you got to go through hell before you get to heaven.

[playingstupid]

It was a good day to be Josh Lyman. In Josh's opinion, it was always a good day to be him, but for some reason he felt good. Like he'd just pushed through some legislature he'd been slaving over, and it would make a real difference. He had spent the morning being productive, going over some notes he had dug out of his bag and poring over the texts

Comments

[queer_as_brian]

When Brian first walked into the kitchen, he paid little attention to who was already there; just a glance and then dismissed.

But as he pulled some plate of a bird close enough to chicken that he didn't want to know out of the fridge, a random thought of the wedding rings hidden in the bottom of his trunk came to him, as they seemed to do with irritating regularity. He brought the plate of 'chicken' and some bread over to the counter near him and gave him a grin as he started making a sandwich. "Hey."

[playingstupid]

Josh glanced over at the man beside him. He couldn't help but notice the way he moved, the awareness he had of his own body. Physical. He resettled his back against the counter, reaching over to grab his glass of wine. "Hey."

[queer_as_brian]

More than physical, every move Brian made told those around him that they wanted him. He was a thing of desire and he knew it--and it showed.

He smirked at the man and slowly licked a bit of grease from his finger before offering a hand and a raised eyebrow. "I'm Brian," he practically purred.

[playingstupid]

Josh put the wine down, extending a hand. "Josh. Josh Lyman." He took a slow breath, evening out the ripple that he felt go through his chest. His hands slid back, his palms resting on the edge of the counter behind him. He realized he was not-quite-staring and glanced away, reaching for his glass of wine.

[queer_as_brian]

Brian shook the offered hand firmly before going back to his sandwich, watching Josh out of the corner of his eyes with a faint grin. He suppressed a chuckle as the man looked away, his grin widening. Yeah, this shouldn't be too difficult. Hard maybe, but not difficult.

"So, Josh," he said as he finished his sandwich, shifting to lean on the counter next to him--right next to him, "How long have you been in the seventh circle of hell?"

[playingstupid]

Josh grabbed for the bowl of pasta, taking a couple mouthfuls, consciously trying not to let his eyes slide over to Brian. He couldn't quite but his finger on why, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. He blamed it on the wine. Totally the wine.

As Brian slid up next to him, and their arms brushed lightly. Josh's mouth twitched into a smile, and he glanced down at their arms before looking up at Brian, smiling crookedly. "Over two years." He took another sip of his wine. "You?"

[queer_as_brian]

"Nearly two," Brian replied, setting aside his half-eaten sandwich and angling his body toward Josh's. "Two boring, frustrating years." Somehow he made the words sound less like a complaint and more like an invitation. It was a talent of his.

[playingstupid]

"Mmmm." Josh forced himself to pick up the bowl of pasta, stabbing his fork into it and taking a careful bite. He nodded, swallowing and reaching to take a sip of his wine. "This place can get pretty monotonous after a while." He licked his lips quickly, his eyes sliding up to meet Brian's. No, don't, just keep your mouth shut and-- "And definitely frustrating."

[queer_as_brian]

Brian's smile had a hint of triumph in it as he lifted a hand to Josh's neck, tracing a fingertip up the side of it. "Of course, there are ways to ease that frustration," he murmured, shifting closer, his body touching Josh's from shoulder to knee, practically.

[playingstupid]

Josh was still holding his glass of wine when he felt the gentle touch on his neck. A shudder went down his spine, and his mouth opening slightly as he took a slow breath in, attempting to regain some measure of composure. A man. Is hitting on me. Breathe in. A very, very, very attractive man is hitting on me. Breathe out. A very attractive man is hitting on me and I like it. Breathe in. A very attractive man is hitting on me, and wants to have sex with me, and I want to--

He licked his lips again, slower this time, and turned his face toward Brian, fully aware of the press of body against his side. "Really?" His voice was low, rough with attraction, but thank any god he could find, it didn't crack.

[queer_as_brian]

Brian snorted, licking his lips before smirking again. "Really," he assured him in a near-whisper, and then he was kissing Josh, kissing him as if he had no doubt that Josh would respond favorably.

[playingstupid]

Josh wasn't really expecting that, but if he was honest with himself, he wasn't surprised, in the slightest. He wasn't blind, and though it had been a while, he could recognize flirting like that blind and deaf. He barely knew the guy, but his body seemed interested in getting to know him much better. In the biblical sense. As often as possible.

His mouth responded without much communication from his head, and Josh raised a hand to Brian's cheek, holding his head roughly to kiss him back. The fact that he was kissing someone with a few hours' of stubble wasn't registering so much as the lips pressing against his, the tongue that was suddenly getting closely acquainted with his mouth.

[queer_as_brian]

The kiss continued for a minute or two more, and then Brian pulled back with a soft gasp for air, smirking widely at Josh. "I'm never wrong," he purred, almost to himself, and then took Josh's hand and started backing toward the door. "Let's continue this in my room," he suggested.

[playingstupid]

Josh caught his breath, his lips swollen and full from kissing. Continue. Room. Josh licked his lips, letting Brian lead them out of the kitchen. "Right." He followed behind him, his head spinning. Chill. The fuck. Out. You're Josh Lyman, brilliant political mind and sometimes effective ladies man. Calm down. He took a calming breath and strode down the hallway next to Brian. "Do this often?" He couldn't help it. Any prospects of sex aside, being a jackass was in his blood.

[queer_as_brian]

"As often as possible," Brian answered matter-of-factly, not seeming at all surprised or bothered by the question. Sex was one subject he had plenty to say on--when he wasn't too busy doing it.

He glanced at Josh as he started down the stairs. "You?" Not that he really cared, but the guy seemed to want to chat, so until Brian had something better for him to do with his mouth, he would indulge it.

[playingstupid]

Josh raised his eyebrows quickly, impressed with Brian's straightforward answer. "Lucky man."

He shrugged, doing his best to keep from falling face first on the stairs from the shock he was still in; he was doing this. At least, so far. "Not nearly enough." He paused. "And not with a guy, yet." Now was as good a time as any to scare Brian off. He was hoping the yet would be enough to reassure him, but... Better to deal with it now, rather than when he was half naked and hard as hell and Brian suddenly had no interest in screwing a first-timer. Josh's mind wheeled as he kept his eyes on the stairs, trying to get to the next landing without killing himself or passing out from embarrassment.