A Balance of Harmonies: The Old Place
Sep. 22nd, 2011 05:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warTitle: The old place
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter thirty-nine of gobs
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: affection, talking it out, remembering the first time, a neighbor, hope, discussing perfection, laughter, a pre-midnight snack, only an apron, plotting revenge
Length: about 1,900 words
Summary: While Peregrine is off sketching friends, Kurt spoils Emil.
Master list
Emil flopped down on Kurt’s couch and hugged a throw pillow. This new place was great. The location was close to Kurt’s work and the balcony was the exact one he wanted and Peregrine was happy. Why couldn’t Emil be happy too?
Kurt sat down and laid his head on Emil’s lap. Emil grinned. Kurt looked just like a little boy, searching for attention. Emil traced his fingers up Kurt’s neck and buried them in his hair. “I missed you.”
Kurt puffed out a laugh. “I missed you too. Did you know that Peregrine is absolutely insane when you’re gone?”
“Is he?” Is that why he decided to buy a place without even talking to Emil about it?
Kurt tugged Emil’s hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles. Then the turned and looked up at Emil. “Did you want to sleep at the old house?”
Emil pressed his lips together and looked away. “Was this place his idea?”
“He wanted you to have that balcony.”
“And you?”
“I also wanted him to have his studio. I wouldn’t have agreed to it if I didn’t hope to get both.”
“Swear.”
Kurt sat up and guided Emil onto his lap. His arms were warm and comforting. “I solemnly swear that your happiness means as much to me as his does.”
Emil leaned away. “That’s not what I meant.”
Kurt stole a kiss. “That’s exactly what you meant. You won’t be happy without Peregrine’s studio, just like he won’t be happy without your balcony.”
“But he hates my balcony.”
Kurt nuzzled Emil’s neck. “But he loves you.”
Emil wanted to just go with the moment, let Kurt seduce him into the bedroom and away from his prickly thoughts, but one uneasiness pulled the rest into the light. “Do you? Love me.”
Kurt propped his chin on Emil’s shoulder. “I love Peregrine and I’ve loved him for years and I’m sure I will love him forever. But he’s so high above me, or so far away, mentally, physically. I worship him. But you, you I love differently. For you I have the love I heard about in stories, watched in movies. You fill my days and haunt my nights. I even dreamed about you.”
Emil leaned against Kurt’s chest and smiled. “Good dreams.”
“Wonderful dreams. I can show you if you like.”
Emil closed his eyes to savor Kurt’s lips against his neck. He hummed his pleasure.
“But,” Kurt nibbled his ear, “they are set in the other place.”
Emil sat up and looked at Kurt. Was he genuinely willing to drive across downtown just so they could make love in the bed Emil was used to. “I think I might just love you.”
Kurt laughed and touched Emil cheek. “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going have to limp to the car.”
Emil set his hands against Kurt’s chest. “Do you remember that the first time we had sex was on this couch?”
Kurt’s eyes dragged down Emil like a physical force. “Remind me.”
Emil grinned. He’d blow their first time out of the water.
--
Kurt tugged Emil into the doorway. If Emil stayed this sexy and eager they would never get back to the bed he was sure Emil wanted to sleep in. They were already an hour later than Kurt had planned, not that that interlude on the couch hadn’t been worth every second. Emil pressed himself against Kurt and Kurt lost several minutes in his embrace. Kurt pulled away long enough to close the door. Emil caught him again.
The elevator chimed. Emil licked his lips like a cat that had tasted the cream. Kurt was pretty sure Emil wasn’t done with him yet.
A disheveled man in clothes that once must have been nice shambled out of the elevator and down the hall away from Kurt.
“Is he the guy in the northeast corner?” asked Emil.
“That’s just what I was going to find out.” Kurt waited until the guy stopped at the door in question, then he hurried down the hall. “Excuse me, do you live here?”
The man grunted a laugh. “For now.”
He opened his door, but Kurt wasn’t going to let him escape. “We’re your new neighbors.”
