Fic: An Ordinary Life (Merlin, 7/8)
It was early evening when Arthur walked into the flat, setting his attaché case on the small desk near the inner door but leaving his suit jacket on. "Rhys?" he called, not seeing the other man, "are you ready to go? The reservations are for eight."
"You are so the girl in this relationship," Merlin announced as he came out of the bedroom, still knotting his tie. "You never forget an anniversary."
"Just because you're senile and ancient," Arthur chuckled, "and can't remember one."
"As if I'd forget our tenth anniversary," Merlin snorted before grasping Arthur's tie and reeling him in for a kiss.
"It's because I put it in your calendar," Arthur laughed against his lips.
"Ha! Keep it up and we won't make eleven years."
"Keep it up and you won't get your present," Arthur warned before kissing Merlin again then pulling back, knowing if he kept doing that, then they wouldn't make their reservations.
"And here I thought you were my present," Merlin replied, letting him go. "I've always thought so."
"Which is why you call me a prat so often. Now come along, Rhys, there's a good French meal waiting for us."
"You are a prat," Merlin chuckled. "At least you don't sink to clotpole very often anymore."
"Only when I tie you up and don't let you come," Arthur smirked as he wrapped an arm around Merlin's waist and started him for the door and the elevator beyond.
"I take it back; you are a clotpole, talking about that when we're on our way out!" Merlin exclaimed, trying to adjust himself discreetly.
"Just think of it as an appetizer," Arthur promised.
"I hope you're planning to put out in the end."
Arthur only smirked and, once they'd stepped into the lift, pushed Merlin up against the wall, ravaging his mouth. "Does that answer your question?" he murmured once their kiss-swollen lips parted.
"Do we have to leave the elevator?" Merlin wanted to know. "We could stay in and celebrate, yeah?"
"We're going out," Arthur said sternly.
Merlin sighed. "Slave driver."
"You love it and you know it."
"Sadly true. I'm whipped."
"That's a little kinky even for me if you must know," Arthur chuckled, reluctantly moving away from Merlin when the lift reached the garage level.
Merlin chuckled as they made their way toward the car they were using that night. "It's a bit much for me too. Now some cuffs on the other hand..."
"Fur-lined, of course."
"You are so coming through on that promise later tonight."
"You may have to do a little mumbo jumbo to come up with them unless we're going shopping on the way to our meal," Arthur chuckled as he backed the car out of the space and navigated through the garage and out into the city's streets.
"Leave it to me," Merlin said with a quirked smile. "Consider it part of your present."
"And you're the rest of it, hrmm?"
"Of course." Merlin preened.
"My favorite one."
"And it's one you can have any time you want."
"And I plan on it," Arthur said cheerily.
"Now?" Merlin asked hopefully.
"While we're driving?"
"I'm willing to use magic to keep the car on the road."
Arthur looked tempted but finally shook his head. "I believe it's called anticipation."
"It'll accumulate interest," Merlin promised him. "You won't be able to walk tomorrow... and I hopefully won't even be able to get out of bed."
"Isn't it a good thing that I took a holiday from work?" Arthur asked with a sly grin.
"Brilliant!" Merlin exclaimed delightedly. "I knew there was a reason I fell for you."
Arthur cut a glance over at him and chuckled. "Actually, I think that had something to do with who I looked like; it's me being myself that has kept you around."
"Well, it certainly wasn't for your humility," Merlin laughed.
"Oh please, this from the jet-setting playboy."
"Not for the last decade," Merlin protested.
"What, you mean because we're married you can't be a jet-setting playboy?"
"The only jet-setting and playing I do is with you, and that's the way I like it."
Arthur smirked. "Exactly."
"You're a smug prat."
"And you love me," Arthur laughed.
"As much as you love me."
"Damn right," Arthur nodded, sounding very satisfied with himself for that fact.
"I think we deserve each other," Merlin decided.
They finally reached the restaurant and enjoyed a long, leisurely meal accompanied by an excellent bottle of wine; Arthur, however, stopped Merlin before he could order dessert.
"I have a plan for that," he promised."
"That sounds interesting," Merlin said, following Arthur when he rose from the table, and they made their way back to the car to return home.
"You were right again," Merlin said idly, watching Arthur drive. "Dinner out was nice."
