his legs wider to drag Merlin against him with his free hand.
"Need to put it in the fridge," Merlin replied, steering them toward the kitchen without parting from Arthur. "Cream," he added in explanation.
"Too rational," Arthur murmured, grabbing hold of his jeans to keep them up as he stumbled after Merlin.
"Not for long," Merlin assured him, intentionally pausing so that Arthur ran up against him and he could rock back against Arthur's erection.
"Mmm, glad to hear that." Arthur reached around Merlin's side to offer him the pastry box once he had the refrigerator door open. Merlin shoved it inside and shut the door, immediately pulling Arthur to him for another kiss.
Arthur groaned into his mouth, his hands moving greedily over Merlin's body, shoving aside cloth and denim to get to the flesh beneath it.
"Never have fucked on the counter," Merlin mumbled as he dragged his teeth along the tendons of Arthur's neck.
Fair eyebrows rose over blue eyes before Arthur grinned. "Well then, we should remedy that, shouldn't we?"
"That's a brilliant plan," Merlin agreed, hooking a leg around Arthur's waist, the other man lifting him up before turning and setting him on the granite counter next to the sink.
"So, you have lube here, or do we need to get the cooking oil?"
"I don't usually keep lube in the kitchen," Merlin chuckled, "although that may change now."
"Cooking oil then or is that one of those things that destroys rubbers?" Arthur asked, grinning.
"No, that's good," Merlin said, pulling out a bottle. He had no idea if it was or not, but he could use his magic to make sure that it would be, at least this time.
Arthur took the cooking oil and looked at it before breaking into laughter. "I'm never going to look at this the same way," he said as he pulled a condom from his back pocket and set it on the counter next to them and started tugging Merlin's trousers off.
"Change is good," Merlin laughed breathlessly, combing his fingers through Arthur's hair as Arthur undressed him.
"Tell that to my mum when I have to leave the table if she serves anything fried!" As he spoke, Arthur's hands were sliding up Merlin's legs to settle on his hips, his thumbs rubbing small circles on the thin skin there.
Merlin snickered, almost choking when it changed to a gasp as Arthur touched him. "I'll have to stock up on fried foods for you then."
"Evil, evil man," Arthur chuckled as he stepped out of his own jeans and stepped forward into the V of Merlin's legs, rubbing their bodies together.
"I do try... and I enjoy an appreciative audience." Merlin clenched a fist in Arthur's hair and used it to pull him down for a hot, messy kiss, Arthur's hands sliding to roam over his back before he reached for the oil, managing to get the top off with one hand and narrowly avoiding spilling it all over both of them.
Merlin groaned into the kiss, his back arching to press closer to Arthur before he leaned back on his elbows, displaying himself blatantly.
"Oh hell," Arthur moaned, bending to swipe his tongue over the pale skin just above Merlin's navel then nipping at the taut flesh before he poured the oil over his fingers and Merlin's groin, rubbing both hands through the slick liquid.
Merlin's hips jerked up, and he moaned, biting his lip as he stared down at Arthur's hands on him. "Bloody hell, yes."
Arthur circled a finger around Merlin's balls then pressed it against his hole, the tip of his digit sliding easily into him. "Just don't slide off the counter," he murmured.
"So get your cock in me, and I won't be able to."
"Greedy git," Arthur laughed, adding a second finger to stretch Merlin more fully before giving in and pulling back so that he could roll a condom on over his erection, slick it up, then press inside.
"Oh yeah," Merlin moaned. He moved his hands to Arthur's shoulders, his thumbs lightly stroking over the tendons as he felt Arthur sinking deeper inside him.
"Mmm," Arthur's eyes closed as he began to move, one hand sliding between them to circle and stroke Merlin's cock, making Merlin groan and clench around him.
Merlin's eyes fell shut as well as he concentrated on the intense sensations filling him, Arthur inside him and his hand on him, moving in the perfect rhythm, exactly as he always had done. "Arthur," he whispered.
Arthur moved his other hand to cup the back of Merlin's neck, teasing him with light kisses as he continued to thrust into him. "Merlin," he breathed before closing his lips over Merlin's.
Merlin's eyes flew open at the name even as he returned the kiss, but it seemed unconscious on Arthur's part, and he let his eyes close again, giving himself up to the moment, their bodies slapping together and pulling apart while Arthur leaned against him, keeping Merlin securely on the counter.
Merlin's fingers combed through the thick blonde hair, and he whimpered into the kiss, his arms and legs wrapped around Arthur. Every moment drove the pleasure higher, and he cried out, his body tensing as he came.
"Fuck, yes," Arthur gasped as Merlin convulsed around him, and he drove forward, burying himself fully in the other man before his body clenched as he spasmed, gasping out his pleasure into Merlin's mouth.