“Good for you.” The man looked Kurt and Emil over then stepped into his house.
“Please,” Kurt put his hand on the door frame where it wouldn’t physically stop the man from closing it, but might mentally stop him. “We are interested in buying your place.”
The man paused and dropped his hands. “Whatever. Come in.”
Kurt did his best to put the guy, Rowe, at ease as Emil glanced around. This place looked to be the same layout as the one several stories up, but with blond floors and kitchen. The man watched Emil then waved his hand. “Go ahead. It’s not clean…”
“No worries.” Emil shot Kurt a grin.
Rowe sank back on his couch. “You two need a lot of space? Didn’t that other condo used to be a double?”
“There are three of us.”
Rowe’s eyebrows rose then he shook his head.
Kurt forged on. “And we each need an office. Emil here is an author, I’m a lawyer, and our other friend is an artist. They both work from home.”
Rowe nodded. “Lots of foot traffic.”
“Clients, associates, and family… We bought the other place in hopes of getting this one.”
Rowe sat up straighter. “I wish you guys the best, but it’s really up to the bank.”
“We know.” Emil sat down next to Kurt and took his hand.
Rowe eyes their hands, but said nothing. Kurt stood up. “Thank you for showing us around. I’ll do my best to keep you from getting screwed over.”
Row grunted another laugh. “You’ll be the first. I’ll be happy if I just come away not owing anything.”
He shook Kurt’s hand and nodded at Emil as he saw them out.
Emil’s grip on Kurt got tighter as they headed for the elevator. “Do you think…?”
Kurt swept Emil up in his arms. “I hope.”
Emil kissed him lavishly and leaned back with a sigh. “You really are wonderful.”
“I try.” And he’d do more than try to make Emil happy tonight.
--
Emil leaned his head against Kurt’s shoulder. He was warm and relaxed and as thoroughly taken as any man could be after two hours of intimate activity. Kurt was a sex god. He just knew how to do everything right. Just as Emil was getting tired of one position or aching for something new, Kurt would fulfill his desire. All his desires. “You’re almost too good to be true.”
Kurt snuggled tighter. “As long as it’s just almost. I don’t want to wake up and find I don’t exist.”
Emil giggled at Kurt’s logic. “You are too wonderful.”
“I’m not too anything,” Kurt stroked tired parts of Emil into wakefulness. “I am just the right amount of perfect for you.”
“And oh so humble.”
“But this is the way you like me.”
“I do.” Emil looked around the familiar room. “So when do we need to be out?”
“The end of the month. Longer if you want it.”
Emil sighed. “No, a quick severing is best. I never really like this place, but it was our best option at the time.”
“But you’ll miss it.”
He would and the knowledge that he and Peregrine picked it out together.
“You know,” Kurt treaded his finger into Emil’s, “if that other condo falls through, we can look for a new place. Together this time. Something that’s perfect for all of us.”
Emil rolled onto his stomach, sliding his leg between Kurt’s and not letting go of Kurt’s hand. “If the balcony is for me and the studio is for Peregrine, what is perfect for you?”
Kurt brought Emil’s fingers to his mouth— a little awkward for Emil, but not enough to consider letting go — and kissed his finger tips. “It’s a perfect location, only a few blocks from work.”
“But I picked the area to look in, remember?”
“I do.” Kurt sucked on Emil’s thumb.
Emil tried very hard to stay focused and not squirm. “So tell me.”
“Tell you what?” Kurt moved to his index finger.
“Tell me what’s prefect.”
“You are.” Kurt licked down Emil’s middle finger.
“Don’t change the subject.”
Kurt sucked down his ring finger. Emil buried his face against Kurt’s chest and moaned.
Kurt laughed. “Who’s changing the subject now?”
Emil reared up. But Kurt looked too angelic to be reprimanded. He was beautiful and naïve and boyish and most of all honest. Emil touched his cheek. “You love me.”
Kurt kissed his palm. “Never doubt me.”
Kurt needed Emil trust as much as Emil needed Kurt’s acceptance. Emil leaned down and kissed Kurt’s eyelids. “I never will.”
