Fic: I Can’t Talk Right Now (2/3)
Title: I Can’t Talk Right Now (2/3)
Back to Part 1
~
In the sanctity of their own room, they found themselves in each other’s arms again in a longing, clinging, and needed embrace.
Merlin liked hugs. He always had done. Arthur was only just realising quite how much he liked them too. Especially when they were both undressed. There was something rewarding and right about being locked in Merlin’s arms. When he was safe and sheltered in Merlin’s arms, Arthur would give him the world.
But Merlin didn’t want the world. He was content with gently pushing Arthur down onto their bed and covering his lover with himself, a human blanket, fingers and lips lightly exploring those parts neglected in their impassioned frenzy downstairs.
And Arthur was quite happy with this too. He’d murmur and sigh and respond, mimicking the soft patterns of Merlin’s fingers with his own, dancing across his boyfriend’s pale skin. He propped himself up on his elbows and watched, entranced, as Merlin’s tongue darted out, tasting the dip of his stomach, fascinated as Merlin peeped up through long dark lashes to look at him with the same awe and delight as he had the first time they’d been together. As if Merlin couldn’t quite believe what was happening and he wanted to savour every moment. These quick glances always made Arthur want to flip Merlin onto his back and screw him senseless, but he always managed to settle with an arching of his hips and a groan. The Merlin that grinned broadly at Arthur’s response was not the same one from their heady first days together. He was surer, braver and more confident in his movements, knowing where to linger and to tease, and when to pause and when to act.
Merlin settled comfortably along Arthur’s stretching body with a long lingering kiss on his lips. Their legs entwined until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. They exchanged kisses and caresses and revelled in the warmth and comfort of each other, only allowing the occasional roll of their hips to rub their fully hard cocks against each other until they were both panting and biting back frustrated moans.
And so they continued, until Merlin pushed Arthur firmly back onto the mattress, straddled him and lowered himself onto his boyfriend’s cock with a long, low groan. Arthur’s eyes clouded, and he brought his strong hands to Merlin’s hips to guide him, his fingers stroking gently to relax Merlin until he was completely buried inside him.
“Oh god,” Merlin muttered as he shifted.
Arthur’s fingers traced enticing circular patterns on Merlin's thighs, as Merlin experimentally lifted his hips until Arthur’s cock was almost free and then he slid back down again with an undignified grunt. Arthur keened appreciatively, so Merlin repeated his action. Then again. And again.
Arthur’s hands moved to hold Merlin’s hips in a bruising grip, guiding him, shifting him, instinctively bucking his own hips to meet Merlin’s movements.
Arthur was rapidly becoming breathless and could barely gather his thoughts enough to gasp, “More, Merlin, harder…oh fuck…yes!” before he resorted to wordless murmurs of encouragement, as he continued to thrust upwards with fervour.
Merlin’s head fell back and he moaned loudly, never faltering in the relentless pace he’d set. Trickles of sweat meandered down his spine and his hair was damp and sticking to him. Then he dropped his head to look forwards at Arthur, equally damp and clammy, eyes closed, arching up to meet him, his mouth moving soundlessly as he strained to speak, to say anything but only managing to mutter and growl. Merlin snaked a hand down to pull on his own neglected erection.
Arthur opened his eyes and they locked on Merlin’s. “Oh god Merlin, I’m close…so close…” His hips stuttered in their movements and he screamed as he came deep inside Merlin. Merlin followed him over the edge with a cry of Arthur’s name. He put his hands on Arthur’s shoulders and slumped forwards slightly. They remained like that until their breathing returned to normal. Then Merlin collapsed on his back beside Arthur.
“Holy fucking hell, Merlin!” Arthur said eventually.
Merlin gave a grin worthy of the Cheshire Cat and said nothing.
They fell asleep curled in each other's arms.
~
The next morning, Arthur left Merlin sprawled amongst the sheets satisfied and satiated from a session of sleepy morning sex.
Merlin got up when he heard Morgana clattering about in the kitchen and went to join her for breakfast.
“Morning,” he said with a surprising brightness.
Morgana beamed back at him, “Hi! I cleared away your dishes - busy night?”
“Oh sorry,” Merlin said with a blush and then tried to change the subject, “how was your date with your mysterious lover?”
Morgana pulled a face as she poured two mugs of tea. “We broke up.”
“Oh Morgana, I’m so sorry! What happened?”
“He went back to his girlfriend,” Morgana said lightly, slotting slices of bread into the toaster.
Merlin spluttered, outraged, into his tea.
Morgana gave a sigh and sat opposite him. “It’s OK Merlin. Look, part of the reason I kept him as a mystery was because this was always going to happen. I’m the evil other woman.”
Merlin frowned as he digested this information. “I am sorry, though.” He looked critically at Morgana, noticing the wan skin and drawn eyes that her cheerfulness couldn’t quite mask. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I just feel a bit tired, that’s all,” Morgana said. The toast jumped out of the toaster. “Can you get that?” she asked, pouring more tea.
Merlin got up from his seat as Arthur burst through the door excitedly. He bounced across the room towards Merlin and, unperturbed by Morgana’s watchful eye, threw his arms about him exclaiming, “That was bloody amazing!”
“What, your run?” Merlin asked, his face screwing up as it always did when he was unable to follow Arthur’s conversation.
“No, the house!” Arthur said, releasing Merlin from his squeezing grasp and pinching a slice of toast.
“You’ve seen a house?” Merlin asked.
“Not a house, the house!” Arthur said through a mouth full of toast. “Lance arranged with the agent yesterday and dragged me there part way through our run this morning. You were right. It’s great.”
“Wait, wait, you’ve actually seen a house. Seriously seen one?” Morgana interrupted.
Arthur smiled at her and nodded. Then he glanced towards the kitchen clock. “Shit. I’m going to be late.” He dropped a kiss on Merlin’s cheek. “We’ll talk about this later, I promise!”