"Considering the bill, I would hope it was more than nice," Arthur chuckled, though he reached over and squeezed Merlin's hand before letting go and shifting as they sped up, the late night traffic having eased somewhat.
"I'll show you just how nice I thought it was once we get home," Merlin promised, content to sit back and look at Arthur... in his own way. His eyes flashed gold, and invisible hands ran over Arthur's chest and down to his groin.
Arthur gasped and had to hit the brake, almost stalling the sports car when his other foot missed the clutch. "Bloody hell, I'm never going to get used to that!"
Merlin smirked. "Which makes it even better."
"Idiot," Arthur sighed, shaking his head. "I asked you to marry me, why?"
"Because you love me." Merlin's smile broadened.
"Actually, I think it was because of that thing you do with your tongue..."
Merlin burst into laughter. "It's a good thing I'm good at it, then."
"Exactly so."
"So I should worry about being dumped if you find someone who does it better?"
"To quote that old song, 'Nobody does it better'," Arthur snickered.
"Awww. Just for that, I'll reward you when we get home."
Arthur grinned at that. "I'm looking forward to it."
"I live to serve you."
"I'll remember that."
Merlin snorted. "I'm sure you will... and repeat it at the least opportune time."
"Of course I will," Arthur chuckled before slowing the car and pulling into a parking space. "Stay here, I'll be out in a few moments," he promised, leaning over to kiss Merlin before hopping out of the car.
Merlin gazed out the window as he waited, and after a short time, he realized that his surroundings were familiar. He leaned forward, peering in the direction Arthur had gone, and then he started to laugh when he recognized where they were.
"A very special dessert indeed," he chuckled as he sat back in the luxurious leather seat.
A short time later, Arthur returned from the bakery, a pink box tied with string held in one hand. He opened the door and leaned in, handing the box over before climbing in and belting himself in. "No peeking," he ordered.
"Yes, sir," Merlin purred, invisible hands gliding over Arthur's body again.
"If I crash your car because I'm distracted, it's your fault," Arthur growled.
"I'll make sure you don't," Merlin assured him cheerfully.
"Your concern for your car warms my heart."
"The car can be replaced. You can't."
Arthur's smile softened, and he pulled Merlin in for a kiss. "Anything you can do about the traffic?" he murmured against Merlin's lips.
"Of course." Merlin's eyes flared, and suddenly they had a clear path ahead of them as other vehicles abruptly moved aside, the drivers finding that they didn't want to be in that lane.
Arthur glanced in front of them, then broke into laughter. "Perfect," he chuckled, pulling out into the now empty lane and speeding them back to their home.
"I hate interruptions," Merlin said smugly.
Arthur chuckled and increased their speed, knowing that Merlin would manage the traffic. "So I've gathered."
"As if you don't like uninterrupted time together."
"I never said that I didn't!" Arthur protested.
Merlin chuckled. "Get us home, Arthur."
Arthur grinned and downshifted, and they arrived at their building less than five minutes later. He slowed as he pulled into the garage and up the ramp to their spaces. "Ready?" he asked, grinning over at Merlin.
"Always," Merlin assured him, sliding out of the car and all but running to the lift.
"Don't forget the..." Arthur began, but Merlin was already gone, "...box." Moving with purpose, he snatched the box and climbed out of the car, locking it behind him and following Merlin to the lift.
Merlin grabbed him by the tie and wrenched him inside, the doors closing behind Arthur. "Alone at last."
"Just you, me, and a box of eclairs..." Arthur nodded.
"Just like one of our first nights," Merlin murmured.
"Exactly why I bought them," Arthur said before kissing him.
"I like the way you think," Merlin murmured against Arthur's lips.
"Just the way I think?"
"It's a starting point. But I think I like everything about you."
"Just think?" Arthur asked, laughing quietly as he felt Merlin scowl against his lips.
"You're still a clotpole."
"Ahh, but I'm a clotpole with eclairs..."
"Good point," Merlin chuckled. "I suppose I'll have to keep you."
"You couldn't afford the alimony if you chose to get rid of me," Arthur countered laughingly.
"Leave it to a barrister to think that way," Merlin snorted. "But I intend to keep you anyway, so I suppose it's a moot point."
"Shocking." The lift dinged on their floor, and Arthur wavered as the doors behind his back opened. Merlin kept them close together as he moved them down the hall toward the main door to their flat, rocking against Arthur with every step.