Kurt rolled them over. “See? Perfect.”
Emil laughed. He was happier than he’d ever been and he was going to share all that happiness, and love, with Kurt.
--
Kurt forced his eyes open. His phone was too far away to reach, but once he knocked the last remaining pillow off the bed, Peregrine’s alarm clock came into view. Ten pm.
His stomach rumbled. That must have been what woke him up. He hadn’t eaten supper. He’d been too busy tasting Emil.
Emil lay asleep beside him without even a sheet to block Kurt’s view of perfection. The pens. He’s meant to draw on Emil tonight. Only he’d been distracted. By Emil.
Kurt growled. Emil shifted against him. One simple movement on Kurt’s part and he could wake Emil in a delicious way. His body wanted it. At a glance, Emil’s body did too. But bodies had to run on something and the kitchen was full of food that they’d either have to eat or move in the next few days. “Wake up, Beautiful. I’m going to make dinner.”
Emil rubbed himself closer. “Dinner?”
“Pre-midnight snack?”
Emil sat up and looked at the clock. “It’s not even tomorrow.”
“Which is good because I have to work tomorrow. Would you like something to eat?”
Emil grinned and looked Kurt up and down.
“Something to ingest so we’ll have enough energy for another go?”
“Or two.” Emil sprang to his feet. “Or three. Or four.”
He walked into the kitchen and tied on an apron without one stitch of clothing underneath. Another fantasy coming true. Kurt sighed in happiness. “I love you.”
Emil wiggled his bare ass as he searched through the fridge. “I love you too.”
Kurt waited until Emil looked up and then slowly adjusted himself. Two could play this game.
--
Emil flopped down on Kurt’s couch just before midnight. He was feeling spectacularly good about himself, the world, and everyone in it. Especially his men. Peregrine loved him enough to buy a condo that didn’t meet his own needs. Kurt loved him enough to give him exactly what he needed. And he loved himself enough to put his own money to use buying the other condo when it came available. Emil had decided, and Kurt agreed, that that would be a great form of revenge.
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter thirty-nine of gobs
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: affection, talking it out, remembering the first time, a neighbor, hope, discussing perfection, laughter, a pre-midnight snack, only an apron, plotting revenge
Length: about 1,900 words
Summary: While Peregrine is off sketching friends, Kurt spoils Emil.
Master list
Emil flopped down on Kurt’s couch and hugged a throw pillow. This new place was great. The location was close to Kurt’s work and the balcony was the exact one he wanted and Peregrine was happy. Why couldn’t Emil be happy too?
Kurt sat down and laid his head on Emil’s lap. Emil grinned. Kurt looked just like a little boy, searching for attention. Emil traced his fingers up Kurt’s neck and buried them in his hair. “I missed you.”
Kurt puffed out a laugh. “I missed you too. Did you know that Peregrine is absolutely insane when you’re gone?”
“Is he?” Is that why he decided to buy a place without even talking to Emil about it?
Kurt tugged Emil’s hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles. Then the turned and looked up at Emil. “Did you want to sleep at the old house?”
Emil pressed his lips together and looked away. “Was this place his idea?”
“He wanted you to have that balcony.”
“And you?”
“I also wanted him to have his studio. I wouldn’t have agreed to it if I didn’t hope to get both.”
“Swear.”
Kurt sat up and guided Emil onto his lap. His arms were warm and comforting. “I solemnly swear that your happiness means as much to me as his does.”
Emil leaned away. “That’s not what I meant.”
Kurt stole a kiss. “That’s exactly what you meant. You won’t be happy without Peregrine’s studio, just like he won’t be happy without your balcony.”
“But he hates my balcony.”
Kurt nuzzled Emil’s neck. “But he loves you.”
Emil wanted to just go with the moment, let Kurt seduce him into the bedroom and away from his prickly thoughts, but one uneasiness pulled the rest into the light. “Do you? Love me.”