He hurtled out of the kitchen like a small whirlwind.
Morgana was looking intently at Merlin.
“A house?”
“I was going to tell you about it.”
Morgana’s face split into a huge grin. “I’m so pleased for you!” Merlin grinned back. “Now, how about that toast?”
~
Merlin came home to the sound of the television blaring loudly from the living room. Morgana was tucked under a blanket looking swamped on the enormous sofa.
“You’re home early,” Merlin observed, as he chucked his keys carelessly onto the coffee table.
“I didn’t go into work,” Morgana said absently, staring at the screen, “didn’t feel too good.”
Merlin eyed her disapprovingly, although he conceded that she did look paler than usual, and that was quite a difficult thing to achieve.
Morgana sighed at his observation, “Honestly, I chucked up all that toast into the sink just after you left. It was horrible.” She shuddered.
Merlin wrinkled up his nose to demonstrate that he, too, found this horrible. “Are you OK now? Can I get you anything?”
“A cup of tea?” Morgana suggested with a wicked grin. “Seriously though, I’ve felt fine for the rest of the day. Feel like a bit of a fraud, actually.”
“I’ll get you some tea.”
His phone bleeped as he was waiting for the kettle to boil.
Meeting's running late.
Don’t wait up.
A
xxxx
“Arthur is going to be late home,” Merlin said with a forlorn sigh as he gave Morgana her cup of tea.
Morgana murmured sympathetically, “You want to stay here and pick at plot holes in Heroes with me?”
She flipped back the corner of the blanket. Merlin kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the sofa to curl up next to her.
By the time Arthur came home, Merlin and Morgana had watched the first series of Heroes, picked at the plot holes, discussed the characters (“Do you think Isaac looks a bit like Lance?”), munched through a pizza and sought their own beds.
~
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Bored.
You know like, two weeks ago, when you asked if I did anything but meetings?
It seems not. A meeting was cancelled and I have nothing to do. I am bored out of my brain.
Entertain me.
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Bored.
That’s because Lance does everything else for you.
Entertain yourself. I’m busy.
:D
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Bored.
I’d be cross but you're probably right.
Thought I might ring the bank manager, see if there’s any chance of us getting that house. Lance says that the owner’s dropped the asking price and they’re keen to sell.
What do you think?
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Lance is a star.
Ring them.
Have I told you how much I love you recently?
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
You just want me for my PA’s real estate contacts.
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
That’s a big part of it.
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
Remind me to punish you when we get home.
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
I look forward to it.
Now, if you don’t mind, some of us have actually got meetings to go to.
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
Fine!
A
xxxx
PS. I love you too.
~
Merlin and Morgana had just finished readying their evening meal (fish and chips from the local chippy) when Arthur erupted through the kitchen door reaching blindly for Merlin.
“We’ve got a house!” he said in an uncharacteristically high-pitched voice.
“A house?” repeated Merlin dumbly, “the house?”
“Yes!”
Merlin gave a most unseemly shriek and leapt at Arthur, who caught him and spun him around with an unmanly cry of his own.
“Oh my god!” Morgana cried at a pitch that pierced through their celebrations, “you got the house?”
They each extended an arm to include her as she bolted towards them to join in an atypical group hug. Both Merlin and Arthur were relieved when Morgana was the first to dissolve into tears as she muttered her congratulations.
When they finally split apart, Morgana seized her dinner and left the couple alone to plot, plan, and celebrate.
~
Uther was delighted when he heard about the house. He’d grown accustomed, even fond, of Merlin living in his house but he approved greatly of the boys - men - taking this step into adulthood. He offered to buy all manner of housewarming gifts, most of which were politely but firmly turned down by Arthur who reiterated their wish to be as independent as possible. He approved of this too.
Then he bought them a hot tub.
Hunith was unsurprisingly delighted. Merlin took her on a tour of the house as soon as possible and sought her opinion on his plans for changes to décor and layout. She was as enthusiastic and helpful and as optimistic as always, offering her help wherever possible.
Will was almost as eager, even though he and Arthur had never quite managed to completely overcome their animosity towards each other. He offered to help Merlin knock down a wall between the master bedroom and the box room to create an en suite. Even Arthur was impressed by the offer.
Lance was predictably practical in his response; full of information about the plusses and pitfalls of period properties but always with an element of pleasure for the couple.
Even Gwen, still beleaguered with caring for her terminally ill father, was overjoyed at the news and offered her long distance service as seamstress if it were ever needed, and her ever enduring ear on the end of a phone.
None of their friends, however thrilled they were, could be more jubilant than Merlin and Arthur. Every night, for a whole week, Arthur returned home before six o clock and they sat, entwined together, on a sofa, or a bed, or in a bath and talked softly of their plans, their visions, their hopes. They plotted and planned and knew that this was the next step into a future together that they’d aspired to, always with such anticipation and adoration that neither cared if no resolution was reached.
~
Arthur woke with the vaguely disconcerting sensation that someone was watching him. He opened his eyes to see Merlin, propped up on an elbow, gazing down at him with eyes that glittered peculiarly in the pale moonlight that streaked through their open curtains.
“Hey,” Merlin whispered, “did I wake you?”
Arthur shook his head sleepily. “What time is it?”
Merlin tilted his head to look at the clock. “Four thirty.”
Arthur yawned, “It’s the middle of the night.”
“I know.” Merlin settled back under the covers. “It’s just…I woke up and looked over at you and you looked so…” he paused, searching for the right word.
“Sexy? Hot? Gorgeous?” suggested Arthur raising an eyebrow.
“Peaceful,” Merlin said eventually. Boyish. Happy.
Arthur smiled lazily. “Get some sleep.” He shifted closer, nuzzling his face into the crook of Merlin’s neck and drifted back to sleep.