Arthur groaned and shoved the box at Merlin, lifting him so his legs wound around his waist the moment the box left his hand.
"I love your take-charge attitude," Merlin murmured, ducking his head to nuzzle Arthur's ear.
"Be that as it may, I'm still not carrying you up those stairs," Arthur groaned, making Merlin laugh.
"Some white knight you are," he scoffed. "Never willing to sweep me off my feet and up to the bedroom. You're no Rhett Butler."
"You won't wear a sparkly robe for me; I highly doubt you're going to wear a hoop skirt and crinolines," Arthur snorted.
"I can assure you that I won't," Merlin replied emphatically, letting his feet drop to the floor as Arthur reached the foot of the stairs.
Arthur snickered before looking sheepish when Merlin glared at him. "It would be amusing..."
"I am not wearing a dress! Just get that idea out of your mind."
Arthur snickered as they started up the marble steps toward their bedroom. While wrapped around him, Merlin murmured a spell that rid of them their clothes without making Arthur miss a step.
"Not. Happening." Merlin glared at the blonde, and a spectral hand goosed him as they climbed.
"But it makes a sparkly robe look better, doesn't it?" Arthur laughed, collapsing against the wall, unable to climb any longer.
"I think we'll see what you look like in a dress," Merlin growled, stopping as well with a ferocious scowl on his face, though his eyes were brimming with laughter.
"Lingerie?" Arthur asked.
"Only if you're the one wearing it... though I really don't think you have the figure for it."
"Thank God for that," Arthur laughed as they started up the stairs again.
"Yes, you'd look very odd with breasts," Merlin agreed with a snicker.
"That's simply disgusting!"
"And yet still better than the thought of your hairy legs in fishnets and stilettos."
Arthur snickered, hoisting Merlin into his arms again when they reached the upstairs foyer. "I'm really beginning to wonder if you married me because you wanted a draft horse."
"I've had horses; they're big, smelly brutes. I'd much rather have you. You're a lot more fun to ride."
"I suppose I should be glad you think so."
"I would have thought you would already know that."
"I did, but with you one never knows, so it's important to be sure," Arthur laughed, tumbling them both onto their bed and rolling them so that his body covered Merlin's.
"I thought you knew by now that I'm a sure thing," Merlin chuckled, spreading his legs and hiking them up to wrap around Arthur's hips.
"Mmm, if only my cases were that easy," Arthur murmured before dipping his head and nipping at the juncture of Merlin's neck and shoulder.
"I'm the only one you need to be easy," Merlin retorted, moaning at the sensual bite of Arthur's teeth. "You could fuck me now," he suggested breathlessly.
"Haven't you learned patience in your life?" Arthur asked, laving the small reddish patch, then biting it again.
"No," Merlin replied emphatically even as he shuddered under Arthur and squirmed sensually, the move making Arthur groan.
"We'll have to work on that--some other time."
"Another time," Merlin agreed. He stared up at Arthur and lightly dragged his nails down the blonde's spine while continuing to squirm under him.
"Oh hell," Arthur groaned, "you make me crazy, Rhys."
"Every chance I get."
"So I noticed," Arthur panted, maneuvering them so that his cock was positioned and drove into Merlin's body, groaning in pleasure at the sensation. Merlin clenched down on him, biting his lip to hold back a cry as Arthur finally filled him, exactly what he needed.
"Gorgeous and all mine," Arthur growled before nipping at Merlin's jaw as they began to move together.
"Always yours," Merlin promised, arching up to take Arthur deeper on every thrust.
"Forever." Arthur's tone changed as he spoke, then he shook his head and kissed Merlin deeply. "I hate it when he wakes up and intrudes," he growled against Merlin's mouth. "You're mine for now, and he can just live with it."
Merlin kissed him, reassuring Arthur that he wasn't going anywhere, that he was Arthur's, and he tightened his legs, pulling Arthur deep inside himself. The pair of them rocked together, driving each other higher, until Arthur's body tensed and he stared down into Merlin's blue eyes. "Now," he whispered.
Merlin came instantly, as if he'd just been waiting for Arthur's command, and Arthur followed him over, driving deep within Merlin's body as he whispered the name he knew the other man by, then, "Love you."
"I love you too, Arthur Pembroke." Merlin pressed a kiss to Arthur's lips.