Kurt propped his chin on Emil’s shoulder. “I love Peregrine and I’ve loved him for years and I’m sure I will love him forever. But he’s so high above me, or so far away, mentally, physically. I worship him. But you, you I love differently. For you I have the love I heard about in stories, watched in movies. You fill my days and haunt my nights. I even dreamed about you.”
Emil leaned against Kurt’s chest and smiled. “Good dreams.”
“Wonderful dreams. I can show you if you like.”
Emil closed his eyes to savor Kurt’s lips against his neck. He hummed his pleasure.
“But,” Kurt nibbled his ear, “they are set in the other place.”
Emil sat up and looked at Kurt. Was he genuinely willing to drive across downtown just so they could make love in the bed Emil was used to. “I think I might just love you.”
Kurt laughed and touched Emil cheek. “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going have to limp to the car.”
Emil set his hands against Kurt’s chest. “Do you remember that the first time we had sex was on this couch?”
Kurt’s eyes dragged down Emil like a physical force. “Remind me.”
Emil grinned. He’d blow their first time out of the water.
--
Kurt tugged Emil into the doorway. If Emil stayed this sexy and eager they would never get back to the bed he was sure Emil wanted to sleep in. They were already an hour later than Kurt had planned, not that that interlude on the couch hadn’t been worth every second. Emil pressed himself against Kurt and Kurt lost several minutes in his embrace. Kurt pulled away long enough to close the door. Emil caught him again.
The elevator chimed. Emil licked his lips like a cat that had tasted the cream. Kurt was pretty sure Emil wasn’t done with him yet.
A disheveled man in clothes that once must have been nice shambled out of the elevator and down the hall away from Kurt.
“Is he the guy in the northeast corner?” asked Emil.
“That’s just what I was going to find out.” Kurt waited until the guy stopped at the door in question, then he hurried down the hall. “Excuse me, do you live here?”
The man grunted a laugh. “For now.”
He opened his door, but Kurt wasn’t going to let him escape. “We’re your new neighbors.”
“Good for you.” The man looked Kurt and Emil over then stepped into his house.
“Please,” Kurt put his hand on the door frame where it wouldn’t physically stop the man from closing it, but might mentally stop him. “We are interested in buying your place.”
The man paused and dropped his hands. “Whatever. Come in.”
Kurt did his best to put the guy, Rowe, at ease as Emil glanced around. This place looked to be the same layout as the one several stories up, but with blond floors and kitchen. The man watched Emil then waved his hand. “Go ahead. It’s not clean…”
“No worries.” Emil shot Kurt a grin.
Rowe sank back on his couch. “You two need a lot of space? Didn’t that other condo used to be a double?”
“There are three of us.”
Rowe’s eyebrows rose then he shook his head.
Kurt forged on. “And we each need an office. Emil here is an author, I’m a lawyer, and our other friend is an artist. They both work from home.”
Rowe nodded. “Lots of foot traffic.”
“Clients, associates, and family… We bought the other place in hopes of getting this one.”
Rowe sat up straighter. “I wish you guys the best, but it’s really up to the bank.”
“We know.” Emil sat down next to Kurt and took his hand.
Rowe eyes their hands, but said nothing. Kurt stood up. “Thank you for showing us around. I’ll do my best to keep you from getting screwed over.”
Row grunted another laugh. “You’ll be the first. I’ll be happy if I just come away not owing anything.”
He shook Kurt’s hand and nodded at Emil as he saw them out.
Emil’s grip on Kurt got tighter as they headed for the elevator. “Do you think…?”
Kurt swept Emil up in his arms. “I hope.”
Emil kissed him lavishly and leaned back with a sigh. “You really are wonderful.”
“I try.” And he’d do more than try to make Emil happy tonight.
--
Emil leaned his head against Kurt’s shoulder. He was warm and relaxed and as thoroughly taken as any man could be after two hours of intimate activity. Kurt was a sex god. He just knew how to do everything right. Just as Emil was getting tired of one position or aching for something new, Kurt would fulfill his desire. All his desires. “You’re almost too good to be true.”