~
Pale rays of early morning sunlight were creeping across the room when Arthur woke again.
He was curled tightly into Merlin’s side, an arm casually flung across him, his face nestled so closely into Merlin’s neck that just the tiniest purse of his mouth would bring his lips into contact with the silky soft skin.
As if commanded by the very thought, Arthur brushed his lips gently against Merlin’s neck, a light, whispering, butterfly kiss onto the sensitive skin that caused Merlin to murmur and shift in his sleep.
Encouraged, Arthur placed another kiss, more insistent, slightly below the first. Then a third, firmer still, below that.
As Merlin stirred, waking slowly, Arthur swiped a teasing tongue across a prominent collarbone and was rewarded by a barely suppressed squeak. Merlin’s fingers tangled into his hair as he lavished kisses across a shoulder and sucked gently at the base of Merlin’s throat.
Merlin’s fingers curled involuntarily into Arthur’s hair, exerting enough pressure to be felt but not to hurt. Arthur glanced towards Merlin’s face and met the fond gaze directed at him through sleepy lashes. He was smiling, not his usual huge grin, but a gentle, contented curling of his lips into a perfect pink bow that had Arthur surging up to bestow kisses upon them until they parted with a moan and he could nip playfully at them.
The distant sound of hurrying footsteps was vaguely off-putting, but Merlin groaned into Arthur’s mouth and darted his tongue out and Arthur was lost in sensation again.
Then, the unmistakeable sound of Morgana being sick in the next room pierced through their delicious murmurs and shattered the moment. Arthur rolled onto his back with a sigh. A few moments later, he got out of bed to get ready for his morning jog.
~
Merlin shuffled into the kitchen swamped in a huge dressing gown and frowned sympathetically at Morgana, who was forcing herself to eat a piece of dry toast.
“Are you OK?” He asked, thinking how unfair it was that she still looked hauntingly beautiful even through her illness.
“Yes,” She said quickly, defiantly, then, “no. I’m not sure. I’ve booked an appointment with the doctor.”
“Do you want me to drive you? Will and I were going into town to pick up tiles for the en suite anyway.”
“No, don’t worry,” Morgana said automatically. “It’s just a bug. I’ll be fine.”
~
The next morning, Merlin sprawled into the warmth on Arthur’s side of the bed and tried to convince himself to get up.
He almost changed his mind when he reached the kitchen door and could hear Morgana and Arthur bickering beyond it. Arthur was ranting, his words barely distinguishable although Merlin could make out ‘stupid’ ‘sick’ several times and ‘Doctor Goldstein’ once. Morgana kept responding with a clear, brittle ‘I’m fine.’
Merlin was tempted to tiptoe back upstairs when he heard the sound of breaking pottery and he reluctantly pushed the door open.
Morgana was standing by the kitchen table, the handle from the milk jug clasped in her hand staring at the broken remains of the rest of the jug that had fallen from her hand to the table.
“It just broke!” She started to sniffle as milk slowly seeped in the tablecloth and began to trickle to the floor.
Arthur and Merlin exchanged alarmed glances at the unusual display of tears.
“Morgana,” Arthur said in an uncommonly gentle tone he usually reserved for sick children, “Don’t worry.” He shot Merlin another worried look and picked up a cloth to mop up the milk.
Morgana gave a small chuckle. “I’m being silly, crying over spilt milk.” She looked down at her fingers to see Merlin softly taking the broken handle away from her and patting her arm affectionately. She glanced at Arthur. “You’d better be off, you’ll be late.”
Arthur checked his watch and frowned.
“I’ll be fine,” Morgana insisted. “I’m just going to wash my face.”
Arthur opened his mouth to retaliate.
“I’ll be fine,” Morgana reiterated and drifted out of the kitchen.
Arthur looked beseechingly at Merlin.
“Go,” Merlin prompted, “I’ll look after her.”
Arthur wavered. Then he nodded curtly and went out the kitchen door.
Merlin began to make breakfast for himself and Morgana when the door opened and Arthur came back in. He ignored Merlin’s half-formed exclamation of surprise, covering the room in two strides and flung his arms around Merlin, pressing a messy kiss into his hair.
“What’s the matter?” Merlin asked, his arms instinctively curling around Arthur, one hand rubbing soothing circles on the small of his back.
“I love you,” Arthur said his words muffled in Merlin’s hair but still audible.
Merlin let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding and moved away so he could see Arthur’s face. “I know.” He cupped Arthur’s face in his hands. “I love you too.”
Arthur caught one of Merlin’s hands in his own and kissed the palm before folding Merlin’s long fingers over to trap the kiss within. Then, with a final kiss to Merlin’s nose, he left for work, grinning.
When Morgana came back into the kitchen, her face pink and freshly scrubbed, she looked better than she had in days and eagerly tucked into a piece of toast. Still, Merlin observed her warily as he spread butter onto his own slice.
“What did the doctor say?” He asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing serious.”
“Morgana,” Merlin said, patiently but firmly as Morgana scooped a large dollop of jam onto a teaspoon. “You’ve not been yourself for ages. You’re tired and emotional,” he glared at her, challenging her to deny it, “you either feel sick or you are sick most days.” He frowned at her as he mentally reviewed his list.
Morgana stirred the jam into her cup of tea and slurped it.
Merlin watched her. Then his eyebrows almost disappeared off his head as he gasped sharply “Oh my god!”
Morgana looked up startled, then down at her tea where a small lump of jam was bobbing merrily. She set her cup down abruptly.
“Are you…pregnant?” Merlin asked quietly.
Morgana closed her eyes and when she whispered her answer she was trembling. “Please don’t tell.”
Merlin nodded agreement without pause and slid over into the chair next to Morgana, taking her hand into his own. “Have you told anyone?” he asked softly. “Gwen, perhaps? Or…the father?”
