Seen and Unforseen (Michael/Dare)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's heart skipped a beat when he felt that gentle weight on his thigh. He was unsure, he liked the comfortable feel of it, it added to the feeling of being secure, but at the same time it was so close to being more than he was ready for, if only for the proximity to more intimate areas. He squeezed his eyes shut, silently declaring that he wouldn't let himself force an end, that he would accept it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

As intense as the moment was, Dare wanted Michael's kiss again, and his mouth parted regretfully from Michael's neck to seek his lips. Dare's hand swept against Michael's thigh for one brief, unknowing moment as it lifted away, spearing into Michael's hair. Dare's mind was gone completely, lost in sensation, and he didn't even notice it had happened. It had been comfortable for that moment, and he had moved on without thought.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael had tensed during that brief moment and, no matter his best intentions, or the distraction of the kiss, he needed space to think, to breathe. He slowed the kiss and broke it, perhaps a little faster than needed, then rested his forehead against Dare's, his eyes closed as he took in long breaths. He was rather proud of himself for being able to handle that contact, but the extra sensations that the brush had caused had been a bit too much.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare pulled deep breaths, his mind still spinning, and unable to associate anything he'd done with the end of the kiss. So he assumed that it had simply gone on long enough, that maybe Michael's control had grown as thin as his own. Dare's lashes lifted, and he watched Michael as he reined himself in, resisting the very real urge to kiss him again. His body insisted that he go on, but he denied it, instead focusing on Michael, on the familiar lines of his face, and trying to calm himself through visually tracing those lines.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

After a few seconds enough of the haze had left Michael's mind to where he was able to fully realize the position they were in, how he was curled into and around Dare. His eyes blinked open and he took it in without moving just yet, then met Dare's eyes for half a second before turning his eyes away and pulling back, loosening his hold. One hand unwrapped itself from Dare's hair and settled on his shoulder, the other uncurled from the other shoulder and slipped down to settle lightly on Dare's side. He felt almost embarrassed at how he had ended up, however comfortable he may have been.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare silently lamented at Michael's retreat, at the loss of intimacy and the tension he could feel that had nothing to do with pleasure. He might have felt hurt, as ridiculous as that would have been, but Michael hadn't withdrawn entirely. It took a moment for Dare to realize where his own hands were, and he dropped one to Michael's waist, letting the other sweep lightly through the hair framing Michael's face. He was afraid to talk, afraid to ask what had happened, so he didn't.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

When Michael looked back up at Dare the first thing he noticed was the odd angles that Dare's hair was sticking up in from where his own hands had been. He smiled softly and brought up both hands, smoothing down the wild angles in the colored hair. It was an easy way to keep the contact while distracting himself from the near discomfort he had felt upon realizing their position. In the midst of the kiss, it had been different, but without the intense feelings, it was easier to be overwhelmed.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare hadn't given a single thought to either of their appearances until Michael began working at his hair. Then he looked up, as though he might actually be able to see something. "Is it bad?" he asked, his eyes laughing at the thought. His head was pulsing pleasantly along with the rest of his body, and he could just remember the feel of Michael's hands urging him on, a memory that only set his blood quickening again.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael nodded and grinned as he met Dare's eyes momentarily. "Yes, it's pretty rough. Sorry about that," he said, though he knew that Dare didn't mind. His mind went back to the beginning and began reliving it, the first time of many to come, he knew. He had relived their other times so often that he was glad for another to add to the mix, not that he had gotten tired of thinking about the others. "I need any work?" he asked, grinning as he ran a hand over the back of Dare's head, combing down what he could with his fingers.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare took that as an invitation to look, his eyes gleaming mischievously at Michael the moment before he did so. Maybe a little slowly. "Not unless you know a good wrinkle-removing spell," he answered at last, his lips curving into a grin. His eyes glittered. "And you might want to keep your collar up." Dare reached out and flipped up Michael's collar, taking a little too much pleasure in arranging his hair to artfully obscure the hickey blossoming against his neck.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to put it together, then it clicked and he wondered why he hadn't caught it the moment Dare had said it. "You're kidding," he said, bringing his hand up to his neck, accidentally messing up Dare's work, grinning. "Thanks," he teased, laughing softly as he absently rubbed his neck, as though that would make the mark go away, he didn't particularly mind, it was just a reaction for him. He would probably be self-conscious about it until it went away. And no, he didn't know a good wrinkle-removing spell.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"Any time," Dare said, still grinning widely. He let Michael's hair go and leaned back against the tree, just watching him. "It was fun getting that way, though, wasn't it?" he asked, his gaze lingering on Michael's smile, then sliding down to where Michael's hand moved against his neck. His mind worked back through flashes of what they'd done to get as disheveled as they were, but he quickly decided to save such reminiscing for later. He was still heated enough as it was.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael grinned as though hiding a secret and nodded. "That's an understatement," he said, glancing up at Dare's hair that still wasn't laying down perfectly like it should have. "I told you I like hands." His eyes went down to Dare's hand. He had never really done anything like that before, but if it got such a reaction... He made a mental note to do it more often.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare let out a short breath, half chuckle, half breathless sigh at the reminder, his smile almost giddy thinking about it. His hand burned pleasantly again, or maybe still, and he stretched his fingers lightly to work off some of the returning tension. Dare shook his head in near disbelief at the memory of how very much Michael's touch had affected him, his gaze following Michael's down to his own hand. "My hand will never be the same again," he mused, humor just teasing at the edge of his voice.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked up at Dare, taking in the expression on his face. His fingers lightly stroked the area where he could still feel Dare's lips, actually interested in seeing his reflection in the mirror to see the damage done. "Good, it shouldn't be," he said, laughing lightly. "Of course, neither will my neck..." he trailed off remembering, sure that the warm feeling that spread through him would show through in his expression.