Kurt snuggled tighter. “As long as it’s just almost. I don’t want to wake up and find I don’t exist.”
Emil giggled at Kurt’s logic. “You are too wonderful.”
“I’m not too anything,” Kurt stroked tired parts of Emil into wakefulness. “I am just the right amount of perfect for you.”
“And oh so humble.”
“But this is the way you like me.”
“I do.” Emil looked around the familiar room. “So when do we need to be out?”
“The end of the month. Longer if you want it.”
Emil sighed. “No, a quick severing is best. I never really like this place, but it was our best option at the time.”
“But you’ll miss it.”
He would and the knowledge that he and Peregrine picked it out together.
“You know,” Kurt treaded his finger into Emil’s, “if that other condo falls through, we can look for a new place. Together this time. Something that’s perfect for all of us.”
Emil rolled onto his stomach, sliding his leg between Kurt’s and not letting go of Kurt’s hand. “If the balcony is for me and the studio is for Peregrine, what is perfect for you?”
Kurt brought Emil’s fingers to his mouth— a little awkward for Emil, but not enough to consider letting go — and kissed his finger tips. “It’s a perfect location, only a few blocks from work.”
“But I picked the area to look in, remember?”
“I do.” Kurt sucked on Emil’s thumb.
Emil tried very hard to stay focused and not squirm. “So tell me.”
“Tell you what?” Kurt moved to his index finger.
“Tell me what’s prefect.”
“You are.” Kurt licked down Emil’s middle finger.
“Don’t change the subject.”
Kurt sucked down his ring finger. Emil buried his face against Kurt’s chest and moaned.
Kurt laughed. “Who’s changing the subject now?”
Emil reared up. But Kurt looked too angelic to be reprimanded. He was beautiful and naïve and boyish and most of all honest. Emil touched his cheek. “You love me.”
Kurt kissed his palm. “Never doubt me.”
Kurt needed Emil trust as much as Emil needed Kurt’s acceptance. Emil leaned down and kissed Kurt’s eyelids. “I never will.”
Kurt rolled them over. “See? Perfect.”
Emil laughed. He was happier than he’d ever been and he was going to share all that happiness, and love, with Kurt.
--
Kurt forced his eyes open. His phone was too far away to reach, but once he knocked the last remaining pillow off the bed, Peregrine’s alarm clock came into view. Ten pm.
His stomach rumbled. That must have been what woke him up. He hadn’t eaten supper. He’d been too busy tasting Emil.
Emil lay asleep beside him without even a sheet to block Kurt’s view of perfection. The pens. He’s meant to draw on Emil tonight. Only he’d been distracted. By Emil.
Kurt growled. Emil shifted against him. One simple movement on Kurt’s part and he could wake Emil in a delicious way. His body wanted it. At a glance, Emil’s body did too. But bodies had to run on something and the kitchen was full of food that they’d either have to eat or move in the next few days. “Wake up, Beautiful. I’m going to make dinner.”
Emil rubbed himself closer. “Dinner?”
“Pre-midnight snack?”
Emil sat up and looked at the clock. “It’s not even tomorrow.”
“Which is good because I have to work tomorrow. Would you like something to eat?”
Emil grinned and looked Kurt up and down.
“Something to ingest so we’ll have enough energy for another go?”
“Or two.” Emil sprang to his feet. “Or three. Or four.”
He walked into the kitchen and tied on an apron without one stitch of clothing underneath. Another fantasy coming true. Kurt sighed in happiness. “I love you.”
Emil wiggled his bare ass as he searched through the fridge. “I love you too.”
Kurt waited until Emil looked up and then slowly adjusted himself. Two could play this game.
--
Emil flopped down on Kurt’s couch just before midnight. He was feeling spectacularly good about himself, the world, and everyone in it. Especially his men. Peregrine loved him enough to buy a condo that didn’t meet his own needs. Kurt loved him enough to give him exactly what he needed. And he loved himself enough to put his own money to use buying the other condo when it came available. Emil had decided, and Kurt agreed, that that would be a great form of revenge.