Morgana tensed, almost imperceptibly, for a moment before shaking her head.
A million questions were racing through Merlin’s head, many of which he firmly rejected for being inappropriate or too personal. In the end he settled with, “Do you know what you’re going to do?”
Morgana shook her head again. “I need to think.”
“Well, when you need to talk…” he left his sentence unfinished.
Morgana gave him a watery smile and squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”
~
Merlin, I’m stuck in the office and don’t know if I’m going to make it. Go on ahead and I’ll try and join you. Get whatever you want, I trust you! Love you. Byeeee!
~
Merlin lay on the bed staring at a crack in the ceiling for several moments before he wriggled awkwardly.
“You’re such a fidget,” Drawled Morgana as she stretched on the bed beside him.
“I’m uncomfortable.”
“So, not this one then.” Morgana sat up and swung her legs off the bed.
“Thanks for coming with me today,” Merlin said as he followed her, manoeuvring round a hideously frilly bed. “I didn’t like to ask Will to come bed shopping.”
“No problem. I love shopping.” Morgana stopped next to a large wooden four-poster bed. “What about this one?”
Merlin sat experimentally on the mattress and gave a non-committal murmur. “Not bad.”
Morgana tapped one of the bedposts sharply, “it looks very…sturdy.” She grinned slyly at Merlin who felt himself blush.
“I’m not discussing my sex life with you, Morgana.”
“Well,” she said lying down on the mattress beside him, “If you don’t want people talking about it, perhaps you and Arthur should try to be a little quieter.”
Merlin buried his face into his hands and groaned. “That’s it. I’m going to die of embarrassment right here.”
“Oh Merlin,” Morgana sat up and patted his arm. “It’s not that bad.”
“It’s not?”
“Well, you are rather vocal. But it’s not a bad thing.”
“The sooner we move, the better,” Merlin said resolutely.
Morgana didn’t answer. She was staring at something in the distance over Merlin’s shoulder. He turned to follow her gaze and could just make out a display of cots and cribs.
“Are you OK?” he asked.
She nodded. Then, after a pause, she spoke slowly “I’m going to keep it. The baby.”
“Do you want to go have a look?” he nodded his head towards the display.
“Can we?”
“Sure.”
They went over to the small display and paused by a small crib, carved in painstaking detail. Morgana absently stroked her hand across the rail and Merlin watched her.
“I’m scared, Merlin.”
“Good. That’s normal.”
“What if the baby hates me?”
“You’d never give it reason to.”
They fell into a contemplative silence as Morgana digested this. When she looked up at him to speak again, he was staring over her shoulder with a comic, yet horrified, expression.
When she turned around, she saw Arthur striding through the shop towards them.
“Here you are!” he said brightly as he reached them. He grinned at Morgana and dropped a perfunctory kiss on Merlin’s cheek. “I’ve got an hour. Well, fifty-three minutes because I was wandering around looking for you two.” He looked around. “Why are you in this section anyway?”
“We…er…we were taking a short cut…” Merlin blustered.
Morgana rolled her eyes. “Merlin, for someone who works for a council, you’re a shit liar.”
“Lies? What’s going on?” Arthur asked.
“You haven’t told him?” Morgana ignored Arthur and stared at Merlin.
“You said ‘don’t tell.’”
“Well, I thought you’d tell Arthur!”
“Tell me what?” demanded Arthur. “What’s going on?”
“I’m pregnant,” Morgana said bluntly.
There was a silence in which Arthur stood, open-mouthed, looking as if he were awaiting instructions from some deity on how to proceed. After several false starts he finally managed to speak.
“How?”
Morgana snorted. “What, do you need diagrams?”
Arthur scowled. “When? Who?”
Morgana press her lips tightly together and refused to respond.
Arthur glowered and turned to Merlin for support. “Merlin?”
Merlin, who had been watching the whole exchange feeling bemused and slightly sick, was startled by Arthur’s appeal. “It wasn’t me!”
“Well, obviously.” Arthur huffed.
Morgana sighed loudly. “Now isn’t the time or the place for this discussion. Why don’t you two carry on shopping? Merlin, do you mind if I take the car home? I feel a bit tired.”
“That’s fine.” Merlin said, automatically. It was a clear day and he didn’t mind walking.
Morgana said goodbye and began to take her leave. She was about halfway across the shop when Arthur called after her and jogged slowly towards her. When he reached her, he bent down and whispered something into her ear. Merlin could not make out what was said, and he would never ask, but whatever it was made Morgana smile tenderly and give Arthur a quick hug before she left. Then Arthur trotted back across the shop to Merlin.
“Are you angry with me?” Merlin asked in a small voice.
“Of course not,” Arthur said, separating Merlin’s uneasily clasped hands and taking one in a firm hold. “Now, let’s make the most of the time I’ve got left.”
They were very productive, buying two beds and a sofa bed with fifteen minutes to spare so Arthur deftly manoeuvred Merlin away from the crowds. Moments later Merlin found himself pushed up against the wall of one of the cubicles in the customer restrooms whilst Arthur reduced him to a panting, quivering mess with practised fingers and lips, which was very enjoyable although Merlin was consciously trying to stifle every noise he made. They’d both found their release with stifled cries and were slumped against the wall, holding each other up, when Arthur’s watch bleeped.
“I’ve got to run,” he said regretfully, straightening his clothes and zipping up his trousers. He paused to press a kiss on Merlin’s forehead. “We’ll talk tonight, OK?” Merlin nodded and Arthur slipped from the cubicle.
When Merlin emerged from the shop a few minutes later, the sky had turned an ominous grey. He’d barely taken two steps before rain began to fall. He was soaked by the time he got home.
Arthur didn’t return from work until late that night and Merlin was already asleep.
