Say it (Michael/Dare)

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's brain said no such thing, nor much of anything, really, except how good this felt, and how right. One of Dare's hands was forced to abandon its exploration, to brace part of his weight as he lay over Michael, and the motions of the other picked up instead. He couldn't get over how Michael felt, couldn't get enough, but it didn't matter. He loved this, loved the tension, the intimacy, the rush of adrenaline and lack of thought. He loved Michael.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael couldn't remember anything feeling as good as what they were doing, because he couldn't remember ever being so intimate with someone. Dare was special, what they had was special, and Michael was in awe at the strength of it, pushing away the nagging feeling that everything was getting to be too much by moving his hands up Dare's back in defiance of the feeling.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

The tension threatened to take him over, but Dare fought against it, only shifting his weight slightly against Michael to ease some of the pressure. He focused more into the kiss, more into the motion of his hand, trying to give back to Michael some of what he was feeling, purposefully seeking to make Michael feel good, and through that, trying to give himself another outlet. He didn't want this to end, especially not the way it had last time, as inevitable as that might have seemed had his mind been functioning beyond the moment.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael soon found his hands settling at Dare's waist, though he was positive his mind was telling them to move to Dare's stomach and chest. Some subconscious part of him was determined to keep his hands still, to start slowing down, and so he put everything into the kiss, since he no longer had to focus much on his hands. After a few moments his hands were allowed to move again, and his arms circled around Dare, giving up the explorations for the moment in the face of the kiss.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare didn't feel any objections, any wall of opposition, but all the same, the motions of his body unconsciously mirrored Michael's, and his hand settled at Michael's waist. The kiss had intensified, or deepened, he couldn't tell, but it pulled him in, and he didn't want to be distracted from it. Somewhere deep in the back of his mind he realized that things were slowing, that he wouldn't be able to push himself as far as he had before, and that part of him accepted. Though everything still coursed through him, though his mind still spun, the desperation began to fade, and he let it.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Though the loss of Dare's hand on his skin was almost a disappointment, Michael could feel that nagging feeling back off when it realized its work was done. He put everything he wasn't able to say into the kiss, and even when it slowed it remained intense. His arms tightened around Dare's waist before loosening and moving down to let his hands rest on his waist, elbows lightly resting on the rug.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

It felt comfortable somehow, strange when his body itself was still anything but comfortable. It took a while to back down, to resume regular breathing, to let his blood cool from burning flame to a warm smolder. Still, even when the kiss ended and Dare lay nuzzling lightly against Michael, his mind was blissfully hazed over with pleasure. He felt everything Michael had said with that last kiss, and it resonated through him, made him feel light and invincible.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed and returned the light motions, taking in the simple sensations and mentally comparing them to the uncontrolled heat from before. His arms moved again, refusing to be content, and went around Dare, though the urgent pressure was gone. He kissed Dare lightly, pressing lips to his jaw before moving on and letting Dare's scent envelop him like his body had such a short time before.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare didn't want to break the silence, didn't want this moment to end. Michael's arms felt so good around him, and his body felt so good against his. Dare's hand rose to stroke against Michael's hair, just loving the feel of it, and his head dipped low, his teeth and lips playing against the edge of Michael's ear. "This just keeps getting better," he murmured after a short time. He'd pushed aside his insecurities for now, focusing on everything that was right between them.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael felt a soft smile pull up his lips and he nodded, "It really does." He couldn't think of anything much more intelligent to say, his mind taken by the pressure of Dare's body on his and the small touches of his hand and lips. He spread his hands out over Dare's back and tightened his arms for a moment before loosening them again, just firm enough to be able to feel the muscles beneath the skin. "That box is yours," he said softly, tilting his head towards the small, long box that had been all but forgotten.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"Hm?" Dare lifted his head from what he'd been doing, his gaze following Michael's to the box he hadn't even noticed. Something sparked in his mind, and his eyes flickered back to Michael's, anticipation lighting them. Dare's hand left Michael's hair as he reached for the box and brought it up onto Michael's chest, rather than withdrawing and pushing to sit. He was far too comfortable for that.

It took a little work getting the box open that way, but it was worth it for the continued press of Michael against him. At last, his efforts were rewarded, and the lid slid free, only to be set absently back on the floor. Dare's lips spread into a grin, and his mossy eyes glittered. "Thank you, Michael!" Dare said, picking up the quill. He pushed the box aside and leaned further over Michael again, emphasizing his thanks with an enthusiastic kiss.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael grinned at Dare's excitement, at the light in his eyes, and returned the kiss when it was offered. One arm remained around Dare and the other fell, then went up to Dare's hair. When the kiss broke, he smiled up at Dare, searching his face to remember the look. "The owl delivered it this morning, couldn't wait to give it to you." He didn't mean to bring up the talk they had had, isolating the moment the owl had landed and delivered the box.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's gaze lowered at the reminder of his own state when Michael had found him, but even that wasn't enough to completely dull the glimmer in his eyes. He held the quill for a moment, his other hand reaching just far enough to sweep against the shining silver feather. "Think I ought to break it in?" he asked, lifting his gaze back to Michael's. His lips quirked into a shadow of his crooked smile as his hand moved, bringing the feather in a light stroke against Michael's neck.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's eyes flashed at the feather's touch, the feel sending his mind whirling with ideas, though he would never put them to words. "That's your choice, but I think you should," he said, his fingers moving absently in Dare's hair. He smiled, the curve of his lips giving away more of his thoughts than he would probably have wished. His mind went back briefly to the designs that Dare had drawn, though the feel of the feather had sent his thoughts in a much different direction.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's crooked smile widened as his gaze flickered to Michael's lips, then rose to his eyes once more. "I think I should, too," he said. One brow arched suggestively, and his smile softened as he shifted his gaze to watch the path of the feather. He watched as it smoothed against Michael's jaw, an extension of his hand tracing that path he loved so much. He could draw soon enough. For now, this was what he wanted, this slow, playful pleasure, this physical expression of everything.