Merlin held tightly to Arthur, half supporting him as they both slowly calmed and caught their breath. "I have a new appreciation for counters," he said cheerfully and pressed a kiss to Arthur's temple.
"Good thing they're sturdy," Arthur chuckled throatily before straightening, stroking the hand that had been wrapped around Merlin's cock up his chest, making Merlin purr with pleasure.
"Unlike me. I think you broke me," Merlin chuckled.
"You look all right to me, just somewhat wrung out," Arthur grinned. "Do you feel like you can stand, or do you need to sit there a bit longer?"
Merlin stuck his tongue out. "I'm just going to sit here for a bit. Smug prat."
"Oh, you like me this way, don't deny it," Arthur laughed before wincing as his bruised cheekbone throbbed.
"At the risk of giving you a swelled head, yes, I suppose I do." Merlin fought the urge to heal Arthur's injury, knowing there was no way to explain it if he did.
"Give me five minutes or so, and that might be the case."
"Not that one," Merlin laughed before pulling Arthur in for a quick kiss.
"So you say now," the blonde laughed.
"I'm sure you could convince me otherwise," Merlin agreed. "Though someplace more comfortable for the next round would be good, yeah?"
"Your bed would work for that," Arthur suggested as he got rid of the condom and hitched his pants up, grinning at Merlin. "And if it's so uncomfortable, why are you still sitting up there?"
"Because I needed to give my knees time to start working again," Merlin retorted. "As you bloody well know, so stop fishing for compliments." He slid off the counter, pulling a face at Arthur when he wobbled briefly before finding his footing, Arthur pressing his lips together to keep from smirking all the while.
"How about we agree that you can gloat next time you fuck me?"
"That sounds fair," Merlin decided. "And I think we need a shower before bed," he added.
"Yes, mum," Arthur laughed. "Though it's not that late."
"Who said anything about sleeping?"
"Pervert," Arthur grinned. "No wonder I like you."
"I think that makes you a pervert too," Merlin chuckled, catching Arthur's hand in his to draw him down the hall toward the stairs up to the bedroom.
"Hold on!" Arthur laughed, putting on the brakes, his heavier mass bringing them to a stop. "We forgot something."
Merlin looked over his shoulder at him. "What?"
"Dessert." Arthur said, pointing back forward the refrigerator.
"Oh right. I was concentrating on the wrong creamy filling." Merlin reversed course, swerving toward the fridge to retrieve the pastries. "Which do you want, or shall I just bring them all?"
"If we do, are you going to make us get up and put them back in the icebox later on?"
"They'd go bad if we left them out," Merlin pointed out, grinning.
"You are just too rational," Arthur sighed. "Fine, just bring the eclairs."
"I save my irrational moments for when I run into someone interesting and decide to bring them home," Merlin retorted, pulling him in for a kiss.
"That was somewhat irrational," Arthur mused, his lips moving against Merlin's, "but I'm not going to complain about it."
"You're more interesting than a stray cat," Merlin replied with a grin before deepening the kiss, the sensation of Arthur's partially clothed body against his nakedness making him squirm pleasurably.
Arthur pulled back at that, his eyebrows raised. "The idea of you sexually involved with a stray cat makes me wonder just what secrets you're hiding from me."
Merlin gaped at him and then whacked the back of Arthur's head. "You're a very sick man!"
"Ow! You're the one who brought it up!" Arthur exclaimed, stepping back and reaching up to rub the back of his head.
"You know damn well I didn't mean that! I prefer to confine myself to my own species, you prat," Merlin retorted. "Oh, stop that!" he added, watching Arthur continue to rub his head. "I barely touched you."
"It was abuse," Arthur sniffed. "And who knows what you idle rich do for shock and amusement."
"Trust me, you're more than shocking enough," Merlin replied wryly. He shook his head and pulled Arthur's forward so he could press a kiss to the "injured" spot. "Happy now?"
Arthur grinned at that before winking as he straightened up. "For now, but bed and those eclairs and perhaps some champagne would make me happier..."
***
The morning sun woke Merlin, and he rolled over, a smile curving his lips when he saw the blonde head on the pillow next to him. It was a sight that had been familiar to him once upon a time, but that time was long past, and every time he woke up to Arthur now, at first he wondered if he was still dreaming.
Unable to resist, he reached over and placed his hand on Arthur's back, simply resting it there and feeling the warmth of his skin.
"Mmm." The rough noise was rumbled into the pillow as Arthur squirmed, fighting to stay asleep.
"Go back to sleep," Merlin murmured, leaning over to press a kiss to Arthur's shoulder. "It's still early."
"Then why did you get me up?" Arthur muttered, still mostly asleep. "Honestly, Merlin, you are a worthless..." his voice trailed off as he drifted back to sleep.
Merlin stared at the back of Arthur's head, an arrested expression on his face. "You're still a prat," he said almost soundlessly, torn between laughter and tears.