~
Part 3/3
Back to Part 1
~
In the sanctity of their own room, they found themselves in each other’s arms again in a longing, clinging, and needed embrace.
Merlin liked hugs. He always had done. Arthur was only just realising quite how much he liked them too. Especially when they were both undressed. There was something rewarding and right about being locked in Merlin’s arms. When he was safe and sheltered in Merlin’s arms, Arthur would give him the world.
But Merlin didn’t want the world. He was content with gently pushing Arthur down onto their bed and covering his lover with himself, a human blanket, fingers and lips lightly exploring those parts neglected in their impassioned frenzy downstairs.
And Arthur was quite happy with this too. He’d murmur and sigh and respond, mimicking the soft patterns of Merlin’s fingers with his own, dancing across his boyfriend’s pale skin. He propped himself up on his elbows and watched, entranced, as Merlin’s tongue darted out, tasting the dip of his stomach, fascinated as Merlin peeped up through long dark lashes to look at him with the same awe and delight as he had the first time they’d been together. As if Merlin couldn’t quite believe what was happening and he wanted to savour every moment. These quick glances always made Arthur want to flip Merlin onto his back and screw him senseless, but he always managed to settle with an arching of his hips and a groan. The Merlin that grinned broadly at Arthur’s response was not the same one from their heady first days together. He was surer, braver and more confident in his movements, knowing where to linger and to tease, and when to pause and when to act.
Merlin settled comfortably along Arthur’s stretching body with a long lingering kiss on his lips. Their legs entwined until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. They exchanged kisses and caresses and revelled in the warmth and comfort of each other, only allowing the occasional roll of their hips to rub their fully hard cocks against each other until they were both panting and biting back frustrated moans.
And so they continued, until Merlin pushed Arthur firmly back onto the mattress, straddled him and lowered himself onto his boyfriend’s cock with a long, low groan. Arthur’s eyes clouded, and he brought his strong hands to Merlin’s hips to guide him, his fingers stroking gently to relax Merlin until he was completely buried inside him.
“Oh god,” Merlin muttered as he shifted.
Arthur’s fingers traced enticing circular patterns on Merlin's thighs, as Merlin experimentally lifted his hips until Arthur’s cock was almost free and then he slid back down again with an undignified grunt. Arthur keened appreciatively, so Merlin repeated his action. Then again. And again.
Arthur’s hands moved to hold Merlin’s hips in a bruising grip, guiding him, shifting him, instinctively bucking his own hips to meet Merlin’s movements.
Arthur was rapidly becoming breathless and could barely gather his thoughts enough to gasp, “More, Merlin, harder…oh fuck…yes!” before he resorted to wordless murmurs of encouragement, as he continued to thrust upwards with fervour.
Merlin’s head fell back and he moaned loudly, never faltering in the relentless pace he’d set. Trickles of sweat meandered down his spine and his hair was damp and sticking to him. Then he dropped his head to look forwards at Arthur, equally damp and clammy, eyes closed, arching up to meet him, his mouth moving soundlessly as he strained to speak, to say anything but only managing to mutter and growl. Merlin snaked a hand down to pull on his own neglected erection.
Arthur opened his eyes and they locked on Merlin’s. “Oh god Merlin, I’m close…so close…” His hips stuttered in their movements and he screamed as he came deep inside Merlin. Merlin followed him over the edge with a cry of Arthur’s name. He put his hands on Arthur’s shoulders and slumped forwards slightly. They remained like that until their breathing returned to normal. Then Merlin collapsed on his back beside Arthur.
“Holy fucking hell, Merlin!” Arthur said eventually.
Merlin gave a grin worthy of the Cheshire Cat and said nothing.
They fell asleep curled in each other's arms.
~
The next morning, Arthur left Merlin sprawled amongst the sheets satisfied and satiated from a session of sleepy morning sex.
Merlin got up when he heard Morgana clattering about in the kitchen and went to join her for breakfast.
“Morning,” he said with a surprising brightness.
Morgana beamed back at him, “Hi! I cleared away your dishes - busy night?”
“Oh sorry,” Merlin said with a blush and then tried to change the subject, “how was your date with your mysterious lover?”
Morgana pulled a face as she poured two mugs of tea. “We broke up.”
“Oh Morgana, I’m so sorry! What happened?”
“He went back to his girlfriend,” Morgana said lightly, slotting slices of bread into the toaster.
Merlin spluttered, outraged, into his tea.
Morgana gave a sigh and sat opposite him. “It’s OK Merlin. Look, part of the reason I kept him as a mystery was because this was always going to happen. I’m the evil other woman.”
Merlin frowned as he digested this information. “I am sorry, though.” He looked critically at Morgana, noticing the wan skin and drawn eyes that her cheerfulness couldn’t quite mask. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I just feel a bit tired, that’s all,” Morgana said. The toast jumped out of the toaster. “Can you get that?” she asked, pouring more tea.
Merlin got up from his seat as Arthur burst through the door excitedly. He bounced across the room towards Merlin and, unperturbed by Morgana’s watchful eye, threw his arms about him exclaiming, “That was bloody amazing!”
“What, your run?” Merlin asked, his face screwing up as it always did when he was unable to follow Arthur’s conversation.
“No, the house!” Arthur said, releasing Merlin from his squeezing grasp and pinching a slice of toast.
“You’ve seen a house?” Merlin asked.
“Not a house, the house!” Arthur said through a mouth full of toast. “Lance arranged with the agent yesterday and dragged me there part way through our run this morning. You were right. It’s great.”
“Wait, wait, you’ve actually seen a house. Seriously seen one?” Morgana interrupted.
Arthur smiled at her and nodded. Then he glanced towards the kitchen clock. “Shit. I’m going to be late.” He dropped a kiss on Merlin’s cheek. “We’ll talk about this later, I promise!”
