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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 15, 2008 22:49:23 GMT -5
Dare's lips curved, and his eyes, still smoky with wanting, rose to Michael's. "Maybe I'll break this one in again some time," he suggested. The motion of Michael's body sent a streak of heat through Dare, and he dropped his gaze again, looking at the shimmering silver letters against Michael's skin. "I think I owe you some art," he said, referring back to the design that would have worn off Michael's hand and arm a month ago. Had it been that long? Dare looked back up at Michael again, silently asking if he wanted to take Dare up on the offer now.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 16, 2008 15:03:08 GMT -5
"You do," Michael said, grinning. His arm tensed slightly with the remembered feel of the quill moving along his skin, "Do I need to make an appointment?" His eyes glittered as he watched Dare, thinking for a moment on how he could feel so comfortable being with Dare, wondering how he could ever have not wanted it. Then his mind moved to how the day had changed from being so tense to being so completely wonderful.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 16, 2008 15:11:20 GMT -5
Dare's light smile widened at Michael's question. "I think I might be able to fit you in," he teased. "I'll have to check my schedule." Dare pressed a brief kiss to Michael's lips, then forced himself to move, pulling himself back into a sitting position and offering a hand to Michael. "Looks like I'm free," he said, eyes laughing. He could have laid there with Michael all day, but it felt good to move, though he felt suddenly cool with the loss of Michael's warmth pressed against him.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 16, 2008 15:17:43 GMT -5
Tiny bumps came up over Michael's skin at the absence of Dare, and he took the offered hand as he pulled himself up. He wasn't against the idea of doing it then, but then he remembered the swimming, and he couldn't stop a light laugh when he realized that Dare's signature would be obvious on his chest to anyone that happened across them. "You'll have to make it good in case anyone sees," he said, still grinning slightly at the thought.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 16, 2008 15:32:03 GMT -5
Dare's smile widened further. "I'll see what I can do," he promised. Dare took Michael's left hand even as he shuffled into a slightly more comfortable position on the rug. "So how do you want to do this?" he asked, eagerness showing in his voice. "I could go up to your elbow like I did last time, or...I could attach it to my name." Which would necessitate Michael taking off his shirt, but if they were going swimming, it would be coming off anyway. Dare's gaze rose to Michael's, wondering what his decision would be.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 8:01:52 GMT -5
Michael paused, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at his arm. He was interested in what Dare could do with the extra space of his upper arm and chest, but just going up to his elbow felt comfortable because of familiarity. He didn't know which to go with, and he was silent a few moments longer than truly necessary before he let himself focus on the excitement coming from Dare and pulled his hand away to work it out of the sleeve. When he finally looked back up at Dare after being caught by the sight of his Mark, Michael smiled softly, "Have fun."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 10:24:07 GMT -5
Dare returned Michael's smile, his excitement remaining even if he was suddenly just a little nervous. He knew how much trust Michael was putting in him, and he didn't want to abuse that trust, didn't want to give Michael any reason to think he was. Still, Dare's smile grew crooked as he dropped his gaze from Michael's down to his hand, purposefully turning his mind to the art, something he'd had so little of in the past weeks. A bottle of ink had appeared at some point, and it sat beside him, waiting to be used again. Dare dipped the quill, then turned Michael's hand palm-down and began his design. It was similar to the last, with its sweeping vines that he extended as he went, but the leaves were less leaf-like and more geometric, more the idea of leaves. Again, he swept the design around Michael's wrist and toward the Mark, closing it in with glittering silver. He was losing himself in the art, and it was a relief. He needed this.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 10:31:58 GMT -5
Michael watched the design form on his arm and, once he had the basic idea of what Dare's idea was, his eyes moved up to Dare's face, watching the excitement and peace showing in the lines and in the green eyes. He thought back over the day again, back to Dare's words. I love you, Michael. Then he shifted slightly, being careful not to jar Dare's hand, and leaned closer. "I have a secret," he said softly, his eyes searching Dare's face.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 10:42:58 GMT -5
"Hm?" Dare finished a quick leaf, then lifted his eyes to Michael's, his gaze locking on the brown. His art was pushed aside in his mind by the look in Michael's eyes, and he wondered what it was, though his design was still calling him to finish it. He wasn't sure if Michael was being playful, but it felt important, so Dare let the design sit for now and gave Michael his full attention. "What is it?" he asked, his voice soft too, matching Michael's tone.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 10:57:12 GMT -5
Michael shifted again, leaning lightly against Dare, and he was silent for a few more seconds before he answered. "I love you." He watched Dare's face for the reaction, but after a few short heartbeats he looked down, licking his lips and swallowing. He was immensely glad he had said it, his heart felt lighter since the words were out, relief flooding through him that he had been able to get the words out.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 11:05:06 GMT -5
Dare's entire face lit up with Michael's unexpected confession. He felt like his heart might explode, or like he might float away. His lips spread into a wide smile as his hand left Michael's, slipping under his chin to tip it up even as Dare ducked his head slightly, trying to catch Michael's eyes. "I love you, too," he said, the words almost breathless with all the emotion coursing through him. God, I love you!
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 11:17:26 GMT -5
Michael's chest filled at the expression on Dare's face, and when Dare pulled his chin up there was a smile on Michael's face which made his eyes light up. He leaned forward and kissed Dare softly before leaning back against the couch. "I thought you should know," he said then, looking over at Dare and smiling. Though Michael had felt it before, his previous feelings were nothing compared to the elation he felt at speaking the words, and at hearing them said back to him.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 11:26:34 GMT -5
Dare's smile widened further into an undeniable grin. "Well, thank you for telling me!" he teased. Dare's gaze dropped, and he took a deep breath as he dipped the quill and resumed his design, though it was only getting part of his attention now, the art just coming as it would. "This is just...amazing," he said almost absently, glancing back up at Michael. He shook his head, grinning. "God, I love you," he said softly, but emphatically, sweeping a long vine from the cluster of leaves around the Mark up around the outside of Michael's arm. Had he ever been happier than he was right now? Had he ever felt more himself?
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 11:40:37 GMT -5
Michael looked down again, the smile etched onto his face as he watched the design move up his arm, watching everything from the ink flowing from the tip to how the muscles moved underneath Dare's skin. Though he had just said it, he found himself returning Dare's I love you, and the way it rolled so easily off his tongue made his smile widen. "I really do," he added, mostly to himself, as though he couldn't quite believe that it had happened.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Aug 17, 2008 11:52:17 GMT -5
Dare was sure if he grinned any wider his face would open. He lifted his eyes, and leaned close to press a brief, but meaningful kiss to Michael's lips, his gaze meeting Michael's for just a moment after before he threw himself back into his drawing, pouring out his emotions in the design. Each vine had a feeling of reaching, each cluster of leaves curving lovingly against Michael's muscles. As he extended the vines again across the front of Michael's shoulder, then down toward his signature, his smile faded slightly, but his eyes gleamed all the more. The vines and stylize leaves curved underneath his name, supporting it, and, as Dare's smile returned, sweeping around the area over Michael's heart before ending at last in lightly curling tendrils.
When it was done, Dare inhaled deeply and sat back, admiring his work for some long moments before it struck him again that it was Michael he'd been drawing on. His gaze expanded, taking Michael in for just a moment before he blinked and lifted almost guilty eyes to Michael's. Dare cleared his throat briefly. "It looks good," he said, lips quirking.
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