He hurtled out of the kitchen like a small whirlwind.
Morgana was looking intently at Merlin.
“A house?”
“I was going to tell you about it.”
Morgana’s face split into a huge grin. “I’m so pleased for you!” Merlin grinned back. “Now, how about that toast?”
~
Merlin came home to the sound of the television blaring loudly from the living room. Morgana was tucked under a blanket looking swamped on the enormous sofa.
“You’re home early,” Merlin observed, as he chucked his keys carelessly onto the coffee table.
“I didn’t go into work,” Morgana said absently, staring at the screen, “didn’t feel too good.”
Merlin eyed her disapprovingly, although he conceded that she did look paler than usual, and that was quite a difficult thing to achieve.
Morgana sighed at his observation, “Honestly, I chucked up all that toast into the sink just after you left. It was horrible.” She shuddered.
Merlin wrinkled up his nose to demonstrate that he, too, found this horrible. “Are you OK now? Can I get you anything?”
“A cup of tea?” Morgana suggested with a wicked grin. “Seriously though, I’ve felt fine for the rest of the day. Feel like a bit of a fraud, actually.”
“I’ll get you some tea.”
His phone bleeped as he was waiting for the kettle to boil.
Meeting's running late.
Don’t wait up.
A
xxxx
“Arthur is going to be late home,” Merlin said with a forlorn sigh as he gave Morgana her cup of tea.
Morgana murmured sympathetically, “You want to stay here and pick at plot holes in Heroes with me?”
She flipped back the corner of the blanket. Merlin kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the sofa to curl up next to her.
By the time Arthur came home, Merlin and Morgana had watched the first series of Heroes, picked at the plot holes, discussed the characters (“Do you think Isaac looks a bit like Lance?”), munched through a pizza and sought their own beds.
~
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Bored.
You know like, two weeks ago, when you asked if I did anything but meetings?
It seems not. A meeting was cancelled and I have nothing to do. I am bored out of my brain.
Entertain me.
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Bored.
That’s because Lance does everything else for you.
Entertain yourself. I’m busy.
:D
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Bored.
I’d be cross but you're probably right.
Thought I might ring the bank manager, see if there’s any chance of us getting that house. Lance says that the owner’s dropped the asking price and they’re keen to sell.
What do you think?
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Lance is a star.
Ring them.
Have I told you how much I love you recently?
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
You just want me for my PA’s real estate contacts.
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
That’s a big part of it.
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
Remind me to punish you when we get home.
A
xxxx
From: Merlin
To: Arthur
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
I look forward to it.
Now, if you don’t mind, some of us have actually got meetings to go to.
Merlin
xx
From: Arthur
To: Merlin
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bored.
Fine!
A
xxxx
PS. I love you too.
~
Merlin and Morgana had just finished readying their evening meal (fish and chips from the local chippy) when Arthur erupted through the kitchen door reaching blindly for Merlin.
“We’ve got a house!” he said in an uncharacteristically high-pitched voice.
“A house?” repeated Merlin dumbly, “the house?”
“Yes!”
Merlin gave a most unseemly shriek and leapt at Arthur, who caught him and spun him around with an unmanly cry of his own.
“Oh my god!” Morgana cried at a pitch that pierced through their celebrations, “you got the house?”
They each extended an arm to include her as she bolted towards them to join in an atypical group hug. Both Merlin and Arthur were relieved when Morgana was the first to dissolve into tears as she muttered her congratulations.
When they finally split apart, Morgana seized her dinner and left the couple alone to plot, plan, and celebrate.
~
Uther was delighted when he heard about the house. He’d grown accustomed, even fond, of Merlin living in his house but he approved greatly of the boys - men - taking this step into adulthood. He offered to buy all manner of housewarming gifts, most of which were politely but firmly turned down by Arthur who reiterated their wish to be as independent as possible. He approved of this too.
Then he bought them a hot tub.
Hunith was unsurprisingly delighted. Merlin took her on a tour of the house as soon as possible and sought her opinion on his plans for changes to décor and layout. She was as enthusiastic and helpful and as optimistic as always, offering her help wherever possible.
Will was almost as eager, even though he and Arthur had never quite managed to completely overcome their animosity towards each other. He offered to help Merlin knock down a wall between the master bedroom and the box room to create an en suite. Even Arthur was impressed by the offer.
Lance was predictably practical in his response; full of information about the plusses and pitfalls of period properties but always with an element of pleasure for the couple.
Even Gwen, still beleaguered with caring for her terminally ill father, was overjoyed at the news and offered her long distance service as seamstress if it were ever needed, and her ever enduring ear on the end of a phone.
None of their friends, however thrilled they were, could be more jubilant than Merlin and Arthur. Every night, for a whole week, Arthur returned home before six o clock and they sat, entwined together, on a sofa, or a bed, or in a bath and talked softly of their plans, their visions, their hopes. They plotted and planned and knew that this was the next step into a future together that they’d aspired to, always with such anticipation and adoration that neither cared if no resolution was reached.
~
Arthur woke with the vaguely disconcerting sensation that someone was watching him. He opened his eyes to see Merlin, propped up on an elbow, gazing down at him with eyes that glittered peculiarly in the pale moonlight that streaked through their open curtains.
“Hey,” Merlin whispered, “did I wake you?”
Arthur shook his head sleepily. “What time is it?”
Merlin tilted his head to look at the clock. “Four thirty.”
Arthur yawned, “It’s the middle of the night.”
“I know.” Merlin settled back under the covers. “It’s just…I woke up and looked over at you and you looked so…” he paused, searching for the right word.
“Sexy? Hot? Gorgeous?” suggested Arthur raising an eyebrow.
“Peaceful,” Merlin said eventually. Boyish. Happy.
Arthur smiled lazily. “Get some sleep.” He shifted closer, nuzzling his face into the crook of Merlin’s neck and drifted back to sleep.
~
Pale rays of early morning sunlight were creeping across the room when Arthur woke again.
He was curled tightly into Merlin’s side, an arm casually flung across him, his face nestled so closely into Merlin’s neck that just the tiniest purse of his mouth would bring his lips into contact with the silky soft skin.
As if commanded by the very thought, Arthur brushed his lips gently against Merlin’s neck, a light, whispering, butterfly kiss onto the sensitive skin that caused Merlin to murmur and shift in his sleep.
Encouraged, Arthur placed another kiss, more insistent, slightly below the first. Then a third, firmer still, below that.
As Merlin stirred, waking slowly, Arthur swiped a teasing tongue across a prominent collarbone and was rewarded by a barely suppressed squeak. Merlin’s fingers tangled into his hair as he lavished kisses across a shoulder and sucked gently at the base of Merlin’s throat.
Merlin’s fingers curled involuntarily into Arthur’s hair, exerting enough pressure to be felt but not to hurt. Arthur glanced towards Merlin’s face and met the fond gaze directed at him through sleepy lashes. He was smiling, not his usual huge grin, but a gentle, contented curling of his lips into a perfect pink bow that had Arthur surging up to bestow kisses upon them until they parted with a moan and he could nip playfully at them.
The distant sound of hurrying footsteps was vaguely off-putting, but Merlin groaned into Arthur’s mouth and darted his tongue out and Arthur was lost in sensation again.
Then, the unmistakeable sound of Morgana being sick in the next room pierced through their delicious murmurs and shattered the moment. Arthur rolled onto his back with a sigh. A few moments later, he got out of bed to get ready for his morning jog.
~
Merlin shuffled into the kitchen swamped in a huge dressing gown and frowned sympathetically at Morgana, who was forcing herself to eat a piece of dry toast.
“Are you OK?” He asked, thinking how unfair it was that she still looked hauntingly beautiful even through her illness.
“Yes,” She said quickly, defiantly, then, “no. I’m not sure. I’ve booked an appointment with the doctor.”
“Do you want me to drive you? Will and I were going into town to pick up tiles for the en suite anyway.”
“No, don’t worry,” Morgana said automatically. “It’s just a bug. I’ll be fine.”
~
The next morning, Merlin sprawled into the warmth on Arthur’s side of the bed and tried to convince himself to get up.
He almost changed his mind when he reached the kitchen door and could hear Morgana and Arthur bickering beyond it. Arthur was ranting, his words barely distinguishable although Merlin could make out ‘stupid’ ‘sick’ several times and ‘Doctor Goldstein’ once. Morgana kept responding with a clear, brittle ‘I’m fine.’
Merlin was tempted to tiptoe back upstairs when he heard the sound of breaking pottery and he reluctantly pushed the door open.
Morgana was standing by the kitchen table, the handle from the milk jug clasped in her hand staring at the broken remains of the rest of the jug that had fallen from her hand to the table.
“It just broke!” She started to sniffle as milk slowly seeped in the tablecloth and began to trickle to the floor.
Arthur and Merlin exchanged alarmed glances at the unusual display of tears.
“Morgana,” Arthur said in an uncommonly gentle tone he usually reserved for sick children, “Don’t worry.” He shot Merlin another worried look and picked up a cloth to mop up the milk.
Morgana gave a small chuckle. “I’m being silly, crying over spilt milk.” She looked down at her fingers to see Merlin softly taking the broken handle away from her and patting her arm affectionately. She glanced at Arthur. “You’d better be off, you’ll be late.”
Arthur checked his watch and frowned.
“I’ll be fine,” Morgana insisted. “I’m just going to wash my face.”
Arthur opened his mouth to retaliate.
“I’ll be fine,” Morgana reiterated and drifted out of the kitchen.
Arthur looked beseechingly at Merlin.
“Go,” Merlin prompted, “I’ll look after her.”
Arthur wavered. Then he nodded curtly and went out the kitchen door.
Merlin began to make breakfast for himself and Morgana when the door opened and Arthur came back in. He ignored Merlin’s half-formed exclamation of surprise, covering the room in two strides and flung his arms around Merlin, pressing a messy kiss into his hair.
“What’s the matter?” Merlin asked, his arms instinctively curling around Arthur, one hand rubbing soothing circles on the small of his back.
“I love you,” Arthur said his words muffled in Merlin’s hair but still audible.
Merlin let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding and moved away so he could see Arthur’s face. “I know.” He cupped Arthur’s face in his hands. “I love you too.”
Arthur caught one of Merlin’s hands in his own and kissed the palm before folding Merlin’s long fingers over to trap the kiss within. Then, with a final kiss to Merlin’s nose, he left for work, grinning.
When Morgana came back into the kitchen, her face pink and freshly scrubbed, she looked better than she had in days and eagerly tucked into a piece of toast. Still, Merlin observed her warily as he spread butter onto his own slice.
“What did the doctor say?” He asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing serious.”
“Morgana,” Merlin said, patiently but firmly as Morgana scooped a large dollop of jam onto a teaspoon. “You’ve not been yourself for ages. You’re tired and emotional,” he glared at her, challenging her to deny it, “you either feel sick or you are sick most days.” He frowned at her as he mentally reviewed his list.
Morgana stirred the jam into her cup of tea and slurped it.
Merlin watched her. Then his eyebrows almost disappeared off his head as he gasped sharply “Oh my god!”
Morgana looked up startled, then down at her tea where a small lump of jam was bobbing merrily. She set her cup down abruptly.
“Are you…pregnant?” Merlin asked quietly.
Morgana closed her eyes and when she whispered her answer she was trembling. “Please don’t tell.”
Merlin nodded agreement without pause and slid over into the chair next to Morgana, taking her hand into his own. “Have you told anyone?” he asked softly. “Gwen, perhaps? Or…the father?”
Morgana tensed, almost imperceptibly, for a moment before shaking her head.
A million questions were racing through Merlin’s head, many of which he firmly rejected for being inappropriate or too personal. In the end he settled with, “Do you know what you’re going to do?”
Morgana shook her head again. “I need to think.”
“Well, when you need to talk…” he left his sentence unfinished.
Morgana gave him a watery smile and squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”
~
Merlin, I’m stuck in the office and don’t know if I’m going to make it. Go on ahead and I’ll try and join you. Get whatever you want, I trust you! Love you. Byeeee!
~
Merlin lay on the bed staring at a crack in the ceiling for several moments before he wriggled awkwardly.
“You’re such a fidget,” Drawled Morgana as she stretched on the bed beside him.
“I’m uncomfortable.”
“So, not this one then.” Morgana sat up and swung her legs off the bed.
“Thanks for coming with me today,” Merlin said as he followed her, manoeuvring round a hideously frilly bed. “I didn’t like to ask Will to come bed shopping.”
“No problem. I love shopping.” Morgana stopped next to a large wooden four-poster bed. “What about this one?”
Merlin sat experimentally on the mattress and gave a non-committal murmur. “Not bad.”
Morgana tapped one of the bedposts sharply, “it looks very…sturdy.” She grinned slyly at Merlin who felt himself blush.
“I’m not discussing my sex life with you, Morgana.”
“Well,” she said lying down on the mattress beside him, “If you don’t want people talking about it, perhaps you and Arthur should try to be a little quieter.”
Merlin buried his face into his hands and groaned. “That’s it. I’m going to die of embarrassment right here.”
“Oh Merlin,” Morgana sat up and patted his arm. “It’s not that bad.”
“It’s not?”
“Well, you are rather vocal. But it’s not a bad thing.”
“The sooner we move, the better,” Merlin said resolutely.
Morgana didn’t answer. She was staring at something in the distance over Merlin’s shoulder. He turned to follow her gaze and could just make out a display of cots and cribs.
“Are you OK?” he asked.
She nodded. Then, after a pause, she spoke slowly “I’m going to keep it. The baby.”
“Do you want to go have a look?” he nodded his head towards the display.
“Can we?”
“Sure.”
They went over to the small display and paused by a small crib, carved in painstaking detail. Morgana absently stroked her hand across the rail and Merlin watched her.
“I’m scared, Merlin.”
“Good. That’s normal.”
“What if the baby hates me?”
“You’d never give it reason to.”
They fell into a contemplative silence as Morgana digested this. When she looked up at him to speak again, he was staring over her shoulder with a comic, yet horrified, expression.
When she turned around, she saw Arthur striding through the shop towards them.
“Here you are!” he said brightly as he reached them. He grinned at Morgana and dropped a perfunctory kiss on Merlin’s cheek. “I’ve got an hour. Well, fifty-three minutes because I was wandering around looking for you two.” He looked around. “Why are you in this section anyway?”
“We…er…we were taking a short cut…” Merlin blustered.
Morgana rolled her eyes. “Merlin, for someone who works for a council, you’re a shit liar.”
“Lies? What’s going on?” Arthur asked.
“You haven’t told him?” Morgana ignored Arthur and stared at Merlin.
“You said ‘don’t tell.’”
“Well, I thought you’d tell Arthur!”
“Tell me what?” demanded Arthur. “What’s going on?”
“I’m pregnant,” Morgana said bluntly.
There was a silence in which Arthur stood, open-mouthed, looking as if he were awaiting instructions from some deity on how to proceed. After several false starts he finally managed to speak.
“How?”
Morgana snorted. “What, do you need diagrams?”
Arthur scowled. “When? Who?”
Morgana press her lips tightly together and refused to respond.
Arthur glowered and turned to Merlin for support. “Merlin?”
Merlin, who had been watching the whole exchange feeling bemused and slightly sick, was startled by Arthur’s appeal. “It wasn’t me!”
“Well, obviously.” Arthur huffed.
Morgana sighed loudly. “Now isn’t the time or the place for this discussion. Why don’t you two carry on shopping? Merlin, do you mind if I take the car home? I feel a bit tired.”
“That’s fine.” Merlin said, automatically. It was a clear day and he didn’t mind walking.
Morgana said goodbye and began to take her leave. She was about halfway across the shop when Arthur called after her and jogged slowly towards her. When he reached her, he bent down and whispered something into her ear. Merlin could not make out what was said, and he would never ask, but whatever it was made Morgana smile tenderly and give Arthur a quick hug before she left. Then Arthur trotted back across the shop to Merlin.
“Are you angry with me?” Merlin asked in a small voice.
“Of course not,” Arthur said, separating Merlin’s uneasily clasped hands and taking one in a firm hold. “Now, let’s make the most of the time I’ve got left.”
They were very productive, buying two beds and a sofa bed with fifteen minutes to spare so Arthur deftly manoeuvred Merlin away from the crowds. Moments later Merlin found himself pushed up against the wall of one of the cubicles in the customer restrooms whilst Arthur reduced him to a panting, quivering mess with practised fingers and lips, which was very enjoyable although Merlin was consciously trying to stifle every noise he made. They’d both found their release with stifled cries and were slumped against the wall, holding each other up, when Arthur’s watch bleeped.
“I’ve got to run,” he said regretfully, straightening his clothes and zipping up his trousers. He paused to press a kiss on Merlin’s forehead. “We’ll talk tonight, OK?” Merlin nodded and Arthur slipped from the cubicle.
When Merlin emerged from the shop a few minutes later, the sky had turned an ominous grey. He’d barely taken two steps before rain began to fall. He was soaked by the time he got home.
Arthur didn’t return from work until late that night and Merlin was already asleep.
~
Part 3/3